LP Gas, May 2015

Continued from page 8 PERC says it will have more opportunities to promote propane to consumers throughout each of the industrys market segments PROPANE EDUCATION RESEARCH COUNCIL Forklift engine material handling projects approved at April meeting The Propane Education Research Council PERC approved more than 2 million for forklift engine development and material handling market research projects during its April meeting ahead of the NPGA Southeastern Convention International Propane Expo in Atlanta Jeremy Wishart PERCs deputy director of business development says 2 million will be used to develop an advanced propane engine focused on mobile industrial applications specifically as a replacement to the Tier 4 diesel and electrified products in the 3 to 6 ton forklift market In addition the new engine would replace an outgoing 30 liter engine with better emissions performance and scalability PERC is partnering with Power Solutions International Inc on the project The council also approved 255000 for a material handling market research and outreach program with Swanson Russell as the principal contractor PERCs goals with the program are to reposition propane within the market and prepare it for future competition PERC also approved the following projects from its consent calendar with the principal contractor in parenthesis where applicable 321424 for the councils Marketer Technology Sales Training MTST program supporting 42 additional training sessions and the development of a MTST digital component 300000 for a project that will obtain EPA certification on the Prins direct injection technology and conduct a proof of concept pilot on 100 2013 Chevrolet Impalas for Veolia Transportation On Demand Blossman Services Inc 285000 for a project that will supply an EPA and CARB certified dual fuel autogas system for model years 2010 14 Volvo D13 and Mack MP8 engines for high fuel consuming regional fleets Blossman Services Inc 264000 for maintenance and support of the councils Propane Marketer Resource Catalog 71300 for continued work to update the 2017 edition of NFPA 58 reflecting current autogas and autogas technologies Parafour Inc The council is scheduled to meet July 14 15 in Park City Utah restricted from conducting most educational outreach activities regarding the general benefits of propane on the assumption it was driving disproportionate demand During the restriction put in place in August 2009 and terminating millions of dollars of educational outreach programs the council had been authorized to focus only on research and development and safety related initiatives But PERC says it will have more opportunities now to promote propane to consumers throughout each of the industrys market segments The council is serious about putting together a consumer campaign for the industry but we want to be circumspective and methodical about how we develop that campaign says Roy Willis PERC president and CEO We now have markets in addition to residential and commercial whereas the last campaign was exclusively focused We have a lot more opportunities to expand demand than existed five six years ago before the restriction hit Willis says hes been asked to provide preliminary perspective on the campaign PERC plans to outline by the councils next meeting July 14 15 in Park City Utah He says a final plan may be in place by fall Well be working to develop a vision statement and of course well have a draft proposal for the 2016 budget which we have to publish before Aug 1 Willis says I dont expect to have a final plan in July The media landscape has changed since PERCs last consumer campaign Willis adds New avenues exist through which PERC can promote its messages and evaluating which are best will take time Its a much different media environment Willis says Part of our planning process will be to explore in each one of these market segments the optimal use of media to reach our audience The council has also asked the PERC staff to evaluate the value of ongoing programs Weve got to not only look at developing a consumer ad program and what were doing to promote propane appliances equipment and vehicles but we also need to look at how the consumer ad program might affect our other activities safety and training research and development Willis says Those are not easy things to capsulize right away The council wants to be really smart about it LPG 10 LPGas May 2015 www LPGasmagazine com