PERC starts Propane Autogas Research Program

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) launched its new national Propane Autogas Research Program. Launched on Sept. 21, PERC says the program is designed to gather comprehensive, real-world operational data from corporate and privately owned fleets while providing direct financial compensation to qualifying participants.

Designed to accelerate fleet transition and support long-term commercialization efforts, the new Propane Autogas Research Program will expand on existing fuel-cost data by collecting full operational metrics, including vehicle performance, maintenance, fueling, downtime and operating costs. The program’s capacity goals aim to place up to 120 propane autogas vehicles and support the deployment of refueling infrastructure for up to 50 corporate and privately owned fleets.

“Fleet operators are facing pressure to reduce operating costs while maintaining reliable day-to-day operations, but taking the first step toward alternative solutions can be challenging without peer-validated data,” says Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. “This program is a mutually beneficial partnership. By providing direct financial compensation to qualifying fleets, we are lowering the barrier to adoption. In return, the real-world operating data these fleets share will help build the definitive, evidence-based database that the entire industry needs to confidently transition.”

Participating fleets will receive $7,500 per qualifying Environmental Protection Agency-certified (EPA) and EPA/California Air Resources Board-certified propane autogas vehicle, and $10,000 for new refueling infrastructure site preparation. The program is open only to private, corporate commercial fleets, including vocational, delivery, service and commercial logistics applications. School transportation, municipal and transit fleets are not eligible for this specific research initiative.

Funding can’t be used to replace existing autogas vehicles. However, participants can apply the funding to new propane autogas vehicles or to convert vehicles already in operation, provided they are two years old or newer with fewer than 50,000 miles. The program will prioritize Class 3-7 fleet applications.

Propane autogas offers significant economic and environmental advantages that commercial operators can leverage immediately. Data from the field shows that daily fuel costs for propane autogas can be up to 50 percent lower than diesel and 40 percent lower than gasoline.

Beyond fuel savings, current propane autogas engines are already certified to the ultra-low NOx level of 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr), exceeding 2027 EPA emissions standards today. By eliminating complex diesel aftertreatment systems such as particulate filters, selective catalytic reduction and diesel exhaust fluid, fleets reduce maintenance complexity and lower lifecycle operating costs.

Additionally, private propane autogas fueling infrastructure is highly scalable, affordable and rapid to deploy, with new fueling operations that can be set up in as little as a single day, bypassing the multi-year utility interconnections and steep capital costs that are currently delaying electric grid upgrades. For fleets looking to meet stringent corporate environmental, social and governance standards, renewable propane autogas can serve as a drop-in replacement, reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent without requiring new vehicles, vehicle modifications or changes in driver behavior.

“Propane autogas already has a long, proven track record of delivering lower total cost of ownership for fleet operators nationwide,” Perkins adds. “This research program builds on that success with fleet-specific, real-world performance metrics. Whether a fleet is looking to insulate its budget from diesel and gasoline volatility or seeking a ready-now solution for lower emissions, this research program will provide the tangible proof that corporate fleet managers require to take that next step.”

Commercial fleet operators, procurement directors and logistics managers are encouraged to apply. Those who want to learn more about eligibility requirements, participation expectations and how to apply for the Propane Autogas Research Program can visit PERC’s website.

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