Agility Fuel Solutions, a global provider of clean fuel solutions for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, recently received 2020 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its 488LPI propane engine.
The 488LPI, designed for truck and bus applications, is built using Agility’s patented liquid propane injection (LPI) technology to ensure consistent injection of propane in the liquid state across all cylinders under all operating conditions, improving engine performance, the company said. Agility designed the engine for reliability, with improvements such as a valvetrain with roller rockers and newly designed dress parts specifically engineered for reliability, durability and fuel efficiency.
A custom configuration of the 488LPI engine is supplied to Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) as a part of the DriveForce brand of engines—the DriveForce 8.0-liter is available in the FCCC S2G medium duty truck.
“We are pleased to have received this EPA certification early, as it gives propane fleet customers further confidence in our products as they plan their future clean fuel vehicle purchases,” said Brad Garner, president of powertrain systems at Agility. “With this propane system, customers have an attractive option to control fuel costs and meet fleet sustainability goals through expanding clean fuel vehicles in their fleet.”
By converting to propane, fleets can save significant money on fuel costs and maintenance expenses, Agility Fuel maintained. Propane also can help fleets meet their sustainability goals. Propane-powered engines produce less harmful greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline and diesel.
In addition, onsite propane fueling infrastructure is relatively inexpensive, the company said, making propane a viable choice even for fleets that run a smaller number of vehicles at a single location. Propane also has a narrow flammability range, which makes it a safe alternative fuel.
