Medium-duty vehicle fleets seeking to switch to propane autogas now have another option available: Following certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in January, ROUSH CleanTech has been certified to convert 2012-2015 model-year Ford medium-duty vehicles equipped with the 6.8L V-10 engine to run on propane autogas to operate in all 50 states.

This retrofitting option will allow emissions-minded fleets with recent model-year Ford medium-duty vehicles to switch to propane autogas in a more cost-effective way, since they won’t have to purchase a new propane-autogas-equipped truck to replace their existing vehicle with a lot of life left, according to Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing at ROUSH CleanTech.

“The fact that these medium-duty vehicles have a heavier GVWR naturally decreases the mpg, so that means, over the chassis’ lifecycle, there is significantly more fuel burned. Our ability to retrofit these used trucks with our liquid propane technology will allow them to significantly reduce fuel and maintenance costs over the remaining life of these units,” Mouw said.

Since its establishment in 2010, ROUSH CleanTech has offered propane-autogas-powered Ford trucks and vans in a variety of packages, including full-size vehicles, cutaways, and chassis cabs.

Benefitting from Propane

There are a number of financial benefits to using a propane-autogas system compared to traditional gasoline or diesel, according to Mouw:

Fuel cost savings: Propane autogas costs less than gasoline or diesel, and fleets can save from 15 to 20 cents per mile by using propane autogas, Mouw said.

Maintenance cost savings: Propane-autogas vehicles do not require after-treatment systems, eliminating the need for diesel exhaust fluid, and Ford’s 6.8L V-10 engine is designed to last over 250,000 miles when properly maintained, according to Mouw.

Vehicle-lifetime cost savings: “It’s tough to provide an exact number, but, if a fleet keeps the propane-autogas vehicle for 200,000 miles and saves 15 cents per mile, the savings would equate to $30,000 in gross savings over the life of the vehicle. That is at today’s fuel prices, with diesel being under $3 per gallon. All of the experts predict it will head back to at least $3.75 per gallon over the next few years, which would equate to even greater savings,” Mouw said.

Additional incentives: A number of states offer financial incentives for alternative-fuel vehicle usage, such as tax credits and lower vehicle registration fees.Retrofitting in Action

Retrofitting in Action

ROUSH CleanTech — a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM)-certified alternative-fuel vehicle manufacturer — can install its propane-autogas kit in customers’ vehicles either at ROUSH’s facility in Livonia, Mich., or at a Ford-approved QVM installation facility. Or, ROUSH technicians can be sent out to the customer’s location to install the system onsite.

“We design, develop, manufacture, and produce the final kit, and that kit consists of all of the propane-autogas components, including fuel rails, injectors, fuel lines, the tank, and the calibration so that it runs efficiently on propane autogas,” Mouw said.

ROUSH CleanTech also offers customers the option of installing an onsite propane-autogas fueling station.

And, ROUSH CleanTech technicians train the customer’s technicians on providing service and maintenance for a propane-autogas-powered vehicle, as well as train the customer’s drivers on how to properly drive and fuel the vehicle.

“We’ve got Web-based training that walks the technicians and the service managers through propane-autogas basics, propane-autogas safety, how to diagnose a problem, how our fuel system integrates into the vehicle, and who to call to get a service part,” Mouw said. “Once the vehicles are on the ground, we actually send our technicians in to train the customer’s technicians or their service partner.” 

UPDATED: August 21, 2015, correcting 6.8L V-10 engine.