Autogas Dispenser Selection Guide for the Transportation Industry

The use of Autogas, also known as liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or propane gas, to fuel vehicles is expanding across the US transportation industry. Having Autogas dispensers and other infrastructure to support growing demand is critical to meet the burgeoning demand for this domestically sourced alternative fuel.

The Intersection of Autogas and the Transportation Industry

Autogas is a major contender among alternative vehicle fuels, particularly with private, school, and business fleets. While Autogas-fueled passenger vehicles are still uncommon in the US, vehicles fueled by Autogas have been a growing segment of the transportation industry since being introduced in American fleet vehicles as early as the 1920s. Today, common users of Autogas-fueled vehicles include:

• Limousine Services
• Mass Transit
• Municipalities
• Paratransit
• Police Departments
• School Districts
• Taxi Fleets

Autogas Installation

Autogas dispensers are frequently located on-site at fleet storage and maintenance facilities or at satellite locations along their routes. Increasingly, Autogas dispensers are also being added at consumer bottled gas facilities, traditional gas stations, and other retail markets.

Autogas dispensers can be installed as standalone units, or in conjunction with traditional gasoline and diesel pumps. The delivery system is similar to that for traditional fuels, consisting of a pumping unit and a hose with a dispensing nozzle in addition to a supply tank. As with gasoline and diesel pumps, Autogas dispenser designs can accommodate retail sales, fuel management units, and straightforward fuel dispensers in single or grouped units.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Selecting the Right Autogas Dispenser

When evaluating Autogas propane dispenser solutions for your facility, you should consider how the dispenser will meet your fueling needs. We suggest reviewing them with these questions in mind:

Do you require retail or fleet dispensing infrastructure?

Installations for fleet managers will typically involve a supply tank with piping to a fuel management system or a simple dispenser displaying gallons pumped out. Retail solutions include additional display and interactive features for pricing and purchasing and should interface with your existing point-of-sale system.

Will authorization be needed to dispense fuel?

In retail installations, payment-based authorization will be needed. For fleet dispensers, various authorization methods, such as swipe cards, RFID tags, and others can be accommodated to permit Autogas dispensing and maintain a record of transactions.

What size fleet must the dispenser support?

The number of vehicles in your fleet and the volume and frequency with which they refuel will influence your choice of Autogas dispenser. Installations may also have multiple dispensers to allow more than one vehicle to fuel at the same time.

Do the dispenser’s meet quality and safety requirements and regulations?

To protect drivers, maintenance staff, and others, as well as your facility and the vehicles in your fleet, it’s important to make sure your Autogas dispenser system is safe and in compliance with relevant regulations and requirements, including being UL-approved and NTEP-certified.

Autogas Dispensers from IPS

At IPS, we offer a versatile range of propane Autogas dispensers to meet your retail and fleet fueling needs. All of our units provide robust safety features and meet the requirements for UL approval and NTEP certification, among others.

Dispenser Variations Offered by IPS

Our Autogas dispensers can be customized to meet your installation requirements, including options for:

• Retail or Fleet designs
• Single or Dual filling hoses to accommodate your frequency and volume fueling needs
• Turnkey systems either skid-mounted or full-site construction to meet your needs and capabilities
• Integrated or communication-capable fuel management system

Product Lines Available

Our Autogas dispensing product lines include:

• Retail Dispensers (8899KX)
• Commercial Dispensers (9899KX)
• Commercial Dispensers with a Fuel Management System (9899KXZ)
• Fuel Management Systems

In addition to supplying dispensers, we also offer solutions for:

• Design Options, including full-skid and split-skid packages
• Underground/Vertical Systems
• Custom-Built Cabinets
• Automated Cylinder Filling Systems

Further details on all of our products and systems are available in our online catalog.

Website Dispenser Selection

LPG Upfit Applications

IPS has partnered with Gilbarco and Gasboy to incorporate upfit solutions for our Fleet and Retail dispenser product lines. Additionally, access to qualified service technicians is critical to the success of your fueling operations. Our Autogas dispensers utilize many components common to gasoline and diesel dispensers, so parts and service are much easier to obtain locally.

Partner With IPS

At IPS, our experienced team can work with you to provide an Autogas dispenser system that meets your needs from initial design through implementation and upfit solutions. Contact us to learn more or to request a quote for your Autogas dispenser project.

Additional source: https://publications.anl.gov/anlpubs/2010/06/67243.pdf