As fleet managers aim to “green” their fleets and reduce CO₂ emissions, the number of alternative-fuel options continue to expand as well. Fleet greening has made it's way to light-duty trucks and it has gradually been migrating to the medium- and heavy-duty truck space. Alliance AutoGas is ready to show how fleets can easily convert a truck to run on propane autogas and then put it to work.

Alliance AutoGas, a propane autogas solution provider, will convert a Ford F-150 truck during the NTEA Work Truck show taking place March 1-4, 2016, in Indianapolis.

On March 3, two of the company’s installers will convert an F-150 to propane autogas in less than two hours, in an attempt to break the world record for the fastest vehicle conversion to propane autogas.

“The whole idea behind this vehicle conversion is to let prospective customers, installers, and other stakeholders see how easy and non-intrusive it is to convert a vehicle to run on propane autogas,” said Ed Hoffman, president of Blossman Services Inc., the equipment distributor for Alliance AutoGas.

Hitting the Road

Following the conversion, the F-150 will embark on Alliance AutoGas’ Clean Air Coast-to-Coast ride, a 5,300 mile trip in early May.

The truck will take off from Kansas City, Kansas, and head west toward the sunny California coastline, east to Jacksonville, Fla., and complete its circuit in Asheville, North Carolina, on May 20. The ride is anticipated to take two weeks.

The goal of the F-150’s trip is to underscore the importance and impact of reducing CO2 emissions through the use of propane autogas, according to Alliance AutoGas.

“We want people to see first-hand, how simple and easy it is to convert a vehicle, how well it runs, and a how it gives the fleet manager a well-documented return,” Hoffman said.

Transitioning with Alliance AutoGas

The company’s conversion solution has helped over 10,000 vehicles make the transition from gasoline to propane autogas. There are no implementation costs for fleets, and zero intrusion on the vehicle’s original fuel tank.

The company offers bi-fuel conversions, meaning the original gasoline components remain with the vehicle, giving fleets the flexibility of switching between propane-autogas or gasoline fueling.

“We handle the conversion of the vehicle, the infrastructure on site for dispensing fuel, and the fuel supply for the fleet customer,” Hoffman said.

Alliance AutoGas installs a handful of parts, including a secondary fuel tank to store the propane autogas, an injector spacer plate, and engine control unit (ECU).

The 21-gallon autogas tank is placed on the underbody of the truck. The ECU acts as the switch that allows the vehicle to go from gasoline to propane autogas fueled; it is connected to the vehicle with one plug.

Alliance AutoGas has its own injection technology; it uses an injector spacer plate. The bolt-on part allows, at a set position, for the propane to be introduced into the engine.

Hoffman emphasizes that there is no drilling or cutting done of any parts or wires. These systems do not require any permanent vehicle modifications; they can be removed, which is especially convenient for fleet managers who lease vehicles.

The installation of this conversion technology also reduces labor times, according to the autogas conversion provider.

“Any fleet that covers a substantial amount of miles would have real-life savings very quickly,” Hoffman said.

The system is complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 58 standards.