Please Note: Webinar notices and upcoming conferences are provided for informational purposes only. Neither the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership nor the Regional Planning Commission is responsible for the information presented in the announcements, webinars, or conferences themselves. Please contact hosts for additional information on specific presentations.

Clean Fuel Newsletter December 2016

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Registration Open for Electric, Propane, and Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Mechanic Trainings in Kenner, LA: The

Clean Fuel Partnership, in coordination with the Dallas Fort Worth

Clean Cities and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium

(NAFTC), will be offering a series of FREE Alternative Fuel Mechanic

Training Workshops. Read More New Idle Reduction Program at the Port of New Orleans: As

part of its commitment to operate the Port and manage resources to

preserve and protect the environment, the Port of New Orleans is

implementing an Idle Reduction Program to reduce air pollution and

fuel consumption as part of its “Your Port, Your Air, Keep It Clean”

campaign. Read More

Technical Response Question of the Month: How is fuel economy determined and reported for alternative fuel vehicles? While the EPA’s alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fuel

economy testing is largely similar to that of conventional fuels, EPA makes some adjustments to account for different vehicle technology and fuel energy content to provide apples-to-apples comparisons and allow consumers to make informed decisions. Read More

10 VETERANS BOULEVARD · NEW ORLEANS, LA · 70124 SLCFP@NORPC.ORG · PHONE 504.483.8500

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Upcoming Events Click Here for Upcoming Webinars

National Biodiesel Conference & Expo January 16-19, 2017

San Diego, CA www.biodieselconference.org

Electric Vehicle Automotive Technician Training January 23-27, 2017

Kenner, LA

Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training February 7-9, 2017

Kenner, LA

Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Training

February 21-23, 2017 Kenner, LA

Green Truck Summit/Work

Truck Show 2017 March 14-17, 2017

Indianapolis, IN www.worktruckshow.com

Green Transportation

Summit & Expo April 11-12, 2017

Portland, OR http://gtsummitexpo.com

New Clean Cities Publications Available!

Help us grow the number of trained Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) mechanics while promoting your organization to local fleet managers and technicians!

The Clean Fuel Partnership is accepting sponsorships for our upcoming Alternative Fuel Mechanic Training Workshop Series! Please consider supporting our efforts to fill this critical gap in clean transportation. Sponsorship levels range from $250 -$1,000 as detailed in our SLCFP Alt Fuel Mechanic Training Sponsorship Packet. Sponsor benefits include:

Recognition on all outreach materials and event signage Opportunity to distribute materials at the event Receipt for tax purposes

Interested in sponsoring or showcasing a vehicle at the trainings? Please contact Rebecca Otte at slcfp@norpc.org or (504) 483-8513.

Looking for a Year End Tax Deduction? Consider Sponsoring our Upcoming Mechanic Trainings!

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Registration Open for Electric, Propane, and Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Mechanic Trainings

Many fleets in our region would like to convert to alternative fuels but lack trained mechanics to maintain the vehicles. In addition, few mechanic shops outside of dealerships have personnel trained for electric, propane or natural gas vehicles. In order to address this barrier to the expansion of clean transportation options in our region, the Clean Fuel Partnership, in coordination with the Dallas Fort Worth Clean Cities and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), will be offering a series of FREE Alternative Fuel Mechanic Training Workshops including:

Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Training (January 23-27, 2017): This 5-day course helps participants understand electric drive vehicles and how they operate differently from conventionally fueled vehicles. Participants will learn how to safely maintain hybrid electric and electric drive vehicles. The information covered in the course has helped participants pass the ASE L3 course. Register here.

Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training (February 7-9, 2017): This 3-day course focuses on how engine performance and propane are utilized for efficiency, how converted vehicles utilize the original equipment manufacture’s (OEM) module to communicate with the conversion electronic module, and the properties and safe use of propane. Register here.

Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicles Training (February 21-23, 2017): This 3-day course helps participants learn how the electronics for compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion systems communicate with powertrain control modules, become familiar with pre- and post- installation setup, and gain an understanding of both dedicated and bi-fuel system CNG components and safety issues related to the fuel systems. Register here.

Trainings are specifically open to fleet mechanics and local mechanic shops interested in expanding their skill set. Each training is limited to 12 participants and spots are already filling up, so if you are interested in attending or sending your mechanics, we recommend registering early! Priority will be given to Clean Fuel Partnership stakeholder fleets; other spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Thank you to the City of Kenner’s Maintenance Facility and the Parks & Recreation Department for hosting the trainings at 1905 24th Street, Kenner, Louisiana, 70062. The trainings will start at 8:30a and conclude by 5:00p each day.

For questions or additional information, please contact Rebecca Otte at: 504-483-8513 or slcfp@norpc.org.

Thank you to the Propane Education Research Council (PERC) and Alliance Autogas who have signed on as sponsors for the Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training! We appreciate their support of our efforts to address this barrier to clean transportation!

The trainings are free but registration is required and spots are limited. Register Today to save

your spot!

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New Idle Reduction Program at the Port of New Orleans As part of its commitment to operate the Port and manage resources to preserve and protect the environment, the Port of New Orleans (Port / Port NOLA) is implementing an Idle Reduction Program to reduce air pollution and fuel consumption as part of its “Your Port, Your Air, Keep It Clean” campaign and their Green Marine certification. Port NOLA and the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership developed an Idle Reduction Plan that outlines the various steps to addressing idling, gives an overview of plans from other Ports working to reduce idling, and reviews technology options to offset engine idling as well as available funding resources. As the first step of implementing their Idle Reduction Plan, the Port’s Board of Commissioners recently approved an idle reduction policy to address idling in their fleet of over 100 vehicles. The next step will be to develop a stakeholder outreach strategy including identifying applicable partners. Once the stakeholders are established, the Port plans to collect information on when, where and why idling is occurring. Based on that data, Port NOLA can then prioritize areas for improvement and develop specific strategies for reducing idling along with ways to measure success. Reducing unnecessary idling is a great way for fleets to not only reduce their emissions but also save money by reducing fuel consumption. Unnecessary vehicle idling wastes approximately 0.3 gallons per hour for cars and 1 gallon per hour for large trucks. Over time and fleet-wide, this results in a significant amount of wasted fuel and preventable emissions. Engine idling also results in unnecessary engine wear and associated maintenance costs.

Idling often occurs out of habit. By educating drivers, fleets can save money on fuel without a significant financial investment. Posting signage, providing driver giveaways to remind them to turn off their engines when idling isn’t necessary, and developing driver recognition/incentive programs can all help educate drivers on the benefits of idle reduction and encourage their participation. In some cases, an investment in equipment can result in a sizeable payback: the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad installed automatic engine shut down/start up systems on their 10 switcher locomotives which saves over 487,000 gallons of diesel fuel and over $1 million annually. Other technology solutions include Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) to provide heating, air conditioning, and power to a truck at overnight stops, and auxiliary power units to provide heating and air conditioning as well as electricity for stationary operations such as emergency lights and bucket truck lifts. In addition to looking at behavior and equipment, Port NOLA is addressing Port congestion and traffic patterns which can result in excessive truck idling.

Benefits of Idle Reduction Save Fuel and Money Protect Health and

Environment Reduce Noise Increase Energy Security

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Resources for Reducing Idling

The US Dept. of Energy’s IdleBox toolkit provides a variety of resources to help fleets reduce idling including:

“STOP Idling. $TART Saving” educational materials including customizable signs, posters, print products, stickers, bookmarks, press releases, and information handouts;

Samples of voluntary pledges to help raise awareness of the campaign and increase buy-in;

An Idle Reduction Savings Calculator to help quantify emissions and cost savings from idle reduction efforts;

Sample presentations for educating stakeholders on the benefits of idle reduction;

IdleBase, a comprehensive database of idling regulations for on-road vehicles designed to be a reference tool for those who need to know the laws (e.g., fleet managers and drivers) and those who are interested in learning how other states, regions, counties, and municipalities seek to reduce the fuel waste and air-quality effects associated with idling (e.g. policymakers); and

Case Studies on how fleets have reduced idling and their fuel budget.

Local Idling Regulations

In the state of Louisiana, several idle-reduction regulations exist within the City of New Orleans which the Port considered when adopting the anti-idling policy:

Location Vehicle

Type Idling Restriction Exemptions

New Orleans Buses 20 minutes Situations beyond the operator's control and as otherwise provided for in Chapter 162 and Section 162-942.

New Orleans, Garden District (bounded by St. Charles Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, and Magazine Street)

Buses 10 minutes Situations beyond the operator's control.

New Orleans, Vieux Carre (French Quarter) Buses 10 minutes while loading or unloading passengers; maximum of 15 minutes in one place

NA

Interested in developing an Idle Reduction Plan for your fleet?

The US Dept. of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer a variety of resources to help with implementing idle reduction programs such as:

US DOE’s Alternative Fuel Data Center Idle Reduction Section: www.afdc.energy.gov/conserve/idle_reduction_basics.html

National Idling Reduction Network News: http://energy.gov/eere/vehicles/vehicle-technologies-office-national-idling-reduction-network-news

EPA’s SmartWay Program: www.epa.gov/smartway EPA’s Verified Idle Reduction Technologies for SmartWay and Clean Diesel:

www.epa.gov/verified-diesel-tech

If your fleet is interested in promoting idle reduction, the Clean Fuel Partnership is here to help. Please contact Rebecca Otte for additional information: slcfp@norpc.org.

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Technical Response Question of the Month: How is fuel economy determined and reported for alternative fuel vehicles?

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fuel economy testing is largely similar to that of conventional fuels, EPA makes some adjustments to account for different vehicle technology and fuel energy content. By tailoring AFV fuel economy testing and reporting, the EPA is able to provide apples-to-apples comparisons and allow consumers to make informed decisions. All-Electric Vehicles

What’s Reported: The fuel economy label for all-electric vehicles (EVs) includes all of the same information as that listed for gasoline vehicles (fuel economy, fuel cost savings, annual fuel cost, and emissions). However, EV labels list fuel economy using miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe), sometimes referred to as miles per gasoline gallon equivalent (MPGGE). MPGe represents the number of miles a vehicle can go using a quantity of fuel with the same energy content as a gallon of gasoline. MPGe is a useful way to compare gasoline vehicles with vehicles that use fuel not dispensed in gallons. EV labels also include the following information:

Vehicle Charge Time: Indicates how long it takes to charge a fully discharged battery using Level 2, 240-volt electric vehicle supply equipment.

Driving Range: Estimates the approximate number of miles that a vehicle can travel in combined city and highway driving before the battery must be recharged.

Fuel Consumption Rate: Shows how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity an EV would use to travel 100 miles. Like gallons per 100 miles, the kWh per 100 miles relates directly to the amount of fuel used. It is an estimated rate of consumption rather than economy (measured in miles per gallon [MPG] or MPGe), which allows for more accurate energy usage comparisons between vehicles.

What’s Tested: To test EV fuel economy, the vehicle battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked overnight. The next day, the vehicle is tested over successive city cycles until the battery is depleted. The battery is then recharged and the energy consumption of the vehicle is determined by dividing the kWh of energy needed to recharge the battery by the miles traveled by the vehicle. MPGe is based on this figure. The process is repeated for highway driving cycles, and the combined city and highway fuel consumption and MPGe is based on the standard ratio of 55% city and 45% highway driving. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

What’s Reported: Like EVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) fuel economy labels include fuel cost savings, annual fuel cost, and emissions information. For PHEVs that can use either electricity or gasoline (but only one fuel at a time), also known as non-blended or series PHEVs, labels include information for the fuel economy of both fuel modes. The electricity information is identical to that of EVs, listing charge time, fuel economy in MPGe, and fuel consumption rate in kWh per 100 miles. The gasoline information provides fuel economy in MPG and fuel consumption information in gallons per 100 miles. PHEV fuel economy labels also include electricity only, gasoline only, and combined electricity and gasoline driving

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range estimates. For PHEVs that use electricity and gasoline at the same time, also known as blended or parallel PHEVs, fuel economy labels reflect the fuel economy, fuel consumption, and range of the vehicle when it uses its standard electricity and gasoline mix.

What’s Tested: Because series PHEVs can use either electricity or gasoline, the EPA determines a vehicle’s fuel economy and fuel consumption based both on its use of only electricity and only gasoline. To determine a PHEV’s electric fuel economy, the EPA issues testing methodology nearly identical to that of EVs. If the gasoline engine is required to complete the test cycle, the EPA methodology uses both the electric energy consumption and the gasoline consumption to calculate the MPGe values for the electric operation only. Vehicle testing for the gasoline operation of the vehicle is similar to any other conventional hybrid electric vehicle. Parallel PHEVs are tested using their standard mix of electricity and gasoline.

Other Alternative Fuels

What’s Reported: The EPA also requires fuel economy information for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles that use alternative fuels. This includes dedicated natural gas, propane, and hydrogen vehicles, as well as bi-fuel vehicles, such as bi-fuel natural gas, propane, and flexible fuel vehicles (vehicles that may use 51%-83% ethanol-gasoline blends). Note that the EPA does not require fuel economy testing of vehicles converted to run alternative fuels after they are purchased. While the EPA does not list fuel economy information for vehicles that use biodiesel, all diesel vehicles may use fuel blends of up to 5% biodiesel. These vehicles achieve fuel economy very similar to conventional diesel.

For vehicles that use exclusively alternative fuels (e.g., natural gas or hydrogen), the EPA lists fuel economy in MPGe in order to accurately reflect the fuel’s energy content and make easy comparisons with conventional fuel vehicles. Vehicles that can use either alternative fuels or conventional fuel, such as bi-fuel natural gas, bi-fuel propane, and flexible fuel vehicles, have fuel economy, fuel consumption, and range estimates for both the alternative and conventional fuel listed on their fuel economy labels. Fuel economy for alternative fuel use in bi-fuel and flexible fuel vehicles is listed in MPGe, while fuel economy for conventional fuel use is listed in MPG.

What’s Tested: For vehicles that run exclusively on alternative fuels, fuel economy testing methods are similar to those of conventional vehicles. For bi-fuel and flexible fuel vehicles, the vehicle fuel economy is tested as it runs exclusively on each fuel, similar to PHEVs.

For more information about AFV fuel economy, see the FuelEconomy.gov website (www.fueleconomy.gov/) and select from the Advanced Cars & Fuels menu. Information provided by: Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team technicalresponse@icf.com 800-254-6735

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New Clean Cities Publications Available!

2017 Fuel Economy Guide

An electronic version of the 2017 Fuel Economy Guide is now available online at FuelEconomy.gov (www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/printGuides.shtml). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publish and distribute the guide each year to help car buyers choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs as well as compare purchase price and operational costs such as fuel and maintenance. The online version of the guide will be updated weekly on FuelEconomy.gov as additional information is submitted by the auto manufacturers.

Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide, (Fifth Edition)

This newly revised document is a guide for those who blend, distribute, and use biodiesel and biodiesel blends. It is intended to help fleets, individual users, blenders, distributors, and those involved in related activities understand procedures for handling and using biodiesel fuels. It provides information on:

Biodiesel basics Safe use of biodiesel and biodiesel blends in engines and boilers Taxes and incentives Safety, health and environmental issues Installing biodiesel dispensing equipment for blends with 20%

biodiesel or higher Converting underground storage tanks from gasoline or diesel

to biodiesel Information resources and more!

Clean Cities: AFLEET Measures Impacts of Vehicles and Fuels

This document provides updated information on the Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) tool, a free tool from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that fleet managers can use to quantify the environmental and economic impacts of new fuels and vehicle technologies. Individual fleets can use this tool to evaluate both their existing fleet and new vehicle purchases, examine their fleet’s environmental footprint, and perform a simple payback analysis to compare potential vehicle purchases.

The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership is part of a network of almost 100 US Department of Energy-designated Clean Cities Coalitions nationwide. We provide education, technical assistance, funding information and other services to assist vehicle fleet managers and personnel incorporate cleaner transportation options into their operations. For additional information on cleaner transportation options, please visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center and Clean Cities websites.