Fleet Blogs Archives - Michigan Autogas

Propane: A Green Fuel That Lowers Energy Costs

Post author:admin
Post published:February 26, 2026
Post category:Blog Fleet Blogs

The Road to Achieving Big Climate Goals in West Michigan The City of Grand Rapids is accelerating its response in the wake of concerns about maintaining Michigan’s environment. With a…

How Propane Supports Traverse City’s Climate Goals: Cleaner, Cheaper, Ready Now

Post author:admin
Post published:February 12, 2026
Post category:Blog Fleet Blogs

Traverse City's Climate Plan Is Bold—But Is It Balanced? Traverse City is one of Michigan’s hottest summer destinations—and propane is already playing a role in making it run. From backyard…

Rows of School Buses

How New Federal and State Clean Transportation Policies Could Impact Michigan Fleets

Post author:admin
Post published:March 27, 2025
Post category:Blog Fleet Blogs

Shifting Federal Priorities: What Michigan Fleets Need to Know Since the beginning of 2025, there has been a significant shift in federal clean transportation policies, considering the new administration's "Unleashing…

Michigan Propane Vehicle Fleet Workshop 2025

Post author:admin
Post published:March 12, 2025
Post category:Blog Fleet Blogs

Michigan runs on propane with over 33,000 propane-fueled fleet school buses, paratransit, and more. Propane fuel and propane infrastructure cost significantly less than other fuel alternatives.Our guest speakers will explain…

Zingerman’s Bake House Switches to Propane for a Cleaner, More Efficient Fleet

Post author:admin
Post published:September 17, 2024
Post category:Fleet Blogs

Zingerman’s Bake House, an esteemed artisan bakery renowned for its traditional breads, cakes, and pastries in the Ann Arbor area, has taken a significant step towards sustainability by transitioning its…

Allegan County Transportation: Saves Big and Cleans the Air with Propane

Post author:admin
Post published:September 3, 2024
Post category:Fleet Blogs

Allegan County Transportation serves 825 square miles of rural Michigan, offering curb-to-curb services that connect residents across the county. Committed to expanding its service and reducing emissions, Allegan County Transportation…

Screenshot

The Rapid’s Propane Buses Cut Costs and Carbon Emissions

Post author:admin
Post published:August 8, 2024
Post category:Fleet Blogs

The Rapid is one of Michigan’s largest public transportation fleets, servicing greater Grand Rapids and six surrounding cities. It is leading the charge in eco-friendly transit by switching its fleet…

Fuel Type	Light Duty	School Buses	Paratransit	Single Unit Short-Haul Truck	Single Unit Long-Haul Truck
Propane	$60,000	$140,000	$160-180,000	$104,000	$89,000
Electric	$93,000	$410,000	$350-375,000	$250,000	$185,000
Diesel	$63,000	$138,000	N/A	$90,000	$75,000
Gasoline	$52,000	N/A	$120-140,000	$90,000	$75,000

	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

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Annual GHG Emissions

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

Food/bev Vehicles

Food/Beverage Vehicles

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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

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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

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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

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ROI Time