The city of Petersburg, Virginia’s, police and shuttle vehicle fleets recently got an ultra-low emissions upgrade thanks to the delivery of the first gallons of renewable propane autogas in the state.

Petersburg is the first city in the state to use renewable propane in a vehicle fleet, converting 49 vehicles from gasoline to run on the clean energy source.

Representatives from Virginia Clean Cities, Alliance AutoGas, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), and the City of Petersburg attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 24 to speak on the importance of the fuel technology.

“We want to celebrate and acknowledge the leadership that made this move to clean energy possible,” said Alleyn Harned, director at Virginia Clean Cities (VCC). “Renewable propane is a major step forward to reduce emissions and lower the city’s fleet operating costs.”

According to VCC, propane autogas vehicles operating with renewable propane have a lower lifetime carbon footprint than electric vehicles (EVs) charged using the electric grid in Virginia. Plus, the agency said these vehicles are able to provide low-emissions benefits at a fraction of the cost of EVs.