Status Report: Alternative 

Fuels and High-Efficiency 

Vehicles

State of Industry Update For Fleets

Bill Van Amburg, CALSTART

1

 Fleet Sustainability Track

 Presented by CALSTART
SUSTAINABILITY TRACK

 Advanced Fuels, Vehicles and Strategies 

for Fleets – Sustainability That Works

 3 Session Track for 2014 Presented by 

CALSTART

2

Using it Right: Fleet 

Deployment Best 

Practices for Alt Fuels 

and Technology

April 9 9:15 – 10:30 am

Becoming a Sustainable 

Fleet: A New NAFA 

Program

April 10 11:00 am – Noon

 Fleet Sustainability Track

 Presented by CALSTART

State of the Industry –

Status Report on Alt 

Fuels & High Efficiency 

Vehicles for Fleets

April 8 10:30 am – Noon
VISIT OUR BOOTH TO FOLLOW UP

 CALSTART – Booth 926

3
Agenda

 CALSTART Background

 A World of Change

 The Options Landscape for Fleets

 Ethanol 

 Natural Gas (gaseous fuel)

 Biodiesel

 Electric

 Hybrid (including Plug in)

 Hydrogen

 Fleet Impacts – Dealing with Change

 Conclusions

4
CALSTART is a national, non-profit, 

clean transportation organization. 

Mission:

Support and 

expand clean 

transportation 

technology 

industry

Tech and fuel 

neutral

Goals:

• Create high-quality jobs;

• Clean the air;

• Reduce dependence on foreign oil; and

• Reduce global warming emissions
What CALSTART Does

Mission:

Support and 

expand clean 

transportation 

industry

Role:

Speed 

development, 

validation and 

use of clean 

transportation 

systems

Actions:

TECH: Develop, manage 

and validate technology via 

projects

POLICY: Develop policies 

to support clean 

transportation development 

and use

USE: Help fleets and 

others choose and use 

clean transportation

SUPPORT: Provide 

members access to 

opportunities, connections, 

info, trends
 CALSTART Members. Making Clean Transportation Happen. Join Today. 

PARTIAL LISTING
CALSTART National Offices

CALSTART HQ

Nor Cal 

Office Colorado Office

Midwest Office

New York 

Office
Fleet Workshop: New York

 Interactive discussion session with NE policy makers 

on transportation challenges, trends

 Best practices, barriers and needs session with 

Northeast fleets

 Hands on experience with natural gas, hybrid, 

electric, advanced tech trucks and buses 
Smart Incentives to Move the Market: 

States-Regions Leading

 California invested >$60M in 

voucher program for hybrid 

and electric trucks; has a 

parallel program for NGVs

 New York $19M voucher 

program for hybrid, electric 

and NG trucks 

 Chicago has $11.295M 

electric truck voucher; 

$1.425M NG/Elec

infrastructure; $1.275M 

Green Taxi (NG)

www.californiahvip.org
U.S. CLEAN VEHICLES 

INCENTIVE PROGRAM

11

• US VIP – new CALSTART 

5-year campaign to triple 

the number of voucher 

programs in US

• Supported by core industry 

and fleet membership

• Investigating potential 

markets in TX, FL, NJ, GA, 

WA, MA and elsewhere

• Additional steering 

committee seats still 

available
Changing World, Increasing Pressures

 GLOBAL WARMING – Dangers more clear; push to reduce 

GHGs intensifying and pushing fuel economy –

 Passenger cars on path to 54.6 mpg: New fuel economy rules for med & heavy 

trucks coming

 Energy efficiency reduces GHG impact; Fuel switching and blending reduces GHG 

impact; Modal split (transit and rail) has long term role

 ENERGY SECURITY: FUEL SUPPLY AND COSTS –

Traditional fuel supplies more expensive 

 The need for alt and biofuels is increasing

 Huge supply of low cost NA natural gas from new production (hydrofracturing) 

 Regional fuel variation and choice becoming more prevalent

 EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS – New Ozone rules likely for 

US, could double number of regions in non-attainment

 Fine particulates (nano particles) will be of increasing concern from combustion

 Diesel fuel still challenged in dirtiest regions (ports, Southern California)
Latest Climate Change Report: North 

America Now Feeling Impacts

 Newest United Nations IPCC report shows climate 

change underway, growing: Climate Change 2014: 

Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability

 Key Finding: “Many climate stresses that carry risk – particularly 

related to severe heat, heavy precipitation and declining snowpack –

will increase in frequency and/or severity in North America in the next 

decades (very high confidence).”

13 http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/WGIIAR5-Chap26_FGDall.pdf
President’s Truck Fuel Economy 

Announcement 2/18

• New “Phase 2” truck fuel 

economy rules under 

development

• Draft rules March 2015

• Final rules March 2016

• Vocational and long haul
Urban Smog Still a Challenge

 EPA likely to enact tougher 

standards on ozone (urban smog)

 Drop from 75 ppm to 65-70 ppm 

based on health impacts

 New rules had been delayed from 

2008 when proposed 

 Could double US regions in nonattainment

15

From Dallas Morning News
Efficiency Remains Driver

 Light duty adding improved combustion, 

turbocharging, multi-speed transmissions, 

aerodynamic features to cars and trucks – based 

on new Fed CAFE

 In big rigs, tractor and trailer aerodynamics, low 

rolling resistance tires are current focus – but 

next gen includes turbo-compounding, thermal 

energy recovery, idle reduction

 In vocational trucks, some hybrid and electric 

options, big interest in natural gas (for price 

rather than efficiency) 

 More stringent truck standard under 

development 16
Ford Aluminum 150

 Big shift for trucks – light weight aluminum 

body, combined with efficient engine

17
For Fleets: Many Options to Consider

Fuels Technologies

Ethanol: avail now; regional; 

process and feedstock 

improving; small CO2 gain but 

growing

Propane: vehicle models 

available; special fueling; 

small CO2 gains

Biodiesel: feedstock 

concerns; CO2 gains; NOx

issue

Renewable diesel: 

emerging option 

Plug-in hybrid: first LD products 

available; first pilot products in 

M/HD; business case varies based 

on fuel prices; strong policy support

Hydrogen: longer term 

option; transit; blending

Electric: LD products expanding, 

multiple makers; MD products 

emerging for delivery/ urban niche

Fuel Cell: still early demos; limited 

testing; some deployments 2015?

Hybrid: models of ALL types 

including start-stop expanding in 

LD; OEM production in MD/HD and 

prices dropping; 20-50% 

carbon/fuel reduction

Strategies

Platform/engine 

size reduction: 

“right-sizing” 

platforms

Dispatch 

changes, work 

changes to 

reduce/optimize 

vehicle use

Routing 

efficiencies: 

VMT reduction

Natural gas: low price, high 

production/jobs; controversy on 

production; limited 

infrastructure but expanding; 

CO2 benefits; Biomethane

Adv. Engine/Powertrain: cylinder 

on demand; improved combustion;; 

turbocharging; transmissions

Fleet driver 

training/ ecodriving

Telematics
Ethanol

 Impacted by net reduction in gasoline demand 

(which peaked in 2006), greater efficiency of vehicles

 It is off setting oil today; required by Renewable Fuel 

Standard (RFS); but now less ethanol needed to 

meet RFS 

 However, EPA now allowing E15 (15% ethanol) in 

conventional gasoline

 Clear limits seen on corn-only based production

 Other feedstocks and advanced production (such as 

cellulosic) are in development

 Mostly a blend fuel but higher percentages in key 

regions
Ethanol: More Choices, Less Market

20
Ethanol, Biodiesel Shares

21
Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel

 Volumes still low but production and use 

increasing though incentives lapsed – some 

impact from feedstock switching to produce 

ethanol, drought

 Most OEMs accepting increased biodiesel use –

fuel spec has now been developed for B1-B20 

levels

 Little or no performance drop off from 

conventional diesel; some operating concerns 

(such as cold weather)

 Reduced greenhouse gases and particulates 

from diesel
Biodiesel Production Increasing

23
Natural Gas

 Growth of natural gas continues

 2:1 price differential over diesel remaining relatively 

steady

 But, Growing concern over fracking, methane leakage

 Fleets have several OEM pickup and van options

 ALL medium and heavy-duty OEMs now offer natural 

gas (Freightliner, Mack, Volvo, Kenworth, Peterbilt, 

Navistar)

 Slow down in new engines coming available for 

trucks

 Growth beginning in line haul applications; Niches 

remain strong (transit, refuse, ports); 

 Infrastructure still barrier, though fuel partners 

available and corridors are growing
LD Natural Gas OEM Products

 Honda Civic NG 

 Dodge Ram 2500 

 Chevy Silverado

 Ford F-250

 Ford’s Transit 

shipping with 

gaseous fuel-ready 

engines

 Upfit vans

25
• 5.9 Liter

• 150-230 hp 

• Euro 5, EEV

• Introduced 

in 2000

• 6.7 Liter

• 200-260 hp 

• EPA 2013, Euro 

6

• Development 

starting 2012; 

2015 launch

• 8.3 Liter

• 250-280 hp 

• Euro 3, 4

• Euro 5 by 2014

•Introduced in 

2005

• 8.9 Liter

• 250-320 hp 

• EPA 2013

• Euro 5, EEV

• CARB 

Certified in 

2007, 

launched 

2008

B Gas Plus ISB6.7 G C Gas Plus ISL G

Cummins-Westport Product Line

• 11.9 Liter

• 320-400 hp 

• EPA 2013

• Launched 

2013 

ISX12 

G

All engines use simple, passive, maintenance-free exhaust 

aftertreatment. 26
27
New Engine Supports Line Haul, Heavier 

Truck Applications

28
http://www.westport.com/company/media/presentations/corporate-update/corporate-update.pdf
Natural Gas: Compelling Long 

Term Fuel

 New “fracking” tech allows economical access to natural gas

 Current and future production projected to outstrip demand

 US has some of the largest NG reserves in the world

 Fleets seek price certainty & stability

30
Natural Gas Pump Price

Low Price Volatility

A doubling of the price of natural 

gas increases prices at the pump 

only $0.50 per GGE

31
Fracking – Expect More Controls

 Hydraulic fracturing used to extract natural 

gas (and oil) has greatly expanded nation’s 

supply but is under increasing scrutiny

 EPA report due out this year

32
Methane Leakage – Growing Concern

 Science published 

study in Feb, EDF 

studies underway 

looking at methane 

leakage in 

production, use of 

natural gas

 Methane a very 

potent greenhouse 

gas

 If leaks are major, 

could negate 

climate benefits 33
Galileo - Different Approach to 

CNG Refueling

• Example of new approaches to 

faster NG fueling deployment

• Compact, self-contained unit 

suitable for urban setting

• Plug and Play - all components in 

explosion proof steel enclosure

• Ability to right size the fast fill 

product to the demand

• Smart software to optimize 

performance and diagnose 

problems quickly
Ultra Low Emitting Engines in 

Development

 Cummins and Cummins-Westport developing 

next generation low NOx NG engines – 50% 

or lower than 2010 EPA

 Cummins building 15 liter development 

engine; Cummins-Westport improving an 8.9 

liter engine 

 Demonstration by 2015

 California needs even lower NOx emissions 

than current EPA engine standards – 80% 

lower by 2030!

35
Electric Technology – Many Options

 Plug in vehicles expanding – multiple Electric Vehicles 

and plug in hybrids now available – may be hitting early 

tipping point in light duty

 Volt extended range EV battling Nissan Leaf; Toyota 

PHEV, Tesla big sellers 

 Medium-duty all-electric trucks available in North 

America, new players emerging but market slow at 

moment; Smith Trucks, EVI, Boulder, Zero Truck, AMP, 

Orange EV, Trans Tech Bus

 Increased petroleum prices makes an improving 

business case in right applications

 Criteria and GHG emissions very low; varies depending 

on fuel source of power plants, each region different

 However: powerplant emissions improving over time 

everywhere
(P)EVs: Growth Continues

 ~100,000 PEVs sold 

to date

 Most popular? GM 

Volt EREV, Nissan 

Leaf, Tesla Model S –

AND Plug in Prius
Plug in market growth

38
PEV Growth Rate Higher than Hybrid

39
Do You Know What’s Available?

40

 Cadillac ELR

 BMW i3

 Chevy Spark EV

 Honda Fit EV

 Ford Focus EV 

 Mitsubishi I

 Fiat 500e

 Toyota iQ

 Smart for 2 EV

 Tesla Model S

 RAV 4 EV
Do You Know What’s Coming?

41

 Tesla Model X

 VW E-Up

 VW E-Golf

 Porsche Panamera Plug in

 Nissan e-NV200

 Kia Soul EV
VIA Motors Close!

 Range extended electric trucks and vans in 

final certification

 Upfit new after trucks off assembly line

 First units being delivered to some customers

42
Workplace Charging:

Employer EV Initiative

 Fills a critical gap in PEV 

Infrastructure needs

 Extends the range of PEVs 

and builds the market

 Creates local ‘PEV 

showrooms’ for info 

sharing on vehicles

 EV’s can act as ‘employee 

pool cars’ for day trips

www.evworkplace.org
Electric Trucks – Assessment 

Underway

 First models out and in 

service

 Fleets evaluating for 

performance, business case

 New suppliers entering 

market
Electric Trucks

Smith EVI

Boulder DV 500
E-Trucks

Zero Truck

Balqon

Vision Industries

Capacity
AMP e-100 and Repower Program

 Walk in van EV

 Workhorse chassis

 Can retrofit existing 

diesel chassis

 Dual motor system

47
Motiv ERV

 ERV – Electric Refuse Vehicle, City of 

Chicago

 Up to 10 possible

 60 mile range, 70 compaction cycles, 10 

battery packs

 Crane Carrier Chassis, Loadmaster 20 cubic 

yard rear loader body

48
Trans Tech, Motiv All Electric School Bus 

 Trans Tech Bus SST-e; uses Motiv ePCS

 Type A school bus on E450 chassis

 80 and100 mile range options

 Up to 25 students plus wheelchair lift versions

49
Transpower E School Bus Demo

 Type C/D

 Escondido School District Test

50
Transpower E-Drayage Demo

51

 100 mile range possible on battery packs

 For congested, polluted port regions

 Variant for yard tractor
Orange EV  All electric yard 

tractor

 Up to 80,000 

pound loads, 

up to 20 hour 

work days

 Available for 

Chicago 

incentive 

program

52
Zero Emission buses are in preproduction

Similar driveline size to HD drayage 

trucks

Provides pathway to ZE HD trucks
Best Uses for E-Truck Business Case

To get sufficient payback, need to 

drive maximum miles possible (or 

maximum use of energy)

• Dedicated, return-to-base routes with 

known daily mileage highly valuable

High Utilization/Daily miles (5-7 days 

a week) seems important

70-100 miles/day seems like an 

initial “sweet spot” for fuel savings 

payback (sufficient miles to 

generate fuel savings needed)
Best General Use/ Duty Cycles

1. Fixed route applications - 70%

• Stop and go

• Localized, dedicated routes

• Short haul

• Limited range

• ‘Spoke and hub’

• Urban Delivery, Refuse, Mail trucks, Transit Buses

2. Facility vehicles – 19%

• Airports, seaports, railyards, military bases, parks, resorts

• Warehouse support and maintenance

• Cargo handling

3. High idle, work site applications – 11%

• Aerial devices

• PTO 

• Utility vehicles 
Hybrid Technology

 Platform types expanding, incremental cost in cars 

dropping, multiple models now available

 Over a decade experience in cars: decent and 

growing market penetration (3%); automaker 

competition growing (Toyota, Ford, Honda)

 Products in market for medium- and heavy-duty 

vehicles 

 First focus is urban work trucks: Class 4-8 refuse, 

utility, delivery; class 8 drayage, line-haul and 

construction equipment are in demonstration

 M/HD Market slowed a bit by regulatory issues 

(OBD), fleet evaluations 

 Hybrids multiply benefits when combined with low 

carbon fuels (biofuels, NG, electricity – plug-in)
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

 They’re here! Really now lumped with PEV –

Plug in Vehicle category 

 Multiple OEMs in market, more coming

 Benefits: increased fuel economy, GHG 

reductions, possible zero emission driving, 

driving flexibility

 Cost and life cycle of energy storage 

(batteries) are prime limiter: but, infrastructure 

less of an issue (can plug in off 110 V at home, 

do not need high rate charging)

 Most focus is on passenger cars – however 

there are variants in trucks in market and 

under development
Toyota Successful “Leveraging” Prius

 Plug in Prius

58
Multiple Players, Options

 Ford offers 

dedicated hybrid 

platform (C-Max), 

redesigns Fusion 

hybrid, PHEV

 Honda maintains 

Civic and Accord 

hybrid, adds Accord 

PHEV 

 GM expanding 

options

 Hyundai, Nissan, 

Mitsubishi
Start-Stop/Mild Hybrids – Broad Promise

 GM offering a 

mild hybrid 

called “eAssist”

 Belt driven 

starter 

alternator

 Saves fuel by 

turning off 

engine at stops

 Chevy, Buick

60
WalMart-Peterbilt WAVE Advanced 

Concept Truck

61

 Series hybrid electric 

drive, advanced aero, 

ultra light weight trailer
Hybrid Sales Growing Again

 New conversion, retrofit 

options showing attractive 

price points

 Hino Class 5 Cab-over 

highly competitive for price 

and selling well
XL Hybrids

 New and existing vehicle conversion to 

hybrid electric on Class 1-3 chassis

 Solid payback in high mileage 

applications

 Fast conversion process uses QVM

63
Crosspoint Kinetics

64

 Hybrid electric system for 

Class 3-7 trucks, buses 

and delivery trucks

 Light systems can bolt to 

vehicle frame rails

 Uses ultra capacitors 

instead of batteries

 Captures and releases 

braking energy quickly

 New and retrofit capable

 Tests show up to 30% fuel 

economy improvement
Lightning Hybrids

65

 Retrofit or conversion

 Hydraulic hybrid system

 Benefits for reduced brake wear, improved 

stopping, fuel savings

 Currently Class 2-5
Hydraulic Hybrid – Class 6

 Parker Hannifin, Freightliner Custom Chassis, 

Morgan Olson moving into production of a 

series hydraulic hybrid for delivery cycles

 Completed initial validation testing – have seen 

40-50% fuel economy improvement

 Major delivery fleets in first deployments

66
Parker – Test Route 3

Route 3

Total Daily Miles 73.6 miles

Average Speed (>0) 17.9 MPH

Stops per mile 5.10

Elevation Gain/Loss 3823 ft. / -3819 ft.

Fuel Economy Improvement ~30 – 40% (estimated)

Pick-up & Delivery ~40 – 50% (estimated)

Hwy/Arterial ~5 – 10% (estimated)

Miles Engine Off 13.4%

Avg. Daily Engine Off Driving Time 50 min.

Avg. Daily Engine Off @ Zero Speed Time 35 min.
Parker On-Road Emissions Testing

 +29.4% better fuel economy

 +40.5% on P&D operating area

 -30.4% NOx per mile

 +75.4% on Hwy/Arterial #1 operating area
Hydraulic Hybrid: Autocar-Parker

 E3 Hydraulic hybrid 

refuse truck uses Parker 

“Runwise” system

 Up to 30-50% reduction 

in fuel use

 High cost – but good 

business case in intense 

duty cycles

 Now in early production 

after pre-production 

validation in Florida 
Caterpillar Hydraulic Hybrid Excavator

Early field deployment helped CAT move 

hydraulic hybrid to market as much as 1 year 

earlier

Caterpillar employs hydraulic hybrid technology that is 98% 

common with the conventional 336E excavator to boost fuel 

efficiency of the 336EH hybrid 50%.
Plug In Work Trucks - Odyne

 Odyne next generation 

systems now being deployed

 Several models

 Plug-in hybrid utility bucket 

trucks 

 PHEV “digger-derrick” 

version 6/08, a higher 

power-demand work truck

 PHEV underground 

compressor truck 
Plug-in Energy Storage Bodies

 Altec, Terex, Time, and others 

with systems

 Stored energy to operate lift, 

tools at work site

 Separate from and does not 

change conventional 

driveline

 Fuel savings and idle 

reduction benefits
All-electric; 

range extended 

EV; PHEV; 

roadway power 

Zero Emission Freight Zone in LA 2025 –

Tech Options Being Developed
Hydrogen / Fuel Cell Technology

 A few hundred vehicles built worldwide for technical 

assessment to date - launch of initial volumes in CA in 

2015 – 2014 for Hyundai 

 Longer term technology for vehicles – still 

developmental

 US DOT still investing in technology for transit buses, 

costs have reduced by about half

 In medium term, good applications in stationary/ 

distributed generation; fork lifts; Auxiliary power units 

(APUs) for system power, idle reduction, range extension 

on some vehicles/equipment

 Costs still very high, though significant technical 

advancement has occurred in cost, reliability, durability

 Benefit in near term from blending hydrogen with natural 

gas (NOx reductions)
New FC Cars 

75
FCEVs  Honda, Daimler, 

Toyota, GM among 

world leaders

 Hyundai very 

aggressive, says time 

of FC is here

 Refueling 

infrastructure a limiter – first markets limited

 2015 will see a small 

number offered

76
FC Commercial Vehicles

 Investment and 

demonstration continue 

for zero-emission transit 

buses

 Emerging business 

case for forklifts and 

other industrial vehicles

 Many companies 

incorporating in 

warehouses

77
Develop a Strategic Fleet Plan:

We Can Help You Do It Technology/ Fuel/ Operational

Application/ Region

LD Urban 

Support

LD Regional

Vehicle

Reduce vehicle count 

through process 

improvement

Right size platforms 

to job needs

NEVs for on-site 

transport

Mix of natural gas 

or propane vehicles 

in regions with 

infrastructure

Hybrids for urban 

driving Some hybrids for 

stop and go driving

E85/Flexfuel for 

longer distance if fuel 

available

Right size platforms 

to job needs

MD Work

Vehicle - Urban

Mix of hybrids for 

urban, stop-go or 

high idle work

Right size platforms 

dispatched for job 

needs

Natural gas or 

propane vehicles in 

cities with 

infrastructure

Biodiesel blends 

(check spec and 

source)

MD Work

Vehicle - Rural

Right size platforms 

dispatched for job 

needs

Biodiesel blends 

(check spec and 

source)

Chassis energy 

storage for work 

site idle

Natural gas or 

propane vehicles in 

cities with 

infrastructure
QUESTIONS?

Before my last thoughts....

79

bvanamburg@calstart.org
Regional Meetings: New York

 Interactive discussion session with NE policy makers 

on transportation challenges, trends

 Best practices, barriers and needs session with 

Northeast fleets

 Hands on experience with natural gas, hybrid, 

electric, advanced tech trucks and buses 
2014 HTUF Annual Meeting

Argonne National Lab, Sep 23-24, 2014

Mark Your Calendars!

2-Day Event with Working Groups, 

Work Sessions and Ride & Drive

www.htuf2014.org
Summary

 Climate change concerns and need for 

efficiency driving rapid vehicle change – next 

10 years will see significant penetration of 

key technology, fuels

 More options than ever – several still in 

relatively early stages and assessment

 Not every tech or fuel works best in every 

application – fleets need to look at how they 

use their vehicles, match use, infrastructure 

to options that fit their need

82
SUSTAINABILITY TRACK

 Next Session: Using it Right - Fleet 

Deployment Best Practices for Alt Fuels/Tech

 Visit CALSTART in Booth 926

83

Becoming a Sustainable 

Fleet: A New NAFA 

Program

April 10 11:00 am – Noon

 Fleet Sustainability Track

 Presented by CALSTART

State of the Industry –

Status Report on Alt 

Fuels & High Efficiency 

Vehicles for Fleets

April 8 10:30 am – Noon

Using it Right: Fleet 

Deployment Best 

Practices for Alt Fuels 

and Technology

April 9 9:15 – 10:30 am
Thank you

Please complete and submit your evaluation 

forms!

84