Publications

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - June 29, 2004

6/29/2004

This is the twelfth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between June 14 and June 25, 2004, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report, which were collected in March, 2004.

Authors: Lott, M.

Development of the High-Pressure Direct-Injected, Ultra Low-NO_x Natural Gas Engine: Final Report

5/1/2004

This project targeted development of a high-efficiency, low-emission natural gas engine for heavy-duty trucks. Specifically, it targeted the demonstration of a Cummins ISX engine using HPDI natural gas fueling and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) meeting the following specifications:

• Peak torque of 1,650 ft-lb (2,236 N-m)
• Rated power of 450 hp (335 kW)
• Peak thermal efficiency of 40% with typical diesel part-load efficiency
• NO_x emissions of 0.5 g/bhp-hr
• PM emissions of 0.1 g/bhp-hr
• Substitution of diesel with natural gas greater than 90% over the certification cycle

Testing and modeling of an otherwise unmodified Cummins ISX engine with EGR and HPDI fueling indicated that the program goals could not be met with the standard production hardware. Therefore, a turbocharger using a smaller trim compressor and a second EGR cooler were fitted to the engine along with an oxidation catalyst.

Authors: Duggal, V.K.; Pike-Lyford, E.J.; Wright, J.F.; Dunn, M.; Goudie, D.; Munshi, S.

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - March 23, 2004

3/23/2004

This is the eleventh issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between March 3 and March 17, 2004, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report, which were collected in December, 2003.

Authors: Lott, M.

1990 Clean Air Act Amendment Summary

2/24/2004

Clean Air Act of 1990 with amendments through January 2004

Demonstration of a Low-NO_x Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine

2/1/2004

This project demonstrated a heavy-duty natural gas engine emission reduction strategy resulting in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions of 0.54 g/bhp-h and particulate matter (PM) emissions of 0.004 g/bhp-h. Reducing NOx and PM emissions is crucial for meeting increasingly strict regulations (Figure 1). By 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require NOx emissions of 0.2 g/bhp-h or less and PM emissions of 0.01 g/bhp-h or less. The technology demonstrated in this project may help natural gas engines meet the 2010 requirements. It is anticipated that this would lead to more extensive use of natural gas vehicles, resulting in reduced petroleum consumption.

City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation LNG Heavy-Duty Trucks

2/1/2004

This fact sheet describes an Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) field study for Dual-Fuel? liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuse trucks used by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. The study showed that the trucks with Dual-Fuel engines were best suited to meet the operational requirements of refuse collection. Specifically, the Dual-Fuel trucks had adequate horsepower and torque and could be operated safely over all terrains covered by the Bureau's refuse collection service.

Fuel and Fuel Additive Registration Testing for Ethanol-Diesel Blend for O2Diesel, Inc.

2/1/2004

Testing was performed on a heavy-duty diesel engine in support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for registration of designated fuels and fuel additives as stipulated by sections 211(b) and 211(e) of the Clean Air Act. Emission generation, collection, and analysis of the regulated emissions and speciation of vapor-phase and semi-volatile hydrocarbon compounds were performed on a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine manufactured in 2002 and meeting the 1998 federal heavy-duty emission standards that applied in 2002.

Authors: Fanick, E.R.; O2Diesel, Inc.

State-Level Workshops on Ethanol for Transportation

1/31/2004

In 2002/2003, under contract to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, BBIInternational conducted state-level workshops ethanol in Hawaii, Nevada, Kentucky and California. These four workshops followed over 30 other workshops previous held under the Ethanol Workshop Series program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Two other workshops were conducted by BBI International during 2003, Oklahoma and Kansas, under contract to the Western Regional Biomass Energy Program.The Ethanol Workshop Series (EWS) was intended to provide a forum for interest groups to gather and discuss what needs to be accomplished to facilitate ethanol production in-state using local biomass resources. In addition, the EWS was to provide a promotional and educational forum for policy makers, community leaders, media and potential stakeholders. It was recognized that to eventually achieve biomass-ethanol production, it was necessary to supportgrain-ethanol production as a bridge.The long-term goal of the Workshops was to facilitate the development of biomass ethanol plants at a state-level. The near-term goal was to provide correct and positive information for education, promotion, production and use of fuel ethanol. The EWS drew from 65 to over 200 attendees and were deemed by the local organizers to have served the objectives set out by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Authors: Graf, Angela

Biomass Power and Conventional Fossil Systems with and without CO2 Sequestration--Comparing the Energy Balance, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economics

1/31/2004

Power generation emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). Sequestering CO2 from the power plant flue gas can significantly reduce the GHGs from the power plant itself, but this is not the total picture. CO2 capture and sequestration consumes additional energy, thus lowering the plant's fuel-to-electricity efficiency. To compensate for this, more fossil fuel must be procured and consumed to make up for lost capacity. Taking this into consideration, the global warming potential (GWP), which is a combination of CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and energy balance of the system need to be examined using a life cycle approach. This takes into account the upstream processes which remain constant after CO2 sequestration as well as the steps required for additional power generation.

Authors: Spath, Pam; Mann, Margaret

Business Management for Biodiesel Producers

1/31/2004

The material contained in this book is intended to provide the reader with information about biodiesel in four basic areas: (1) Biodiesel and the liquid fuels industry, (2) Biodiesel business start-up issues, (3) Legal and regulatory issues, and (4) Operational concerns. Information about production of biodiesel and maintaining quality control are covered in separate publicatons.

Authors: Gerpen, Jon Van

State-Level Workshops on Ethanol for Transportation - Final Report

1/30/2004

In 2002/2003, under contract to NREL, BBI International conducted state-level ethanol workshops in Hawaii, Nevada, Kentucky, and California. These four workshops followed over 30 other workshops previously held under the Ethanol Workshop Series program sponsored by DOE. Two other workshops were conducted by BBI during 2003 in OK and KS under contract to the Western Regional Biomass Energy Program.

Authors: Graf, Angela

The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs

1/1/2004

This 374-page report assesses the current state of technology for producing hydrogen from a variety of energy sources; estimates current and projected future costs, CO2 emissions and energy efficiencies for hydrogen technologies; considers scenarios for the potential penetration of hydrogen into the economy and associated impacts on oil imports and CO2 gas emissions; addresses hydrogen distribution, storage and dispensation; reviews the U.S. DOE's research, development and demonstration (RD&D) plan for hydrogen; and makes recommendations to the DOE and RD&D, including directions, priorities and strategies.

Notes: Copies of this document can be purchased from the National Academies Press Websites at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10922

Production of Butyric Acid and Butanol from Biomass

1/1/2004

Butanol was used to replace gasoline gallon for gallon in a 10,000 mile trip across the U.S. without the need to highy modify a 1992 Buick. Butanol can now be made for less than ethanol and yields more BTUs from the same corn, making the plow-to-tire equation positive. Butanol when substituted for gasoline gives better gas mileage and does not pollute the atmosphere.

Authors: Ramey, D.; Yang, S-T

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - December 30, 2003

12/30/2003

This is the tenth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of December 1, and December 8, 2003, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report, which were collected in February 2003.

Authors: Lott, M.

The Economic Costs of Fuel Economy Standards Versus a Gasoline Tax

12/1/2003

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the Congress in policies that would reduce gasoline consumption in the United States. That interest has been motivated primarily by concerns about the nation's energy security and about the risk that carbon emissions, 20 percent of which come from gasoline consumption, may affect the Earth's climate. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study—prepared at the request of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works—compares the economic costs of two methods for reducing gasoline consumption: raising the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for passenger vehicles and increasing the federal tax on gasoline. In analyzing CAFE standards, the study also estimates the potential cost savings from allowing automakers to trade fuel economy credits with one another as a way of complying.

The study breaks down the costs that each of the alternative policies would impose on both producers and consumers. Further, it discusses the prospects for CAFE standards to improve social welfare given that the existing gasoline tax also provides consumers an incentive to buy more-fuel-efficient vehicles. In keeping with CBO's mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, this study makes no recommendations.

Authors: Austin, D.; Dinan, T.

Notes: Copies of this document can be downloaded from the Congressional Budget Office Website at: ftp://ftp.cbo.gov/49xx/doc4917/12-24-03_CAFE.pdf.