ON: McMaster Transportation Study Vindicates Auto Propane!

The McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics (MITL) completed a comprehensive review of the Ontario Green Commercial Vehicle Program (GCVP) pilot that ran from 2008-2010. The report assesses whether firms can save money while reducing GHG emissions by investing in environmentally friendly green technologies like propane and whether there is a business case for the government to provide grants to support the purchases. The answer is yes to both.

The main features of the pilot were to collect and analyze key performance data to evaluate the efficacy and performance of the technologies eligible for the grants. Results suggest that there is a great case for propane. Propane technology can be retrofitted to a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle at a low cost. A summary of Primary Technologies Funded can be found on page 65 of the MITL report. Also of interest, the report indicates that: "The GCVP was in effect for only a short period of time. Since it was launched, enhancements and upgrades to alternative fuel vehicles and anti-idling technologies have occurred, and the financial and environmental case for them have considerably improved over and above what was experienced by the early adopters monitored by the pilot".

Now where have we heard that story? Auto propane: GHG emissions reductions, low cost, excellent ROI and available now!  CPA President & CEO Nathalie St-Pierre and Ontario Government Relations Director Hando Kang met with the Premier’s Office to discuss the propane industry’s priorities on Commercial Green Vehicle Program inclusion for 2018-2019 and the Switch Off-Oil Residential Program. A meeting to discuss these results with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will be organized. Finally, the CPA will be sure to present this information at the CPA’s upcoming Lobby Day on April 16.