Charlevoix County Transit enjoys success with propane autogas

Michigan’s Charlevoix County is big — 1,390 square miles, 974 of which is water. That means the paratransit buses belonging to Charlevoix County Transit (CCT) have to cover a lot of ground, sometimes in adverse weather conditions like snow and bitter cold. 

Because of this, the agency is relying on propane autogas. CCT runs 13 Ford E-450 propane cutaway buses, which travel 50 to 200 miles daily. These propane buses make up 89 percent of CCT’s fleet and an onsite propane autogas fueling station keeps the buses up and running no matter the time of day or temperature. 

“Living and operating in an area that is conscious about the health of our lakes and land, I wanted to transition our fleet to an environmentally friendly fuel, as well as take advantage of cost savings,” said Jill Drury, former director, CCT. “Propane autogas was the perfect solution for our agency.” 

Propane autogas is a nontoxic, non-carcinogenic and non-corrosive fuel classified as a non-contaminant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Vehicles like CCT’s buses that run on propane emit fewer greenhouse gases, smog-producing hydrocarbons and particulate emissions than conventional fuels. In addition to those environmental advantages, propane autogas is classified as an alternative fuel by the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Lower propane autogas prices compared to other fuels offered an easy solution to the agency’s desire to spend less. Recent costs validate this. Gasoline in CCT’s location is about $4.20 per gallon compared to $2.05 for propane. The agency also reduced its maintenance costs due to the fuel’s clean operation. 

Convenience is also crucial. Partnering with its propane fuel vendor, CCT installed an on-site propane fueling station requiring little capital outlay. In exchange for a fueling contract to lock in fuel costs, propane suppliers can install an on-site fueling station for little or no cost to the transit fleet. 

“Due to our rural nature, propane autogas is our best option for lowering fleet emissions,” Drury said. “While electric vehicles have a place in the transit industry, we don’t see them as a good fit for us due to the range limitations. Our propane vehicles provide the range we need for our daily runs, and there’s no reason for us to switch to EV.” 

According to Drury, CCT is saving money for every mile its propane paratransit buses travel the streets of rural Michigan. Drury says she found the change to propane vehicles so successful that she has become an advocate for propane autogas in transit fleets.  

“I’ve seen the benefits of utilizing propane autogas in transit fleets firsthand, and I want to help other systems learn about these benefits,” Drury said. “We’re reducing emissions and saving money along the way; it’s a win-win.”