Last Updated: October 11, 2011
Choice Environmental, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swisher Hygiene, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWSH), a residential, commercial and industrial solid waste services company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the first refuse company in Florida to convert a portion of its operations to compressed natural gas (CNG). "Choice provides solid waste and recycling collection, transportation, processing, and disposal services to customers throughout Florida. In our bidding for residential collection contracts, we realized that the main unknown was projecting diesel fuel cost five to seven years into the future," explains vice president Tony Ciofalo. "We found that the price of CNG was much more stable than diesel and we were given the option to lock in fuel price guarantees." With natural gas selling for about $1.50 less than diesel per gallon, the potential savings for a truck using 10,000 gallons a year is around $15,000 in fuel costs.
Environmental considerations also played a part in the switch to natural gas. The chance to help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil is "a very big deal for us," states Choice CEO Glen Miller. "We believe opting to use domestic natural gas is better for our company, for our customers, and the economy as a whole." Achieving a clean, green operating profile is another key objective of the ongoing transformation of the Choice fleet. "The use of natural gas has been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 23 percent. We know that the Florida communities we serve consider protecting air quality a very important issue," Miller said. "So we brand each truck as 'Powered by Natural Gas-The Green Choice for Florida.'"
Choice Environmental has 14 CNG collection trucks serving residential and commercial customers in Broward County and intends to add two commercial route vehicles in the next few months. The current fueling infrastructure is a private time-fill station in Pompano Beach, Florida, built by Clean Energy and leased by Choice. Choice intends to maximize the Pompano facility by replacing the 30 remaining diesel trucks at Pompano with CNG vehicles.
Natural gas collection trucks have been a hit with both drivers and maintenance staff. Drivers appreciate the reduction in diesel emissions while running their routes. Maintenance costs has also been an extremely pleasant surprise, says Ciofalo. "We have compared apples to apples, comparing the latest diesel emissions technology with the CNG trucks and found there is significantly less maintenance required on CNG trucks than on our comparable diesel trucks."
One impediment to quick fleet conversion is the municipal contract bidding process. "The bid window from the award date to start date is often very small--operations sometimes have to be up and running in 90 days. The typical timeframe for taking delivery on CNG vehicles and building the necessary CNG infrastructure is six months," says Ciofalo. Miller explained that Clean Energy had a very short time window to design, permit, and complete station construction. "The fueling facility had to be up and running when our new CNG trucks arrived to start the Fort Lauderdale contract and Clean Energy made the deadline with time to spare."
Ciofalo concludes, "Natural gas has become very well accepted in the solid waste industry. Choice Environmental has found overwhelming success with our use of CNG and we look forward to expanding our CNG fleet."
Last Updated: September 19, 2011
Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc., has heralded the arrival of its first compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet vehicle. Golden Eagle, in partnership with Ryder System, Inc. is converting its entire heavy-duty fleet in Tucson to compressed natural gas vehicles by the end of 2011. Ryder executives, including Bobby Stewart, Vice President of National Sales, presented the vehicle to Golden Eagle executives including Christopher Clements, CEO, and Kimberly Clements, President.
To support distribution operations in Tucson, AZ, Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc., a Ryder full-service lease customer for 40 years, has agreed to lease 23 CNG vehicles by the end of 2011. The vehicles are part of a strategic alternative fuel program at Golden Eagle focused on reducing transportation-generated emissions and reducing fuel costs.
CNG vehicles produce 95% less particulate matter, 80% less nitrogen oxide, and provide a reduction of 23% in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to diesel engines, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. "We are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and with diesel fuel prices continuing to rise, the timing was right to convert our Tucson fleet to natural gas vehicles," said Christopher Clements, CEO, Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc.
"We could not have implemented this project without Ryder. Ryder has been our strategic transportation partner for 40 years. We rely on their expertise when it comes to evaluating new technologies, such as alternative fuels. Ryder has helped us find an alternative fuel that is not only cleaner and better for the environment, but we also expect to see real fuel cost savings over time. Our trust from working with Ryder for 40 years ensures us that the CNG vehicles will meet the needs of our drivers and the loads we carry daily," continued Clements.
"We are proud to be such a long-standing partner and thank Golden Eagle for trusting us with their business for 40 years," said Robert Sanchez, President of Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder. "We are committed to continuing to provide Golden Eagle with innovative transportation solutions, such as natural gas vehicles, which not only help them achieve their sustainability goals, but also enable them to realize meaningful cost-saving and efficiency benefits."
The Tucson fleet conversion is the first part of a bigger CNG plan that Golden Eagle is embarking on over the next several years. Over time, Golden Eagle will convert all fleet vehicles to CNG in their six branch operations throughout the state. Then light-duty passenger vehicles will be changed over to CNG in each branch. To service their CNG fleet, Golden Eagle is working toward opening their own CNG fuel stations in Tucson and then at several other branch locations including Casa Grande and Buckeye. In spring 2011, Golden Eagle purchased an acre of land adjacent to its headquarters property in Tucson. That land will be used for a CNG fueling station.
Environmental awareness is part of the business plan at Golden Eagle. Golden Eagle was named Arizona's Greenest Workplace in 2010 by Mrs. Green's World, an environmental website that promotes global sustainability. GED was recognized for its recycling and energy efficiency initiatives, employee carpooling, and for its green transportation program. In 2010, Golden Eagle recycled over 4 tons of aluminum, over 62 tons of glass and over 420 cubic yards of cardboard, plastic and paper. Last year, Golden Eagle installed new lights in the Tucson warehouse that will save 656,000 kilowatts per year. Improvements last year in the HVAC controls resulted in electric usage dropping 8.7% and natural gas usage dropping 60%.
Last Updated: August 23, 2011
AT&T's 10-year commitment to a cleaner corporate fleet is rolling into new territory: AT&T today announced the deployment of the 4,000th alternative-fuel vehicle (AFV) in its corporate vehicle fleet - with more than 2,000 AFVs deployed in California alone. AT&T also announced that it has deployed its 3,000th compressed natural gas vehicle (CNG).
AT&T deployed its 4,000th AFV in Chicago, IL; its 3,000th CNG in Houston, TX; and the 2,000th AFV of its California fleet in San Diego. All of the milestone vehicles are Ford E250 CNG vans.
The deployments are the latest in AT&T's planned 10-year investment of up to $565 million to replace approximately 15,000 fleet vehicles with alternative-fuel models through 2018. Currently, the AT&T corporate fleet - which is part of the Department of Energy's Clean Cities' National Clean Fleets Partnership -features more than 71,500 vehicles and includes one of the largest U.S. corporate commitments to CNG vehicles to date. AT&T avoided the purchase of one million gallons of petroleum in 2010 as a result of its use of CNG vehicles.
"As the economy rises and falls with fuel prices, we have a responsibility to look for smart ways to reduce our costs," said Jerome Webber, vice president, AT&T Global Fleet Operations. "Putting 4,000 alternative-fuel vehicles on the road - including 3,000 compressed natural gas vehicles - is a significant statement about the ability of fleet operators to not only reduce costs, but also to cut vehicle emissions. Every alternative fuel vehicle on the road brings us closer to energy independence, and that's good for our company and our country."
Along with its fleet of CNG vehicles, AT&T is deploying all-electric and extended range electric vehicles in its fleet. AT&T fleets in St. Louis, Dallas and Los Angeles received the first of these vehicles. AT&T expects to make additional deployments in 2011 and 2012.
Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased approximately 8,000 CNG vehicles at an anticipated cost of $350 million. AT&T expects to invest an additional $215 million through 2018 to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.
According to a 2009 Center for Automotive Research report, AT&T's planned alternative-fuel vehicle initiative would: - Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period. - Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons - the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 38,600 passenger vehicles from the road for one year. - For more information about AT&T's sustainability efforts and to view a copy of AT&T's 2010 Sustainability Report, please visit www.att.com/csr .
Last Updated: June 28, 2011
Ryder System, Inc. opened its first natural gas vehicle maintenace facility in Rancho Dominguez, California, that meets the stringent industry and government safety standards for natural gas maintenance including upgrades of electrical, lighting, air handling, and ventilation systems. When fully implemented, the Ryder facility will include two natural gas fueling stations and three maintenance facilities--one in Rancho Dominguez and two additional Ryder locations in the City of Orange, Calif. and in Fontana, Calif.
The opening of the Rancho Dominguez facility marks the first facility completed under the Ryder/SANBAG Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) project, a $38.7 million project funded as part of a joint public/private industry partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, and Ryder Systems, Inc. As part of the Ryder/SANBAG project, Ryder will deploy a total of 202 heavy-duty natural gas vehicles in the region. The vehicles include 182 Freightliner M2-112 tractors featuring the Cummins ISL-G engine, in both single-axle and tandem-axel day cab configurations, as well as a mix of other natural gas truck platforms. At completion, the Ryder/SANBAG project will displace more than 1.5 million gallons of diesel annually with 100 percent domestically produced low-carbon natural gas.
"The completion of Rancho Dominguez as a natural gas-compliant maintenance facility is a critical milestone demonstrating Ryder's commitment to alternative fuel vehicle use," said Robert Sanchez, president, Global Fleet Management Solutions, for Ryder. Alex Madrinkian, vice-president of sales in Ryder's West Region, sees the project as an opportunity to introduce the company's 1,200 commercial customers to an innovative, efficient, and environmentally-sound fleet solution. "We see a great deal of interest from customers and prospects in the region that are looking to integrate natural gas technology into their fleets."
Last Updated: June 27, 2011
Enviro Express Natural Gas, LLC, a waste collection and transport company, uses its fleet to haul ash and other refuse from Bridgeport to Putnam, Connecticut. The 110-mile trip will now be accomplished by Enviro Express's new fleet of 18 Kenworth T800 semi tractor-trailers powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
By switching to LNG, Enviro Express's fleet is able to displace approximately 500,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually while achieving lower vehicle maintenance costs. The company owns and operates the combination LNG and CNG refueling station in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the first LNG refueling station east of the Mississippi River. The LNG is being provided by Distrigas of Massachusetts, LLC, from its Everett Marine Terminal.
Partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $6.2 million project is part of the larger Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels project.
Last Updated: April 12, 2011
The City of Los Angeles operates more than 400 liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied to compressed natural gas (LCNG)powered refuse trucks out of a total fleet of 700 units and has just opened its fifth LNG refueling station. The station is thought to be the largest LNG/LCNG station in the world with a combined LNG fuel storage capacity of 60,000 gallons, six LNG fuel dispensers, 32-gallon-per-minute pumping capacity, 72,000 SCF of high-pressure storage and two dual-hose CNG dispensers.
The fueling station is located at the North Central Sanitation Yard which will provide a critical fueling location for a variety of other city natural gas vehicles including natural gas powered street sweepers, transit buses, aerial lift trucks, dump trucks, passenger vehicles, and a variety of other vehicles.
Last Updated: April 07, 2011
The City of Palm Desert, California, is a long-time proponent of natural gas as a transportation fuel. In 2010, the municipality took this clean-burning alternative fuel to new heights when it unveiled the country's first natural gas ambulance.
Palm Desert and a number of its neighboring communities in the Clean Cities Coachella Valley Region (CCCVR) coalition have been using compressed natural gas (CNG) to power municipal fleets and the regional transit agency for more than a decade. So when Palm Desert needed a new ambulance, searching for a CNG option made perfect sense. However, research by CCCVR revealed that U.S. original equipment manufacturers don't produce CNG ambulances. Undeterred, representatives from CCCVR, Palm Desert, and Riverside County Fire Department were determined to turn the problem into an opportunity by launching a pilot project that would develop and showcase the use of clean fuel in the world of emergency medical services (EMS).
Palm Desert purchased an ambulance patient compartment and a Ford E450 gasoline chassis from Houston-based Frazer Bilt. The city then contracted with BAF, a natural gas vehicle provider owned by Clean Energy, to convert the ambulance to run on CNG. Frazer Bilt worked closely with BAF and Riverside Fire representatives to customize the patient compartment in a way that would accommodate the natural gas engine without compromising any EMS functionality. The vehicle hit the road in January 2010, taking advantage of the Coachella Valley's existing CNG fueling infrastructure (all three of the region's hospitals have a CNG station within a reasonable distance).
For the past year, the fire department has been working diligently to keep careful records and determine the best dispatch and fueling protocols for the new ambulance. City officials have closely monitored the project, staying up to date on progress, glitches, and solutions at every step of the way. Thus far, feedback from drivers, EMS personnel, and even patients has been extremely positive, with many commenting on the welcome absence of exhaust fumes. According to the City of Palm Desert, the new ambulance's particulate emissions are 95% lower than those of a comparable diesel vehicle, and it reduces diesel fuel use by about 1,500 gallons annually. CCCVR and the City of Palm Desert are encouraged by the success of the pilot project and hope it will be replicated in other communities.
Last Updated: April 04, 2011
The Knoxville Utilities Board in Tennessee has over 30 years of experience with alternative fuels with nearly 90% of their current vehicle fleet now using less gasoline and diesel fuel as a result. Besides vehicles that run on compressed natural gas and E85, KUB's fleet includes 14 hybrid electrics including bucket trucks used to repair power lines. Two off-road electric Tiger trucks have said "no" to petroleum, and many of their largest vehicles run on B5 biodiesel.
The utility is also involved with the EV Project, which will bring a charging network to the Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville triangle region. Chris Wilson, fleet supervisor of KUB, says, "We want to get that corridor covered with electric charging stations where folks can get to and from those areas without having to use any type of fuel." KUB is displacing more than 46,000 gallons of petroleum a year using alternative fuels, demonstrating their strong commitment as an environmental steward for the residents of K-Town.
Last Updated: April 04, 2011
Faced with rising refuse collection costs, the Town of Smithtown, New York, decided to require its refuse collection contractors to use compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. It was the first New York municipality to institute such a requirement. On January 1, 2007, the 30 contractor-owned diesel refuse trucks collecting solid waste and recyclables from the town's 116,000 residents were replaced by 22 CNG models.
Smithtown selected four bidders for seven-year contracts: Brothers Carting, Dejana Industries, Jody Industries, and V. Garafalo Carting. The companies were responsible for buying the new CNG trucks. To offset the higher cost for these trucks versus diesel trucks, the companies had the option of claiming the Federal Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit for up to 80% of the incremental cost. An alliance of local organizations helped the contractors find financing options.
To establish CNG fueling infrastructure, Smithtown partnered with natural gas supplier Clean Energy. With no leasing agreements, access fees, or capital outlay for Smithtown, the contract required Clean Energy to provide the fueling infrastructure and commission local service providers. Because of Smithtown's new contract with the refuse collectors, Clean Energy had to complete the fueling station in six months--two to four months faster than it usually takes to locate a station, obtain permits, and secure a compressor.
To accomplish this, Clean Energy received permission from the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) and Office of General Services to allow expansion of a station in nearby Hauppauge, which Clean Energy already operated for New York State. The Hauppauge expansion supported NYDOT's goal to increase natural gas use as a vehicle fuel and brought additional revenue to the state of $0.05 per gasoline gallon equivalent. Clean Energy expanded the Hauppauge volumetric gas flow rate from 15 to 2,000 scfm and opened the station within four months.Smithtown entered into an agreement on fuel pricing with Clean Energy through 2013. CNG costs for the refuse trucks started at $2.33 per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) through 2008 and increase each year to conclude at $2.94 per DGE in 2013. The contracted CNG price could decrease if the price differential between diesel and CNG goes above a set threshold.
"Controlling refuse collection costs for town residents was the primary reason Smithtown chose CNG," explained the coordinator of the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition. "The commitment from Clean Energy to set a stable fuel price was very important." Switching to CNG provides environmental and energy-security benefits for Smithtown.
The CNG refuse trucks are projected over the life of the contract to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by 265 tons and particulate matter by 15 tons. Smithtown also expects to displace more than 1.5 million DGE of petroleum-based fuel.The benefits are amplified when other towns adopt a similar strategy. Smithtown's success inspired nearby Brookhaven to plan the deployment of 67 CNG trucks in 2009 in a similar effort.
Clean Cities inspired Smithtown's move to CNG. In May 2006, Russell Barnett, Smithtown's Environmental Protection Director, saw a Clean Cities alternative fuel presentation at the Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations Solid Waste/Recycling Conference & Trade Show in Bolton Landing, New York. The presentation persuaded him that CNG was the best choice for Smithtown's refuse fleet. According to Barnett, Smithtown and two neighboring towns that followed Smithtown's switch to CNG, save over a million gallons of diesel fuel a year by using natural gas instead. In 2010, federal funding helped Smithtown purchase seven Honda Civic GX natural gas sedans, eight general-purpose maintenance trucks, and three GEM electric vehicles--all adding to Long Island's fast-growing, municipal alt-fuel fleet. For more information, contact
Last Updated: March 21, 2011
The Austin, Texas, municipal fleet uses a wide array of alternative fuel vehicles including propane, biodiesel, hybrid electric, compressed natural gas, and E85. All play a part. Plus, EMS vehicles use solar panels to reduce wasteful idling. Austin's goal is a carbon-neutral city fleet by 2020. Almost 55% of their vehicles already use alt fuels with 30 new vehicles to go green next year.
"Anytime we can start using a renewable fuel source-an alternative fuel source that originates here in this country-then we're helping ourselves internationally in doing that. And we're helping the environment at the same time," says Austin Fleet Officer Gerry Calk. Austin also plans to add plug-in electric hybrids to its fleet and install EV charging stations around town to support them, making this once-oil-centric Texas capital among America's most alt-fuel-savvy cities.
Last Updated: February 27, 2011
The Norwich, Connecticut, Public Utilities Company has assembled the largest municipal fleet of natural gas vehicles in the state. NPU has been using alternative fuels since 1995. Today, they operate 33 CNG vehicles including a sewer jet used to clean out sewer lines. NPU also has a hybrid electric bucket truck, two hybrid SUVs, and 15 biodiesel vehicles including a mini excavator and dump truck. They fill up at their new B20 refueling station built with the help of a federal grant from the Department of Energy.
John Bilda, general manager of NPU, says, "Wherever there's a vehicle and we can match that vehicle up with a compressed natural gas or an alternative fuel source, we're just simply expanding the fleet in that direction." Federal funding will also be used to transform this lot with 10 EV charging stations right next to a public CNG refueling station that's helping to make the Rose of New England a sweet-smelling, cleaner, greener city.
Last Updated: January 19, 2011
Visitors to the City of Sevierville, Tennessee, are touring the town in eight propane-fueled hybrid electric trolley cars. The city purchased the vehicles in 2005 to help reduce air pollution. Propane produces fewer tailpipe emissions than diesel fuel, and it reduces the city's reliance on imported oil.
But these propane hybrid trolleys are only the tip of Sevierville's green initiative. They are also the proud owners of a pair of larger plug-in hybrid buses used for special events. The city has also added four dedicated propane trolleys, a CNG bi-fuel pickup, and some 30 specialized municipal vehicles including a new refuse truck that runs on renewable B20 biodiesel. Sevierville is a community leader doing its part to keep the Volunteer State ready, willing, and green.
Last Updated: December 20, 2010
The City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the proud owner of two new compressed natural gas-powered sanitation trucks. The Cummings ISL-G engine trucks are already making a big impact in the areas in which they operate. Not only are they much quieter trucks by design, they reduce emissions and greenhouse gases. Using CNG not only reduces the use of petroleum, it cuts the price of fuel by nearly $1 per equivalent gallon.
"We've noticed no difference whatsoever between the power of this engine and the power of a comparable diesel engine," says Jeff Tews, fleet operations manager. Besides collecting refuse, the trucks will also be used for plowing. The City of Milwaukee hopes to have more of these very clean CNG machines in service in the very near future.
Last Updated: November 20, 2010
The City of Denver designed the sprawling Denver International Airport to be green from the start with compressed natural gas fueling stations and an underground baggage tunnel system that allows only CNG and electric vehicles.
CNG tugs are used for baggage handling, and the yellow, all-electric E-Ride used for trash removal. This Miles electric vehicle is currently being evaluated for tunnel use. All vehicles have to test clean on a dynamometer before a tunnel permit is issued.
There are also over 100 CNG light-duty maintenance trucks along with 180 bi-fuel gasoline/CNG trucks. The newest additions in Denver are police mobility vehicles. The all-electric PMVs look like Segways on steroids and are being used for traffic control.
CNG also powers employee, rental car, and parking lot shuttles, as well as airfield sweepers. It all makes for a versatile lineup of cleaner, greener vehicles working their way around DIA.
Last Updated: June 08, 2010
Santa Fe Trails Transit System (SFT), the metro transportation system in New Mexico's capital city, claims the distinction of first all natural gas (CNG) transit fleet in the U.S. From the outset, Santa Fe residents wanted a transportation system that would preserve Northern New Mexico's the clean air and blue skies, so valued by tourists and residents alike. Santa Fe Trails provides fixed-route and para-transit local and regional service while building ridership and expanding routes.
"When the system first went into operation in 1992, we were a test market," said Transit Director Jon Bulthuis. "Since that time, other technologies have become available including hybrid electric. But natural gas has proven efficient for our applications. Hybrids are more expensive to purchase and maintain and the fuel savings are not enough to justify the purchase."
Today, Santa Fe Trails operates 30 CNG-powered full-size transit buses for fixed-route service and four CNG sedans for para-transit service. Plans include replacing the remaining 16 para-transit vans with natural gas vehicles. Infrastructure for natural gas is city-owned and includes 34 time-fill fueling poles. A public-access natural gas fueling station that operates 24/7 is also on the premises. "The CNG buses are reliable, have cleaner burning engines, increased oil life, and lower fuel costs than diesel," said James Dillingham, fleet and facilities manager for Santa Fe Trails.
Bulthuis said the buses operate well at this altitude and the natural gas is locally produced out of the San Juan Basin in northwest New Mexico. "That means we're using a domestic resource with lower fuel transportation costs. We believe we've made the right choice for Santa Fe, both environmentally and economically."
For more information, visit the Santa Fe Trails website.
Last Updated: May 20, 2010
The City of Los Angeles boasts over 4,100 alternative-fuel vehicles--everything from gas-electric hybrids to natural gas trucks and buses to trendy MINI Es. The city is field-testing five MINI E plug-in electrics. City workers say they are getting about 100 miles on a full charge. Recharging takes about three hours using a dedicated charging station. For emergencies, a convenience charger plugs into a normal outlet. The city reduced petroleum fuel consumption by eight million gallons last year alone as the alt-fuel fleet continues to grow by over 20% annually. That includes 400 refuse trucks that use natural gas, and nearly half of their street sweepers also run on natural gas with plans for a 100% alt-fuel fleet. The L.A. Clean Cities coalition sees advanced-technology alt-fuel vehicles as a key way to keep the City of Angels clean, green, and beautiful. View the MotorWeek video.
Last Updated: May 19, 2010
MotorWeek success story this week takes us back in time to Colonial Williamsburg, where natural gas-powered transit buses seem a bit out of place in this hotbed of 18th-century Americana. The popular living-history museum has been using alternative fuel vehicles to transport visitors since 1995. Their bus service center--just down the road--houses close to 20 buses with an easy-to-use CNG filling station nearby.
Colonial Williamsburg also uses three electric mini-trucks for their landscaping and hotel maintenance needs. The pint-sized vehicles can only go 25 miles an hour--an ideal speed for travel on Williamsburg grounds. Workers plug into a regular outlet to charge their batteries overnight and can use it the following morning for a full day's work.
Colonial Williamsburg has been at the forefront of the alt-fuel movement--combining our love of America's past with greener technologies for America's future.
View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: March 09, 2010
The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, embarked on its Green Fleets Program in 2004 with the initial goal of reducing the municipal fleet's gas and diesel use by 10% before 2012. They achieved that in half the time and then set their sights higher: To use 30% renewable energy across all municipal operations by 2010, and they are meeting that goal, too.
"First of all, it's important for the City of Ann Arbor to green its fleet to help us fight climate change," says Andrew Brix of the Ann Arbor energy commission. "But the bigger impact is that we get to use fuels that are produced here in Michigan and in the U.S., and that keeps money in the local economy."
Ann Arbor's fleet uses a wide variety of clean alternative fuels, including E85, compressed natural gas in both light- and heavy-duty vehicles, and up to 50% blends of biodiesel. They are also field testing this hybrid electric lift truck and plan to buy two of them.
Ann Arbor is showing that even a small city fleet can make a big environmental statement. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: February 05, 2010
Empire Coachworks of East Brunswick, New Jersey is an automotive pioneer--one of the first American firms to make custom limousines. But today's ultra-lux buyers of their super-stretch limos are now demanding "greener" vehicles. So Empire upfits Lincoln Town Cars, as well as Ford Focus fleet vehicles, and Econoline vans to use compressed natural gas.
Their 88,000 square foot facility, with 35 bays dedicated to alternative fuel activities, also supplies CNG trams for the Bronx Zoo and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Their next goal is to install certified CNG systems in larger vehicles such as school buses and paratransit vans.
Fleets run through Boards of Education and municipalities are looking to move 100% of their fleets into alternative fuel, and CNG is a natural fit for everyone. Empire delivers energy and eco-friendly solutions for smart executive travelers and beyond.
View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: January 04, 2010
The City of Columbus, Ohio, is continuing its efforts to integrate more alternative fuel vehicles into daily operations. New arrivals for 2009 include four bi-fuel, CNG/gasoline light-duty trucks and two Ford Escape hybrids.
Each new CNG refuse truck has saved the city over $1,600 in less than a year. They plan to add 21 more CNG trucks by 2011. Right now, Columbus fills up with CNG off-site, but by the time the new trucks arrive, they?ll have a station of their own.
In 2007, the city began using biodiesel in snowplows and other heavy-duty vehicles. They have replaced nearly one million gallons of petroleum with biodiesel in 2009.
And, to improve air quality, Columbus is outfitting nearly 130 older trucks with diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters. Their 1998 fire engine is even on the list to be cleaned up, as the country?s "fourth cleanest city" strives to become number one!
View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: November 30, 2009
Our success story of the week comes from Grove City, Ohio, home of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio where they are turning trash into a renewable form of natural gas. At this specially-built Green Energy Center, more than 3,000 tons of trash is dumped into SWACO's landfill each day. As the trash decomposes, it releases methane gas which is collected through a network of pipes.
The raw gas is processed and cleaned through a series of stacks and tubes located inside the energy center. The resulting compressed natural gas is used to power SWACO's fleet of bifuel pickup trucks and dedicated CNG cars.
Phase 1 of the Green Energy Center at SWACO uses 8% of the available landfill methane. That creates or has the capacity to create 250,000 GGE annually. That's a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline that won't be needed! SWACO is also educating consumers with landfill tours showing common waste being used to create renewable, cleaner, greener fuel. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: November 20, 2009
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport began experimenting with biodiesel in 1987. Today, they have close to 400 vehicles that run on B20--including light-duty trucks, runway sweepers, tow trucks, and front loaders. Their aircraft rescue firefighting units and emergency generator also run on the cleaner burning fuel. A new biodiesel electric hybrid bucket truck is used to change out terminal lights. The airport is also in the process of converting a majority of its gasoline-powered fleet to run on natural gas. The onsite CNG fueling station currently serves 35 shuttle buses and 60 airport maintenance vehicles.
"We are trying to educate the public through the airport and through St. Louis Clean Cities about the use of biofuels by doing promotional stuff about us being able to clean up the atmosphere in our area," said Michael Bernich, fleet maintenance manager for the airport. Lambert-St. Louis is one airport where reducing the use of petroleum fuels has been a top flight priority for over 20 years. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: November 10, 2009
The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., has 160 vehicles that run on alternative fuels, including five low-speed electric vehicles. Two of the electric vehicles are used for on-campus mail delivery. OU also operates 43 electric utility vehicles and golf carts on campus sidewalks and paths that are used by maintenance and physical plant staff.
Beth Gatewood, OU assistant administrator of printing, mailing and document production, said the low-speed electric vehicles save the time and expense of refueling and are ready to go after recharging outside her building. "Besides being fun and quiet," Gatewood said, "we can get in all the small places on campus we need to squeeze through."
Central Oklahoma Clean Cities stakeholders since 1995, the University of Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Services, which includes Fleet Services operations and Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART), fuels 53 flex-fuel sedans and SUVs with E85, 41 heavy duty trucks and CART buses with B20, and 15 heavy duty and light-duty passenger vehicles and shuttle buses with CNG at its new Transportation Operations Center, a multi-fuel, state-of-the-art fueling, maintenance and operations facility. The center has four fast-fill CNG hoses at 3600 psi, and eight slow-fill CNG hoses in addition to four pumps for biodiesel and ethanol.
The university also has three hybrid electric passenger cars in its fleet that fuel at the facility which also dispenses gasoline and ultra low sulfur diesel.
At the official opening of the Transportation Operations Center in March 2009, OU President David Boren said the university is committed to the environment and the new Transportation Operations Center is a symbol of that commitment. Boren has made it university policy if an alternative fuel vehicle is available for the type of vehicle needed, the university will purchase the AFV.
OU Fleet Services plans to add five CNG buses to the CART fleet with 2009 federal stimulus money and will purchase and convert two new Chevrolet Impalas with assistance from an award from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments' 2009 Public Fleet Conversion Grants program. ACOG's Public Fleet Conversion Grants¿ program is administered through its Clean Cities program office.
Last Updated: November 05, 2009
The New York City Department of Sanitation, the nation's largest municipal refuse fleet, is making great strides in using clean, alternative fuels. Among the array of vehicles is the hybrid hydraulic garbage truck, the only one in the country in its weight class. The agency is also testing hybrid electric and natural gas powered refuse trucks.
NYC's 2,000 other diesel refuse trucks run on renewable B5 biodiesel as do 450 of their street sweepers. Another 25 are fueled by compressed natural gas, and the alt-fuel list continues with hundreds of light duty gasoline-electric hybrids used by field supervisors along with 6 all-electric GEMs that move around the repair shop.
Collecting 22 million pounds of garbage a day using vehicles that are less dependent on petroleum is how NYC's Department of Sanitation is keeping it "clean and green" in the Big Apple. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: October 08, 2009
In 1996, the City of Kansas City, Missouri instituted a fleet-wide alternative fuel program. Today, more than 200 compressed natural gas cars, trucks, and vans fuel up at the city's central CNG station. Also, their 1,100 diesels run primarily on B20 and B50 biodiesel. In June, 2009, Kansas City received the first 4 of 19 Diamond International trucks upfitted for CNG. Used to repair water main breaks, they are some of the largest rigs to run on CNG. According to Sam Swearngin, "We're kind of proud of the fact that these trucks are the cleanest trucks you can buy on the planet that do what they do and operate right here in our neighborhood. "The alternative fuel program extends to the Kansas City International Airport, where 35 shuttle buses also run on CNG, all to make "KC" cleaner and less dependent on oil. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: September 17, 2009
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), with more than 700,000 takeoffs and landings a year, is the third busiest in the world. Because of its expansive size, covering 29 square miles, DFW is a mini-city, with their own fire department and a huge fleet of more than 500 maintenance vehicles, most of which operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). An onsite CNG refueling station, built in 2000, makes it easy for airfield sweepers and other off-road support equipment to stop in and fill up.
DFW uses about 1.7 million gallons of CNG a year, instead of gasoline or diesel fuel, to keep its shuttle buses and other CNG vehicles up and running. Airport employees also use hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, to travel throughout the property. Alternative fuels for this huge fleet help to keep the Texas skies blue and clear. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: August 24, 2009
The Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon has become a dedicated user of alternative fuel vehicles in almost every aspect of operation from baggage loading vehicles to shuttle buses, police vehicles, and street maintenance equipment. PDX began replacing conventional petroleum diesel buses with vehicles fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG) in 1997 and currently has 46 dedicated CNG vehicles including 26 shuttle buses, 6 Ford Crown Victorias, one Honda Civic, one F450 service truck, a forklift, 9 vans and two step vans. PDX also has two bi-fuel CNG/gasoline pickups and two vans. Propane vehicles include four forklifts and 1 small scrubber/sweeper. There are 15 flexible-fuel vehicles fueled with E85 and seven hybrid light-duty vehicles used for police activities.
Biodiesel also plays an important part in the alternative fuel plan. PDX has fueled its diesel vehicles with B20 since 2002 and currently operates 26 heavy-duty on-road vehicles including four buses, 19 trucks and three F450 service vehicles plus 27 additional pieces of off-road equipment.
PDX installed fueling infrastructure to meet its alternative fuel needs. The airport currently has CNG, LPG, and B20 fueling stations on the property, althought it cannot sell fuel to other fleets or the public because of access limitations. PDX is also looking to expand CNG availability by adding an additional fueling station or purchasing back-up components for its existing infrastructure.
Rick Elliott, aviation maintenance superintendent, points to lower emissions and longer operational life, which means more miles between rebuilds, as advantages to the alternative fuel fleet. "Whenever we look at purchasing a vehicle, our first question is 'Is it available in an alternate fuel?'" Elliott said. For more information, contact Rick Elliott at the Port of Portland.
Last Updated: July 02, 2009
Valley Metro Transit, the regional transit system for metropolitan Phoenix, serves 60 million passengers per year and operates one of the nation's largest fleets of natural gas transit buses. Valley Metro continues to increase its fleet of natural gas buses and now operates 649 liquefied or compressed natural gas (LNG and CNG) buses, which represent 65% of the fleet. Thirty percent of the fleet operates on ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and 5% use unleaded gasoline, mainly in small cut-away buses for circulator and shuttle services. Valley Metro uses 10.8 million gallons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 1.9 gallons of compressed natural gas (CNG) annually to fuel its fleet.
The buses are owned by the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale and the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA). "We continue to increase our fleet of natural gas buses and are planning to continue both the LNG and CNG fueled fleet whenever natural gas is an option," says Bob Antila, capital planner for Valley Metro/RPTA.
An increase in natural gas buses translates into a need for more fueling stations. The cities of Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, and the RPTA have joined to establish LNG/LCNG fueling sites for the region. Clean Energy, Seal Beach, CA, has a three-year contract to supply Valley Metro with LNG fuel, some of which will come from a new Spectrum/Desert Gas Services plant in Ehrenburg, AZ.
"The air quality benefits and reduced reliance on traditional fuels continue to be our focus. We see ourselves as setting an example and continuing to improve the public's perception of mass transit," says Antila. Contact Bob Antila by email at bantila@valleymetro.org for more information.
Last Updated: June 01, 2009
Diversity on campus has a new meaning in Chicago. The University of Illinois-Chicago's (UIC) transportation system for innercampus and commuter transport includes a variety of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The fleet includes 12 light-duty hybrids, 37 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), 26 vehicles that operate on B20, two compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans, and a CNG Crown Victoria. In addition, nine CNG Blue Bird buses transport an average of 2,000 people daily around the campus. All in all, AFVs represent 36% of their fleet.
With the help of two Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants received through the efforts of the Chicago Area Clean Cities coalition, the university installed CNG infrastructure. "We now have two slow-fill dispensing units and we have added two quick-fill CNG units," says Pablo Acevedo, associate director of facilities management at UIC. The university's program extends its reach even farther by allowing vehicles owned by the City of Chicago to fill up at the UIC facility.
Acevedo explains that there are pluses and minuses to his CNG vehicles. "Parts and maintenance are more costly for the CNG vehicles than for regular diesel vehicles. It's also important to get the right kind of training for our mechanics who work on the CNG vehicles." On the plus side, the AFVs use less expensive fuel and reduce pollution caused by burning diesel.
The CNG and FFVs are purchased based on mandated levels dictated by the state and alternative fuel provider section of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The CNG-powered vehicles were first purchased in 1997. "The decision back then was based on cost savings and environmental concerns," Acevedo says. "Those are the same reasons we continue to add CNG vehicles to our fleet."
There's always room for more advanced vehicles--and UIC is interested in the all-electric, commercial Ford Transit Connect van, which is expected to have a range of 100 miles per charge and a top speed of 70 miles per hour.
"UIC's commitment to its alternative fuel program and its involvement in the coalition make it an exemplary fleet in the Chicago area," says Chicago Clean Cities Coordinator Samantha Bingham. "We are happy to assist UIC as well as other coalition members with everything from technical assistance to identifying funding."
Last Updated: April 29, 2009
Disneyland Resort, Inc. is continuing its commitment to the environment by introducing two initiatives to reduce its petroleum use while maintaining its reputation for excellent guest services. The Resort has begun using compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel its 16 guest trams that transport guests between Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure park, and parking facilities. The switch to CNG from a diesel/hybrid engine was made possible through a $1.17 million grant from the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program, which paid for nearly half the conversion costs. According to Disneyland transportation specialists, using CNG will eliminate the need for approximately 50,000 gallons of diesel per year.
The Carl Moyer grant was created by the California state legislature in 1998 to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles. Each year, the California Air Resources Board disburses money to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which administers Carl Moyer funds in Southern California.
The Resort is also using a special B99 biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil to power its Disneyland Railroad steam trains and the Mark Twain riverboat. The move is expected to save approximately 200,000 gallons of petroleum diesel per year, according to Frank Dela Vara, Disneyland Resort's director of environmental affairs and conservation. The Disneyland Railroad's five trains have been using a soy-based biodiesel since April 2007. The B99 used cooking oil-based biodiesel will continue to reduce emissions by up to 80%.
Last Updated: April 23, 2009
The Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, PA, a long-time stakeholder of the Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities coalition, is committed to fueling its bus fleet with compressed natural gas (CNG). The school district operates 73 CNG vehicles to transport school children including sixty-two Blue Bird 72-passenger, rear engine, dedicated CNG school buses powered by 8.1 liter John Deere engines; one 72-passenger, Thomas Built rear engine, dedicated CNG school bus powered by the Cummins/Westport ISL engine; four 30-passenger Ford/Blue Bird dedicated CNG mini school buses powered by Ford 7.3 liter engines; one bi-fuel Chevrolet Express van; and five dedicated CNG Ford Econoline vans. Since beginning service in 1996, the district's CNG fleet has logged more than eight million miles displacing approximately one million gallons of diesel fuel. The district is currently in the process of replacing its first generation of school buses with new CNG models.
The district operates two CNG refueling stations, one each in Ardmore and Rosemont. The district recently rebuilt one its CNG refueling stations after 13 years of service to provide fast fill capability, which has cut fueling time in half. The district's other CNG refueling station is scheduled for replacement in the summer of 2009.
"We have learned a great deal about using CNG to fuel our fleet of school buses," said Michael Andre, supervisor of transportation for the district. "At first mechanics had to be trained to work on our fleet. We've learned to space out refueling of our vehicle and to monitor optimal pressure levels. The vehicles themselves cost more than standard diesel buses, but the Lower Merion community remains committed to the use of alternative fuels. We value the environment, energy security, and the health of our children." For more information about CNG school bus operation, contact Michael Andre at the Lower Merion School District.
Last Updated: March 24, 2009
Waste Management of Seattle has added 106 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet of collection vehicles as replacements for older diesel models. The company plans to replace the remaining 75 diesel vehicles in its fleet within five years. The switch from diesel to CNG comes as Waste Management begins its new collection contract with the City of Seattle. In addition, the company 's new CNG fueling station is nearing completion at its South Seattle operations headquarters. The station will service the new CNG fleet and will be open to the public.
The trucks are expected to dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions. "Waste Management is committed to helping our region take the bold steps necessary to improve local air quality. We are dramatically reducing our use of CO2 emitting fuels with this substantial upgrade in equipment, said Susan Robinson, director of Public Sector Services for Waste Management, NW. "We are investing in cleaner air."
Waste Management is investing $29 million in the new vehicles and an additional $7.5 million to build the fueling station. The new trucks are six times cleaner than diesel engines manufactured in 2007, and already meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 emission standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), producing nearly zero particulate emissions.
An independent environmental review produced by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates, an environmental consulting firm, determined Waste Management's equipment upgrade will reduce smog-causing NOx by 97%, toxic diesel particulate matter by 94%, and greenhouse gas by 20% over current levels.
According to City of Seattle Council President Richard Conlin, "In addition to significantly reducing climate change emissions, this new fleet of cleaner trucks is an important part of the city's plan to dramatically increase recycling rates and improve the service provided to Seattle Public utility customers."
Last Updated: July 07, 2008
California-based Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling (SSWR) is replacing its diesel refuse haulers with those that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Of its fleet of 37 vehicles that provide trash collection service for the City of Sunnyvale, California, 30 are powered by CNG.
SSWR made a corporate decision in partnership with the City of Sunnyvale to adopt CNG to meet the conditions of the California Air Resources Board refuse rule, which requires particulate filter traps on diesel trucks. Fleets made up of 50% or more alternative fuel vehicles were exempted from the diesel rule until January 1, 2010. "Liquid natural gas was less widely available in California, so we looked to compressed natural gas," says Jerry Nabhan, SSWR general manager.
Good pipeline gas pressure at the company's Santa Clara site allowed SSWR to build and operate a CNG refueling station that is accessible to the public 24 hours a day. The station installation cost approximately $500,000, which was partially offset with $200,000 provided by the California Energy Commission.
SSWR also receives grants from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) that help cover the $60,000 incremental costs of a CNG truck over a diesel one. With current CNG prices around $2.70 and the grants from TFCA, SSWR estimates that the payback period is about a year and a half per truck. The CNG refuse vehicles, which feature Cummins Westport 8.9-liter engines and Autocar chassis on Heil or Labrie bodies, drive 275,000 route miles per year and use 172,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG annually.
According to Nabhan, there were some initial concerns about truck performance that proved to be unfounded. "Our city is relatively flat so the trucks have had no performance problems," Nabhan says. "With today's price of diesel at $4.88 and the price of natural gas at $2.70, we're glad we made the choice to go with natural gas."
Nabhan says his drivers like the natural gas trucks because there's no diesel smell, and the trucks are much quieter. Maintenance on the CNG trucks is a bit different than on diesel trucks, Nabhan says. For example, each truck's six spark plugs are replaced every six months at a cost of about $400 per truck. In addition, the trucks are tested for leaks every 90 days and tanks are pressure tested every three years.
"We're proud of our decision to go with natural gas. It's been good for our business and good for the community," Nabhan says. Interested visitors from several California communities as well as New York, Taiwan, and France have visited Sunnyvale to learn about SSWR's success with CNG refuse vehicles.
Contact Jerry Nabhan, SSWR general manager, 408-566-1809.
Last Updated: April 16, 2008
The Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) received the 2007 National Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Achievement Award from the NGVAmerica for SJC's efforts toward making compressed natural gas (CNG) its primarily alternative fuel of choice. For example, by mid-2008, all of SJC's shuttle buses will be CNG. The airport's Alternative Fuels Program (AFP) has significantly improved air quality and reduced fuel costs of its ground transportation operations.
In 2008, airport management announced two new projects to encourage more public use of the airport's CNG fueling facility. One project involves encouraging more private taxis and shuttles operating at the airport to convert from gasoline and diesel to CNG through SJC's innovative $154,000 Alternative Fuels Grant Program (AFGP). The AFGP provides grants of $4,000 per taxi and $8,000 per shuttle van as incentives for CNG vehicle conversion. Since 2005, the airport has been conducting outreach to encourage taxi and shuttle van owners to convert to CNG via innovative incentives. Taxicab companies operating at SJC have placed 130 CNG taxis into service out of the airport's permitted fleet of 300 taxicabs, according to airport spokesman David Vossbrink.
The second project will entail the airport to spend an estimated $727,000 to upgrade the airport's CNG fueling station that has been in operation since 2003. The CNG station upgrade project will double the station's capacity to dispense 4 million gallons of CNG per year, enough to service all of the airport's shuttle bus fleet, all City of San Jose CNG vehicles, any new City CNG vehicles, all CNG taxis and door-to-door shuttle vans operating at the airport, as well as other public/private CNG fleets desiring to embrace SJC's AFP.
The projects will be partially funded by a $606,000 grant from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. For more information, contact Tom Stoflet, Environmental Manager, Mineta San Jose International Airport.
Last Updated: December 18, 2007
On August 30, 2007 a new combined liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fast-fill compressed natural gas (L/CNG) clean fueling facility opened in South Los Angeles. LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on hand to explain how the station will help serve the City's growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), which now includes 307 LNG solid refuse collection trucks, 54 CNG street sweepers, and various other city-owned AFVs. Los Angeles has the largest municipally-owned alternative fuel solid refuse collection fleet in the U.S. The South LA Fueling Station has a storage capacity of 45,000 gallons of LNG, and is the third in a series of similar stations. The first two stations were constructed in the West San Fernando Valley (45,000 gal.) and East Valley (60,000 gal.). All 3 stations were partially funded using $450,000 in Clean Cities U.S. Department of Energy grant awards received through the California Energy Commission. A fourth station is operating in the Harbor area, at a 6,000-gallon capacity.
The project took over 18 months to build. The station was then put into demonstration/testing mode for 8 months prior to the grand opening. The greatest challenge during the project was the site preparation and cleanup required prior to construction. Some 27,000 tons of contaminated soil were removed and cleaned up over a period of three months at a cost of $330,000.
A total of over $15 million in grants have been secured by the Environmental Affairs Department to help the City's solid resources collection fleet grow in size, and over 4 million gallons of diesel have been displaced since 2000, when the City started using LNG and L/CNG in its alternative fuel in its solid resources collection fleet.
For more information view the PDF about the South Los Angeles Clean Fuel Fleet Project.
Last Updated: November 13, 2007
UPS placed an order for 167 CNG delivery trucks and took delivery of 139 new propane delivery trucks for its North American delivery service. In addition, the company has launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel in its ground support vehicles at its air hub in Louisville, Ky.UPS's worldwide AFV fleet includes 1,629 vehicles, the largest such private fleet in the transportation industry. The fleet includes CNG, LNG, propane, electric, and hybrid electric vehicles. UPS already operates 800 CNG delivery trucks in the U.S. and plans to locate the new CNG vehicles in Dallas; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Ontario, Calif.; San Ramon, Calif.; and Fresno, Calif. The propane vehicles will join the nearly 600 propane trucks already operating in Canada and Mexico. "While there's a great deal of interest in the research we're doing with new types of hybrids, 70 years of testing alternative fuel vehicles has taught us there are multiple technologies that can effectively reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as well as our carbon footprint," said Robert Hall, UPS's director of vehicle engineering. "Adding this many propane and CNG vehicles is going to have a very positive impact."The propane and CNG trucks currently in the UPS fleet were converted from gasoline and diesel vehicles in the 1980s to run on alternative fuels. The new trucks are originally manufactured for alternative fuel use. The chassis for the CNG trucks are being purchased in two sizes from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. The trucks will feature engines from Cummins Westport that are expected to yield a 20% emissions reduction and 10% improvement in fuel economy over the cleanest diesel engines available in the market today.The new propane-powered vehicles were manufactured by Workhorse Custom Chassis and feature the latest technology in clean burning propane engines provided by Baytech Corporation. Propane vehicles emit about one-third fewer reactive organic gases than gasoline fueled vehicles. Nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions also are 20% and 60% less, respectively, than conventional vehicles.The biodiesel initiative in Louisville is being funded with the support of a $515,000 federal grant that is helping to offset some of the cost of building a fuel infrastructure at the airport. The infrastructure will provide B5, a 5% biodiesel blend, to operate 366 UPS ground support vehicles starting early in 2008.
Last Updated: September 27, 2007
The Salt Lake City International Airport is a major western U.S. hub serving 18 airlines that operate 450 scheduled daily departures. Its location within the city limits of Salt Lake City puts it in an EPA air quality nonattainment area for particulate matter. The airport has instituted a Clean Fuel Program in an effort to reduce airport vehicle emissions by using alternative fuels.
The airport parking shuttle fleet includes 13 35-foot buses and six 40-foot buses that are CNG powered. Due to a recent rapid growth in airport parking, the airport purchased five used diesel buses that are running on B20 biodiesel. Altogether, the fleet operates 24 hours a day and travels more than 600,000 miles per year.
The airport has begun to replace its aging 35-foot buses and the five diesel powered buses with a fleet of 19 40-foot low-floor CNG buses. The rest of the airport fleet consists of 96 light-duty vehicles (49 CNG, 10 electric, 8 hybrid, and 39 biodiesel) along with the CNG buses and three CNG heavy-duty trucks. Through these combined efforts, the airport has reduced its regulated emissions output by approximately 17,498 pounds per year when compared to a similarly sized fleet running on gasoline and diesel.
The airport also has CNG fueling infrastructure as the result of the combined efforts of the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Program, Utah Clean Cities, Salt Lake City Corporation, Questar Energy Services, Utah Energy Office, Utah LP Gas, and Utah Hotel & Lodging Association. The fueling facility was positioned to accommodate the airport's CNG fleet as well as private ground transportation providers. It is open 24 hours a day and is also available to the public.
The airport offers private ground shuttle companies a $2,500 credit for driving an alternative fuel vehicle on airport property and using the passenger pickup restricted access lane. By working together with private fleets and the public, Salt Lake City International Airport has succeeded in its quest for clean air through the use of alternative fuels and vehicles.
For more information about alternative vehicles at the Salt Lake City International Airport, contact Ed Napier at ed.napier@slcgov.com.
Last Updated: August 27, 2007
Several successful bond issues and zero-interest loans from the State of Oklahoma enabled Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) to convert 24 conventional school buses to compressed natural gas (CNG) in 1990. In 1997, TPS was awarded a U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program Special Projects grant, which also helped TPS fund its alternative fueled fleet program. Oklahoma Natural Gas partnered with TPS and to help add an additional 40 school buses and 30 medium/heavy-duty vehicles (MD/HDVs) to their fleet. "The funding from the government has made implementing CNG vehicles into our fleet a very rewarding process," said Jim Taylor, TPS transportation in-house supervisor.
TPS currently operates 40 CNG school buses, 30 MD/HDVs, and 12 light-duty vehicles (LDVs) on CNG and consumes more than 200,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG every year. TPS has a CNG fueling station on site, which is equipped with four large compressors that can fuel 380 CNG vehicles (slow fill); four fast-fill stations are also integrated into the infrastructure. CNG vehicles have lower emissions and lower operating costs because the fuel is significantly cheaper than diesel. The school district also uses other alternative fuels. It operates all 285 of its conventional petroleum diesel buses with biodiesel (B20), and would like to add an electric bus for testing.
For more information, visit the TPS Transportation Web page.
Last Updated: August 27, 2007
The San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD), located in north San Diego County, California, currently uses 13 compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses in its fleet. The school district started using CNG school buses in 1999 when the district decided to begin using alternative fuel vehicles. The district currently operates Bluebird and Thomas buses that are equipped with John Deere CNG engines.
SMUSD also has a CNG fueling station on site. The infrastructure consists of four large compressors, 12 slow-fill pumps, and one fast-fill pump. The school district has discovered that the CNG fuel is a little cheaper than diesel and that government rebates help reduce operational costs. According to Transportation Coordinator Mike Sawyer, there is very little performance difference between the CNG buses and conventional diesel buses, and being able to fuel on site is convenient.
The CNG-fueled buses involve a slight increase in maintenance because the engines run at a higher temperature than conventional diesel buses. Some of the buses have also had bad sensors that caused problems.
For more information about SMUSD and its alternative fuel use, visit the SMUSD website.
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
Unitrans, a student-run transit system that serves the University of California at Davis and the City of Davis, currently operates 27 compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses, five CNG shuttle buses, two electric light-duty vehicles, 11 medium- and heavy-duty CNG vehicles, and four light-duty CNG-powered vehicles. Unitrans is among the first fleets in the nation to develop a transit bus that will operate on a hydrogen/CNG mixture; the company plans to begin testing by the end of 2007. Two hundred student employees and 14 career employees run the system, which transports 20,000 passengers each weekday (more than 3 million annually). About 95% of Unitrans' mileage is driven by alternative fuel buses.
Unitrans currently has its own CNG fueling station and plans to complete a new hydrogen/CNG refueling station, as well. "CNG compressors and related equipment are best protected from the elements within an enclosed structure. Completing the planned blended hydrogen/CNG fueling station has been very difficult because local safety personnel have required a wide array of safety elements that were not anticipated during the planning phase," explains General Manager Geoff Straw. "It seems that we're establishing new protocols due to the unique nature of the project. For this reason, the hydrogen compressor had to be located outside the existing CNG compressor/equipment building, which has delayed completion of the project for the past two years."
In addition to the CNG/hydrogen start up challenges, Straw indicated that "the technological learning curve was steep for our technicians. In fact, many of my peers in the transit industry and I are having difficulty finding trained compressed-fuel technicians." Two additional factors have surfaced in the process of operating a CNG fleet. Planning has had to include the increased capital costs of operating CNG vehicles due to the 15-year life of the vehicle's CNG fueling tanks. "We have two options when the CNG tanks have reached their maximum operational life. We can replace the tanks (about $75K per vehicle) or replace the vehicle entirely, both of which require large amounts of funds. With a conventional diesel vehicle, we can replace old/dirty engines with newer/cleaner diesel engines and the bus can operate for a much longer time with little financial investment." Another important factor is the limited number of CNG engine manufacturers in the transit market. Straw indicates that "some of us who have invested in CNG infrastructure are concerned about future pricing and support."
Despite these challenges, Unitrans is committed to clean technology and has selected CNG as its fuel of choice. "The low per-mile fuel cost of natural gas is attractive. It's a proven technology and we've had 12 years of experience with it." says Straw.
Contact Unitrans at http://unitrans.ucdavis.edu/ or Geoff Straw at gdstraw@ucdavis.edu.
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
A fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) airport shuttle buses has taken on a new life, resulting in even more CNG use in St. Louis, Missouri. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, a St. Louis Clean Cities stakeholder, recently sold five of its CNG shuttle buses at auction as part of its standard three-year turn-around cycle for shuttles. (The airport replaced the vehicles with new CNG shuttles.) The good news for St. Louis: The buses were bought by Windows on Washington, a popular restaurant and banquet facility in the Washington Avenue Downtown District.
Windows on Washington uses the shuttles to transport guests to and from downtown parking lots and hotels to the banquet and restaurant facilities. The CNG choice made sense for the banquet facility. "CNG is environmentally prudent and a patriotic American response [to energy concerns]," says Windows on Washington owner Tom Klein. And he says the clean running buses are very popular. "We receive compliments from passengers, drivers, downtown corporate and residential neighbors, other employees, and even the Metropolitan St. Louis Taxi Cab Commission."
The shuttle drivers fuel the vehicles with the FuelMaker owned by Windows on Washington and at the Laclede Gas Company Public Fueling Facility in St. Louis.
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
In 2001, the Port of Seattle Aviation Division adopted a fleet vehicle purchase policy that required the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), whenever feasible and practical, to replace conventional petroleum vehicles. The Seattle Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport's fleet is currently composed of 60 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, including 16 buses and 41 light-duty vehicles (LDVs)--all of which display the slogan "Doing our share for cleaner air naturally." Sea-Tac's fleet also includes seven propane LDVs, nine hybrid LDVs and 91 ground support units that operate on electricity. In 2005, the Sea-Tac Airport received the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence Award in recognition of the implementation of air quality programs such as the fleet vehicle purchase policy.
The Port required airport taxi and shuttle services to switch to CNG vehicles. Shuttle Express currently has 27 CNG shuttle vans serving the airport. Shuttle Express operates more than 33% of its total trip mileage using the CNG vans. The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association operates all of its 166 taxi cab fleet with CNG-fueled Ford Crown Victorias. The Port of Seattle's Air Quality website reports that the CNG fleet is expected to produce 149 fewer tons of carbon monoxide and 24 fewer tons of oxides of nitrogen each year compared to conventional vehicles.
The Port partnered with Clean Energy to install, operate, and maintain a full-service CNG fueling station at Sea-Tac, which is open to the public and operates 24 hours a day. Sea-Tac currently has plans to add an additional public CNG fueling station, as well as increase the number of CNG buses in its fleet.
For more information, contact Russ Simonson, senior environmental program manager, Port of Seattle, Aviation Division, at simonson.r@portseattle.org.
Last Updated: June 11, 2007
Prometheus Energy and Bowerman Landfill in Orange County, Calif., are turning landfill gas (LFG) into liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will soon be used power local transit buses and garbage trucks.
Completed in December 2006, the new plant--the first of its kind--is currently producing about 1,000 gallons of LNG per day and expects to increase daily production to 5,000 gallons during its first phase. At this production level, the plant will reduce carbon dioxide output by the equivalent of 10,000 tons per year.
As landfill materials decompose, methane is generated. If allowed to escape, methane is 23 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide. Therefore, air quality regulations require landfills to flare the methane if not put to use. Flaring options include burning methane to generate electricity or purifying it to add to natural gas pipelines. However, if landfills are in areas where electricity is inexpensive or far from electric transmission lines and gas pipelines, landfill gas can economically be converted to liquid transportation fuel.
Such is the case for Bowerman Landfill, which is located just five miles from the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA). The two organizations formed a partnership--Bowerman will produce the fuel and OCTA, which is already running its buses on LNG, will use it.
All told, OCTA now uses about 13,000 gallons of LNG per day. It will soon use all the LNG produced at the Bowerman plant. The rest of OCTA's LNG will continue to be supplied by other manufacturers.
Although Bowerman currently produces only 1,000 gallons of LNG per day, it generates enough LFG to make about 50,000 gallons of LNG per day. Prometheus is actively seeking grants to eventually increase production to 40,000 gallons per day in subsequent phases (it is already permitted to do so). The company hopes to take on other fuel customers as the project continues.
Prometheus is approved to proceed with another LFG-to-LNG project in Sacramento. In this case, the fuel produced will be used in garbage trucks hauling waste to the landfill and by other municipal and private fleets. The project is being made possible by a $549,000 Clean Cities grant. Prometheus is an active member of the Puget Sound coalition and a member of its steering committee.
For more information, contact Prometheus Energy at 206-267-0800.
Last Updated: September 13, 2005
Since 2005, about one-third of Fresno's school buses have been filling up at a new state-of-the art natural gas fueling station at the Southwest Education Support Center in Caruthers, California. Not only is the station helping to decrease the use of imported petroleum, it a test facility for new compressed and liquified natural gas (CNG/LNG) fueling technology.
The 16,000-square-foot education support center was built in November 2004. Half the space is used for school administration, the other half for bus maintenance. The administration portion includes the offices of the Southwest Transportation Agency, which operates the buses and is a member of the San Joaquin Valley Coalition.
Fourteen years ago the fleet included only 10 CNG buses, says Kirk Hunter, agency director. The agency worked through an experimental phase with those buses and realized that CNG was a viable alternative to diesel. To date, Hunter says, CNG is cost-effective, costing the same as or less than diesel. Now, 29 of the agency's 90 school buses are fueled with CNG. The agency serves 15 school districts, transports 7,000 children each school day, and the buses travel 1 million miles a year.
When it was decided to build the new center, Hunter says he wanted it to have a CNG/LNG fueling station to support expansion of alternative fuel buses in the fleet. With the blessings of "a very forward thinking agency board," he sought funding. The agency obtained $1 million in funding from two programs run by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: the Heavy-Duty Engine program and the Reduce Motor Vehicle Emissions program.
The Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Gas and Electric helped develop the prototype CNG/LNG station and will be using the site to test fueling technology yet to be developed.
The public and other private fleets can also use the station. So far, Hunter says some Fresno Area Express buses are using the station and that he hopes use by public and private fleets will increase.
In the meantime, the Southwest Education Support Center's CNG/LNG fueling station will continue powering buses to get children to school so they can learn and, at the same time, educate area adults about the benefits of natural gas vehicles.
For more information contact Kirk Hunter at 559-644-1020.