The next taxi ride you take could be powered by propane gas instead of unleaded gasoline, according to the Pittsburgh Transportation Group (PTG). The group’s Yellow Cab of Pittsburgh division is converting 55 of its taxicabs to run on propane autogas as a way to reduce pollution and save money on fuel costs. Propane is a byproduct of the natural gas and petroleum industries, occurring naturally during oil refining and gas processing.
President of PTG Jamie Campolongo said that based on the current price of gasoline, the conversion to propane will save about $1.40 per gallon or as much as $2,300 per year. It should also reduce CO2 emissions by 500 tons annually. However, Autogas for America’s Stuart Weidie thinks he could be underestimating his savings a bit. He thinks they should be able to save even more. “Because of the volume of propane used in a vehicle fuel applications, propane autogas prices can be significantly lower than the price of propane for more traditional applications (including RV’s and grill cylinders),” he said.
Either way, Yellow Cab will save money and reduce emissions by switching to propane; it’s only a matter of how much. The company is making the switch in an effort to be more green. “It’s all part of the green initiative undertaken by our parent company – Veolia Transportation,” said Campolongo. Veolia Transportation is a private operator of bus, rail, taxi, and other modes of transit in the U.S.
Of course, not everyone thinks it is a good idea. The International Energy Agency recently stated that the “golden age of (natural) gas” could actually be bad for the environment by stopping companies from developing alternative renewables. “Renewable energy may be the victim of cheap gas prices if governments do not stick to their renewable support schemes,” it said in a statement to The Guardian.
In the meantime, however, with gasoline prices near my house approaching $5/gallon it’s no wonder companies are switching to run on propane: it’s cheaper. Much cheaper. On average, propane autogas is 30% less expensive than gasoline. Over the lifespan of a vehicle, that would add up to a substantial savings in fuel costs.
Yellow Cab of Pittsburgh is the city’s largest taxi company with over 325 taxicabs, and if the program is a success we imagine many more cabs and cab companies will make the switch to propane in the near future. Taxicab companies in other cities have already begun using propane autogas, including those in Baltimore, MD, Denver, CO, and Columbus, OH.
Image Credit: AlmostSaneMedia/Flickr