Fleet owners offered free spins, fueled by propane

Roush CleanTech and Ferrellgas teamed up last month to roll out a national program to encourage fleet owners to give propane a try, for free.

Roush CleanTech donated a propane-powered van and Ferrellgas provided the fuel for the demonstration project aimed at boosting the visibility of propane as a smart, cost-saving alternative energy option.

The project allows any government agency, company or utility with more than 10 vehicles in its fleet to request use of the propane van for a week or two. Ferrellgas will arrange refueling and training. The kickoff event at the Norfolk Botanical Garden was organized by Virginia Clean Cities, an outreach arm of the U.S. Department of Energy.

“It’s easy to talk about alternative energy, but what really matters is how it performs, how employees respond. This is a way to try it out and see if it fits your needs,” said Chelsea Jenkins, executive director of Virginia Clean Cities.

Ferrellgas officials said 26 percent of the company’s delivery and service fleet runs on propane and another 1,000 vehicles will be switched over in the next five years.