When combined with federal and state tax incentives that subsidize major chunks of the conversion and subsequent propane purchases, Roush estimates the cost will justify itself within a year. According to Roush’s research, business fleets hold on to their vehicles much longer.

Propane also burns cleaner than gasoline — Roush says his modified trucks will be certified by the strict California Air Resources Board — and propane generally doesn’t need to be imported because it is a byproduct of the refining process for oil and natural gas that often goes to waste.

Those big flames you see shooting out of refinery smokestacks?

“For the most part, that’s burning off propane,” Roush said.

Roush says the propane-powered truck gets the same horsepower and torque as the gasoline version.

“It’s seamless,” Roush said. “You can’t tell the difference.”

However, Roush acknowledges an approximate 13 percent drop in fuel economy because a gallon of propane contains less energy than a gallon of gas.

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The loss in efficiency can be offset when large business fleets take advantage of wholesale propane prices that have been below $1 per gallon this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Web site.

Roush’s propane push runs parallel to the widely publicized natural gas transportation fuel initiative being promoted by Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens. And while others tout electric cars as a better solution for U.S. energy needs — and hydrogen fuel cells as the ultimate answer — proponents of propane say it’s ready to go today.

“The infrastructure’s not there,” Roush said of natural gas. “And of course, we’re years away from the prospect of getting infrastructure, meaningful infrastructure, for hydrogen.”

Roush says it’s time to act now, for the sake of the country and its automakers.

“Assuming that we just don’t say it’s going to go the way of the wind-up clock or the steam locomotive, how are we going to save this thing?”

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