Staff Presentation to Transit Advisory Committee June 5, 2014 Alternative Fuel Choices Clean Diesel & Bio-Diesel Buses

Diesel Buses Power the Bay Area Petaluma Transit Golden Gate Transit Santa Rosa CityBus Marin Transit

Clean Diesel 101 What is clean diesel? Diesel powered buses that have special engine designs and after market modifications to reduce emissions and only run on ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel Ultra-low sulfur diesel now widely available Improved engine technologies, driven by the transit regulatory environment, especially in California, by the Air Resources Board (CARB), dramatically lowered tailpipe emissions from diesels since 2000.

Clean Diesel Evaluation Advantages of Clean Diesel in Transit Applications Tried and true technology, durable and easy to maintain No special infrastructure required Fuel economy slightly better than CNG (compressed natural gas) but less than diesel-electric hybrids Cheapest purchase price of bus Modern clean diesel bus almost as low emission levels as either CNG or diesel-electric hybrids Disadvantages of Clean Diesel in Transit Applications High fuel costs - $4 per gallon steady in last year No fueling station at Petaluma Transit yard, requires deadhead time ($$) to access fuel station Appears “non-Green”; community members think “diesel” and associate with pollution (from the past), so environmentals do not like anything with “diesel” in name. jcwinnie.biz, Retrieved 11/17/08

Bio-Diesel Buses What is bio-diesel? Diesel powered buses that have the same “clean diesel” special engine designs and after market modifications to reduce emissions and only run on ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel but that have that fuel modified by mixing in 2-20% “bio-diesel” displacing some petroleum diesel Bio-diesel mixes vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste cooking oils, with traditional petroleum diesel at a ratio of 2 parts per 100 (B2) up to 20 parts per 100 (B20) Engine manufacturers have agreed to honor all warranties on engines running on bio-diesel mixed at up to B20 levels. The Air Resources Board (CARB) has not ruled clearly on the use of bio-diesel, only addressing it briefly around 2007.

Bio-Diesel Evaluation Advantages of Bio-Diesel in Transit Applications Based upon a tried and true technology Only a dedicated fuel tank is required, which likely problematic for PT, as we don’t have our own fuel station Fuel made from “yellow” sources (french fry grease, for example) cost under $1.50 per gallon (for the mix ONLY), those from pure soybeans (best performance) over $2/gal Most studies show improved (above and beyond clean diesel) emissions reductions when using bio-diesel Disadvantages of Bio-Diesel in Transit Applications Higher fuel costs – With “bio” portion at 20%, and cost of this additive bio-fuel $1.50 to $2.50/gal, current $4 per gallon ULSD will net cost in the $4.70 to $5.70 per gallon range No fueling station at Petaluma Transit yard, would require participation from PCSD or location of new fueling source Slightly higher maintenance costs (fuel filters, etc). Does not perform well in cold temperatures jcwinnie.biz, Retrieved 11/17/08

Alternative Fuel Choices Clean Diesel & Bio-Diesel Projected benefits Cheapest bus purchase cost of all options – save reserve $$ Better emission reductions with bio-diesel Improve perception of PT’s “green” image with bio-diesel Projected Problems Increased Operating (fuel) Costs w/ Bio-Diesel– will constrain amount of future service hours that can be provided without draining reserves Bio-Diesel still being perfected – some indication of minor maintenance issues Without own fuel station and storage tanks, PT will have to either convince PCSD to convert to bio-diesel or find/build its own fueling station, with no room for station at PT yard Both diesel options fail to save annual operating dollars

Diesel & Bio-Diesel at PT? A “conservative” approach, follow the status quo Clean Diesel an easy choice, no new effort or training Fails to help with fuel cost savings Bio-Diesel will project to increase net fuel costs, and cause work developing partnerships and/or new fuel station Without saving on fuel, and barring the emergence of a new, “game changing” funding source, PT will be capped in size at about the FY level of service, leaving some routes 75 minutes between buses, and the best routes 30 minutes, falling well short of the vision TAC and staff have developed: frequent service, long spans

Diesel, Regulatory, Bio-Diesel Websites