The Reality: Campbell-Parnell has accomplished a very difficult task – CARB/EPA certification for one of the most widely used commercial vehicles in North America... the Isuzu NPR-HD.

The Isuzu NPR-HD is known as a “work-horse” for all types of business applications, from boxed-refrigeration vehicles for food based companies as well as durable goods and landscape providers in all 50 states. The CARB/EPA certification will provide national companies the ability to install the “Dual-Fuel” propane-technology on vehicles in every state without legal complications. It will also impact small business owners that may operate in a city or regional territory, it is just good news for both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies.

The time and effort required to reach this level of certification is a daunting task and this will certainly return some attention to propane as a primary fuel. CNG has been popular in alternative fuel culture lately, but the financial burden of CNG refueling infrastructure for small businesses and larger organizations is astronomical in contrast to propane. Using public refueling sites is still using retail sales facilities, so fuel cost will include paying for someone’s brick and mortar facility. Propane refuel sites are covered by most propane companies with propane-AutoGas contracts, the out of pocket expense usually includes electrical and/or barrier protection…maybe a permit. Your propane network provider will spell-out exactly what you will need to pay for, but the ability to refuel propane vehicles on company premises certainly has its advantages. By eliminating retail fuel cost, the savings is passed directly to the end user without a costly investment for infrastructure. Historically, becoming your own re-fueler qualifies a company to a 50 cent a gallon rebate, taken quarterly or annually. 2015-2016 remains unknown until congress makes a decision regarding the Alternative Fuel Tax in November.

The Impact: This vehicle application provides solutions now for existing and potential customers without a lot of aggravation or financial barriers to entry with alternative fuels.

How is Dual-Fuel different than a dedicated propane truck and why should you care? Dual-Fuel (propane-gasoline) allows a vehicle to start on gasoline and automatically convert to propane when the engine warms up, the propane takes over and this is where fuel cost drop like a rock for vehicle operation. Run out of propane and you still have gasoline to get you home or return to the shop. The Campbell-Parnell system is the first to achieve “Propane Dual Fuel - CARB" certification, as no other propane supplier or vehicle system manufacturer has pulled this off.

It Boils down to Cost: This one of the best ways to convert financially.

This Propane Dual-Fuel system cost less than other conversions; for the system, tank, installation and warranty you are looking at about 8k out the door. Dedicated propane and CNG cannot come close to this price and the miles-per-gallon haters can’t complain – this system was a rated at a 9% loss on fuel economy. That is pretty amazing for a propane vapor injection system: this is likely due to the I-Plus propane injectors and Electronic Control Unit that communicates directly to the On Board Diagnostic, but Tom Campbell of Campbell-Parnell is not ready to give up that secret - not a chance. So the reality is it is cost effective, environmentally clean and the best deal in town.