Twenty years ago, when “alternative fuels” was an obscure term known only to a few industry insiders and some forward-thinking policy makers, my husband Leo and I formed our original alternative fuels consulting company, Thomason & Associates, Inc. The company quickly became a nationally known consulting and training firm that specialized in the market development and use of alternative transportation fuels, particularly natural gas. Following more than a decade of work in the natural gas utility industry, Thomason & Associates was a natural outflow of our experience, and allowed us to pursue the industry for which we had great passion.

The reasons for our passion were straightforward. We saw the extremely negative consequences of our country’s ever-increasing dependence on foreign oil, and we believed strongly that the air quality benefits of alternative fuels would help improve not only the environment, but people’s health.

In our early years of business, we focused mainly on natural gas, since it was the “up and coming” alternative fuel. We developed significant expertise and were privileged to provide a wide variety of services to our clients. In 1990, we incorporated the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, and for nearly four years, we 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.

We also began helping companies interested in pursuing business opportunities for alternative fuels achieve their goals. We 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.

In 1992, Leo and I recognized a burgeoning need for training and education for the natural gas vehicle industry, and that same year, we founded Natural Gas Vehicle Institute (NGVi). Since that time, NGVi has become North America’s leading provider of education and training programs and technical consulting for natural gas vehicles and fueling technologies. We have trained more than 10,000 students in the United States, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and the Philippines on a variety of technical subjects.

Shortly after forming NGVi, we began consulting with fleet operators, helping them choose vehicles and fueling technologies that met their specific needs. We also helped them solve technical challenges to operating vehicles, obtaining fueling, and operating and maintaining on-site fueling equipment. In the realm of alternative fuels, often the choices are confusing, and we have been able to help eliminate the confusion and create a straight pathway for fleet managers who have decided to make the switch to alternative fuels.

Recognizing the need to provide our 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 our team. AFVi provides a host of educational and training opportunities for fleet managers, including daily news, training courses, webinars, web training classes and the largest alternative fuels and vehicles conference in the world. And of course, we still offer one-on-one assistance for fleet managers who need our expertise.

It has been a twenty year journey down the alternative fuels road, and we are grateful for all the opportunities we have been given. Thank you for visiting our website. Wherever YOU are on the road to alternative fuels, let us know how we can help you take that next step in the journey. That’s what we’re here for.

Annalloyd Thomason