University of Richmond Converts Gas-Powered Service Carts to Propane Gas for Environmental Study

February 5, 2003

The University of Richmond has converted three cart-type service vehicles from gas-powered to propane gas-powered as part of a five-year environmental study.

The three propane-powered carts, all painted green, are being measured against three gas-powered carts painted red. Begun last summer, the tests are funded by a $4,750 grant from the Associated Colleges of the South through support of the V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation.

The tests already are showing dramatic results, according to John Hoogakker, associate vice president for facilities. An emissions test revealed a 68 percent reduction in carbon monoxide in the green carts. The propane carts also boasted reductions of 40 percent in dioxide, 66 percent in unburned hydrocarbons and 53 percent in unburned oxygen.

Fuel economy tests also favor the green carts, 79 cents per hour vs. $1.02 per hour. The savings are not enough to pay for the conversion costs ($1,350 per cart) in a reasonable time, Hoogakker says, but "it's a relatively small investment for the environmental benefit."

The university also plans to compare the green carts to conventional pick-ups and to convert for testing other types of small-engine equipment, such as tractors and mowers.

Hoogakker says the idea for the conversion came from the university's history with propane-powered vehicles. In the 1970s during the gas crisis, the university converted some of its full-sized pick-up trucks to propane. "The folklore," Hoogakker says, "was how well they ran, how economical and clean burning the engines were."