Cleaner Fuels Reduce Deadly Emissions

What are Cleaner Fuels?

The most familiar transportation fuels in this country are gasoline and diesel fuel, but many other energy sources are capable of powering motor vehicles. These include electricity, natural gas, fuel cells, ethanol, methanol and propane.

Each one has advantages and disadvantages, but all of them have the potential to produce less air pollution than gasoline or diesel fuel. This is true even compared to a newer, cleaner car with the latest emission control technology.

Why Switch to Cleaner Fuels?

Cars operating on today's gasolines emit complex mixtures of compounds that lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, and many of these compounds are also toxic. A lot has been done to reduce automobile pollution, from development of innovative emission control technologies like catalytic converters, to the establishment of inspection and maintenance programs. But each year there are more cars on the road, traveling more miles, and the pollution control measures taken so far have not been sufficient to solve the ozone problem in many cities.

Diesel-powered vehicles are small in numbers compared to the total vehicles in California, but diesel engines account for 40 percent of the total nitrogen oxide emissions and about 60 percent of the total particulate matter from mobile sources. Diesel is also a major contributor to ozone air pollution in California, but diesel-powered vehicles have not been subject to the same stringent emission controls and testing requirements as gasoline-powered cars.

Ozone, better known as smog, is the most widespread air pollution problem. It is formed when sunlight hits hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, chemicals emitted from vehicle tailpipes. Ozone is particularly dangerous for children, senior citizens and people with chronic lung disease. It also hurts the lungs of healthy people who exercise outdoors.

Cleaner fuels have a number of inherent properties that make them cleaner than conventional gasoline or diesel. In general, these fuels emit fewer hydrocarbons, and the hydrocarbons they do emit are less reactive (slower to form ozone) and less toxic. Emissions generated from hybrid electric-gasoline, electric, natural gas, or fuel cell-powered vehicles can be as much as 90 to 100 percent lower in toxics and ozone-forming hydrocarbons than emissions from vehicles fueled with conventional gasoline or diesel.

Use of cleaner fuels could also help slow atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide, a "greenhouse gas" that could contribute to global warming. Combustion of any carbon-based fuel produces carbon dioxide. But the overall impact of a given fuel on global warming depends on how the fuel is made. In general, fuels produced from biomass (crops, trees, etc.) and from natural gas result in less carbon dioxide accumulation than fuels made from petroleum or coal.

What Cleaner Fuels Are Available Today?

Hybrid Electric-Gasoline

The most widely available emissions-reducing vehicles on the market today are hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles (HEVs). HEVs combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle, resulting in twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles. This combination offers the extended range and rapid refueling that consumers expect from a conventional vehicle, with a significant portion of the energy and environmental benefits of an electric vehicle. HEVs improve fuel economy and reduce tailpipe emissions when compared to traditional gasoline vehicles. Currently, hybrid-electric vehicles are being used in public fleets and have attained mass appeal in the consumer sector. They are available for purchase today. Toyota and Honda have hybrid vehicles on the market and consumers are flocking to these fuel-efficient cars. Honda’s Insight Coupe, for example, can go up to 700 miles on a single tank of gas. The Honda Civic GX hybrid can go 650 miles on a tank of gas and the Toyota Prius hybrid can go about 500 miles on a tank of gas. Within the next three years, nearly all of the major auto manufacturers will introduce hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles into the market. Even SUV drivers will benefit. The Ford Escape SUV will be released in 2004 and General Motors’ Saturn or Chevy Equinox SUV models should be available in 2005 or 2006.

Natural Gas (Methane)

Natural gas is abundant and is widely used for home heating and industrial processes. It is easily transported through pipelines and costs about the same or slightly less than gasoline. Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid natural gas (LNG) vehicles emit low levels of toxics and ozone-forming hydrocarbons. But CNG fuel must be stored under pressure in heavy tanks, and the cost of accommodating these tanks must be considered. Natural gas is being successfully used in transit and school bus fleets, as well as in cars and trucks, and is an excellent alternative to conventional diesel technology.

Battery-Electric

Electric cars look and feel like regular cars, but produce virtually no air pollution. Power plants that produce electricity do pollute, but even when power plant emissions are included, electric vehicles are 90 percent cleaner than the cleanest conventional vehicle. Also, efficient emission controls can be installed and maintained more easily on individual power plants than on millions of vehicles. The main type of battery-electric vehicle available today is the neighborhood electric vehicle ( NEV). The smaller, non-highway vehicles offer a variety of excellent uses for government and business, for example as parking control vehicles or for airport ground support, and for short commutes on city streets. Advances in battery technology will lead to a wider range of vehicles and applications in the future.

Fuel Cells

The next generation of cleaner fuels includes fuel cells. Car companies are in the process of developing vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. Hydrogen fuel cells produce no pollutants. Unlike electric cars, fuel cell-powered cars can go 280 miles without refueling and have a top speed of 90 mph. However, they are not quite ready for mass production. Under the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) program, several car companies are on a path to produce thousands of fuel cell vehicles in the next five years.

Ethanol

Ethanol ("grain alcohol") is the primary automotive fuel in Brazil, and ethanol/gasoline blends (known as "gasohol") have been used in the United States for many years. Pure ethanol fuel offers excellent performance, plus low hydrocarbon and toxic emissions. It can be produced domestically from corn or other crops, as well as from cellulosic materials such as wood or paper wastes, potentially minimizing the accumulation of greenhouse gases (since these "renewable" feedstocks draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as they grow). With current technology and price structures, ethanol is more expensive than gasoline. New technologies offer the hope of significantly reduced costs.

Methanol

Methanol ("wood alcohol"), like ethanol, is a high-performance liquid fuel that emits low levels of toxic and ozone-forming compounds. It can be produced at prices comparable to gasoline from natural gas and can also be produced from coal and wood. All major auto manufacturers have produced cars that run on "M85," a blend of 85 percent methanol and 15 percent gasoline. Cars that burn pure methanol (M100) offer much greater air quality and efficiency advantages. Many auto manufacturers have developed advanced M100 prototypes. Methanol has long been the fuel of choice for race cars because of its superior performance and fire safety characteristics.

Propane

Propane, or liquefied petroleum gas, is a by-product of petroleum refining and natural gas production. It burns cleaner than gasoline but is limited in supply. Propane-fueled vehicles are already common in many parts of the world.

Reformulated and Oxygenated Gasoline

Under regulation by CARB, the petroleum industry is marketing gasoline formulations that emit less hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and toxics than conventional gasoline. These new gasolines can be introduced without major modification to existing vehicles or the fuel distribution system. However, there are issues related to what is added to the gasoline to make it burn cleaner. In California, the additive MTBE was found to cause groundwater pollution problems and was phased out.

Are Cleaner Fuels Feasible?

Cleaner-fueled vehicles are here and in use today. Through its Clean Fleets Program, the American Lung Association of California is working to educate businesses and governments about the benefits of using cleaner-fueled vehicles, including reduced fuel costs, less maintenance, and government incentive programs.

More than 30 cities and counties in California have adopted cleaner transportation policies, resolving to buy cleaner-fueled cars, vans and buses. Businesses around California are moving in the right direction as several large and small companies are switching their fleets to cleaner-fueled vehicles. UPS has a large fleet of natural gas trucks in California and a number of other companies are using natural gas vehicles including, Harris Ranch, Kavanaugh Coffee Company, Raley’s grocery stores, Super Shuttle, and Waste Management Inc.

To achieve widespread use, technologies must be refined so vehicles can achieve optimum performance and emissions characteristics. To improve air quality and lung health, consumers must accept the new vehicles and fuels, and government and industry must cooperate to ensure their availability. It will take a concerted effort by all sectors of society, but a switch to cleaner fuels may be the most viable way for many areas to attain cleaner and healthier air.

Receive a Discount on Cleaner-Fueled Vehicles

Through a partnership with EV Rental Cars, American Lung Association of California volunteers, donors and staff can receive discounts on the purchase or rental of cleaner-fueled vehicles. EV Rental Cars, the nation’s first environmental rental car company, has outlets in major airports throughout California and in a few other states. Just mention the American Lung Association, and EV Rental Cars will make a donation to the organization. For more information, visit www.californialung.org or call EV Rental cars at 1.877.EV.RENTAL.

For More Information:

American Lung Association of California/Clean Fleets Program
Vandana Bali
415.775.1065
www.californialung.org/spotlight/cleanfleets.html

Clean Cars Campaign
Wendy James
818.563.9111
www.calcleancars.org

CALSTART
626.744.5600
www.calstart.org

Clean Car Maps – The Primary Information Source for Clean Fuel Stations
www.cleancarmaps.com