Five propane-fueled vehicles were available for test-driving Wednesday, May 26, at the Mobilizing North Carolina conference in Raleigh, N.C., to showcase propane’s use as a clean, cost-effective alternative fuel. Alliance AutoGas and Roush Performance, with support from the Propane Education & Research Council, displayed a Ford Crown Victoria police sedan, a Mercury Grand Marquis, two F-250 pickup trucks (regular and crew cab) and an F-350 truck.
The one-day event, called CARE for “clean air and renewable energy,” featured alternative fuels and advanced transportation technology solutions that can help meet the state’s air quality, energy and transportation needs. A PERC representative spoke during an alternative fuels session called “Transportation Technology Options.” Other speakers included North Carolina Senator Josh Stein and state government officials.
“Propane vehicles have been in use since 1913,” says Brian Feehan, vice president of PERC. “It’s a well-established fuel that increases energy security and improves the environment. With more than 270,000 propane-fueled vehicles in the United States and 14 million worldwide, propane is widely used, and we’re thrilled that the beautiful state of North Carolina is pursuing propane and other alternative fuel options.”
According to the Department of Energy, North Carolina uses the most propane transportation fuel with 17 percent consumption, followed by California (11.5 percent), Michigan (6.9 percent), and Texas (6.4 percent). DOE also reports that propane vehicles currently on U.S. roads displace more than 150 million gallons of gasoline each year.
