Paraco Gas Offers Propane Vehicle for Customers to Test Drive

RYE BROOK, N.Y., March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Paraco Gas is pleased to announce the latest addition to its fleet of propane vehicles: a 2012 Nissan NV Cargo Van, branded as the "Paraco Gas Green Machine".

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130308/NY73017LOGO )

The van is the latest in the company's efforts to promote the use of propane autogas as a viable fueling alternative to fleet managers in the region. The vehicle will be available for commercial customers to test drive, in addition to serving as a marketing vehicle for Paraco Gas.

The van is now a bi-fuel vehicle, able to run on either gasoline or propane autogas. The conversion kit is both EPA certified and CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant. While running on propane autogas, the van will produce fewer harmful emissions than when running on gasoline, including 12% less carbon dioxide, 20% less nitrogen oxide and 60% less carbon monoxide. Fuel costs will also decrease, as the current price of propane autogas is significantly less per gallon than gasoline in the Northeast region.

The conversion was performed by local automotive center; American Alternative Fuel (AAF) in West Coxsackie, NY. AAF is a leader in researching and testing the most up-to-date conversion technologies.

Andy Mirchin, Director of autogas sales at Paraco Gas, is thrilled to have the Green Machine available for test driving purposes. "It's such a great opportunity for customers," said Mirchin. "You'd never know the difference unless we told you. Customers easily understand that they can save money and reduce emissions by using autogas, but they're still skeptical of power and performance issues. Taking the van out for a drive helps to relieve any concerns that the vehicle will not perform up to their expectations."

Already established internationally as an alternative fuel, propane autogas currently powers over 18 million vehicles worldwide. The latest Pike Research reports estimate that an additional one million vehicles will be converted and sold this year alone. Because of the recent surge in natural gas production, propane autogas is now also abundantly available in the United States, providing a domestic fueling option to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. With pricing substantially lower than gasoline, eco-friendly properties and ease of refueling, propane autogas has recently been chosen as the fuel of choice for a number of high-profile fleets in the U.S.

Paraco Gas is a family owned and operated propane company, primarily serving the Northeast region in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The company services over 80,000 residential and commercial customers and is a partner in a propane cylinder distribution business serving major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. In addition Paraco is proud to be a member of the Alliance AutoGas nationwide team.

For more information about test driving the Paraco Gas "Green Machine", please contact Andy Mirchin at [email protected].

SOURCE Paraco Gas