June 4, 2009
LANSING, Mich. – The chairman of Michigan-based Icom North America predicts that vehicles equipped with liquid injection propane systems will become more and more common on state roads.
Ralph Perpetuini, chairman of Icom North America stated at Michigan Propane Awareness Day that “the time is right to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles through increased tax incentives at the state level.” Sponsored by the Michigan Propane Gas Association, the program was held at the Michigan Capitol grounds on Tuesday, May 19.
Perpetuini said Icom North America expects the demand for propane-powered vehicles to increase dramatically as consumers and fleet owners learn more about propane’s environmental and cost-savings benefits.
Current U.S. regulations allow fleet owners and consumers that meet specific criteria a 50 to 80 percent tax credit for each propane vehicle. In addition, there is a 50 cent per gallon federal fuel tax credit. Some fleets, including public school districts, are receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in federal fuel tax credits. By purchasing LPI Propane Blue Bird school buses, school districts can benefit from the federal OEM school bus rebate program.
“Propane gas vehicles provide three major benefits,” Perpetuini said. “Propane systems offer a ‘clean’ balance of fuel economy, performance and reduced emissions. Icom’s JTG (Injection Traction Gas) liquid-propane injection application is a fully-integrated, dedicated engine system designed in harmony with original equipment gasoline engines.”
Virtually any vehicle can be converted to use propane, the Icom executive noted, with vehicles providing driveability, performance and torque equal to or better than conventional fuels as well as reduced emissions. Because the sources for propane are almost entirely located in North America, its use further reduces dependence on foreign petroleum. The fuel has a cost advantage over gasoline.
Based in New Hudson, Mich., Icom recently converted a Saturn Vue crossover hybrid passenger vehicle to propane and gasoline use to demonstrate the practical benefits of this alternative fuel. The vehicle was displayed at last year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas and at the Chicago Auto Show in February.
Icom’s vehicle conversion systems can utilize Icom’s proprietary Toroidal Tank, developed and manufactured by parent company Icom S.p.A. of Cisterna di Latina, Italy. Over 100,000 vehicles worldwide have utilized the Icom JTG Propane System since 2004 and Icom has manufactured more than three million toroidal tanks which are sold worldwide. Icom of Italy is celebrating its 25-year anniversary in 2009.
The company’s systems are distributed by CleanFUEL USA of Georgetown, Texas, and are utilized by Blue Bird for its School Bus Platform and GM Medium Duty Trucks as well as for other vehicle manufacturers.