The word is getting out: Propane-fueled vehicles are cost efficient and environmentally friendly, and they’re selling as fast as they can be made. The Roush F-150 propane pickup and the Blue Bird Vision school bus began rolling off production lines and joining fleets across America in January, providing a clean alternative to gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.

The introduction of the two new vehicles is generating momentum for propane as a smart fuel for on-road vehicles. Propane provides a clean, reliable, and safe way to fuel engines at a good value with no sacrifice in performance. Propane-fueled vehicles compare favorably with their gasoline counterparts on power, acceleration, and cruising speeds.

Building on this momentum, the propane industry this year will increase its efforts to market the F-150 pickup and the Vision school bus to fleets, school districts, and builders in the United States. Outreach activities include:

1. Marketing Materials: For both the F-150 and the Vision, PERC worked with these OEMs to create dealer kits, complete with selling strategies, technology specifications, and a guide to the benefits of propane. These kits are available to the propane industry, as well as to dealers, as an educational tool for learning more about the vehicles. The marketing materials are available on the Propane Marketing Resource Center (MaRC) at http://members.propanecouncil.org.
2. Roadshows: Following the success of the Texas Roadshow in September, other states are starting to plan for these propane-fueled vehicles to tour their states. Fleet managers and school districts are more likely to choose a propane-fueled vehicle after test-driving it first.
3. Trade Shows: The propane industry will showcase the F-150 at national shows such as the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference and Expo and the National Association of Pupil Transportation. At the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in February, the propane industry held a raffle for one of the trucks, as a means of enticing builders to add propane to their fleets.

PERC is also working with R.L. Polk, a well-respected automotive data research firm, to look at the attitudes, challenges, expected trends, and decision-making dynamics among fleet managers. Polk will survey a random sample of managers, and the information gathered will be used to refine current marketing plans and strategies as well as help establish sales priorities and segment buyers. The research will be made available to the industry.

For more information about the Vision school bus, visit www.propanevision.com. For more information on the Roush F-150, visit www.propanetruck.us.