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PERC Funding Lpg Autogas Development in USA

The US Department of Energy allocated nearly $40 million spread across 25 lpg autogas projects as part of $300 million given to projects that promote alternative fuels and reduce petroleum use through the Clean Cities programme, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will fund the purchase of 2,400 lpg autogas vehicles and nearly 250 new lpg autogas refuelling stations.

The Propane Educational & Research Council (PERC) has worked with several vehicle and conversion equipment manufacturers to increase the choice of lpg autogas vehicles for consumers and fleets by providing development funding.

CleanFuel USA developed a range of liquid propane injection (LPI) products based on General Motors’ six litre engine, including pickups, vans and trucks. Roush CleanTech introduced lpg autogas versions of Ford’s F-series pickups and a line of E-series vans. Starting in 2011, top school bus manufacturers in the US will offer an lpg autogas option. Blue Bird is developing the second generation of its full size Type C propane school bus, which will use Ford’s 6.8-litre engine and Roush CleanTech’s conversion technology. Blue Bird, partnering with Roush, also offers a smaller Type A bus.

Collins Bus offers a Type A bus based on GM’s cutaway chassis and 6-litre engine. Thomas/Freightliner will offer a full size lpg autogas school bus starting in 2013. The US lp gas industry also launched a new partnership called Alliance AutoGas that seeks to provide an integrated option for lpg autogas vehicle conversions and onsite refuelling. This partnership brings together lp gas supplier Blossman Gas and vehicle convertion equipment company American Alternative Fuels to provide a strategy for making lpg autogas easy to implement for fleets across the country.

Brian Feehan, vice president of PERC, said: “We are working to continue the progress made in 2010. We are funding a range of market research and product development projects aimed at continuing to expand the propane autogas vehicles available and target their introduction into the most successful markets.

“For example, PERC is working with Navistar on a market study for a medium duty propane engine. Navistar is a major global producer of trucks and engines that produces seven brands of trucks and engines, including International, IC Bus and Workhorse, and operates in over 15 countries — including the fast growing markets of India and China. The study seeks to understand the market opportunity for a medium duty propane engine in the United States and other major global markets. It will be completed in early 2011.”

PERC is also developing or reviewing funding proposals with OEMs for the development of medium and heavy duty lpg autogas vehicles to foster long-term growth in the US autogas market.

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