Georgia Gas prices may not be in the stratosphere at the moment, but Georgia cities and private fleets are still switching to clean fuels. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow is set to open June 15th in Gainesville with an 8-city tour led by Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols. The series brings together a vehicle showcase and discussion panels on the practical impact of converting fleets to clean, alternative fuels like propane, E85-ethanol, natural gas, electric (EV) and compressed natural gas (CNG). Questions on financing, safety, maintenance and fuel considerations of clean vehicle conversions will be answered by government fleet managers and private sector fleets, along with vehicle manufacturers and utilities who will highlight their success transitioning fleets, based on need and use.

Localizing the fleet stories. 
The eight city clean fuel conversion tour opens June 15 in Gainesville, GA at the Brenau Downtown Center and continue on consecutive days to Cartersville’s Tellus Science Museum 6/16, Albany-Dougherty Government Center 6/17 and the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta by Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on June 18th. The second week of the tour begins 6/23 at Agnes Scott College, followed by 6/24 at Sea Palms Resort on St. Simon’s Island, Valdosta 6/25 at Langdale College of Business and Savannah International Convention Center on 6/26 in tandem with the Georgia Municipal Association’s annual Convention. Each alternative fuel vehicle event begins with a showcase of CNG trucks, Propane vans and Shuttles and electric vehicles for test drives, followed by a 2 hour seminar and panel discussions with fleet managers and vehicle conversion experts. Most events run from 9am-12n. Registration is free for government officials and fleet staff on the show website athttp://www.AFVRoadshow.com

Smart planning pays big fuel dividends. 
Natural Gas and Propane vehicle conversions have been increasing steadily in Georgia. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow will feature the current state of CNG fueling stations and stories from the Cities of Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Covington, Douglas, Thomasville, and Toccoa who are now operating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuse trucks, pickup trucks, sedans and other CNG vehicles in their fleet. DeKalb County is transitioning their sanitation vehicles over to renewable bio-methane from landfill gas. Speakers from the private sector will also be joining the guest panel. AT&T has deployed 130 CNG light duty service vehicles in the Atlanta area. Mansfield Clean Energy Partners, is now delivering traditional liquid fuels with CNG tanker trucks. UPS is deploying over 100 CNG Class 8 tractor-trailers and 300 CNG package cars in Atlanta this year, and The Langdale Company just placed into service the first Dual-Fuel (diesel/natural gas) trucks in Georgia as well as opening the first public CNG fueling station in South Georgia along the I-75 corridor. Utilities like Atlanta Gas Light and Liberty Utilities are also “walking the talk” by deploying CNG vehicles in their fleets.

Fleet vehicle conversions and OEM’s like Ford can point to Propane AutoGas as one of the easiest to deploy in a fleet. The infrastructure can literally be installed in hours and performance drivers like police and sheriffs departments report excellent response. In Georgia, Sandy Springs Police and Muscogee County Sheriffs are recent converts. Groome Transportation, operating campus and airport shuttles in five states has converted many university buses to propane and operates over 100 propane vans in the Atlanta area. The Roadshow will feature these success stories along with others from the Georgia Propane Gas Association, Amerigas and Georgia Gas. Norcross based, Force911 which is installs certified propane and natural gas systems on existing vehicles will display a converted police trucka along with several other trucks and vans..

Electric Vehicle charging now easy to find in Georgia. 
Earlier this year Kia Motors, which produces the Sorento and Optima in Troup County at one of the state’s largest manufacturing facilities, introduced its new, all-electric SOUL EV to Georgia dealers. The Tour's electric vehicle showcase will feature the SOUL EV, alongside the Nissan LEAF and the Ford C-Max Energi. Electric Vehicles in Georgia may see a little of the spark go out when Georgia’s $5,000 EV tax credit expires July 1, but business leaders are hopeful that a compromise investment tax credit will prevail in 2016. Georgia has seen rapid growth in it’s EV Charging infrastructure with companies like Rincon based EFACEC DC Fast Chargers. Georgia Power has just deployed over 60 Community Charging Islands at its properties throughout the region with plans to add and additional 50 chargers on hosted properties.

Saving taxpayer money with green improvements. 
Georgia’s elected officials will also be on hand to celebrate the economic growth that alternative fuel vehicles have brought to their regions. Senator Butch Miller and owner of Milton Martin Honda which features the Honda Civic CNG will be on hand in Gainesville along with Representative Carl Rogers and Mayor Danny Dunagan. Senator Bruce Thompson and City Councilwoman Myrtle Figueras will be in Cartersville. Mayor Dorothy Hubbard and Representative Winifred Dukes will be in Albany. Senator Nan Orrock, College Park Mayor Jack Longino and East Point Mayor Janquelle Peters will be at the Georgia International Convention Center. Senator Elena Parent will speak at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Senator William Ligon and State Representative Jeff Jones will bring remarks to St. Simon’s Island. Valdosta Mayor John Gayle will speak at the Langdale College of Business at VSU and Representative Mickey Stephens will give remarks in Savannah as the tour comes to a close on June 26th