Funding Helps ROUSH CleanTech Develop Liquid Propane Autogas Cutaway for Frito-Lay
Snack food leader notes propane autogas-powered delivery trucks are key to environmental stewardship
Michigan (February 1, 2011) — With funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), ROUSH CleanTech has begun development of a liquid propane autogas fuel system for the Ford E-350 dual rear wheel cutaway chassis. While this vehicle is used extensively by Frito-Lay, the first customer for the fuel system conversion, other fleets will also be able to utilize this technology to make the switch to propane autogas.
“Based on the proposed project, this appears to be a viable solution to improve our cost per mile, as well as reduce our environmental footprint,” said Joe Gold, fleet asset and engineering manager at Frito-Lay North America. “If technically successful, and if the conversion economics continue to be favorable, there is potential within the Frito-Lay fleet to convert up to 2,000 gasoline-powered vehicles to propane autogas across the U.S. within the next several years.”
A particular environmental concern in the state of Texas is reducing the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and the propane autogas-powered vehicle delivers. The ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas Ford E-350 cutaway is estimated to provide significant emissions reductions for two of the six criteria pollutants regulated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. When compared to the emissions baseline of typical gasoline vehicles, significant improvements in engine-out emissions are anticipated for both NOx (50 percent reduction) and particulate matter (25 percent). These conservative reduction estimates are based upon recently-completed emissions testing at ROUSH CleanTech’s EPA-certified testing facility on similar Ford E-series vans that reported a 67 percent reduction in NOx and 50 percent reduction in particulate matter, with additional reductions in non-methane organic gases (25 percent).
The funding for this project comes, in part, from the Texas New Technology Research and Development (NTRD) program – a program intended to complement the Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP) by funding the use of verified or certified technologies to reduce emissions from on-road and mobile sources. NTRD’s primary goal is to promote the development and commercialization of technologies that will reduce the emissions of NOx in non-attainment areas in Texas. To be eligible for NTRD funding, any potential TERP technologies must demonstrate no significant adverse impact on fuel economy.
Besides contributing to cleaner air in Texas and nationwide, this ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas Ford E-350 cutaway will help reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil. Based upon an average annual mileage of 20,000 miles for vehicles in the delivery and service industries, and an average fuel economy of 10.5 miles per gallon for a comparable gasoline vehicle, each propane autogas Ford E-350 vehicle is expected to displace almost 1,667 gallons of gasoline per year. Annually, a fleet of 1,225 vehicles would displace 2 million gallons of gasoline each year and 20 million gallons over a 10-year lifetime.
“We are extremely pleased that Frito-Lay has seen the potential of the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel systems. Our engineering team is already hard at work developing this E-350 cutaway,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “And I thank the TCEQ for their vision and funding assistance to help expedite this product to market, which will not only help Texan fleets reduce harmful emissions, save money, and lessen imported oil dependence, but will also benefit fleets all across the United States.”
The E-350 cutaway will be based on the Ford 5.4 liter, 2-valve V-8 engine and planned for first quarter 2011 production. It should be noted that even though the TCEQ has offered a grant to ROUSH CleanTech for the development of this product, it is not considered any type of endorsement of the product or technology. For more information, please visit ROUSHcleantech.com.
About the company: Based in Plymouth Township, Mich., ROUSH CleanTech designs, engineers, manufactures, assembles, and installs dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel systems for a variety of light- and medium- duty Ford vehicles, including the F-150, F-250, and F-350 truck series, and the E-150, E-250, E-350, and E-450 cutaway van series. Currently offered through authorized Ford dealerships around the country, the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system delivers the same factory Ford performance characteristics, warranty coverage, and serviceability. Customers can reduce operating costs significantly while reducing vehicle emissions. Complete details on ROUSH CleanTech fuel system offerings can be found online at ROUSHcleantech.com or by calling 800-59-ROUSH.
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