Heard and noted: Takeaways from autogas market discussions

December 17, 2015 By Brian Richesson

It’s pretty easy to fill a reporter’s notebook or laptop screen with notes from propane industry meetings. Listening to industry leaders tout the next great gallon-growing equipment or propane market makes for good information to share with readers.

So, glancing back at my notes from the Propane Education & Research Council’s (PERC) November meeting in Boca Raton, Fla., here are some key takeaways from autogas-related topics and discussions.

There’s a move to expand propane’s presence from the commercial mowing market to the golf course. Eight U.S. courses are demoing propane-fueled equipment and providing feedback to the industry.
A new autogas technician training program is in the works – the result of a partnership between PERC and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC). About 50 technical colleges around the country are members of NAFTC and targeted initially to adopt the three-day program.
One of the biggest barriers to industry success in the autogas market is, in fact, the propane retailer. PERC says it hears often from fleets that struggle to find reputable propane suppliers for their vehicles.
Any engine that runs on diesel offers an opportunity for propane.
The industry is about to put gasoline forklifts out of business, and it has potential to take market share from diesel in the larger classes. The smaller classes favor electric units. ICF International expects the forklift market to stabilize for propane, with modest gains over time.
Last year, about 13,000 on-road propane-fueled vehicles were sold in the United States. By 2025, that number is expected to increase to about 50,000, according to ICF International.