Propane touts versatility at Work Truck Show

Roush CleanTech had a dump truck in their booth at the Work Truck Show. According to Todd Mouw it is important to show the versatility of autogas. Photos by Clara Richter

Since becoming managing editor of LP Gas magazine nearly one year ago, a common phrase I use when telling people about my position is, “Do you know that propane can …?”

I mentioned this while chatting with Todd Mouw, the newly minted president of Roush CleanTech, at the 2018 NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

Of course, he’s certainly aware of propane’s versatility.

This phrase also rings true at a trade show like the Work Truck Show. Surrounded by their diesel- and gasoline-fueled counterparts, propane autogas trucks stand tall as a cleaner, quieter and powerful alternative to traditional fuels.

From Ford F-150s and medium duty trucks, including a dump truck, Alliance AutoGas, Freightliner Custom Chassis and Roush CleanTech were showing off their best offerings to the work truck industry.

Superior Energy Systems provided a fueling station and the Propane Education & Research Council was also present, touting the effectiveness of propane as an alternative to traditional fuels. Visibility at events like the Work Truck Show helps the propane industry demonstrate the power of autogas.

The NAFTC Trainer includes an Icom autogas fuel system, a bi-fuel engine, an automatic transmission and other features that allow technicians to get hands-on training.

“Sometimes it takes them being able to see it in their application with the right body on it, so they can visualize how they can use it in their fleet,” Mouw says. “I think we’re going to get more active in some of these unique applications. We’ve got box trucks, we’ve got beverage trucks, we’ve got applications for government agencies.”

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) was also in attendance. It showcased a new training tool that highlights the bright future of propane autogas.

The bi-fuel engine performance trainer is a stripped-down engine and fuel system that will be used in training applications throughout the country. ATech Training, an automotive technology company based in Walton, Kentucky, built it for NAFTC.

The trainer consists of a gas and propane engine, transmission, electrical system, exhaust, engine cooling system and emissions. It is outfitted with an Icom fuel system, but, according to ATech president Laura Lyons, the trainer is flexible and could be used with other autogas fuel systems.

The trainer also includes an ATech fault/simulator panel that allows instructors to input faults into the system. According to NAFTC, this trainer allows technicians to gain real-world system skills and knowledge and perform actual service manual diagnostic procedures.

“We want to show the versatility of propane. It’s school buses, it’s water delivery trucks, it’s dump trucks and everything in between, which is pretty neat,” Mouw says. “I think propane can fill those gaps and niches and scale from five vehicles up to thousands of vehicles whereas other technologies aren’t as flexible, so that’s a huge advantage we have.”