AFVi’s Background
AFVi was formed by
Leo and Annalloyd Thomason, who each have more than 20 years experience in the
alternative fuels industry. In 1989, following more than
five years’ natural gas vehicle market development work for Southwest
Gas Corporation and Lone Star Gas Company, the Thomasons founded Thomason & Associates. The
company quickly became a nationally known consulting firm that specialized in
the market development and use of alternative transportation fuels, particularly
natural gas. In this capacity, they incorporated the California Natural
Gas Vehicle Coalition and worked extensively with the California Legislature,
the California Air Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Management District
and other government agencies to establish policies and programs favorable towards
alternative fuels. Thomason & Associates also conducted market research
and analyses, developed dozens of alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) business plans,
and assisted clients in creating markets for their AFV products and services.
With the burgeoning need for training and education for the natural gas vehicle
industry, in 1992, the Thomasons founded Natural Gas Vehicle Institute (NGVI). NGVI
has become North America’s leading provider of education and training programs
and technical consulting in natural gas vehicles and fueling technologies. Since
its inception, NGVI has trained nearly 10,000 students in the United States,
Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and the Philippines.
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The Thomasons and their staff of alternative fuel and vehicle experts have
worked extensively with the U.S. Department of Energy and its Clean Cities Programs
on promoting the use of all alternative fuel vehicles as a partial antidote to
foreign oil dependence and to improve air quality. The company also has
hands-on experience managing a successful Clean Cities coalition. Since
1998, Thomason & Associates has managed the Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities
Coalition, responsible for the organization’s planning, budgeting, operations,
grant writing, fleet outreach, and government affairs.
Recognizing the need to provide their services to include a broader range of
alternative fuels and vehicles, the formation of AFVi in 2003 was the natural
expansion of nearly two decades of alternative fuel vehicle training and consulting
provided by the Thomasons and their staff.
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