December 2012 Question of the Month

Question of the Month: How are vehicle fuel economy ratings determined? What factors impact fuel economy?

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/save-money-on-gas/gas_pump_tips_gas_price_11.shtml

Answer: Vehicle fuel economy is tested under controlled conditions using a standardized test procedure. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are required by federal law to test at least one representative vehicle for each light-duty model and must report the results to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10% to 15% of the vehicles through tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL).

In the laboratory, the vehicle is placed on a machine called a dynamometer that simulates the driving environment and can be adjusted to account for wind resistance and the vehicle weight. A professional driver runs the vehicle through a prescribed driving routine at various speeds to simulate typical trips in the city or on the highway.

To measure the fuel economy of the vehicle, a hose is connected to the tailpipe to collect the engine exhaust. The carbon in the exhaust is then measured to calculate the amount of fuel burned during the test. This process is more accurate than using a fuel gauge. For details on NVFEL vehicle fuel economy testing procedures, refer to the FuelEconomy.gov Fuel Economy Tests website and the EPA Fuel Economy Data & Testing website.

Federal law requires fuel economy testing for most light-duty vehicles. Some vehicle types, however, are exempt from fuel economy testing requirements, including:

• Pickup trucks and cargo vans with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) over 8,500 pounds;
• Passenger vehicles, such as SUVs and passenger vans, with GVWR of 10,000 or more; and
• Motorcycles.

Fuel economy test procedures are designed to replicate typical driving conditions and behavior, but there are many factors that influence a vehicle’s fuel economy. Quick acceleration and heavy braking, excessive idling, driving at high speeds, cold weather and frequent short trips, heavy cargo, towing a trailer, running electrical accessories, driving on hilly or mountainous terrain, and using four-wheel drive, can all have a significant impact on miles per gallon. New vehicles generally will not attain optimal fuel economy until they reach 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Because of these variations, fuel economy ratings should only be used as estimates for comparison between vehicles.

To improve fuel economy, vehicle owners can drive less aggressively, observe the speed limit, reduce cargo, and avoid excess idling. In addition, maintenance rituals like keeping tires fully inflated, keeping the engine properly tuned, and using the recommended grade of motor oil, can improve vehicle fuel economy.

For more detailed information about the factors that affect vehicle fuel economy, refer to the FuelEconomy.gov Factors that Affect Fuel Economy page. FuelEconomy.gov’s Driving More Efficiently and Keeping your Car in Shape pages break down the fuel economy benefits that can be achieved through various methods.

Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team
technicalresponse@icfi.com
800-254-6735

November 2012 Question of the Month

Question of the Month: Which states have adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) aftermarket conversion certification requirements?

Answer: In the United States, all aftermarket conversion systems (except pure battery electric vehicles) must meet current applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. EPA instituted these standards to assure that a vehicle’s tailpipe emissions do not increase as a result of the conversion. For more information on EPA standards for vehicle and engine conversions, please refer to the EPA Alternative Fuel Conversion website.

CARB has set its own standards for alternative fuel conversion systems, which are more stringent than those of EPA. Manufacturers that wish to sell aftermarket conversion systems for use in California must meet CARB standards and obtain approval from CARB. While EPA accepts all CARB certifications to meet their standards, EPA certificates of conformity and tampering exemptions are not required by CARB and cannot take the place of CARB certification.

In addition to impacting the sale and use of aftermarket conversion systems in California, the CARB conversion standards also impact some of the 13 other states that have adopted CARB’s overall motor vehicle emissions regulations. The table below shows the states that have adopted CARB’s vehicle emissions standards in whole or in part. It also indicates whether each state enforces EPA or CARB aftermarket conversion standards.

State	Conversion Standards Enforced
California	CARB
Connecticut	EPA
District of Columbia	EPA
Maine	EPA
Maryland	CARB
Massachusetts	EPA
New Jersey	CARB (but also accepts EPA)
New Mexico	EPA
New York	CARB
Oregon	EPA
Pennsylvania	CARB (but also accepts EPA)
Rhode Island	EPA
Vermont	EPA
Washington	EPA

For more information about CARB aftermarket conversion certification, please refer to the following resources:

• CARB Alternative Fuel Retrofit Systems Program
• This website links to a list of certified alternative fuel retrofit systems.
• CARB Aftermarket Parts Database of Executive Orders    
• This database  includes information about conversion systems that have been granted exemptions to emissions control system anti-tampering regulations by CARB.

Also refer to the following resources for information about the requirements in other states that enforce CARB conversion standards:

• Maryland
• Maryland Statutes, Environment Code 2-1101 through 2-1108
• New York
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regulations, Chapter III – Air Resources, Part 218
• New Jersey
• State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Memorandum on Aftermarket Conversion Systems for Alternative Fuels NJDEP-CNG-Conversions-Policy-5-6-10 pdf.pdf
• Pennsylvania 
•  Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality Policy on Clean Alternative Fuel Conversion Systems (PDF)

For general information about conversion regulations, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center Conversion Regulations page. Also see the NGVAmerica Aftermarket Conversion Systems: EPA and CARB Regulations website.

Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team

technicalresponse@icfi.com

800-254-6735

October 2012 Question of the Month

Question of the Month: What strategies are used to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and improve overall transportation system efficiency?

Answer: VMT is a measure used in the transportation planning community and elsewhere to report the number of miles that motor vehicles are driven on the road. It is a representation of how much fuel a transportation system uses, the resources necessary to build and maintain that system, and the amount of time the regions’ inhabitants are spending on the road.

While the focus of Clean Cities is vehicle technology and alternative fuel use, many coalitions also work in their communities to reduce VMT and improve overall transportation system efficiency. Increasing efficiency through transportation demand management can help achieve local and nationwide goals for transportation (reduced congestion), energy (decreased petroleum use), and the environment (reduced emissions). Fleets can also benefit from strategies to reduce VMT through cost and time savings.

Transportation planners, vehicle fleet managers, and corporate decision makers can all play a role in transportation demand management. Strategies for reducing VMT include:

• Ridesharing: Encourage people to share vehicles and commute together through employee rideshare, ridematching systems, and car sharing programs.
• Mass Transit: Develop, improve, or increase ridership on buses, bus rapid transit, trolleys, rail, and ferry systems.
• Active Transit: Eliminate vehicle use by supporting strategies that encourage biking and walking, including infrastructure development (e.g., bike lanes, sidewalks) and bike share programs.
• Multi-Modal Transportation: Develop resources and infrastructure to enable commuters to split up their trip into multiple modes, including ridesharing, mass transit, and active transit (e.g., online trip planners, park-and ride lots)
• Telework: Implement flexible work arrangements where employees can work from home (telecommute) or attend meetings from their computer (teleconference).
• Route-Planning Software: Utilize tools that allow fleets, particularly delivery and pick-up services, to plan and follow the most direct route.  

For more information on these strategies, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center’s Transportation System Efficiency page. In addition, the following resources may be of assistance:

• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration
• FTA is the federal agency responsible for providing financial and technical assistance to public transit systems. The FTA website includes grant opportunities for transit agencies, information about relevant legislation and laws, and news about transit improvements around the country.
• Partnership for Sustainable Communities
• This partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, DOT, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aims to increase transportation options and lower transportation costs, among other goals. Their website includes grant opportunities and case studies about successful community projects.
• DOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) 
• FHWA’s ADTM program focuses on research and resource development related to active transportation and demand management approaches. The website currently includes an overview of strategies. Moving forward, ATDM will provide lessons learned, standards, and best practices.
• Transportation Research Board (TRB): 
• TRB provides information exchange and coordinates research related to U.S. and international transportation systems.
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA):
• APTA provides information and resources about the benefits of public transit, including fuel and carbon savings calculators.

Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team
technicalresponse@icfi.com
800-254-6735

Lee Grannis Inducted into Clean Cities Hall of Fame

U.S. Department of Energy Honors Connecticut Leader for Success in Reducing Petroleum Use in Transportation

Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition Coordinator Lee Grannis Inducted into Clean Cities Hall of Fame

Left to right: Dennis Smith, Lee Grannis, Linda Bluestein.
Lee receives honor of being in the Clean Cities Hall of Fame.

ESTES PARK, Colo. – The U.S. Department of Energy honored Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition Coordinator Lee Grannis for his dedication and outstanding accomplishments in reducing Connecticut’s dependence on petroleum in transportation. DOE’s National Clean Cities Director Dennis Smith inducted Grannis into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame on Sept. 26 while in Estes Park, Colo., where representatives from nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions across the country gathered for a transportation technology deployment workshop.

Grannis launched the New Haven Clean Cities Coalition in 1995 and took the helm as coordinator in 1997, a position he has held ever since. In 2011 alone, the coalition saved more than 2.2 million gallons of petroleum and averted more than 20,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions through the deployment of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, idle reduction and fuel economy improvements.

“Lee Grannis combines unwavering dedication and keen technical knowledge to successfully deploy alternative fuels and advanced vehicles in Connecticut,” National Clean Cities Director Dennis Smith said. “Thanks to Lee’s ingenuity, persistence and willingness to help others, the Constitution State and surrounding region are realizing tangible energy security and environmental benefits.”

Before his work with New Haven Clean Cities, Grannis served 23 years in the U.S. Army, where his duties included multiple infantry combat assignments, combat and operational logistics planning positions, troop movement and exercise planning, all involving multiple modes of transportation. After retiring from the Army, Grannis worked in alternative fuel vehicle sales at Stevens Ford.

“I really enjoy working with new technologies and solving problems that nobody’s tackled before,” Grannis said. “And I like collaborating with all the people in our area who are taking on meaningful transportation projects rather than accepting the status quo.”

For more than a decade, Grannis has been instrumental in introducing new technologies and fuels into Connecticut’s transportation sector. He has developed projects and obtained funding for deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), light-duty electric vehicles, electric transit, hydrogen hybrid vehicles and biodiesel.

Under Grannis’ leadership, the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition helped deploy electric trolleys in New Haven’s public transit system, incorporate electric pick-up trucks into the city fleet, and catalyze the development of the city’s first CNG fueling station. He has also aided entrepreneurs in jump-starting the manufacture of electric buses and electric vehicle charging equipment.

In partnership with the three other Clean Cities coalitions in Connecticut and 27 additional partners, Grannis serves as the lead on the $29 million Connecticut Future Fuels project, which is deploying 269 alternative fuel vehicles. The project is also supporting development of fueling infrastructure, including the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) station east of the Mississippi. Located in Bridgeport, the station fuels more than eighteen LNG tractor trailers for Enviro Express, which provides solid waste collection services in southwestern Connecticut. The Class 8 trucks make daily trips along Interstates 95 and 395 to a landfill in Putnam. Cumberland Farms recently purchased three dozen LNG trucks, many of which will also use the new station as the first non-grant supported fleet.

The Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition is a designated member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative. Clean Cities advances the nation’s economic, environmental and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce petroleum use in transportation. A national network of nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements and emerging transportation technologies. For more information, visit www.cleancities.energy.gov and www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/hall_of_fame.html.

Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition works with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community leaders and other stakeholders to reduce petroleum use in transportation in the New Haven area. For more information, visit www.nhcleancities.org.