The Raleigh (N.C.) Police Department has modified 10 Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars so they can run on propane fuel or traditional gasoline.
Alliance Autogas outfitted each vehicle with a dual-fuel system and installed an propane autogas fueling station at the Raleigh PD's North District stationhouse.
These are the first propane-fueled vehicles in the RPD fleet, according to an Alliance Autogas spokesperson.
The agency estimates it will reduce the amount of gasoline used in a year by 30,000 to 36,000 gallons and save at least $30,000 in fuel costs with the move. The department also expects reduced maintenance costs due to the high-octane rating of propane fuel.
Raleigh Police Chief Harry Dolan, as well as representatives from the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition, the City of Raleigh's Office of Sustainability and the N.C. State Solar Center hosted an event to unveil the cars.
In related news, the Virginia Clean Cities Coalition is offering grant funding for propane autogas vehicle conversions.
Also, one of the largest fleet conversions to propane autogas is being implemented by the Indiana Department of Transportation, which is converting 600 vehicles to run on this fuel.