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The Alamance County Sheriff's Office is participating in a pilot program in which two patrol vehicles have been converted to use propane autogas.
Times-News
Alamance County Sheriff's Office
The Alamance County Sheriff's Office recently joined a pilot program to switch two patrol vehicles to propane autogas.
The bi-fuel conversion system is meant to decrease greenhouse gases and save money in the process.
Propane autogas is a clean-burning alternative fuel with fewer pollutions or greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline or diesel. It is also less flammable than traditional gasoline, and its steel tanks are less impact-resistant.
The sheriff's office is currently participating in a six-month pilot program with Alliance AutoGas to test this change.
The switch to propane autogas is meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save the sheriff's office money.
Times-News
Alamance County Sheriff's Office
The sheriff's office isn't the only North Carolina law enforcement agency to make the switch to propane autogas. The Raleigh Police Department partnered with Alliance AutoGas in 2011 to switch 10 of its vehicles to propane autogas. The city later converted 30 more of its vehicles in 2013, according to an article by the news site Government Fleet.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office in the western part of the state switched 13 vehicles in 2010. By 2018, it had converted nearly 60 vehicles. The department found that the change saved them 40-50% on fuel, which provided money for other purposes such as buying three trained K-9s in 2015, according to a case-study report by Propane Autogas Clean Energy America.
“It’s turned out really, really good for us," Iredell County's Chief Deputy Marty Byers said in the report.
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Propane autogas can protect law enforcement agencies from price fluctuations that come from changing gasoline prices. The bi-fuel cars also allow officers to use both gasoline and propane autogas, so officers can drive for longer periods without filling up the tank or can use gasoline if they're unable to fill up with propane autogas.
The Alamance County Sheriff's Office said officers will be able to drive 600 miles without refueling due to the bi-fuel nature of the vehicles. The sheriff's office will be locked in at a rate of $1.29 per gallon for five years. It expects a 60% savings in cost.
Each vehicle cost $2,000 to be converted and is expected to save $2,000 per year. This is an $8,000 savings over the life of the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.
“We decided to enter this pilot program not only as a way to save money but to take steps to improve our environmental impact by using a 'cleaner' fuel," said Sheriff Terry Johnson. "This cost-efficient solution is ideal for the number of patrol vehicles and miles our deputies drive each day without sacrificing vehicle performance or power."
Breaking news reporter Rachel Berry can be reached at rberry@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @racheldberry.
