Propane AutoGas Police Interceptor Cleans Up More Than Streets
By David Finder, Energy Programs Manager, Blossman Gas, Inc.
There doesn’t have to be a tradeoff between performance and environmental friendliness. That’s what the Alliance AutoGas Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor confirmed when it was showcased April 16-18 at the 2010 Southeastern Convention & International Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
Converted to run on propane by Alliance AutoGas (the U.S. propane vehicle conversion and fueling network), the 2008 Police Interceptor upholds the performance and safety of conventional gasoline-powered models. With comparable power and extended driving range from its bi-fuel system, the Alliance AutoGas Interceptor provides numerous economic and environmental advantages.
“The nature of emergency responder work requires vehicles be safe and dependable, and Alliance’s technology has consistently exceeded these expectations while providing numerous other benefits,” says Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie. “Alliance is excited to partner with law enforcement agencies to provide the advantages of autogas vehicles coupled with the reliability required to provide critical public services.”
The annual Southeastern Convention & Expo is the nation’s largest propane industry tradeshow and features propane-related equipment, supplies and services as well as quality educational sessions. “The convention really paints a clear picture of how rapidly the autogas market is expanding globally and how badly the United States needs this fuel to meet our sustainable energy and transportation needs,” says Weidie. Powering more than 14 million vehicles worldwide, autogas is a cleaner, less expensive alternative fuel that is almost entirely domestically produced.
The Alliance AutoGas Model
Alliance AutoGas was founded by Blossman Gas – the nation’s largest independent propane company – and American Alternative Fuel. Alliance provides America's fleets with a turn-key alternative fuel solution that includes:
• Equipment and labor to convert vehicles from gasoline to autogas
• Propane autogas fueling station on-site at fleet base
• Safety and operational training for fleet personnel
• Year-round fuel provision
• Ongoing expert technical support
“Alliance AutoGas provides fleets all the resources they need to make the transition from gasoline-powered vehicles,” says Steve Whaley with the Alliance AutoGas Research and Development team. “The Alliance model is realistic for fleet owners’ wallets and is good for our air and our overall economy.”
Headquartered in Asheville, N.C., Alliance AutoGas has an extensive network of fueling providers and certified conversion centers nationwide. Alliance continues to expand access to its turn-key solution by forging partnerships with conversion centers and propane suppliers across the nation, taking big steps to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Alliance works with public and private fleets of all types, such as taxi, municipal, limousine, law enforcement and utility company fleets. Alliance’s vehicle conversion system is EPA-certified for a broad range of makes and models, including the Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Mercury Town Car and Grand Marquis, Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra. With Alliance, “Don’t change the vehicle, change the fuel.”
A Better Fuel
We know that autogas is the third most widely used vehicle fuel in the world behind gasoline and diesel, making it the leading alternative vehicle fuel in the world. Its eco-friendly characteristics are a principal advantage of the fuel: compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, fleet vehicles that run on autogas produce 20 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, including reduced carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. Lifecycle emissions are also substantially lower than those of diesel and electricity.
In addition to its ecological advantages, autogas typically costs significantly less than gasoline and diesel per gallon. Autogas vehicles also require less maintenance, which reduces both vehicle down time and cost. The benefits of autogas vehicles allow fleets to maximize their time and money – of particular interest to law enforcement agencies with tight budgets.
Consider another advantage of the fuel, also of particular interest to law enforcement agencies: almost all autogas is produced in the United States, so using autogas reduces America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Around the Corner
Alliance AutoGas will soon begin converting approximately 1,200 vehicles to run on propane autogas under an $8.6 million contract with the Department of Energy (DOE). The program, administered by the Virginia Clean Cities Coalition, includes vehicle conversions and fueling infrastructure implementation across nine Southeast states and is expected to displace at least 15.7 million gallons of gasoline and eliminate more than 16,000 tons of airborne pollutants.
“We are thrilled to be working with Alliance AutoGas to implement such a large-scale, innovative project,” says Chelsea Jenkins, executive director of VCC and recipient of the 2009 Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year award. “This program is a leap in the right direction, helping us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen dependence on foreign oil.”
Under the program, Alliance AutoGas will be converting vehicles for cab companies, limousine services, utility companies, municipal fleets – and, of course, law enforcement agencies. “It makes Alliance AutoGas proud to work with emergency responders,” says Weidie. “Each AutoGas Police Interceptor on the road means safe streets and clean air.”
Please contact Lauren Scott at lauren@msmcommunications.com for more information
