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# What's New at the Alternative Fuels Data Center?

# January 2007

Listed below are new publications and other information recently made
available through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Alternative
Fuels Data Center (AFDC). The AFDC is sponsored by Clean Cities in the
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is managed
by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For more
information, or if you would like to subscribe to this monthly update,
contact Wendy Dafoe at <wendy_dafoe@nrel.gov> or 303-275-4470.

This update is posted online at
[www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/toolbox/current_cutting.html](../www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/toolbox/current_cutting.html).

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#### News

**The first day of the 110^th^ Congress included the introduction of
bills to make biofuels incentives permanent** **and dramatically
increase the renewable fuel standard.** On the House side,
representatives Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and Kenny Hulshof of
Missouri introduced the Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence
Promotion Act of 2007. The bill would permanently extend the current
\$0.51/gallon of ethanol and \$1/gallon of biodiesel tax credits. It
would also extend the small producer tax credit programs for both fuels
and give tariff protection for ethanol.

On the Senate side, senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Richard Lugar of
Indiana introduced the Biofuels Security Act of 2007. This bill would
set standards to use 30 billion gallons of renewable fuels per year by
2020 and 60 billion gallons per year by 2030, up from the current
standard of 7.5 billion gallons of biofuel use by 2012. The bill would
also require all new U.S. automobiles be FFVs and all major oil
companies offer E85 at half their gas stations by 2017. For more
information, read the National Biodiesel Board release at
<http://nbb.grassroots.com/07Releases/pomeroyhulshof>.

Harkin and Lugar also joined senators Barack Obama of Illinois, Byron
Dorgan of North Dakota, and Joe Biden of Delaware in introducing the
American Fuels Act of 2007 to mandate an increase in the manufacture of
biodiesel, providing tax credits to spur new investment in cellulosic
biomass fuels and provide tax incentives for gasoline retailers to offer
more ethanol-blended fuel and increase the production of FFVs.

**In his State of the Union address in late January, President Bush
outlined the "Twenty in Ten" goal to reduce U.S. gasoline use by 20
percent in the next 10 years.** The plan set a mandatory standard to use
35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels by 2017, nearly
five times the 2012 target mandated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
The address also called for increased funding for battery research for
plug-in hybrids. For a synopsis of the Twenty in Ten goal, visit
[www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2007/initiatives/energy.html](http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2007/initiatives/energy.html).

**A Port of Los Angeles/South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD) demonstration project will explore the feasibility of using
electric tractors to tow cargo containers.** Balqon Corp. and Spartan
Truck Co. will carry out the \$527,000 project, which is part of a Clean
Air Action Plan. Under that plan, the Port of LA and SCAQMD have
committed to spend \$85 million and \$63 million, respectively. For more
information on this demonstration project, read the press release at
[www.portoflosangeles.org/Press/REL_Electric_Tow_Tractor_Demonstration_Project.pdf](http://www.portoflosangeles.org/Press/REL_Electric_Tow_Tractor_Demonstration_Project.pdf).

**In mid January, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an
executive order requiring the elimination of 10% of the carbon content
from motor vehicle fuels purchased in California by 2020.** The
California Air Resources Board will put the new fuel regulations into
effect no later than December 2008. To learn more, read
[www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39911/story.htm](http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39911/story.htm).

**DOE announced a \$17 million in solicitations to improve plug-in
hybrid technology and E85 engine efficiency.** The \$14 million plug-in
hybrid solicitation seeks to improve battery performance for plug-ins
with a goal of 40 miles of electric operating range, which would cover
most roundtrip commutes. The \$3 million E85 solicitation seeks to
improve fuel economy and reduce vehicle emissions for FFVs by optimizing
engines for E85. Read the press release at
[www.doe.gov/news/4621.htm](http://www.doe.gov/news/4621.htm) for more
information.

######## Publications

**Geographically Based Hydrogen Consumer Demand and Infrastructure
Analysis Final Report:**

This NREL technical report identifies consumer attributes favorable to
acceptance of hydrogen-powered vehicles, spatially assesses them across
the United States using GIS, and identifies metropolitan areas well
suited for investment in hydrogen infrastructure. Read it at
[www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40373.pdf](http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40373.pdf).

**Alternative Fuels: E85 and Flex Fuel Vehicles:** This two-page EPA
fact offers an overview of E85 and FFVs, including benefits and costs.
It also offers a simple comparison of FFVs versus conventional vehicles.
Visit
[www.epa.gov/otaq/smartway/growandgo/documents/420f06047.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/otaq/smartway/growandgo/documents/420f06047.pdf).

**Alternative Fuels: Biodiesel:** This two-page EPA fact sheet covers
the basics of biodiesel. Featured topics include fuel production,
benefits, availability, and vehicle maintenance. Visit
[www.epa.gov/otaq/smartway/growandgo/documents/420f06044.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/otaq/smartway/growandgo/documents/420f06044.pdf)
to read this companion to EPA's E85/FFV fact sheet.

**Effects of Biodiesel Blends on Vehicle Emissions**

This NREL technical report examines whether using B20 increases NO~x~
diesel engine emissions and if testing whole vehicles provides more
accurate results than just testing engines. To read the results, visit

[www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/40554.pdf](http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/40554.pdf).

#### Events

Mark your calendar for **Faster Freight--Cleaner Air 2007**, February
26-28, 2007, in Long Beach, California. This three-day event offers
resources to improve operations and reduce emissions in the
goods-movement industry. Visit
[www.ffca2007.com](http://www.ffca2007.com/) for more information.

**Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Conference and Expo** is scheduled for
April 1-4, 2007, in Anaheim, California. The conference will cover
information, resources, and products to increase fuel efficiency, reduce
petroleum consumption, and improve emissions. To sign up, visit
[www.afvi.org/NationalConference2007/index.html](http://www.afvi.org/NationalConference2007/index.html).

**Web Sites**

EPA\'s new Interactive Activity Map at
<http://epamap10.epa.gov/website/irim_us_map.asp> allows users to find
locations of truck stop electrification units and alternative fueling
stations by state. The tool is set up in layers, and users simply check
the boxes of the types of information they seek.