Propane Autogas: Give Your NY Business A Boost

So many businesses across the country now rely on propane autogas-fueled fleet vehicles to improve their bottom line.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of New York propane companies who can help your business succeed by saving on fuel costs and vehicle maintenance, while streamlining your fleet fueling, when you switch to propane autogas.

More fleet managers are discovering the autogas advantage, from airport shuttles to school buses and hundreds of other applications.

Every day, New York businesses are turning to propane autogas as a clean, green, economical alternative to gas and diesel for their light- and medium-duty fleets. Besides being suitable for vehicles of all types, autogas has proven to be an ideal fuel for a range of off-road equipment like commercial lawn mowers.

Reduce your emissions with autogas

You fill your vehicle’s autogas tank with a pump and nozzle very similar to what you have been doing for years at a service station that sells gasoline and diesel fuel. But autogas stands out in a big way from gasoline and diesel. It’s much better for the environment, producing a great deal fewer greenhouse gas emissions — 20% less carbon monoxide, 40% fewer nitrogen oxides and 10% less carbon dioxide. It is also non-toxic and doesn’t create environmental damage in the rare event of a leak.

What type of fleet vehicles use autogas?

You may be surprised by the wide range of vehicles and equipment that autogas can fuel, and what kind of businesses—as well as organizations, school districts and municipalities—are making the switch to autogas. Here are just some of the vehicles and equipment that are being powered by autogas:

• School buses
• Shuttle buses
• Police cars
• Moving vans
• Delivery vans and trucks
• Farm equipment
• Food and beverage distribution trucks
• Taxicabs
• Commercial vans, such as those driven by electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors
• Tow trucks
• Paratransit buses
• Catering trucks

What other benefits are there to switch to autogas?

The reduced environmental impact of autogas is an excellent selling point. But the potential to increase your profits along the way is a real game changer.

Historically, propane costs less than gasoline or diesel. And even after you factor in the cost of converting your fleet vehicles to autogas or buying new vehicles that run on autogas, you will still come out ahead down the road. Not only are fuel costs lower, but autogas vehicles need less maintenance and have a longer engine life because autogas is so clean-burning.

Autogas also makes your business more efficient because managing your fuel usage and costs becomes more efficient. Since your fleet fueling can be done on-site, tracking fuel usage is easy. The task of dealing with fuel receipts, payments and reimbursements can be eliminated.

Finally, you have a great marketing tool at your disposal with autogas because you can promote the fact that your business is using an environmentally-friendly fuel.

Tax savings too

Any vehicle or retrofit system that is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and/or is CARB certified and is registered and operated and complies with all applicable regulatory standards in the state of New York is eligible for an alternative fuel tax credit, which extends the 50-cents per gallon fuel credit for the use of propane autogas as a transportation fuel, and the refueling property credit, which extends the 30% /$30,000 investment tax credit for propane autogas vehicles.

New legislation extended both the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit for three years – retroactively for 2018 and 2019 and prospectively for 2020. Please consult your tax professional for advice about taking advantage of these credits.

Converting engines to autogas

For fleet owners who want the cost benefits of propane autogas but need the flexibility of a gasoline backup or who aren’t ready to purchase new vehicles, EPA-certified bi-fuel conversion kits can be installed on existing vehicles.

You can count on propane refueling technology to deliver as dependably as the vehicles themselves. Autogas-powered vehicles are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, and they provide the same type of horsepower, torque and towing capacity as conventionally fueled versions of the same models, all while holding down operating costs.

What autogas services can you count on?

If you’re interested in powering your fleet with propane, your local propane company can help. You can look for a supplier here or a conversion installer here.

Ask about converting your vehicles, setting up a propane fueling station at your property or arranging for on-site fueling on a regular schedule.

Feel free to reach out to a conversion installer or an autogas supplier to learn about all of the options you have for your business.