October 2009 - In this Edition

• Biodiesel Myths: BUSTED
• AF&V 2010 Renews Focus on Fleets
• Heavy-Duty (Class 8) NGV Options
• Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Hosts AFV Forum
• Tools You Can Use
• AFV Industry Calendar
• AFVi Marketplace

Biodiesel Myths: BUSTED
Contributed by Jenna Higgins, National Biodiesel Board

The television show Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel takes commonly held beliefs and puts them to the test of real science.  Some hold up and are confirmed by the facts, some are ranked just plausible, but many are BUSTED.  If only more citizens would take the time to learn the facts, and not be persuaded by the myths…especially in the case of biodiesel!  Though the show has yet to feature biodiesel myths, when they are held up to real science, they fall cleanly in the BUSTED category.  Here are some of the most common biodiesel myths featured in a new document published by the National Biodiesel Board.   

Myth: Biodiesel contributes to global climate change and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Fact: U.S. biodiesel is a green, sustainable part of the solution. It reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel.  A 2008 USDA/University of Idaho study shows for every unit of fossil energy needed to create biodiesel, 4.5 units of energy are returned. New cropland is not needed to grow materials for biodiesel, because soybeans are not grown for fuel, and there is a surplus of soybean oil on the market. Advances in technology enable us to grow more using the same acres of land. The National Biodiesel Board and its members support sustainable production of biodiesel. There is no scientific basis for assigning any significant responsibility for rainforest destruction to U.S. biodiesel, and the vast majority of U.S. biodiesel is made from homegrown resources.

Myth: Biodiesel contributes to rising food prices.
Fact: Produced from a wide variety of renewable resources, including plant oils, fats and even recycled restaurant grease, biodiesel is the most diversified fuel on the planet. And soybean-based biodiesel has a positive impact on the world’s food supply. Processing soybeans for biodiesel uses only the oil, leaving 80 percent of the bean for protein-rich soybean meal.  By creating a market for soybean oil (a co-product of soybean meal), we increase the availability of protein-rich meal for human and livestock consumption.  This has a positive impact on the food supply.  From an economic standpoint, the increased meal supply results in a more cost-effective food and feed source.               

Myth: Biodiesel doesn’t work in cold weather.
Fact: Properly managed, high quality biodiesel blends are used successfully in the coldest of climates. Biodiesel will gel in very cold temperatures, just as common #2 diesel does. Although pure biodiesel has a higher cloud point than #2 diesel fuel, typical blends of 20 percent biodiesel are managed with similar management techniques as #2 diesel. Blends of 5 percent biodiesel and less have virtually no impact on cold weather operability. See www.biodiesel.org/cold for a cold weather guide.

Myth: Biodiesel is an experimental fuel and has not been thoroughly tested.
Fact: Biodiesel is one of the most thoroughly tested alternative fuels on the market. A number of independent studies – performed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stanadyne Corp. (the largest diesel fuel injection equipment manufacturer in the U.S.), Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, and Southwest Research Institute – have shown that biodiesel performs similar to petroleum diesel with greater benefits to the environment and human health.

Myth: No objective biodiesel fuel standard exists.
Fact: The biodiesel industry has been active in setting quality standards for biodiesel for more than 15 years. ASTM specifications exist for diesel fuel and biodiesel fuel blends from 6 to 20 percent (B6 – B20 (D7467-09)), biodiesel blends up to B5 to be used for on and off-road diesel applications (D975-08a), and home heating and boiler applications (D396-08b). ASTM approved the original specification for pure B100 (D6751) in December 2001. These ASTM specifications apply regardless of the fat or plant oil used to make the fuel. Copies of specifications are available from ASTM at www.astm.org.

Myth: Biodiesel does not perform as well as diesel.
Fact: One of the major advantages of biodiesel is the fact that it can be used in most existing engines and fuel injection equipment in blends up to 20 percent with little impact to operating performance. Biodiesel has a higher cetane number than U.S. diesel fuel. In more than 50 million miles of in-field demonstrations, B20 showed similar  fuel consumption, horsepower, torque, and haulage rates as conventional diesel fuel. Biodiesel also has superior lubricity, and it has the highest BTU content of any alternative fuel (falling in the range between #1 and #2 diesel fuel).

Myth: Biodiesel use voids manufacturers’ engine warranty coverage.
Fact: All major U.S. automakers and engine manufacturers accept the use of up to at least B5, and many major engine companies have stated formally that the use of high quality biodiesel blends up to B20 will not void their parts and workmanship warranties. For a listing of specific statements from the engine companies, please visit the National Biodiesel Board Web site at www.biodiesel.org/resources/oems.

Myth: Biodiesel has fuel quality problems.
Fact: A study released in 2008 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows the biodiesel industry has substantially met national fuel quality standards. The study demonstrated that plants certified under BQ-9000 consistently hit the mark. BQ-9000 is a voluntary fuel quality assurance program that couples the foundations of universally accepted quality management systems with the product specification (ASTM D6751). The program covers storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution and fuel management practices. Biodiesel production facilities certified as producers under the program cover nearly 80 percent of the U.S. biodiesel market volume.

Myth: Biodiesel does not have sufficient shelf life.
Fact: The current industry recommendation is that biodiesel be used within six months, or reanalyzed after six months to ensure the fuel meets ASTM specifications. Most fuel today is used up long before six months, and many petroleum companies do not recommend storing petroleum diesel for more than six months. A longer shelf life is possible depending on the fuel composition and the use of storage-enhancing additives.

Jenna Higgins is the Director of Communications at National Biodiesel Board, www.biodiesel.org.

Article reprinted with permission courtesy of Summer 2009 edition of the Southeastern Fuels Fix.

May 9-12, 2010|Rio All-Suites Hotel|Las Vegas, Nevada

For sixteen years, the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference + Expo has been THE industry event representing all fuels, vehicles and technologies that provide an alternative to petroleum.  The fuel and technology neutral Conference brings industry experts, transportation leaders and policy makers together to help fleet managers and other decision makers sort through which fuels and vehicles make the most sense for them. This year AF&V 2010 renews its commitment to fleets by re-launching its “Focus on Fleets” program.

Year over year, the fleet representation at AF&V continues to grow. Represented are fleet managers and decision-makers from public and private sectors from all across the country. In 2009, 44% of all fleet managers in attendance worked for a commercial company, with the remaining 56% coming from the public sector. Fleet sizes varied greatly with half containing less than 300 vehicles and one quarter having greater than 1000 vehicles. Twenty percent of the vehicles within the average fleet contained alternative fuel vehicles.   Click here for a full analysis of the Fleet Professionals Attending AF&V 2009.

As part of the AF&V 2010 “Focus on Fleets” program, AF&V 2010 invites you to enter to win one of 25 Conference registrations. To qualify you must be the owner or primary fleet manager of a fleet containing at least 25 vehicles and have not attended any of the last three Conferences. The deadline is Friday, October 16. Click here for the entry form and qualifications and restrictions.

Conference programming* also focuses on fleets. During the Ride-N-Drive, fleet professionals have the opportunity to test drive commercially available vehicles and speak directly to the OEMs and SVMs. Also offered is the chance to ride-along in heavy-duty vehicles.  Concurrent sessions will include educational and skill development such as grant writing. “Round tables” are proposed for facilitated discussions for you to share your fleet experience with other fleet managers of similar backgrounds, e.g. by industry or by fleet size. At the conclusion of the AF&V 2010, fleet managers are encouraged to attend Fleet Solutions: Putting It All Together. This half-day session is designed to help fleet professionals sift through all the alternative fuel and technology information and come away with an understanding of the best options for their fleets and a good start on implementation plans.  

If you are fleet manager, you NEED to be at AF&V 2010 to learn firsthand from other fleet managers how they have successfully incorporated alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets. No where will you find so much experience, expertise and guidance in one location.

One show. Maximum results. www.afv2010.com

*Conference programming is subject to change. Please check www.afv2010.com for the most current programming.

Heavy-Duty (Class 8) NGV Options

From Honda’s Civic GX to natural gas conversion systems, natural gas vehicles are becoming an increasingly popular addition to fleets’ alternative fuel vehicle fleet mix. In fact 19 of the 25 Clean Cities Recovery Act Awards announced this past August included CNG and LNG stations and vehicles in their project proposals. That means that 133 CNG and 10 LNG stations will come on-line in the next few years to fuel some 2,473 CNG and 416 LNG vehicles according to the winning proposals.  “These DoE grants serve to accelerate the deployment of natural gas vehicles around the country, spurring demand,” Clean Energy Fuels president and CEO Andrew Littlefair was quoted in Fleets & Fuels.

Many of those proposed natural gas vehicles will be heavy-duty. Here’s a list of currently available heavy-duty (Class 8, GVWR>33,000) natural gas options.*

Click here for a full listing of vehicles...

Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Hosts AFV Forum - The A to Z of AFVs

The A to Z of AFVs complimentary educational forum, held on Thursday, September 24, 2009, was a great success.  Hosted by the Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Coalition, this all-day event featured a variety educational sessions and an outdoor alternative fuel vehicle display. 

Dan Hyde, the Coordinator and Executive Director of the LVRCCC, emceed the event.  He introduced and interacted with the morning speakers, Leo Thomason of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute and Paul Kerkhoven from NGVAmerica.  In the afternoon Hyde moderated two panel discussions.  The first panel included speakers from alternative fuel distributors and addressed topics such as which fuels are best for which types of fleets and the advantages of each of the fuels presented.  The panelists for this session included Robert White from the Renewable Fuels Association who spoke about ethanol, Chad Lindholm from Clean Energy who represented natural gas, Gary Weinberg from Haycock Petroleum Company who spoke about biodiesel and Travis Johnson from NV Energy who presented information about electric vehicles.  The final session of the day featured two fleet managers, Ron Corbett of the City of North Las Vegas and Mike Verna from Nevada Coaches, LLC, who shared their experiences with transitioning their fleets to alternative fuels and vehicles.

During the lunch break a variety of alternative fuel vehicles were on display for attendees to view.  Companies who brought vehicles included Altech-Eco, Baytech Corporation, Gaudin Ford, IMPCO Technologies, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Miles Electric Vehicles and Natural Drive Partners, LLC.

There was media interest in the A to Z of AFVs, including attendees from KVBC TV Channel 3 and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.  As Stan Hanel, columnist for the Review-Journal, wrote after the event, “I really thought your organization put together a very informative and helpful workshop that should go a long way to promote the use of cleaner fuels in Clark County.”

Stay Connected 24/7
Follow AFVi on Facebook & Twitter for instant updates. And AFVi blogs! Check out Alternative Fuel Views, by Kimberly Taylor.

AFV Industry Calendar

Natural Gas is the Solution - Medium-/Heavy-Duty NGVs Workshop
Shreveport, LA
October 15, 2009
www.cngnow.com/TheSolution

ANGVA 2009
Donghae, South Korea
October 27-29, 2009
www.angva2009.com

HTUF National Conference
Atlanta, GA
October 27-29, 2009
www.htuf.org

The European Road Transport Show
Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 29-November 7, 2009
www.roadtransportshow.com

AFVi Marketplace

Timely and resourceful alternative fuel related products.

AFVi Offers Comprehensive CNG Training

AFVi's own Leo Thomason is our resident natural gas expert. With over 20-years of experience, Leo has equipped more than 14,000 employees with the skills they need to safely implement, operate and maintain a NGV fleet. Two courses are currently open for registration.

• CNG Fueling Station Design Certification Course
  • November 3-4, 2009 — Downey, California
• CNG Fueling Station Operation & Maintenance Certification Course
  • November 5-6, 2009 — Downey, California