Portable infrastructure refuels, recharges fleet vehicles

A new portable dual-purpose standalone fueling system from Propane Fueling Solutions allows fleets with various alternative fuel vehicles to refuel with propane autogas or recharge with fast chargers independent of the grid.

The dual-purpose standalone fueling system allows fleets to refuel with propane autogas or recharge using a propane-powered microgrid. (Photo: Propane Fueling Solutions)

The skid infrastructure combines a 60-kW propane generator with wind and solar power to create a microgrid that allows fleets to implement a drop-in charging solution. The skid also includes a refueling station for propane autogas vehicles.

“We’ve seen it time and time again – the grid fails, the wind doesn’t blow, the sun doesn’t shine, and an electric vehicle fleet is grounded because it can’t recharge. Propane can be there in those moments to provide a clean, reliable power solution,” says Mauricio Morafiallos, CEO of Propane Fueling Solutions, in a Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) press release. “Historically, EV fleets have relied on diesel generators for a portable charging solution. In those cases, all the good you’re doing with EVs is going out the window when those diesel emissions are released. Propane eliminates that issue.”

For light commercial microgrid applications (less than 100 kW), propane fuel cells can lead to near-zero nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions as well as a 24 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, according to PERC. Propane fuel cells are also cost-competitive with diesel generators.

The skid solution is significantly less expensive than traditional EV charging infrastructure because it doesn’t require the same site prep, permanent housing or other charges that are incurred with permanent infrastructure. According to Propane Fueling Solutions, the skid cuts costs by as much as 75 percent. The dual-purpose standalone fueling system allows fleets to try both propane autogas and electric vehicles – and learn about the capabilities and limitations of multiple energy sources – without making costly infrastructure investments.

“For fleets that run propane autogas and electric vehicles, this is a solution that can’t be beat. It’s fully portable, scalable, runs reliably regardless of the weather and can be installed in as little as 24 hours,” says Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development at PERC. “The propane autogas vehicles can be refueled and back on the road within minutes, and EVs can be charged reliably through propane-generated power. It’s time fleets have truly resilient energy sources, and propane provides that.”

The dual-purpose standalone fueling system is on display in PERC’s booth (#353) at this week’s NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.