El Milagro is a tortilla products manufacturer based in Chicago, Ill. The 64-year-old, family-owned company produces corn and fl our tortillas, tostadas, chips, and taco shells. The company’s fl eet of delivery vans transports products from its corn and fl our manufacturing facilities

in Chicago to customers in surrounding suburbs and north to Milwaukee, Wis. In total, El Milagro operates approximately 80 vehicles at its locations in Illinois, Georgia, and Texas. The company’s 55-vehicle Chicago fl eet has operated on propane autogas since 1998.

COMPANY

El Milagro, Inc.Chicago, Ill.

CHALLENGE & SOLUTION

When the city of Chicago mandated that fl eets with more than 10 vehicles run at least 10 percent of their vehicles on alternative fuels, El Milagro took advantage of incentives to convert its fl eet to clean, low-emission propane autogas. The company, which operates converted Isuzu N-Series trucks, has been running on propane autogas for more than 15 years.

RESULT

• On-site refueling dispensers cut costs and eliminate downtime for delivery drivers.

• The company pays 50 percent less per gallon for fuel compared with gasoline and diesel.

• Reduced emissions with propane autogas exempt El Milagro’s fl eet from Chicago emissions testing.

AN EARLY ALT FUEL ADOPTER

El Milagro is a long-time user of propane autogas and fi rst decided to try alternative fuels after the city of Chicago implemented new emissions standards in the late 1990s. At the time, El Milagro hired a third-party retrofi tter to install a conversion kit on one of its gas-powered Isuzu trucks.

“We received notice from the state of Illinois that any fl eet registered in the city of Chicago with more than 10 vehicles

needed to have 10 percent of its vehicles running on an alternative fuel,” Bobby Morales, sales and distribution manager with El Milagro, said. “The city also put out an incentive to convert vehicles to run on alternative fuels and paid for 80 percent of the conversions.”

El Milagro has converted an average of two to three vehicles per year to propane autogas and currently operates a 55-vehicle alternative fuel fl eet. In 2012, the company converted its entire fl eet to new Isuzu trucks with Bi-Phase conversions, a system pioneered and tested by another long-time propane user: Schwan’s Home Service. The trucks are confi gured with a 16-foot van body and make deliveries to grocery stores and small- to medium-sized retailers all over Chicagoland.

To service its large bi-fuel fl eet, the company installed on-site infrastructure and a dispenser at one of its two corn and fl our manufacturing sites. El Milagro’s propane fuel provider covered the costs

AFTER 15 YEARS OF RUNNING ON PROPANE AUTOGAS, EL MILAGRO’S 55-VEHICLE FLEET IS A SUCCESS STORY IN A CITY COMMITTED TO GOING GREEN

A PROPANE CASE STUDY

CHICAGOLAND TORTILLA COMPANY LEADS THE WAY AS EARLY ALT FUEL ADOPTER

Propane Education & Research Council / 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1075 / Washington, DC 20036P 202-452-8975 / F 202-452-9054 / propanecouncil.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about propane autogas and the Propane Education & Research Council, visit propane.com/on-road-fl eets.

For more information about El Milagro, Inc., visit el-milagro.com.

The Propane Education & Research Council was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of Public Law 104-284, the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), signed into law on October 11, 1996. The mission of the Propane Education & Research Council is to promote the safe, effi cient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source.

© 2015 by the Propane Education & Research Council 6559-CS-14

CASE STUDYEL MILAGRO, INC.ILLINOIS

our products to grocery stores, retailers, and mom-and-pop stores,” said Alex Camarrena, route supervisor at El Milagro.

Proven performance over the last 15 years with propane has translated into added value under the hood for the company. El Milagro reports maintenance has not been an issue with its propane-autogas-powered vans, and that it now can predict vehicle upkeep needs.

“The plugs in the vehicles and some other parts do last longer [with propane] than with gasoline,” Morales said. “We still do the regular maintenance, but you don’t have to replace those parts as often. For instance, with plugs you typically have to change them every 30,000 miles [with gasoline], but you can go 60,000 miles with propane.”

El Milagro initially had to overcome misconceptions about alternative fuels, particularly the notion that propane autogas wouldn’t perform well in Chicago’s winter. However, according to Camarrena, propane autogas has performed “especially well,” even with demanding payloads.

“The new systems have been working just fi ne and we have no performance problems. They run just as great as gasoline and we don’t see a diff erence with or without heavy loads,” said Camarrena.

of two 800-gallon propane tanks and a dispenser, which Morales says has been one of the biggest benefi ts of the switch.

“A big advantage with propane is we can pump here at our own facility and don’t lose time going out to gas stations,” Morales said. “The infrastructure was 100 percent taken care of by our supplier who installed equipment at the facility at no cost. They own the tanks and pumps and we pay nothing for the equipment. If something breaks down, they come fi x it without us spending a dime.”

GOING THE “PROPANE WAY”

Fuel savings with propane autogas has been the biggest payoff for El Milagro. Morales reports the company saves an average of 50 percent on fuel with propane autogas compared with gasoline. Additionally, the state of Illinois has off ered fuel incentives to save even more.

“We save a lot of money on fuel,” Morales said. “Propane prices here fl uctuate just like gasoline, but they are a little less than half what gasoline is at any given time. On top of that, the state had a rebate of 50 cents per gallon to use propane [autogas], saving us even more.”

The combination of incentives and citywide alternative fuel programs has helped Chicago become a leader in emissions

reductions. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, Illinois has 336 public alternative refueling stations, more than 100 of which are propane autogas. As public infrastructure for alternative fuels in and around the city grows, companies like El Milagro have taken advantage of reduced emissions testing and greater convenience while refueling en route.

“Now that propane is being sold in almost every city around us and in the suburbs, it’s one of the main advantages we have and is one more thing we keep in mind as we grow,” Morales said.

A HIGH MILEAGE, LOW MAINTENANCE FLEET

El Milagro puts a lot of miles on its vehicles, running them for fi ve years and about 240,000 miles. “Some routes have stops every fi ve to 10 minutes and others drive 10 to 15 miles to the next stop to deliver

“It is very easy in many cities now — not just Chicago — to fi ll up publicly if you run out of fuel and just keep going.”

Bobby MoralesSales and Distribution Manager

El Milagro