Blog Archives - Michigan Autogas

Value of Used EVs Losing Its Charge

Post author:Client
Post published:June 27, 2024
Post category:Blog

More consumers are becoming frustrated with the plunging value of their used EVs. After years of making payments, many owners are shocked to discover their car is worth far less…

Hundreds of EV trucks are being delivered, and hundreds of them are failing. Now, more fleet managers are speaking out.

Big Trucks, Big Batteries, Big Problems

Post author:admin
Post published:June 12, 2024
Post category:Blog

The trucking industry faces major challenges in transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs), including high purchasing and maintenance costs. Technological limitations are a third major hurdle.The Clean Freight Coalition (CFC), which…

Going Green and Saving Millions

Post author:admin
Post published:May 28, 2024
Post category:Blog

Michigan Propane Fleet Vehicles One-Stop-Shop to Huge Savings on Vehicle Fuel and Maintenance, Fueling Infrastructure, and Tailpipe Emissions Why Fleet Owners and Mechanics Favor Propane Join Our Newsletter! What You…

Michigan Propane Vehicle Fleet Workshop

Post author:admin
Post published:March 28, 2024
Post category:Blog

REGISTER HERE! Days Hours Minutes Seconds Learn more about Propane Vehicles Hear from Fleet Owners why they Choose Propane

Production line of automobile plant.

Michigan Not Seeing Return on EV Investments

Post author:admin
Post published:February 8, 2024
Post category:Blog

These ‘investments’ are just not paying off. This is all despite the fact that Michigan has routinely placed the highest bids for electric vehicle projects.

Farm Trucks Run on Propane

Post author:admin
Post published:July 19, 2022
Post category:Blog

MPGA Offering Farmers $4,000 for One Truck, up to $16,000 for Four Pickup trucks are a farm staple regardless of size of operation. It’s common to see a Ford F-250…

white city bus goes along street

$1.4 billion dollars in federal grants now available for propane buses and vans.

Post author:admin
Post published:March 25, 2022
Post category:Blog

$1.4 Billion Dollars in Federal Grants Now Available for Propane Buses and Vans The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) is accepting grant applications to replace, rehabilitate, purchase, or lease buses, related…

Waterford School District: Fueled by Propane

Post author:admin
Post published:May 1, 2020
Post category:Blog

The Waterford School District (WSD) introduced 10 new propane-fueled school buses into its fleet in 2016. They've joined with almost 30 other school districts in the state by operating Blue…

Lake Michigan Mailers Converts Fleet to Propane

Post author:admin
Post published:April 30, 2020
Post category:Blog

Among the considerations fleets must review before switching to an alternative fuel are vehicle miles driven in a day, total cost of ownership, infrastructure improvements, and fuel price. For Lake…

Michigan Cities Save Big on the Three F’s

Post author:admin
Post published:February 18, 2020
Post category:Blog

Propane-fueled vehicles are easier to maintain and last longer than gasoline and diesel-fueled vehicles. The cost savings is significant for city governments, and with the $4,000 rebate available from the…

Fuel Type	Light Duty	School Buses	Paratransit	Single Unit Short-Haul Truck	Single Unit Long-Haul Truck
Propane	$50,000	$108,000	$48,000	$78,000	$89,000
Electric	$93,000	$300,000	$93,000	$150,000	$185,000
Diesel	$53,000	$100,000	$53,000	$70,000	$75,000
Gasoline	$42,000	N/A	$42,000	N/A	N/A

	Propane	Gasoline	Diesel	Electric
Chemical Structure	C3H8 (majority) and C4H10 (minority)	C4 to C12 and Ethanol ≤ to 10%	C8 to C25	N/A
Fuel Material (feedstocks)	Fats and oils from sources such as soybeans, waste cooking oil, animal fats, and rapeseed	Crude Oil	Crude Oil	Natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, hydro, solar, and small percentages of geothermal and biomass
Gasoline or Diesel Gallon Equivalent (GGE or DGE)	1 gal = 0.74 GGE 1 gal = 0.66 DGE	1 gal = 1.00 GGE 1 gal = 0.88 DGE	1 gal = 1.12 GGE 1 gal = 1.00 DGE	1 kWh = 0.030 GGE 1 kWh = 0.027 DGE
Energy Comparison (GGE = Gasoline Gallon Equivalent)	gallon of propane has 73% of the energy in 1 GGE due to the lower energy density of propane.	1 gallon of gasoline has 97%–100% of the energy in 1 GGE. Standard fuel is 90% gasoline, 10% ethanol.	1 gallon of diesel has 113% of the energy in 1 GGE due to the higher energy density of diesel fuel.	A typical battery that is the same size as a gallon of gas (0.134 ft3), when used for transportation, can store 15.3% of the energy in 1 GGE. [6][7]
Energy Content (lower heating value)	84,250 Btu/gal (c)	112,114– 116,090 Btu/gal (c)	128,488 Btu/gal (c)	3,414 Btu/kWh
Energy Content (higher heating value)	91,420 Btu/gal (c)	120,388– 124,340 Btu/gal (c)	138,490 Btu/gal (c)	3,414 Btu/kWh
Physical State	Pressurized liquid (heavier than air as a gas)	Liquid	Liquid	Electricity
Cetane Number	N/A	N/A	40–55 (d)	N/A
Pump Octane Number	105 (g)	84–93 (f)	N/A	N/A
Flash Point	-100° to -150°F (j)	45°F (j)	165°F (j)	N/A
Autoignition Temperature	850° to 950°F (j)	495°F (j)	~600°F (j)	N/A
Maintenance Issues			Lubricity is improved over that of conventional low sulfur diesel fuel. For more maintenance information see, the Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines—Fifth Edition. (d)
Energy Security Impacts	Approximately half of U.S. LPG is derived from oil, but no oil is imported specifically for LPG production.	Manufactured using oil. Transportation accounts for approximately 30% of total U.S. energy needs and 70% of petroleum consumption. (l)	Manufactured using oil. Transportation accounts for approximately 30% of total U.S. energy needs and 70% of petroleum consumption. (l)	Electricity is produced domestically from a wide range of sources, including through coal-fired power plants and renewable sources, making it a versatile fuel.

Fuel Type	School Buses
Propane	$108,000
Electric	$300,000
Diesel	$100,000
Diesel HEV	$160,000
CNG	$130,000
Gasoline

Chassis	7.3L Version	GVWR	0.05 NOx
E-350	Premium	10,050	N/A
E-350	Economy	10,050	N/A
Economy	E-450	14,000	N/A
Premium	E-450	14,200	Yes
E-450	Premium	14,500	Yes

School buses

School Buses

EPA Certified Engines

Average Purchase Price

Average Maintenance Cost

Average ROI Time

Annual GHG Emissions

Fleet usage of propane in sectors optimal for propane Fuel (Autogas) include:

Food/bev Vehicles

Food/Beverage Vehicles

Average Cost Per Mile

Average Purchase Price

Average ROI Time

Annual GHG Emissions

Ave. Vehicle Life Span and Ave. Propane Fuel Use

EPA Certified Engines

Class 1 Vehicles

Class 2 Vehicles

Class 2 Light-Duty Trucks:

Class 2B Heavy-Duty Trucks:

Class 3 Vehicles

Class 4 Vehicles

Class 5 Vehicles

Class 6 Vehicles

Class 7 Vehicles

Service/Utility

Service/Utility Vehicles

Average Cost Per Mile

Average Purchase Price

Average ROI Time

Annual GHG Emissions

Ave. Vehicle Life Span and Ave. Propane Fuel Use

EPA Certified Engines

Class 1 Vehicles

Class 2 Vehicles

Class 2 Light-Duty Trucks:

Class 2B Heavy-Duty Trucks:

Class 3 Vehicles

Class 4 Vehicles

Class 5 Vehicles

Class 6 Vehicles

Class 7 Vehicles

Police/EMT Vehicles

Police/EMT Vehicles

Average Cost Per Mile

Average Purchase Price

Average ROI Time

Annual GHG Emissions

Ave. Vehicle Life Span and Ave. Propane Fuel Use

EPA Certified Engines

Class 1 Vehicles

Class 2 Vehicles

Class 2 Light-Duty Trucks:

Class 2B Heavy-Duty Trucks:

Class 3 Vehicles

Class 4 Vehicles

Class 5 Vehicles

Class 6 Vehicles

Paratransit

Paratransit Vehicles

Average Cost Per Mile

Annual GHG Emissions

Ave. Vehicle Life Span and Ave. Propane Fuel Use

EPA Certified Engines

Class 2 Vehicles

Class 5 Vehicles

Class 6 Vehicles

Class 7 Vehicles

Delivery Vehicles

Delivery Vehicles

Average Cost Per Mile

Annual GHG Emissions

Ave. Vehicle Life Span and Ave. Propane Fuel Use

EPA Certified Engines

Class 2 Vehicles

Class 4 Vehicles

Class 5 Vehicles

Class 6 Vehicles

Class 7 Vehicles

Municipality

Fleet usage of propane in sectors optimal for
propane Fuel (Autogas) include:

Average
ROI Time

Average
ROI Time

Average
ROI Time