Is Propane Autogas The Same As LPG?
Our propane keeps commercial vehicles on the road.
Many businesses and municipalities with vehicle fleets are discovering a fuel that offers an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to gasoline and diesel. That fuel is propane autogas. You might not be aware that, according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are about 60,000 propane vehicles on U.S. roads right now. Some vehicles that use autogas are:
- commercial vans
- delivery vans
- distribution trucks
- pickup trucks/cars
- school buses
- shuttle and charter buses
- taxis
There are several terms for this fleet-fueling propane, including LPG and autogas. At Frank Lamparelli, we are proud to deliver propane autogas throughout the South Shore.
Are LPG and propane autogas the same?
The acronym LPG stands for “liquified petroleum gas,” which can stand as a synonym for all propane. It’s also frequently used as a term for propane autogas. So, even though LPG can describe all propane, you can use it to describe the propane that fuels road vehicles.
How does autogas work?
Propane autogas is used to fuel light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles. In fact, it’s the third most popular fuel in the U.S., after gasoline and diesel.
Autogas vehicles have an internal combustion engines just like gas and diesel-fueled vehicles. Propane is stored as a liquid in a tank at the rear of the vehicle. A fuel line transfers propane to the engine’s combustion chamber for ignition.
Some vehicles use propane as their sole fuel source, while others are bi-fuel vehicles, which can run on both propane and gasoline.
What are the benefits of propane autogas?
For a start, propane autogas offers significant advantages in terms of affordability. Over 90 percent of propane used in the U.S. is American-made, meaning that it’s better insulated for global energy markets than gasoline is. Even though propane’s fuel economy is lower than gasoline, it has a higher octane rating and is generally less expensive per gallon than gasoline. In the end, this typically makes autogas more affordable.
There are also significant environmental benefits to propane, including the following:
- Propane has a much lower carbon intensity (CI) than gasoline.
- Propane also has a lower CI than grid-based electricity that’s used to power electric vehicles. In Massachusetts, over three-quarters of our grid is powered by natural gas, which is primarily methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Propane is methane-free.
- Propane also emits virtually no particulate matter, a known carcinogen.
- Autogas buses produce 24 percent less nitrogen oxide (NOx) than gasoline buses. They produce 44 percent less sulfur oxide (SOx) than gas-powered buses. This makes the air around them safer for adults and children with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Propane autogas is also non-toxic and will typically dissipate into the air. Conversely, spilled gasoline will pool on the ground, creating a safety hazard.
Frank Lamparelli can provide the clean, affordable, environmentally friendly propane autogas you need for your fleet of vehicles. Get in touch with our friendly commercial fuel team right away to begin receiving premium propane autogas.