Vehicle fleet report finds clean fuel use continues to grow

Clean technology consulting firm Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) released its third annual State of Sustainable Fleets Market Brief, highlighting the rapid growth of advanced vehicle technologies and clean fuels in the transportation industry.

“We are seeing an incredible acceleration in the investment being made from all sides of the alternative fuel vehicle market driven by increasing commitments to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction and to find more cost-effective transportation options given today’s record-breaking gasoline and diesel fuel prices,” says Erik Neandross, CEO of GNA. “Again, our survey results confirm that in every sector, fleets are increasingly turning to a spectrum of advanced clean vehicle technologies and low-carbon fuels to not only meet their sustainability goals but improve their fleet’s bottom line.”

Survey results were sourced from nearly 250 U.S. based fleets that have used clean fuels and vehicles, including propane autogas.

Among the surveyed group, nearly 85 percent report that their use of clean vehicle technologies will grow over the next five years.

A key to increased adoption of near- and zero-emission transportation across the public and private sectors, including accompanying fueling and charging infrastructure, is government funding and legislative support at both the state and federal levels, according to the report.

Other findings in this year’s State of Sustainable Fleets include information about diesel fuel prices, battery-electric vehicle demand, compressed natural gas, renewable diesel growth, propane fuel affordability and hydrogen vehicles.

According to the report’s findings, propane is easy and affordable with its sub-$2-per-gallon cost. Among the more mature clean vehicle platforms highlighted in the report, four states – California, Florida, Michigan and Texas – accounted for roughly 30 percent of national demand for propane vehicle fuel. Propane-powered trucks are most often used by state, county and municipal fleets (43 percent of such fleet types in the survey). Its usage is also common among smaller fleets, with 35 percent of propane users in the survey representing fleets with 101-500 vehicles.

“The State of Sustainable Fleets report provides valuable insight into the industry’s views on transportation sustainability and can provide practical, technology-neutral guidance for fleets searching for solutions,” says Drew Cullen, senior vice president of fuels and facility services at Penske Transportation Solutions.

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