New to propane autogas? The first thing many fleet managers ask is, “How will I get the fuel?” Propane autogas is unique in that it offers a variety of refueling options. It gives fleet managers the freedom to shape your refueling plan around your budget and fleet size. To explore all of your options and how they could work for you,
read on.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have released the final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule setting corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) and CO2 emissions standards for model years 2021-2026 passenger cars and light trucks. 

The final rule will increase the stringency of CAFE and CO2 emissions standards by 1.5% each year through model-year 2026, as compared with the standards issued in 2012, which would have required about 5% annual increases. This is a change from the proposal issued in 2018. The majority of automakers are not meeting the 2012 standard without resorting to the use of credits.

A federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of installing EV charging equipment, which had expired December 31, 2016, has been retroactively extended through December 31, 2020. If you installed charging equipment after January 1, 2017 or if you install equipment before the end of this year, you are eligible to claim this credit, up to $1,000.  To claim this credit, see IRS Form 8911. 

Park & Zoom, a parking service company with a 2,000-vehicle-capacity structure at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, has acquired another three Phoenix Motorcars all-electric zero-emission shuttle buses, totaling six Zero Emission Utility Shuttles (ZEUS 400) now servicing the airport.

Park & Zoom received the first three ZEUS 400 shuttles in early 2019. The new ZEUS 400 shuttles will be added to its current fleet of diesel and all-electric shuttles. The ZEUS 400 electric shuttles were built on a Starcraft body and delivered in partnership with Creative Bus Sales.

“Our occupancy has increased over the past few years and that trend required us to add additional shuttles to our fleet. As the Austin population has grown so has the airport and passenger traffic.”, said Bill Kelley, General Manager of Park & Zoom. “We appreciate the reliability of Phoenix Motorcars and are excited to add 3 more Phoenix Zeus 400 Shuttles to better serve our customers!”

Josh Selin, Vice President of Operations at Phoenix Motorcars said, “We’re honored to join Park & Zoom in the push to bringing all-electric medium duty vehicles into the Austin metro area. Their investment with the Phoenix product and praise of the overall performance has developed a long-lasting friendship.”

Each ZEUS 400 shuttle has a range of up to 110 miles per charge.

February 20, 2020. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) began its transition to renewable natural gas for its shuttle bus fleet on January 1, 2020, with the help of Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a longtime partner with ABIA. This partnership calls for Clean Energy to provide the airport with its Redeem™ brand of renewable natural gas, the first commercially available vehicle fuel made entirely from 100% organic waste.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently accepting applications for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) TCSB. Approximately $6.2 million in grants is available state-wide for school districts, charter schools, and transportation systems provided by countywide school districts, to replace or retrofit school buses operating on a regular daily route to and from school.

Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis to reimburse up to 80% of the cost to replace a school bus with a newer, cleaner model, and up to 100% of the cost to retrofit a school bus.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on December 17, 2020 or until all funding is awarded.

For more information on the grant program and to access up-to-date information on the application criteria and process, or to receive copies of the application forms, visit www.terpgrants.org