The Dollars and Sense of Propane for Your Fleet
Propane is becoming increasingly attractive as a cost savings opportunity for business fleet owners. The escalating cost of gasoline and diesel, the new emissions regulations for 2007 and 2010, and the requirements for ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) are contributing to business owners reconsidering their fleet fuel choices.
- With more than 10 million vehicles on the road today, propane is the most-used alternative motor fuel in the world.
- On average, fleet vehicles fueled by propane reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent.
- Use of propane can result in lower vehicle maintenance costs, lower emissions, and fuel costs savings when compared to conventional gasoline and diesel.
Propane is a low-emission, economic and easily used fuel that can play an important role as an alternative, non-petroleum fuel for our state and the nation.
Blue Bird Corporation Unveils Propane Powered School Bus
Blue Bird Corporation unveiled the Propane Powered Vision School Bus at the National Association of Pupil Transportation Conference and Trade Show in Kansas City, Missouri on November 7, 2006. The vehicle is Blue Bird’s latest innovation in providing their customers with maximum performance and economic flexibility to meet the challenges of 2007 EPA school bus engine emission requirements. The dedicated propane bus is also an important component of the Blue Bird Corporation Alternative Fuels strategy. This is the first dedicated propane powered school bus to be offered by a major manufacturer in the United States since 2002.
School districts in Dallas and Denton, Texas, and Portland, Oregon, currently rely on propane school buses. Dallas County operates 500 propane buses. All report great success and budgetary savings.
DOWNLOADABLE CASE STUDIES:
- Propane Powers Portland Public School Buses – Case Study
- Propane Powers Wil Fischer Companies’ Distribution Fleet
- Five Reasons to Convert Your Fleet to Propane
Propane Tax Incentives
Propane is becoming increasingly attractive as a cost savings opportunity for business fleet owners. The propane engine fuel market is poised for growth with the tax incentives passed in the 2005 Energy and Highway bills that took effect December 31, 2005 and October 1, 2006 respectively. These tax incentives create a significant opportunity for propane engine fuel markets as well as for all alternative fuels. The following information is a summary of the federal tax incentives available from the IRS. We recommend you visit the IRS web site directly for a complete review of each program. For more detailed information, visit www.propanefreedom.com.
The ROUSH Liquid Propane Injection System is eligible for several different state incentives, in addition to Federal Incentives.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Acquisition Requirements
State agencies and other affected entities must procure increasing percentages of AFVs as part of their annual vehicle acquisition plans; propane vehicles qualify under these requirements. By 2010, 100% of all new light-duty vehicles must be AFVs, with the exception of designated specialty, police, or emergency vehicles. (Reference Executive Order 9, 2008, Executive Order 142, 2005 (PDF 238KB), and (Executive Order 111, 2001). The following is quoted from Executive Order 111, section V:
V. Procurement of Clean Fuel Vehicles
State Agencies and other affected entities shall procure increasing percentages of alternative-fuel vehicles, including hybrid-electric vehicles, as part of their annual vehicle acquisition plans. By 2005, at least 50 percent of new light-duty vehicles acquired by each agency and affected entity shall be alternative-fueled vehicles, and by 2010, 100 percent of all new light-duty vehicles shall be alternative-fueled vehicles, with the exception of specialty, police or emergency vehicles as designated by DOB. State agencies and other affected entities that operate medium- or heavy-duty vehicles shall implement strategies to reduce petroleum consumption and emissions by using alternative fuels and improving fleet fuel efficiency.
ROUSH Liquid Propane Injection vehicles meet all requirements as an AFV, in the State of New York. As such, ROUSH Propane vehicles are eligible for funding up to 75% of the differential cost versus conventional fuel, for municipal and government agency purchases. NYSERDA is charged with administering grants to NY State Agencies.
Questions? We’ve Got the Answers.
If you want to spend more time taking care of business, and less time worrying about the energy required to run it, contact a Country Gas Consultant today and learn why it makes sound business sense to make Country Gas your energy partner in profitability.