Frito-Lay Burns Clean with Propane Autogas
The Frito-Lay company began switching it’s fleet to propane autogas powered vehicles in support of Clean Fuels Ohio, one of the largest of the U.S. Department of Energy’s nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions, back in late 2014.
Their fleet now has nearly 120 propane autogas powered Ford E350 vans with ROUSH CleanTech systems, and autogas refueling equipment installed on-site at several locations.
Frito-Lay and their parent company PepsiCo committed to conserve fuel and reduce emissions of delivery trucks and sales cars. Their company worked towards achieving a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 through their sales and delivery fleet vehicles.
Glenn Reynolds, Fleet Manager for Frito-Lay’s Mid-American Region, explained how “In 2007, Frito-Lay and PepsiCo began a concentrated, nationwide effort to reduce emissions and conserve fuel.”
“Propane autogas works well in our old gas vehicles.”
Michael Birk, Frito-Lay Senior Sustainability Manager
The company enlisted a variety of partners to develop and implement this program, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, Ford, and Clean Fuels Ohio. They also worked with Ferrell Gas to secure additional propane fueling stations.
While testing and selecting alternative-fuel vehicles and fueling stations that would be located throughout Ohio, Frito-Lay was approached by Clean Fuels Ohio and the Clean Cities program of the U.S. Department of Energy.
“Our focus for the next three to five years is to move forward with alternative fuels within our fleet, as we continue to move the industry off of traditional fossil fuels.”
Michael Birk, Frito-Lay Senior Sustainability Manager
“We partnered with Clean Fuels Ohio when we learned there was grant money available [for conversions.]” Michael Birk, Frito-Lay’s Senior Sustainability Manager explains, “Ohio has been very aggressive in their alternative fuels approach so we moved forward with our partnership.”
“Propane autogas works well in our old gas vehicles.” Birk says. “We have been able to convert them from gasoline to propane autogas. It works very well for our medium- to light-duty vehicles.
“Our focus for the next three to five years is to move forward with alternative fuels within our fleet as we continue to move the industry off of traditional fossil fuels.”
Buying propane vehicles or converting your fleets to propane autogas is made easier with the rebates available from the Ohio Propane Gas Association. The OPGA is offering up to $5,000 per entity, $1,000 each for vehicles or mowers.