Autogas is among the cleanest of all automotive fuels available today, yielding significantly lower emissions than most conventional fuels and other alternative fuels. The use of autogas as a fuel for fleets, be it delivery vehicles, taxis or other forms of public transport demonstrates advantages for many areas of society.
Fleet Operators
Autogas offers fleet operators distinct advantages over conventional fuels.
 Operating cost savings
Fleet vehicles typically travel long distances or operate long hours in congested urban areas. Either way they experience high fuel consumption. Lower fuel cost allows any additional upfront investment for autogas to be recovered quickly with savings, sometimes even within months.
- Maintenance cost savings
Autogas’ high octane rating of 104 compared with 90 for gasoline provides more power and higher energy efficiency. The low carbon content of autogas means less abrasive deposits on spark plugs, inside the engine or in the lubricating oil. Lower maintenance costs means less down time and longer engine life.
- Central refuelling
In addition to using the public refuelling network, some fleets are capable of central refuelling on-site. This allows better control of fuel management, 24 hour access and even lower fuel costs.
- Incentives
In addition to lower fuel price and purchase incentives, autogas fleets can often qualify for other incentives such as using vehicle lanes reserved for commuter or transit vehicles and avoiding congestion charges (e.g. London).
- Image
Many fleet operators enjoy the benefit of the positive public relations impact of using environmentally friendly vehicles whilst benefiting from the tangible, economic advantages described above.
Policy-Makers
As well as providing clear environmental benefits, additionally, governments worldwide are increasingly under pressure to diversify energy dependency away from gasoline and diesel fuels. For these reasons, policy-makers can and do encourage the use of autogas through vehicle conversion and purchase incentives and tax breaks which reduce fuel costs well below the price of petrol and diesel.
Targeting these incentives to fleets creates valuable leverage in achieving policy objectives.
The sheer size of the fleet market
More vehicles using clean autogas translates to more emissions reductions and less dependency on gasoline and diesel. In the U.S., for example, fleet vehicles constitute approximately one-quarter of all light-duty vehicle sales each year; fleets also represent 6% of all registered light-duty vehicles in the U.S.
- Local Operations
Many fleets’ mileage is typically accumulated in urban areas where emission reductions are most needed. This includes fleets with limited routes in dense, urban areas and vehicles that must stop frequently along their routes, wait in traffic, or idle for long periods, such as delivery or postal vehicles.
- High profile
Concentrating on fleets can leverage government incentives due to the visibility of these vehicles in everyday life, from city streets to airports, enabling motorists and citizens alike to see autogas vehicles in operation.
- Common ground
A significant number of fleet vehicle purchases are by government agencies or regulated companies, which tend to be more accustomed and receptive to carrying out government rules and regulations. Likewise, many business leaders often cite company image enhancement and community relations as a primary driver for converting their fleets to clean fuels like autogas.
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