Optimus Group operates propane fueling hub to serve growing commercial fleets
Optimus Group, a family commercial fleet business based in the Grand Rapids suburb of Walker, Michigan, is providing a fueling station for about 60 propane-powered delivery trucks.
The majority are FedEx contractors that operate out of a facility directly across the road. An additional fleet operates a kitchen supply delivery business in the greater Grand Rapids area.
The vehicles, representing nine private fleets, include bi-fuel Ford F-59 chassis step vans, Ford E-350/E-450 cutaway vans and Freightliner MT-55 chassis step vans with Prins direct-injection propane conversion systems, allowing the vehicles to operate on propane or gasoline. There are also Ford F-650/F-750 commercial chassis trucks with Roush CleanTech dedicated direct-injection propane fuel systems.
Optimus Group’s propane refueling station consists of a 30,000-gallon tank along with four PRO-Vend 2000 propane autogas dispensers from Superior Energy Systems (SES). There is a separate dispenser hose to fill propane cylinders for applications like forklifts, because Optimus uses its own fleet to deliver those containers to a wide slate of customers.
Optimus began the propane refueling infrastructure project with a single 1,000-gallon propane tank and dispenser on a skid, provided by SES. That evolved into the current station. The overall infrastructure design allows for up to six 30,000-gallon tanks.
Fleets benefit from fuel cost and maintenance savings, about 25 percent on both, according to Optimus. Propane costs roughly 40 percent per gallon less than gasoline, Roush CleanTech adds.
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