ROUSH CleanTech begins production of new Gen 5 propane fuel system; Ford 7.3L V8
22 October 2020
ROUSH CleanTech began production of its Gen 5 propane autogas fuel system last month. The company’s innovative propane autogas technology integrates Ford’s new 7.3L V8 engine in Class 3-7 chassis.
Ford’s new 7.3L engine is compact, durable and easy to maintain. It is narrower than the previous 6.8L, allowing it to fit into multiple vehicle chassis and be serviced with similar automotive parts across each chassis. Innovations for the Gen 5 propane fuel system include stronger and lighter forged fuel rails and a support bracket that keeps the engine fuel distribution well organized.
The engine is designed to meet current and future emissions requirements. ROUSH CleanTech’s Gen 5 is certified to California Air Resources Board’s optional low nitrogen oxide emissions standard of 0.05 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr). The Gen 5 system reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps optimize fuel efficiency, and can operate on renewable propane, which further reduces emissions and carbon intensity values.
Propane is a popular alternative fuel for commercial fleets due to the domestic fuel’s reduced costs and emissions.
As ROUSH CleanTech marks its 10-year anniversary, it has sold more than 37,000 vehicles across the United States and Canada.
As a Tier 1 supplier and Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier manufacturer, ROUSH CleanTech’s propane autogas vehicles retain all quality Ford performance characteristics, such as horsepower, torque and towing, while maintaining the OEM factory warranty.
The Gen 5 propane fuel system is now available.
Isn't LPG available in the US?
Posted by: dursun | 22 October 2020 at 03:09 PM
LPG and propane are the same thing. Propane is classified as LPG (LP), along with butane, isobutane and mixtures of these gases and are also referred to as natural gas liquids – NGL. Typically, Autogas is either propane or a propane and butane mix.
From the U.S. DOE Alternate Fuels Data Center:"Propane is produced from liquid components recovered during natural gas processing. These components 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."
Posted by: Account Deleted | 22 October 2020 at 08:08 PM
Use DME, cleaner and can be made renewable.
Posted by: SJC | 22 October 2020 at 08:20 PM
Also from the U.S.DOE Alternate Fuels Data Center:"Chemically identical to conventional propane, renewable propane is produced from biomass-based feedstocks, including used cooking oil, animal fats, or 20% dimethyl ether. Although the number of producers is small, renewable propane is currently produced in biodiesel refineries."
Reference:https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/propane_production.html
Posted by: Account Deleted | 22 October 2020 at 09:03 PM
Overon Fuels has been making DME from NG for more than a decade.
Make it from RNG for renewable.
Posted by: SJC | 23 October 2020 at 08:16 AM
Glad to see this new product from Roush! In regards to the DME comment, renewable propane is also available, and is a viable, economical product that is being used throughout the U.S. to power trucks like these.
Posted by: greenlpg | 23 October 2020 at 10:33 AM
SJC,
DME and Propane are not competitors, but are working together. Suburban Propane has acquired a 39% stake in Oberon Fuels (rDME blends with Propane so it can be distributed in the same system).
Renewable Propane is a expanding as well. Renewable fuel refineries like Neste have already produced renewable Propane in Europe (https://www.neste.com/releases-and-news/renewable-solutions/neste-delivers-first-batch-100-renewable-propane-european-market).
Propane vehicles are much cleaner than diesel and are cheaper to run. Over 200,000 vehicles are in the USA and this could expand soon.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 23 October 2020 at 01:22 PM
LPG is mostly propane , is less refined than what is sold as Propane.
in Europe LPG is sold at gas/petrol stations as Autogas, propane is sold in canister as Propane.
Posted by: dursun | 24 October 2020 at 09:25 AM
Here is an interesting post from the International DME Association.
https://www.aboutdme.org/aboutdme/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000002505/DME_Fact_Sheet_LPG_Blends.pdf
It claims 65% of the DME produced globally is blended with LPG. Up to 30% DME can be blended with Propane and would make it a bit greener. So maybe the Suburban Propane/Oberon blend will look more like European Autogas and also run in standard gasoline engines.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 24 October 2020 at 12:14 PM