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June 1991
POLICE PRACTICES:
ALTERNATE FUEL PROGRAM
During the late 1970s, as the price of gasoline escalated
and gas lines formed, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department
searched for an alternate fuel source to use in the department's
fleet. Among other considerations, it was important to find a
fuel that was clean burning. Because each car in the
department's fleet logged over 86,000 miles per year, the cost
of repairs and rebuilding was significant, and officials hoped a
cleaner burning fuel would reduce these costs.
After considering all the alternatives, department officials
chose to convert its fleet to liquid propane gas use, because it
met the following criteria:
* It is readily available.
* It produces yearly savings on fuel costs.
* It burns cleaner, causing fewer cases of engine failure
and need for replacement parts.
* It is not affected by fluctuating oil prices or
worldwide supply.
THE CONVERSION
When officials purchase a new car for the departments
fleet, mechanics assigned to the in-house fleet garage remove
the carburetor, the air cleaner, and the fuel pump and fuel
line. (These parts are placed in storage until the department
is ready to sell the car, at which time the original equipment
is replaced.) Mechanics then put a new liquid propane gas
carburetor and air cleaning device on the car, as well as a fuel
lock off and converter. Last, they place a propane gas tank in
the trunk of the car and make all the necessary connections.
The initial cost to convert a car, using new equipment, is
approximately $1,000, plus the cost of the mechanics labor.
However, since some of the parts, such as the liquid propane gas
tanks (which cost approximately $415) can be transferred to
other cars, the cost of converting any replacement cars is less.
REFUELING
Department officials solicit bids each year from the
distributors of propane gas, and the lowest bid is accepted.
However, any distributor considered must also agree to be on
24-hour call and must agree to provide supply trucks to respond
to department cars that run out of fuel while on patrol during
major catastrophes, such as hurricanes or tornadoes.
The first vendor to supply the department with propane gas
gave a 20-minute lesson on how to refuel safely, with an
emphasis on how to bleed the valves on the car tanks. Now,
experienced officers teach this simple technique and safety
procedures to new officers.
Officers refuel their vehicles at large propane gas storage
tanks that are located at three refueling sites around the
county. Should officers accidently drive off with the storage
tank hose still connected to their tank, there are automatic
shut-off valves on both the storage tanks and the tanks of the
cars to prevent the escape of gas.
Refueling department cars that are used on road trips may
present more of a problem because liquid propane gas is not
available at all service stations. However, recently, officers
drove a department vehicle on a 2,000-mile road trip, and they
experienced no difficulty in finding fuel. Many service
stations and campgrounds sell liquid propane gas. There is also
a directory available from the National Liquid Propane Gas
Association that lists, by State, many sources of liquid propane
gas.
RESULTS
During the past 11 years, over 200 vehicles used by the
department have operated on liquid propane gas, including
unmarked units used by the civil, warrants, and administrative
sections. Overall maintenance costs are considerably less than
they would be if gasoline were used in the units. The department
saves approximately $1,000 per year on the fuel costs of each
vehicle, and the longevity of the engine has been increased.
Some departments replace patrol cars at 80,000 miles or
less, but by using liquid propane gas, which does not leave
carbon deposits in the engine, most vehicles will not need to be
replaced until they register approximately 160,000 miles. In a
department such as the Sarasota County Sheriffs Department, which
has a one person, one patrol car concept, converting to an
alternate fuel has resulted in a great savings.
CONCLUSION
In this time of shrinking budgets and increasing costs,
every department should look for cost-saving programs. For
departments that have large fleets of department vehicles, using
an alternate fuel, such as liquid propane gas, may be a viable
way to save money. When this reduction in costs is combined with
the increased engine longevity found in vehicles using liquid
propane gas, the substantial savings realized may allow
departments to pursue other important programs they have
previously been unable to afford.
For further information or assistance on using liquid
propane gas as an alternate fuel, contact the Sarasota County
Sheriffs Department Office of Fleet Management, P.O. Box 4115,
Sarasota, Florida 34230, (813) 951-5597.
The information for this column was submitted by Lt. Bill
Stookey, Sarasota County, Florida, Sheriff's Department.