cusson-automotive

The Next Evolution In Clean American Fuel

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:04:12 GMT

Renewable propane is quickly gaining global and national interest as a leading alternative fuel.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, potential demand for renewable propane in California alone could surpass 200 million gallons by 2030.

Renewable propane has all of the benefits of conventional propane: clean, reliable, powerful, affordable. Additionally, all of it can be made in America using easy-to-find resources that would otherwise go to landfills. Plus, its carbon intensity is five times lower than diesel.

Because it’s abundant, economical and ultra-clean, large companies such as U-Haul and governments like the Commonwealth of Virginia have already purchased millions of gallons of renewable propane for their fleets.

Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about renewable propane to help fleet operators understand more about what’s on the horizon.

What is renewable propane?

Renewable propane (also known as biopropane) is a non-fossil fuel produced from 100% raw, sustainable materials. It’s commonly produced from feedstock like animal fat, plants and cooking oil. It can also be a byproduct of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production.

Renewable propane’s chemical structure and physical properties are the same as propane (C3H8), but it burns even cleaner than conventional propane.

How can renewable propane help fleet operators reduce emissions?

Renewable propane is one of the cleanest alternative fuels on the market. Its carbon intensity value is four times lower than conventional propane and five times lower than diesel. At the point of combustion, renewable propane is carbon neutral, meaning no new carbon is added to the atmosphere when renewable propane is burned.

According to the California Air Resources Board, renewable propane has an ultra-low carbon intensity — as low as 20.5g. By comparison, conventional propane has a carbon intensity of 79, which is lower than most other energy sources.

The United States EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standards and the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard include renewable propane as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Is renewable propane available now?

Yes. U.S. fuel processors are making renewable propane today, and researchers and engineers are continuing to perfect the technology. The push for more clean fuel solutions has led to significant breakthroughs in renewable propane, including the use of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel fuel and a drought- and pest-tolerant plant called camelina.

By 2050, renewable propane could meet half the world’s demand for propane, according to the World LP Gas Association.

Can renewable propane be used in my current ROUSH CleanTech propane engine?

Yes! ROUSH CleanTech’s propane autogas engines can operate on renewable propane with zero modifications. In fact, we were the first company to develop an ultra-low NOx engine for renewable propane that brings emissions to near-zero as defined by the California Air Resources Board.

Because renewable propane and conventional propane are exactly the same in chemical structure, renewable propane can be used for all the same fleet vehicle applications. This means no new infrastructure or engines are needed if your fleet is already using propane vehicles. Fleet operators also have the ability to blend conventional propane and renewable propane in the same vehicle.

How can I learn more?

The Propane Education & Research Council is committed to testing renewable propane, including blends with conventional propane, and standard development. Visit renewable propane to learn more.

Pride Travel Center Provides Propane Autogas

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 20:53:57 GMT

As the drive for alternative energy source adoption grows stronger...

As the drive for alternative energy source adoption grows stronger, the first fuel travel center in the United States to house multiple alternative energy options is now open in Hartford, Conn.

The Pride Travel Center features propane autogas infrastructure alongside electric vehicle and hydrogen refueling stations.

“Propane autogas plays a critical role in clean transportation, and the addition of this essential energy source at the Pride Travel Center underscores the vital position propane autogas has in achieving net-zero emissions goals,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council. “This is especially true for medium-duty fleet owners looking for an alternative energy that can improve air quality without sacrificing on range, payload, or torque.

”During a grand opening ceremony hosted by Pride Stores and Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut, propane autogas vehicles from Nestlé Waters, Yale University, and Simsbury Public Schools were on display alongside the state-of-the-art propane infrastructure from Superior Energy Systems (SES). The 18,000-gallon tank and dispenser include SES software that tracks data like driver and vehicle identification, mileage, and gallons pumped, providing a convenient experience for fleets.

“Over the past five years, we have seen substantial growth of work truck fleets utilizing propane to significantly lower their emissions, thanks in large part to the success of cloud-based fleet management software,” said Jim Bunsey, director of operations for Superior Energy Systems. “By providing users with convenient, affordable, and reliable refueling, it’s never been easier for fleets to take advantage of this ideal energy source for clean transportation.”

In addition to being a low-carbon energy source, today’s propane autogas ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) engines are 90% cleaner than Environmental Protection Agency standards and reduce NOx emissions by 96% compared to the best-in-class clean diesel engine. Propane autogas’s ability to significantly reduce these harmful emissions to near-zero levels make it a compelling choice for fleet owners.

Making Moves: National Park ‘Greens’ Fleet With Propane Trucks, Fueling Stations

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 20:48:49 GMT

Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted a celebration yesterday...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted a celebration yesterday to unveil six new propane-fueled trucks and two new propane fueling stations at the Park Headquarters Maintenance Facility near Gatlinburg, Tenn.

With the new pieces of alternative fuel equipment, the Smokies implemented a new facet of the park’s Climate Friendly Parks program through funding from a joint U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and Department of Energy (DOE) initiative called the “Clean Cities National Park Initiative.”

As reported, the new equipment helps the park leave a smaller carbon footprint.

In partnership with its two neighboring DOE Clean Cities coalitions, the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition, the park installed the two propane fueling systems and added six new pieces of “green” equipment to improve air quality.

Six Ford F250 crew cab trucks were purchased and converted to run on propane autogas. The park chose Icom North America’s liquid-injection system and learned how to install and maintain those systems, with assistance from Icom’s southeastern representative, David Griffin.

“We continue to work towards meeting our goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from 2006 levels by 20 percent by 2020,” says Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We appreciate the support of our partners that have moved us another step closer to achieving that goal. These improvements, along with the recent addition of propane mowers, electric vehicles and DC fast-charge stations, enable us to be better stewards of this special place.”

Easy Tennessee Clean Fuels Director Jonathan Overly says, “Propane work trucks are becoming a hot item with NPS units across the country. The combination of the emissions reductions and cost savings help the Smokies and other parks build out their Climate Friendly Parks program while saving money.”

“We are saving about $0.30 to $0.50 per gallon using propane,” says Smokies Deputy Chief of Facility Management Brian Bergsma. “In addition to saving money, we have also doubled the driving range of the trucks and saved time by being able to refuel propane mower equipment on-site.”

As reported, one propane refueling system is at the North District Maintenance Facility near Gatlinburg, while the other is in the South District Maintenance Facility in Cherokee. The trucks (and mowers) can refuel at either location and are in use on both sides of the park.

Blossman Gas and Sevier County Propane, respectively, are the propane supply partners on the North Carolina and Tennessee sides of the park.

The joint DOI/DOE funding is helping multiple national parks across the country to advance their goals of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from park operations and maintenance vehicles and improving air quality overall in and around the parks.

Photos courtesy of the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition – A refueling demonstration was provided that included showing how the refueling equipment works and what safety features are incorporated into the system. The purchased and converted vehicles were all Ford F250s that are utilizing Icom North America’s bi-fuel, liquid-injection propane system.

Carbon Tax Is Bad Economic And Public Policy

Sat, 18 Mar 2017 20:41:27 GMT

The General Assembly in the State of Connecticut has proposed a “carbon tax” on energy

The General Assembly in the State of Connecticut has proposed a “carbon tax” on energy which would collect more than $500 million in new taxes from homeowners and businesses in just the first year that the law would take effect. The proposed legislation (Raised Bill 7247) is now being considered by the General Assembly’s Environment Committee.

There are several reasons this idea is bad public policy and does not make good economic sense – for those who use propane, and all energy consumers as well.

This new tax, being labeled a carbon tax on fossil fuels, would be applied to most forms of energy, including gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, natural gas, electricity – and propane. Limited exemptions would apply to hydroelectric or nuclear-generated electricity as well as renewable biomass or waste vegetable oil. While we certainly understand the desire to promote the use of environmentally friendly fuels, it’s important to also understand the prominent role that propane plays in that ecological framework.

Most people don’t realize that propane has been designated an EPA certified “clean fuel.” That’s because propane is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. In fact, propane is actually a waste product that is left over when natural gas is collected and refined for distribution and use. If it were not used as an energy source for homes and businesses, most propane would be burned off at the refinery or processing plant.

Therefore, using propane to heat your home or even power an engine reduces greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be produced if propane was not used as a fuel source. In many ways, propane is the ultimate waste product made into a valuable energy source that is good for our environment.
If the goal is to increase the use of efficient energy sources which reduce our carbon footprint on the planet in a cost effective manner, then we should be finding ways to promote the use of propane, not penalize it.

From an economic standpoint, this new tax would cost the citizens of Connecticut approximately $10 million dollars per year. According to a July 13, 2016 article in the Hartford Courant (“Report: Connecticut Energy Costs Are Highest In Nation”), State residents spend an average of $410 per month on energy, the highest in the United States. Adding a carbon tax on top of that would add approximately $25 per month to that expense which puts the average energy cost for CT citizens at $100 per week.

A carbon tax would have the greatest negative impact on those who can least afford it, such as those with limited or fixed incomes. In fact, it could accelerate the migration of citizens to other lower cost states, something Connecticut is already working hard to try to avoid.

Taxing energy that is essential to keep our homes warm, our businesses running, and our vehicles on the road, is bad economic and public policy. Instead of raising taxes, the Legislature should support the use of energy efficient fuels like propane and promote the use of higher efficiency appliances to reduce CO2 and help the environment. The average consumption of delivered fuels (including propane) has decreased by more than 40% over the last 15 years. We are on the right track – and we need to keep that momentum going with a continued focus on incentives for energy efficient appliances and cleaner burning fuels.

Propane consumed in the United States is produced in North America. It is a major contributor to the energy security of the Unites States and protects consumers from uncertain energy supplies outside of our borders. Dozens of public entities around the country, including school districts and police departments, have converted their on-road fleets to propane because it is economical and beneficial to the environment.

But most importantly, taxing the energy we need to live and work is a dangerous idea, and will cause significant economic damage to those who rely on it as an efficient, economical fuel.

Instead, let’s focus on promoting the energy and efficiency we need to sustain long-term economic and environmental viability.

Leslie Anderson is president of the Propane Gas Association of New England