LIVONIA, MI – Competitive Lawn Service is on a quest to run their business 100 percent on propane. They already have the mowers, the trimmers, and their other power tools running on this alternative fuel. The key missing element was the truck which hauls all this equipment to the customer. That was remedied today as Eric Hansen accepted the keys from Jack Roush to the first production ROUSH® propane-fueled F-350 with an under-bed tank.
“We’ve been waiting three-quarters of a year for this day and now it has come to fruition,” said Hansen, president of Competitive Lawn Service, Inc. “I’m excited to be here at the factory, I’m excited to meet Jack Roush, and I’m excited that ROUSH® Performance is working on the technology for liquid propane-powered vehicles.” The key handoff took place at the ROUSH® Performance Vehicle Assembly Area in Livonia, Mich., where the trucks are converted to run on propane.
Hansen plans to convert the other trucks in his Downers Grove, Illinois-based fleet to ROUSH® propane F-350s, and says this will result in a considerable savings for his business by using propane, a predominantly domestically-produced fuel.
“A down-and-dirty number would be a savings of around $800 per truck each month,” he explained. “With all the lawn care equipment added in we could be saving $2500 per month per truck. I’m looking forward to proving that out over the next several months.”
One of the reasons Competitive Lawn Service selected the ROUSH® propane F-350 was the availability of an under-bed tank. While ROUSH® offers an in-bed tank option for users who require longer range, Hansen said an under-bed tank was his only choice.
“We had been looking for a propane truck that offered an under-bed tank because in our line of work we need the full eight-foot bed capacity. ROUSH® was the only company we found that offered this option. On top of that, the truck looks great and operates exactly the same as a gasoline-powered F-350,” he said. With the ROUSH® liquid propane injection system, there is no loss of horsepower, torque or towing capacity.
“It was great to meet Eric today and see how excited he is to bring the ROUSH® propane F-350 into his fleet,” said Jack Roush. “I commend him for converting not only his vehicles but all of his power tools to run off of propane. Not only will it help to save his company a lot of money, but he will be doing a lot to help clean up the environment, literally and figuratively.”
As an alternative fuel, propane offers a variety of advantages. It is available “right here, right now” with a national fueling infrastructure already in place. Propane burns cleaner, with up to 20 percent less nitrous oxide, up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide and fewer particulate emissions. It is already the third most widely used fuel worldwide, following gasoline and diesel. Propane is 90 percent domestically produced, and as an alternative fuel, the purchase of propane-powered vehicles are eligible for a variety of federal, state, and municipal tax credits or rebates.
Numerous studies have been conducted on the operational savings fleets can achieve by converting to propane as a motor fuel, and a savings calculator is available online at www.SwitchToPropane.com that allows the user to input variables specific to their usage.
Complete details on the ROUSH® propane offerings can be found online at www.ROUSHperformance.com/Propane or by calling 800-59-ROUSH.
Based in Livonia, Mich., “The Art of Performance Engineering” takes place at ROUSH® Performance. To get a look behind the scenes at what goes on at ROUSH® and how the vehicles are designed, manufactured and produced logon to www.ROUSHtv.com. For more information see your local ROUSH® dealer, visit www.ROUSHperformance.com or telephone toll-free (800) 59-ROUSH. Follow us on Twitter @_ROUSH_ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roushperformance.