‘ACT 2013′ Expo Wows Washington, D.C.

North America’s largest alt-fuel expo ends this week, having hosted dozens of executives and policy makers from the fuel and transportation industry. The Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo ran from June 25 to June 27 at the Walter E. Washington convention center. This year’s event highlighted the role the Dept. of Energy has played, and helped celebrate the government agency’s twentieth anniversary of its Clean Cities program. Some of the corporate leaders who spoke at the ACT expo included representatives from companies that have invested heavily in alternative fuels, including UPS, Frito-Lay (see video), FedEx, GE, and Proctor & Gamble. Read more here.

Propane an Important Part of Obama's "Climate Action Plan"

Following the release of President Obama's "Climate Action Plan," NPGA released the following statement.

"Propane can be a key asset as the United States seeks to achieve its clean energy and climate change goals. Principally derived from natural gas, propane is a clean, efficient, domestic fuel, and it is a critical resource in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

"When used in core residential applications, such as space and water heating, propane lowers GHG emissions by 64 and 52 percent respectively when compared to electricity. In on-road engines and vehicles, using propane instead of gasoline lowers GHG emissions up to 25 percent. For example, when used in school buses, propane-powered engines produce 17 percent lower GHG emissions than their gasoline-fueled counterparts. In all of these applications, propane produces lower criteria pollutants than gasoline, diesel, or electricity. Moreover, propane has the benefit of being a portable low- emissions fuel that is not itself a GHG.

"The propane industry is already partnering with communities to put this readily available fuel to use. Earlier this week, the National Park Service announced it would be utilizing propane-powered mowers on the National Mall. Commercial mowers powered by propane produce 48 percent lower GHG emissions than gasoline-fueled mowers and significantly lower criteria pollutants.

"As the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency implement the President's plan, NPGA urges them to make certain that they utilize full-fuel cycle analyses in assessing options and making determinations. Employing site-based analyses for determining carbon emissions fails to reflect actual comparative environmental efficiencies.

"Propane is readily available in every state and is the world's most utilized alternative fuel. In 2011, approximately 9 billion gallons of propane from more than 9 thousand distribution points, was sold in the United States for residential, commercial, agricultural, and internal combustion applications."

Propane Autogas Takes the Lead at Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo / PERC kick starts the ACT with insider briefings and a technology showcase

WASHINGTON (June 20, 2013) – Fleet managers can learn about clean, cost-effective, powerful propane autogas at the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2013 in Washington, D.C., June 24 to 27, with special briefing sessions, an opening reception, and other events led by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

PERC’s program kicks off with a set of briefings designed for policy makers and public and private fleet managers, and continues through the show with panels on propane autogas’ advantages and a showcase of new OEM equipment.

“Fleet managers are finding that propane autogas is extremely competitive – in its widespread fueling infrastructure, in its price, and because it is an abundant, American fuel,” Roy Willis, president and CEO of PERC, said. “I encourage ACT attendees to check out our free training sessions and get up to speed on this leading alternative fuel. And visit PERC in booth 401 to see some great engine technology, propane autogas trucks, and fuel dispensers.”

Pre-Conference Events
On June 24, PERC will host the Lead the Way kickoff event from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This free insider’s look will offer real-world data from leaders in the fleet community that are using propane autogas. The briefing sessions are:

* 2:00-2:30 p.m. Redefining Sustainability: A Turning Point in Alternative Fuels.
* 2:35-3:25 p.m. Show Me the Money Interactive Panel.
* 3:30-4:20 p.m. How to Make Alternative Fuel a Win/Win for Taxpayers.
* 4:25-5:00 p.m. Infrastructure Pitfalls and How to Climb Out.

And unwind after the briefings at PERC’s ACT Expo reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Library next to the convention center. All ACT attendees are invited to join for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

Opening Day
On June 25, PERC will lead two pre-conference training sessions — “Top Ten Things a Fleet Should Know Before Committing to One Alternative Fuel” from 8:15 to 10:00 a.m., and “Alternative Fuels and Your ROI” from 10:15 a.m. to noon.

That afternoon Willis will be a panel member of the opening plenary session beginning at 1:30 p.m., “State of the Union: An Overview of the Alternative Fuels Industry in 2013 and Key Issues for the Road Ahead.” Willis and other leaders will discuss propane autogas, electric, CNG, and biodiesel fuel.

Expo Hall Highlight — Visit Booth 401
PERC will exhibit new propane autogas technologies in booth 401, including the high-torque, high-performance Liberator 6.0L engine. Representatives from Liberator Engine will be in the booth to discuss commercialization plans.

Fleet managers can also view medium-duty vehicles from GM and Ford. CleanFuel USA will exhibit its GM 4500 chassis, and Roush CleanTech will show a Ford F-650 that is being tested by Asplundh Tree Expert Co., the international provider of vegetation management services to utilities.

“As a leader in the vegetation management industry, Asplundh is dedicated to environmental sustainability. We are evaluating the use of clean and domestically produced propane autogas for our fleet,” said John Talbot, director of fleet services for Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Additionally, Kohler will debut the Exmark Lazer Z S-Series lawn mower with a Kohler Propane EFI engine. The automotive-style, closed-loop engine optimizes air/fuel settings based on exhaust output, in real time, to maximize performance and efficiency while minimizing emissions. The engine, which increases fuel efficiency by 25 percent, was developed and commercialized through PERC funding.

Fleet managers will also see at PERC’s booth how simple and easy it is to refuel their vehicles with propane autogas dispensers.

For more information about the Alternative Clean Transportation Conference, please visit www.actexpo.com. To learn more about PERC at ACT Expo, visit autogasusa.org/act.


About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of Public Law 104-284, the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), signed into law on October 11, 1996. The mission of the Propane Education & Research Council is to promote the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source. For more information visit propanecouncil.org.

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Propane: A cleaner, cost-effective fuel alternative

Did you know that propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is the most widely used alternative transportation fuel in the world?

Propane Autogas, the term for propane when fueling an on-road vehicle, fuels about 17 million vehicles worldwide, including about 270,000 in the United States.

While propane is widely used in home heating and backyard grilling, many people have never heard of running a car, truck or bus on propane. The fact is propane Autogas has a proven record of being cost-effective, safe, reliable and more environmentally friendly when compared to gasoline – emitting approximately 24 percent fewer harmful greenhouse gasses.

Who uses propane vehicles?

More people use propane as a vehicle fuel than you might think. In addition to its use in cars, Autogas is an excellent fuel choice for many fleet vehicles, including school buses, shuttle buses, taxis, as well as light- and medium-duty trucks and vans. Two types of propane vehicles are available: dedicated vehicles that run solely on propane, and bi-fuel vehicles, with two separate fueling systems, which enable them to run on propane or gasoline. Read more here.

New Alternative Fuel Vehicle Training Option for Fleets

A group of clean transportation stakeholders has come together to establish the Alternative Fuel Training Network, a consortium focused exclusively on providing high-level training for alternative fuel vehicle technicians and drivers, as well as refueling infrastructure professionals.

Greg Zilberfarb, CEO of TSN Communications and a longtime resource in the alt-fuels space, spearheaded the creation of the network in order to address the rising prominence of transportation applications for propane, natural gas, biofuels and other fuels. Read more here.

June Clean Cities Question of the Month

Question: What are the requirements for state and alternative fuel provider fleets under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992) and subsequent regulations and directives?

Answer:
EPAct 1992 mandates that certain state government and alternative fuel provider fleets in the United States acquire specified percentages of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) on an annual basis as they add light-duty vehicles (LDVs) to their fleets. Below we have described a number of means beyond simply acquiring AFVs by which these fleets may achieve compliance.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for overseeing compliance with these requirements, which were promulgated and published at 10 CFR Part 490 as the Alternative Fuel Transportation Program. Information about state and alternative fuel provider “covered fleets” (fleets subject to EPAct 1992 requirements) and the requirements associated with this compliance program are outlined below for each fleet type. Read more here.

Huge Legislative Leap Forward for Propane Vehicles in Florida

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed H.B.579 on Friday, positioning the state as a likely new hotbed of activity for natural gas vehicle (NGV) deployment.

The Florida Natural Gas Vehicle Act - which passed both chambers of the state legislature earlier this spring without partisan rancor - wipes out the existing alternative fuel decal system. In its place is a five-year tax-free holiday (sales tax, excise tax and otherwise) on compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane autogas.

Depending on how much natural gas or propane your fleet consumes, this piece of the bill can offer a huge economic upside, says Eric Criss, chairman of the Florida Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition. Read more here.