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Roush Performance Products, a vehicle performance engineering company, has partnered with such vehicle manufacturers as Tuscany to offer vans that run on propane fuel which costs only $1.60 per gallon.

LPG As An Automotive Fuel

Propane as an auto fuel has a high octane value and has key properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. LPG as an automobile fuel carries a 97 year heritage, with the first propane based vehicle being developed in 1913.

LPG, which has propane as its primary constituent, has the advantages of producing lower emissions, offering more energy per unit mass while having a higher octane rating than gasoline.  In addition, through the use of LPG we can continue to work away from dependence on foreign companies to supply domestic energy.

LPG also has the advantage of already having an infrastructure in place to support its implementation not only as an alternative fuel, but as a primary fuel. 

LPG Safety

LPG is considered as safe as any conventional automotive fuel.  Propane is a nontoxic, non carcinogenic, and noncorrosive fuel. It poses no harm to groundwater, surface water, or soil. Since propane is odorless and colorless, an odorant, ethyl mercaptan, is added for leak detection. Propane vehicles and their respective fueling systems are designed to perform safely during both normal operations and crash situations. A pressure release device (PRD) is designed to release propane gas if pressure rises in the tank beyond safe levels.  Tanks are not filled with more than 80% to the total capacity.  This ensures there is sufficient room for the liquid to expand when heated or when the ambient temperature rises.  Moreover, in any eventuality of a leakage the gas escapes into the air and does not remain in the tank like gasoline.