ROUSH CleanTech Bringing Propane Autogas to 2012 Work Truck Show
Propane autogas vehicles, Green Truck Association goals, new certifications highlighted
LIVONIA, MICH. (March 5, 2012) —ROUSH CleanTech will be exhibiting, sponsoring and speaking at the 2012 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show and Green Truck Summit this week in Indianapolis to highlight the company’s growing propane autogas product lines, partnerships and certifications for the work truck industry.
Displaying one of Frito Lay’s propane autogas Ford E-350 cutaway delivery vehicles in the Propane Pavilion (booth No. 5191) and with vehicles spread throughout the show, the company will use the event as a platform to feature new up-fitter partnerships, engine and vehicle certifications, and product availability that has developed since last year.
“ROUSH CleanTech saw tremendous growth in 2011, and continues to fortify product quality, secure industry partnerships and obtain important certifications to make it easier than ever for fleets across America to run on propane autogas,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “The $1.50 to $2.00 per gallon difference in price between gasoline and propane autogas makes now an excellent time to switch.” Thompson will be in the ROUSH CleanTech booth to discuss how propane autogas trucks and vans offer comparable horsepower, torque and towing capability to gasoline counterparts.
During a Green Truck Summit educational session on March 6 called “Propane Autogas: Green, Clean, Economical,” Todd Mouw, ROUSH CleanTech’s vice president of sales and marketing, will discuss product availability, refueling options, and the economical and environmental benefits of propane autogas. In the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive, attendees can get behind the wheel of a Ford E-450 box truck, fueled with a ROUSH CleanTech dedicated liquid propane autogas system.
To give work truck professionals more options for customizing their alternative fuel vehicles, ROUSH CleanTech continues to develop relationships and work with specialty equipment installers and up-fitters including Knapheide, National Fleet Services of Ohio, Dejana, Monroe Truck Equipment, Reading Truck Body and more. Knapheide will feature a ROUSH CleanTech vehicle fueled by propane autogas in their booth, No. 3739.
As president of the NTEA Green Truck Association, Mouw has worked to position the commercial truck industry as a national leader in adopting domestic alternative fuel products by using companies, people and technologies that already exist.
“We have laid the foundation for progress and now look to leverage the bright minds involved to help the policymakers in Washington, D.C. understand how important the work truck industry is to realizing our country’s goals of energy independence, creating green jobs, and helping fleets reduce their operating costs,” Mouw said.
The California Air Resources Board recently certified the 6.8-liter V10 engine, used in the new Blue Bird Vision school bus. This engine will also be used in the Ford F-450/F-550 and F-650 super duty chassis cabs, designed to suit a wide range of work truck applications including dump, landscape, flatbed, construction, waste, utility and freight.
And last month, ROUSH CleanTech’s products were accepted as part of the National Joint Powers Alliance’s (NJPA) contract, allowing any business or government entity in the United States that is publicly funded to adopt propane autogas trucks and vans for their fleets in a simplified process.
“This is an excellent method for government agencies to purchase propane autogas vehicles without going through the bid process in their state,” explained Joe Hughes, alternative fuel specialist for Northside Ford and Gresham Ford, the dealerships through which the vehicles can be ordered. “The procurement process is arduous; it takes manpower and time – sometimes exceeding 60 days. By being a part of the NJPA contract, fleet managers can purchase a vehicle virtually overnight after gaining appropriate funding approval.”
ROUSH CleanTech has forged ahead with Altoona Testing certification, too. This testing evaluates safety, structural integrity and durability, reliability, performance, noise, fuel economy and emissions, and is required for new transit models prior to purchase with federal funds. Completed and published test results are expected this spring.
“These stamps of approval open the door for work truck fleet managers to reduce their carbon footprint while continuing to offer efficient and affordable services to their customers,” said Mouw. “ROUSH CleanTech’s propane autogas vehicles make it easy and economical to run green, which is leading to increased customer adoption.”
About ROUSH CleanTech: Based in Livonia, Mich., ROUSH CleanTech offers dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel systems for a variety of light- and medium-duty Ford vans and trucks, and for the Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision and Micro Bird G5 school bus. Currently offered through authorized Ford dealerships around the country, the ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system delivers the same factory Ford performance characteristics and serviceability with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty. Customers can lower operating costs significantly while reducing vehicle emissions. Complete details on ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas offerings can be found online at ROUSHcleantech.com or by calling 800.59.ROUSH.
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