Alternative-Fuel Technology for Fleet

1. Alternative-Fuel Technology for Fleet Arde Faghri, Professor, Civil Engi. Director, Delaware Center for Transportation University of Delaware Amir Shahpar Research Assistant, Delaware Center for Transportation Delaware Center for Transportation June 2010

2. Outline • Introducing DART • Fleet Expansion Considerations • Alternative-Fuel Transit Buses • Data Collection • Results • Life-Cycle Cost • Emissions • Future Works Delaware Center for Transportation

3. Delaware Authority for Regional Transit: DART • Delaware’s bus, train, and intermodal transportation provider • Services include contracted SEPTA commuter trains, intercounty bus, fixed route bus and paratransit • 10.2 million passenger trips system wide ridership • Revenue sources: 18% fare – 77% State – 3% Federal – 2% bus advertising • One of the 43 transit agencies chosen to reduce energy consumption and GHG Emissions Delaware Center for Transportation

4. New Castle CountyFixed Bus Routes • 69 fixed bus routes • 430 buses all types • 40-foot buses config. • 132 Diesel • 15 Hybrid Diesel-Electric • Fleet expansion Plan • 9 in 2011 • 12 in 2012 Delaware Center for Transportation

5. Fleet Expansion Considerations • Serious funding problems • Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) • APTA Strategic Plan 2010-2014 • Economic Sustainability • Environmental Sustainability • Latest EPA Standards • State Implementations Plans (SIP) Delaware Center for Transportation

6. EPA Emission Standards Delaware Center for Transportation Source: Generated based on the EPA web site (2010)

7. EPA Emission Standards Delaware Center for Transportation Source: Generated based on the EPA web site (2010)

8. Ozone Level in Delaware Delaware Center for Transportation

9. Alternative-Fuel Buses • Clean Air Act 1990 • Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel, CNG, LPG, LNG, Hybrid, Pure Electric, Fuel cell • 2009 APTA database (40-foot standard transit bus) Delaware Center for Transportation

10. Other Technologies weaknesses • Ethanol & Methanol: • High maintenance cost and reduced engine life • LPG: • Lack of suitable commercially available engine • Practical option for small- to medium-sized transit buses • Fuel Cell: • Very pricy with an average price of $1.3M (zero emission) • Pure Electric: • Prototype design stage (very promising) Delaware Center for Transportation

11. Other Technologies weaknesses Source: University of Delaware Center for Fuel Cell Research Delaware Center for Transportation

12. Dominant Technologies • Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) • Biodiesel (B20) • Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) • Hybrid Diesel-Electric Delaware Center for Transportation

13. Data Collection • DART: • Annual average mileage = 30,000 mile/year • Average speed = 12.7 mph • Bus life span = 12 years • Fuel economy • Delaware Air quality Reports: • key emissions: PM2.5 & ozone • non-attainment areas: Wilmington for PM2.5 & Delaware for ozone Delaware Center for Transportation

14. Data Collection • Federal reports including: • Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) • Federal Transit Administration (FTA) • Department of Transportation (DOT) • National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) • Department of Energy (DOE) • American Public Transportation Association (APTA) • Two major public transportation conferences: • BUSCON 2009, Chicago, IL • APTA 2009, Orlando, FL Delaware Center for Transportation

15. Life-Cycle Cost Items • Capital Cost • Vehicle Cost • Refueling Station • (infrastructure) • Depot Modification • Operating Cost • Fuel Cost • Total Maintenance Cost • Facility Maintenance • Compression Electricity • Battery Replacement Infrastructure and depot modification cost were justified based on DART current facilities Delaware Center for Transportation

16. Major Assumptions • Direct Cost That DART Pays • 12-Years Life Span • 50 New Buses Purchased in 2009 • Type of Buses: 40 feet, low floor, 39 seats • Buses Operated at Average National Conditions • 12 mph Speed • 35,000 miles per year • 80% Federal subsidy for bus procurement • Mechanic Time ($50/hr) in maintenance costs Delaware Center for Transportation

17. Capital Costs per Bus(50 Bus Fleet) Delaware Center for Transportation

18. Operating Costs per Bus(50 Bus Fleet, 12 years) Delaware Center for Transportation

19. Fuel Economy & Projected Fuel Price Source: Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Federal Transit Association Delaware Center for Transportation

20. The Life Cycle Cost per Bus(50 Bus Fleet, 12 years) Delaware Center for Transportation

21. Life Cycle Cost $/mile Delaware Center for Transportation

22. Reliability Index Cumulative Miles Between Road Calls (MBRC) NYCTA Standard MBRC = 4,000 miles Delaware Center for Transportation

23. Emission Estimation (gram/mile) Delaware Center for Transportation

24. Future Works • Experts Survey • DelDOT Experts • DART-Management • DART-Bus operator • DART-Maintenance • DNREC • Passengers • UD researchers • Qualitative Criteria • Vehicle Capability • Sense of Comfort • Energy Independence • Noise Pollution Multi-Criteria Decision Making Process Delaware Center for Transportation

25. “You'll know the green revolution has been won when the word ‘green’ disappears.” - Tom Friedman, NYT Columnist Delaware Center for Transportation

26. Acknowledgements Ralph Reeb Delaware Department of Transportation Brett Taylor Delaware Department of Transportation Stephen Kingsberry Delaware Transit Corporation Mark Glaze Delaware Department of Transportation Delaware Center for Transportation