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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, July 2009
7/1/2009
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for July 2009 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between July 20 and July 31, 2009, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 reports that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has risen 42 cents per gallon from $2.02 per gallon to $2.44 per gallon; CNG has risen 9 cents from $1.64 to $1.73; and ethanol (E85) has risen 25 cents from $1.88 to $2.13 per gallon. CNG is about 71 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about 31 cents less per gallon than gasoline.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Lessons Learned during Creation of the I-65 Biofuels Corridor
6/1/2009
This report summarizes lessons learned in the process of creating the I-65 biofuel corridor. Lessons included: (1) strong partners lead to great projects; (2)communicate early and often; (3) if you advertise, they will come; (4)be prepared and be flexible; (5) big events attract big media coverage.
Biodiesel Clears the Air in Underground Mines
6/1/2009
Biodiesel has many advantages over petroleum diesel for people who live and work aboveground, but it is even more beneficial for those working underground. Because it produces less particulates when it burns, biodiesel fuel protects miners and helps mine operators meet air-quality standards.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, April 2009
5/1/2009
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for April 2009 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between April 1 and April 15, 2009, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 reports that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has risen 16 cents per gallon from $1.86 per gallon to $2.02 per gallon; CNG has risen one cent from $1.63 to $1.64; and ethanol (E85) has risen 7 cents from $1.81 to $1.88 per gallon. CNG is about 38 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about 63 cents more per gallon than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions
4/8/2009
The production and use of ethanol in the U.S. have been steadily increasing since 2001, boosted in part by production subsidies. That growth has exerted upward pressure on the price of corn and, ultimately, on the retail price of food, affecting both individual consumers and federal expenditures on nutritional support programs. It has also raised questions about the environmental consequences of replacing gasoline with ethanol. This analysis examines the relationship between increasing production of ethanol and rising prices for food. It estimated how much of the rise in food prices between 4/07 and 4/08 was due to an increase on the production of ethanol and how much that increase in prices might raise federal expenditure on food assistance programs.
Authors: Gecan, R.; Johansson, R.; FitzGerald, K.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, January 2009
2/1/2009
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for January 2009 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between January 12 and January 30, 2009, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 reports that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has dropped $1.18 from $3.04 per gallon to $1.86 per gallon; CNG has dropped 37 cents from $2.01 to $1.63; and ethanol (E85) has dropped $1.01 from $2.82 to $1.81 per gallon. CNG is about 23 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about 5 cents less per gallon than gasoline.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Energy Use and Emissions Comparison of Idling Reduction Options for Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks
11/15/2008
Pollution and energy analyses of different idling reduction (IR) technologies have been limited to localized vehicle emissions and neglected upstream energy use and regional emissions. In light of increasing regulation and government incentives for IR, we analyzed the full-fuel-cycle effects of contemporary approaches. Our analysis incorporates direct impacts at the truck and upstream energy use and emissions estimates from the GREET model with published climate and vehicle operation data. We compared emissions, energy use, and proximity to urban populations for nine alternatives, including idling, electrified parking spaces, auxiliary power units, and several combinations of these.
Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool
11/1/2008
The Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool helps fleets, consumers, and business owners create a strategy to reudce conventional fuel use in fleet and personal vehicles. This interactive tool allows users to evaluate and calculate petroleum reductions by choosing one or a combination of methods.
An Experimental and Modeling Study of the Flammability of Fuel Tank Headspace Vapors from High Ethanol Content Fuels
10/1/2008
An experimental and modeling study was done to determine the flammability of fuel tank headspace vapors as a function of ambient temperature for seven E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) fuel blends, two types of gasoline, and denatured ethanol at a low tank fill level. Samples in small, closed chambers were tested simultaneously in a cold chamber to determine flammability and pressure rise when ignited by a strong electric spark. Gasoline and E85 fuels were flammable below a critical temperature; above it, the vapor was too rich to burn. Denatured ethanol was flammable at room temperature and colder, down to a critical temperature; below it, the vapor was too lean to burn. The flammability limit temperature of the E85 and gasoline fuels related to the dry vapor pressure equivalent (DVPE), but DVPE did not reliably rank the low-temperature flammability hazards of fuel tank headspace vapors when conventional gasolines were compared with alcohol blends.
Authors: Gardiner, D.; Bardon, M.; Pucher, G.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, October 2008
10/1/2008
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for October 2008 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between October 2 and October 16, 2008, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 reports that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has dropped 87 cents from $3.91 per gallon to $3.04 per gallon; CNG has dropped 33 cents from $2.34 to $2.01; and ethanol (E85) has dropped 45 cents from $3.27 to $2.82 per gallon.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
National Survey of E85 and Gasoline Prices
10/1/2008
The objective of this study was to compare the retail prices of E85 (fuel containing 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) and regular gasoline nationally and regionally over time for one year between July 2007 and June 2008. The United States was divided into six sampling regions. A sampling plan of the approximately 1,200 E85 stations that were operating nationwide at the time was devised to allow statistically significant regional and temporal comparisons of the data to be made within the limited data collection budget available. Results indicate that the price of E85 appears to closely track that of gasoline, and the gap between E85 and gasoline appears to widen somewhat as the price of gasoline increases beyond about $3 per gallon.
Authors: Bergeron, P.
Clean Cities Annual Metrics Report 2007
9/1/2008
This report summarizes the Department of Energy's Clean Cities coalition accomplishments in 2007, including petroleum displacement data, membership, funding, sales of alternative fuel blends, deployment of AFVs and HEVs, idle reduction initiatives, and fuel economy activities.
Authors: Johnson, C.; Bergeron, P.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, July 2008
7/1/2008
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for July 2008 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between July 21 and July 31, 2008, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 reports that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has risen 48 cents from $2.99 per gallon to $3.91 per gallon; CNG has risen 30 cents from $2.04 to $2.34; and ethanol (E85) has risen 40 cents from $2.87 to $3.27 per gallon.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Statistical Analysis of the Factors Influencing Consumer Use of E85
7/1/2008
In 1997, eight E85 fuel pumps were installed at separate retail fuel stations in Minnesota to sell high-blend ethanol fuel to flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) owners. These state-level E85 efforts were part of larger federal and state policies and programs designed to promote the use of alternative fuels to displace traditional gasoline and diesel fuel. By the end of 2006, there were approximately 300 E85 fuel station locations. The amount of E85 fuel being used in the state was estimated at approximately 18 million gallons annually. Evaluating the sales patterns of E85 retail outlets can provide important information about consumer behavior regarding the use of E85, future E85 fueling infrastructure, and developing future alternative fuel policies and programs.
Authors: Bromiley, P.; Gerlach, T.; Marczak, K.; Taylor, M.; Dobrovolny, L.
SunLine Begins Extended Testing of Hybrid Fuel Cell Bus
6/1/2008
After 15 years of CNG-fueled transit buses, SunLine Transit Agency in Palm Springs, California, is seeking to expand its commitment to environmentally friendly alternative power systems by testing a prototype hybrid fuel cell bus.
