Propane Autogas for Fleet Vehicles

Propane autogas truck on highway

Tired of runaway fuel prices?

Irritated by watching profits disappear when replacing diesel particulate filters?

Concerned about meeting upcoming emissions standards?

Eliminate these headaches with a cleaner, more affordable fuel: propane autogas.

Cost of Propane Autogas

Historically, propane costs less per gallon than either diesel fuel or gasoline. Find out how much less by checking the current average price for propane.

Propane engines run cleaner by design, helping fleet managers avoid additional maintenance expenses.

  • Propane engines require less oil than diesel engines.
  • Propane engines do not require diesel emissions fluid.
  • The largest and most expensive filter to maintain, the diesel particulate filter, requires periodic cleanings for the vehicle to operate properly. Clogged diesel particulate filters will reduce engine RPMs and could render a diesel vehicle inoperable.

A Case for Propane Autogas

To be successful, alternative fuels must reduce emissions over the lifecycle of the energy used in the vehicle without increasing cost or losing efficiency. Propane autogas is the most cost-effective energy source to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Additionally, a successful alternative fuel must reduce the total cost of ownership or provide a return on investment long before the end of the vehicle lifecycle. Propane autogas does both.

The alternative fuel vehicle must also perform as well or better than the original fuel, without compromising range. Propane autogas offers comparable — and in many cases improved — performance over traditional fuels.

The last piece of the puzzle for a successful alternative fuel adoption is that a high-volume supply of the alternative energy exists and is produced domestically. Propane is American-made and abundant. In 2019, the United States produced 28 billion gallons of propane.

Propane Takes Us Further

Any vehicle that has an engine and a spark can use propane autogas as a fuel. Class 3 to Class 7 medium-duty trucks are particularly beneficial due to their high level of fuel consumption and regional route operations.

Three vehicle applications where propane autogas really shines are paratransit vehicles, food and beverage delivery trucks and parcel delivery trucks.

1. Paratransit

Since 1990 and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA requires that every county in the U.S. provide paratransit service. There are approximately 25,000 paratransit vehicles nationwide that use, on average, 600 gallons of fuel per month. The fuel consumption level and the regional nature of these routes make propane autogas an ideal clean fuel solution.

There are several case studies that showcase how agencies like Delaware Area Rapid Transit adopted propane autogas.

2. Food and Beverage Delivery

The food and beverage delivery industry has already seen major companies validate the benefits of propane vehicles. ReadyRefresh by Nestle Waters, Bimbo Bakeries and Schwan’s Home Delivery utilize propane in their fleet vehicles to save on the total cost of ownership and improve their corporate image by using a clean fuel alternative. Read more about their propane fleets on their website.

3. Parcel Delivery

Another industry with great opportunities for propane autogas is the parcel delivery industry. In fact, Hi Pro, Inc., a nationwide mail logistics contractor with a 40-year history of servicing the United States Postal Service, celebrated the launch of its propane autogas vehicle fleet in 2022. And each of McAbee Trucking’s 26 propane trucks travels 8,000 miles per month and has dramatically benefited the company over the last few years.

Currently, the USPS has 92,000 mail routes that use an average of 1,000 gallons of fuel per month. 76% of these routes are performed by independent contractors operating 10,000 Class 6–7 straight box trucks. Contractors bidding on USPS routes are given greater consideration when using alternative fuel vehicles, giving propane autogas even more appeal.

Propane autogas is a viable and efficient fuel for many industries, including yours. Read more about Propane Fueling Infrastructure if you are interested in learning about how to make the switch to autogas. Fleets that install on-site propane fueling infrastructure can be eligible for federal incentives, grants and rebates.