City of Cincinnati: Propelled by Propane
In 2010, the City of Cincinnati felt the push to break the status quo. As a result, Andrew Glenn, Director of Public Services, is committed to improving the city’s air quality. He envisioned a sustainable fleet of service vehicles that would reduce Cincinnati’s reliance on foreign oil and lower its carbon footprint. Notably, the mayor’s “Climate Protection Action Plan: The Green Cincinnati Plan” helped shape that vision. This plan included purchasing more alternative fuel fleet vehicles to cut harmful emissions. The proposal included the procurement of additional alternative fuel fleet vehicles to reduce harmful emissions.
To support this effort, Clean Fuels Ohio, the city’s Clean Cities Coalition, introduced officials to propane autogas. They also provided expert guidance on the alternative fuel. In addition, Clean Fuels Ohio helped the city secure a grant to expand its fleet. This included new propane autogas vehicles to complement the existing E-85, electric, and hybrid vehicles.
“Propane autogas’s benefits are three-fold,” said Andrew Conley, Clean Fuel Ohio’s Program Director. “It offers economic and environmental benefits, along with an ease of transition due to it being a readily available fuel source.”
“[Propane autogas] offers economic and environmental benefits, along with an ease of transition due to it being a readily available fuel source.”
Andrew Conley, Clean Fuels Ohio Program Director
“With oil prices rising and unrest in the Middle East, we’re seeing a tremendous amount of interest in propane autogas for fleet vehicles,” added Conley. Moreover, “Couple that with the increase in gas and diesel costs, and the savings fleets can realize with propane autogas is approaching $2.00 per gallon. Overall, these returns on investment, not to mention the environmental and energy security benefits, are driving the market today.”
Following this guidance, the city purchased several ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas trucks. These included six Ford F-350s, seven Ford F-250s, and one Ford F-350 with a dump bed. Clean Fuels Ohio helped the city obtain an Energy Department grant to support the purchase. Subsequently, the city assigned the trucks to the Cincinnati Park Board, Public Services, and the Greater Cincinnati Water Works.
Maraskeshia Smith, Deputy Director of Cincinnati’s Department of Public Works, said the city estimates it will eliminate nearly 10,500 gallons of gasoline use annually by switching to propane autogas.
Smith said the city chose ROUSH CleanTech’s system for its environmental and economic benefits, and because it provides a dedicated system with Ford’s factory warranty.
“We have our mechanics working on the vehicles at our facilities,” she said, adding that the city has installed two 1,000-gallon fueling stations to keep these vehicles fueled and ready to work. The city partnered with Ferrell Gas, its local propane distributor, to install two on-site propane autogas stations. The city saves significantly by using propane autogas, which costs them $2.16 per gallon compared to $3.22 for gasoline.
City of Cincinnati drivers report that their propane autogas trucks perform just as well as the gasoline vehicles. “The ROUSH CleanTech trucks have the same horsepower, torque, and towing ratings as gas vehicles,” said Smith. “My drivers report that the only difference is the ignition of the engine, which is delayed a little. They appreciate how quiet the idle is, too.”
“The [propane autogas] vehicles have the same horsepower, torque and towing ratings as gas vehicles.”
Maraskeshia Smith, Deputy Director of the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Public Works
Initially, staff worried about performance in extreme weather. However, after a whole winter of operation, Barbara Neumann, administrative specialist for City Fleet Services, reported no issues. “The trucks started and ran reliably in every condition,” she confirmed. In fact, the vehicles had no problems starting or running in any weather condition.
The City of Cincinnati continues to see propane autogas deliver benefits throughout its communities. The City of Cincinnati continues to see the benefits of propane autogas throughout its communities. As their mission to create a greener future grows, they plan to expand the propane fleet. Upcoming additions include five Ford E-250 cargo vans and three Ford E-350 vans with 15-passenger seating. All of them are designed to run clean.
The Ohio Propane Gas Association makes it easier to switch to propane autogas by offering rebates for vehicle purchases or fleet conversions. The OPGA offers up to $5,000 per entity, with $1,000 available for each vehicle or mower.
