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Energy Policy Forum > 2002
Articles
Alternative fuel news
July-November 2002
from http://www.afdc.doe.gov/whatsnew.shtml
McChord Air Force Base Opens E85 Pump
McChord Air Force Base in Washington has opened an Alternative
Fuels Service Station that carries biodiesel and E85. The
cost to modify the station to dispense E85 and biodiesel was
about $68,000.
McChord has 21 E85 compatible vehicles on base and expects
to acquire 85 more. It still faces the difficulty of trucking
the fuel from Idaho. This takes a couple of days, and makes
small delivery quantities hard to negotiate.
New York's First E85 Pump
On November 1, NOCO Energy Corporation delivered a truckload
of the winter blend of clean E85 fuel to the first E85 tank
in New York. The fuel will soon be pumped at the New York
State Thruway Authority service depot in Cheektowaga. This
pump will also be open to state vehicles.
The Authority has more than 100 Ford Taurus flexible-fuel-vehicles
that can use any combination of gasoline or ethanol to 85%
ethanol. The agency complies with the EPAct mandate of having
the alternative fuel vehicles, but fueling the Tauruses with
unleaded gasoline negates the goal of reducing pollution.
City of Los Angeles Becomes Nation's First Customer for Fuel
Cell Car
Mayor Jim Hahn announced that City of Los Angeles will be
the first U.S. retail customer for a fuel cell car. Employees
will immediately begin a familiarization program with prototype
versions of the Honda FCX. They will use the vehicles on the
job as regular pool cars and for commuting. The City and Honda
are finalizing plans on refueling support systems to supply
hydrogen fuel for the vehicles. The City will take delivery
of the first of five production vehicles before the end of
2002.
The Honda FCX has been certified by the California Air Resources
Board and EPA as a zero emission vehicle. It uses hydrogen
supplied to a fuel cell stack to generate electricity and
power its electric motor. With a maximum output of 80 horsepower
and 201 foot-pounds of torque, acceleration is similar to
a Honda Civic. The FCX has a possible range of 220 miles and
seats four people.
Honda plans to lease about 30 fuel cell cars in California
and Japan during the next two to three years, but has no plans
for mass-market or individual sales.
Clean Fueling Technologies Provides E85 Infrastructure
Clean Fueling Technologies (CFT) of Georgetown, Texas, has
joined the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition to develop and
provide turn-key E85 fueling systems based on aboveground
storage tanks. CFT will use state-of-the art Gilbarco dispensing
systems, which can be customized to specific needs. These
very safe and affordable systems (which range from 2,000 gallons
to 10,000 gallons) will use electronic card reading systems
and dispense E85 with equipment familiar to drivers 24 hours
per day. They can be shipped anywhere in the nation, and will
be available to the public and to fleets. Detailed information
is available from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.
DOE Completes Testing of Hydrogen Vehicles
DOE announced that it has finished testing three hydrogen-fueled
vehicles featuring internal combustion engines. The primary
testing objective was to evaluate thesafety and reliability
of operating vehicles on hydrogen/CNG blends. Secondary objectives
included quantifying vehicle emissions, cost, and performance.
The test vehicles were a Ford F-150 pickup truck operating
on as much as 50% hydrogen, an F-150 running on as much as
30% hydrogen, and a Mercedes Sprinter van fueled with 100%
hydrogen. The vehicles operated safely for 26,000 miles and
released extremely low emissions. Results also indicated that
oil change intervals could be extended significantly.
October 2002
DOE and EPA Release Fuel Economy Guide for Model Year 2003
DOE and EPA released the estimated fuel efficiencies for all
U.S. passenger vehicles for Model Year 2003. The Fuel Economy
Guide 2003 ranks vehicles by fuel efficiency within each class,
and the online version allows users to make side-by-side comparisons
of vehicles.
For 2003, the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, and Toyota
Prius continue to lead the list of fuel-efficient vehicles.
Diesel-fueled Volkswagens follow closely. The only gasoline-fueled
vehicle on the top 10 list is the Toyota Echo.
The Fuel Economy Guide Web site also provides information
about AFVs and all-electric vehicles, including the latest
news on federal tax incentives for these vehicles.
Ford, NCC to Provide Funds for Clean Cities
National Clean Cities Inc. (NCC) joined with Ford Motor Company
to launch a new program that will provide incentives for NCC
chapters and other Clean Cities coalitions. The program, which
will be administered by NCC and funded by Ford, will award
incentives for grants and other funds and for sales of Ford
alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). NCC is a nonprofit organization,
unaffiliated with the federal government, that was established
to assist local Clean Cities organizations.
The program will provide for graduated cash incentive awards
based on the level of funding sought for vehicle purchases.
All Ford bi-fuel and dedicated AFVs using either propane or
compressed natural gas will be eligible.
The aim of the program is to help Clean Cities coalitions
and NCC chapters achieve a level of self-sustainability. The
initiative will foster closer relationships between Clean
Cities groups and Ford, and help promote Ford's AFV offerings.
Contact: Carol Butler, NCC.
Home Fueling Pump for Natural Gas Cars Unveiled
Starting in October 2003, trips to the filling station could
become obsolete for owners of natural gas vehicles. Toronto-based
FuelMaker Corporation said it will be the first company to
mass market a system that connects a natural gas supply line
to a pump that can be used to fuel natural gas vehicles at
home. American Honda Motor Company, which owns a 20% stake
in FuelMaker, hopes the pump will help expand the retail market
of the Civic GX natural gas car beyond government fleets.
The pump, called Phill, is about the size of a pay phone and
can be installed in a garage or outdoors. Drivers would leave
the pump in the car for 5-10 hours and have a full tank that
could take them as far as 220 miles. The system will go on
sale next October for about $2,000. FuelMaker hopes to eventually
mass produce 20,000-40,000 units, which would lower the cost
to $1,000 each. The fuel will cost $0.60-$0.80 per gasoline
gallon equivalent.
See the American Honda press release on its announcement with
FuelMaker and learn more about the Honda Civic GX (select
Civic Sedan from sidebar menu).
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) School Bus Incentive Program
Grants
The Michigan Energy Office, Office of Policy and Legislative
Affairs is soliciting grant proposals for the AFV School Bus
Incentive Program. The purpose of the program is to help Michigan
public and nonprofit schools and colleges promote the use
and benefits of CNG- and LPG-fueled school buses by funding
the incremental cost difference between such buses and comparable
diesel buses. To be eligible, school buses must have a gross
vehicle weight of at least 14,000 pounds. Questions concerning
this RFP must be submitted in writing by Friday, January 10,
2003. Proposals (one original signed copy and four additional
copies) must arrive by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2003.
For more information, contact Tim Shireman of the Michigan
Department of Consumer & Industry Services Energy Office
at (517) 241-6281.
Send proposals to:
Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services Energy
Office
6545 Mercantile Way, Suite 9
Lansing, MI 48911
Attn: Tim Shireman
For U.S. Mail Delivery
P.O. Box 30221
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone (517) 241-6281
Fax (517) 241-6229
New E85 Pump Opens in Pueblo
A Phillips 66 station in Pueblo, Colorado, now offers E85.
This is the eighth E85 pump open to the public in Colorado
and the third opened by Bold Petroleum. The project was supported
by the Colorado Corn Growers Association and Ford Motor Company.
The new station prices its 100+ octane E85 the same as its
87 octane regular unleaded gasoline. See a complete list of
E85 stations.
California Goal: 600,000 Natural Gas Vehicles by 2012
California will gain 600,000 new natural gas vehicles in the
next 10 years if the newly formed California Natural Gas Vehicle
Partnership gets its way. The public-private partnership includes
government air quality, transportation, and energy agencies,
together with vehicle and engine manufacturers, natural gas
suppliers, vehicle fleet operators, and environmental organizations.
The partnership has set 3-, 5-, and 10-year goals for the
growth of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the state. Its 10-year
goals aim to boost the number of California NGVs by a factor
of 30 from the current 19,000 NGVs in use in the state. Details.
DaimlerChrysler to Launch Fuel-Cell Mercedes-Benzes in 2003
The luxury car market took a leap ahead in technology yesterday,
as DaimlerChrysler announced plans to deploy 60 fuel cell-powered
Mercedes-Benz A-Class models in the United States, Europe,
Japan, and Singapore next year. The cars will be tested in
fleets through cooperative ventures with companies.
Ballard Power Systems will provide its latest-generation 85-kW
fuel cell engines for the vehicles. Ballard claims the new
unit achieves a 60% improvement in power density over its
previous model.
DaimlerChrysler will also supply 30 fuel cell-powered city
buses to public transport companies in 10 major European cities
in 2003. For more information, refer to the October 8 "Daily
News" section on the DaimlerChrysler Web site.
GM Unveils Hywire Fuel-Cell Car, Carbon Fiber-Bodied Cars
General Motors Corporation (GM) unveiled three concept vehicles
this week at the Paris Auto Show. The most anticipated debut
was that of the Hywire, GM's fuel cell-powered concept vehicle.
It is fully functional and drivable, incorporates three hydrogen
fuel tanks, a 94-kW fuel cell, an electric motor, and all-electric
steering and braking components in an 11 inch-thick aluminum
chassis. A fiberglass body connects to the chassis using 10
mechanical linkages and one electrical "docking port"
that conveys all the control signals from the driver to the
chassis. Weighing in at less than 4,200 pounds, the car sports
a top speed of 99 mph.
GM's Ultralite concept car counts on low weight and a minimal
drag coefficient to achieve high mileage using today's fuel
technologies. The carbon-fiber body allows the four-seat car
to achieve a weight of only 1,400 pounds; a computer-controlled
suspension gives it a drag coefficient of only 0.192. Those
factors combine to yield a fuel efficiency of 84 mpg. The
Ultralite features a modular drive train that can be switched
between gasoline, natural gas, and electric drive systems.
GM's Opel brand brought a turbo diesel approach to fuel efficiency
in an aggressive sports car called the Eco-Speedster, which
again features a carbon-fiber body. The 112-hp two-seater
concept car achieves 94 mpg and can reach a top speed of 155
mph.
September 2002
Electric Vehicles on the Rise in California
Los Angeles is now home to the largest fleet of electric vehicles
in the country. The U.S. Postal Service rolled out its new
400-vehicle fleet of delivery vehicles last week. The Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power helped pay for the vehicles,
which increase the Postal Service's total number of electric
vehicles to nearly 600 nationwide. Details.
Organizations located throughout California have new incentives
to add electric vehicles to their fleets, provided they're
located in "environmental justice" areas (typically
communities with significant low-income or minority populations).
The California Zero Emissions Vehicle Program offers grants
of as much as $11,000 per qualifying vehicle. These grants
are awarded using a competitive process.
EPA Provides Certification Guidance for Alternative Fuel
Converters
Aftermarket parts suppliers and service providers that convert
vehicles to run on gaseous alternative fuels such as CNG and
LPG have received clarification of new emissions certification
requirements from the EPA. The changes stem from regulatory
changes in early 2002, following the expiration of one part
of EPA's Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum 1A, widely known
as Memo 1A.
Previously, aftermarket converters were allowed to comply
with emission standards by modifying the vehicle or engine,
conducting chassis or engine dynamometer exhaust test for
emission compliance, and maintaining all records related to
the conversion. The new EPA policy allows such companies to
be designated as Small Volume Manufacturers, and requires
emissions test data to be submitted routinely.
The EPA has provided two draft documents, "Alternative
Fuels Converters Workshop, February 13, 2002 "Potential
Questions," and "Test Requirements for Alternative
Fuels Converters," that provide a revised and expanded
list of questions and answers and the testing requirements
for aftermarket alternative fuel converters.
For more information, see "Certification Guidance for
Alternative Fuel Converters" (PDF 646 KB) or contact
Martin Reineman at 734-214-4430.
Toyota to Install the Nation's Largest Commercial Solar Rooftop
Electric System
PowerLight Corporation will soon install the largest commercial
solar rooftop electric system in North America at Toyota Motor
Sales, U.S.A. headquarters in Torrance, Calif. The 501 kW
solar system can generate enough electricity in the daytime
to power more than 500 homes.
By investing in onsite solar generation, Toyota will be able
to integrate solar electricity into its energy mix, lower
its operating costs, and reduce its purchase of peak electricity.
Over the 25-year lifetime of this system, the solar generated
electricity will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by 10,250
lb and carbon dioxide by 12,300 tons, equivalent to planting
853,000 trees or eliminating 54,000,000 miles of driving.
DOE Completes Testing of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles
DOE's Field Operations Program has completed its baseline
performance testing of 10 neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs).
This testing focused on range, acceleration, top speed, braking,
handling, gradeability, and charging efficiency. The range
test results for the NEVs varied from 31 to 53 miles per charge;
the average range was 38 miles per charge.
The vehicles were produced by:
Frazer Nash: 2 models tested
Global Electric Motors (GEM): 4 models tested
ParCar: 2 models tested
Th!nk (Ford): 2 models tested
For more information, visit the testing results/neighborhood
EVs links on the Light-Duty Electric Vehicles Web page or
contact Jim Francfort at 208-526-6787.
Ford AFVs can make a world of difference
Fleets may be able to take advantage of incentives from Ford
and the federal government to expand their AFV fleets. Fleets
that order F-150 dedicated and bi-fuel CNG pickups; F-150
bi-fuel LPG pickups; E-Series vans and wagons; E-Series cutaways
(for shuttle, parcel delivery, or school bus applications);
and Crown Victoria sedans (for commercial and taxi applications)
may have a solid business case for adding Ford AFVs.
The incentives are:
Federal government: As much as $1000
Ford AFV incentive: As much as $1500
Ford early order incentive: $1000 for ordering a 2003 Ford
AFV by September 30, 2002
For more information, call 877-593-4716 or download the 2003
Ford AFV Incentives (PDF 590 KB).
Fuel Cell Project Begins in Cleveland Area
Earth Day Coalition's Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels Program will
partner with AltFuel Solutions to place a demonstration hydrogen
fuel station project in the Cleveland area. Earth Day Coalition
was named to DOE's top 10 performing Clean Cities Coalitions
in 1999 and 2000. AltFuel Solutions received a Smart Energy
project designation and grant from the Ohio Department of
Development for the recently launched Ohio fuel cell initiative.
The new facility will refuel natural gas, hydrogen, and hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles, using on-site natural gas. It will include
a small stationary fuel cell fueled by excess station hydrogen
and will supply power to the station and local power grid.
It also will include rooftop solar panels to supply additional
power, and a minimum 72-seat learning center.
Engineers Develop Process to Make Hydrogen from Glucose
Chemical engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
have developed a new process to produce hydrogen from glucose,
a sugar produced by many plants. The process shows particular
promise because it occurs at low temperatures in the liquid
phase, so it doesn't require the energy needed to heat and
vaporize the glucose solution. The low temperature also yields
very little carbon monoxide, which can damage fuel cells.
In fact, the process produces fuel-cell-grade hydrogen in
a single step. However, the researchers note that the hydrogen
yields need to be improved and the catalyst cost reduced.
Glucose is manufactured in vast quantities from corn starch,
but can also be derived from sugar beets or low-cost waste
streams like paper mill sludge, cheese whey, corn stover,
or wood waste. There research was published in last week's
edition of the journal Nature.
Biofuels Get Boost in Western New York
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) and NOCO Energy Corp. announced the first shipment
(20,000 gallons) of biodiesel fuel entered into New York State.
NOCO will blend the biodiesel with conventional diesel and
market it in the Buffalo-Niagara Region as B20. NOCO is the
first biodiesel retailer in the state and is trying to become
the first certified B20 marketer in the country.
In addition, the two partners announced that NOCO will use
support from NYSERDA and the U.S. Department of Energy to
develop an ethanol fueling network for Western New York. The
demand for biofuels is rising rapidly because of their potential
to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
NYSERDA is partnering with NOCO on development and demonstration
projects for biofuels to displace petroleum-based diesel and
fuel oil products.
NOCO will also develop a network of three strategically located,
public access E85 fueling sites at NOCO retail fueling stations
in the Buffalo metropolitan area. These sites will initially
be used by the U.S. Postal Service to fuel 100 of its flexible
fuel vehicles. Additional participating fleets from the NYS
Thruway Authority, major universities, and local federal government
departments are expected to benefit from this project.
In related news, NYSERDA, Hannaford Markets, and Creative
Energy Decisions have partnered to provide energy-efficiency
improvements at 26 Hannaford Supermarkets in northern, central,
and eastern New York. NYSERDA Funding for this project comes
from NYSERDA's New York Energy $martSM program, which is designed
to lower electricity costs by encouraging energy efficiency
as the State's electric utilities move to competition.
For more information visit the NYSERDA Web site or call toll-free
866-697-3732.
ASTM Issues Biodiesel Fuel Standard
ASTM has issued a fuel specification for biodiesel, an alternative
fuel that can be made from any fat or oil, such as soybean
oil. Specification D 6751, Standard Specification for Biodiesel
Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels, applies to all
biodiesel fuel bought and sold in the United States. It marks
a major milestone for the biodiesel industry. The ASTM Biodiesel
Task Force began working on the standard in 1994. Fuel producers,
users, engine makers, and others all had an opportunity to
provide input.
Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine, usually with no
modifications. It performs comparably to diesel, with similar
Btu content and higher cetane. It offers excellent lubricity
and lower emissions than petroleum diesel. D 6751 covers the
incorporation of pure biodiesel (B100) into conventional diesel
fuel up to 20% by volume (B20). Higher blend levels may be
acceptable, depending on the experience of the engine company.
More than 100 major fleets, including the U.S. Postal Service,
the City of Philadelphia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
several public transit systems, national parks, school districts,
private recycling and concrete companies, and the National
Aeronautics & Space Administration, currently use B20.
Biodiesel is registered with the Environmental Protection
Agency as a fuel and fuel additive. It is the only alternative
fuel to have completed the rigorous Health Effects testing
requirements of the Clean Air Act. Results show biodiesel
reduces carcinogenic air toxics by 75%-90% compared to diesel.
Pure biodiesel (B100) is also nontoxic, biodegradable, and
essentially sulfur free. It reduces emissions of particulate
matter, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates,
and carbon dioxide.
Those interested can buy a copy of the standard for $30 at
ASTM, call customer service at (610) 832-9585, or e-mail service@astm.org.
Readers can learn more about biodiesel by visiting the National
Biodiesel Board.
GSA Automobile Auction to Be Held in Omaha
Omaha Auto Auctions will hold a GSA automobile auction on
August 22 at 3:00 p.m. Approximately 50 dedicated and bi-fuel
CNG vehicles will be up for auction. For more information,
see the GSA Web site.
EPA Is Developing Dedicated E85 Vehicle
The EPA has announced that a dedicated E85 vehicle is now
in the works. This new clean-burning vehicle is expected to
produce low criteria emissions and have one-third higher fuel
efficiency than a gasoline engine.
The EPA estimates that the dedicated vehicle will cost consumers
less than an E85 flexible fuel vehicle. Automakers are concerned
about the limited volume potential of dedicated vehicles,
given the availability of E85. However, E85 is becoming increasingly
available. DOE recently granted funds to Clean Cities coalitions
to install 20 new E85 pumps.
New York's AFV Tax Credit Extended
The New York State Legislature recently approved a Governor's
program bill to extend New York's Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Tax Credit for one year, until December 31, 2003. The tax
credit was to expire this year. Furthermore, the exemption
from sales tax of the incremental vehicle cost has been extended
until February, 2004.
The legislation also clarifies the amount of credit ($2000)
that will be available to purchasers of qualified HEVs. The
sales tax exemption can be applied to $3,000 of the cost of
the qualified hybrids. A qualified HEV is a motor vehicle,
other than an electric vehicle, that draws propulsion energy
from both an internal combustion engine (or heat engine that
uses combustible fuel) and an energy storage device; and employs
a regenerative vehicle braking system that recovers waste
energy to charge such energy storage device. Certain aspects
of the legislation are retroactive, and purchasers should
check with the New York State Department of Tax and Finance
for details.
All other provisions of New York's AFV Tax Incentive remain
the same.
E85 Scores Big in DOE Grants Program!
DOE recently issued a total of $807,403 in grants to help
establish an additional 20 public and private E85 fueling
stations across the nation.See the press releasefor the complete
story.
Also, a complete list of 2002 Alternative Fuel Projects supported
by the DOE-State Energy Program can be found at http://www.e85fuel.com/news/070202SEPall.htm.
$4.6 Million Awarded for Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Infrastructure
On June 28 Secretary Spencer Abraham announced the selection
of awards totaling more than $4.6 million to 24 states and
the District of Columbia for building local markets for alternative
fuels and vehicles in 55 communities that participate in the
department's Clean Cities Program. The winners of the competitive
grants will purchase alternative fuel vehicles, develop refueling
stations and infrastructure, deploy alternative fuel school
buses, and develop alternative fuel vehicle platforms. To
learn more and see which states received grants, visit www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/junpr/pr02131.htm.
DaimlerChrylser FCV Completes Cross-Country Trip
On May 20, 2002, in San Francisco, DaimlerChrysler's NECAR
5 began a historic cross-country trip. It became the first
fuel cell vehicle to complete the 3,000-mile trip, arriving
in Washington, D.C., on June 4.
NECAR 5 is powered by methanol, an alcohol-based alternative
fuel used to carry hydrogen to the vehicle's fuel cell. A
chemical reaction takes place when hydrogen combines with
oxygen in the fuel cell "stack" to produce electricity
used to power the motor and auxiliary systems. Members of
the NECAR 5 team provided methanol for the trip every 300
miles. Ferdinand Panik, head of the DaimlerChrysler fuel cell
project, said, "Our goal was to make it to Washington,
D.C., to deliver the message that fuel cell technology is
rapidly advancing."
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