winter 2012 | fuelsfix.com
Waste Vegetable Oil to Biodiesel in AL
Frito-Lay Goes Electric | NG in Louisville | Green Fleet Mgmt UPS’s Rolling Laboratory | Raleigh’s First E85/B20 Station
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navigate up front Editor’s Letter | 4 The Quick Fix | 5 Cover Story: WVO Biodiesel Production in Alabama | 11
coalition news Evoscape Cutting Grass with Alternative Fuels | 7 Frito-Lay Goes Electric in Orlando | 8 Southeast Propane Autogas Update | 9 TN Plugs In |13 Plugging in from Mountains to Sea | 18 Vestavia Hills Converts to Cleaner Fuel for City Vehicles |22 Roush CleanTech Heats Up Middle TN | 23 Tri-State Coalitions Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure | 26 Suggested Reading: The Billion Ton Update | 29
focus features NG Fleet Strategy at Waste Management Moving towards Zero Tailpipe Emissions |10 Raleigh’s First Dual-Biofuels Station Opens | 15 UPS’s Rolling Laboratory Approach to Minimize Dependence on Fossil Fuels | 17 Five Key Questions of Green Fleet Management | 19 A Brief History of the (Other) EAA | 27
special features Clean Cities TV | 6 Question of the Month | 31 The Flux Report | 33 Social Media | 35
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editor’s letter The SE States NGV Corridor Committee One of the group efforts I have participated in over the last year is the NGV Corridor Committe, which includes essentially all southeastern states and runs from KY to FL and LA to VA. Bob Strickland of the Alabama Gas Corporation leads the conference calls that are held every other week. The agendas typically include one speaker that discusses their equipment, product, efforts, or similar with regard to natural gas for transportation fuel purposes, and then we go through each southeastern state and a national update on efforts underway. The calls usually close with time for other questions or items that anyone wants to bring to the group’s attention. I have learned something new on every call that I’ve attended – it is a very educated and informed bunch! There are usually about 15-30 people on the call, depending on the date. The calls are held on Tuesdays at 11am ET, 10am CT. To be added to the call email list so that you can join in the conversation, just email Bob Strickland! Sincerely, Jonathan
senior editor Jonathan G. Overly East TN Clean Fuels Coalition jgoverly@utk.edu
designer & editor Kristy Keel East TN Clean Fuels Coalition kristyak@utk.edu
fuelsfix.com The Southeastern Fuels Fix is published quarterly thanks to the DOE Clean Cities coalitions in the southeastern United States. Advertising information may be obtained by visiting the website or contacting the editors. Advertising revenue goes towards helping coalitions maintain activities focused on putting alternative fuel and efficient transportation technologies on the ground in the southeastern U.S.
Publication Date: January 6, 2012
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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the
Catch up on what our partners have to offer.
SOUTHEAST
conference calls Discuss the natural gas industry: equipment, products, efforts, and natural gas as a transportation fuel Tuesdays: 11 a.m. ET, 10 a.m. CT Email bob.strickland@energen.com
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
clean cities tv Clean Cities TV (CCTV) is the educational Internet
use of alternative and renewable fuels, idle reduction
channel of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE)
and fuel economy measures, and emerging technologies.
Clean Cities program. The channel features live and
Click on the videos below to view Clean Cities clips from
recorded content about Clean Cities and its mission
Coalitions in the Southeast and beyond!
to reduce U.S. petroleum consumption through the
Farm-Grown Biodiesel State Line Farm North Bennington, VT
First Responder Vehicle Safety Training College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
Mayor of Hoover, AL on Alt-Fuel Use Clean Cities Stakeholder’s Summit Indianapolis, IN
Refuse Truck Natural Gas Project Richmond, VA
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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bill young
Florida Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road Cocoa, FL 32922 young@fsec.ucf.edu | 321-638-1443 www.clean-cities.org
Evoscape Cutting Grass with Alternative Fuels Re-inventing lawn care: this is what Evoscape is doing by using alternative fuels in their lawn business. Most lawn company owners do not relate cutting grass to the use of alternative energy, but Evoscape has found a valuable way. Brothers Jarrett and Ardis Phillips dreamed up the idea of using alternative fuels in their business to reduce the emissions from their lawn equipment. They think that clean air and well-maintained lawns should go together. They replaced their gasoline pickup truck with a Chrysler GEM XD Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), which produces zero vehicle emissions. Their gasoline lawn mower was fitted with a propane conversion kit provided by Heritage Propane, which produces 26% less greenhouse gases and 60% less carbon monoxide than the gasoline model. Their blowers and edgers are also propane powered with a few models available locally from industrial suppliers. Other equipment, such as power tools and trimmers, are also electric with zero emissions. To charge the batteries of this new equipment, photovoltaic (solar electric) modules and a battery system were installed on the trailer to charge the various batteries. A trailer hauls all of their equipment and is towed by their electric power GEM. The best thing about what they have done is that their operating expenses have decreased by over $100 per week. Fuel costs for their vehicle and mower are much lower than before these changes due to savings from using propane and solar energy. There you have it—using options that are already in existance, it’s possible to provide great service.
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
Frito-Lay Goes Electric in Orlando, FL On December 1st, the Orlando area Frito-Lay Distribution Facility conducted an Open House in honor of showcasing their 10 new 100% electric delivery trucks for the Orlando Market. They are proud to be part of this community and understand that they play an important role in employment, commerce, safe measurements, high quality consumer packaged goods, and now more than ever, the environment. Frito-Lay North American has introduced more than 175 electric vehicles across the United States since last year. Ten Smith electric delivery trucks will be the first EVs used in the Orlando Market for deployment in Florida. The trucks feature electric motors which are ten times more efficient that combustion engines and can drive for up to 100 miles per day on a single 8 hour charge from Clipper Creek charging stations. Their fleet of 75 vehicles typically travels routes of 30 miles per day while delivering throughout Orlando and the central Florida tourist areas. These vehicles are expected to cut PepisCo’s diesel consumption by 500,000 gallons per year while curbing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% compared to combustion engines as they participate in the President’s National Clean Fleets Partnership. Frito-Lay is committed to keeping Orlando beautiful!
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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alleyn harned Virginia Clean Cities
701 Carrier Drive MSC 4115 Harrisonburg, VA 22807 aharned@vacleancities.org | 540-568-8896 www.hrccc.org
Southeast Propane Autogas Update
Massive DOE-funded Clean Cities Program Will Complete 1,000+ Propane Autogas Vehicle Conversions by Spring 2012 The Southeast is making strides in alternative fuel adoption with the successful execution of the largest Department-of-Energy-funded Clean Cities vehicle deployment project. Administered by the Virginia Clean Cities and our key stakeholders, the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is set to complete a grand total of 1,195 clean-burning propane autogas vehicle conversions by the spring of 2012. Running these fleets on propane autogas helps enhance American energy security and increase clean tech jobs in the Southeast. Autogas-powered fleets also experience reduced fuel and maintenance costs, saving money for regional businesses and municipalities alike. “Successfully completing these propane autogas conversions will mean a drastic reduction in harmful emissions and U.S. dependence on imported oil,” says Peter Denbigh, our project lead at Virginia Clean Cities. “So far, the Program has eliminated nearly 130 tons of greenhouse gasses, displaced more than 110,000 gallons of gasoline, and nearly 2,500 work hours were created in October 2011 alone. We are excited to see the impact of this project grow exponentially as we finalize vehicle conversions and get all the vehicles on the road.” Alliance AutoGas, a major program partner, is performing all of the vehicle conversions, implementing the autogas fueling stations, and providing training and a year-round fuel supply. Alliance AutoGas, a coalition member stakeholder and founding partner American Alternative Fuel are supplying the conversion systems, which are EPA-certified, bi-fuel PRINS VSI autogas systems. Certified Conversion Centers in the Alliance AutoGas network will perform the installations. Alliance AutoGas is installing scalable fueling infrastructure at each fleet base, totaling more than 30 fleet autogas fueling stations along high-traffic routes in the region with fuel provided by Alliance Autogas partners. Fleet partners include 36 fleets primarily from many Southeastern region areas including Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. Propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world, and 90 percent of the U.S. supply is made in America. Not only is autogas often an average of $1 less per gallon than gasoline for fleet fueling, but vehicles often require less maintenance because autogas burns cleaner than gasoline. This project represents a significant administrative collaboration with the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy and James Madison University as well as the support of extremely talented stakeholder partners. To learn more, visit www.usepropaneautogas.com, www.virginiacleancities.org, or email aharned@vacleancities.org.
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CNG Focus Natural Gas Fleet Strategy at Waste Management Moving towards Zero Tailpipe Emissions
Article courtesy of KCFC
By Rob Owen, Waste Management
Waste Management of Kentucky will be developing a CNG fueling facility at its Louisville, Kentucky Collection Operation. The facility will be located on Grade Lane adjacent to our Outer Loop disposal site. Construction will begin in Q1 of 2012, and the development will include a public fueling station. Waste Management expects to invest over three million dollars in the facility, and will be replacing its current 100+ truck operation with CNG vehicles over the next 3 to 4 years. With more than 32,000 collection and support vehicles on the road throughout North America, Waste Management has committed to reducing the environmental impacts of these vehicles. Our efforts to operate our vehicles more efficiently and with fewer emissions can significantly improve the environmental profile of the communities in which we operate. Waste Management is a leader in the use of alternative fuel vehicles. The company has over 1,000 natural gas trucks on the road, the largest heavy-duty fleet of natural gas trucks in North America. Waste Management has committed to transitioning its fleet of over 18,000 Class 8 collection vehicles from diesel to natural gas. For every Class 8 truck that we convert to natural gas, we reduce our use of diesel fuel by an average of 8,000 gallons per year. This reduces our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by over 21 metric tons per year per truck.
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Cover Story Alabama Turns Trash Into Treasure Alabama municipalities and state/private organizations are creating jobs, lessening fuel costs for diesel fleets, and improving air quality with locally produced B100 biodiesel. The cost effective conversion of waste vegetable oils (WVO) to B100 biodiesel accomplishes two major things. First it keeps fats, oils, and grease (FOG) out of sewer systems where they are a major cause of sewer clogs and, secondly, the biodiesel created from WVO is a great way to lower fleet fuel costs. Mixing the B100 with petroleum diesel to yield a B20 or above mix effectively reduces fueling costs since biodiesel from WVO typically costs around a dollar a gallon to produce. The typical “pay back� on the production equipment is approximately one year; this should be a no-brainer! Currently, in Alabama, over a dozen entities are producing biodiesel from WVO with many more considering the process. The map below shows the WVO biodiesel production areas.
City of Florence City of Gadsden Calhoun County City of Birmingham AL Instutute for Deaf & Blind City of Hoover Auburn University City of Florence
Henry County City of Enterprise City of Andalusia
Daphne Utilities 11
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
Project Green’s Open House drew more than 150 local, state and national leaders including Congressman Mike Rogers, Alabama Senator Jerry Fielding, Alabama Representative Steve Hurst as well as Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and Coosa Valley Resource and Development Council representatives.
AIDB’s E.H. Gentry Facility Work Experience Student Rodriques Wilson, Birmingham, Blind Services, has learned how to process WVO into biodiesel and aids in WVO pick-up from Regional Businesses, establishing relationships with two restaurants on his own.
Project Green Fuels Alabama Education Through extensive collaboration, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) is the first educational entity to implement a biodiesel public education, student training, and internal production program: Project Green. The project is teaching the benefits of alternative fuels to a generation of students statewide. Fueled by several municipal, state, and national agencies, Project Green recently received a $300,000 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Congressional Award driven by Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL). Seed funding from Alabama Representative Steve Hurst (D-35), Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council, Alabama Department of Economic, and Community Affairs and Appalachian Regional Commission has piloted the Project, with monies used towards preliminary site renovation, acquisition of production equipment, and job creation. “While collecting Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) from local restaurants, schools, businesses, and community recycle stations, Project Green will serve as a work experience program for AIDB’s Alabama School for the Blind, Alabama School for the Deaf, Helen Keller School of Alabama, and E.H. Gentry students,” explained AIDB President Dr. Terry Graham. “For our students, statewide Local Education Agencies and Appalachia schools, curricula, tours, and public awareness campaigns will reinforce concepts related to chemistry and mathematics being learned in the classroom. The biodiesel produced is a byproduct of a
much larger public education and student training program and will power a small number of school buses, maintenance trucks, lawn equipment, and other state vehicles.” The curricula, Transportation Fuels: Biodiesel produced by the NEED Project, is distributed to Alabama school systems with students asked to collect WVO four weeks prior to touring Project Green, disposing of their collections on site during tours. Curricula is with funding from the National Biodiesel Board for elementary, intermediate, and secondary students including the Correlation of NEED Materials to the K-12 Science Standards of the State of Alabama. NEED has granted approval for AIDB to modify the curricula for students who are deaf and blind, sharing the curricula with schools for the deaf and blind in Appalachian states. Additionally, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) starter kits are distributed to Alabama school systems and schools/ programs for the deaf and blind cited interested in implementing their own biodiesel education and production program. “As Alabama native Helen Keller once said, ‘No one has the right to consume happiness without producing it,’” explains Dr. Graham. “The same can be said of energy.”
Article courtesy of ACFC
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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jonathan overly
East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition 311 Conf. Center Bldg, Knoxville, TN 37996 jgoverly@utk.edu | 865-974-3625 www.ETCleanFuels.org
TN Plugs In Through the Department of Energy-funded EV Project, a significant amount of electric vehicle (EV) “refueling� or recharging infrastructure has been or is being installed in participating states: Tennessee, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Texas (and the District of Columbia). This infrastructure is called electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE, and includes both Level 2 (220 volts AC) and DC Fast Chargers (DCFC, 480 volts DC). Level 2 equipment generally will take 3-8 hours to recharge an EV depending on the vehicle, while a DCFC will recharge a Nissan Leaf to 80 percent in about 25 minutes. ETCleanFuels is working on this project focusing on the East Tennessee area. Most of our activities this year have been focused on directly contacting potential EVSE site hosts about joining the project and receiving free and installed Level 2 equipment or DCFC and on promoting EVs in the region. Additionally, we have been maintaining a portal on our website which provides several tools to help EV owners as they grow in the region. A shortened link to this information is www.ETEV.info. First and foremost on that page is a map of where EVSE is either currently installed or expected to be installed soon. This includes both Level 2 and DCFC equipment. Completed Installations: 53 Total Although this map is changing quickly with new additions and some changes Level 2 DCFC right now, current numbers can be seen in the chart to the right. Commercial: 36 Commercial: 12 These numbers cover all of what is presented on the map, which includes East Municipal: 3 Municipal: -Tennessee and Middle Tennessee for the Cracker Barrel locations (including Private: 2 Private: -the DCFC and L2 sites). The primary purpose of the map is to show available charging units in the eastern part of the state, but for travelers headed west Potential Installations: 19 the locations may be helpful as well! Level 2: 18 Two other tools which are provided on that page are 1) a closed Facebook DCFC: 1 page for East Tennessee EV Owners that allows only members to make edits or post comments, pictures, and the like, and 2) a protected Google doc that is a list of EV owners in the region. The Facebook page is a way owners can easily start a discussion with all of the other member owners, and the Google doc allows drivers to learn about other owners (what do you drive?) and communicate with those people. We hope you will take advantage of these tools!
Vsit ETEV.info for more information on EVs and EVSE locations!
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
EVSE locations in Knoxville and surrounding areas
EVSE locations in Nashville, Chattanooga, and surrounding areas
See the full maps and bookmark them in your smart phone!
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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Partner Focus Raleigh’s First Dual-Biofuels Station Opens Crown Express Mart One of Few in Nation Offering E85 & B20 In Raleigh, NC, the first station to offer both E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) and B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel) celebrated its grand opening with dignitary remarks, a ribbon cutting, and an $0.85 per gallon E85 promotion. The station underwent extensive renovations and began providing the renewable fuel options in early October. “We are excited to be able to offer alternative fueling options in the Raleigh area. Individual and fleet customers now have a choice and convenient place to pump E-85 and B20 fuel seven days a week,” said Kokila Amin, one of the station owners. There are close to 2,000 E85 capable flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) located in the zip code of the New Bern Avenue station according to research conducted by RL Polk and Associates in July of this year. Across the state in North Carolina there are 18 commercial service stations offering E85, while there are over 236,000 FFVs according to data tracked by the N.C. Solar Center at N.C. State University and RL Polk. FFVs can be operated on gasoline, E85, or any blend of ethanol in between. There are over 40 makes and models offered by auto manufacturers that have can be made flex fuel compatible at no additional cost to the purchaser. Funding for the E85 refueling infrastructure was provided in part through a grant from the N.C. Solar Center using Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds from the N.C. Department of Transportation. The B20 refueling infrastructure was funded partially with American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funding provided to Kargo Corporation, the station owners, from the
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N.C. Department of Commerce. “We are grateful that the state has taken such a forward looking position on supporting the use of renewable fuels as these public private partnerships support clean air and domestic fuel and distribution opportunities,” said Anne Tazewell, Transportation Program Manager at the N.C. Solar Center. Representatives from state and local government spoke at the ribbon cutting along with Steve Walk of Protec Fuel Management. Protec and the Renewable Fuels Association partnered with the station owners on the $0.85 gallon E85 for 85 minutes fuel promotion price at the opening celebration to encourage FFV drivers to try America’s home grown fuel.
Ethanol is a cleaner burning fuel currently produced in the United States—primarily from corn grown in the Midwest. A byproduct of ethanol production is distiller’s grain, a high protein animal feed. E85 has been used for over a decade in North Carolina by the Department of Administration State Motor Fleet, but has only become available at commercial service stations over the past five years.
Article courtesy of Triangle Clean Cities
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel that is made from a variety of feedstocks in the United States, including waste vegetable oil, soybeans, and animal renderings. It can be utilized in a variety of blends in any diesel engine with no modifications required. In most fleet and consumer applications it is offered at a 20% blend level. B20 has been used by the N.C. Department of Transportation for over a decade and is provided at over 100 state fuel sites. The New Bern Crown Express is the third station to provide B20 to the motoring public in Raleigh and the 28th across North Carolina.
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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Hybrid Focus UPS’s Rolling Laboratory Approach to Minimize Dependence on Fossil Fuels UPS Deploys Largest Commercial Order of HEVs By Mike Britt | UPS’s Director of Vehicle Engineering Today, companies are being judged more and more on their green profile, and eyes are on supply chains for opportunities to shrink carbon footprints. The response from supply chain and logistics carriers has been declarations of investments in new green technologies and alternative fuel vehicles. However, that’s just the surface, just numbers. To really judge a carrier’s green profile you have to dig deeper, beyond their advertisements and press releases. The real issue isn’t how much a carrier invested in the latest gadgets or how many vehicles they have, but how that carrier operates the business holistically. How does your carrier conduct its operation? What’s the strategy behind the deployments? For example, UPS recently rolled out 130 new Hybridelectric vehicles (HEVs) in New York, New Jersey and California. Those locations were carefully selected. HEVs aren’t well suited for routes with long interstate miles. We deploy them in urban areas with frequent stops where the brakes get a lot of use, which puts the maximum amount of regenerative electricity back into the batteries. Alternative fuel technology is still in its infancy in the grand scheme, but the potential is high, and the business imperative is even higher. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels is crucial to reducing fuel costs and overhead. Those HEVs I mentioned? They’re expected to save 58,271 gallons of fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 592 metric tons, the equivalent of removing approximately 32 conventional diesel trucks from the roadways. But that’s not the whole the story. UPS takes a “rolling laboratory” approach to this expansion. We are experimenting with many new technologies rather than a commitment to just one. UPS has more than 90,000 vehicles in its fleet, with more than 2,500 alternative fuel vehicles of many types: hybrid-electric, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, electric, propane and we are exploring hydraulic-hybrid. There is no silver bullet technology on the horizon that will be the turnkey solution to fuel efficiency and carbon reduction. Some work best in different climates. Others have be-
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
Article courtesy of Clean Cities Atlanta
come financially viable thanks to local and state subsidies. Some have great fuel efficiency numbers but aren’t reliable or need expensive maintenance or repairs. At UPS, we realize we are part of a larger eco-system. To ensure our technologies are most impactful, we often collaborate closely with our manufacturers to tweak the technology to improve its overall performance in more situations We also collaborate with others in the industry and public sectors to share investments and research findings. With all of the pressure faced by businesses to clean up their operations, companies should choose carriers that have a long-term comprehensive approach to carbon reduction. Today, no logistics provider’s fleet is 100 percent alternative fuel vehicles. Even UPS, with more than 200 million miles logged by alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle, still has a relatively small fleet percentage wise. The reasons are both economic and technological for the entire industry. Rather, shippers need to evaluate companies more broadly to encompass how the logistics provider is using and organizing their resources to maximize efficiency across the operation. Deploying green trucks alone is not enough. A logistics provider must use its vehicles, hybrid or conventional, in a broader context, if it wants to be a sustainable network. That means lowering the miles each vehicle drives, reducing engine idling, and making sure the vehicles are loaded to lower the number of net vehicles on the road. The benefit to a business will be a reduced carbon footprint in their shipping operations. With this in mind, let’s start evaluating what being green and reducing the carbon footprint means not just on one green vehicle launch but in terms of real progress, testing and movement towards holistic efficiency. There is no one answer, but through multiple options and rigorous testing it is possible to make real progress in reducing the carbon footprint of shipping.
emily parker
Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition Centralina COG, 525 N. Tryon Street 12th Floor Charlotte, NC, 28202 eparker@centralina.org | 704-688-6507 www.centralina.org
Plugging In From Mountains to Sea Community Readiness for Electric Vehicles Forum
On December 15, 2011, community leaders from the greater Charlotte region and from across the state gathered in Mooresville, North Carolina to attend a plug-in electric vehicle forum focused on community readiness. The event was attended by representatives from the region’s public and private sectors and included presentations by forum sponsors: Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, Duke Energy, and Advanced Energy. These sponsors are part of the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Initiative titled NC PEV Readiness Initiative: Plugging in from Mountains to Sea (M2S), which was awarded earlier this year. This forum was one of the first major pieces of programmatic work to emerge from the M2S project, and there’s much more on the horizon in 2012. Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition is leading M2S project efforts with the following North Carolina project partners: Triangle J COG, North Carolina Solar Center, Land of Sky Regional Council, Piedmont Triad Regional Council, and Advanced Energy. Duke Energy and Progress Energy, while not receiving federal funding, are involved with M2S in an advisory capacity. The goal of the PEV forum was to educate and facilitate open discussion on electric drive-related community readiness planning. The topics covered included PEV infrastructure as it relates to utilities, community planning, and public education. There were in-depth discussions and Q & A sessions that promoted networking and learning for all attendees. This forum was considered a success as it gathered a diverse group of knowledgeable PEV leaders together to continue discussions about moving North Carolina ahead in PEV readiness planning. Chemetall, local producer of lithium compounds, provided their Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt for the static display at the event (see images).
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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Green Fleet Focus Five Key Questions of Green Fleet Management
ARI’s green expert discusses the five key questions fleet managers must ask and answer before adopting any strategies for sustainability. October 2011, Government Fleet Magazine - www.gfleet.com By Elisa Durand
For fleet managers, the world has changed drastically over the past decade. However, one trend has proven to be the most elusive and persistent -- the move to green fleet management. Whether you are managing a municipal, city, state, or non-governmental fleet, the demand for increased sustainability and cost reduction is a looming new social and corporate mandate that’s here to stay. Many fleet managers have a desire to go green, but either don’t know where to begin or become discouraged after one or two costly steps. Most have uncovered a number of surprising gray areas in going green. To help managers make the right moves, they must first consider carefully the larger issues that will ultimately drive green success. The following are the five key questions that must be asked and answered before adopting any strategies for sustainability. 1. Does it have the right support? Sustainability initiatives are typically generated in one of two ways: from the top down, through the support of executives and leaders, or pushed up through the ranks for leadership approval. In some organizations, the onus falls on the fleet manager to act as the prime driving force behind green initiatives. However, if the leadership is pushing for an agency-wide green movement, the hard work is done. Regardless of the origin, once the initiative is supported, fleet managers can focus on working with peers to cultivate recommendations and benchmarking and best practice discussions to help avoid pitfalls or missteps. These discussions will help the manager develop a plan for the transition, including goals, messaging, tactics, and timing. 2. What are the realistic goals? Properly defined goals can make the difference between success and failure in green fleet initiatives. As with any project, specific time-bound goals need to be identified in a way you can see, feel, and measure. If the primary goal is to decrease your agency’s fuel consumption and corresponding carbon footprint, vehicle rightsizing could be a simple answer. Shifting to smaller vehicles that still support driver productivity or choosing a smaller, more efficient engine for the same vehicle model will support this goal. Likewise, if the agency wants to decrease its dependence of foreign oil, then compressed natural gas (CNG), propane autogas, or electric vehicles may be the better route to success. Too often the tactics, which are more tangible, tend to drive the goals.
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
Additionally, goals need to consider the size, age, and complexity of any fleet. For most managers, there is no easy, one-sizefits-all green solution. Most fleets are not able to decrease engine or vehicle size across the board. When dealing with a complex fleet, the manager and leadership must consider each portion of the fleet separately. One agency may be more successful transitioning to smaller vehicles or an alternative fuel type. But these moves could unintentionally increase costs and decrease efficiency for another organization. For instance, one fleet was evaluating the best ways to incorporate NGVs (natural gas vehicles). It found that deploying the Honda Civic GX natural gas vehicle made sense, but big-fuel CNG/ gasoline vehicles were more useful for its pickup trucks due to vehicle applications. Agency leaders and fleet managers need to work together to develop realistic goals that work for the organization, the fleet, and the future. 3. What is the real rationale for green? Although green fleet management has been shown to save government agencies money in the long-term, cost savings is not the only case to be made. There are related benefits that can provide additional validation to help justify any investment in green. For governments, going green is one of the most immediate ways to affect public perception - otherwise known as voting behavior. And with trust and approval ratings and government budgets at historic lows, green offers agencies and fleet managers a new one-two punch of a social and spending improvement. Even the smallest efforts can affect perceptions - often before any actual savings are realized. Understanding the real rationale for the organization’s green vision will help drive the right efforts for the right reasons.
4. How do we secure buy-in? Beyond key leaders, success in green fleet management requires the support of key local managers, parallel agencies, and drivers alike. Too often, fleet managers enact new green policies in an organizational vacuum, without gaining the proper buy-in from key internal stakeholders. When enacted, these changes can be perceived as nothing more than an inconvenience, or worse, green grandstanding. But, with the proper education and communication, fleet managers can gain the cooperation of the broader stakeholder. Many states have achieved success using the official state, agency, or city website to disseminate green fleet specific policy information and educational tools to citizens, fleet managers, private sector influencers, and other stakeholders. This not only reduces barriers and resistance to green, but often increases investment and new opportunities. To achieve this level of understanding and commitment, fleet managers must engage employees at every level. By holding meetings and discussions at local offices with department members and leadership, employees can voice concerns, discuss the application process, and play an active role in policy development. Managers should use every channel available
to reach out and solicit feedback. By showing the drivers what’s in it for them and involving them in the decision-making process, through committees or other means, drivers can become personally vested in the program’s success. Without collaboration and feedback from the end user, the success of policies will be severely limited, if not doomed for failure. 5. How do we measure success? Measuring green initiatives is rarely a black-and-white issue. The key is to align green metrics to the agency’s existing outlined goals. Regardless of the new measures, there needs to be some benchmark of past performance. Generally six months to one year after the launch is advisable. For example, if one green metric is a reduction in dependence on foreign oil, the fleet manager could compare the agency’s annual fuel usage from the previous year with the first 12 months of the green initiative. After crunching the numbers, it is important to put the metrics in context. Although an organization may not meet or exceed the established goals in the first year, the smallest improvement can save money and lay the groundwork for long-term savings. The purpose of the evaluation process is to adjust your goals and efforts accordingly. Too often, agencies abandon goals that are not met in the first year. Green fleet management is more than a trend; it is a strategic decision that should not be taken lightly. Asking the right questions ahead of time can save time, pain, and political capital down the road to green.
Properly defining goals will lead to a better understanding of what kind of alt-fuel vehicle will be better for the fleet. If the goal is to reduce dependence on foreign oil, vehicles such as this hybrid electric bucket truck may be a good solution.
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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clean cities connections The natural resource for ethanol information. The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading resource for ethanol information. It’s just natural to call our experts first if you need authoritative answers about ethanol. Call (202) 289.3835, or visit; www.ChooseEthanol.com.
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mark bentley
Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition 2131 Data Office Drive, Suite 240 Birmingham, AL 35244 mark@alabamacleanfuels.org | 205-402-2755 www.alabamacleanfuels.org
Vestavia Hills Converts to Cleaner Fuel for City Vehicles 14 Ford Crown Victorias in Police Fleet Now Use Propane Autogas The City of Vestavia Hills, AL recently converted 14 of its police fleet Ford Crown Victorias. They enlisted Alliance AutoGas to outfit their vehicles with bi-fuel, autogas-gasoline systems and install an on-site propane autogas station to give officers easy fueling access. Vestavia Hills expects to save significantly on fuel and maintenance costs. Autogas is propane used as an alternative fuel in vehicles and is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world. The conversion was part of the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program (SPADP). During the four-year funding of the Program, nearly 1,200 vehicles will be converted from gasoline to autogas and more than 30 autogas refueling stations will be installed throughout the southeastern U.S. SPADP is coordinating conversions for more than 30 public and private fleets in Washington, DC and 10 Southeast states. SPADP is partially funded by grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, and it is the largest Clean Cities alternative fuel vehicle conversion deployment program to date. Mayor Zaragoza believes the benefits of converting police fleet vehicles to autogas are numerous for the City of Vestavia Hills and its citizens. “We see the long-term advantages of embracing this technology to reduce fuel and maintenance costs, while also improving the air quality in the city limits. We are also lessening our dependence on foreign oil, since 90 percent of our country’s autogas supply is produced right here in the United States. Running fleets on autogas creates jobs for Americans while strengthening the national economy and ensuring a more secure energy future.”
provides cities like Vestavia Hills the resources and expertise needed to efficiently fund the fuel conversion of their fleets.” Alliance AutoGas, a SPADP partner, performs all vehicle conversions for the program, while also providing a year-round fuel supply and autogas vehicle training to drivers. Alliance also installs a fueling station at the fleet base at no up-front cost to those converting from gasoline to propane Autogas. Certified conversion centers in the Alliance AutoGas network are performing all of the vehicle conversions for the Program. Blossman Gas, with operations in Alabama, is the primary fueling partner of Alliance AutoGas and will provide the fuel for all SPADP fleets. “The cost to convert existing fleet vehicles to autogas is significantly cheaper than the cost to purchase new alternative fuel vehicles,” says Mark Denton of Alliance AutoGas. “Because autogas burns cleaner than gasoline, we expect our autogas vehicles to require fewer oil changes and incur lower maintenance costs.” Converting fleets to propane autogas costs, on average, $1 less per gallon compared to petroleum based gasoline. Additionally, autogas vehicles emit 20 percent less carbon monoxide, 40 percent less nitrogen oxide and up to 20 percent less carbon dioxide compared to gasoline vehicles.
“The City of Vestavia Hills is a great example of an Alabama municipality that is embracing a cleaner, more costeffective, and domestically produced alternative fuel for its fleet vehicles,” said Mark Bentley, Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition executive director. “Autogas is a proven technology, and this program is a collaboration that
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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atha comiskey
Middle Tennessee Clean Fuels cleancitiesmidtn@comcast.net | 615-884-4908 Office www.middletncleanfuels.org
Roush CleanTech Heats Up Middle Tennessee Roush CleanTech spent a couple of days in middle Tennessee recently to conduct meetings regarding the economical and environmental benefits of their Ford Propane vehicles. Roush Propane Powered Vehicles are new Ford trucks, Vans and Cutaway’s that have been converted to propane. These vehicles include the F-150, F-250/F-350, and the Ford E450 Cutaway. Chuck Harwell, general manger of the Central States Bus Company in Lebanon, TN, invited Melissa Cox, Fleet Sales Manager-Transportation, our own Chelsea Jenkins turned Roush CleanTech Southeast Region Manager, Rick Warren of FerrellGas, Jonathan Overly of East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coaliton, and Atha Comiskey of Middle Tennessee Clean Fuels to talk with School Bus Fleet Managers from the middle and east Tennessee area. The half-day event included presentations from Roush CleanTech and FerrellGas, as well as a Ride and Drive of the new Roush/Blue Bird, Class A. Central States Bus Company’s type C Bus will be arriving in January 2012. Roush Liquid Propane Injection (LPI) Fuel System has distinct advantages over gasoline and diesel. • Reduces Operating Costs by 30% • Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions • No Loss of Horsepower, Torque, or Towing Capacity • All Roush converted vehicles maintains the Factory Ford Warranty The attendees were encouraged to consider propane buses due to the fact that propane is the world’s third most common engine fuel (after gasoline & diesel) and is already powering over 13 million vehicles. North American production provides 97% of all domestic propane consumption, and infrastructure is inexpensive to install, easy to maintain, and is already quite prevalent throughout the U.S.
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
We had another awesome meeting the next day with Roush CleanTech and FerrellGas at the Nashville International Airport. The E350 12 Passenger Van was delivered to us from Louisville for the event! Approximately 25 people were in attendance to discuss propane for the Metro Nashville, Nashville Airport, Mid TN Ford and First Transit fleets. Metro Nashville already has some propane vehicles in their fleet and is looking to add more as availability of propane fueling stations increases in the Nashville area. The owner of a local fueling station attended this meeting and is in the planning stages of opening an alternative fueling station in Nashville, where their first alternative fuel will be propane. We are excited about this endeavor and will be working with this company to fulfill their goal of opening Nashville’s first alternative fueling station. Propane is getting ready to blast off in Nashville and we are poised and ready to do what we can to increase GGEs with propane!
Check out the most fuel efficient cars for 2012! Click this page to go straight to fueleconomy.gov!
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
andrew epting
Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition 408 Wade Hampton Building 1200 Senate Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 aepting@energy.sc.gov | 803-737-4082
Tri-State Coalitions Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure The Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition , an initiative of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board State Energy Office, has been awarded funding from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Program. This funding is to co-lead a project that will establish a comprehensive, tri-state (Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina) readiness and deployment strategy for all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EVs) and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Additionally, the program willand begin the implementation of the Southeast Regional EV Deployment Readiness Program. The project, one of 16 selected for funding by DOE, represents a collaborative effort between the Center for Transportation and the Environment and Clean Cities Coalitions (Atlanta, Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition and the Middle Georgia Clean Cities Coalition). The Southern Company, South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies, and the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham will provide their expertise to the program. The Southeast Regional EV Deployment Readiness Program supports DOE’s goal of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in communities across the nation. “The tri-state region will be a critical target market for EVs due to low electricity rates and favorable incentives for the purchase of EVs and EV chargers,” said Steve Clermont of the Center for Transportation and the Environment. Mass market adoption of EVs will reduce the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum, improve air quality by reducing tailpipe emissions, and add thousands of jobs to support the manufacture, installation, and maintenance of EV charging stations and smart grid technology across the Southeast. Through DOE’s Clean Cities’ Community Readiness and Planning for Plug-in Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure awards, local public-private partnerships collaborate to develop EV readiness and deployment strategies. This one-year project will help communities address their specific needs, which include updating permitting processes, revising codes, training municipal personnel, promoting public awareness, and/or developing incentives. Each program will create EV readiness plans that will be publicly available to communicate best practices for EV deployment. For additional information, please go to www.cte.tv/evreadiness.html.
About the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition The Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition (PSCFC) an initiative of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board State Energy Office and a designated coalition of the Clean Cities program and is one of 100 designated coalitions in the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy approved the application for PSCFC’s designation in 2003, recognizing the commitment of stakeholders to building an alternative fuels industry in South Carolina. The PSCFC is committed to increasing alternative fuel use in the transportation sector.
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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EV Focus A Brief History of the (Other) EAA By Ron Freund and Carl Vogel
The Electric Auto Association (the other EAA) is a forty-four year old California non-profit organization started originally by a group of Silicon Valley engineers who were intrigued by the concept of building a passenger car that was propelled without petroleum products. This meant no oil, no gasoline, and no smog (a major concern in many California neighborhoods). The search for alternatives took root. During those early years, another reason to investigate this technology emerged when the Arab Oil embargo twice, rudely and suddenly, increased the price of filling our tanks. Justification was there yet recognized by few. By the mid-1980’s some technical developments allowed progress to be seen in which the EAA played a role as well. New semiconductors were being prepared which could be applied in the creation of quiet, solid state motor speed controllers. But driving an electric car was largely seen as a demonstration project, relegated to a select few. By 1990, when General Motors’ president alluded to their development of an electric car, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) threw down the gauntlet and enacted a Zero Emissions mandate (ZEV). The ZEV required all major automakers to produce a certain percentage of true “zero emissions vehicle” by specified dates if they wanted to be able to participate in the lucrative California market. Big auto proceeded to innovate and produced the first generation of production quality cars, no longer just one-off concept cars. The vehicles that emerged were the GM EV-1, the Ford Ranger EV, the Chrysler TEVan minivan, the Toyota RAV4 EV mini-SUV, and the Honda EV Plus. As they became available later in the decade, they were only leased to as late as 2002 in California and Arizona. Those early adopters were lucky drivers and were to quickly learn about the pleasures offered by their rides: no maintenance, fueling at home for a fraction of the cost of gas, privileged driving in the High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes, and brisk performance with virtually no compromises. Eventually these cars would use new battery technology, a nickel metal-hydride innovation which delivered better low temperature behavior and considerably longer driving range, as well as longer lifetimes. The U.S. was nearly there when big business decided it was not to be, and the courts overturned the ZEV mandate. The experiment quickly came to an end, the leases expired, and vehicles turned in. Only a few Toyota RAV4 EVs that had been sold to private owners remained on the road (and still do today). Leasees of the GM EV-1 still remember the images of their vehicles, crushed and stacked like so much cordwood, at the GM proving ground in the Arizona desert. The story of the success of this first generation
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Electric Auto Association of electric vehicles which whet the appetite of thousands of drivers is best told in a 90 minute documentary released in 2006 titled Who Killed the Electric Car?, directed by Chris Paine. This highly-recommended, fast-moving, and captivating video can be found in libraries and at video rental services nationwide. If you are a driving enthusiast, it is a must see. We have been proving that a market exists for all-electric cars, and as we approach the year 2012 we are excited to celebrate our 45th year anniversary. The EAA has advocated the use of electric vehicles, plug-in vehicles, and their benefits; the reduction of pollution, our reduced dependence on fossil fuel, and improvements for our environment. We grew nationally and internationally and our membership has blossomed, covering all 50 states and 16 foreign countries with thousands of members in over 75 chapters, including some at community colleges and universities. We provide education and assistance with a mission to accelerate the widespread adoption of electric and plug-in vehicles. Our member profile in this EV driving community is very diverse, ranging from the tech-savvy to ordinary vehicles owners, and we learn from each other in a supportive way. As a service, we have been maintaining electric vehicle charging stations in selected areas. For example, in northern California, the EAA (with a matching grant) paid for and installed a network of strategically located chargers. Now it is possible to travel from San Francisco to beautiful Lake Tahoe, high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, by EV. We repair, refurbish, and redeploy these chargers throughout the state at no cost to drivers. These units are now without any warranty, so to fund this effort, we set up special funds towards which members can contribute with full tax deductibility. The funds are also used for installation to develop and expand new public EV charging infrastructure
Traditional EV chargers for first generation (legacy) cars.
into key areas. Eventually, EV drivers can expand their driving horizon as more public charging becomes available. During this next year, special-purpose quick chargers will be deployed which will allow for more traditional long distance traveling. The EAA may recover some of these old chargers otherwise destined for scrap to be repaired, refurbished, and updated with the new SAE J1772 plug as a cost effective way to recycle, reduce waste, and place inexpensive units in the hands of private users.
On the first anniversary of the Nissan LEAF U.S. deliveries, Ron Freund, our EAA chairman met with visitors from Japan and Nissan employees from Tennessee, California, and the UK to deliver the Manufacturing Excellence Award to the LEAF Chief Vehicle Engineer from Nissan. The event included the San Francisco Bay LEAFs users group who gathered at the Google Campus in Mountain View, CA. Not only was it a “birthday celebration,” but the users arranged for a team of Nissan engineers to come listen to their pitch on vehicle improvement opportunities.
Finally, the vision of the major automakers is making a difference. This year the Electric Auto Association is honored to present its first “Manufacturer’s Award of Excellence” to Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. for the groundbreaking production of the Nissan LEAF—the first modern, mass-produced, purely electric vehicle. With the LEAF, Nissan has launched a new era in clean, quiet, powerful cars manufactured by major auto makers.
Mark Perry, Director of Product Planning & Strategy, Nissan N-A, Hidetoshi Kadota, Nissan LEAF Chief Vehicle Engineer, Japan, Ron Freund, EAA Chairman
2011 Nissan LEAF Award
With these active chapters, we invite others to join our community to learn about the pleasures and the possibilities of driving without oil and to learn about the technology. We offer opportunities to lead and to help change awareness in a world, which for multiple generations, has been taught there is only one way—the petroleum way. Discover the fallacy in that for yourself!
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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grace loy
East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition 311 Conference Center Bldg, Knoxville, TN 37996 gl.cleanfuels@gmail.com | 865-974-1880 www.etcleanfuels.org
Suggested Reading: the Billion Ton Update One of the hallmarks of the alternative fuel movement is forward-thinking. Proponents of this movement must not only try and fix today’s problems, but anticipate the fuel needs of the future, as well. The U.S. Billion Ton Update: Biomass Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry is an incredible resource to ground the future of American biofuels in scientific data. This report is an update to the report produced by the EPA in 2005. It examines the feasibility of producing 1 billion dry tons of biomass by 2030. This amount would create enough energy to replace approximately 30% of the today’s petroleum usage. Such studies are important because they enable promoters of biofuels to have realistic understandings of the potential growth this industry can be expected to have over the next twenty years. While the report is understandably lengthy, the executive summary gives an overview of the purpose and findings of the report which would be readily accessible for anyone to read and comprehend. The actual body of the report is also given in language that lends itself to both those who are familiar with the American biofuels industry and those who are just beginning to educate themselves on such topics as MSW, corn stover, and forest residues. Its emphasis on sustainability and the breadth of potential feedstocks are two great reasons to review this document. As the alternative fuel industry grows, we have to put sustainability as an important criterion for replacing traditional, petroleum based fuels. For every feedstock, the process of how it should be sustainably harvested and how this will limit its availability is included. This report is also a must read if one is looking ot gain a wider knowledge of potential biomass feedstocks, as it includes not only the prominent feedstocks, like corn stover or soybeans, but less well-known feedstocks as well.
Click here for a link to the full document.
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The report will also serve as a great resource with many detailed graphs, figures, and projections of the growth of different markets and the expected future amounts. While the baseline projections have the potential biomass yield being less than the 1 billion tons, the high-yield projections were well above. The report truly highlights the fact that while there is still much research to be done, biomass will only continue to grow in prominence in American energy security.
THE ZERO COMPROMISE
ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOLUTION PROPANE AUTOGAS VS. GASOLINE
40% Fuel Savings*. 57,000 Fewer Pounds of C02*. Zero Loss in Engine Performance.
FUEL COSTS: 40% LESS VEHICLE WARRANTY: 5 YEAR / 60,000 MILE2
The Savings Calculator below says it all: impressive savings with lower operating and maintenance costs — thanks to the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system.
CO2 EMISSIONS: 24% LESS PERFORMANCE: IDENTICAL
SAVE MORE THAN $28,000 PER VEHICLE.* 2012 Ford E-250 Cargo Van ROUSH CleanTech Savings Calculator Gasoline (5.4L V8)
Propane (5.4L V8)
$28,325.00
$28,325.00
Savings or (Cost) to Convert
Capital Costs Base Ford Vehicle Purchase Price ROUSH CleanTech Propane Autogas Fuel System Price
$11,300.00
Federal Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit (propane only) Total Capital Savings or Investment to Convert:
$28,325.00
$39,625.00
200,000
200,000
13.0
11.1
15,385 $3.68
18,018 $2.25 $(0.50) $1.75 $31,531.50
$(11,300.00)
Operating Costs (fuel) Total Vehicle Life (miles) Average Miles per Gallon** Gallons of Fuel Used Over Life of Vehicle Average Fuel Price (per gallon)*** + Federal excise tax credit/gallon (propane only) + Adjusted Fuel Price (per gallon)
Total Fuel Savings or Cost Over Life of Vehicle:
$3.68 $56,616.80
$25,085.30
Operating Costs (misc.) Maintenance Rate per mile (tune-ups, oil, engine life, etc.) Maintenance Costs Fuel Loss from Pilferage & Theft ($100 per year) Total Misc. Savings or Costs Over Life of Vehicle:
$0.030
$0.015
$6,000.00
$3,000.00
$500.00
$0.00
$6,500.00
$3,000.00
Gross Vehicle Lifetime Savings or Loss:
$28,585.30
Net Vehicle Lifetime Savings or Loss (minus investment to convert):
$17,285.30
$3,500.00
Assumptions: • Propane Conversion price is listed at MSRP. Volume discounts are available • Customer would be elligible for $.50 / gallon Federal Tax Credit because they have their own fueling station. Please check with tax advisor before making any purchase decision • A 50% reduction in maintenance costs by running a vehicle on propane, compared to gasoline. A factor the Texas Railroad Commission uses in their calculations when considering an alternative fuel conversion • Gasoline prices captured from http://www.eia.doe.gov/ * Based on factors and assumptions as defined in the savings calculator chart pictured ** MPG ratings for gasoline and propane vehicles are estimates. Variations in MPG should be expected when operating a vehicle that is towing, hauling, or being driven in various city / hwy applications *** Propane fuel price is an estimate based on your fleet size, not a quoted price, and is subject to change 2 See ROUSHcleantech.com for complete warranty details
uestion uestion of of the the month month From July 2011
What are the average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)? How do these emissions compare to conventional vehicles? In addition to reducing petroleum consumption, EVs and PHEVs have the potential to reduce pollutant emissions, resulting in environmental and human health benefits. Vehicle emissions can be characterized as: •Upstream: Emissions from the production of the vehicle fuel (e.g., electricity). •Tailpipe: Emissions produced by a vehicle while operating. •Well-to-wheel: The combination of upstream and tailpipe emissions. EV Emissions
EVs are often referred to as “zero emission vehicles,” meaning they do not emit any tailpipe emissions. Therefore, the well-to-wheel GHG emissions associated with EV operation are entirely dependent on the source that is used to produce the electricity that powers the vehicle. Emissions from electricity production depend on the efficiency of the power plant and the types of fuel sources used. Based on the U.S. average electricity production fuel mix, the GHG emissions are lower for an EV using electricity generated from power plants than a vehicle running on gasoline or diesel. If electricity is generated from nonpolluting, renewable sources, EVs have the potential to produce no well-to-wheel GHG emissions. On the other hand, EVs powered by electricity generated using coal have the potential to produce more well-to-wheel GHG emissions than gasoline vehicles, depending on the power source. To determine your region’s specific fuel mix, as well as the emissions rates of electricity based on your zip code, see the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s Power Profiler. While factors such as the time of day and season can affect which specific power plant (and fuel mix) provides the vehicle’s electricity, these average emissions rates help approximate the impact of these vehicles.
PHEV Emissions
PHEVs typically operate either in all-electric mode or using an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric drivetrain in a manner similar to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The emissions vary based on the percent of time that the vehicle is in each operating mode. When operating in all-electric mode, emissions are considered from the source that produced the electricity. When the vehicle’s ICE is running, both the upstream and tailpipe emissions must be taken into account. The tailpipe emissions will vary depending on vehicle efficiency. Comparing EV and PHEV Emissions to ICE Vehicle Emissions
The following table estimates the well-to-wheel GHG emissions associated with a 100-mile trip in four comparable compact sedans, based on the national average for electricity production emissions. Vehicle
GHG Emissions (lbs of CO2 Equiv.)
EV
54 lbs CO2
PHEV
62 lbs CO2
HEV
57 lbs CO2
Convent’l Gasoline
87 lbs CO2
The Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicle Data Center (AFDC) Compare Electricity Sources and Annual Vehicle Emissions tool allows users to determine an estimate for annual well-to-wheel GHG emissions for an EV, PHEV, HEV, and conventional gasoline vehicle based on the electricity production fuel mix in their area. In addition, fueleconomy.gov provides annual emissions estimates for individual vehicle models.
Please contact the Technical Response Service (TRS) with other questions, or if you have suggestions for additional resources or a future Question of the Month. Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team | technicalresponse@icfi.com | 800-254-6735
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There’s only one thing you need to worry about...
select the american, alternative fuel you want to use...
and usE it. Natural gas - ethanol - electricity - propane - biodiesel
don’t waste anyone’s time by decrying another alternative - select yours, use it, and join in local efforts to move that alternative forward. help america truly change!
Brought to you by americaNS FOR CLEANER AMERICAn fuels, jobs and energy independence, otherwise known as your local clean cities coalition.
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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The Flux Report
TM
What is the Rate of Return on a fleet of Natural Gas Vehicles*? ROR
0-10%
10-30%
# of School Buses in Fleet
300
30-50%
50-70%
70-90%
90+%
Break Even
*Considering the costs of infrastructure and fuel, 150 School Buses
traveling 10,000 miles per year would reach the break even point in the first year with a rate of return of 10-30% for the life of the project.
250
Rate of Return
200 150 100
10%
50 0
# of Transit Buses in Fleet
300
*150 Transit Buses traveling 5,000 miles per year would not break even within the first year.
250
50%
200 150 100
30%
50
10%
# of Garbage Trucks in Fleet
0 300 250
*50 Garbage Trucks traveling 15,000 miles per year would reach
200
the break even point in the first year with a rate of return of 30-50% for the life of the project.
150 100
0
*using compressed natural gas
70% 50%
50 0
90%
30% 10%
5
10
15
20
25
30
Thousand Vehicle Miles Traveled per Vehicle per Year
35
Source: Business Case for Compressed Natural Gas in Municipal Fleets, NREL/TP7A247919, June 2010
Š 2011 Birch Studio | experts in greentech design & branding | www.birchstudio.com/fluxreport
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Natural Gas Vehicles Edition, 2011 Top 5 Consumer Concerns about Natural Gas Vehicles 1
Fuel Storage
2
Infrastructure for Delivery and Distribution at Fueling Stations
3
Safety
4
Conversion Costs
5
Availibility of OEM Produced NGVs Source: Wikipedia
Relative Search Volume for Compressed Natural Gas vs. Natural Gas Vehicle
Nov 2010 Relative search volume over one year
Oct 2011 U.S. Diesel Prices
Source: Google, DOE
Top Related Search Terms For “Natural Gas Vehicle�
Size of terms indicates the relative search volume
Source: Google
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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social media stay connected
Southeastern Coalition Websites
Alabama Atlanta Centralina East Tennessee Florida Gold Coast Florida Space Coast Kentucky Middle Tennessee Palmetto State Triangle Virginia
www.alabamacleanfuels.org www.cleancitiesatlanta.net www.4cleanfuels.com www.etcleanfuels.org www.floridagoldcoastcleancities.com www.clean-cities.org www.kentuckycleanfuels.org www.tennesseecleanfuels.org www.palmettocleanfuels.org www.trianglecleancities.org www.hrccc.org
YouTube Videos
Alabama www.youtube.com/alcleanfuels East Tennessee www.youtube.com/etcleanfuels Virginia www.youtube.com/virginiacleancities
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Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
Clean Cities Atlanta Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition Middle Georgia Clean Cities Coalition Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition Triangle Clean Cities Coalition Virginia Clean Cities Space Coast Clean Cities
Alabama www.twitter.com/alcleanfuels East Tennessee www.twitter.com/etcleanfuels Triangle www.twitter.com/trianglealtfuel Virginia www.twitter.com/vacleancities Atlanta www.twitter.com/CleanCitiesATL
Winter 2012 | FuelsFix.com
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