Transport Partnership
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
at Clean Freight Strategies:
Cleaner Fuels for Drayage
Alternative fuel use can reduce the consumption ofdieselfuel and lower emissions of
greenhouse gases and various air pollutants. One fuel alternative, B20 biodiesel could save
more than 1,100 gallons of fuel, eliminating 12 tons of carbon dioxide per truck each year and
reducing sulphur dioxide emissions by 3-11 %.
What is the challenge?
Emissions generated through the daily
convergence of diesel trucks on port
facilities can undermine local air quality.
These trucks emit substantially more
particulate matter (PM), volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide
(NOX), carbon monoxide (CO) and
carbon dioxide (CC^) per mile than light-
duty vehicles. While trucks are critical to
local and national economies, they can
have costly health impacts in the
communities they travel through.
Emissions from diesel trucks have
improved with cleaner engine and after
treatment technologies, but the
challenge to minimize pollution per trip
remains for drayage trucks that typically
predate newer control technologies.
What is the solution?
Alternatives to conventional diesel fuel
can reduce the air quality impacts of
freight. Drayage fleets can be suited to
alternative fuel use due to frequent
travel to port and warehouse facilities
where refueling stations could be
located. The higher cost of these fuels
can sometimes be offset by government
grants. Options for heavy-duty on-road
applications include:
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a renewable alternative to
petroleum diesel that can be refined
from a variety of animal fats and
vegetable oils. It is an attractive option
because at lower percentage blends
biodiesel can run in unmodified diesel
engines, and is compatible with many
emission control devices. Potential
sulfur dioxide (802) and C02 reductions
can be significant depending on the
percentage of biodiesel used. B20, a
common biodiesel blend, contains a
mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80%
petroleum diesel. Most major engine
companies recognize the use of blends
up to B20 as compatible with engine
warranties.
Diesel Emulsion
Diesel/water emulsions combine 80%
diesel fuel with water and additives.
This can reduce nitrogen oxide and
particulate matter emissions by altering
combustion temperatures and patterns
to more completely burn the fuel.
Emulsions do not require vehicle
modifications and can be used in with
many after-treatment technologies.
Emulsions can be easily applied to
centrally fueled fleets.
Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)
ULSD has been refined to have a lower
sulfur content then conventional diesel
and can be used in any on-road diesel
engine applications. Today, diesel fuel
has a maximum sulfur content of 500
parts per million (ppm) while USLD
ranges from 15 to 30 ppm of sulfur.
EPA has mandated the use of USLD in
all on-road diesel engines by 2006.
The results are in ...
Each alternative fuel option has different
U.S. EPA Office of Transportation & Air Quality • EPA420-F-06-007 • (734) 214-4767 phone
www.epa.gov/smartwav
smartway_transport@epa.gov
-------
advantages for use in drayage
applications.
• Biodiesel can reduce lifecycle
greenhouse gas emissions over
conventional diesel 10-20% for B20
and 40-90% for B100. carbon
monoxide, particulate matter, volitale
organic compounds and sulphur
dioxide reductions can range from 3-
11 % for B20, with a potential
increase in NOX emissions.
• Purinox diesel/water emulsion
produced by Lubrizol Corp. has been
verified by the California Air
Resources Board (GARB) to reduce
NOX and PM emissions. Estimates
include a PM reduction of 50% and
15% for NOX. However, such
emulsions can result in fuel economy
losses of 15% and up to a 20%
reduction in engine power.
• In addition to reducing the maximum
sulfur content of diesel by 97%,
ULSD provides the greatest
emissions benefits when used with
emission control devices. ULSD
enables the effective use of
particulate traps and catalytic
converters resulting in reductions of
PM, VOC and CO by as much as
90%.
Next steps
Ports and nearby communities can act
as a central point for the refueling of
alternative fueled trucks, and support
the development of refueling stations.
Information on heavy-duty applications
for alternative fuels and diesel fuel
regulatory programs can be found
through the EPA's National Clean Diesel
Campaign (www.epa.gov/cleandiesen
and the Alternative Fuel Data Center
(www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/).
U.S. EPA Office of Transportation & Air Quality • EPA420-F-06-007 • (734) 214-4767 phone • smartway_transport@epa.gov •
www.epa.gov/smartwav
------- |