Propane, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a byproduct of natural gas processing and also can be refined from petroleum. It comes in liquid form, cooled to -44 degrees Fahrenheit. Because it is dispensed in liquid form, on board storage requirements and vehicle ranges are nearly identical to gasoline. Like natural gas, it causes less wear on engines and is typically 10-20 cheaper than regular gas. It is nearly comparable to natural gas environmentally. Historically and today, propane is the most widely used of any American fuel.

Propane Characteristics

¨ Generally about 10-20% less expensive than petroleum fuels (depends on volume ordered)
¨ Stored in liquid form at -44°F and/or under pressure; dispensed as liquid; comparable energy content to gasoline and superior octane rating
¨ Considered a safe fuel, but precautions needed because fuel is heavier than air
¨ Refueling infrastructure inexpensive and refueling nearly comparable with liquid fuels.
¨ Vehicle ranges and on-board fuel storage capacities comparable with conventional gasoline
¨ Maintenance costs generally reported to be lower compared with regular gasoline.
¨ Limited OEM offerings but numerous EPA certified factory conversions available, either "dedicated" or"bi-fuel."
¨ Emissions are higher than natural gas but less than ethanol or gasoline.
¨ Modest but significant GHG emissions reductions on life-cycle basis compared with petroleum.

Links to Other Resources:

Propane Vehicle Council - https://www.propanevehicle.org

More Information on Propane from the Alternative Fuels Data Center - https://cleancities.energy.gov/vbg/fleets/about_propane.html

Alternative Fuel Station Locator - https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#find/nearest

Propane Users - Examples of Successful Fleet Uses- https://cleancities.energy.gov/vbg/fleets/fleet_successes.html

Niche Market Info - Various Bus/Transport types and Heavy Duty Trucks - https://cleancities.energy.gov/afvinfo_niche.shtml