City of Cincinnati: Propelled by Propane

In 2010, the City of Cincinnati felt the push to break the status quo. Andrew Glenn, Director of Public Services, committed to cleaning up the air in the city. He envisioned a sustainable fleet of service vehicles for the city that would reduce Cincinnati’s dependence on foreign oil, while also reducing their carbon footprint. Part of his vision was motivated by the mayor’s “Climate Protection Action Plan: The Green Cincinnati Plan.” The proposal included the procurement of additional alternative fuel fleet vehicles to reduce harmful emissions.

Cincinnati’s local Clean Cities Coalition, Clean Fuels Ohio, introduced city officials to propane autogas, offering expert advice and guidance about the alternative fuel. Clean Fuels Ohio helped the city receive a grant to deploy propane autogas vehicles to add to the cities existing mix of E-85, electric and hybrid vehicles.

“Propane autogas’s benefits are three-fold,” said Andrew Conley, Clean Fuel Ohio’s Program Director. “It offers economic and environmental benefits, along with an ease of transition due to it being a readily available fuel source.”

“[Propane autogas] offers economic and environmental benefits, along with an ease of transition due to it being a readily available fuel source.”

Andrew Conley, Clean Fuels Ohio Program Director

“With oil prices rising and unrest in the middle east, we’re seeing a tremendous amount of interest in propane autogas for fleet vehicles,” added Conley. “Couple that with the increase in gas and diesel costs, and the savings fleets can realize with propane autogas is approaching $2.00 per gallon. These returns on investment, not to mention the environmental and energy security benefits, are really driving the market today.”

The ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas trucks, which included six Ford F-350’s, seven Ford F-250’s, and one Ford F-350 outfitted with a dump bed, were purchased from an authorized Ford dealership, Valley Ford Truck, Inc., with assistance from an Energy Department grant obtained through Clean Fuels Ohio. The trucks were assigned to the Cincinnati Park Board, Public Services and The Greater Cincinnati Water Works. According to Maraskeshia Smith, Deputy Director of City of Cincinnati’s Department of Public Works, the city estimated that substituting their conventional fuel with propane autogas will remove nearly 10,500 gallons of gasoline from use each year.

According to Smith, ROUSH CleanTech’s system was chosen not just for environmental and economic benefits, but also because it was a dedicated system that offered Ford’s factory warranty. 

“We have our own mechanics working on the vehicles at our facilities,” she said, adding that the city has installed two 1,000-gallon fueling stations to keep these vehicles fueled and ready to work. The city worked with their local Ferrell Gas propane distributor to install two on-site propane autogas stations. The savings to the city is significant, considering the average price they pay for propane autogas is $2.16, while the average price of their gasoline is $3.22 per gallon.

City of Cincinnati personnel who drive the trucks each day have found the same level of performance with their propane autogas trucks as their gasoline fleet vehicles. “The ROUSH CleanTech trucks have the same horsepower, torque and towing ratings as gas vehicles,” said Smith. “My drivers report that the only difference is the ignition of the engine, which is delayed a little. They appreciate how quiet the idle is, too.”

“The [propane autogas] vehicles have the same horsepower, torque and towing ratings as gas vehicles.”

Maraskeshia Smith, Deputy Director of the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Public Works

Initially, personnel had concerns about performance in extreme weather conditions. After completing a winter with the trucks in use, Barbara Neumann, administrative specialist for City of Cincinnati Fleet Services, reports that they’ve had no problems with cold-weather starting. In fact, the vehicles had no problems starting or running in any weather condition.

The City of Cincinnati is finding the benefits of propane autogas taking root in their communities. As their mission to bring a greener tomorrow to their citizens grows, they plan to add more propane autogas vehicles, including five Ford E-250 cargo vans and three Ford E-350 vans with 15-passenger seating capacity — all designed to run clean.

Buying propane vehicles or converting your fleets to propane autogas is made easier with the rebates available from the Ohio Propane Gas Association. The OPGA is offering up to $5,000 per entity, $1,000 each for vehicles or mowers.