Propane Provides Cheaper, Greener Transportation for Geauga County Residents
Geauga County Gets a Lift from Propane
Propane Transit Bus Fleet: 9 vehicles
Savings: Lower Fuel Costs: ~$32,000
CO2 emission reduction: ~ 483,000 lb CO2 / yr.
Laketran’s success running a fleet of 87 propane paratransit vehicles in central Cleveland didn’t stay in the city. It’s expanded into the nearby Geauga County, where Geauga Transit runs a fleet of propane buses.
Ben Capelle, CEO of Laketran, became the CEO of Geauga Transit. Capelle operates 18 transit buses in total, with 9 running on propane. to transport Ohio residents within the County.
“When Laketran acquired Geaiga Transit, one of the first things we started doing was switching some of the vehicles to propane,” said Capelle in an interview with the Ohio Propane Gas Association.
“We got a grant to expand service with Geauga Transit to provide better service to the community,” Capelle said. “And part of that grant was the purchase of several expansion vehicles, which were all propane-fueled.”
Geauga Transit covers more rural miles. “Geauga is still technically part of the Cleveland region, but the County is much more rural,” Capelle explained. “Half of their riders are Amish, but… they still need the same types of things that anybody needs.”
Capelle continues to grow the propane vehicle fleet to take advantage of the same benefits Laketran is experiencing. Propane costs less to fuel, operate, and maintain. They handle winter well by starting right up in the coldest days. And propane engines are clean and quiet for ridership. Propane offers both drivers and passengers dependable transportation.
Saving Money with Propane
Switching Geauga Transit to propane is straightforward.
“The primary reason was cost-savings,” said Capelle. “We’re applying the same type of cost-saving measures Geauga. Although it takes a bit more propane to run a fleet compared to gasoline, propane’s fuel savings still add up to 35% net savings overall.” In 2025, Geauga saved over $32,000 in fuel costs alone for their 9 propane Ford E-450s compared to 9 gasoline units.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center tracks this kind of price advantage in its Alternative Fuel Price Report (October 2025).
Propane has been used as a vehicle fuel throughout the country and the world. Propane engines are similar to a gasoline engine. According to Capelle, “It’s just a Ford engine with a different fuel tank, a different computer, and different fuel injectors. So it’s really not that much different.”
“A propane fleet isn’t overly complicated, repairs are easier, downtime is lower, and maintenance costs stay predictable,” he said.
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“I love propane buses. The number one reason is they save the taxpayers 35%, and we don't have to compromise on quality, safety, performance, or anything.”
Easy-to-Install Propane Infrastructure
Switching fuel types is a major decision and can be overwhelming. Capelle says the reality is a lot simpler than people expect.
“It’s a shockingly simple thing to make the switch to propane. There are far fewer regulations for it because it’s a pressurized gas, so it’s not as complicated as gasoline or diesel. I think all of us were a little surprised at the lack of complexity of the components in a good way.”
“There’s a tank, a pump, and a nozzle. It’s really not much different than fueling up your car,” he added. That’s also how the U.S. Department of Energy describes it—propane dispensers can even sit right alongside gas or diesel equipment, and the infrastructure setup is largely familiar: on-site tank storage plus a pump and dispenser designed for vehicle fueling.
For other organizations looking to make the transition, Capelle had this advice: “For the most part, propane runs the same as other fuels, so the transition is easy. You want to make sure you include your personnel and explain why you’re doing it. Change can always be hard, but if people understand the reason and they hear the savings you’ll get, in our case. The big thing is to decide your fueling infrastructure and get that in place.”
In practice, that early planning is what keeps everything smooth—lining up the site, the tank placement, and the right dispenser package so fueling feels routine from day one.
Keeping Warm Through Winter
It wasn’t just Geauga that “picked” propane; drivers and riders quickly got behind it, too. Once propane started replacing diesel in Geauga Transit’s lineup, the feedback was hard to ignore: the buses simply stayed more comfortable inside, and drivers didn’t want to give them up.
“Diesel engines struggle to heat up sometimes, and so they don’t always provide enough heat in the passenger compartment,” said Capelle. “Our drivers are comfortable driving propane vehicles.”
Running propane-fueled public transit in Geauga County, part of Northeast Ohio’s snowbelt, where the National Weather Service office in Cleveland regularly documents higher snowfall totals in that region than other regions, is no headache.
“We got hit with some pretty big snowstorms this year. It was no problem for our propane fleet. They started right up and were on the road transporting our passengers.”
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center notes propane performs well in extreme cold conditions, including winter “freeze” scenarios. The NREL has also pointed directly to propane’s cold-weather performance advantages, noting that the fuel vaporizes more easily at low temperatures, helping avoid common cold-start issues that can occur with traditional liquid fuels.
$16,000 Available from the Ohio Propane Gas Association
The Ohio Propane Gas Association is offering Ohio entities up to $16,000 to first-time propane users. The OPGA’s propane-fleet experts are available to fleet directors, treasurers, and city officials make the transition to propane easy.
Learn more at: OhioAutogas.com/#funding