For Stephen Holland, innovation is about exploring what improves the lives of customers and the future of the propane autogas industry. That can be improving upon existing technology or even diving into new technological developments before they become necessary. No matter the project, Holland’s approach to innovation in the autogas industry means being a step ahead and ready for new opportunities coming down the pipeline.
Holland has worked in the automotive industry for 35 years, focusing on gasoline fuel systems early in his career. About 20 years ago, he made the shift to compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). When he began working with Blossman Services Inc. and the Alliance AutoGas team 11 years ago, he was able to focus solely on LPG — a move he was more than happy to make.
Now, Holland works with his team at Alliance AutoGas on the company’s bi-fuel autogas systems. These systems include the continued integration of propane autogas into direct injection engine technology, as well as hybrid vehicle technologies. These projects contribute to the continued growth of the autogas industry.
“With the autogas work we’re doing, I think it’s really important for the propane industry because it flows gallons and it doesn’t depend on the weather, especially when it looks like the climate is getting warmer and the winters are getting shorter,” Holland said. “It’s also very good for the transportation industry. For all the vehicles that use this fuel, the return on investment is so quick, and it makes so much sense.”
In a country where the geography often means the autogas industry focuses on fleets, Holland’s team is working on initiatives to go down the path of autogas for regular consumer vehicles, whether that’s more accessibility for fueling infrastructure or potentially shifting to refueling systems in the home.
“Just like when we set up fueling infrastructure for fleets, we also try to make that publicly accessible so that others can share and use it,” said Holland. “Quietly, we’re building up a fueling infrastructure in the background that’s accessible to all. … It gives us the ability to go ahead and build them up, design them and get them ready.”
In terms of propane’s future, Holland hopes for propane marketers to fully acknowledge and accept autogas’s role in moving the industry forward.
“It’s everything the propane industry needs. … It’s their own fuel,” said Holland. “It’s absolutely essential to the survival of the industry in decades to come.”
Holland sees value in continuing to “go for it” to mitigate an industry becoming stagnant. Avoiding complacency, according to Holland, is the quickest way to a successful future. He feels attracting more attention to autogas innovations is the way to do that.
“Ultimately [the goal is] to … increase the gallons for the propane industry. We’re happy to see propane companies switch to autogas. … We want this for the whole propane industry. It’s not just Alliance AutoGas and its [partners]; it’s not like our little secret advantage. No, we want the whole propane industry using and promoting autogas because it’s just better for propane nationally.”
