Propane Autogas Ford F-150 Hits Northwest in Coast-to-Coast Tour
Alliance Autogas began its coast-to-coast tour in Kansas, with the propane-converted pickup making it up to Washington in just a few short days before it continues on to California. The ride is to support the message to fleets that "it’s really not that hard to convert."
Propane vehicles are displacing about 1 million gallons of gasoline and 1,600 cubic-feet of greenhouse gas emissions annually in the Seattle area. (PHOTO: Joanne Tucker)
2 min to read
Propane vehicles are displacing about 1 million gallons of gasoline and 1,600 cubic-feet of greenhouse gas emissions annually in the Seattle area. (PHOTO: Joanne Tucker)
The same Ford F-150 that broke records at this year’s Work Truck Show as the fasted propane-autogas-converted vehicle is now making its way throughout the country. The propane-autogas-powered pickup has so far traveled from Kansas, made stops in Colorado and Utah, and now sits briefly in Seattle before heading on — all to demonstrate and serve as a testament to how quickly and easily a vehicle can be converted to propane, and run on it.
The tour has now reached the West Coast (see photo) and is on it's way to the East Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.).
Ad Loading...
“It’s about awareness,” said Darren Engle, director of government relations at Blue Star Gas, a sponsor of the event. He noted that Alliance Autogas and the propane industry have made some significant achievements.
According to Engle, who works in Blue Star Gas’ office just outside downtown Seattle, propane vehicles are displacing about 1 million gallons of gasoline and 1,600 cubic-feet of greenhouse gas emissions annually in the Seattle area. “We’re affecting the health of our children — no one can argue with that,” he added.
Throughout Washington, Engle says that fleet propane autogas customers have grown from just a few to now hundreds, ranging from Seattle Children’s, the first propane autogas customer there, to SuperShuttle and DHL. “It’s really not that hard to convert, and that’s what we want to show to fleets,” he said. “There’s a great ROI.”
The propane-autogas-powered pickup has so far traveled from Kansas, made stops in Colorado and Utah, and now sits briefly in Seattle. (PHOTO: Joanne Tucker)
Western Washington Clean Cities (WWCC) was also at the event in support of alternative fuels. WWCC Coordinator Scott DeWees explained how if all the gas consumed annually in the U.S. were lined up in supertankers, it would line the coast from Seattle to Redding, Calif. — about a 10-hour drive. “We’re beginning to hit a critical mass on alternative fuels, so we need to celebrate the ease in which fleets can convert to propane autogas,” he said.
Canadian electrical contractor Fize Electrique shares how it uses Ford Pro e-Telematics to drive and track efficiency in the battery-electric Fords in its fleet, mostly comprised of E-Transit vans, even in the brutal cold of winter.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles can reduce fleets’ carbon emissions as well as range anxiety. This analysis shows the positive impacts of proper PHEV use, and the negative environmental and financial consequences if your drivers aren’t plugging them in.
Beginning next month, Verizon Connect Reveal customers in the U.S. and Canada will be able to more effectively support various vehicle types – both gasoline-powered and EVs – in one pane of glass.
Attendees will be able to ride along in the electric Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle (LV) and the Canoo Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV), along with electric passenger cars, trucks, and vans from eight other automakers.
As vehicles reduce in size to serve the last mile, fleets are looking to an electric temperature-controlled solution for more payload and quieter operation — but they aren’t right for every application.
