Monday, March 31, 2014

NPGA CALL TO ACTION: Tax Extenders Action Alert


TELL YOUR SENATORS YOU SUPPORT A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE
50 CENT PER GALLON ALTERNATIVE FUEL TAX CREDIT (Section 6426(d))     AND
THE REFUELING INFRASTRUCTURE TAX CREDIT (Section 30c)
  
NPGA just has learned that the Senate Finance Committee will markup a tax extenders bill next Wednesday, April 2, 2014

It is imperative that you contact both your Senators as soon as possible.
  
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator's office.  


Here are some talking points you can use when you get through to the office:
  
1.       Introduce yourself as a constituent from the state and ask for the staffer handling tax issues.  If  unavailable, ask for the energy staffer.

2.       When you get through to the staffer:

a.    Introduce yourself and your company again and state your interest in the Senate Finance Committee's markup of the tax extenders bill.

b. State that you are calling specifically about the extension of alternative fuel tax credits that currently include propane (aka liquefied petroleum gas)

c.   Urge the Senator to support a two-year extension of:                                  

i. The 50 cent per gallon alternative fuel tax credit covered in tax code Section 6426(d)

ii.  The refueling infrastructure tax credit covered in tax code Section 30(c).

3.  These tax credits are very important for the alternative fuel vehicle sector. They will spur growth of clean alternatives to gasoline and diesel, and they will help reduce harmful emissions.

4.       If your Senator is a Democrat, it is very important that you urge him or her to express support directly to Senator Wyden's office.

5.       If your Senator is a Republican, have them contact Senator Hatch's office to express support for your requests.

 6.       It will be very helpful if you would let us know the reaction you receive to  your phone calls, so email us at PropaneDays@npga.org This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

GNA Announces Keynote Speakers, Full Lineup for 2014 ACT Expo

Gladstein, Neandross and Associates (GNA), the organizer of the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, has announced the keynotes and full speaker lineup for the 2014 ACT Expo and co-located 2014 NGV Global event, scheduled for May 5-8 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif.

Market trends, including fueling technologies, dual-fuel options, new vehicle and engine technologies, and policy initiatives, will be highlighted throughout the four-day event. With a focus on peer-to-peer learning, case studies will be presented by a number of major fleets.

Dennis Slagle, head of commercial operations for the Volvo Group's truck brands (Mack, Volvo, Renault and UD) in the Americas, will deliver the opening keynote address on Tuesday, May 6. Slagle will share his company's latest sustainability advancements for heavy-duty trucks, as well as buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines.

Leading into the general session on Thursday, Ronald L. Litzinger, president of Southern California Edison, will share how his organization is advancing the electric drive industry, starting with the company's deployment of electric vehicle technologies in its own utility fleet.

The 2014 ACT Expo and NGV Global conferences will also provide off-site technical tours to local alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure projects; fueling, equipment, technology and vehicle displays in the expo hall; and a ride-and-drive with the latest light-, medium- and heavy-duty alternative fuel and clean technology vehicles.

Read more here.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

US to become top exporter of liquefied petroleum gas, experts say

HOUSTON — The U.S. is poised to become the top exporter of liquefied petroleum gas — more commonly known as propane or butane — within just a few years, officials with research analyst IHS said Monday.

By the 2020s, the U.S. likely will displace top LPG exporters including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, said IHS Senior Director Walt Hart, during the IHS International LPG Seminar in Houston. The domestic supply of propane and butane is on the rise, produced along with the booming output of U.S. shale gas. But the domestic market for propane and butane is relatively flat, several experts said.

That’s not the case abroad. While most U.S. LPG exports go to Latin America today, a growing portion likely will go to Asia as demand there rises, in part due to its use as a fuel source for heating and cooking but also because of its role as a feedstock for the manufacture of petrochemicals.

Chuck Carr, a senior director at IHS, said China is increasing production of propane dehydrogenation units, equipment designed to convert propane into propylene, a component used to make plastics. Meanwhile, the expansion of the Panama Canal could help facilitate exports of LPG to Asia. Read more here.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Webinar Covers Freightliner Custom Chassis MT-45/55 Powered by Autogas

This new webinar provides in-depth background on the propane-autogas chassis, engine, and injection system that are being used in the 1,000 UPS delivery trucks soon to hit the road. Reps from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp., CleanFUEL USA, and Powertrain Integration discuss their part in the project. Click here to access the webinar and here to access the presentation deck.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

PMAA Journal: Propane Autogas; How to Sell This American Motor Fuel



National Parks Roll on With Alternative Fuels

Stretching from sea to shining sea, millions of cars travel to and between America’s National Parks each year. Unfortunately, these vehicles produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and pollutants that threaten the air quality of these national treasures. To reduce these vehicles’ environmental impact, the Energy Department’s Clean Cities program and the National Park Service (NPS) announced new projects at nine parks that deploy alternative fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles on the road, cut vehicle idling, and improve vehicle efficiency.

Clean Cities and NPS are also releasing a collection of outreach materials that all parks can use to engage visitors and staff on the benefits of fuel-efficient driving practices. The launch of the Green Rides Toolkit expands the long-time collaboration between Clean Cities and NPS. The toolkit is a set of centralized educational materials addressing a variety of eco-friendly travel practices. These include reducing vehicle idling, developing green driving habits, using alternative fuels, driving more efficient vehicles, and adopting more sustainable forms of transportation such as mass transit, biking, and walking. Clean Cities and NPS created the toolkit based on feedback from the 13 National Parks already partnering with Clean Cities to educate the public.

Clean Cities and NPS are also announcing the nine newest parks to adopt alternative fuel vehicles and lawn mowers, install plug-in electric vehicle chargers, and implement idle-reduction programs. While some new participants are large, high-profile parks, others are small but will see major benefits. These parks worked with Clean Cities staff members and coalitions to identify solutions to improve their environment by reducing emissions in collaboration with visitors and the local communities. These nine projects are estimated to reduce petroleum use by more than 16,000 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs), reduce nearly 109 metric tons of green house gas emission equivalents (MTCO2e), and have the potential to communicate to and reach up to 2.7 million visitors.
  • Acadia National Park (Maine): Acadia, known for its wide array of outdoor activities and rugged coastal scenery, is working with Maine Clean Communities. The park will replace 10 existing vehicles with eight new alternative and fuel-efficient vehicles (two hybrid electric vehicles, two propane vans, and four low-speed electric vehicles with a trailer). Also, two electric vehicle charging stations (EVSE) for public and park vehicles will be installed.

  • Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland): Catoctin, a park in the Appalachian Mountains that actually includes Camp David within its boundaries, is working with the State of Maryland Clean Cities. The Park will replace two conventional vehicles with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and install three EVSE for park and public use. The Park will also replace three gasoline lawnmowers with propane mowers and share their use with a nearby military base.

  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Colorado): This Monument, which highlights a wealth of insect and plant fossils, is collaborating with Southern Colorado Clean Cities to replace two gasoline vehicles with two all-electric low-speed vehicles, install an EVSE, and deploy an all-electric utility vehicle.

  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee): The Great Smoky Mountains, America’s most visited National Park, is working with the East Tennessee Clean Fuels coalition and the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles coalition. It will be replacing three gasoline pickup trucks with three all-electric work trucks, converting five gasoline mowers to operate on propane, and install four public EVSE. Specifically, the Park plans to install two DC fast-charging EVSE that charge an all-electric vehicle in about a half hour and two Level 2 EVSE that charge an all-electric vehicle in four to six hours.

  • Nicodemus National Historic Site (Kansas): This Historic Site, which preserves the only remaining Western town founded by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period after the Civil War, is working with Kansas City Regional Clean Cities. Nicodemus is replacing a gasoline pickup truck and mower with a propane pickup truck and mower.

  • Petroglyph National Monument (New Mexico): This Monument, which contains volcanic cones and archeological sites, is working with the Land of Enchantment Clean Cities coalition to replace three gasoline vehicles with an all-electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hybrid electric vehicle. Petroglyph will also install two EVSE, with one available to the public.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park (Arkansas): This Park, which preserves a Civil War battle site, is working with Arkansas Clean Cities to replace a gasoline pickup truck with a dedicated propane truck. The Park will also develop a Green Team to educate staff, visitors, and students on sustainability and conservation.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Green vs. Green: Winners but no Losers

That trucking is greening ever faster was exceedingly evident to me while in Indy attending numerous news conferences and taking in a dizzying array of booth displays promoting the environmental bona fides of all sorts of truck equipment at the annual NTEA Work Truck Show.

In making the rounds at that sprawling event, what came across as clearly as a brilliant blue sky is just what a Herculean task it must be for fleet owners to determine exactly which green powertrain solutions and equipment options will best fit truck duty cycles and applications to both cut operating costs and trim carbon foot prints.

Speakers at the Green Truck Summit that accompanied the show delved into the nitty-gritty aspects of specific alternatives to running on diesel or gasoline, but nothing said there left me thinking any more than I had before that trucking will ever settle on one fuel to drive it all.

What I heard about this alternative fuel vs. that alternative fuel brought to mind the wordless comic strip “Spy vs. Spy” (which Mad magazine began running in 1961) that illustrates the antics of two spies who are identical-- except one is dressed in black and the other in white— and locked in ceaseless seesaw combat.

Much like the comic battles waged in Spy vs. Spy, it's a safe bet that trucking's Green vs. Green storyline will never yield a clear winner...

Of course, there are already several more than two players in the alt-fuel game (Biodiesel, Ethanol, CNG, LNG, LPG, Hydraulic Hybrid, Hybrid Electric, All Electric) with others expected to join in the pitch for fleet loyalties in the near (such as DME) and the longer term (such as Hydrogen).

Summit speaker Doyle Sumrall, NTEA managing director, perhaps said it best. “Fleet approaches to selecting alternative fuels remain eclectic,” he remarked. “Natural gas remains strong, but so do others.”

The point is the choices by which a fleet can be fueled to be green and save green are growing. And not even the proponents of any given alternative fuel suggest that their pony alone will win all the stakes.

While natural gas (in both its CNG and LNG forms) will arguably remain king of trucking’s green hill for some time to come, that other gaseous fuel propane autogas (LPG for short) made an awfully big splash at the show with the announcement by UPS that it plans to invest some $70 million to bring propane power into its U.S. fleet.

That investment will cover the purchase of 1,000 of its iconic “package car” medium-duty delivery trucks powered by propane autogas and the installation of an initial 50 LPG fueling stations at UPS-owned sites here.

Per UPS, the move “benefits from propane autogas’ wide availability as a result of increased natural gas production in the U.S. (LPG is a byproduct of natural gas), and there is more price stability with the accessible supply.”


Prototype UPS package car fueled by propane autogas on display at NTEA Work Truck Show, which was held March 4-7 in Indianapolis

Michael G. Britt, Sr., UPS’ director of Maintenance & Engineering International Operations, said the LPG-fueled step vans, to be built by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) will replace older gasoline- and diesel-powered units used largely in rural parts of Louisiana and Oklahoma. He added that propane use in other states is pending.

Later on, I asked Bryan Henke, FCCC’s manager—product marketing, for an OEM’s perspective on how the burgeoning market for alternatively fueled trucks may shake out.

Noting that FCCC currently builds trucks powered by diesel, gasoline, CNG and LNG and has prior experience with hybrid-electric powertrains, Henke said the company prides itself on “being a single-source [vehicle] provider based on the fleet’s fuel of choice.

“All fleets want to save money,” he continued. “But the [green] decision has to take in infrastructure, maintenance etc. You are not buying just the fuel. It all comes down to evaluating which power choice will best fit a fleet’s specific needs.”

Perhaps then, when it comes to green vs. green, there will be no winner— but also no losers. Full article here.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Work Truck Show 2014 Success Reflects Rebounding Industry

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Indianapolis, IN, was once again the center of the vocational truck universe as more than 10,000 industry professionals gathered for The Work Truck Show® 2014, March 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center. The event featured significant new product introductions, a day-and-a-half Green Truck Summit, more than 60 educational sessions, and a record number of ride-and-drive opportunities.

"The success of this year's Work Truck Show is reflective of the slow but steady growth our industry is currently enjoying," says Steve Carey, NTEA executive director. "Vocational trucks and equipment are the tools that millions of people rely on every day to get their jobs done. As the economy improves and budget restrictions ease, vocational fleets are able to start replacing older equipment. The Work Truck Show offers the best opportunity to see and try the latest products, get questions answered and develop a better understanding of industry trends, all in one place at one time."

The Work Truck Show is produced annually by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry. The event's educational conference, including the popular Green Truck Summit, kicked off on March 4. Altogether, 10,160 people attended The Work Truck Show 2014, making it one of the best-attended events in NTEA history.

More than 100 new products were introduced at the Show, including the 2016 Ford F-650 and F-750, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America's 2015 Canter FE130 cabover work truck, and many technology developments designed to improve work truck fuel utilization. Several companies also used the Show as a platform to announce new partnerships and technology adoptions. For example, UPS and the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) announced that UPS is buying 1,000 propane delivery trucks and building 50 fueling stations for a total investment of approximately $70 million.


One of the hottest areas in the work truck industry in recent years has been the development of sustainable technology. This trend has driven the ongoing popularity of the Green Truck Summit and the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive at The Work Truck Show. At the 2014 event, attendees had the opportunity to test-drive nearly 30 "green" vehicles for themselves between the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive and the new PERC-sponsored Propane Autogas Ride & Drive. Read more here.

Monday, March 17, 2014

ACT Expo 2014: Conference is a one-stop shop for all alternative fuels and weight classes

This year is shaping up to be a game-changer for clean transportation.  Across North America, electric vehicle adoption is increasing like never before with record sales reports.  Natural gas infrastructure for heavy-duty trucking continues to rapidly expand, with fleets regularly deploying NGVs from coast to coast.  Also, propane autogas is gaining traction, with sales of LPG-fueled vehicles doubling in 2013 and expected to continue this year; hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are emerging as an increasingly viable option, with several major OEMs debuting fuel cell models over the next few years; and biofuels are benefiting from technology gains and evolved policies.

With so many practical alternative fuel options on the market, the stage is set for the 2014 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, North America’s largest clean fleet expo.  Taking place May 5-8 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California, the conference will showcase the latest advanced technology solutions for all weight classes and alternative fuels, including electric, hybrid, hydrogen, natural gas, propane autogas, and renewables.

The 2014 ACT Expo program was crafted with input from high-volume fleets, including Frito-Lay, the City of Los Angeles, GE Capital, Penske,  UPS, Coca-Cola, Ryder System, and many others, as well as a U.S. Dept. of Energy Clean Cities committee and alternative fuel industry associations.  Here are a few highlights of the four-day event:
  • Fleet-focused agenda. Leading public and private fleets will share how their companies reduced fuel costs and emissions through clean transportation initiatives, as well as provide insight on the total cost of AFV ownership.  Breakout sessions will highlight the wide range of options for fueling, engines, efficiency improvements, and much more. 
  • Our biggest expo hall ever.  Transportation industry leaders will take over the Long Beach Convention Center, solidifying ACT Expo 2014 as the largest clean transportation event in North America’s history.  With more than 175 sponsors and exhibitors, the expo hall will showcase AFVs and engines for all weight classes; EVs, HEVs and PHEVs, LNG, CNG, and LPG engine conversion companies; vehicle charging and refueling technology; and equipment and station providers.
  • Hands-on ride & drive. Attendees will be able to test-drive dozens of AFVs for all applications.  Representatives will be on hand to discuss vehicle specs, helping fleet managers avoid trips to multiple OEM dealerships or technology/fuel specific shows.
  • Educational technical tours. Southern California is home to many of the largest and most successful AFV and clean infrastructure projects in the world.  Attendees can participate in guided off-site technical tours to receive real-time demonstrations and experience fully functioning facilities that utilize alternative fuels every day.
  • Co-located industry events. ACT Expo will be co-located with several industry events, including the NGV Global 2014 conference and exhibition, the Propane Education and Research Council Summit, the California Hydrogen Business Council Spring Summit, and a Trucking Efficiency workshop organized by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room.
With more than 3,500 stakeholders expected to convene in Long Beach—fleets, technology companies, OEMs, infrastructure developers, fuel providers, and policy makers—ACT Expo 2014 provides the perfect opportunity for fleet managers to make the connections necessary for alternative fuel project implementation.  Bottom line: If you are considering alternative fuels, this is the one show you need to be at. Read more here.

Propane Engine Fuel Summit Kicks off Annual Texas Show

Irving, Texas (PRWEB) March 13, 2014 - Propane has made headline news lately, and this month, it’s the only topic at the 2014 Propane Engine Fuel Summit in Irving, Texas, March 27.

Kicking off the AltCarExpo Texas, the propane summit has invited Texas municipalities, school districts and businesses to discuss the challenges and benefits of fueling with propane autogas, an environmentally friendly and cost effective engine fuel. Presentations from the City of Fort Worth, CleanFUEL USA, Dallas County Schools, Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities and Northwest Propane Gas Co., will cover topics such as refueling infrastructure, economic and environmental factors, propane industry equipment and more.

Curtis Donaldson, managing director and founder of Georgetown-based CleanFUEL USA, will discuss what’s to come during his presentation, “The Future of Propane Autogas.”

“As the leading alternative fuel in the United States, propane autogas has come a long way since it first appeared as an engine fuel in 1913. The possibilities for this fuel are just getting started,” Donaldson said. “This American-made resource is saving more than just cash at the pump. It’s driving job creation and energy security by keeping our fuel dollars within our own economy.”

Numerous laws and incentives in Texas promote the adoption of this widely available and affordable alternative fuel.

Now in its fourth year, the TSN Communications-produced Propane Engine Fuel Summit can be attended in person or viewed live via the free online webcast on March 27. There is no charge for online viewing, courtesy of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The agenda also features fleet managers who have adopted propane autogas vehicles in their fleet, executives from the Propane Education & Resource Council, ROUSH CleanTech, the Industrial Truck Association and more.

Industry partners of this year’s Propane Engine Fuel Summit include: U.S. Energy Department’s Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities, North Central Texas Council of Governments, AltCar Conference & Expo and TSN Communications. For more information on the 2014 Propane Engine Fuel Summit, visit altcarexpotexas.com. Read more here.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

UPS delivers a boost to propane as vehicle fuel

Most people - especially Texans - know propane as the fuel source that allows them to fire up a backyard barbecue in seconds.

Now it's also heating up as an alternative motor fuel, as companies with vehicle fleets embrace its lower costs and smaller environmental footprint relative to gasoline or diesel.

Shipping company UPS announced plans this month to spend $70 mil- lion on 1,000 propane-fueled vehicles and 50 refueling stations in the United States, where the company operates about 77,000 ground vehicles.

Other big companies also have added propane to their fuel mix.

Airport transportation service SuperShuttle touted its propane vehicles earlier this year, saying its 160 propane vehicles, including 30 in Houston, are reducing fuel costs by as much as 60 percent.

Last year, DirecTV announced plans to include more propane-fueled vans in its repair and installation fleet.

And in recent months, school districts in Texas, Arizona and Montana have announced the purchase of propane-powered buses.

The increased attention on propane, also known as autogas or liquefied petroleum gas, comes as the country enjoys a boom in domestic energy production.

Propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Primarily used for home heating and cooking, transportation represents just 2 percent of the fuel's domestic use, according to federal estimates. But that may be changing.

"It's starting to make a lot more sense, given the boom in domestic production," said Roy Willis, CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council, an industry group.

It is generally less expensive than gasoline, according to the Department of Energy, and emits fewer air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

The cleaner burn also extends engine life, advocates say.

"If you've got longer engine wear, the economics of that power system really goes to the bottom line in a beneficial way," Willis said.

Still, when it comes to alternative fuels for vehicles, compressed natural gas typically generates more buzz than propane. Texas energy magnate T. Boone Pickens is a cheerleader for CNG; propane has no such iconic champion.

Small players

And some of the world's largest companies produce and supply natural gas, while propane typically draws smaller players.

UPS officials say they were motivated to consider propane because of a desire to make a positive environmental impact, and also to save money.

They say the new vehicles will collectively travel more than 25 million miles and replace 3.5 million gallons of gasoline and diesel annually.

Mike Casteel, director of fleet procurement for UPS, says the company expects to pay $1.25 to $1.50 per gallon less for propane than for gasoline. A gallon of propane will only take a truck about 75 percent to 90 percent as far as a gallon of gasoline, but the savings still can amount to $1 per gallon or more. He also said the company believes growing domestic energy supplies will keep long-term propane prices stable.

Cost of fueling stations

UPS believes propane-powered vehicles could be more economical in some situations than compressed natural gas. Both fuels are less expensive than gasoline, but Casteel said propane fueling stations are cheaper to build than CNG stations.

It costs $37,000 to $175,000 to build a propane station, according to the Department of Energy, while a CNG station can cost millions of dollars.

Casteel says that price difference is especially significant for UPS, since it plans to use the 1,000 new propane vehicles in rural locations in Oklahoma, Louisiana and elsewhere.

In a big city hub with a large UPS fleet, a CNG facility might have made sense. Only 20-40 vehicles will use each of the new propane facilities, Casteel said.

Propane stations are simpler, Casteel said, partly because the fuel is stored in above-ground tanks and delivered by truck, so it doesn't require pipelines.

Rhea Courtney Bozic, principal of Clean Fuels Consulting, a New York company that helps companies plan alternative fuel fleets, said a growing number of manufacturers have been producing the components needed for propane vehicles, which might be helping to generate interest in the fuel. And the industry has improved its marketing of propane as a transportation fuel, she said.

Still, despite the move by UPS and others, propane vehicles represent just a fraction of vehicles on U.S. roads - about 140,000 of 250 million, according to the industry and the Energy Department.

Larger fuel tanks

The technology isn't perfect. Propane has slightly less energy content than gasoline. That means vehicles need more fuel and larger tanks to go the same range, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Whether purchased new or converted to use the fuel, propane-powered vehicles - like most vehicles running on alternative fuels - can cost thousands of dollars more than their gasoline equivalents. And cold weather earlier this year caused some propane users to suffer from spikes in their fuel costs.

Willis of the propane council said companies that have big fleets of propane vehicles tend to have long-term fuel contracts that insulate them from short-term price fluctuation.

"The cost of the fuel for fleets is very predictable," he said. Read more here.

Friday, March 14, 2014

STN: Technician Training Ramps Up for Alt-Fuel School Buses

Click here to read the article, page 42.

CleanFuel USA Offers Propane System for GMC C2500 Pickup

CleanFuel USA will offer a a GMC C2500 pickup truck with a propane autogas fueling system, the vehicle modifier has announced.

The GMC C2500 will arrive with a 6.0L V-8 engine equipped with CleanFuel's LPI system. The fueling system has been updated with new fuel rails for reduced weight and a simplified design. The updated system yields less heat absorption and promotes the liquid phase of the propane injection process, CleanFuel announced.

CleanFuel is pursuing EPA certification for the system, and plans to add it to modified GMC 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks and cargo vans running on propane autogas. The system was announced at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. Read more here.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

UPDATE 2-UPS to buy 1,000 propane-fueled delivery trucks for U.S. fleet

* Biggest purchase yet of propane vehicles

* U.S. propane output at all-time high

* Concerns have arisen about propane supply network

March 5 (Reuters) - United Parcel Service Inc is spending $70 million to add 1,000 propane trucks to its delivery fleet, the biggest bulk purchase of propane-fired vehicles yet as output of the fuel in the United States hits record highs.

The fleet, which UPS is buying from Daimler AG's Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp, will replace gasoline and diesel vehicles in Louisiana and Oklahoma, UPS said in a statement on Wednesday. The investment will include 50 new fueling stations.

The transition is expected to begin in the middle of this year and be completed early next year, UPS said. It also plans to introduce propane-fueled vehicles in other U.S. states.

The fleet, which adds to 900 propane trucks the courier company already runs in Canada, is expected to displace about 3.5 million gallons of gasoline and diesel per year, UPS said.

UPS, known for its brown delivery trucks, already has a fleet of about 3,150 alternative-fuel vehicles running on compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, biomethane and electricity.

Propane is "a clean-burning fuel that lowers operating costs and is readily accessible, especially on rural routes in the United States," said UPS Chief Operating Officer David Abney.

Output of propane, which is produced alongside oil and gas and is traditionally used for heating, it at all-time highs in the United States thanks to a drilling boom. Propane is on average between $1.25 and $1.50 per gallon cheaper than gasoline at the pump, a UPS spokeswoman said.

The cheap abundance has made propane a viable alternative to gasoline in recent years, rivaling natural gas and other niche fuels. There are currently about 200,000 propane-powered vehicles on U.S. roads. Last year, Home Satellite TV provider DISH Network Corp signed a deal to run 200 of its trucks on propane.

Despite higher output, however, the delivery network came under severe strain as cold weather drove heating demand higher this winter. Propane suppliers struggled to deliver enough fuel to millions of homes and businesses leading to supply rationing which caused prices to spike higher. A lack of pipelines led to an over reliance on trucks and trains to ship the fuel amid some of the coldest weather in decades

"We have identified some improvements that can be made in our infrastructure," said Roy Willis, president of the nonprofit Propane Education and Research Council, which expects 244,000 propane vehicles in the United States by 2020.

"But this (UPS deal) is a good sign of confidence that the challenges we experienced this winter were a short-term, weather-driven phenomenon." Read more here.

CleanFUEL USA Debuts Propane Autogas Option for Pickup-Truck Platform

CleanFUEL USA says it is now offering its liquid propane injection system for the GMC C2500 pickup truck with GM's 6.0-liter V8 engine.

"There is a gap in the light-duty market segment in that a large number of fleets are using these vehicles in day-to-day operations and are looking for an alternative to gasoline, diesel and natural gas," says Wayne Moore, chief operating officer of CleanFUEL USA. "Our 6.0L offerings help these fleets realize the benefits of propane autogas while experiencing no loss in power or payload."

CleanFUEL USA says it recently made enhancements to its propane autogas system that  simplify the overall design, as well as incorporate new fuel rails to reduce system weight, yield less heat absorption and promote the liquid phase of the propane injection process. Read more here.

Biodiesel, Propane Expect Big Growth in Trucks

Just because they’re big rigs doesn’t mean they have to be big polluters. Truckers and trucking interests have gathered this week in Indianapolis for the annual NTEA Work Truck Show and the Green Truck Summit being held in conjunction with the event. This article from FleetOwner.com says biodiesel and propane were talked as having some big growth potential in the trucking world.

“The vision of the U.S. biodiesel industry is to see 5% of the petroleum diesel used replaced with biodiesel by 2015 and 10% by 2022,” advised Jennifer Weaver, OEM Outreach & education program specialist for the National Biodiesel Board.

“That 5% alone would equal 1.88 billion gallons of biodiesel,” she continued, noting that “2013 was a banner year for biodiesel and the momentum is with it going into 2014.

And looking out to 2040, Weaver said by then “diesel will account for 70% of the growth in demand for all transportation fuels.”

Meanwhile, Tucker Perkins, chief business development officer for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), sees propane autogas as “the little engine that could” as it is being adopted by more private and municipal fleets.

“Propane autogas is not a Class 8 fuel,” he hastened to add. “It’s primarily going into light-duty pickups and vans and is moving into the medium-duty market mostly in school buses but the future includes medium-duty trucks as well.”

Perkins added that propane can be stored at a low pressure as a liquid and infrastructure costs are pretty minimal for an operation. Read more here.

FCCC introduces propane-powered chassis

INDIANAPOLIS. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) is adding a propane-autogas chassis to its lineup. The MT-45 chassis is being showcased this week at the NTEA Work Truck Show.

The chassis is the basis for UPS, which announced here that it would be adding 1,000 propane-autogas MTs to its fleet over the next several years.

The MT-45 propane autogas chassis features a GM 6.0L V8 engine offering 308 hp. and 367 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm; a liquid propane injection system with 48-gal., 16 in. x 75 in., right-hand-mounted propane tank; GVWR of up to 19,500 lbs.; flat leaf front suspension rated to 7,000 lbs.; and flat leaf spring rear suspension rated to 12,500 lbs.

Additionally, the chassis includes an Allison 1000HS automatic transmission with park pawl and comes standard with 50 deg. wheel cut and 19.5-in. tires.

A 3-year/50,000-mi. warranty with towing and roadside assistance and 24/7 factory direct customer support offered. Read more here.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Propane fuel finds its place on America's backroads

NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - Propane, once considered a low value by-product of U.S. oil and natural gas production, is finding its niche as a transport fuel in rural America where other gasoline alternatives struggle to gain a foothold.

The propane being pumped into trucks and buses that ply America's backroads is generally cheap, abundant and requires a simple infrastructure to deliver. That gives it an advantage over natural gas and electricity, the non-oil power sources often used for vehicles in cities or on major highways.

On Wednesday, United Parcel Service made the biggest bulk purchase of propane-powered vehicles in the United States, taking 1,000 such trucks to replace gasoline and diesel vehicles in rural parts of Louisiana and Oklahoma. In the $70 million deal, UPS also plans to build 50 fueling stations.

UPS has already shifted some of the firm's trademark brown-van fleet to using natural gas, which remains the cheapest alternative fuel at current prices. Those running more rural routes have proved more difficult to wean away from oil.

"All this time we have been looking for opportunities to deploy in smaller scale and propane fits that bill perfectly," said Mike Casteel, director of fleet procurement at UPS. "The propane infrastructure is very low cost, it's a fraction of natural gas."

The shift shows how the U.S. shale energy boom continues to change the way America uses energy, with abundant natural gas and other by-products like propane further eroding oil's decades-long dominance as a transportation fuel.

Natural gas remains the leading alternative for heavy duty vehicles, including ships and potentially even locomotives, but interest in propane is slowly rising, especially in rural regions where many homes still rely on the gas for heating.

Roush CleanTech, which makes propane fuel systems for trucks and buses, this week unveiled its first propane-fueled Ford F-59 van. It expects total propane unit sales to rise to 6,500 units this year, up from nearly 4,000 last year, according to Todd Mouw, a VP of sales and marketing at Roush.

BUCK TWENTY-FIVE A GALLON

UPS's move comes as fleet owners look to cut fuel bills by moving to cheaper alternatives. A drilling boom has pushed down the price of propane and natural gas way below gasoline.

Propane offers savings of on average $1.25 per gallon at the pump. Natural gas can be even lower.

Interest does not appear to have been dimmed by the sharp but brief spike in price during this year's bitter winter, which shone a light on infrastructure constraints and export projects that contributed to shortages across the Midwest.

"Propane supplies are growing in the U.S.," said Roy Willis, president of the nonprofit Propane Education and Research Council. "The problems this winter were just driven by extraordinary demand for heating."

The interest is propelled in part by the ease of building a propane fueling station. Natural gas or liquefied natural gas fuelling stations can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to build. An above-ground propane tank, meanwhile, can be installed in a day for less than $50,000.

Propane, delivered to filling stations in trucks, does not need to be hooked into a pipeline system, as is the case with natural gas. Read more here.

Green Trucking: Choices for fleets yet abound

INDIANAPOLIS. Speakers here on a kickoff panel of the annual Green Truck Summit, held in conjunction with this week’s NTEA Work Truck Show, made one thing clear—alternative fuels for trucking will remain a matter of considerable choice, and for years to come.

For example, Doyle Sumrall, NTEA managing director, pointed out that the “infrastructure is growing for public stations” offering a range of alternative fuels— including biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane autogas (LPG)—and that “fleet approaches to selecting alternative fuels remain eclectic. Natural gas remains strong, but so do others.”

“The vision of the U.S. biodiesel industry is to see 5% of the petroleum diesel used replaced with biodiesel by 2015 and 10% by 2022,” advised Jennifer Weaver, OEM Outreach & education program specialist for the National Biodiesel Board.

“That 5% alone would equal 1.88 billion gallons of biodiesel,” she continued, noting that “2013 was a banner year for biodiesel and the momentum is with it going into 2014.

Weaver said there are now 115 EPA-registered biodiesel production plants nationwide and that biodiesel and blends are now available from 630 distributors and 659 retailers as well as at 506 truckstops. “There are at least 1,995 public fueling locations for biodiesel,” she added.

According to Weaver, the future is bright in part for biodiesel simply because diesel itself is forecast to become the number-one transportation fuel globally by 2020. She noted that, per ExxonMobil, diesel will surpass gasoline globally on its way to that distinction.

And looking out to 2040, Weaver said by then “diesel will account for 70% of the growth in demand for all transportation fuels. She advised that, over the same time frame, the share held by natural gas will rise to 4% from the 1% it holds today.

Turning to a concern about biodiesel that has influenced fleet owners, Weaver pointed out that now “all OEMs selling diesel equipment in the U.S. support [the use of] at least B5 and lower-level blends and over 70% support B20 or higher in at least some of their equipment.” She added that “nearly 90% of [the] medium- and heavy truck markets support B20.”

Tucker Perkins, chief business development officer for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), called propane autogas “the little engine that could” as it has become an alternative fuel for numerous large fleets, including private fleets such as Frito Lay and Coca Cola as well as municipalities, that operate a diverse range of vehicles.

Perkins said sales activity for LPG-fueled vehicles reached 14,000 units in 2013, with those roughly split 50/50 between OEM orders—chiefly from Ford and GM— and aftermarket conversions. He added that the sales mix was 75% light-duty and 25% medium-duty vehicles.

“Propane autogas is not a Class 8 fuel,” he hastened to add. “It’s primarily going into light-duty pickups and vans and is moving into the medium-duty market mostly in school buses but the future includes medium-duty trucks as well.”

As to why a fleet would choose propane autogas when “all you read about is natural gas,” Perkins said it is because while LPG is produced from natural gas, it can be stored as a liquid at a low pressure.

“And,” he continued, “installing fueling infrastructure for propane autogas is a non-event—an initial cost of [approximately] $40,000 and [the system] is not expensive to maintain.”

Perkins added that while there are already some 3,000 public LPG fueling locations in the U.S., “the propane autogas industry is now also going after the centrally fueled fleets. The future [for LPG] is here and we see nothing but continuing growth across existing and other [OEM] platforms.” Read more here.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

New Propane Autogas Vehicle Offering: GMC C2500 Pick-up Truck

During The Work Truck Show in Indianapolis this week, we announced a new vehicle offering, the GMC C2500 pick-up truck, equipped with a 6.0-liter engine and liquid propane injection system

Read more about our new truck offering as well as our CFT PRO 6100 propane autogas refueling dispenser at: LP Gas Magazine

Freightliner Custom Chassis S2G Propane Powered Truck


Two vehicles equipped with CleanFUEL USA’s LPI system are available to test drive at the Propane Autogas Ride & Drive event during the NTEA Work Truck Show.

The GM G4500 cut-van chassis along with the Freightliner Custom Chassis 8L S2G with a Linebacker Crane Truck body by Signature Truck Systems are available.
Go give them a spin and tell us what you think!

CleanFUEL USA OEM Sales Manager, Matthew Koshinski stands next to the
Freightliner Custom Chassis 8L S2G with a Linebacker Crane Truck body

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Bloomberg TV: UPS Turns to Propane in $70M Alternate-Energy Push

Today, United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) announced it will spend $70 million to buy 1,000 delivery trucks powered by propane and build 50 fueling stations as it expands one of the largest private alternative-energy fleets in the U.S.

Check out this great video on Bloomberg Television’s “In The Loop” by chief national correspondent, Carol Massar examining the $70 million investment in propane-fueled vehicles by UPS as it diversifies its delivery fleet with alternative-fuel vehicles.

UPS® Utilizing CleanFUEL USA Liquid Propane Injection Systems and Propane Autogas Refueling Stations for Delivery Truck Fleet Installation


INDIANAPOLIS, IN NATIONAL TRUCK EQUIPMENT (NTEA) WORK TRUCK SHOW ––

March 5, 2014 CleanFUEL USA, an industry leader in propane autogas technology, today announced that UPS® will be using CleanFUEL USA’s Liquid Propane Injection (LPI) system in its planned purchase of 1,000 propane autogas package delivery trucks, as well as multiple refueling stations across the United States.
 
The UPS announcement marks one of the single largest alternative fuel vehicle purchases in the package delivery industry, and we are thrilled to provide CleanFUEL USA equipment to help the company invest in an environmentally friendly energy source and realize cost savings with American-made propane autogas,” said Curtis Donaldson, founder and managing partner of CleanFUEL USA.
 
The UPS delivery truck is based on a new CleanFUEL USA offering, the Freightliner Custom Chassis MT-45 walk-in van with CleanFUEL USA LPI system and 6.0L engine provided by Powertrain Integration. The truck will be on display in the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) booth, #5103. The MT-45/55 application is CARB and EPA certified.
 
As well today, CleanFUEL USA announced its new vehicle offering, the GMC C2500 pick- up truck equipped with 6.0L engine and CleanFUEL USA LPI system, which is proven to be one of the most technologically advanced propane autogas systems available in the United States. This recently updated system includes a simplified design and new fuel rails for reduced weight, yielding less heat absorption and promoting the liquid phase of the propane injection process. The new vehicle offering is on display in booth #5291, along with CleanFUEL USA’s CFT PRO 6100 propane autogas refueling dispenser.
 
“There is a gap in the light-duty market segment in that a large number of fleets are using these vehicles in day-to-day operations and are looking for an alternative to gasoline, diesel and natural gas. Our 6.0L offerings help these fleets realize the benefits of propane autogas while experiencing no loss in power or payload,” said Wayne Moore, COO of CleanFUEL USA.

CleanFUEL USA is expected to soon gain EPA certification for a vast number of General Motors (GM) 6.0L light-duty applications, including GM’s 2500/3500 pick-up trucks and cargo vans.

Propane autogas is the third most widely used transportation fuel globally, and is proven to be the most attractive option from an economic and environmental standpoint. Already the leading alternative fuel in the United States, propane autogas costs an average of 30 to 40 percent less than gasoline, and up to 50 percent less than diesel. The lowest greenhouse gas emitting fuel, vehicles fueled by propane autogas emit 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, 60 percent less carbon monoxide and up to 25 percent less greenhouse gases.