Impacts of Alternative Fuels on Air Quality
6/1/1994
The objective of this project was to determine the impact of alternative fuels on air quality, particularly ozone formation. The alternative fuels of interest are methanol, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas, and natural gas. During the first year of study, researchers obtained qualitative data on the thermal degradation products from the fuel-lean (oxidative), stoichiometric, and fuel-rich (pyrolytic) decomposition of methanol and ethanol. The thermal degradation of ethanol produced a substantially larger number of intermediate organic by-products than the similar thermal degradation of methanol, and the organic intermediate by-products lacked stability. Also, a qualitative comparison of the UDRI flow reactor data with previous engine test showed that, for methanol, formaldehyde and acetone were the organic by-products observed in both types of tests; for ethanol, only very limited data were located.
Authors: Taylor, P. H.;Dellinger, B.
Alternative Fuels in Trucking, Vol. 3, No. 2
4/1/1994
This issue includes articles on: 1) the role of ethanol in heavy-duty applications; 2) methanol as a catalyst for emerging transportation technologies; and 3) a demonstration of the Caterpillar G3406LE natural gas engine.
AFDC Update: News of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (Vol. 3, Iss. 1)
4/1/1994
This issue includes articles on: 1) AMFA heavy-duty data which indicates that E95 and CNG fuel economies are virtually the same as diesel; 2) DOE funding of a heavy-duty demonstration program; 3) DOE funding efforts for a safe school bus; 4) hotline inquiries; and 5) the comparison of fuel economies of light-duty AFVs.
Impact of Highway Fuel Taxes on Alternative Fuel Vehicle Economics
3/16/1994
The purpose of this report is to roughly estimate the impact on the market potential for alternative fuels of three highway tax policy options: 1) to equalize on an energy equivalency basis the tax at a level equal to gasoline; 2) to remove the tax completely from the alternatives; and 3) to equalize at an intermediate level.
Authors: Gushee, D. E.
Feasibility Study for the Recycling of Nickel Metal Hydride Electric Vehicle Batteries - Final Report
1/1/1994
This feasibility study examined three possible recycling processes for two compositions (AB2 and AB5) of nickel metal hydride electric vehicle batteries to determine possible routes for recovering battery materials. Analysts examined the processes, estimated the costs for capital equipment and operation, and estimated the value of the reclaimed material. They examined the following three processes: (1) a chemical process that leached battery powders using hydrochloric acid, (2) a pyrometallurgical process, and (3) a physical separation/chemical process. The economic analysis reavealed that the physical separation/chemical process generated the most revenue.
Authors: Sabatini, J. C.;Field, E. L.;Wu, I. - C.;Cox, M. R.;Barnett, B. M.;Coleman, J. T.
How Much Energy Does It Take to Make a Gallon of Soydiesel?
1/1/1994
Is more energy used to grow soybean feedstock and to process it into soydiesel than is contained in soydiesel fuel itself? This study addresses this question. This report concludes that soydiesel production in the United States is a net energy generator. Even under a worst case scenario, more energy is contained in esterified soybean oil and its co-products - glycerine and soy meal - than is used to grow the soybean crop and process it into soydiesel fuel and associated products. If soybean is grown as a rotation crop with corn using state of the art farm practices as much as four times the energy input can be realized from the various products generated.
Authors: Morris, D.;Ahmed, I.;Decker, J.
Certification of a Carbureted Aircraft Engine on Ethanol Fuel
1/1/1994
Aircraft used in commercial operations must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a certified category. In order to certify a new fuel, the engine and the airframe must both satisfy FAA requirements. The technical feasibility of ethanol as an aviation fuel was established over a 13 year period of research, development, flight test and demonstrations. A previous program obtained FAA certification for a fuel injected aircraft engine to use denatured 200 proof ethanol. It was determined that the use of ethanol in flight training operations would best establish the economic viability of ethanol while avoiding distribution problems. The most common flight trainer, the Cessna 152, was chosen to be certified. This aircraft is powered by a carbureted Lycoming engine, the O-235. This engine was modified to use ethanol and a test plan for certification was submitted to the FAA. The plan was accepted and the test conditions successfully met. After airframe certification, this aircraft will be placed in the flight training program at Baylor University and Texas State Technical College.
Authors: Shauck, M. E.;Tubbs J.;Zanin, M. G.
Alternative Fuels in Trucking, Vol. 3, No. 1
1/1/1994
This issue includes articles on: 1) proposed federal air quality rules for California; 2) the role of propane in heavy-duty appliations; and 3) natural gas applications in transportation.
First Semi-Annual Report AFDC Light Duty Vehicles
10/7/1993
This report analyzes all AMFA light-duty fleet vehicles in the AMFA I and AMFA II programs. It is divided into the following analysis sections: program monitoring and data quality assessment, fuel economy analysis, performance and unscheduled maintenance analysis, emissions analysis, and future considerations.
Authors: Wooley, R.;O'Connor, J.K.;Schrock, L.;Kelly, K.
Alternative Fuels in Trucking, Vol. 2, No. 4
10/1/1993
This issue includes articles on: 1) reinventing transportation: alternative fuels, the federal fleet conversion task force, and the trucking industry; 2) nearly neat (100%) ethanol snow plows in Hennepin County, Minnesota; and 3) alternative fuels power trucking into the 21st century.
Magnitude and Value of Electric Vehicle Emissions Reductions for Six Driving Cycles in Four U.S. Cities with Varying Air Quality Problems
10/1/1993
The emissions of logically competing mid-1990 gasoline vehicles (GVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) are estimated as if the vehicles were driven in the same pattern (driving cycle). Six different driving cycles are evaluated, ranging in speed from 7 to 49 miles per hour (mph). These cycles are repeated using specific fuel composition, electric power mix, and environmental conditions applicable to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and New York. The year 2000 emissions differences are estimated for each of five pollutants: HC, CO, NOx, SOx, and CO2. With use of EVs, HC and CO emissions are consistently lowered by 98% or more. Across metropolitan areas, CO2 emissions reductions are uniformly large at low speed, but variable at high speed. It is found that initially-introduced EVs could achieve 100% emission reductions in Chicago by using off-peak power from nuclear power plants for recharging EVs. Emissions reductions occur for all combinations in Los Angeles and for most combinations in New York, except for SOx. NOx emissions are reduced in all four cities. An "avoided cost" value in dollars per ton of emissions reductions for each of the five pollutants is estimated in each of the four cities. The values for each city depend on severity of air quality standard violations. Dollar value of EV emissions reductions is calculated with dollars per ton of emissions reductions and estimated emissions reductions by EVs over the vehicle lifetime. The emissions reduction value is estimated as if a mid-1990s EV is substituted for a GV for each driving cycle in each city. Depending on driving conditions assumed, the emissions reduction value for EVs driven an average of 1.6 hours per day (h/d) ranges from $12,600 to $19,200 in Los Angeles; $8,500 to $12,200 in New York; $3,200 to $9,400 in Chicago; and $6,000 to $9,000 in Denver (1989$).
Authors: Wang, Q.;Santini, D. L.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Program: 16th Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 1992
8/1/1993
This report describes the progress achieved in developing electric and hybrid vehicle technologies, beginning with highlights of recent accomplishments in FY 1992. Detailed descriptions are provided of program activities during FY 1992 in the areas of battery, fuel cell, and propulsion system development, and testing and evaluation of new technology in fleet site operations and in laboratories. This Annual Report also contains a status report on incentives and use of foreign components, as well as a list of publications resulting from the DOE program.
Ethanol Production and Employment
7/1/1993
Increased U.S. production of ethanol could create 28,000-108,000 new jobs by the year 2000. Ethanol, distilled chiefly from corn, can be mixed with gasoline to reduce the level of hydrocarbon pollutants created by fuel combustion in gasoline engines. Job gains will be concentrated in the rural Midwest, where most of the Nation's corn is grown. Small communities elsewhere can benefit through new biomass technologies that can distill ethanol from energy crops, agricultural residues, and organic municipal waste.
Authors: Petrulis, M.;Sommer, J.;Hines, F.