Publications

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, October 2009

10/1/2009

The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for October 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 October 16 and October 26, 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 20 cents per gallon from $2.44 per gallon to $2.64 per gallon; CNG has risen 13 cents from $1.73 to $1.86; and ethanol (E85) has risen 14 cents from $2.13 to $2.27 per gallon. CNG is about 78 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about 57 cents more per gallon than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.

Authors: Laughlin, M.D.

Clean Cities Annual Metrics Report 2008

9/1/2009

Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asks Clean Cities coordinators to submit an annual report of their activities and accomplishments for the previous calendar year. Approximately 412 million gallons of gasoline were displaced through the Clean Cities efforts in 2008?14% more than in 2007. This displacement represents the combined results of the activities reported by coalitions (as analyzed by NREL) and the impacts of the Fuel Economy Guide and related activities (as estimated by ORNL). Three major changes were made to the Clean Cities survey this year: E10 is no longer counted toward petroleum displacement goals, coordinators no longer relied on a default assumption for the percent of time flex-fueled vehicles used alternative fuel, and B20 was moved from the AFV to the blends category. The first of these changes substantially reduced the reported petroleum displacement by blends from what they otherwise would have been in 2008. AFVs still accounted for the largest share (48%) of the total 412-million-gallon displacement. Fuel economy impacts (combined impacts of coalition and ORNL activity) were responsible for displacing 129 million gallons. The use of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) as fuels for AFVs and in low-level biodiesel blends displaced 100 million gallons, or 24% of the total, and idle reduction and HEV technologies combined to displace 20 million gallons. 2008 was the first year that greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions were estimated for Clean Cities activities. The program kept a total of 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from being emitted to the atmosphere?the equivalent of removing over 507,000 passenger cars from U.S. roads.

Authors: Bergeron, P.; Johnson, C.

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.

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.

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.

CNG Fuel System Inspector Study Guide

1/1/2009

The CSA test contains approximately sixty multiple choice questions. There may be additional test questions included that are for evaluation purposes only and will not be part of the final scoring. The questions are based on expert opinions from a cross section of the CNG industry after consideration of the skills and knowledge that a minimally qualified applicant should have. They are taken in proportion to their importance from a carefully constructed set of objectives or tasks that inspectors would be expected to perform.

In preparation for taking the exam, you should first evaluate yourself against these objectives. Honestly consider if you are confident that you know each specific task listed in the following Task List. Note the percentage of questions you can expect in each category and check Yes (Y) or No (N) as you grade yourself. This will form the basis for any additional study you need prior to taking the test.

Authors: Horne, D.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, April 2008

4/1/2008

The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for April 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 April 1 and April 11, 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 44 cents from $2.99 per gallon to $3.43 per gallon; CNG has risen 11 cents from $1.93 to $2.04; and ethanol (E85) has risen 36 cents from $2.51 to $2.87 per gallon.

Authors: Laughlin, M.D.

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - January 2008

1/1/2008

The January 2008 Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report keeping you up to date 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 Jan. 21 and Jan. 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 illustrates that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has risen 23 cents to $2.99 per gallon; CNG has risen 16 cents to $1.93; and ethanol (E85) has risen 11 cents to $2.51 per gallon.

Authors: Laughlin, M.D.

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.

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

12/19/2007

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 put into law many of the provisions of Executive Order 13423. The goal of the EISA law is to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government.