Ralphs Grocery EC-Diesel Truck Fleet: Final Results
1/1/2003
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies sponsored a research project to collect and analyze data on the performance and operation costs of 15 of Ralph's Grocery's diesel trucks fueled by Emissions Control Diesel (ECD, also known as EC-Diesel) or a related fuel, ECD-1, in commercial service, compared with the performance of 5 diesel trucks fueled by California Air Resources Board (CARB) diesel fuel and operating on similar routes. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory managed this project. This evaluation was part of the larger EC-Diesel Technology Validation Program sponsored by ARCO (a division of BP) to evaluate ECD (an ultra-low-sulfur diesel [ULSD] fuel) and passive regenerative catalyzed diesel particulate filter (DPF) technology on urban diesel vehicles. DPFs are intended to replace the original equipment muffler system and remove harmful emissions from the truck exhaust stream. ECD is intended to provide improved emission control and performance characteristics.
Authors: Chandler, K.; Vertin, K.; Alleman, T.; Clark, N.
A Bioethanol Process Development Unit: Initial Operating Experiences and Results with a Corn Fiber Feedstock
1/1/2003
Interest in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks for use as an alternative fuel is increasing, but near-term commercialization will require a low cost feedstock. One such feedstock, corn fiber, was tested in the US DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) bioethanol pilot plant for the purpose of testing integrated equipment operating and generating performance data. During initial runs in 1995, the plant was operated for two runs lasting 10 and 15 days each and utilized unit operations for feedstock handling, pretreatment by dilute sulfuric-acid hydrolysis, yeast inoculum production, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using a commercially available cellulase enzyme. Although significant operational problems were encountered, as would be expected with the startup of any new plant, operating experience was gained and preliminary data were generated on corn fiber pretreatment and subsequent fermentation of the pretreated material. Bacterial contamination was a significant problem during these fermentations.
Authors: Schell, D.J.; C.J. Riley, N. Dowe, J. Farmer, K.N. Ibsen, M.F. Ruth, S.T. Toon (NREL) R.E. Lumpkin (SWAN)
Fuel Cell Vehicles: Race to a New Automotive Future
1/1/2003
This assessment discusses the status of global efforts to address the technical and economic barriers including cost and infrastructure to the widespread adoption of fuel cell vehicles and thereby usher in a new transportation future. While the successful resolution of remaining technical and economic barriers to fuel cell vehicles is not a foregone conclusion, success is closer than ever before.
Notes: Copies of this document can be downloaded from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Technology Administration Web site at: http://www.ta.doc.gov/reports/TechPolicy/CD117a-030129.pdf.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - December 27, 2002
12/27/2002
This is the eighth 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 October 21, October 28, and November 4, 2002, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report which were collected in July, 2002.
Authors: Lott, M.
National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap
11/1/2002
Hydrogen holds the potential to provide a clean, reliable, and affordable energy supply that can enhance America's economy, environment, and security. This Roadmap provides a blueprint for the coordinated, long-term, public, and private efforts required for hydrogen energy development.
Fuel Choices for Fuel-Cell Vehicles: Well-to-Wheels Energy and Emission Impacts
10/24/2002
Because of their high energy efficiencies and low emissions, fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) are undergoing extensive research and development. While hydrogen will likely be the ultimate fuel to power fuel-cell vehicles, because of current infrastructure constraints, hydrogen-carrying fuels are being investigated as transitional fuel-cell fuels. A complete well-to-wheels (WTW) evaluation of fuel-cell vehicle energy and emission effects that examines (1) energy feedstock recovery and transportation; (2) fuel production, transportation, and distribution; and (3) vehicle operation must be conducted to assist decision makers in selecting the fuel-cell fuels that achieve the greatest energy and emission benefits.
A fuel-cycle model developed at Argonne National Laboratory—called the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model—was used to evaluate well-to-wheels energy and emission impacts of various fuel-cell fuels. The results show that different fuel-cell fuels can have significantly different energy and greenhouse gas emission effects. Therefore, if fuel-cell vehicles are to achieve the envisioned energy and emission reduction benefits, pathways for producing the fuels that power them must be carefully examined.
Authors: Michael Wang
Study of Exhaust Emissions from Idling Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks and Commercially Available Idle-Reducing Devices
10/1/2002
Heavy duty diesel truck idling contributes significantly to energy consumption in the United States. The EPA initiated a study to quantify long duration idling emissions and fuel consumption rates over a two year period. It performed 42 tests on nine class-8 trucks (model years ranging from 1980s to 2001). Two of those trucks were equipped with 11 hp diesel auxiliary power units (APUs), and one was equipped with a diesel direct fired heater (DFH). The APU powers electrical accessories, heating, and air conditioning, whereas the DFH heats the cab in lieu of truck idling. Results indicate that use of an APU can reduce idling fuel consumption by 50 to 80% and reduce NOx by 89 to 94%. The use of a DFH can reduce fuel consumption by 94 to 96% and reduce NOx by 99%.
Authors: Lim, H.
Issues Associated with the Use of Higher Ethanol Blends (E17-E24)
10/1/2002
This report reviews the issues associated with utilizing higher ethanol blends (E17-E24), and is intended to advise the Department of Energy (DOE) on factors that might encourage or constrain the integration of such blends into the marketplace. Subjects include technical vehicle issues, emissions and emissions testing, infrastructure, market issues, and regulatory and policy considerations.
Authors: Hammel-Smith, C.; J. Fang, M. Powders, J. Aabakken
An Emission and Performance Comparison of the Natural Gas Cummins Westport Inc. C-Gas Plus Versus Diesel in Heavy-Duty Trucks
10/1/2002
Comparison of in-use exhaust emissions, fuel economy, and fuel cost of the Cummins Westport Inc. C8.3G natural gas engine, the C Gas Plus, to similar 1997 Cummins C8.3 diesel tractors.
Authors: Kamel, M.; Lyford-Pike, E.; Frailey, M.; Bolin,M.; Clark, N.; Nine,R.; Wayne, S.
Using Unmodified Vegetable Oils as a Diesel Fuel Extender: A Literature Review
9/22/2002
This paper is a review of literature concerning using vegetable oils as a replacement for diesel fuel. The term vegetable oils as used in this paper refers to vegetable oils which have not been modified by transesterification or similar processes to form what is called biodiesel. The oils studied include virgin and used oils of various types including soy, rapeseed, canola, sunflower, cottonseed and similar oils. In general, raw vegetable oils can be used successfully in short term performance tests in nearly any percentage as a replacement for diesel fuel. When tested in long term tests blends above 20 percent nearly always result in engine damage or maintenance problems. Some authors report success in using vegetable oils as diesel fuel extenders in blends less than 20 percent even in long term durability studies. Degumming is suggested by one author as a way to improve use of raw oils in low level blends.
Authors: Jones, S.; Peterson C.L.
FreedomCAR Partnership Plan
9/5/2002
United States Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and senior executives of DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors announced the FreedomCAR Partnership on January 9, 2002. FreedomCAR is a research initiative focused on collaborative, pre-competitive, high-risk research to develop the component technologies necessary to provide a full range of affordable cars and light trucks that will free the nation's personal transportation system for petroleum dependence and from harmful vehicle emissions, without sacrificing freedom of mobility and freedom of vehicle choice. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), representing DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation are the partners in the initiative. The partners will jointly conduct strategic planning, determine technical requirements, identify needed resources, establish research and development priorities, and execute oversight of the R&D activities necessary to achieve the goals of the partnership. In addition, the partners will jointly develop a technical roadmap that outlines the technology-specific R&D goals (including cost targets) and milestones required to demonstrate progress.
Greenhouse Emission Reductions and Natural Gas Vehicles: A Resource Guide on Technology Options and Project Development
9/1/2002
In response to the significant growth in transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, governments and policy makers worldwide are considering methods of addressing this trend. However, do to the particular make-up of the transportation sector, regulating and reducing emissions from this sector poses a significant challenge. Unlike stationary fuel combustion, transportation-related emissions come from dispersed sources. Only a few point-source emitters, such as oil/natural gas wells, refineries, or compressor stations, contribute to emissions related to the transportation sector. The majority of transport-related emissions come from the millions of vehicles traveling the world's roads. As a result, successful GHG mitigation policies must find ways to target all of these small, non-point source emitters, either through regulatory means or through various incentive programs. To increase their effectiveness, policies to control emission from the transportation sector often utilize indirect means to reduce emissions, such as requiring specific technology improvements or an increase in fuel efficiency. Site-specific project activities can also be undertaken to help decrease GHG emissions, although the use of such measures is less common. These activities include switching to less GHG-intensive vehicle options, such as natural gas vehicles (NGVs). As emissions from transportation activities continue to rise, it will be necessary to promote both types of abatement activities in order to reverse the current emissions path. This Resource Guide focuses on site- and project-specific transportation activities.
Authors: Anastasia, O.; Checklick, N.; Couts, V.; Doherty, J.; Findsen, J.; Gehlin, L.; Radoff, J.
Notes: Copies of this document are available from the NETL Web site: http://www.netl.doe.gov/products/ccps/pubs/NGV_guide.PDF