Final Report Rochester Vehicle Fleet Alternative Fuels Systems Study

straight diesel used to avoid cold weather concerns altogether. A B2 blend is
considered to add needed lubricity to the new low sulfur diesel now required for use.
The most important concern for the City during the initial phase in of the fuel is to
ensure a quality supplier with a consistently good product, which meets the ASTM. It
has been observed that the rare occurrence of a “bad load” of the fuel can create
operational problems via clogged filters, gelling, etc. New and inexperienced
producers and or suppliers can increase the risk related to product quality. Another
major concern with the fuel is ensuring proper cold weather performance. The fuel
can gel under cold conditions, both in the tank, and in vehicle systems via clogging
the fuel filter. This concern has been addressed on a national basis by research on
utilization of fuel additives which prevent cold weather gelling. It has been
determined that the feedstock of the biodiesel affects the performance properties of
the biodiesel/diesel blends, and that in most cases:
“B20 users are generally pushing all these issues onto the fuel distributor and blender’s
shoulders with contractual language. Users may simply specify that they need a fuel to
remain crystal free at temperatures down to –14 degrees F for December, January, and
February. Then the blender will work with the biodiesel and diesel suppliers and the additive
firms to address these issues…” 7
Thus both supplier controls regarding additives, blending tests on diesel/biodiesel
mixtures, and cold weather testing, along with City controls of decreased usage of
bioblends during cold season, and protective contractual language can be used to
address this issue.
Electricity
For the purposes of this study, electricity will cover purely electrical vehicles, and
those with electrical battery assist to the drive train and or/motor, which are referred
to as hybrids. Hybrids are further categorized as light duty, medium/heavy duty and
plug-in hybrids as applied to the latter category. Light duty hybrids currently include
the Toyota Prius, a vehicle enjoying a high level of prominence and national
popularity, and the Ford Escape, a small SUV. The City currently has four (4)
Priuses, which are assigned to the Water Bureau. The Prius is not made in America,
and costs more than a traditional equivalent light duty, high fuel efficiency vehicle in
the same vehicle class. The life cycle and dependability of the battery pack of the
Prius are currently unknown. In the past, this vehicle was not on the State Office of
General Services (OGS) procurement contract, so purchasing these required the
generation of a bid package, thus entailing a greater amount of administrative staff
time to acquire these vehicles. It is feasible to acquire more Priuses, which are
extremely fuel efficient at approximately 49 miles per gallon. However, it is now
listed on the 2007 OGS Procurement Contract. Also on the Contract as a gasoline
hybrid electric compact sedan is the Honda Civic. The Ford Escape is on the State
Contract and is appropriate as a small SUV. The larger SUV gasoline hybrid is the
7 Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines, U.S. Department of Energy, 2006, p. 38- B20 Cold Weather
Blends.
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Final Report