Propane Autogas Takes Center Stage at NTEA Green Truck Summit and Work Truck Show

WASHINGTON (Feb. 28, 2013) — When fleet managers visit the show floor at the at the Green Truck Summit March 5 and 6 and the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show March 6 to 8 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, they will see no fewer than eight exhibitors demonstrating vehicles fueled by propane autogas, a powerful, American-made fuel that helps fleets nationwide save money, meet their emission reduction goals, and become less dependent on foreign oil.

At the center of it all, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), in booth 5691, will display new propane autogas technology and direct attendees to the large selection of propane autogas vehicles available at the show. At the Green Truck Summit, PERC will demonstrate the economical and environment benefits of propane autogas at the forum “Propane Autogas & Your Fleet: The Latest Product Offerings,” March 6 from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

Led by Tucker Perkins, chief business development officer for PERC, the forum will illustrate the business case for propane autogas with leading manufacturers developing the technology. The panel includes presentations from Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing at Roush CleanTech, and Gordon Taylor, commercial product manager for Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.

“PERC’s investment in propane autogas research and development has expanded the portfolio of propane autogas vehicles on the market today,” Perkins said. “Partnerships with industry leaders such as Roush CleanTech and Freightliner Custom Chassis have strengthened propane autogas offerings, making the fuel the best value for fleet managers while significantly cutting harmful emissions.”

At the PERC booth, Freightliner Custom Chassis will showcase the production version of its S2G propane chassis with a propane bobtail body, as well as have a version available for ride-alongs and test-drives. The S2G will enter production later this summer and is the only factory-installed propane autogas engine available in the medium-duty truck market. It is equipped with CleanFuel USA liquid propane injected engine technology and a clean-burning 8.0-liter, 350-hp engine supplied by Powertrain Integration. The S2G is ideal for a variety of applications including pickup and delivery, student transportation, and municipal operations.

“The S2G offers fleet owners great return on investment with the affordability and abundant infrastructure of propane autogas, while also providing the only true, factory-installed and -supported propane chassis on the market,” said Bryan Henke, manager of product marketing at Freightliner. “With the S2G, fleet owners and drivers can lower both their operational costs and their fleet emissions with the S2G without compromising payload, power, or performance.”

Roush CleanTech's EPA- and CARB-certified Ford E-250 cargo van will also be on display at the PERC booth. Equipped with a 5.4-liter V8 engine, the Ford E-250 features the same Roush CleanTech liquid propane fuel system available nationwide on a variety of Ford trucks and vans, and delivers equivalent horsepower, torque, and towing capacity of gasoline models with significant reductions in exhaust emissions.

"Fleets nationwide are turning to Roush CleanTech to maximize fuel savings without compromising on performance," said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing at Roush CleanTech. "A typical Ford E-250 cargo van fueled by clean-burning, American-made propane autogas can save a fleet manager over $30,000 in operating costs over the life of the vehicle, with the added benefit of reduced emissions and lower maintenance costs."

Fleet managers can experience the full extent of propane autogas offerings at NTEA by picking up a “Propane Autogas Tour” roadmap from the PERC booth. The roadmap includes directions to all exhibitors featuring propane autogas vehicles, including GM, Ford Commercial Truck, Roush CleanTech, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc., Powertrain Integration, Knapheide, and Green Alternative Systems.

Two refueling dispensers on display at the booth will demonstrate the ease and efficiency of fueling options available with propane autogas. For more information about PERC and propane-autogas-fueled products, visit autogasusa.org.