TAMPA, FL - CleanFuel USA and Roush Performance, with support from Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), showcased propane-fueled vehicles at the 2010 Beverage Fleet Summit on April 12 in Tampa, Fla. 

The event, hosted by Beverage World magazine and sponsored by PERC, offered fleet and transportation managers the chance to test-drive the newest propane-fueled vehicles on the market, including a General Motors G-4500 cutaway van and a Ford E-250 cargo van, each equipped with a liquid propane injection system.

"Fleet managers are seeing an increase in demand from their customers for green fleets," said Roy Willis, president and CEO of PERC. "Test-driving the propane-fueled vehicles shows fleet and transportation managers how well the vehicles perform while running on a fuel that can help them reduce carbon emissions and fuel costs immediately."

On average, propane fleet vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13 to 25 percent, depending on application, and create 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide, and fewer particulate emissions compared with gasoline, according to PERC.

Willis said propane is already the most widely used alternative fuel on roads today in the United States, powering 270,000 vehicles. Worldwide, an estimated 14 million vehicles run on propane. 

"Propane-fueled fleet vehicles deliver a comparable performance to their conventional-fueled counterparts," said Willis. "Propane-fueled vehicles not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions immediately but also reduce operating costs by 5 to 30 percent, making propane the most viable, affordable and available alternative fuel."

PERC promotes the safe and efficient use of propane as an energy fuel.