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COALITION NAME

Propane Overview Presenter

TitleE-mail

Date

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Agenda

Propane Basics

Vehicles

Infrastructure

Getting Started

Additional Resources

Images: NREL Image Gallery #27574 and #30341

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Three-carbon alkane gas: C3H8

Basics: What Is Propane?

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Autogas• By-product of natural gas

processing and crude oil refining

• Gaseous fuel that is compressed to a liquid

Image: NREL Image Gallery #17180

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Benefits

• Abundant domestic resource• Vehicle technology and

fueling stations widely available

• High energy density• Low flammability• Safe, puncture-resistant

tanks• May reduce particulate

matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions

Considerations

• Reduced driving range on dedicated vehicles

• Incremental vehicle or conversion costs

• Methane and NOx emissions equivalent or slightly higher than gasoline

Basics: Benefits and Considerations

Image: NREL Image Gallery #13689

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Basics: Propane Distribution

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Basics: Supply

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and ICF International

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Basics: Consumption

Source: EIA and ICF International

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Propane Applications Storage Energy Content

Light-, medium-, and heavy-duty

vehicles

Stored as a gas in onboard tanks

between 125–150 pounds per square

inch (psi)

73% of the Btu of gasoline

Basics: Propane in Vehicles

Image: NREL Image Gallery #20655

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Original Equipment

Manufacturer (OEM)

Vehicles: OEMs Versus Conversions

Aftermarket Conversions

Prepped Vehicles

• More OEM models becoming available• Aftermarket conversions provide additional options

– Must meet federal and state requirements, and be installed by a qualified system retrofitter (QSR)

• Vehicles with factory-installed engine prep packages are converted by a qualified vehicle modifier (QVM) before delivery to the customer

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Vehicles: Categories and Maintenance

Category Fuel Benefits

Dedicated Propane

Lower emissions compared to gasoline vehicles

Increased cargo capacity over bi-fuel vehicles

Bi-fuel Propane or Gasoline

Fueling flexibility

Increased range over dedicated vehicles

Maintenance Costs• May be lower than or equal to

conventional vehicles• Less oil contamination• Extended engine life• No cold-start problems

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Vehicles: Fuel System

Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), Propane Vehicles http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/propane.html

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Vehicles: Applications

Images: NREL Image Gallery #12692, #17419, #26955

Light-Duty• Passenger cars

and light-duty trucks in private and government fleets

• Personal vehicles

Medium-Duty• Vans and

shuttles• Airport and taxi

fleets• Cargo trucks

Heavy-Duty• School buses• Transit buses• Street sweepers• Snowplows• Short-haul

delivery trucks

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Vehicles: Where to Find Available Models?

EPA: http://epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm CARB: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/altfuel/altfuel.htm

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Case Study #1: Eastern Carver County, Minnesota School District

Just the Numbers

•Propane School Buses: 100+•Fuel Cost Savings: $60,000+ per year

Image and More Information: AFDC Case Study Search, Propane Buses Help Minnesota Schools Carve out Greener Future, http://www.afdc.energy.gov/case/1483?text

• Replacing diesel buses with propane on their normal 10-year replacement cycle

• Partnered with Student Transportation of America, as well as Ferrellgas for fueling equipment and a fuel contract

• No trouble with cold starts (-20ºF)

“I think we have a great fleet here that's making progress for the environment. It's saving money for the school district so we can keep the money in the classrooms, and we're being a little progressive, and it's all the partnership between Eastern Carver County Schools and Student Transportation of America.”

—John Thomas, Transportation Director

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Case Study #2: Schwan's Home Service Fleet

Just the Numbers

• Propane Delivery Trucks: 4,500+

• Initial Propane Fleet Implementation: 1970s

• Gas and Diesel Fuel Savings: 18 million gallons/year

• Maintenance cost savings: More than $1 million/year

Image and More Information: National Clean Fleets Partner: Schwan’s Home Service,http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/schwans.html

• Largest fleet of propane vehicles in the country, with more than 70% of vehicles running on propane

• Member of Department of Energy’s National Clean Fleets Partnership

"It's great to have a company that is focused on being environmentally friendly. It's good for us from an economic standpoint as well, and it's just the right thing to do.”

—Jeff Modica, Schwan’s Global Supply Chain

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Infrastructure: Propane Station Availability

Source: AFDC Station Locator, July 2014; public stations

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Off-site, Public Access• Operated by retailer, utility, or other fleet• Fleet may be an anchor fleet or part of a pool

of multiple fleets who make a case for station to add propane refueling

On-site, Private Access• Exclusive use by participating fleets

On-site, Public Access• Built outside of restricted areas• Benefit from economy of scale• Promotes public use of propane vehicles

Infrastructure: Types

City of Austin Infrastructure:

Using five city fueling sites, Austin is able to operate more than 200

F150 propane trucks and more than 30 propane

mowers. Infrastructure is shared with Travis County,

the State of Texas, and other entities.

Image: NREL Image Gallery #30248

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Infrastructure: Propane Fueling

Image and More Information: AFDC Propane Fueling Infrastructure Development, http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/propane_infrastructure.html

•Turnkey solution with standard storage tank, dispensing, metering, and containment equipmentContainerized

•Larger storage tanks, multiple dispensers, other customizationCustomized

•Propane delivery truck with metering and dispensing equipmentMobile

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Meet with your local propa

ne marke

ter

Determine avera

ge propa

ne need

Lock in

propane fuel

price

Other Considerations: Fleet Pricing

Image: NREL Image Gallery #12500

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Other Considerations: Cost and Planning Calculators

afdc.energy.gov/tools

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• Facility modifications may be necessary • NFPA codes and international codes exist; local

authorities determine which apply • The following must be evaluated:

– Ventilation system– Heating system– Lighting system– Electrical system– Mechanical system– Building envelope– Internal structure

Other Considerations: Maintenance Facility Modifications

Helpful Resource:

The Propane Autogas Repair and Maintenance Facility

Requirements guide from PERC provides a comprehensive

overview of codes and standards for maintenance facilities, as well as additional information about evaluations and modifications.

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?• Based on my fleet inventory and replacement

schedule, what is the vehicle replacement potential?

• What vehicle, equipment, fuel, and station development vendors exist?

• Are there fueling stations in my area? Are they public or private? Can I visit?

• What support can my local Clean Cities coalition provide?

• How many vehicles will be fueled each day?• How much fuel will each vehicle need?• When and how often will vehicles need to be

fueled?• What are the maintenance facility and fueling

infrastructure site development requirements?• What federal, state, and local incentives are

available?

Getting Started: Questions to Ask

Image: NREL Image Gallery #11599

Helpful Resource:

The AFDC Laws and Incentives Search provides information about

available state and federal incentives for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and

infrastructure.

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Presenter OrganizationWebsite

Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC)afdc.energy.gov

Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)propane.com

More Information

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• AFDC Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Search (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/search)

• AFDC Alternative Fueling Station Locator (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations/)

• AFDC Vehicle Cost Calculator (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/calc/)

• AFDC Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/prep/)

• AFDC Federal and State Laws and Incentives (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/)

• AFDC Propane Fueling Infrastructure Development (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/propane_infrastructure.html)

• AFDC Propane Vehicles (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/propane.html)

• Argonne National Laboratory’s (ANL’s) Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) Tool (https://greet.es.anl.gov/afleet)

• CARB Certified Conversions List (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/altfuel/altfuel.htm)

• Clean Cities Costs Associated With Propane Vehicle Fueling Infrastructure (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/uploads/publication/propane_costs.pdf)

• EIA Propane Delivery (http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=propane_delivery)

• EPA Certified Conversions List (http://epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm)

• PERC Certified Propane Autogas Vehicles List http://www.propane.com/uploadedFiles/Propane/On_Road_Fleets/Propane_Conversions/Octobe2014OTRManufacturerListingPublicView.pdf

• PERC Propane Autogas Repair and Maintenance Facility Requirements (http://www.propane.com/uploadedFiles/Propane/On_Road_Fleets/Safety/autogas%20repair%20and%20maintenance1.pdf)

References and Resources