HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON VICTORIA, THE EVENT CALLED ODYSSEY, SHOWCASES ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES....

THE EVENT SPONSORED BY CLEAN CITIES VICTORIA IS TO PROMOTE PROPANE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOURCE . 75 % OF THIS ENERGY SOURCE IS REFINED RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS.

FARRIS INDUSTRIES, DEMONSTRATED A 32 HORSE POWER RIDING MOWER, THAT USES PROPANE AS IT'S FUEL SOURCE.

THE COMPANY, A DIVISION OF BRIGGS AND STRATTON INDUSTRIES, SAYS THAT THIS MOWER REDUCES EMISSIONS BY 30%. IT HAS A REGULATORY SYSTEM WHERE THE VAPOR FROM THE PROPANE IS ONLY RELEASED WHEN IT SENSES OIL PRESSURE.

90 % OF ALL SCHWANNS HOME DELIVERY TRUCKS HAVE CONVERTED TO PROPANE RUN ENGINES. COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY THEY BEGAN THAT PROCESS IN 1970, WHEN THERE WAS A GASOLINE SHORTAGE.

THEY SAY THEIR VEHICLES HAVE FEWER MAINTENANCE ISSUES SINCE THE CONVERSION.

HOWEVER, CONVERTING A GASOLINE RUN VEHICLE TO PROPANE CAN BE EXPENSIVE... COSTING 13 THOUSAND DOLLARS. BUT IN THE LONG RUN, WITH THE PRICE OF PROPANE HALF THE COST OF GASOLINE, FOR SOME IT'S A WISE INVESTMENT.

CLEAN CITIES VICTORIA IS CONSIDERING HAVING OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL SEMINARS, SUCH AS ETHANOL, AND TO SHOWCASE THOSE FLEX FUEL VEHICLES ON THE MARKET.