Propane autogas vehicle sales increased by almost 8 percent in 2016 compared with 2015 sales figures, according to data compiled by the Propane Education & Research Council. The more than 14,000 vehicles sold in 2016, comprising light-, medium-, and heavy-duty propane autogas trucks (OEM dedicated or aftermarket conversions), constitutes the most vehicles sold in a…
Last week the Commodity Classic opened in San Antonio, Texas. The organizers will tell you that the Commodity Classic is “America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show — unlike any other farm show you’ve ever seen.” That’s where you will find Cinch Munson, director of agriculture business development for the Propane Education & Research…
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is expanding its Quick-Connect Nozzle Incentive Program availability to fleets and doubling the incentive amounts for applicants. Effective immediately, private fleets and public refueling stations are eligible to apply for the incentive program, which will now provide $100 per tank-side connector and $1,000 per hose-end connector. “The quick-connect…
Mack Trucks is reigniting interest in Dimethyl Ether, or DME, a clean-burning alternative to diesel, with a new field test to be conducted in partnership with Oberon Fuels and New York City’s sanitation department. The test, using a Class 8 Mack Pinnacle tractor with a 13-liter engine, began this week and is scheduled to run…
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $18 million in support of five projects for research, development and demonstration of new plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and direct-injection propane engine technologies, as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that operate on alt-fuel such as biodiesel, electricity, E85, hydrogen, natural…
Alliance AutoGas, an international network providing a comprehensive propane autogas solution to medium- and heavy-duty fleets, says it has aligned with Donaldson Co. to release a new line of clean, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filters and propane filters that remove potentially harmful particulate matter and heavy ends from propane systems. According to the joint release, the…
Vehicles powered by propane autogas — a bottled fuel consumers also use in barbecue grills and for home heating — occupy a small but growing alternative-fuel niche, mostly for fleets of medium trucks, vans and buses. Servicing propane autogas vehicles offers dealerships another source of business without a big investment, says Micheal Smyth, the…
The City of Redmond, Wash., has converted 10 of its service vehicles to propane autogas in order to reduce its carbon footprint and as part of a proof of concept project for autogas fuel. According to Blue Star Gas, a full-service propane distribution company, the converted service vehicles include two Ford F-150s, one F-250, three…
Powered by propane on the farm has new meaning with New Holland’s launch of the third-generation Alternative Fuels Tractor prototype powered by propane autogas. The propane tractor was a hit during the recent Farm Progress Show. I got all the details about the cutting-edge tractor from New Holland’s Mike Cornman who said the concept tractor…
Blossman Services Inc. (BSI), a subsidiary of Blossman Gas Inc. and the equipment distributor for Alliance AutoGas, is now offering what it says is the first autogas liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) evacuation pump of its kind in the U.S., designed to remove propane from autogas tanks when service or repairs are required. According to BSI,…
The expanded Panama Canal is now open for commercial transit. The Panama Canal Authority held an inauguration ceremony June 26 to commemorate the expanded canal, which has received more than 170 reservations for transit through the new passageway. The first commercial passage of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessel through the canal’s new locks followed…
After looking at natural gas and other alternative fuels, General Distributors decided to try out propane autogas in its beverage fleet to see how it worked. “Cost savings and longevity both influenced our decision to switch to propane,” said Don Lewis, chief financial officer of General Distributors. When it comes to cost savings, the beverage…
Using propane to increase power and save fuel costs in a diesel engine – Farm operators, over-the-road truckers and construction equipment operators are starting to take a hard look at using propane injected into a diesel engine to gain several advantages, including more power and reduced cost. Those marketing the dual-fuel system claim it is…
PPI (Propane Performance Industries) – a company from New Zealand – manufactures very interesting LPG tanks, which are characterized by original design and by being made of unconventional material. Autogas has always been stored in heavy steel containers of cylindrical shape and it’s the shape that caused them to take up a lot of space in vehicles.…
U.S. EPA Certification Is Expected this Summer Watch for Icom North America to offer liquid injection equipment for a propane autogas-gasoline bi-fuel Ford F-150 pickup with gaseous-prep 5.0-liter V-8 engine. U.S. EPA certification is expected this summer, says chairman Albert Venezio. The Propane Education and Research Council displayed a Ford F-150 with the newly announced…
In some clean cities across the nation, several unions are beginning to take practical steps to curb the use of petroleum, however we have always known more of that could be possible and achievable. That is the reason we were content to see another study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which demonstrated some of…
Increased oil refining in Canada and the United States is producing record qualities of propane gas, keeping prices attractive for use in commercial truck applications. What many people don’t know is that propane is actually a much more efficient fuel for vehicles, with clean burning properties, lowered emissions, and economical feasibility for station installation on…
Rapidly gaining popularity as cleanest and most environmentally friendly automotive fuel, Autogas is 50% more cost effective than using a petrol vehicle Road travel remains an essential feature of the world’s transportation mix, and is of tremendous importance to the many commuters who use this mode of transport. Autogas is the most commonly used and…