Transportation Fuels Come in Shades of Green
“Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants,” Henry Ford famously quipped, “so long as it is black.”
For decades, truck and bus operators used any fuel they wanted, so long as it was diesel. Now, another color is top of mind: green, as in eco-friendly alternative vehicles.
For many, the go-to choice has become electric. In fact, ROUSH CleanTech is currently developing a medium-duty electric truck that’s being tested across the country with input from leading public and private fleet operators. Still there are many shades of green when it comes to alternative, emissions-slashing fuels.
We may agree that electric vehicles are the wave of the future, but producing hundreds of thousands of vehicles can’t happen overnight. So, what are the options that can best bridge the gap until EV production and charging infrastructure is ready for full commercialization?
You might consider hydrogen fuel cell, but that solution is still on the horizon. But propane is a clean-operating, cost-cutting fuel that should be at the top of your list now.
Propane autogas is readily available today and offers clear benefits:
- Low emissions. ROUSH CleanTech’s propane engine is 90% cleaner than national emissions requirements and achieves 2027 proposed standards on NOx. We are the first OEM to receive CARB’s 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr) certification for 2022 model year vehicles.
- No additional parts or treatments. Unlike “clean” diesel, propane fuel systems require no particulate traps or fluid additives. Maintenance costs are lower and propane engines are quieter, too.
- Domestic sourcing. The vast majority of propane fuel comes from U.S. sources, eliminating the need for overseas exports.
- Lower fuel cost compared to diesel. Fleet owners, transportation agencies and school districts save at the pump, with propane routinely costing much less than diesel prices per gallon. Be sure to see “Today’s Prices” that we include in every edition of CleanTalk
- Proven on-road dependability. ROUSH CleanTech’s propane vehicles are in use across the country providing clean, safe transportation that improves air quality and reduces exposure to toxic fumes for riders and drivers. We have almost 2 billion miles of alternative fuel experience.
Diesel engines have been a stalwart in the medium duty truck and bus segment for decades. But increasing regulations and the associated complexity make it clear there are much cleaner and more cost effective solutions ready to take the baton. Contact us today to discuss leaving legacy diesel fuel behind in favor of an alternative that makes sense today and into the future.
I look forward to seeing many of you at NTEA in Indy early next month.
