1 / 34

Clean Fuel Taxicabs: An Overview

Clean Fuel Taxicabs: An Overview. Assistant Commissioner for Safety & Emissions NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Peter Schenkman September 18, 2006. Clean Fuel Technologies. Clean Fuels – Ready for “prime time?” Propane - LPG Compressed Natural Gas –CNG Hybrid-Electric vehicles (HEV)

river
Download Presentation

Clean Fuel Taxicabs: An Overview

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Clean Fuel Taxicabs:An Overview Assistant Commissioner for Safety & Emissions NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Peter Schenkman September 18, 2006

  2. Clean Fuel Technologies • Clean Fuels – Ready for “prime time?” • Propane - LPG • Compressed Natural Gas –CNG • Hybrid-Electric vehicles (HEV) • Clean gasoline-powered vehicles • Ethanol – E85 • Electric Power • Biodiesel • Hydrogen Fuel Cells

  3. Propane - LPG • Also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas • By-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining • Environmental Impact • Up to 60% reduction in ozone or smog-producing emissions like carbon monoxide • Economic Impact • Domestically available • Generally cheaper on a per-gallon basis • Less energy content than gasoline

  4. Propane - LPG • Vehicle Availability • More than 9 million vehicles in use worldwide and 200,000 in the US • Requires vehicle conversion (approximately $2,500) • Dedicated or non-dedicated (bi-fuel) conversions • Federal and state incentives available (tax credits, etc.) • http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/tech_matrx.cgi • Taxi Use • Ottawa, Niagara, Toronto, Las Vegas, Cleveland

  5. Compressed Natural Gas - CNG • Used most commonly in residential and commercial utility markets • Produced from gas wells or along with crude oil • Natural Gas can also come as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) • Environmental Impact • Between 60% - 90% reduction in smog emissions • Between 30% - 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) emissions • Economic Impact • Domestically supplied • Generally cheaper on a per-gallon basis • Less energy content

  6. Compressed Natural Gas - CNG • Vehicle Availability • More than 5 million vehicles in use worldwide and 130,000 in the US • Limited OEM vehicles available • Generally requires vehicle conversion (approximately $2,000 - $4,000) • Dedicated or non-dedicated (bi-fuel) conversions • Federal and state incentives available (tax credits, etc.) • Taxicab Use • Several airports (including Seattle-Tacoma International) require the use of natural gas taxicabs • Lack of OEM vehicles may have negative impact • Ottawa, Palm Springs (CA), New York City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto

  7. Compressed Natural Gas - CNG • New York City experience • CNGs began service in early 1990s • OEM Ford Crown Victoria • After-market converted Ford Crown Victoria • Incentives • Vehicle retirement extensions • Partial rebates for purchase costs • Flaws • Limited number of fueling stations • Trunk storage space lost due to CNG tanks • 16 new CNGs recently put into service • After-market modifier re-entering the market

  8. Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV) • Popular choice as a clean vehicle • Not all hybrids are created equal • Impacts vary widely depending on specific vehicles and technology • Environmental Impact • Can lead to reduction in smog and greenhouse gas emissions • Economic Impact • Fuel economy savings are likely • Price premium of several thousand dollars • Federal and state incentives available (tax credits, etc.)

  9. Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV) • Vehicle Availability • Wide availability due to increasing consumer demand and OEM manufacturing • Taxicab Use • Limited number of cities have had hybrid taxicabs in service for up to several years • Initial reports indicate positive owner, driver and passenger feedback • Calgary, Winnipeg, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver

  10. Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV) http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/hybrid-car-hyper.jpg Courtesy of Daimler-Chrysler

  11. Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV) • New York City experience • HEVs began service in November 2005 • Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius • Strong performance during regular inspections • High level of driver satisfaction • Positive passenger response • 150+ HEVs in service today • Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Lexus RX 400H, Mercury Mariner

  12. http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/images/emissions_MH5.gif Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles • Vehicle emissions standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) • Vehicles certified based on smog and particulate matter emissions • Standards adopted by various states • CA, MA, ME, NY, VT

  13. Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles • Environmental Impact • AT-PZEV and PZEV vehicles have zero evaporative emissions • Tailpipe emissions are 90% cleaner than typical new model year cars • EPA provides Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas ratings • http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/index.htm • Economic Impact • Uses regular gasoline • Better fuel economy than typical taxicab vehicles

  14. Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles • Vehicle Availability • AT-PZEV and PZEV available as OEM vehicles in CARB states • 35 CARB certified 2005 model year vehicles (Accord, Camry, Focus, etc.) • No significant price premium • Taxicab Use • No significant taxicab-specific usage reports

  15. Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles • Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEVs) • Widely available in CARB states for popular models • Ford Focus-4Cylinder 26/32 mpg • Ford Fusion-4Cyclinder 24/32 mpg • Honda Accord-4Cylinder 24/34 mpg • Hyundai Elantra-4Cylinder 24/32 mpg • Mazda 3-4Cylinder 26/34 mpg • Nissan Altima-4Cylinder 23/29 mpg • Subaru Legacy-4Cylinder 23/30 mpg • Toyota Camry-4Cylinder 24/34 mpg • Volkswagon Golf-4Cylinder 24/30 mpg • Volkswagon Jetta-4Cylinder 25/31 mpg • Volvo V70-5Cylinder 22/30 mpg • EPA Highway/City Fuel Estimates

  16. Ethanol – E85 • E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline • Vehicles known as Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) because they run on regular gasoline or E85 • Environmental Impact • Some reduction in smog and greenhouse gas emissions with use E85 • Renewable energy source produced from crops like corn • Economic Impact • Comparable prices on a per-gallon basis • Somewhat less energy content • Limited fueling network with most pumps in the Midwest • Federal and state incentives available (tax credits, etc.)

  17. Ethanol – E85 • Vehicle Availability • FFVs have been sold widely – 5 million in the United States • American automakers have devoted significant marketing efforts • Taxicab Use • No significant taxicab-specific usage reports • E85 can have trouble igniting in cold weather

  18. Electric Power Vehicles • Currently available technology has limited range • Used primarily for short-distance, specialized fleets • Environmental Impact • Zero-emissions vehicles • Relies on electric power which may have significant backend impacts • Economic savings • Generally cheaper on a per-mile driven bases – dependent on local utility rates • Federal and state incentives available (tax credits, etc.)

  19. Electric Power Vehicles • Vehicle Availability • Limited OEM production • Currently focused on specialized fleets and localized usage • Taxicab Use • No significant usage reports available • Limited range poses most significant obstacle • New York City undertaking pilot program for lithium battery power

  20. Courtesy of Hybrid Technologies, Inc. Electric Power • New York City experience • Pilot Program proposed by manufacturer of lithium-battery powered vehicle • PT Cruiser • Approved for limited field testing

  21. Biodiesel • Type of diesel fuel produced from organic sources • Blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel (B20) is most common • 100% biodiesel (B100) is newer and less available for use • Environmental Impacts • Older engines raised concerns about noise and emissions • Unclear if newer engines can comply with Clean Air standards • Economic Impacts • Generally more fuel efficient than gasoline engines so fuel economy is improved (up to 30%)

  22. Biodiesel • Vehicle Availability • Limited number of passenger vehicles sold in the United States • Taxicab Use • Seattle • London Taxi uses regular diesel and is in use in limited number of cities • High vehicle maintenance costs represent significant obstacle

  23. Hydrogen Fuel Cells • Concept cars, not reality yet • Combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, • Water and heat are main by-products  • Environmental impact • Zero-emissions • Economic Impact • Relies on supply of hydrogen to generate power • Hydrogen sources are still under development and may include fossil fuels or renewable energy sources

  24. Hydrogen Fuel Cells • Vehicle Availability • Experimental technology with limited number of production vehicles and fuel infrastructure • Wide variety of OEMs are pursuing this technology • Taxi Industry • No applications at this time

  25. Regulatory Considerations • How should “clean” be defined? • Technology (ie, hybrid) • Emissions • Fuel Economy • Should clean taxicabs be held to the same vehicle standards? • Passenger area • Vehicle retirement • How can the use of clean vehicles be increased? • Vehicle retirement or age limits • Vehicle Inspections • Regulatory or financial incentives

  26. Regulatory Considerations Current New York City Experience • How should “clean” be defined? • Technology (Hybrid or CNG) • Should clean taxicabs be held to the same vehicle standards? • More permissive vehicle standards for hybrids • Retirement cycle extensions for CNG • How can the use of clean vehicles be increased? • Taxicab vehicle retirement rules • Specialized taxicab medallions (reduced prices) • Federally-funded rebates for CNG purchase

  27. Value of Working With OEMs • Vehicle Development • Insight on OEM plans for deployment of clean fuel technology • Opportunity to offer regulatory input • Vehicle Enhancements • Ford Crown Victoria rear air conditioning • Ford Crown Victoria enhanced output alternator • Troubleshooting • Toyota Sienna radiator • Ford Crown Victoria shocks • Taxi-specific accessory development • Roof-lights, safety shields, meters, etc. can be tailored for compatibility

  28. Overview of NYC Taxi Fleet

  29. Regulatory Considerations • Vehicle Retirement • 20 out of 27 surveyed jurisdictions have vehicle retirement or age regulations • Generally based on age or model year • Retirement required between 3-10 years • At least one jurisdiction also uses mileage • Limited use of exemptions for policy goals • Accessible Vehicles • Clean Vehicles

  30. Regulatory Considerations • Vehicle Inspections • Every surveyed jurisdiction requires at least annual vehicle inspections • 15 of the surveyed jurisdictions require more frequent vehicle inspections • 2-3 times per year • Frequency can also be based on accidents, previous inspection history or vehicle age/mileage

  31. Educate, Communicate, Act • Clean cars are a hot topic for the general public, elected officials and advocacy groups • Transportation regulators should proactively study the issues and develop proposals • We risk losing control of regulatory authority

  32. Educate, Communicate, Act Current New York City Experience • Local elected officials framed the regulatory agency as slow to act • NYC TLC moved forward with multiple clean vehicle initiatives • Still dealing with frequent legislative proposals • Compromising safety and reliability • Challenge to regulatory authority

  33. Additional Sources • Introductions, Environmental Impact, Economic Impact, Vehicle Availability, Taxicab Use • US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center • http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/about.html • California Air Resources Board – Drive Clean California • http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/home/index.asp • IATR jurisdictional survey • Additional information • Alternative Fuel Vehicles Institute – 2007 Conference/Expo • http://www.afvi.org/NationalConference2007/index.html

  34. Clean Fuel Taxicabs:An Overview Assistant Commissioner for Safety & Emissions NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Peter Schenkman September 18, 2006

More Related