A new episode of The Path to Zero podcast spotlights an exciting development in clean transportation: a propane-powered engine designed to match diesel’s performance, while significantly cutting emissions.
In this recent episode, Dr. Daniel Olsen of Colorado State University (CSU) joins Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) President and CEO Tucker Perkins to discuss the results of a four-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. With $3.5 million in funding, Dr. Olsen and his team at CSU’s Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory set out to prove whether propane could serve as a viable alternative to diesel in the heavy-duty truck market. The answer, according to the results, is yes.
Using a 15-liter Cummins diesel engine platform, researchers achieved 44% brake thermal efficiency with a propane engine, matching diesel-level performance. In addition to strong performance, propane demonstrated significant emissions advantages. The engine produces no particulate matter, has a lower Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) footprint due to propane’s molecular composition, and dramatically reduces Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions.
Dr. Olsen’s goal is to see these innovations move from the lab to the road. With support from partners like Cummins Inc. and Argonne National Laboratory, the research marks a major step toward cleaner commercial transport options that don’t sacrifice performance or cost-effectiveness. To learn more about the project and what this means for the future of heavy-duty trucking, check out the full Path to Zero episode, “Could Propane Be the New Diesel?”