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You Benefit From Propane!
"Propane is the most used alternative transportation fuel in the United States and the world."
Propane Benefits
Propane (also known as liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) is a well-established, domestically available, clean-burning fuel. Using propane as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, provides convenience and performance benefits, and improves public health and the environment.
Increasing Energy Security
The United States imports more than 60% of its petroleum, two thirds of which is used to fuel vehicles in the form of gasoline and diesel. The demand for petroleum imports is increasing. With much of the worldwide petroleum reserves located in politically volatile countries, the United States is vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Fueling vehicles with propane diversifies U.S. transportation fuels. Most of the propane consumed in the United States is produced domestically and distributed via an established infrastructure. Using propane vehicles instead of conventionally fueled vehicles reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil and increases energy security.
Providing Convenience, Performance, and Safety
Propane is the most used alternative transportation fuel in the United States and the world. Propane vehicle technology is well established, and propane fueling stations are widely available. Propane has one of the highest energy densities of all alternative fuels, so propane vehicles go farther on a tank of fuel. It is also an exceptionally safe fuel: propane tanks are 20 times more puncture resistant than gasoline tanks, and propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels.
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
Compared with vehicles fueled by conventional diesel and gasoline, propane vehicles can produce significantly lower amounts of some harmful emissions and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
What is Propane?
Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP-gas), or autogas in Europe, is a three-carbon alkane gas (C3H8). Stored under pressure inside a tank, propane turns into a colorless, odorless liquid. As pressure is released, the liquid propane vaporizes and turns into gas that is used for combustion. An odorant, ethyl mercaptan, is added for leak detection. See the AFDC fuel properties table for more details.
Propane has a high octane rating and excellent properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. It is non-toxic and presents no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater.
Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. It accounts for about 2% of the energy used in the United States. Uses include home and water heating, cooking and refrigerating food, clothes drying, powering farm and industrial equipment, and drying corn. Rural areas that do not have natural gas service commonly rely on propane. The chemical industry uses propane as a raw material for making plastics and other compounds. Less than 2% of U.S. propane consumption is used for transportation fuel.
Propane Production
Most propane (also known as liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) consumed in the United States is domestically produced. It is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, with approximately equal amounts of production derived from each of these sources.
The natural gas liquid components recovered during processing include ethane, methane, propane, and butane, as well as heavier hydrocarbons. Propane and butane, along with other gases, are also produced during crude oil refining. Because propane boils at -44°F and ethane boils at -127°F, propane is separated from methane by increasing pressure and decreasing temperature.
Propane Distribution
Propane (also known as liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) is shipped from its point of production to bulk distribution terminals via pipeline, railroad, barge, truck, or tanker ship. Propane dealers fill trucks at the terminals and distribute propane to end users, including retail fueling stations.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
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