PERC approves engine projects totaling more than $1.5 million

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved the following funding requests at its July meeting in Napa, California. The principal contractor is noted in parenthesis, where applicable.

■ $1 million to develop and demonstrate a commercially ready medium-duty propane engine that showcases high-efficiency, high-performance and low nitrogen oxide features (Cummins Inc.). PERC approved this amount for the first year of a multi-year project, with its maximum contribution listed at more than $6 million.

■ $515,000 for an off-road engine development stimulation project that would fund a series of higher-horsepower propane engines, including those over 175 hp. PERC says it would partner with five OEMs on engines that could power agricultural applications, displacing diesel and natural gas.

■ $250,000 to support the development/certification of a low nitrogen oxide Ford 6.8-liter V10 engine for use in the F-450/550/650/750, the F-53/59 and the Blue Bird Type C school bus (Roush CleanTech).

■ $250,000 for the second phase of an autogas aftermarket support strategy. The program will produce five Environmental Protection Agency-certified fuel systems in high-demand fleet vehicles equipped with diesel engines, the council says.

■ $250,000 for the Energy Pod Builder Incentive Program, which offers funds to qualifying and select builders who build new homes that follow the Propane Energy Pod model. This model includes propane equipment for space heating, water heating, cooking and other heating and power applications.

■ $236,745 for Propane Catalog (previously known as the MaRC) maintenance and support. This project covers operation losses related to the price reduction for consumer safety messaging products approved in July 2014, PERC notes.

■ $150,000 for the Partner OEM Supplemental Incentive Program, which is dedicated to furthering sales of partner OEM equipment that has the potential to use large amounts of propane.

■ $116,850 for a comparative analysis on propane greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions (Gas Technology Institute). PERC says the industry can use this information to position propane against competing fuels.

■ $95,000 to assess the adaption of Tecogen’s ultra-low emission technology, Ultera, for application to fork trucks.

■ $85,650 to develop a training tool that will educate propane industry members and other stakeholders on the “fundamentals and theories behind liquid transfer systems” course (National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium).

■ $65,000 to develop Safety Talk presentations for propane marketers and to supplement the existing paper-based offerings (Logica3). PERC says the project also will fund a library of video clips so marketers can customize presentations.

■ $59,650 to develop an eight- to 12-minute training and education video for propane autogas stakeholders on servicing and converting propane autogas vehicles (National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium).

■ $39,650 to develop an eight- to 12-minute training and education video on the proper design of facilities for servicing and converting propane autogas vehicles (National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium). It will also include information about interactions with fire marshals and other authorities having jurisdiction, PERC adds.

■ $29,050 to develop propane rail transportation community outreach materials, aimed at addressing consumer and local government concerns and issues involved with building propane rail terminals (Logica3).

The council is scheduled to meet again Nov. 2-3 in Naples, Florida.