Last week in Washington D.C. Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie announced the launch of Autogas for America.  Autogas for America aims to eliminate thousands of tons of harmful vehicle emissions and to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Billed as "the unified voice of the U.S. Autogas market," the initiative encourages and enables U.S. vehicle fleets to use propane Autogas instead of gasoline.

Autogas for America will bring together Autogas experts, transportation industry specialists and environmental advocates. Autogas, the name given to propane when it is used as a motor fuel, is the third most widely used vehicle fuel globally, behind only gasoline and diesel – but Americans drive less than 2 percent of the world's 14.6 million Autogas vehicles.

"Autogas is a vehicle fuel that will help reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, and it's right here, right now," says Weidie, Autogas for America founder. "The supporters of Autogas for America are driving change in the fuel choice of America's fleets - from gasoline to clean, economical, domestically produced Autogas."

Autogas for America hopes to increase the number of U.S. Autogas vehicles from 200,000 to 500,000 by mid-2013. The core goals of Autogas for America center around a three-pronged strategy: build a network of stakeholders; educate the U.S. public, government and media about the fuel's benefits; and encourage America's fleets to adopt Autogas.

Weidie announced the launch to top Autogas industry representatives attending Propane Days in Washington. To detail the message and goals of Autogas for America, Weidie was joined on stage by Tucker Perkins (president, CleanFUEL USA), Andrew Peyton (vice president of sales and marketing, AmeriGas) and Richard Roldan (president, National Propane Gas Association).

Roldan says in the past two decades, the number of U.S. Autogas vehicles "has gone into a steep decline. It's time to reshape our strategy, and Autogas for America is the way to do it. It gives us a new direction and lets us march together as a united industry."

Autogas is a clean fuel that produces an average of 25-30 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. Ninety percent of Autogas is domestically produced, so it can play a leading role in helping the United States meet its objectives of energy independence. It is an economical fuel with significantly lower per-gallon and operating costs compared to gasoline. Autogas vehicles are available in a wide range of makes and models, through both vehicle conversion systems and original equipment manufacturers.

Autogas is an ideal fuel for public and private fleet vehicles because an Autogas fueling station can be installed at the fleet home base at little or no cost to the fleet. Beginning with fleets means implementing Autogas vehicles and infrastructure at the same time, growing the already 2,500-strong network of Autogas refueling stations – and building a sustainable U.S. Autogas market.

"America's reliance on conventional gasoline and imported oil is devastating to our nation's economic stability and security," says Weidie. "Autogas for America is integral to achieving U.S. energy independence."

Learn more about Autogas for America

As the unified voice of the U.S. Autogas market, Autogas for America is working toward a clean break from foreign oil. To learn more about Autogas for America and help drive energy independence, visit www.autogasforamerica.org.

- Autogas for America