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Thursday, March 1, 2012
Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) in the FW Transit System
I've heard mixed reviews on CNG. Pierce Transit, and most California transit agencies use it. But Cherriots is phasing it out in favor of ULSD.
I know TriMet did experiment with LNG in the early 1990s with a small fleet of buses, but the fleet was retired with the buses could no longer be fueled (PGE was using LNG powered vehicles and fueled the buses for TriMet...when PGE stopped using LNG, TriMet did not want to build a LNG fueling facility.)
LNG is not compressed natural gas.All garages have a natural gas line running into the facility.LNG is what is brought into the country by large tankers in liquid form.Jeff,I don't like fracking anymore than you do.All of our gas brought into the state by existing pipelines is not fracked.In fact,we have producing gas fields right here in Oregon out in Mist.Electric trolleys are a long ways away,so CNG is our best alternative right now.Gas is far lower in emissions(think about the smokey 1400's)and is at least 50% less expensive than diesel.I thought Neil said he would get back to me or the board about it too.I believe that stimulus money would have been better spent building CNG fueling stations at each garage rather than a bus wash that the Merlo crew hardly ever uses.
SMART looked at other alternatives fuels such as propane, diesel hybrids, gas hybrids and even fully electrical vehicles. The advantage of CNG vehicles is they operate quieter than diesel engines with a reduction in exhaust fumes.
I'm not sure CNG offers much of a benefit...I would think gasoline hybrid would be the best; and most of SMART's routes are slow speed city routes. For the routes to Barbur TC, Salem and Canby, though, the hybrid would start losing its benefit. I have no idea how CNG works "on the open road" but Pierce Transit has many commuter routes and they seem very happy with CNG.
Steve,If it doesn't involve sourcing from fracked derived natural gas, I'm totally with you. You're exactly right about lower costs and significantly reduced emissions. As was pointed out last year to the Board and MacFarlane, L.A.'s entire bus fleet is now exclusively natural gas, to the benefit of their budget and the environment!
Steve, Last year L.A. finished converting it's entire fleet to natural gas, dramatic savings for their budget and the environment. This info was conveyed to Trimet Board and MacFarlane.
Trimet just doesn't care about this sort of technology...
ReplyDeleteThey are too focused on rail.
I've heard mixed reviews on CNG. Pierce Transit, and most California transit agencies use it. But Cherriots is phasing it out in favor of ULSD.
ReplyDeleteI know TriMet did experiment with LNG in the early 1990s with a small fleet of buses, but the fleet was retired with the buses could no longer be fueled (PGE was using LNG powered vehicles and fueled the buses for TriMet...when PGE stopped using LNG, TriMet did not want to build a LNG fueling facility.)
Wilsonville's SMART just bought 2 CNG buses. Press release here.
ReplyDeleteFracking is bad news. Isn't it better to go electric (trolley or otherwise) with the bus fleet, and do it! ASAP?
ReplyDeleteLNG is not compressed natural gas.All garages have a natural gas line running into the facility.LNG is what is brought into the country by large tankers in liquid form.Jeff,I don't like fracking anymore than you do.All of our gas brought into the state by existing pipelines is not fracked.In fact,we have producing gas fields right here in Oregon out in Mist.Electric trolleys are a long ways away,so CNG is our best alternative right now.Gas is far lower in emissions(think about the smokey 1400's)and is at least 50% less expensive than diesel.I thought Neil said he would get back to me or the board about it too.I believe that stimulus money would have been better spent building CNG fueling stations at each garage rather than a bus wash that the Merlo crew hardly ever uses.
ReplyDeleteSMART looked at other alternatives fuels such as propane, diesel hybrids, gas hybrids and even fully electrical vehicles. The advantage of CNG vehicles is they operate quieter than diesel engines with a reduction in exhaust fumes.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure CNG offers much of a benefit...I would think gasoline hybrid would be the best; and most of SMART's routes are slow speed city routes. For the routes to Barbur TC, Salem and Canby, though, the hybrid would start losing its benefit. I have no idea how CNG works "on the open road" but Pierce Transit has many commuter routes and they seem very happy with CNG.
Steve,If it doesn't involve sourcing from fracked derived natural gas, I'm totally with you. You're exactly right about lower costs and significantly reduced emissions. As was pointed out last year to the Board and MacFarlane, L.A.'s entire bus fleet is now exclusively natural gas, to the benefit of their budget and the environment!
ReplyDeleteSteve, Last year L.A. finished converting it's entire fleet to natural gas, dramatic savings for their budget and the environment. This info was conveyed to Trimet Board and MacFarlane.
ReplyDelete