“Go Green” Initiatives

How can PLS assist my fleet to “Go Green” with alternative fuels?

PLS has partnered with the Clean Energy Coalition in assisting several fleets to “Go Green” with alternative fuels. PLS has successfully written Grant applications through the Clean Energy Coalition with its partners/clients to assist in the cost of vehicle fueling conversions from Gas/Diesel to Propane powered vehicles as well as installation of on site “Propane Fueling Stations”. PLS currently manages fleets throughout Michigan using over 300 Alternative Fuel vehicles and has an appetite to manage many more.

Q:         Can PLS assist with my Municipality Leases on Specialty Vehicles?

A:         PLS is one of a very few Vehicle Management Leasing Companies who are excited to lease to Municipalities. PLS has lease partnerships with several Municipalities on vehicles that range from School Buses to ADA Transportation Vehicles of all sizes to Delivery vehicles as well as Heavy Duty Snow Plow equipped Class 7 Kenworth Chassis Cabs with 15 Yard Stainless Steel Dump Bodies installed.

• 90 percent of propane fuel is produced in the USA and is burns 80% cleaner then distilled fuels and has a 28% reduction in emissions over gasoline and much higher over diesel.
• The fuel savings right now is about $2.00 plus per gallon times the miles driven per year. The MPG is reported to be less than 10% reduction with propane. Based on a 30,000 mile per year vehicle getting 10 miles per gallon the saving on 3000 gallons is $6000.00 plus. The cost of the up fit is between $8000.00 and $11,000.00. The pay back is complete over 18 months. On a 60 months life cycle the savings is $30,000.00 less the up fit cost plus a 25% saving in normal engine preventive maintenance per vehicle. Multiply that times the number of vehicles in the fleet. A small fleet of 20 vehicles will save $600,000.00 over 5 years. If the fleet has its own fueling station they get an additional 50 cent per gallon tax credit in addition to the fuel saving costs. The above scenario of 20 vehicles uses 300,000 gallons at 50 cents is an additional $150,000.00 dollar savings over 5 years.
• CASE STUDY 1:  A client in Ann Arbor has 4 vans at 60,000 per year using diesel fuel at $4.25 per gallon at 10 MPG. The future propane cost from their own new fueling station, which was installed free by Ferrell Gas, is $1.90 per gallon for a saving of $2.35 per gallon times 24,000 gallons per year equals $56,400 plus 50 cents times 24,000 gallons or $12,000.00 tax credit. The up fit for this package is $7800.00 x 4 trucks or $31,200.00, which is included in the lease. The first year the savings is $80,400.00 less $31,200.00 up fit costs or $49,200 to the bottom line and for the next 2 years the savings is $80,400.00 per year. I was able to write and receive a grant for $5000.00 per vehicle on 3 trucks for an additional $15,000.00 profit in the first year. The fleet includes 26 vehicles 20 of which will be converted to propane as the current leases expire and are re leased from PLS.
• CASE STUDY 2:  A national client achieved 28% savings on a sample size of 30 step vans at 10 MPG and only 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year on 12 year life cycle vehicles. The up fits were $14,000 on that vehicle because of duel tank installations packages.