(pdf)
This analysis revealed that a significant percentage of those planning to implement BRT service seek vehicle and propulsion system features, such as low-emission and hybrid electric systems, that are unlike those commonly used on bus systems of the past. These new features are attracting new riders in addition to those who ordinarily take transit, thereby reducing the number of private vehicles on the road. This reduction, combined with the use of cleaner fuels and technologies on BRT vehicles, helps improve air quality and reduce dependence on foreign oil. BRT is particularly intriguing in this aspect because it can provide the cleaner, quieter, and faster bus service that transit operators seek while also offering a cleaner and more environmentally friendly bus service.
Biomethane from Dairy Waste
(pdf)
This study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that biomethane derived from dairy manure and other organic waste represents a potential source of renewable transportation fuel. The report is a sourcebook for the production and use of renewable natural gas in California, was co-authored by CALSTART in collaboration with experts from a wide range of fields including advanced transportation technologies, alternative fuels, dairy operations and environmental organizations.
California Biogas Industry Assessment White Paper
(pdf)
Provides a basic tutorial on the U.S. biogas industry and examines the potential usage of biomethane (an upgraded form of biogas) as a transportation fuel in California. The report outlines the entire chain from biogas production to consumption in clear, easy-to-understand terms. Readers will gain a basic understanding of biogas feedstocks, biogas production via anaerobic digestion, direct usage of biogas to produce heat and power, technologies for upgrading biogas to biomethane, potential biomethane usage including as a transportation fuel, biomethane distribution options, benefits of biogas and biomethane, and much more.
California's Clean Vehicle Industry 2004
(pdf)
Takes a snapshot of companies currently involved in or capable of producing technologies that can reduce global warming pollution in vehicles. It examines the core skills needed to design and produce these technologies, outlines the potential size of the market for products that reduce such emissions, and then surveys a cross section of those companies to find what impact increased requirements to reduce the emissions in vehicles will have on their operations.
(pdf)
The compendium is a toolkit of innovative mobility technologies and strategies that can help California communities meet the requirements of SB375. It contains summaries of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, as well as examples of showcase communities, and contains select metrics for the following categories:
- VMT reduction potential
- Cost savings to community & user
- GHG / criteria emissions reductions
This should provide a handy toolkit for planners and policymakers alike.
(pdf)
(A joint CALSTART-UCS report)
This report, drawing on analysis by CALSTART and the Union of Concerned Scientists, finds that strengthening the fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty trucks could create as many as 124,000 jobs nationwide by 2030, with all 50 states experiencing net job growth. Efficiency improvements could save class 8 “big rig” fleet truck owners more than $120,000 per tractor-trailer over eight years and owner-operators more than $80,000 per tractor over 10 to 15 years, assuming an average $3.50 per gallon fuel price.
(pdf)
Bill Van Amburg presented at EVS 23
The HTUF program has grown to become the key industry connection on heavy hybrid technologies. HTUF has been able to attract leading commercial fleets and every major truck maker and supplier to the process, building initially off the military’s high level of interest in hybrid technology. As a result of the HTUF process, the commercial industry is now rapidly developing early heavy-duty hybrid products in several different market applications: parcel, refuse, utility/specialty, shuttle and delivery.
(pdf) CALSTART for the US Department of Transportation
The transit industry continues to move towards a greater degree of electrification as petroleum prices increase the drive for greater vehicle efficiencies and communities continue to look for better ways to reduce harmful criteria and greenhouse gas emissions. Electric drive technologies offer a pathway to reducing the energy consumption of transit operations and to significantly reduce vehicle emissions and transit offers an ideal platform for the validation and early adoption of advanced vehicle electric drive technologies. The commercial sector is also experiencing an increase in hybrid and all-electric trucks. To support the development and penetration of electric drive technologies buses and heavy duty trucks will rely greatly on incorporation of advanced energy storage solutions into the new drivelines.
(pdf) Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, April 2011, Prepared by CALSTART
The Folding Bike Implementation Plan seeks to expand the “bike-transit” option for commuters searching for added flexibility, convenience and access to transit systems. It also aims to assist commuters who would like to avoid some of the obstacles of wanting to board a train when it may be too crowded or waiting for a bus with available bike rack space. It is important to assert at the outset that the Plan’s intent is not to undermine predominant bike-transit policies and facilities such as bike parking at stations and bikes on board transit vehicles. Rather, all of these options - folding bicycles, bike parking and “bikes on board” - are part of the tool box to optimize the bike-transit experience.
(pdf) J. Tomic and B. Van Amburg, EVS-23, Anaheim, CA.
The paper
contains comparative performance data from the deployment of the 24
hybrid and 20 baseline utility trucks. Fuel consumption benefits,
availability, service issues, and acceptance surveys are covered.
(pdf) HTUF for Technology & Maintenance Council
One of the most promising new technologies emerging to meet fuel efficiency and environmental challenges for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is the hybrid drive system. Hybrid drive systems offer the potential both to increase vehicle fuel efficiency and at the same time to reduce actual vehicle emissions below the level of the engine certification. Hybrid systems also offer the possibility of reduced noise, in some cases electrical power generation, and the promise of reduced maintenance due to lowered brake wear, extended maintenance intervals and reduced engine load or operation time.
(pdf) CALSTART for the Port of Long Beach
The goals of the project were to assess the performance and emissions of LNG yard hostlers during in-use operations at a container terminal, and investigate the business case for expanded use of LNG yard hostlers at ports and similar applications (e.g., railroad yards and distribution centers). The major areas of the performance testing program included fuel economy, operator acceptance, service and maintenance, and emissions. The results indicate that LNG yard hostlers exhibit comparable performance to diesel yard hostlers in port applications with lower CO2 emissions and somewhat higher NOx emissions. In the absence of vehicle purchase incentives, life cycle cost estimates for LNG yard hostlers are currently about the same as diesel yard hostlers excluding LNG refueling infrastructure costs.
(pdf) Consultant Team: Nelson/Nygaard Associates, CALSTART, Alta Planning and Intrago
This Southern California Associations of Government (SCAG) study identifies cost-effective strategies to increase transit use and reduce automobile trips in the City of Los Angeles. The study focuses on strategies that help to enhance overall mobility and solve what are known as “first mile/last mile” barriers for commuters who could potentially take transit but whose starting point or final destination cannot be conveniently accessed from the nearest transit stop/station due to distance, terrain (hills, street patterns), or real or perceived safety issues (traffic, crime).
(pdf)
(A Union of Concerned Scientists Report)
This
report, conducted for the Union of Concerned Scientists by resource
analysis and planning firm MRG Associates, evaluates the impact that the
adoption of truck efficiency technologies will have on national
employment, wage and salary income, and national gross domestic product.
The report finds that widespread deployment of more-efficient trucks
would create 124,000 jobs by 2030, with each state seeing net job
growth, and that annual GDP would increase by $10 billion by 2030.
(pdf)
A study on emissions from ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area and the impact clean technologies and fuels will have in improving air quality if the ferry system expands.
(pdf)
J. Tomic, Presented at Hybrid Truck National Meeting 2007, Seattle, WA,
2007. Synopsis: The presentation covers the results and data from the
deployment of the 24 hybrid utility trucks.
(pdf)
This report,
founded by the Energy Foundation, examines the economic impact that
advanced efficiency technologies will have on truck owners in the
2020-2030 timeframe. These technologies promise to dramatically reduce
fuel consumption and operating costs for fleets, but upfront costs are
substantial. Fleets and independent owner-operators therefore have to
determine whether the benefits provided by advanced truck technologies
justify the higher capital costs. A life-cycle approach to valuing costs
and fuel savings shows that investments in fuel efficiency technologies
will yield net economic benefits over a typical truck ownership period.
(pdf)
The goal of this report is to identify the best incentives and complementary policies to overcome technology and market barriers and support an accelerated transition to more efficient, cleaner trucks. CALSTART surveyed truck fleet users, manufacturers, and suppliers in order to better understand the primary implementation barriers, needs, and policy options that could address these issues. After the initial survey, CALSTART then worked with a multi‐disciplinary Task Force of industry and vehicle user representatives to further refine the policy recommendations. Funding for the report was provided by the Energy Foundation.
(pdf)
Reports on the findings and observations of the Swedish Biogas Industry Education Tour 2004. The purpose of the tour was to learn from the experiences of the Swedish biogas industry, with particular emphasis on the use of biogas as a vehicle fuel, and determine which parts of the Swedish model could be applicable to the currently less advanced biogas industry in California and the rest of the US.
(pdf)
An important tool for transit professionals, land developers, city planners and all those interested in understanding the challenges involved in reducing automobile dependency and mitigating traffic congestion in an urban setting. This study is the first of its kind to analyze the success and acceptance of national efforts to link urban public transit with additional transportation modes such as vanpools, carsharing, station cars, and park-and-ride lots funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that biomethane derived from dairy manure and other organic waste represents a potential source of renewable transportation fuel. The report is a sourcebook for the production and use of renewable natural gas in California, was co-authored by CALSTART in collaboration with experts from a wide range of fields including advanced transportation technologies, alternative fuels, dairy operations and environmental organizations.funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that biomethane derived from dairy manure and other organic waste represents a potential source of renewable transportation fuel. The report is a sourcebook for the production and use of renewable natural gas in California, was co-authored by CALSTART in collaboration with experts from a wide range of fields including advanced transportation technologies, alternative fuels, dairy operations and environmental organizations.