5. CONCLUSIONS

The research team concluded that:
“The evidence is clear, irrefutable, and comes from many independent sources: Propane is the best choice of transportation fuel for light-duty fleet operators in Canada, who want to reduce operating costs, while reducing harmful emissions.”

Gasoline and diesel are far and away the two most widely used transportation fuels for commercial fleets of light-duty vehicles like police cars, taxis, delivery units and school buses. The problem is that these fuels are damaging to the environment and to people’s health and they are becoming increasingly expensive. The recent rise in concern for the environment has prompted politicians and fleet operators to consider alternatives to the two incumbent fuels of choice.

The key operating issues for fleet operators are performance, availability, and costs. Unless these criteria are met, fleet operators will vigorously fight changes and/or legislation favouring alternative fuels.

The researchers eliminated fuels such as hydrogen, methanol and electricity as being too nascent. These fuels will not be available at a reasonable cost or in sufficient quantities for at least for the next two decades. Biodiesel and E85 are expensive and are also not available in sufficient quantities to meet demand today.

Propane emerged as the best alternative to gasoline and diesel based on cost, performance, availability, and impact on the environment. Specifically, propane proved better than gasoline and diesel on the following dimensions:

• “Propane as a transportation fuel is:
  • 25% less expensive than conventional gasoline;
  • 28% less expensive than E10 ethanol-blended gasoline;
  • 50% less expensive than E85 ethanol-blended gasoline;
  • 11% less expensive than diesel; and
  • 9% less expensive than natural gas

when evaluated on a full life-cycle basis, with consideration for all costs of conversion.”

• “Propane is more environmentally friendly than gasoline or diesel, emitting up to 26% less Greenhouse Gases than conventional gasoline and significantly less emissions of criteria air contaminates and air toxics that impact air quality and human health.”
• “There is an abundance of propane in Canada available to meet the transportation sector needs. Propane from domestic sources could replace up to 20% of domestic gasoline demand.”
• “Propane pricing has been, and is likely to be, more stable than gasoline, diesel, and ethanol-blends well into the future.”
• “Propane is the most readily accessible and available alternative fuel in Canada, and additional infrastructure is easily installed as fleet-specific needs arise.”
• “Propane as a transportation fuel is ideally positioned to assist governments and the private sector with their efforts to address environmental issues.”
• “Propane as a transportation fuel, is most widely in use in countries where governments at all levels have introduced stable long-term policies and programs aimed at introducing and establishing propane as a mainstream competitor against conventional transportation fuels.”

The evidence is clear, irrefutable, and comes from many independent sources:
“Propane is the best choice of transportation fuel for light-duty fleet operators in Canada, who want to reduce operating costs, while reducing harmful emissions.”