ROUSH CleanTech Applauds White House Energy Policy, Questions NATGAS Act Introduction
Michigan (April 7, 2011) — ROUSH CleanTech stands ready to support President Obama’s National Clean Fleet Partnership program with a wide product offering of fleet vehicles powered by clean burning propane autogas. However, the path by which our country can achieve the President’s goal of reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil came into question with yesterday’s introduction of the newest version of the NATGAS Act, which accelerates the use of one type of alternative fuel.
“An important, strong national energy policy was outlined by President Obama and Secretary Chu last week that will dramatically increase the adoption of fleet vehicles powered by domestically produced alternative fuels,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “While we are supportive of all alternative fuels, we won’t be as successful in achieving the President’s vision if each alternative fuel industry introduces legislation that plays to their own agenda, like we saw with the introduction of the NATGAS Act. Wouldn’t we find the most success with one piece of legislation supporting all domestically produced alternative fuels?”
President Obama and the Energy Department have created the National Clean Fleets Partnership, which outlines specific energy security objectives for U.S. fleets, as a resource to stimulate adoption of domestic-based alternative energy, such as propane autogas. The five charter members — AT&T, FedEx, PepsiCo, Verizon, and UPS — have initial plans to deploy more than 20,000 advanced technology vehicles. The Energy Department is asking other companies to join the partnership voluntarily.
“The timeliness of our recent product certification through the California Air Resources Board, our product diversity, and significant customer adoption patterns are ideal,” said Thompson. “We are ready, able, and willing to do our part to help the nation’s fleets reduce their dependence on foreign oil – while also providing cost savings and environmental benefits.
“Propane autogas, a majority of which comes from natural gas refining process, is the third most commonly used engine fuel in the world only behind gasoline and diesel. Over 90 percent of what we use in the United States is made right here in the U.S.,” he added. “When reviewing the new legislation introduced yesterday, I urge our leaders to remember that it should not be about sales or profit for any individual fuel, it’s about developing a national energy policy that incorporates all domestic sources of fuel.”
ROUSH CleanTech, a Michigan-based company, sources more than 98 percent of its components in the U.S. Their existing propane autogas fuel systems include the Ford F-series trucks, F-series chassis cabs, and the E-series vans, wagons, and cutaways, with more applications on the horizon. All factory-warranted products are certified by the California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Between our product availability, its best-in-class return on investment, our brand promise, and Ford high-performance base vehicles, ROUSH CleanTech is a one-stop shop for fleets to convert their vehicles to propane autogas. Some of our early adopters, such as ThyssenKrupp Elevator, the City of Cincinnati, Frito-Lay, SuperShuttle, and many others are already well down the path to energy security and financial reward,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing.
Fleet operators can use a fleet calculator to analyze fuel cost comparisons between propane autogas and gasoline based on fuel prices, vehicle mileage, and federal tax credits by going to www.roushcleantech.com.
“Propane autogas offers so many benefits to the fleet manager in terms of safety, economics, environmental soundness, and convenience,”said Thompson. “There are thousands of refueling stations across the U.S., and many fleets are installing low-cost on-site refueling infrastructure to eliminate the need for off-site stations.”
Propane autogas burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel, with 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide, 17 to 24 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and fewer particulate emissions when compared to gasoline. Emissions reductions are even greater when compared to diesel. In addition to reduced maintenance costs and an extended engine life due to its clean-burning properties, propane autogas also offers up to a 40 percent reduction in fuel costs compared to gasoline.
For more information on the National Clean Fleets Partnership, visit www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/01/fact-sheet-national-clean-fleets-partnership.
About ROUSH CleanTech: Based in Plymouth Township, Mich., ROUSH CleanTech offers dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel systems for a variety of light- and medium- duty Ford vehicles, including the F-150, F-250, F-350 pickup truck series; the F-450 and F-550 chassis cab truck series; the E-150, E-250, and E-350 van and wagon series; and the E-350 and E-450 cutaway van series. Currently offered through authorized Ford dealerships around the country, the ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas system delivers the same factory Ford performance characteristics and serviceability with a 5-year / 60,000-mile limited warranty. Customers can reduce operating costs significantly while reducing vehicle emissions. Complete details on ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas offerings can be found online at www.roushcleantech.com or by calling 800-59-ROUSH.
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