GREEN FLEET OPTIONS
Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Clean Fuels and Fleet Conversions
What Are HEVs?
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle
with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle,
resulting in twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles. This
combination offers the extended range and rapid refueling that
consumers expect from a conventional vehicle,
w ith
a significant portion of the energy and environmental benefits of an
electric vehicle.
Types of HEVs
Many configurations are possible for
HEVs. Essentially, a hybrid
combines an energy storage system, a power unit, and a vehicle
propulsion system. The primary options for energy storage include
batteries,
ultracapacitors, and
flywheels. Although
batteries are by far the most common energy storage choice, research
is still being done in other energy storage areas. Hybrid power unit
options are
spark ignition engines,
compression ignition direct injection
engines,
gas turbines, and
fuel cells. Propulsion
can come entirely from an electric
motor, such as in a
series configuration, or
the engine might provide direct mechanical input to the vehicle
propulsion system in a
parallel configuration
system. There are several transmission options when it comes to
HEVs as well—the driver determines which transmission to use for
efficiency.
A hybrid's efficiency and emissions
depend on the particular combination of subsystems, how these
subsystems are integrated into a complete system, and the control
strategy that integrates the subsystems. A hydrogen fuel cell
hybrid, for example, would produce only water as a by-product and
run at greater overall efficiency than a battery-electric vehicle
that uses wall-plug electricity.
Biodiesel
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced
from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum,
but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a
biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel)
engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use,
biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and
aromatics.
 How
is biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called
transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the
fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products --
methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a
valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other
products).
Is Biodiesel the same
thing as raw vegetable oil?
No!
Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry
specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to insure proper performance.
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the
health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act
Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is legally
registered with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor
fuel for sale and distribution. Raw vegetable oil cannot meet
biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not registered with the EPA,
and it is not a legal motor fuel.
Ethanol
What is ethanol?
Bioethanol
Ethanol,
which is also known as ethyl alcohol, is a flammable and c olorless
chemical compound conventionally made from corn. Ethanol derived
from crops is a biofuel and is used as a biodegradable fuel
additive. E85 is an alternative fuel blend made up of 85 percent
ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, hence the name “E85”. E85 is a
clean-burning, high-octane fuel and a solvent which mixes easily
with water and most organic liquids. Newer domestic vehicles offer
flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) that can run on ethanol, gasoline, or
any mixture of the two. There are currently more than 4 million FFVs
on America’s roads today and automakers are rolling out more each
year.
In the United States, the most common
ethanol/gasoline blend is at 10% ethanol, commonly known as
"gasohol," which can be used in any vehicle. Ethanol with a water
content of 2% or less can be used as the alcohol in the production
of biodiesel, replacing
methanol. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 mandated
the sale of oxygenated fuels in areas with unhealthy levels of
carbon monoxide. Since that time, there has been strong demand for
ethanol as an oxygenate blended with gasoline. In the United States
each year, approximately 2 billion gallons are added to gasoline to
increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline.
Cellulosic Ethanol
Conventional ethanol and cellulosic
ethanol are the same product, but are produced using different
feedstocks and processes.
Cellulosic ethanol can be produced
from a wide variety of cellulosic biomass feedstocks including
agricultural plant wastes (corn stover, cereal straws, sugarcane
bagasse), plant wastes from industrial processes (sawdust, paper
pulp) and energy crops grown specifically for fuel production, such
as switchgrass. There are at least two methods of production of
cellulosic ethanol: enzymatic hydrolysis and synthesis gas
fermentation. Neither process generates toxic emissions when it
produces ethanol.
Natural Gas (CNG,LNG)
Compressed Natural Gas
(CNG) is natural gas under pressure which remains clear and
odorless. Natural gas vehicles show an average reduction in
ozone-forming emissions of 80 percent compared to gasoline
vehicles. Light-duty, medium-duty and heavy duty trucks, like taxi
cabs, sedans, delivery vans, postal vehicles, street sweepers are
some of the types of vehicles that use natural gas.
Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) is a natural gas in a liquid form that is clear, colorless,
odorless, and non-toxic. LNG may offer fuel savings of up to 30% as
compared to diesel. It produces less emissions and pollutants than
either coal or oil.
Other
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership
program encourages freight carriers, shippers and logistic companies
to use smart technology to save fuel, money and the environment. Do
you want to find out how you can start saving today? To find your
bottom line, try the
SmartWay Technology Package Savings Calculator.
See how investing in retrofit technologies can save you money and
the environment. Choose this option and become a Green Fleet CAP
and SmartWay Partner!
Florida's Alternative and Renewable Fuel Station Locator
This map shows the
location of retail motor fuel facilities in Florida reported to
be offering alternative and renewable motor fuels for sale to the
general public.
What
criteria do I need to meet in order
to participate in the Green Fleet Options program?
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