RICHMOND, Va.— While the transportation industry debated its future at ACT Expo 2026, propane autogas reinforced its position and proved its growing momentum as a ready-now solution that fleets are turning to for low operating costs and near-zero emissions. The State of Sustainable Fleets 2026 Market Brief, released at the show, affirmed this trend, showing an estimated increase of over 1.8 million gallons consumed and nearly 2,000 new vehicles in operation compared to 2024.
Propane autogas is highly suited for light- and medium-duty fleets with return-to-base routes, particularly in school transportation, paratransit, and vocational and service fleet applications, which saw the most growth.
What’s Driving Propane Autogas Growth
Low Total Cost of Ownership: Propane autogas continues to stand out for its ability to deliver consistently low operating expenses. Daily fuel costs can be up to 50 percent lower than diesel and 40 percent lower than gasoline. Maintenance requirements are further reduced by eliminating complex diesel aftertreatment systems.
Domestic Reliability: As an abundant, domestically-produced energy source, propane autogas offers a stable, predictable cost structure, insulating fleets from the geopolitical price spikes of gasoline and diesel.
2027-Ready, Near-Zero Emissions: While diesel engines will require increasingly complex aftertreatment systems, current propane autogas technology is already certified at or below 0.02 g/bhp-hr, meeting 2027 standards today.
Fast-to-Deploy Refueling: Unlike the multi-year timelines required for some energy systems, private propane autogas fueling infrastructure remains one of the least capitalintensive investments of its kind, according to the report, with new fueling operations capable of being set up in as little as a single day.
Renewable Propane Growth: This expansion is bolstered by a growing adoption of renewable propane, a true drop-in fuel that 32 percent of propane fleets now use to achieve up to an 80 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions without investing in new infrastructure, modifying vehicles, or changing driver behavior.
A $13 Million Advantage
Real-world proof of the propane autogas advantage was highlighted during the ACT Expo panel “A Simpler Path to Lower Costs,” featuring Tucker Perkins, President & CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), along with other industry leaders.
Panelist Paul Strobis of the Broward County Transportation Department shared a staggering proof point: his fleet has saved more than $13 million in fuel costs alone since adopting propane autogas in 2015. Strobis noted that his current cost per gallon is just $1.45, compared to a local gasoline average of over $4.00.
“When a fleet manager chooses propane autogas and saves $13 million, it speaks for itself,” said Perkins.
Vehicle Technology Breakthroughs Showcased at ACT Expo
Propane autogas technology has also expanded into heavier-duty applications, delivering diesel-like performance without compromise.
“Propane technology is evolving faster than it has in two decades,” Perkins said during the panel discussion. “From the first production-ready direct injection engine to advancements in heavy-duty engines, we are meeting a clear market demand for the cost savings and near-zero emissions that propane autogas provides right now.”
The innovative technologies on display at the Expo and featured in the report includes:
Stanadyne Propane Direct-Injection (DI): Featured in a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, this 200-bar fuel system for GM 6.6L engines produces 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. It maintains a robust towing capacity of up to 17,370 lbs and is slated for commercial availability in Q4 2027.
NEXIO’s 7.2L Supercharged V8 Engine: Built for medium- and heavy-duty
applications, delivers diesel-like power at 330 hp and 775 ft-lbs of torque.
Innovative Infrastructure Uses
Propane is also playing a growing role in powering electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Propane-powered EV charging can cut installation costs by up to 75 percent, allowing fleets to bypass the 12- to 22-month utility upgrade lead times.
EnviroCharge Mobile EV Charging: This mobile system supports electrified fleets anywhere without grid reliance. Utilizing propane autogas and renewable propane, it delivers up to 40 kW of EV charging capacity to a single vehicle and 45 kW in generator mode.
As the transportation industry navigates unprecedented change, ACT Expo 2026 confirmed that propane autogas offers competitive fleets the definitive, ready-now advantage — delivering operational continuity, predictable costs, and compliance with approaching emissions standards.
For more information on how propane autogas benefits fleets, visit Propane.com.
About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.
