• Experts from Alliance AutoGas and ROUSH CleanTech recently spoke with a couple Georgia city and county governments about the benefits of running vehicles on propane autogas.

• The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition is teaming up once again with the team from the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program to present a propane autogas roadshow June 20 in Montgomery.

• How is FedEx reducing its fuel use and emissions?

• A GE Capital Fleet Services survey finds that driver safety is a number one concern among fleet managers.

• Propane autogas vehicle technology was in the spotlight at last week’s Police Fleet Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. Operating on autogas can save law enforcement fleets thousands on fuel costs annually, in addition to the increased vehicle range offered with bi-fuel autogas systems.

• A California transit fleet has introduced new hybrid diesel electric buses to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

• A city in Alabama is switching to biodiesel fuel to power heavy equipment, and expects to save $10k per year in tax credits for using alternative fuel.

• Meanwhile, the Wilmington International Airport has saved about 8 percent on energy costs by greening its operations, including running mowers on clean propane.

• An alternative fuel roadshow is headed to Georgia from 9 a.m.-noon June 13 at Savannah Technical College.

Follow us on Twitter or like our page on Facebook for the latest news affecting your fleet or the alternative fuel industry.

• Jackson Heating & Air, an HVAC company in LaGrange, Ga., is powering 20 fleet vehicles on propane autogas through Alliance AutoGas, with conversions from Force 911 and fueling from Blossman Gas.

• The American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF) says running more heavy- and light-duty vehicles on natural gas would have “minimal impact on natural gas prices.”

• The Propane Gas Association of New England held a demonstration at the state capitol Wednesday, featuring a school bus, commercial lawn mower, a truck and a bi-fuel car that run on clean propane autogas. The Shelton school district is adding 60 propane-powered buses to its fleet.

• Experts from the propane autogas and automotive industries spoke about autogas for fleets on the Detroit PBS program “Autoline” last weekend.

• A proposed bill in California would give a tax break to alternative fuel vehicles.

• State transportation officials in West Virginia state hope to solve the “chicken-or-egg” problem for natural gas vehicle fuel by converting a portion of the state’s fleet to compressed natural gas as fueling stations are built. The governor’s Natural Gas Vehicle Task Force recommends the state convert 25 percent–or 1,952 out of 7,811 fleet vehicles–to CNG within four years.

• Speaking of natural gas, UPS is adding a whopping 700 fleet vehicles that run on LNG and building four refueling stations by the end of 2014. I wonder how many more propane autogas stations and vehicle conversions they could implement for the same price tag?

• The Federal Trade Commission is getting rid of fuel economy labels as it requires automakers to disclose comparative driving range performance between alternative fuel and conventional gasoline vehicles.

Follow us on Twitter or like our page on Facebook for the latest news affecting your fleet or the alternative fuel industry.

We at Autogas Fleet just wanted to share a few photos with you from some of the activities Alliance AutoGas has been involved in during the past few weeks.

First up was the Green Fleet conference in Schaumburg, Ill., where Alliance partnered with ROUSH CleanTech to spread the word about the benefits of clean propane autogas for fleets.

Then, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office showed off one of their propane-powered cruisers during the Virginia Governor’s press conference announcing the executive order to switch state fleets to natural gas and autogas.

While Alliance AutoGas representative Steve McCoy said a few words on behalf of the partnership to provide affordable autogas fueling and vehicle conversions for Virginia state fleets.

Propane autogas technology was also the buzz at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, North America’s premier farm show.

Finally, here are a couple of pics from Odyssey Day events last Thursday in Atlanta and in Virginia, where they had a Propane Autogas Roadshow.

Can’t wait to see what next month holds! Like Alliance AutoGas on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for daily alternative fuel and fleet news updates.

• ROUSH CleanTech announced its latest industry partnership with Green Alternative Systems at the 2012 BusCon Expo this week. Green Alternative Fuel systems will now provide installations of ROUSH’s propane autogas conversion systems  for Transit Shuttle buses. This is the latest step from ROUSH to accommodate the growing fleet demand for autogas.

• In more great news for fleets interested in alternative fuels–and as further testament to growing fleet use of autogas–Alliance AutoGas has launched their network’s first expansion into international territory. Alliance’s announcement of new Canadian partner, Caledon Propane marks a major milestone for increasing North American fleet access to autogas technology and fueling.

• ROUSH CleanTech has had a busy week! Beyond the new partnership we mentioned above, their parent company ROUSH Enterprises announced the purchase of an expansive new facility in Livonia, Mich., near the company’s global headquarters. This new space will support production of ROUSH CleanTech’s propane autogas systems.

• For the City of Springfield, Illinois propane autogas may help launch a transition to alternative fuel vehicles. This week, the Springfield City Council will consider a proposal for the conversion of 24 city vehicles to propane autogas (17 police cruisers and seven public works pickups). The vehicles would be equipped to run on autogas or gasoline and would be converted in partnership with CleanFuel USA.

• Best known for their school buses, Blue Bird is coming out in support of a different yellow vehicle: a bright yellow Ford Mustang. Blue Bird will sponsor NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in partnership with ROUSH Clean Tech.

• Renewal of expired alternative fuel tax credits at the federal level may be uncertain, but states like Oklahoma are taking steps to encourage driver adoption of alternative fuel vehicle technology. The state of Oklahoma is currently offering tax-payer incentives for the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles.

Follow us @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter and like our Facebook page for daily updates!

• Alliance AutoGas announced the expansion of its East Coast presence with new partners  Easter Propane and Sharp Energy. These autogas fueling partners will serve fleets in New Jersey and Delaware, as well as parts of Maryland and Virginia.

  

  Eastern Propane President & CEO Robert B. Nicholson III

• ROUSH CleanTech is hosting a couple of new autogas webinars in September. Sign up now!

• Gasoline prices hit record highs for the third week of August in both California and the U.S. as a whole.

• Ford says their new 6.8-liter V10 F-650s will have a a gaseous prep kit available that “could mean lower operating costs for fleet buyers running on compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane.”

• Charter Fuels helped a Sheriff in Iowa County, Wis., get running on clean-burning autogas. The law enforcement office expects to save more than $5k over the next year on fuel costs alone.

• BNSF Railway in San Bernadino, Calif., received 10 ROUSH CleanTech propane-powered Ford E-350 vans from transportation company Renzenberger, Inc.

Follow us @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter and like our Facebook page for daily updates!

• The Villa Rica Police Department in Georgia is switching 11 patrol cars to clean propane autogas under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. “The vehicles run cleaner on propane, it’s been proven you have to change the oil less often and you can get more miles out of the car on propane than you can on gasoline,” Police Chief Michael Mansour said.

• ROUSH CleanTech is accepting orders for the 2012 EPA- and CARB-certified propane autogas Ford F-250/F-350 in-bed tank configuration.

• According to the Wall Street Journal, “most energy experts now project that North America will have the capacity to be a net exporter of oil and natural gas by the end of this decade.”

• A new mandate in Tennessee requires at least 25 percent of new light-duty vehicles acquired by Chattanooga agencies to run on alternative fuel by 2015.

• Will diesel school buses and municipal vehicles soon be a thing of the past?

• Florida may be the next big “hotbed” for natural gas vehicles.

• Ford is investing $135 million to construct an advanced electrification center as it brings more of its hybrid and electric vehicle development in house. The company is aiming to lower the vehicle cost by building it on the same line as the traditional gasoline engine.

Follow @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter and like our Facebook page for daily industry updates.

Courtesy of Fleets & Fuels ShowTimes

In a clean fleet case study featured in Work Truck Magazine, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Fleet Director Tom Armstrong provides helpful insight into his process for choosing the best alternative fuel to power his vehicles.

“We were determined to reduce our fuel consumption and find sustainable vehicles that worked for us. With all the alternative fuel choices available today, we needed a tool to effectively analyze and justify each fuel or alternative fuel vehicle type.”

Faced with this challenge, Armstrong came up with the “five C’s” for determining the best alt fuel choice:

• Is it clean?
• Does it conserve?
• Is it cost-effective?
• Does it make common sense?
• Can you commit?

As it turns out, propane autogas was the only fuel that ticked every box. Today, ThyssenKrupp is running 47 propane autogas-powered vans and seven propane trucks throughout Phoenix, Seattle, L.A., San Diego and Detroit.

“When we laid out all the fuels available, including propane autogas, ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas and electric, there was only one alternative fuel source that had a check mark in all five categories, and that was propane autogas,” said Armstrong.

ThyssenKrupp is only one of an increasing number of fleets across the U.S. discovering the power of propane autogas. In the last week alone, we’ve seen articles about Davidson County Transportation in North Carolina, the Mobile Police Department and the Raleigh Police Department benefiting from switching vehicles to autogas. These fleets are saving thousands annually on fuel costs while also improving the air quality in their local communities. Nothing makes more sense than that!

Follow us on Twitter or like our Facebook page for ongoing alternative fuel news updates and insights for fleets.

• Alliance AutoGas added four new certified conversion centers to the national network, serving fleets in Washington State, the Midwest and Pennsylvania.

• The Mobile, Ala., Police Department is converting 30 police cruisers to propane autogas through Alliance AutoGas. The new clean vehicles should save them thousands in fuel costs annually. Alliance also recently facilitated the conversions of 30 Mobile public works vehicles. Other Alabama fleets making the switch through Alliance AutoGas include the Alabama State Docks, Baldwin EMC, the Department of Agriculture & Industries, the Counties of Lee, Greenville, Pickens, Greenwood and more.

Davidson County Alliance AutoGas fueling station

• Davidson County Transportation in N.C. is benefiting from their new propane-powered vehicles, converted and fueled through the Alliance AutoGas complete program. Transportation Director George Hodges said the fleet has saved up to $1500 a month. “We anticipated a $31,000 a year savings,” he said. “We’re pleased with it, and none of the drivers or passengers can tell the difference.”

• Two companies recently announced a partnership to build a CNG infrastructure.

• A city in Colorado is planning to order 17 CNG buses, funded by grant money. According to the article, a $1 million transit award will pay for three buses.

• A Grand Rapids, Mich., taxi fleet has switched to propane autogas.

• The City of Santa Maria in California has been using a green car-sharing service that allows drivers to lease an alternative fuel FunRide vehicle for an hourly rental charge. The FunRide fleet consists of 15 clean vehicles that run on flex fuel, natural gas, propane autogas or are hybrids.

Follow us on Twitter or like our Facebook page for ongoing alternative fuel news updates and insights for fleets.

• Alliance AutoGas partner Charter Fuels is helping a Wisconsin roofing and construction business save thousands with a new propane autogas-powered truck.

• As we mentioned in Tuesday’s blog post, the City of Edmond, Okla., has halted conversions of fleet vehicles to CNG in favor of propane autogas. The Edmond Sun recently published a letter from Stuart Weidie of Alliance AutoGas outlining the benefits of autogas vs. CNG.

• This week, ROUSH CleanTech announced it completed the Federal Transit Administration’s “Altoona testing” on its propane autogas-powered Ford E-450. Agencies can now apply for FTA funding to assist with gasoline-to-autogas conversion costs of that vehicle model.

• A Minnesota school district says it saved more than $67,000 during the last school year after switching buses to propane autogas.

• The U.S. Energy Department and the National Park Service announced a Clean Cities partnership to deploy fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles in five national parks.

• Mack Trucks will add two new natural gas-fueled vehicle models to its alternative fuel truck lineup.

• The Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia has converted fleet vehicles to autogas under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program.

• There’s a new mobile app to locate alternative fuel stations.

Follow @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter and like us on Facebook or the latest alternative fuel and fleet industry news updates.

This conference is jam-packed with information for fleet owners and managers interested in switching to alternative fuel, whether to save money on fuel costs or drive cleaner. From heavy-duty trucking to light-duty vehicle fleets, domestic fuels like propane autogas and to electric vehicle technology, the ACT Expo provides a wealth of informative sessions to help fleet operators make the most cost-effective choice when it comes to adopting green vehicles.

Representatives from propane autogas industry organizations Alliance AutoGas partner Blue Star Gas, ROUSH CleanTech and the Propane Education and Research Council will be on hand to discuss how autogas can help fleets cut costs and emissions, while the VP of Schwan’s Home Service is set to speak about their company’s massive propane autogas fleet rollout.

Visit the ACT Expo website for more information, including a complete event agenda and a list of free training sessions, including Propane Autogas 101.

As the ACT Expo website asks: “What role will your fleet, fuel, vehicle, or technology play in the shift towards alternative fuels?”

Be sure to follow @AllianceAutoGas for the latest news affecting your fleet.