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Alternative fuel use in personal automobiles is growing in Ann Arbor as more alternate fuel pumps appear in the area. In 2006, Ann Arbor residents and businesses used 824,937 gallons of alternative fuels, up from 805,471 gallons in 2005. The number of vehicles in the City using alternative fuels increased from 756 to 1,157 from 2004 to 2005.
Alternative fuels use by Ann Arbor buses increased from 362,350 gallons in 2005 to 373,992 gallons in 2006, all of which is B20 and B5 biodiesel. Because most buses have diesel engines, biodiesel is the most logical alternative fuel for buses. The University of Michigan has been using B20 (a 20% biodiesel blend) since 2000, and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority recently began using B5 in 2006.
Source: Ann Arbor Clean Cities |
What are alternative fuels?
Alternative transportation fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity, replace ordinary gasoline in motorized vehicles. Some alternative fuels are fossil fuels, like compressed and liquefied natural gas. Other alternative fuels are derived from domestic agricultural products or biomass waste, like ethanol and biodiesel.
- Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel made from soybeans, hemp, mustard seed and other crops and even used fryer oils from restaurants. It can be used immediately in unmodified diesel engines. Biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable, and reduces air pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and toxic air contaminants (TACs) that are associated with cancer. A 20% blend of Biodiesel with 80% regular diesel, commonly known as B-20, cost about $0.15 per gallon more than regular diesel. The City and the University of Michigan fleets have been using B-20 since 2000, and other local fleets are trying it. In 2001, the City of Ann Arbor Fleet began using biodiesel. The City purchased 12,000 gallons of 100% biodiesel (B100) to combine it with standard diesel fuel for an 80% diesel, 20% biodiesel blend (B20). B20 is used year round in all city diesel vehicles.
- Ethanol is a domestically produced, renewable, alcohol-based fuel that is produced through the fermentation and distillation of starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for ethanol production include include corn, wheat, barley, or agricultural waste. There are a few ethanol production facilities in the State of Michigan, one located in Caro. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Use of this fuel not only increases the overall performance of the vehicle but emissions are cleaner. Many studies have shown that E85 greatly reduces hydrocarbon, benzene, and carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles. This product is derived from completely biodegradable vegetation and can be produced domestically, minimizing our dependence on foreign oil. On the downside, it can increase evaporative emissions. There are currently over three million "flex fuel" vehicles on the road capable of using E85, but only a few E-85 fueling facilities in the Ann Arbor area.
- Electricity is primarily used as a transportation fuel to either charge the batteries of battery-electric vehicles or is produced as a by-product of an electrochemical reaction in the stack of fuel cell vehicles. Pure battery-electric vehicles, EVs, have limited storage capacity and must be plugged into an electrical source in order to recharge their batteries. The electricity to charge the batteries can come from renewable sources, such as wind or photovoltaics, but often it doesn't, since renewables are presently such a small percentage of our nation's energy portfolio. Hybrid electric vehicles operate on a mix of battery-electric and conventional (internal combustion) power. The City currently owns and operates five electric vehicles, including three E-Z Go electric carts, one GEM passenger vehicle and one GEM flatbed vehicle.
- Compressed Natural Gas does result in significant emission reductions compared to gasoline. CNG vehicles emit less particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide when compared to their gasoline fueled counterparts. The Ann Arbor area has three public CNG fueling stations; private fueling stations for City, County, or DTE vehicles; and there are over 40 CNG vehicles operating in the Ann Arbor area. Members of the Ann Arbor public are slowly taking advantage of the CNG alternative. The City of Ann Arbor 's fleet includes 20 natural gas vehicles; including the first municipally owned natural gas powered dump truck in the US . On October 25, 2002 a public CNG fuelling station was installed at the City's garage at 721 N. Main. There are two other fast fill CNG stations at Meijer's on Ann Arbor-Saline Road and on Carpenter Road.
- Hydrogen (H2) can either be used directly as a fuel (100% hydrogen or a hydrogen/natural gas blend) in internal combustion engines or in a vehicle's fuel cell to produce electricity. Unlike petroleum, hydrogen does not exist, in and of itself, in a natural state and must be extracted from other materials. While there are not any Hydrogen vehicles commerically available at the present time, the City of Ann Arbor recently hosted a Ford Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle prototype on loan from Ford.
For more information and for a listing of local fueling locations, visit the Ann Arbor Area Clean Cities Coalition Web site.
What alternative fuels are used in Ann Arbor buses?
The University of Michigan used 20% biodiesel (B20) in all their buses and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority uses 5% biodiesel (B5) in their buses. The AATA is also planning to purchase diesel-electric hybrid buses, which while not an alternative fuel, will help to reduce the AATA’s greenhouse gas emissions and other local air pollution.
How do alternative fuels affect the environment?
Alternative transportation fuels have many desirable energy efficiency and pollution reduction benefits. For example, alternative fuels reduce emissions of lead, sulfur, and nitrous oxides, as well as CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Further, alternative fuels reduce emissions of particulate matter, toxic air contaminants, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases, creating a more healthy environment. Finally, because some alternative fuels are domestic environmental resources, such as CNG and LPG, use of these fuels strengthens national energy security.
City Initiatives
The City of Ann Arbor helped begin an organization that is now a local nonprofit working to encourage the use of alternative fuels. The Clean Energy Coalition was formed as a non-profit entity to house and expand upon the work of the Ann Arbor Clean Cities program. CEC organization has managed and completed over 30 state and federal grants valued at over $700,000.
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