The
National Clean Bus Network
January
2005 Clean Bus Update
Environmental
and Energy Study Institute Carol
Werner, Executive Director
122
C Street, NW, Suite 630, Washington, DC 20001 P
202-628-1400 F 202-628-1825 www.eesi.org
Clean
Bus Highlights
SunLine
Transit Unveils First Hydrogen Hybrid Bus
SunLine
Transit heralded a new era in cleaner mass transit with the
introduction of a hybrid hydrogen bus, the first in a
transit fleet in the country. The 40-foot bus equipped with
ISE Corporation’s Hybrid Hydrogen Internal Combustion
Engine (HHICE) was unveiled in Thousand Palms,
California
in
December 2004. The $600,000 bus was funded and technically
supported by a U.S-Canadian partnership to bring advanced
cleaner fuel technologies to mass transportation.
The
bus offers a fuel economy of 5-6 miles/gallon which is a
substantial increase over similarly equipped compressed
natural gas (CNG) buses. In addition, elimination of
particulate matter and nearly zero emissions of carbon
dioxide provide 99 percent of the emission reduction
benefits of a fuel cell system at a fraction of the cost.
Going beyond emission reduction, hydrogen fuel to power the
bus will be produced at a wind-powered facility making it a
truly renewable mass transportation option. The introduction
of this bus marks another pioneering effort by SunLine
Transit, which operates an alternatively fueled bus fleet,
to provide
Coachella
Valley
commuters
with cleaner transit options. SunLine general manager C.
Mikel Oglesby estimates that mass production of the bus
would reduce the cost to $350,000, making it a commercially
viable option. The bus will operate daily on one of the
busiest transit routes in Thousand Palms until January 10
after which it will be sent to
Canada
for cold
weather testing.
More
information is available at:
http://www.isecorp.com/ise_news/ev_bulletins/dec-04-hhice-rollout-sunline-transit.php
California
Cracks Down on Polluting
Heavy-Duty Vehicles
California
Air Resources Board (CARB) has recently begun to enforce a
regulation requiring heavy-duty vehicles to reduce
smog-forming emissions. The regulation, adopted in March
2004, requires most heavy-duty trucks, school buses, and
mobile homes built between 1993 and 1998 to install new
software, a process called reflash, to prevent the release
of additional nitrogen oxide emissions. The move comes after
truck manufacturers failed to voluntarily upgrade software
in the vehicles. The
upgrade requirement is the result of a $1.04 billion
settlement between the U.S Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), CARB and six truck manufacturers (Detroit Diesel
Corp. (DDC), Renault/Mack, Volvo International, Caterpillar,
and Cummins) over emission violations.
Under
a voluntary program, manufacturers had until November 2004
to upgrade software in 35 percent of vehicles requiring the
emission control. However, with the exception of DDC, most
manufacturers were able to upgrade only 18 percent and
lower. Deadlines
for compliance are
April 30,
2005
for
1993-94 models,
August 31,
2005
for 95-96
models and
December
31, 2005
for 97-98
models.
For
more information on this regulation:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/chip04/chip04.htm
Pittsburgh
and
Albuquerque
Join the Hybrid Bus Club
A
$6.6 million grant from the Department of Transportation
(DOT) will allow the Port Authority of Allegheny County to
add six GM-Allison diesel-electric hybrids to its transit
fleet. The 40-foot low-floor buses, purchased at the cost of
$492,000 each, are part of a 20 bus purchase facilitated by
the DOT grant. The buses will join the fleet in early 2005.
The
city of
Albuquerque
,
New Mexico
inaugurated its ‘Rapid Ride’ system with the
introduction of 12 new hybrid buses in December, 2004. The
60-foot long articulated GM-Allison diesel-electric hybrids
are capable of seating up to 86 passengers. The buses will
operate on routes with fewer stops and will benefit from a
signal priority system allowing approximately 25 percent
savings in travel time.
More
information on the
Pittsburgh
hybrid
buses available at:
http://www.portauthority.org/grow/pgArchives.asp?load=inc1103#hybrid
Additional information on the
Albuquerque
’s Rapid
Ride system at:
http://www.cabq.gov/transit/rapidbus2.html
New
Fee to Help Fund Air Cleanup in San Joaquin Valley District
San Joaquin
Valley
air
quality received a much needed boost with the District
Board’s approval of a $2 surcharge for vehicles registered
in
San Joaquin
and six
other valley counties. The surcharge will fund various
emission reduction projects including the retrofit and
replacement of older, polluting school buses, locomotives,
transit vehicles, as well as cleaner stationary and mobile
agriculture equipment. It
is expected to raise approximately $4.8 million annually,
making the District eligible for $7-11 million in state
matching funds for air quality improvement projects. The fee
will become effective on
April 1,
2005
.
More information on the
San Joaquin
Valley
surcharge
at:
http://www.valleyair.org/recent_news/Media_releases/$2%20fee%20release%2012-16.pdf
EPA Grant to Help Build Electrified Truck Stop in
Indiana
Gary
,
Indiana
will soon
be home to the state’s first ‘electrified’ truck stop
in an attempt to limit extended truck idling. Construction
of the truck stop will begin in 2005, with technology
provided by IdleAire Technologies Corp., which connects a
hose to an adapter in the truck cab to pipe in hot or cold
air and provide connections to electricity, satellite TV and
the Internet. The facility is expected to improve air
quality, reduce noise and conserve fuel by eliminating the
need to idle on site. Estimates indicate that a single
trucker idles for approximately 1,800 hours annually, at a
fuel cost of $4,000. Truckers will pay about $1.50 an hour
for the electrification service compared to the national
average of $2.20 a gallon (1 gallon/hour of idling) for
diesel, cutting fuel costs by almost half. Industry-wide,
idling trucks burn an estimated billion gallons of fuel each
year, resulting in 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide, 5,000
tons of particulate matter , and 11 million tons of carbon
dioxide emissions.
The
truck stop will cost $835,000, with funding provided by
federal, state and private sources. IdleAire will contribute
$375,000 towards construction; $125,000 will come from a U.S
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) truck stop
electrification demonstration grant, while the remaining
funds will be provided by the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management. EPA anticipates that in 2005,
there will be 40 such demonstration projects nationwide.
More
information on the
Indiana
truck stop
electrification project available at:
http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/205132-8398-102.html
Information
on EPA’s idling demonstration projects available at:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/smartway/idle-demo.htm
California
Issues New Anti-Idling
Regulations
Beginning
January 1,
2005
,
diesel-fueled commercial vehicles in
California
weighing
over 10,000 pounds will be restricted to no more than five
minutes of idling. The new regulation also limits the idling
of an auxiliary power system (APS) powering a heater, air
conditioner, or any other ancillary equipment on the
vehicle, to no more than 5 minutes if the vehicle is located
within 100 feet of a restricted area, such as a school or
home. Violation
of the new regulation may result in a $100 fine or criminal
penalties.
The
new idling regulations come into effect amid reports that
state and local governments rarely enforce idling rules. In
a survey conducted by the Philadelphia
Inquirer, 13 of the 21 participating government agencies
issued fewer than 10 citations in 2003, while the remaining
issued no citations at all.
The majority of the citations were issued in
New York
City
,
New York
State,
New Jersey
and
Washington
DC
. Agencies
cited staff shortages and other priorities as primary
reasons for the limited enforcement.
Information
on the new
California
idling
rule available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/idling/outreach/factsheet.pdf
To
report an idling violation in
California
, call
1-800-END-SMOG (1-800-363-7664) or submit an online
complaint form at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/vehcmplts/icv.htm
More
information on the Philadelphia
Inquirer idling survey available at:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/health/10402659.htm?1c
EPA
Names 225 Counties in Violation of New Particulate Matter
Standard
On
December
17, 2004
the U.S
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated 225
counties (partially or entirely) in 20 states to be in
non-attainment of the nation’s first fine
particulate matter (PM 2.5) standard.
The new annual standard requires fine particulate matter
levels to be 15 micrograms per cubic meter or lower. EPA’s
final tally is a reduction from the 244 counties identified
earlier by the agency in June 2004.
Most of the nation’s largest metro areas including
New York
,
Washington
D.C,
Los
Angeles
,
Atlanta
and
Chicago
,
were designated as non-attainment areas.
States with non-attainment areas have until 2008 to
submit plans to comply with the standard, with attainment
deadlines for some areas beginning in 2010.
The
designations follow an EPA announcement that fine
particulate matter levels nationwide were at their lowest
levels in 2003 since monitoring began in 1999.“The
Particle Pollution Report: Current Understanding of Air
Quality and Emissions through 2003,” published in
December 2004 examined recent and long-term trends in air
pollution and provided a detailed analysis of particulate
matter pollution in 2003. PM 2.5 levels registered a 10
percent drop with the sharpest declines observed in the
Southeast (20 percent),
Southern California
(16 percent) and the
Midwest
(9 percent). The EPA attributes declines to lower pollution
from diesel engines and tighter controls on power plant
emissions. Despite
the declines, an estimated 62 million people continue to
live in areas with levels of particulate matter exceeding
the federal standard. EPA
estimates that the 2004 Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule and
the proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule will further reduce
particulate matter by 10-20 percent.
More information on the PM 2.5 non-attainment designations available at: http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/documents/final/factsheet.htm
The EPA particle pollution report available at:
http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/pmreport03/report.pdf#page=1
Study
Links Particulate Matter Pollution to Low Birth Weight
Findings
published in the journal Pediatrics
have linked fine particle pollution exposure in pregnant
women with an increased occurrence of lower birth weights.
The joint study conducted by the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) and EPA examined birth weights of 18,247 babies in
California
in 2000.
It concluded that pregnant women living in areas with high
levels of particulate matter pollution were more likely, on
average to give birth to babies weighing 30 grams (1 ounce)
less than normal. The study, which is the first U.S study to
find a link between particulate matter levels and low birth
weight, prompted health experts to renew the call for
stricter pollution controls.
Abstract
of the study available at:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/115/1/121
Emissions Reductions Help Offset Fuel Economy
Concerns in Hybrid Buses
Recent
reports have indicated lower than expected fuel efficiency
in hybrid buses in some fleets around the country. In
King County
,
Washington
, Metro
officials report that the fleet’s 235 hybrid electric
buses will register a modest 10-20 percent improvement in
fuel economy instead of the projected 70 percent fuel
savings. Many reasons have been cited for the lower fuel
economy. Initial performance tests indicated fuel savings of
up to 60 percent, but stricter federal emission standards
for nitrogen oxides (NOx) forced a last minute engine
replacement, prior to deployment, to meet the new standard.
The buses were also placed on routes with greater highway
mileage rather than routes with stop and start traffic,
where hybrid fuel savings are more pronounced.
Lower
maintenance costs, decreased emissions, and a smoother,
quieter ride, however, have helped King County Metro justify
the $200,000 premium on the buses. According to vehicle
fleet manager Jim Boon, not just fuel economy, but a
combination of benefits was considered when purchasing the
buses. He also expects software tweaks to improve the
economy further. Other fleets, including Connecticut Transit
and New Jersey Transit, have reported lower than anticipated
fuel economy but cite reduced emissions, decreased
maintenance costs, and state and federal funding as
motivating factors in opting for hybrids.
Biodiesel Use Growing in Colorado Fleets
Roaring
Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) in
Colorado
has
incorporated the use of a B5 blend of biodiesel (5 percent
biodiesel/95 percent diesel) in its entire fleet.
The Authority which operates 85-90 buses in several
cities in
Colorado
(including
Aspen
) made the
switch in November 2004. Working with New Century
Transportation Foundation and the Community Office for
Resource Efficiency, RFTA raised funds to cover the cost
differential for biodiesel use until summer 2005. The switch
to biodiesel will result in a 30,000 gallon reduction in
oil-based diesel use. RFTA is currently focused on
additional fund raising to extend the use of biodiesel
through 2005.
In
related news, the Public Works Department in
Carbondale
also
switched to biodiesel use in their heavy equipment and other
diesel-engine vehicles. The
fleet will use a B20 blend of biodiesel (20 percent
biodiesel/80 percent diesel). Other users of B20 in the area
include the Aspen Ski Company and
Colorado
Rocky
Mountain
School
.
More
information on RFTA’s biodiesel initiative available at:
http://www.newcenturytrans.org/programs.htm#1
Information
on biodiesel use in Aspen Ski Company fleet available at:
http://www.aspensnowmass.com/environment/world/default.cfm?var=1&hasFlash=0
EVENTS
WestStart
- CALSTART 2005 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Conference
February 22-24, 2005
; La
Quinta
,
California
For
more information, or to register, please visit:
http://www.calstart.org/programs/chdvc/CHDV05/2005CHDVAgenda.php
23rd
Annual World Fuels Conference
March 9-11, 2005
;
San
Francisco
,
California
For more information, or to register, please visit:
http://www.worldfuelsconferences.com/2005events.html
Submit Your Clean
Bus Story!
EESI’s
National Clean Bus Project is eager to learn about your
clean bus fleet. If you are in the process of procurement,
or if you already operate buses that produce fewer emissions
and consume less fuel than conventional diesel buses, let us
know if we haven’t heard – and told -- your story!
Provide (1) the name of your organization and primary
contact person; (2) type of bus engine, fuel, and other
emission control devices used; (3) number of buses; (4)
funding sources; (5) costs and benefits; (6) and lessons
learned. We’ll post this information on our website and
include it in future editions of the Clean Bus Update! Send
this information to EESI at sranganathan@eesi.org
or call 202-662-1883. More information can be mailed to
122 C St.,
NW, Suite 630
,
Washington
,
DC
20001
.
Shefali Ranganathan recently joined us as a Policy Analyst and will be
the new contact for the Clean Bus Network. Please contact
her at the above email or phone number.
The
Clean Bus Update is a monthly periodical providing an
overview of current program and policy activities related to
the deployment of low-polluting, energy-efficient buses in
the
United States
. Topics include
technology developments, clean vehicle deployment, energy
consumption, the environment, government policy, and public
health. The National Clean Bus Network is an informal
coalition of public and private sector organizations working
to increase the use of cleaner bus technologies and fuels.
The National Clean Bus Network is a free resource to
all clean bus stakeholders. If there are issues we are
missing and you think we should cover, please let us know.
