Clean Cities 2009 Vehicle Buyer's Guide
11/1/2008
This 32-page booklet offers information about available 2009 alternative fuel vehicles including natural gas, propane, electric, hybrid, ethanol and biodiesel vehicles.
Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum
11/1/2008
The Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum (NGVTF) supports development and deployment of commercially competitive natural gas engines, vehicles, and infrastructure. Led by the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commissino, the NGVTF brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to share information and leverage resources.
Federal Tax Incentives Encourage Alternative Fuel Use
5/1/2008
The U.S. government provides several tax incentives for purchasing alternative fuel, hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles; installing alternative fueling infrastructure; and producing, selling, or using alternative fuels. The IRS has defined alternative fuels as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); compressed natural gas (CNG); liquefied natural gas (LNG); liquefied hydrogen; liquid fuel derived from coal through the Fischer-Tropsch process; liquid hydrocarbons derived from biomass including ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel; and P-series fuels. Current federal tax incentives are outlined in this fact sheet.
Options for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles in Greensburg, Kansas
5/1/2008
After a devastating tornado that destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kansas in May 2007, plans were developed to rebuild the town as a sustainable community. This report focuses on outlining key success factors of infrastructure, alternative vehicles, and alternative and renewable fuels as part of an integrated energy strategy.
Authors: Harrow, G.
Frequently Asked Questions about Converting Vehicles to Operate on Natural Gas
4/1/2008
Many people are investigating options to retrofit or convert their car or pick-up truck to run solely on natural gas or to run as a bi-fuel vehicle on either gasoline or natural gas. This document answers basic questions regarding the conversion of light-duty vehicles including: conversion system availability; installation, service and warranty issues; costs; and available tax credits.
BAE/Orion Hybrid Electric Buses at New York City Transit
1/1/2008
This report is part of a series of evaluation from the U.S. Department of Energy through the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) at NREL. The role of AVTA is to bridge the gap between research and development and the commercial availability for advanced vehicle technologies that reduce petroleum use while meeting air quality standards.
DOE/NREL evaluated the original 10 prototype diesel-hybrid buses from Orion and BAE Systems operated by the New York City Transit Co. (NYCT) The next report focused on 10 new compressed natural gas (CNG) and 10 next generation diesel hybrid electric buses. In the present evaluation, the focus is on hybrid-electric transit buses (equipped with BAE Systems' HybriDrive propulsion system) purchased by NYCT in an order group of 200 (Gen II), and their performance during their first year of service.
Authors: Barnitt, R.
Sorting Through the Many Total-Energy-Cycle Pathways Possible with Early Plug-In Hybrids
12/1/2007
Using the "total energy cycle" methodology, the report compares U.S. near term (to about 2015) alternative pathways for converting energy to light-duty vehicle kilometers of travel (VKT) in plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), hybrids (HEVs), and conventional vehicles. For PHEVs, we present total energy-per-unit-of-VKT information two ways: (1) energy from the grid during charge depletion; (2) energy from stored on-board fossil fuel when charge sustaining. The report examines incremental sources of supply of liquid fuel such as oil sands, Fischer-Tropsch diesel via natural gas, and ethanol from cellulosic biomass. The report compares such fuel pathways to various possible power converters producing electricity, including new coal boilers;integrated, gasified coal combined cycle;existing natural gas fueled combined cycle;existing natural gas combustion turbines;wood-to-electricity;and wind/solar. Also considered was a simulated fuel cell HEV and a plug-in hybrid fuel cell vehicle.
Authors: Gaines, L.; Burnham, A.; Rousseau, A.; Santini, D.
Natural Gas Engine Development
11/1/2006
This report outlines the subcontract program undertaken by John Deere & Co. for the laboratory development of natural gas engines that would be certifiable to emission levels below the 2004 federal standards (2.5 g/bhp-hr NOx + NMHC) and be commercially viable. Following lab development, the engines were field-tested on New Flyer model CF-40 buses.
Authors: Lekar, T.C.; Martin, T.J.
New York City Transit (NYCT) Hybrid (125 Order) and CNG Transit Buses: Final Evaluation Results
11/1/2006
This report is one of a series of evaluations by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), that track and evaluate new propulsion systems in transit buses and trucks using established and documented evaluation protocol. DOE/NREL evaluated the original 10 prototype diesel-hybrid buses from Orion and BAE Systems (model Orion VI buses) operated by New York City Transit (NYCT). That evaluation was reported in July 2002 and provided results from the prototype buses from 1998 through 2001. This report focuses on 10 new compressed natural gas (CNG) and next generation diesel hybrid electric bus propulsion systems in NYCT's transit buses.
Authors: Barnitt, R., Chandler, K.
US10 Capable Prototype Volvo MG11 Natural Gas Engine Development: Final Report
10/1/2006
This project was designed to develop a low emissions natural gas engine. The emission targets for this project were 0.27 g/kW-hr (0.2 g/bhp-hr) of NOx and 0.013 g/kW-hr (0.01 g/bhp-hr) of particulate matter. To meet the objective, a chemically correct (stoichiometric) combustion, natural gas engine with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and a three-way catalyst was development. In addition to low emissions, diesel-like efficiencies were targeted trough the use of a Sturman camless Hydraulic Actuated Valve (HVA) system.
Authors: Tai, C.; Reppert, T.; Chiu, J.; Christensen, L.; Knoll, K.; Stewart, J.
Designing New Transit Bus Garages to be Fuel Flexible
5/12/2006
The basic differences between the properties of gaseous and liquid fuels influence building design requirements for transit bus garages. Leaks, flammability range, and ignition temperatures must be considered when designing the structure, utilities, ventilation, and safety equipment.
Authors: Adams, R.
Lessons Learned from Alternative Transportation Fuels: Modeling Transition Dynamics
2/1/2006
Much attention has been given to the use of hydrogen as an alternative transportation fuel, but hydrogen was certainly not the first fuel considered as an alternative to gasoline for transportation applications. Options ranging from all-electric vehicles to those running on natural gas, propane, ethanol, and biodiesel have also received both industry and government attention. Unfortunately, previous government efforts to encourage widespread adoption of alternative fuel vehicles have been largely unsuccessful. The National Academy of Engineering suggested that 'DOE might have its greatest impact by leading the private economy toward transition strategies rather than to ultimate visions of an energy infrastructure markedly different from the one now in place.'
This report focuses on understanding how analytical system modeling coupled with actual data from previous alternative-fuel experiences could improve our understanding of the dynamic forces governing the transition to an alternative-fueled vehicle system.
Authors: Welch, Cory