What is Autogas for America?

• Autogas for America is the unified voice of the U.S. Autogas market.
• Our vision is to drive immediate change in the fuel choice for America’s public and private vehicle fleets – transitioning from gasoline to clean, economical, domestically produced Autogas.
• Our mission is to help eliminate thousands of tons of harmful emissions and reduce America’s dependence on imported petroleum by doubling the number of Autogas vehicles in the U.S. within three years – from 200,000 today to 400,000.

Why should I support Autogas for America?

•  The U.S. lags far behind the international community in adopting autogas vehicle fuel
  • Our country drives about 1 percent of the world’s 17+ million autogas vehicles
• The U.S. needs Autogas in order to improve air quality and achieve energy independence
  • Autogas is a safe, clean and economical alternative to gasoline. It is almost entirely domestic and can be implemented now.
• Autogas for America needs the support of companies, non-profit organizations and individuals to ensure we achieve our mission of a cleaner, sustainable and energy-independent future for America

What are the goals of Autogas for America?

1. Foster a sustainable autogas market in the U.S. by centralizing the national autogas conversation
2. Double the number of U.S. autogas vehicles by mid 2013
3. Educate the U.S. public, government and media about the application of propane as a vehicle fuel

What is the plan for Autogas for America to achieve its goals?

1. First, we’ll build a network of stakeholders – companies, organizations, individuals – to help create a unified message for the industry, and to encourage its growth through their own networks
2. Then we’ll distribute the right message – unbiased toward specific equipment providers or fuel suppliers – so we can gain the recognition of the many benefits of autogas among government and media circles, and in the public
3. Finally, we’ll engage America’s fleets. Establishing a sustainable autogas market requires first developing a network of public and private fleets users – this will grow the fueling infrastructure organically, and put us in the right position to build a consumer market later on. Beginning with fleets means implementing the vehicles and fueling infrastructure simultaneously.

What are the main benefits of Autogas?

1. Lower Fuel Costs
2. Reduced Emissions
3. Domestically Produced

What makes Autogas a unique vehicle fuel? How is it different from gasoline?

• Autogas is much cleaner than gasoline with much lower carbon emissions
• 90%+ of U.S. autogas is domestically produced- reducing our dependence on foreign oil
• Autogas is typically much less expensive than gasoline
• Running a vehicle on autogas reduces vehicle maintenance, extending engine life
• Autogas is a viable alternative fuel that is available now
• Autogas is a viable alternative to gasoline because it reduces carbon emissions without sacrificing vehicle performance.
• Autogas achieves comparable miles per gallon to gasoline

How does America compare to other countries when it comes to using Autogas for our vehicles?

Autogas is actually the third most widely used vehicle fuel in the world.

America lags sharply behind other countries in Autogas vehicle usage with only 1.3% of the world’s Autogas vehicles. Since 2000, the number of Autogas vehicles has more than doubled from 7.5 million to over 17 million, but in the U.S., we’ve stayed stagnant at approximately 200,000 vehicles.

Countries like Turkey, Poland and South Korea are clear leaders, each with more than two million vehicles running on the alternative fuel.  Other countries where Autogas is a common vehicle fuel are Australia, Russia, Germany and Mexico.

Has the U.S. government taken any measures to support the development of the U.S. Autogas market?

Expired federal tax incentives for autogas are as follows:

Federal Tax Incentives

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit – Effective December 31, 2005 – December 31, 2011 (currently expired)

• The credit allows companies to claim a 50 percent tax credit for the cost of installing an autogas vehicle refueling station to be used in a trade or business of the taxpayer, or installed at the principal residence of the taxpayer

Volumetric Excise Tax Credit – Effective October 1, 2006 – December 31, 2011 (currently expired)

• The gross alternative fuel tax credit is 50 cents per gallon of autogas sold by the taxpayer for use as a motor fuel in a motor vehicle or motorboat
• This credit has received House approval for extension and is pending in the Senate

Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit – Effective December 31, 2005 – December 31, 2010 (currently expired)

• The credit applies toward the purchase of a new autogas vehicle or the cost of converting a conventionally-fueled vehicle to run on autogas (must be a dedicated autogas vehicle)
• The credit is 50 percent of the incremental cost (the difference in purchase price between a gasoline or diesel-fueled vehicle and an  autogas-powered version of the same model)
• The credit excludes bi-fuel autogas vehicles