T
he advantages of running propane-powered landscape equip-
ment make converting an easy decision. Propane is affordable,
clean, and American-made, and there are dozens of equipment
options from mowers to generators to pickup trucks available.
After a contractor makes the initial decision to transition a fleet,
the next step is choosing a refueling method. Based on the size and
needs of an operation, a propane retailer will provide the proper train-
ing, setup, and support a contractor needs to smoothly run a propane-
powered fleet.
Myth busting
Because the propane refueling process is unfamiliar, there are a few
common misconceptions about using the fuel. But with any change
or transition, a little time and training go a long way in easing the up-
front anxiety of learning a new process.
A common misconception landscapers express about refueling
with propane is that it's difficult and time-consuming. The opposite
is actually true. After some basic education and training from a
propane retailer, contractors will find refueling with propane to be
just as easy as, or easier than, refueling with gasoline or diesel — and
more efficient because they're no longer making daily trips to the
gas station.
Another misunderstanding landscapers have is that they are re-
sponsible for going to the propane retailer's location to get their fuel.
"Contractors always worry about how they're going to get their
propane if they convert. They think they have to get it from some-
where," said Mark Linkletter, mower fuel sales manager for Ferrell-
gas, a nationwide propane retailer headquartered in Overland Park,
Kan. "Our business is predicated on delivering propane, so we make
it as hassle-free as possible for landscapers. Our job is to deliver
propane to them so they can spend more time mowing, and less
time refueling every day."
Converting to propane also ensures contractors are using high-
quality fuel that won't harm small engines. "Many landscapers are using
87 octane fuel with an ethanol mixture, which is harmful to small en-
gines," Linkletter pointed out. "Using propane leads to longer engine
life, because it emits significantly lower levels of greenhouse gases and
other harmful pollutants. I like to tell people [that] propane is as green
as the grass being mowed."
Propane is also a much safer fuel to handle, and better for the envi-
ronment. Unlike gasoline or diesel, propane cannot be spilled, elimi-
nating the environmental threat posed by pooling chemicals. And,
because it's a closed fuel system, propane can't be easily pilfered, reduc-
ing the risk of theft.
36 Landscape and Irrigation April 2014 www.landscapeirrigation.com
Equipment Fleet Management
Fueling Propane's Potential
What contractors need to know about choosing a propane refueling method
By Jeremy Wishart
Photos
provided
by
the
Propane
Education
&
Research
Council
