Publications

Developing Markets for Zero Emission Vehicles in Short Haul Goods Movement

12/10/2020

This report examines the potential market share for zero emission heavy duty trucks (ZEHDTs) via simulation modeling, case studies, interviews, and a survey. It assesses the impacts of ZEHDTs on freight operations. Additionally, it compares the costs and benefits of using diesel, natural gas hybrid, and all-electric vehicles for 2020, 2025, and 2030. Lastly, this report presents recommendations for promoting and increasing the market share of ZEHDTs and hybrids.

Authors: Giuliano, G., Dessouky, M., Dexter, S., Fang, J., Hu, S., Steimetz, S.

Notes:

This copyrighted publication can be accessed through the University of California, Davis National Center for Sustainable Transportation website.

Cow Power: A Case Study of Renewable Compressed Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel

8/1/2017

This case study explores the production and use of R-CNG--derived from dairy farm manure--to fuel heavy-duty milk tanker trucks operating in Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky. It describes the joint endeavor of Fair Oaks Farms, an Indiana-based large dairy cooperative, and ampCNG, a provider of natural gas refueling infrastructure.

Authors: Tomich, M.; Mintz, M.

Waste-to-Fuel: A Case Study of Converting Food Waste to Renewable Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel

8/1/2017

This case study examines the production and use of R-CNG--derived from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste--to fuel heavy-duty refuse trucks and other natural gas vehicles in Sacramento, California. It highlights the joint endeavor of Atlas Disposal Industries, a waste management and recycling services company, and CleanWorld, a technology provider specializing in anaerobic digesters.

Authors: Tomich, M.; Mintz, M.

Case Study: Natural Gas Regional Transport Trucks

8/1/2016

Learn about Ryder System, Inc.'s experience in deploying nearly 200 CNG and LNG heavy-duty trucks and construction and operation of L/CNG stations using ARRA funds. Using natural gas in its fleet, Ryder mitigated the effects of volatile fuel pricing and reduced lifecycle GHGs by 20% and petroleum by 99%.

Authors: Laughlin, M.; Burnham, A.

Developing a Natural Gas-Powered Bus Rapid Transit Service: A Case Study

11/4/2015

The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) and its VelociRFTA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program are unique in many ways. For example, VelociRFTA was the first rural BRT system in the United States and the operational environment of the VelociRFTA BRT is one of the most severe in the country, with extreme winter temperatures and altitudes close to 8,000 feet. RFTA viewed high altitude operation as the most challenging characteristic when it began considering the use of natural gas. RFTA is the second-largest public transit system in Colorado behind Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD), and it is one of the largest rural public transit systems in the country. In 2013, RFTA accepted delivery of 22 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that went into service after completion of maintenance and refueling facilities earlier that year. This paper examines the lessons learned from RFTA's experience of investigating--and ultimately choosing--CNG for their new BRT program and focuses on the unique environment of RFTA's BRT application; the decision process to include CNG fueling in the project; unforeseen difficulties encountered in the operation of CNG buses; public perception; cost comparison to competing fuels; and considerations for indoor fueling facilities and project funding.

Authors: Mitchell, G.

Case Study - Compressed Natural Gas Refuse Fleets

2/1/2014

This case study explores the use of heavy-duty refuse trucks fueled by compressed natural gas highlighting three fleets from very different types of organizations.

Authors: Laughlin, M; Burnham, A.

Case Study - Liquefied Natural Gas

6/1/2013

As a part of the U.S. Department of Energy's broad effort to develop cleaner transportation technologies that reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil, this study examines advanced 2011 natural gas fueled trucks using liquefied natural gas (LNG) replacing older diesel fueled trucks. The trucks are used 6 days per week in regional city-to-landfill long hauls of incinerator waste with two fills per day. This is a workable fit for the limited range LNG trucks. Reduction of fuel costs and harmful emissions relative to the replaced trucks are significant.

Experiences with Compressed Natural Gas in Colorado Vehicle Fleets; Case Study Analysis

8/1/2012

This series of case studies is the product of in-person and telephone interviews with three Colorado fleet managers who use compressed natural gas (CNG) as a vehicle fuel and interviews with other CNG stakeholders. The fleets were selected using criteria that are intended to increase the usefulness of the overall product, including geographic diversity, length of CNG experience, diversity of vehicles, and ownership model. The case studies are based on a framework constructed with broad stakeholder input, designed to provide detailed information on fleet manager experiences with CNG vehicles and fueling infrastructure.

Featured fleets include the following: Republic Services (Republic), a private sector waste and environmental management firm with a CNG fleet based in the Denver metro area; Denver International Airport (DIA), an airport with more than 15 years of experience with CNG and proven success as a CNG hub; and City of Grand Junction, a Western Slope municipality with a public/private partnership to provide public CNG fueling.

Guide for Identifying and Converting High-Potential Petroleum Brownfield Sites to Alternative Fuel Stations

5/1/2011

Former gasoline stations that are now classified as brownfields can be good sites to sell alternative fuels because they are in locations that are convenient to vehicles and they may be seeking a new source of income. However, their success as alternative fueling stations is highly dependent on location-specific criteria, how to prioritize them, and then applies that assessment framework to five of the most popular alternative fuels?electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel.

The second part of this report delves into the criteria and tools used to assess an alternative fuel retail site at the local level. It does this through two case studies of converting former gasoline stations in the Seattle-Eugene area into electric charge stations.

The third part of this report addresses steps to be taken after the specific site has been selected. This includes choosing and installing the recharging equipment, steps to take in the permitting process and key players to include.

Authors: Johnson, C.; Hettinger, D.

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Best Practice Case Study: The Saunders Hotel Group of Boston - Driving Their Guests Towards a Safer Future

1/1/2005

The Saunders Hotel Group has been at the forefront of environmental advances in the hospitality industry for over fifteen years. The Boston-based family business, which owns and operates The Lenox and Copley Square Hotels as well as the Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport, has instituted more than 90 innovative, eco-friendly programs company wide. Their pioneering efforts have demonstrated for hotels worldwide how environmental measures can build customer loyalty and employee productivity while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Waste Management LNG Truck Fleet Alternative Fuel Truck Evaluation Project: Final Results

1/1/2001

Waste Management, Inc. a private company based in Houston, Texas, began operating a fleet of heavy-duty refuse trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) at it Washington, Pennsylvania facility in 1997. Waste Management currently operates seven LNG refuse trucks at that site. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies sponsored a research project to collect and analyze data on the performance and operation costs of five Waste Management's LNG trucks in commercial service, for comparison with data on the performance of three diesel trucks operating on similar routes. This report presents an evaluation of five of the first seven LNG trucks produced by Mack. Mack partnered with Waste Management in Washington, Pennsylvania, to field test its natural gas engine design and gain experience.

Authors: Norton, P.;Chandler, K.;Clark, N.

Alternative Fuel Case Study: UPS Delivers with Alternative Fuels

8/1/1999

This four-page fact sheet discusses how the United Parcel Service has integrated alternative fuel vehicles, specifically CNG vehicles, into their fleets. UPS has operated its service with many different kinds of AFVs since the early 1930s. The fact sheet also discusses the different types of alternative fuels and the types of AFVs UPS has incorporated into their fleets.

Authors: Whalen, M.

Waste Management LNG Truck Fleet - Start-Up Experience

8/1/1999

This report highlights the start-up experience of Waste Management's truck fleet.

Authors: Norton, P.

The Pierce Transit Story Case Study

1/1/1998

In 1986, Pierce Transit made a commitment to the future of the transportation industry and to the environment by deciding to put buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) into everyday service. This case study outlines the company's success and how it was achieved.

Running Refuse Haulers on Compressed Natural Gas (Case Study)

11/1/1997

Since 1992, six new refuse haulers have logged more than 60,000 miles--cleaner, quieter miles, with miles with good horsepower and speed as compared to their diesel counterparts. The U.S. Department of Energy sponsors this project. The Alternative Fuels Data Center at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has been gathering data on these trucks since they went into service.