City of Austin Saves More Than $299,000 per Year by Going Green With Propane Autogas

AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - December 12, 2013) - The City of Austin saves $299,200 per year by operating vehicles on greener, domestically produced propane autogas, the world's most popular alternative fuel. The City of Austin runs 224 propane autogas vehicles and 36 propane-powered mowers across multiple departments, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Public Works, Water, Energy, Parks, Resource Recovery, Watershed Protection and Planning & Development.

The City of Austin began using propane in 1999, and currently uses an estimated 120,000 gallons of propane per year. The City's propane fleet includes 224 Ford F-150s, Ford F-250s, Chevy 2500s and Chevy 3500s; 36 Toro lawn mowers; and 10 off-road propane vehicles. Fleets that switch to propane autogas can expect to save 30-50 percent on fuel costs and experience reduced vehicle and mower maintenance.

"The City of Austin is committed to the use of alternative fuel," Bruce Kilmer, Operations Support Division Manager, explained. "We are working with many manufacturers and technologies to broaden our alternative fuel usage. We continue to expand the use of propane vehicles in our fleet. Our fuel usage must be as diverse as possible to meet our alternative fuel goals, as well as ensure we do not become tied to one technology. Propane offers a stable fuel source that has a well-established supply chain and an evolved technology."

The City of Austin is one of many municipalities across Texas that are choosing propane autogas. "More and more local governments are recognizing the benefits of propane autogas," said Jackie Mason, Education & Marketing Director for the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT). "In addition to reducing fuel costs and saving taxpayer dollars, propane lowers harmful emissions and contributes to cleaner air." Read more here.