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The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is a large-scale alternative fuel project aimed at building propane infrastructure in the Southeast United States and encouraging public and private fleets to adopt propane. The program converted 1,189 vehicles from conventional gasoline to run on propane, and opened 11 propane Autogas refueling stations in 10 southeastern states. This resulted in millions of gallons of petroleum displacement. In addition, a wide-ranging communications campaign was launched to increase awareness and usage of propane in the Southeast.

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is partnering with the Clean Cities Coalition Network and fleets in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina to support the integration of a variety of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and fueling infrastructure. CTE and its partners will offset the initial capital cost of AFVs and infrastructure, promote opportunities for collaboration and strategic partnerships among alternative fuel market players, and support the development of alternative fuel corridors.

As of 2019, CTE has incentivized the purchase or installation of approximately 194 alternative fuel vehicles for six public and private fleets. The vehicles are a mix of compressed natural gas (CNG), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and electric. CTE is currently evaluating initial key performance indicators related to operations and maintenance for these vehicles and will publish a report upon completion. Additionally, CTE identified gaps in EV, CNG, and LNG infrastructure along key highway corridors in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. This information will be used to determine locations of future alternative fueling infrastructure.

The Southeast AFV Demonstration Initiative (SADI) will carry out a multi-fuel, multi-state vehicle demonstration program complete with vehicles, driver education and marketing strategies to help incorporate alternative fuels into new fleets and industry sectors in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This project will focus on non-existent or under-utilized markets for compressed natural gas, propane, electric, E85 and biodiesel in the transportation sector, targeting applications such as school buses, delivery vehicles, state/local government, and commuter vehicles. The project seeks to both reach a considerable number of drivers/fleet operators and ensure that adequate fueling infrastructure is in place to allow for continued use after the project ends.

The Southeast Regional Alternative Fuels Market Initiatives Program, which includes Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, will provide first responder and vehicle maintenance technician training; develop Alternative Fuels Readiness Workbooks to guide alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) deployment readiness; assist municipalities with AFV readiness; and create and provide procurement policies and incentive models.

The primary objective of the project was to establish a comprehensive, tri-state (Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) readiness and deployment strategy for EVs and EV infrastructure and begin implementation of the community-based Southeast Regional EV Deployment Readiness Plan.