PERC pushes ahead with efforts to grow the US Autogas market

The US market for propane Autogas has been very active in 2013, with the fuel garnering better name recognition and new and returning fleet customers putting more vehicles on the road. Fleet managers are aggressively adding alternative-fuel vehicles to their fleets, including Autogas-powered vehicles, primarily because of high gasoline and diesel costs as well as from a desire to lower emissions.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is continuing its partnership approach to grow the US Autogas market. This means investing in and guiding the research and development of engines and other technology. It also means contributing to the successful commercialisation of the products that are brought to market.

PERC works with many partners along the development and commercialisation pipeline. This year, companies like Blue Bird, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC), Roush CleanTech, CleanFuel USA and Thomas Built Buses have come to fore by bringing new products onto the market.

FCCC is in the midst of launching the S2G bobtail truck – the truck used to deliver fuel to residential and commercial customers across the United States (see the photo below). The US market for LP Gas remains heavily focused on space heating, water heating, power generation and industrial applications. The new S2G truck allows propane retailers to use LP Gas in their operations – saving both money for their business and showing their customers that they too can use LP Gas to power their vehicles. The industry has been following this development closely and advance orders are in hand. The bobtails should be in use this winter.

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