Stuart Weidie, CEO of Alliance AutoGas, spoke at the closing luncheon for the Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 13, 2017. In his speech, Weidie applauded the efforts of the alternative fuel industry, especially those who are pursuing options with renewable fuels including solar and wind power. Weidie exhorted the industry to remember the common goal of displacing traditional fuels (gasoline and oil) for the following purposes: cleaner climate, human health and energy security.
Weidie challenged the industry to look past the excitement of vehicle technology innovation, and deeper into the source of the power and energy fueling that technology. For example, 60 percent of electricity in the grid is coming from coal, a major source of harmful emissions. Consequently, though an electric vehicle itself may produce less NOx emissions, the original fuel source must still be taken into account. Weidie also called on the alternative fuel providers and technology companies to be good stewards of the earth’s resources by increasing energy efficiency. Weidie gave statistics of a 68 percent loss of energy from electric plant to household plug, compared to a 26 percent loss of energy from propane tank to household plug due to on-site power generation.
Weidie said, “We must be good stewards of the earth’s resources. Each alternative fuel has a place in reaching the common goal of traditional fuel displacement; it is up to the industry to help the consumer apply the right solution to the right fleet need.”
Ed Hoffman and Happy Fox, both experts with Alliance AutoGas, gave industry and product updates at panel discussions throughout the conference.
