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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A Letter from Alliance AutoGas President 2022
March 11, 2022
Americans are scrambling again to adjust to rapidly escalating costs for gasoline and diesel. These costs have been creeping into the supply chain for months, affecting everything from food to clothing and medications. The best solution available right here and right now is in plain sight – propane autogas – a transportation fuel used by more than 29 million vehicles globally.
Economic Efficiency
AutoGas has 50% less CO2 emissions than an electric vehicle when considering the source of electricity in our country. The fuel cost savings are an average of 35% lower than gasoline and autogas is domestically produced. Sadly, we are exporting enough propane out of the United States to fuel more than 5 million commercial vehicles.
Domestic Energy
Global issues and disruptions in far-away lands are affecting the lives of people here at home. These events illustrate that energy security is important. It has been for decades. Why wouldn’t our US fleets use a transportation fuel that is better for the environment, more cost effective than traditional fuels, and reduces our dependence on foreign countries? Every company moving essential products and providing services should ask themselves this question.
Alliance AutoGas is ready to help your company make a transition to autogas, with our world-class technology that can be installed on new or existing vehicles. Don’t change the vehicle, change the fuel and make the switch to propane autogas now.
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Alliance AutoGas (AAG), a national alternative fuel company based in Asheville, NC, and Bass Pro Shop’s Big Cedar Lodge, a premier Wilderness Resort in the Ozark Mountains, are highlighting their new partnership at this year’s NTEA Work Truck Week (WTW22) event. An autogas hybrid Big Cedar shuttle van will be displayed in the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) booth. Work Truck Week, North America’s largest work truck event presented by the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), takes place March 8–11, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Located in Ridgedale, MO, Big Cedar was ranked as the “#1 Resort in the Midwest” for four years in a row in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. AAG, in collaboration with the Missouri Propane Gas Association, partnered with Big Cedar in November of 2021 to convert two of their guest shuttles to autogas. Autogas, the third most popular automotive fuel in the world, is the name for propane when used as a vehicle fuel. When compared to gasoline, autogas substantially reduces greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide. From transporting its guests between their resort golf courses, to picking up guests from the airport, Big Cedar shuttles stay on the road 18 hours a day. Each one of the converted vans runs an average of 120,000 miles per year, resulting in CO2 emissions reductions from one van alone being the equivalent of 584 trash bags of waste being recycled instead of going to the landfill, or the carbon sequestered by 16.8 acres of US forest in one year.
The passenger shuttle on display is a 2021 Chevrolet G3500 with 6.6 liter direct-injected engine, converted with an Alliance Engineered System featuring technology from Prins, a pioneer in fuel system development for more than 35 years. The autogas shuttles in the Big Cedar fleet are bi-fuel, hybrid vehicles, also operating on gasoline, eliminating range anxiety. AAG is the exclusive distributor of Prins Alternative Fuel Systems in the US.
Josh Budworth, Business Development Manager for AAG, says “Big Cedar Lodge has an outstanding team that is committed to focusing on sustainability throughout their entire operation. We are excited to partner with Big Cedar to develop their autogas program and look forward to helping them reduce their carbon footprint.”
AAG will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, March 9th in the Propane Education & Research Council booth #5591 beginning at 3:10 p.m. The event will cover the autogas program in further detail and showcase one of the Big Cedar converted autogas shuttles.
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Since 1961, Roy Jorgensen Associates (Jorgensen) has provided maintenance consultant services, facility maintenance operations, and roadway maintenance services throughout the United States. One of the roadway programs Jorgensen oversees is the Road Ranger Service Patrol Fleet. The Road Ranger fleet provides incident management response services and limited no-cost highway assistance to motorists to improve highway safety for emergency responders and the motoring public. In 2015, Jorgensen collaborated with Alliance AutoGas (AAG) to begin a pilot propane autogas program. Autogas, the name for propane when used as a vehicle fuel, has many benefits including decreased fuel cost per gallon, greater vehicle uptime, and reduced harmful emissions.
“After learning about the work Jorgensen was doing with the Road Ranger fleet and how much mileage their fleet puts on throughout a year, I knew AAG could offer a great autogas program that would improve their operation,” says Ed Hoffman, president of Blossman Services, the autogas system distribution partner of AAG. The autogas vehicles used by the Road Ranger fleet operate throughout Florida’s southeastern coast. There are approximately 40 autogas vehicles in the Road Ranger fleet, and since beginning their program in 2015, the fleet recently celebrated refueling with their one millionth gallon of autogas this past July.
“Our autogas program has been an eye-opener on what alternative fuel can do for fleets,” says Ernie Molina, Vice President for Roy Jorgensen Associates. “The cost saving benefit compared to diesel or gasoline was evident, however, the other benefits make a big difference for the Road Ranger fleet.” One of those benefits include AAG providing the infrastructure for a personal refueling center. “The maintenance vehicles have to refuel often, as they’re providing service 24/7 every day of the year. Having access to our own refueling station for whenever we need it is a game changer,” says Molina.
From extreme temperatures to hurricane season, the Florida climate requires durable transportation. The majority of the vehicles in the Road Ranger Patrol Fleet travel over 100,000 miles per year. “One aspect that we like about our autogas vehicles and working with AAG is how reliable the systems are. We can count on our autogas vehicles no matter what the weather conditions are, and we do not have to worry about fuel prices inflating like gasoline or diesel. We also save on things such as DEF fluid.”
Another key aspect Jorgensen was interested in when they started the autogas pilot program was making a difference environmentally. Propane-converted vehicles emit 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than vehicles running on gasoline and 80 percent fewer smog-producing hydrocarbon emissions than vehicles running on diesel. For the Road Ranger fleet, using over a million gallons of autogas is the equivalent to planting 280,761 trees that grow for ten years according to EPA calculations.
When asked about surpassing one million gallons of autogas, Molina says “Knowing the environmental difference Jorgensen and the Road Ranger fleet has made by using a million gallons of autogas is quite remarkable. Jorgensen continues to be impressed by the Road Ranger autogas program and we will be mindful of what autogas can provide moving forward.” Hoffman of Blossman Services adds “Jorgensen has been a great partner to work with. The Road Ranger fleet is a great example of autogas shinning in vehicles putting on high mileage, often in extreme weather conditions, and working around the clock.”
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Also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), autogas is the common name for when propane is used as a fuel for an on-road vehicle. Autogas is composed of three parts carbon and eight parts hydrogen making it a highly efficient, low carbon producing fuel.
Where does it come from and how does it work?
Over ninety-nine percent of autogas is produced in America, increasing energy security by reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. Autogas comes from two domestic processes: it is a by-product of both natural gas processing and the crude oil refining process. Propane is stored as a liquid in a relatively low-pressure tank and travels along a fuel line into the engine compartment. The supply of propane to the engine is controlled by a regulator or vaporizer, which converts the liquid propane to a vapor. The vapor is fed to a mixer located near the intake manifold, where it is metered and mixed with filtered air before being drawn into the combustion chamber where it’s burned to produce power.
Is it an alternative fuel?
Autogas is an approved, alternative clean fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act and National Energy Policy act of 1992. In fact, autogas burns cleaner than gasoline, is largely produced in the United States, and lowers fuel costs when compared to traditional gasoline and diesel.
Is using autogas in my vehicle safe?
Made from high carbon steel, autogas vehicle tanks are 20 times more puncture resistant than conventional plastic gasoline tanks. Autogas is nontoxic, nonpoisonous, not a groundwater contaminant, and has the lowest flammability range of any alternative fuel including gasoline. Autogas is safe and meets the same standards for safety as conventionally fueled vehicles.
Is it environmentally friendly?
One of the best reasons to switch to autogas is that it is an environmentally friendly fuel. Autogas is a cleaner-burning fuel that provides less harmful emissions than gasoline. Autogas can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by up to 20 percent, nitrous oxide emissions by up to 40 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 18 percent.
What are the benefits?
Autogas has a number of benefits in several areas such as:
It is less expensive than gasoline or diesel.
It produces fewer harmful greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline or diesel.
Drivers report that compared to conventional gasoline, autogas provides superior performance and equivalent power.
Over a vehicle’s lifetime, autogas provides more vehicle uptime because it’s a clean-burning alternative fuel that doesn’t require the same expensive repairs and replacement parts compared to other fuels such as diesel.
It is domestically produced, increasing America’s energy security.
Refueling infrastructure can be customized to fit each autogas fleet’s individual needs.
Want to learn more about what Alliance AutoGas can do for your fleet? Contact us today!
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With the first day of school around the corner, everyone involved is bracing for the challenges ahead. School transportation is no exception to those challenges, as many school districts will be seeking cost-effective solutions to achieve maximum comfort and safety for their riders, whenever buses begin operation again.
While schools plan for the future, many Southeast school systems currently benefit from the financial, environmental, and operational benefits of using alternative fuel in their school bus fleets. With the school year upon on us bringing difficult challenges both financially and operationally, autogas school buses can provide needed solutions for school districts.
Henry County Schools, near Atlanta, GA, selected Blossman Gas to provide the fuel needed for their autogas bus fleet. Blossman Gas, along with partner Superior Energy Systems, provided the county with refueling infrastructure to ensure the school district had the capability of refueling on-site. “We are excited about the 33 propane buses now in the fleet, all of which have completed the annual inspection and are ready for the opportunity to transport our students to school when that time comes,” says Cliff Shearouse, Executive Director of Transportation for Henry County Schools.
“The autogas buses have proven to have a lower cost of ownership as the maintenance and fuel costs are less to operate compared to our diesel buses. Our district will save approximately $60,000.00 this year by operating the 33 propane fueled buses rather than the equivalent diesel buses. These savings will help offset the costs associated with our required COVID-19 cleaning procedures as well as the budget reductions, which stem from the expected economic effects of the pandemic,” says Shearouse.
Propane Autogas Benefits
Autogas is less expensive than conventional gasoline and diesel, with an average savings between 30-50%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The price volatility of gasoline and diesel can make it challenging to predict a budget cost for school administrators. With additional funds now needed in school districts for sanitization materials, providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to both students and school employees, and having to possibly increase both custodial employees and school nurses, cost-effective solutions such as autogas can be a ready solution for school systems.
Additionally, when compared to gasoline or diesel, autogas substantially reduces greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide (NOx). This is substantial because NOx emissions are a known accelerator for issues like asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems students may be facing. According to EPA calculations, the 84,000 gallons of autogas used by Henry County Schools has displaced 2,615 barrels of oil, and 2,072 short tons of GHG emissions.
Operational Benefits of Propane Autogas Buses
When looking at operational benefits, propane autogas has an edge over other alternative fueled vehicles, such as electric buses. Autogas buses don’t have the range restrictions of electricity, which could require buses to return to recharge in the middle of a route. This could be a key factor this upcoming school year, as routes may change from day to day depending on potential new student schedules.
While schools were out of session due to COVID-19, Phillips Energy, partner of Alliance AutoGas, a nationwide network providing autogas vehicles equipment and infrastructure, helped ensure school-aged children were delivered meals while not being able to attend school. Newport News Public Schools, a customer of Phillips Energy, used propane-powered buses to deliver meals for students daily while school was out of session due to the COVID-19 shutdown. The bus drivers and staff members were able to practice social distancing, while also providing a small degree of normalcy for students who experienced disruptions in their education. Brian Hanna, Teacher for Newport News Public Schools, says “With the shut-down of public schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic, The City of Newport News used propane-powered buses to deliver meals for students daily. We used propane buses because they are more reliable and do not require diesel to operate.”
School districts are all looking for certainty from their fleet of buses, and autogas can provide that certainty. As of last year, more than one million students across 48 states ride propane autogas buses to school. Providing financial, operational, and sustainable solutions across the board, autogas buses provide benefits for school districts that are readily available to be utilized.
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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. “AAG was able to quickly deliver and install a propane vehicle refueling station for the town that is as similar to operate as going to your regular gasoline station,” says David Kennedy, Director of Autogas Design at Alliance AutoGas. “The Town of Greeneville officers can easily drive up, activate, and fill their vehicles with propane at their very own convenient AAG propane station.” When speaking on the refueling infrastructure, Smith added, “With the new infrastructure, our officers can refuel their vehicles quickly while being able to easily respond to calls. It makes refueling very convenient for our department.”
The Alliance AutoGas National Network also includes AAG Certified Service and Installation centers. Kyker’s Extreme Automotive, which is owned and operated by Dale and Lisa Kyker, has served the Greeneville area since 1982, and has a long history of servicing the town of Greeneville’s vehicles. As such, it was only natural that Kyker’s became a certified Service and Installation Center so that they were able to continue maintaining the town’s vehicles. “We actually started propane conversions in 1988 for a local fleet, and one of those trucks is still in use today,” said Dale Kyker. “Working with AAG has been simple, straight-forward, and the training was top notch. The AAG conversion systems are relatively flawless and very well designed. We believe propane is a great alternative fuel with less of a carbon footprint than gasoline. It can save the taxpayer money and increase our officer’s ability to stay on the scene, which makes it a win for everyone involved.”
In times of emergencies, like the current fight against COVID-19, fuel uncertainty is among many concerns for fleets across the country. Propane autogas is produced domestically, which provides a reliable fuel source for all essential employees who are utilizing the alternative fuel. Autogas gives fleets independence by not having to rely on foreign fuel and provides the ability to focus on whatever is needed out of a particular fleet during a crisis. “Having an additional fuel source helps maintain the town’s ability to provide critical services to the residents of Greeneville in times of shortages and emergencies,” says Todd Smith.
Alliance AutoGas member Blossman Gas is the refueling partner in this project. Scott Prewitt, Regional Vice President for Blossman Gas says, “Blossman is proud to have the opportunity to serve the town and this police department. It shows how much their leadership cares about the residents they serve. Autogas gives fleets a peace of mind for the department in knowing they have a sustainable domestic fuel source.” To date, the Town of Greeneville has used 18,500 gallons of autogas, which according to EPA calculations displaces 566 barrels of oil and 448 short tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Happy Fox, an Alternative Fuel Consultant for AAG says, “The Town of Greeneville has an outstanding team that is committed to serving the local community. They have been great to work with in regards to their autogas program.” When discussing the future of the propane autogas program, Todd Smith added, “Propane now is an option to consider when looking at alternative fuel sources across the Town of Greeneville. We are currently discussing being able to expand our program for local school buses among other departments.”
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