In today’s cost-conscious world, finding ways to save money without sacrificing efficiency is of great importance. Autogas, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), emerges as a standout solution offering substantial cost savings for both individuals and businesses. With its competitive pricing, enhanced fuel efficiency, and lower maintenance costs, autogas presents a compelling case for those looking to save without compromising on performance.
The Cost Advantage
The primary allure of autogas lies in its significant cost savings compared to conventional gasoline and diesel fuels. Offering a lower price per gallon, autogas immediately translates into savings at the pump for consumers. These savings, coupled with the fuel’s improved efficiency, ensures that drivers can travel farther for less, making every trip more economical.
Enhanced Fuel Efficiency
Autogas vehicles often demonstrate superior fuel efficiency compared to their gasoline counterparts. This means that not only does autogas cost less per gallon, but it also allows drivers to cover more distance on the same amount of fuel. The result? Substantial savings over time, as fuel expenses are minimized without compromising on performance or driving experience.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
In addition to its economical fuel consumption, autogas can also contribute to lower maintenance costs for vehicles. The cleaner-burning nature of autogas leads to reduced engine wear, resulting in extended engine life and fewer trips to the mechanic. By choosing autogas, drivers can not only save on fuel but also enjoy decreased maintenance expenses.
Upfront Investment Versus Long-Term Returns
While there is an initial cost for converting a vehicle to run on autogas and establishing refueling infrastructure, it’s important to consider the long-term returns on this investment. Despite the upfront costs, the substantial savings achieved through lower fuel expenses and reduced maintenance over the vehicle’s lifespan make autogas a financially savvy choice.
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About Autogas
Automotive LPG/Auto LPG – is the world’s 3rd most widely used transport fuel and the most accessible alternative transport fuel. LPG emits almost negligible particulates, less CO2, and fewer emissions such as NOx. Driving an LPG vehicle is safe, easy and, in many countries, considerably cheaper than driving a gasoline or diesel model. Over 28 million vehicles globally run on Autogas, consuming over 25 million tonnes of LPG a year. The case for Autogas as a clean, modern, transport fuel becomes even stronger with LPG being sourced from renewables.
Autogas Day
Autogas Day, which is celebrated on November 17th this year, is a dedicated conference that takes place once a year, providing a global platform to discuss the most recent developments in Autogas, from policy trends, to market success stories, to innovation.
It is also an opportunity for the industry to get involved through local activities targeting key stakeholders worldwide. There is a global push towards carbon neutrality and improved air quality, and while there is a consensus on the need to act, the path is not always clear.
Why Autogas
There are immediate benefits in transitioning to LPG as a transport fuel (Autogas). The opportunities for Autogas are part of the ongoing discussions with industry experts, car manufacturers, policy makers and influencers. These include the compelling proposition of lower emissions. When compared to gasoline or diesel, autogas substantially reduces greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide as well as non-regulated emissions including aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, and sulfur dioxide. Converting your vehicles to autogas means your fleet will be green.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced 130 awards totaling nearly $1.7 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transit projects. This funding invests in more than 1,700 American-built buses that will be manufactured with American parts and labor, including propane autogas bus models.
In addition to investing in the future of transit, the awards also invest in America’s workers. Twenty-two of the funded projects will operate with project labor agreements to ensure their efficient and timely completion, and 34 projects have committed to the gold standard model of registered apprenticeship, with supportive services such as childcare for employees.
This investment is the second bus grant package funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has now invested more than $3.3 billion in American transit buses and the infrastructure that supports them. Over the next three years, record funding for American transit investment secured will provide almost $5 billion more.
“Today, we are creating new opportunities to dramatically improve the lives of millions of Americans who ride on buses every day,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants will help deliver a cleaner and more modern mode of transportation, designed to reach everyone, and to work for everyone, particularly in places that haven’t received enough resources in the past.”
The projects are supported by FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. The Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $2 billion through FY 2026 for the program. For FY 2023, approximately $473 million for grants was available under this program.
FTA’s Low-No program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles, including buses and vans; make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles; and purchase supporting equipment like chargers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion through FY 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined. For FY 2023, approximately $1.22 billion was available for grants under this program.
In response to the Notice of Funding Opportunity, FTA received 475 eligible project proposals totaling approximately $8.7 billion in requests.
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program that will provide $2.5 billion over five years to communities across the country. The CFI Program will strategically deploy alternative fueling infrastructure supporting urban and rural areas alike, in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). The program provides two funding categories of grants: Community Charging and Fueling Grants (Community Program) and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program).
Eligible Applicants consist of:
-State and local governments
-Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
-Federally recognized Native American Indian Tribal governments
-Special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function
-State or local authority with ownership of publicly accessible transportation facilities
-An authority, agency, or instrumentality of, or an entity owned by, 1 or more entities listed above
-Private entities if contracted through a public entity
Eligible infrastructure must be publicly accessible. This includes parking facilities at public buildings, parks and schools, or publicly accessible parking facilities owned or managed by a private entity.
The program will not only reduce greenhouse gas and vehicle-related emissions, but also will improve the alternative fuel transportation network through the nation.
Josh Budworth, Business Development, spent the beginning of 2023 in the frozen environment of Alaska and shares his experience from the visit. “We had an on-site visit with Hilcorp North Slope, LLC. in early February at their oil field in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Although we went up to the Artic Ocean, we only saw a solid piece of water covered in snow. We were there to discuss the conversion timeline, training their technicians, and seeing their environment which they operate in. We left Prudhoe Bay having officially trained 12 of their onsite technicians as well as 45 additional units being ordered, totaling 55 conversions onsite in the last 6 months. With the forecast of converting 600 units onsite within the next three to four years. One of the most exciting observations we witnessed is that the systems have been running on their vehicles flawlessly at -50 degrees Fahrenheit and colder without issues, proving yet again why our technology is superior to the competitors. Hilcorp North Slope, LLC. is beginning to produce their own vehicle fuel on-site. A particular favorite moment was when we were getting a picture in front of their 90,000-gallon storage tanks and David Johnston commenting “I can actually hear my ears freezing!” The warmest it got was I believe -20 degrees while we were there that week. Southern boys don’t enjoy the cold as much.”
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Alliance AutoGas is the only complete program to help American fleets transition from gasoline to autogas, law enforcement included. Working with our team to launch a successful autogas program is the easiest, most affordable way to reduce your gasoline consumption, cut fuel costs and lower vehicle emissions. Below you can read about a few of the specific local law enforcement departments that Alliance AutoGas has converted.
Town of Greenville, TN
In 2018, Todd Smith, City Administrator for the Town of Greeneville, TN, wanted to reduce the town’s expenses as well as their impact on the environment. Smith started to research the potential benefits of adding an autogas program to the town’s fleet, and found that by working with Alliance AutoGas (AAG), they could purchase fuel at a fixed rate, have reduced maintenance requirements, and the ability to reduce the town’s carbon footprint. “After confirming those key benefits, we knew this was a program to implement,” said Smith.
The Town of Greeneville started with converting three of their Law Enforcement Ford Explorers. One benefit of the converted police vehicles that Smith soon found was having a bi-fuel engine. An autogas bi-fuel vehicle is a conventional gasoline vehicle that can run on both autogas and gasoline. The primary advantage of a bi-fuel system over a dedicated “monofuel” system is its elimination of range anxiety when compared to other alternative fuel vehicles. “In addition to upfront benefits found in autogas, having an additional fuel increases the department’s loiter time in our vehicles for emergencies,” according to Smith.
After seeing the success with its three initial autogas vehicles, the Town of Greeneville expanded its autogas program with AAG. The town currently has 18 converted autogas vehicles for the local police department, which includes 13 Ford Law Enforcement Sedans, and five Ford Law Enforcement Explorers. As with many of AAG’s customers, the Town of Greeneville decided to invest in its own autogas refueling station.
Polk County, OR Sheriff’s Office
Polk County worked with an Alliance AutoGas conversion partner to convert all 10 vehicles to run on propane autogas, using the Prins VSI system. With all 10 fleet vehicles on propane autogas, the Sheriff’s office has saved over $32,000 in its first year of conversion, which does not include the available federal tax credits. Not only has this allowed the department to achieve their budget goals, but it saved the job of one full-time sheriff deputy.
As is the case with many law enforcement offices, the bi-fuel component of the Prins system was critical to the department’s ability to operate alternative fuel vehicles. They run primarily on autogas whenever possible, but knowing that the engine automatically switches to gasoline in the event they cannot reach an autogas fueling station provides peace of mind and redundancy in cases of prolonged emergency situations.
The Sheriff’s office’s chose propane autogas due to the quick return on investment and cost-savings it would bring the department. In less than one year, the department saved over $30,000 with 10 vehicles, not including the available federal tax credits. Additionally, the savings prevented the loss of one employee’s job. Although environmental impact wasn’t the primary factor in the selection process, the Sheriff’s office newly converted fleet saved over 67,000 pounds of greenhouse gases from contaminating our air.
La Crosse, WI Police Department
La Crosse PD piloted their autogas program with one vehicle conversion working with an AAG competitor, but the closest service station as in Mankato, MN, so this was neither a cost-effective nor a logistically pragmatic solution. The department also faced a hurdle of individual officer program adaptation as most officers had not yet been educated nor personally experienced the capabilities and safety of autogas. However, when an autogas fueled patrol car was rear ended in the first year, both officer and community fears were allayed because there was no unusual or unexpected damage or danger to the officer different from a gasoline fueled vehicle. Overall, the city and department leaders were pleased with the autogas program, but continued to face serious challenges with officer acceptance, a long-distance service station, and a difficult pumping system.
The police department leadership continued to look for a practical solution to their alternative fuel program, so they could fully realize the benefits of using autogas. They turned to Alliance AutoGas in 2015. The AAG team moved in quickly for what Assistant Chief Robert Abraham later described as a “hassle free process.” The leadership was very impressed with AAG’s “plug and play” autogas conversion systems which allow for quick fueling, and make daily use easy to manage, thereby winning over even the most resistant officer. In addition, AAG also addressed and resolved challenges experienced in the initial rollout by offering technical training to the City of La Crosse garage mechanics. La Crosse is now able to service their own autogas vehicles, eliminating the inconvenience of driving to Mankato, MN (about a five hour round trip) for vehicle service.
Autogas runs farther and longer, is a lower cost investment, and cheaper fueling option than gasoline or diesel. La Crosse has their own refueling station provided by AAG, and fueled by AAG partner, Premier Cooperative. Savings historically average a dollar or more gallon per gallon when compared with gasoline, which allows the department to invest savings back into officer and public safety. Specifically purchased items from fuel savings include ballistic shields, thermal imaging, cameras in cars, automatic license plate readers and light packs.
More Stories to Read
If you enjoyed reading about these success stories, you can find additional details as well as other stories on our website. Follow this link to learn more!
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