Remembering

the Oil Embargo...

and Preparing for the Next Storm

Remembering

the Oil Embargo...

and Preparing for the Next Storm

Spotlight on Niche Markets – Taxis

NGVC – Past, Present, and Future

AFN Focus On...The Louisville Clean Cities Program 
2

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper co

at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsume

BR-540-25615

December 1998

CONTENTS

Marcy A. Rood

Deputy Director

National Clean Cities Pr

Cover Story: Remembering the Oil Embargo...and Preparing for the Next 

Feature Story: USPS Delivers – With AFVs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Departments: Spotlight on Niche Markets–Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

From the Automakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AFN Fuel Association Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Focus On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nuts and Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

From the States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

From the Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

On the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

At the Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Upcoming Conferences and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

y , pgy 

I realize that most Clean Cities coalitions formed to combat poor urban air quality, and I am t

that you have joined the cause for this important reason. But reducing the need for imported oil 

important. Our nation's transportation sector is almost entirely dependent on oil, and a change i

world's oil situation will have a major impact on our personal mobility and commercial activitie

We do have a way out—through the expanded use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). Clean 

pave the way by raising awareness and increasing AFV use. Tell your neighbors about our incre

demand for imported oil. Alert the press at your coalition's next news conference. Remind your 

Cities stakeholders that we still need to educate the public about our nation's oil dependency. Th

also highlights some successes in the Clean Cities Program and the alternative fuels industry, in

El Paso Postal Service fleet, which is 100% alternatively fueled; taxi cab fleets operating on altern

in many U.S. cities; Louisville's dynamite Clean Cities Program; and Mark Looper's drive across 

and back in a natural gas van. Thanks to El Paso Clean Cities and Carlon Bennett; El Paso Postm

Torres; Louisville's Clean Cities Coordinator Melissa Howell; Mark Looper; and many others, fo

me that we do have solutions to our oil dependency quagmire, and by working together, we can 

about it.
In this issue of the Alternative Fuel News, we remember what happened just 25 years ago—the energy crisis 

People waited in long gasoline lines, and gas prices surged above $2 per gallon. Despite today’s low gasoline 

seemingly stable oil supply, the United States still faces many challenges in meeting our increasing transportat

Highway transportation accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. petroleum consumption, and the number o

on our roads continues to increase, which results in more demand for imported oil. Most worldwide oil resou

concentrated in fewer countries, many of which are politically unstable. We must develop a strategy to reduce 

nation’s dependence on petroleum, while meeting our growing transportation needs. An important componen

strategy will be to make advanced technology vehicles and alternative fuels commercially viable.

It took half a billion years to create the world’s oil, and according to Richard Kerr of Science magazine, we “

consume it all in a 2-century binge of profligate energy use.” In 1973, 1979, and again in 1990, big price increas

surprised the world, exposing the serious consequences of U.S. dependence on inexpensive oil supplies. Our r

foreign suppliers leaves the United States increasingly vulnerable to adverse economic impacts of disruptions 

supply, and causes major transfer of wealth from United States to the oil-exporting countries.

How have these events affected our energy consumption? The Energy Information Administration (EIA) re

pleted a report entitled "Energy Trends Since the First Major U.S. Energy Crisis," which tracks U.S. consumptio

throughout the past quarter century. According to the report, total U.S. petroleum consumption has increased 

18.6 million barrels per day, and total U.S. petroleum (net) imports, as a share of overall petroleum consumpti

reached a record high of 48%! In the past, vehicle fuel efficiencies reduced petroleum consumption; however, i

population and per capita miles driven have more than offset

these gains. Moreover, the number of U.S. (light-duty) vehicles

is expected to increase from 183 million today to 230 million in

2020. In our nation today, we already consume more oil just for

our transportation needs than we produce in the United States;

these needs are expected to grow over the next 30 years.

Beyond the United States, worldwide use of petroleum has

significantly increased and will affect the supply and cost of

petroleum over time. Newspapers and scientific journals alike

point to our current vulnerability, and to the similarities of our

orm . . 3

. . . . . . 8

. . . . . . 5

. . . . . . 6

. . . . . 10

. . . . . 11

. . . . . 12

. . . . . 13

. . . . . 14

. . . . . 14

. . . . . 15

. . . . . 16 

3

Remembering the Oil Embargo...

and Preparing for the Next Storm

Source 

F. Bernabe, ENI SpA (1998) 

C.Campbell and J. Laherrene, Petroconsultants 

J. MacKenzie, World Resources Institute (1996) 

OECD’s International Energy Agency (1998) 

J. Edwards, University of Colorado, Boulder (19

DOE’s Energy Information Administration (1998) 

Science magazine, August 21, 1998, Vol. 281

Predicted Peak in World Oil P
Technologies (OTT), said “In the midst of a booming

economy and plenty of oil, I sense the storm clouds

are gathering.” Although our economy has recently

prospered, and gasoline prices have hit an all-time

low, there is convincing evidence that clouds loom

on the horizon.

Unfortunately, we cannot determine the specific

date or magnitude of the storm. As OTT’s Strategic

Plan outlines, the United States certainly can—and

will—take steps to research and “develop advanced

propulsion systems and components (e.g., fuel cells,

electric batteries, and alternative fuel engines) that

efficiently and cleanly use alternative fuels.” Many

of these advanced technologies, such as those

employed in electric, natural gas, propane, methanol,

and ethanol vehicles, are used right now in our

nation’s Clean Cities.

In 1992, Congress passed and the President signed

the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), which committed 

the government to address these problems. The

ambitious goals in EPAct will be tough to meet—

unless we all do more. (The EPAct goal of 30% oil

displacement by the year 2010 will equate to about

3.5 million barrels per day). The government can 

act as a catalyst by providing tools such as financial

incentives, fuel taxes, and regulations to overcome

barriers to the development and commercialization

of AFV technologies. The government already supports technology research and development, and

requires fleet purchases of AFVs for federal and 

state government agencies. Many have said all of

these programs need to be expanded. Another key 

to rapid advancement of these technologies is cooperation with the private sector. A large part of OTT’s

implementation strategy includes government/

industry partnerships. These partnerships (see box)

focus on developing key technologies for various

vehicle applications. As Gross wrote in the introduction to the Strategic Plan, “we (DOE) are currently

engaged in the coordination and integration of 

transportation technology activities involving 

the combined efforts of industry, national laboratories, universities, and fuel suppliers. Effective and

productive partnerships will be vital to success in

4

working through partnerships among fuel sup

operators, state and local governments, and 

organizations to foster the development of AF

communities across the nation. More than 40

on the road nationwide, with over half of thos

Clean Cities communities.

BCI—In Jennings, Louisiana, BC Internationa

ing the first commercial facility designed to c

biomass to ethanol. The October 1998 plant g

demonstrates the commercialization of ethan

from sugarcane waste that was previously us

PNGV—After an initial assessment of techno

the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehi

chose a direct injection hybrid with advanced 

design and lightweight materials. At this poin

through the PNGV project, concept cars from 

Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and Gene

are demonstrating considerable progress. PN

is to produce vehicles that get up to 80 miles 

Additional research and investment will cont

cell technology.

Clean

Qu

Cities

97% of all transportation fuel 

United States is petroleum.

The United States imports mo

50% of its crude oil today and 

ed to import more than 60% b

For transportation purposes a

Americans use 4 million more 

oil than we produce domestic

day.

The gap between the oil we u

transportation and the oil we 

projected to rise to 9 million b

day by 2010.

U.S. consumers pay foreign c

more than $1 billion a week to 

American demand for importe

2010 the United States will be 

more than $100 billion per yea

(Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
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y

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y

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y

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D.C., taxi fleets provide important lessons.

Long Beach, California, once again shines as an

AFV leader! The Los Angeles (L.A.) Checker Cab

Company, which operates in Long Beach and West

Hollywood, is meeting their deployment goal of 140

natural gas taxicabs. A large partnership is making

this work; partners include the city of Long Beach,

the city of West Hollywood, the South Coast Air

Quality Management District (SCAQMD), L.A.

Checker Cab Company, Southern California Gas

Company (SoCalGas), Ford Motor Company, and

Pickens Fuel Corporation. These organizations are

supplying $3,940,000 for the project, with additional

project support from the U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE) through a State Energy Program grant.

Combined funding from Ford (a minimum rebate of

$1,500 per vehicle), SCAQMD ($3,000 per vehicle),

and DOE ($1,500 per vehicle), Checker Cab can

reduce the cost of purchasing an AFV from $27,000

to $21,000, which makes it a realistic alternative.

More than 4,000 taxis operate in the Los Angeles

metropolitan area. Most operate for 3 or 4 years,

drive more than 100,000 miles per year, and consume 7,000 to 10,000 gallons of gasoline annually.

The conventional fuel displacement of this project 

is estimated at between between 980,000 and 1.4

million gallons per year. The emission reductions

will be impressive as well. Pickens estimates the 140

dedicated natural gas Ford Crown Victorias can

reduce non-methane organic gas (NMOG) emissions

by an estimated 6,352 lbs/year, carbon monoxide

(CO) emissions by an estimated 92,511 lbs/year, and

oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions by an estimated

11,101 lbs/year.

The project benefits go beyond reducing emissions. Pickens, which now operates a network of 37

natural gas fueling stations, will construct a new

$750,000 public-access station in West Hollywood to

serve taxis, as well as other public and private

fleets. Building this station will fill a large void in

the community’s natural gas infrastructure.

SoCalGas will provide the land on which the station

will be built. 

on propane. Over the years, Checker has added

more propane vehicles. As the program matured,

the company switched to dedicated original equipment manufactured (OEM) vehicles running on natural gas. The Checker fleet consists almost entirely

of Ford Crown Victoria sedans. Funding for the

alternative fuel program has been generated from

the Gas Research Institute (GRI), Ford Motor

Company, Atlanta Gas Light Company, and the

National Clean Cities Program. However, Checker

Cab has also made significant investments to make

their fleet alternative fueled. According to Rick

Hewatt, Checkers general manager, "By next year

we will accomplish our goal - 50% of our fleet will

run on alternative fuels. "Plans include adding one

or two natural gas Expeditions. Checker’s General

Manager, reports that the 1996 Crown Victoria CNG

models with 150,000 to 170,000 miles have had no

major problems. Hewatt says, “I plan to continue to

buy these vehicles over the next 2 years at least.”

Barwood Cab Company in Montgomery County,

Maryland, is evaluating the costs and emission 

benefits associated with using 10 1996 Ford Crown

Victoria CNG cabs. Barwood operates a fleet of

more than 400 vehicles serving the Washington 

metropolitan area. This DOE study is being conducted with support from Mardi John of George

Mason University, and a Maryland-based emissions

testing laboratory, Environmental Research and

Development. The study involves comparing data

from 10 AFVs and 10 gasoline taxis. 

Through 1997, the Barwood CNG cabs accumulated anywhere from 45,000 to 100,000 miles, 

whereas the gasoline vehicles accumulated 74,000 

to 98,000 miles. Initial test results are encouraging

and indicate that using CNG vehicles reduces 

operating costs by approximately 25%. Maintenance

costs also appear to be lower for the CNG vehicles

in Barwood’s fleet. Gasoline vehicles require more

brake, tire, and unexpected repairs. Over the short

test span, CNG cabs had two unscheduled repairs

per vehicle, compared with four or more for 

gasoline vehicles. Furthermore, the average regulated emissions (CO, non-methane hydrocarbons
Model Year 1999 Vehicle Offerings

Both Ford Motor Company and Solectria

Corporation will be offering new models for the

1999 model year—the Ford Ranger flexible-fuel

vehicle and the Solectria Flash.

The new Ford Ranger will be equipped with a

3.0-liter V6 engine and a flexible-fuel system, which

is capable of using gasoline and 85% ethanol, or any

combination of the two fuels. The decision to bring

the Ranger flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) to market is

part of Ford’s overall strategy to build and sell

approximately 250,000 FFVs over the next 4 years.

According to Ross Roberts, Vice President and

General Manager of the Ford Division at the Ford

Motor Company, “now we’re bringing them (FFVs)

into the mainstream market because they make

sense for America.” Ford

also plans a 4-year program to encourage the

development and expansion of the ethanol infrastructure.

The truck is offered

with lead-acid batteries 

in all states except

California; those in

California will only carry

the advanced nickel metal

hydride (NiMH) battery packs. The 1999 Ranger

electric vehicle (EV) with lead-acid batteries operates the same as the 1998 model. The 312-volt system will carry a 700-lb payload at speeds of as much

as 75 mph, with a real-world range of 50 

charge in city/highway driving.

Solectria Corporation, based in Wilmi

Massachusetts, has announced a new ele

truck called the Solectria Flash. The micr

truck was designed for use anywhere a s

with mobility and high payload capacity 

such as off-street use at airports, environ

sensitive parks

and recreation

areas, and college campuses.

It has a top

speed of 45

miles per hour,

a payload of

1,100 lbs, and

lists for

$16,995. The

Flash combines

electric vehicle technology from Solectria 

micro pickup truck chassis produced in A

standard model, used off-road and powe

sealed lead-acid batteries, has a range of 

per charge. Solectria also offers the Flash 

borhood electric vehicle (NEV) model, w

street-legal, for on-road use in selected a

NEV has a reduced top speed of 25 mph 

range of 60 miles per charge. Solectria ha

developing electric vehicles and EV com

since 1986, and produces electric sedans 

ery trucks. According to Mark Kopec, Ex

President of Solectria Corporation, “Beca

clean and quiet operation, the Flash is pa

6

been made to accommodate additional fuel tanks 

80,000 miles per year, so the 2025 cent s

gasoline gallon equivalent really adds up

Solectria F

From the Automakers

The 1999 line of Ford’s electric Ranger

pickups, which has been offered in prior

years, is available for lease with substantial price breaks. A 36-month lease for the

electric pickup truck is now $349/month—

a significant reduction from 1998’s lease of

$633/month. Ford also offers a one-time

payment of $11,208.
Automakers around the globe have been working to develop market-ready fuel cell-powered vehicles. 

Here is a summary of their plans:

•Ford Motor Company is preparing for delivery of a Ballard Power Systems fuel cell engine to test a prototype fuel cell 

advanced P2000 vehicle by 2000, which would operate on compressed hydrogen and achieve zero emissions. Mazda, F

Benz AG, and Ballard Power Systems have formed an alliance with the goal of becoming the world’s leading commerc

of fuel cell-powered drivetrains and components for cars, trucks, and buses.

•Chrysler Corporation hopes to bring fuel cell-powered vehicles to market by 2015. Chrysler’s merger partner Daimler-B

more ambitious plans, which include producing a commercially viable fuel cell by the end of 1999. Daimler-Benz also p

duce 100,000 fuel cell-powered engines a year in 2003 and 2004. 

•General Motors has unveiled its first fuel cell-powered vehicle, the Opel Zafira compact van, manufactured by the com

subsidiary in Europe. The concept car was premiered at the Paris Motor Show in October.

•Volvo and Volkswagen have teamed up to produce a fuel cell version of the “Golf” model, to be road tested by 1999. 

•Nissan plans to begin selling fuel cell-powered vehicles by 2003–2005.

•Honda plans to develop a fuel cell vehicle by 2003.

•Toyota is working to develop and incorporate its new fuel cell technology into a fuel cell electric vehicle.

What's on the Horizon from the Automakers?

CNG/Gasoline

CNG/Gasoline

Electric (Lead-Acid or NiMH–CA, AZ only) 

CNG

CNG

Ethanol (E85)

Electric (Lead-Acid or NiMH)

Electric (NiMH)

Electric (Lead-Acid)

Electric (Lead-Acid)

CNG (Fleet only for MY 99 )

Electric (Lead-Acid/NiMH)

Ethanol (E85)

Ethanol (E85)

LPG/Gasoline

LPG/Gasoline

CNG/Gasoline

CNG/Gasoline

Electric (Lead-Acid or NiMH–CA, AZ only)

Electric (Lead-Acid)

GM

Mazda

Honda

Toyota

Solectria

Bi-fuel Contour

Dedicated or Bi-fuel F250 Pickup

Ranger

Ranger FFV

Dedicated Econoline (Super Club E350)

Dedicated or Bi-fuel Econoline

Bi-fuel F Series

Taurus FFV

Bi-fuel Chevrolet Cavalier

Chevrolet S10

Bi-fuel GMC Sierra F2500

B3000 FFV

Dedicated Civic GX

EV1

Force

Citivan

EV Plus

Dedicated Camry

Flash

RAV4

Vehicle availability subject to change. Model year 1999 vehicle offerings have not been finalized by OEMs. Dark blue indicates new offering for 1999.
8

custom built with right-hand drive and fitted with the USPS delivery body.

In 1999, USPS plans to purchase a number of electric vehicles (EVs), and will

seek cost-sharing from local governments, utilities, and various other sources

(the majority of these EVs will be located in Clean Cities communities). They

also have long-term plans to convert all 128 trucks operating from the Dallas,

Texas, bulk-mail center to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The large fleets of AFVs within USPS also provide an impetus for infrastructure development: the more AFVs there are in a city, the more interest 

industry and suppliers have in building the infrastructure to fuel these vehicles. In Tucson, Arizona; Dallas, and El Paso, Texas; New York; Connecticut;

and Washington, D.C., USPS fleets have made great strides toward meeting

the goals of the Clean Cities programs by implementing alternative fuel 

programs that not only help displace oil, but also create a workable solution

for the industry. The automakers have produced the vehicles, now we need

the infrastructure. USPS is working with fuel suppliers and other government

agencies to make this happen.

Tucson, Arizona

In Tucson, Arizona, the USPS operates a fleet of 42 

bi-fuel CNG LLVs. According to Bud O’Shell, Tucson’s

USPS Fleet Manager, “USPS-Tucson’s goal is to triple the

number of AFVs in their fleet by 2003.” The bi-fuel LLVs 

in Tucson have been in operation for 18 months. Through

an interagency agreement with the city of Tucson, USPS

uses the city’s CNG fueling station, which is located 1/2

mile from the USPS station where 37 of the LLVs are based.

O’Shell says that if another station was built, he could add

an additional 30 to 40 AFVs to his fleet.

New York City, New York

This year’s 10th annual Ecofest Parade in New York City

featured alternative fuel vehicles powered by natural gas

and electricity. USPS has sponsored this parade for 2 years,

and this year they displayed 10 CNG vehicles, as well as a

new electric vehicle. “The postal service has the largest fleet

of CNG vehicles in the nation, with nearly 600 in the New

York area,” said USPS New York Metro Area Vice President

David Solomon. In addition, USPS is involved in a partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation

and the New York Power Authority to test electric vehicles.

USPS also tries to maximize the use of currently existing

ethanol refueling stations throughout the country, while

strategically planning for more. To efficiently use both the

USPS E85 vehicles and existing ethanol refuelin

structure, USPS has met with the National Corn 

Association, the Maryland Green Producer Util

Board, Ford Motor Company, and the Illinois C

Growers Association. The meetings aim toward 

the USPS E85 vehicles to locations where refuel

are built to accommodate hundreds of vehicles, 

just 10 to 20. According to Han Dinh, USPS Pro

Manager for Vehicles, “we are concentrating on 

ethanol vehicles in certain areas so it is econom

E85 refueling stations.”

Dallas,Texas

According to Dan Deaton of DOE’s Clean Ci

region, the Dallas USPS operates more than 900 

CNG vehicles, fueling them at 23 public/privat

stations throughout the Dallas metropolitan are

fueling stations were built on land leased to Lon

Energy; four stations are on USPS property.

Dallas also operates liquefied natural gas (LN

duty trucks. With the help of a $50,000 State En

Program grant from DOE, five 9-ton USPS tran

were converted to LNG. These vehicles deliver 

the bulk mail center in Dallas to suburban post 

throughout the region. Future plans include pu

additional dedicated 9-ton trucks. Each truck re

sions by two-thirds compared to identical diese
Connecticut

Connecticut USPS stations began using AFV 

technology in 1994 and 1995, when 210 bi-fuel vehicles

were purchased. In 1996 and 1997, an additional 76 

vehicles were added to the fleet. The vehicles in the

Connecticut fleet (used in Norwalk, Greenwich, New

Britain, East Haven, and West Hartford) have the highest

utilization rate of any LLVs in the USPS, as measured by

gallons of CNG consumed.

The regional gas suppliers—Yankee Gas, Connecticut

Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas—have 

worked together in a proactive manner to supply infrastructure where needed. They have built five CNG fueling

facilities—four on-site and one off-site. The USPS stations

signed 10-year leases on portions of their land to establish

fueling stations for both USPS and public use. These leases

provide the gas companies with guaranteed demand 

for fuel, allow the postal service to conveniently fill its

vehicles on-site, and place maintenance responsibilities for

the fueling stations with the gas suppliers.

other federal fleets.”

El Paso,Texas

The USPS in El Paso recently celebrated beco

first city in the nation to meet the U.S. Departm

Energy’s (DOE’s) 100% alternative fuel vehicle 

Dan Reicher, DOE’s Assistant Secretary, issued 

lenge at the National Clean Cities Conference in 

El Paso postal fleet is the first in the nation to co

operating all of its 397 delivery vehicles on env

ly friendly, domestically produced, compressed 

To celebrate, the El Paso Sunrise Postal Statio

International Clean Cities Respirando (breathe) 

Celebration on September 9, 1998. Local, state, n

international dignitaries, including Dennis Baca

Service Manager of Environmental Managemen

attended the ceremony. The event was part of D

Cities Program to promote alternatives to gasol

diesel, and demonstrate how the USPS’s comm

100% natural gas vehicles will help improve air 

the El Paso area. 

One of five LNG-powered Postal Service trucks at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport refueling station.

David Rodgers presents 

an award to Ben Torres,

El Paso Postmaster.

Connecticut bra

receiving the G

Environmental Aw

USPS left to righ

Couillard, Superv

CT VMF; Angelo 

District Envir

Compliance Coord

Robbins, North

Environmental C

Coordinator; Jo E. 

District Manager; 

Rocque, Jr., Comm

the CT Dept. of E

Protect

Bruce Berman /PIX 06832

Bill Hanna - Texas Utilities /PIX 06568
and conversions. For more information on the AFV Act of 1997, see

"From the States."

Other distinguished guest speakers included U.S. Senator John

Chafee (R-RI) and James Dodge,

Chairman, President, and CEO,

Providence Energy Corporation, and

conference host. NGVC President

Richard Kolodziej's presentation 

on the coalition's accomplishments

and plans was followed by breakout

sessions and the designation of the

city of Providence as the 65th Clean

Cities program. Providence Mayor

Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. accepted the

official plaque from DOE's Brian

Castelli, Chief of Staff for Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Breakout sessions included topics

such as NGV incentives and legislation, refueling infrastructure, successful niche market applications,

and vehicle and engine offerings.

A ride and drive kicked off day

two, and one lucky participant found

the magic key to a Honda Civic and

won 2 months' free use of the vehicle. The whole audience was then

treated to automakers’ "sneak peak"

of Model Year 1999 vehicles. Finally,

participants bid on prizes donated by

conference sponsors, exhibitors,

and NGVC members, using NGV

"money" obtained while visiting one

of the many booths that decorated

the enormous exhibit hall. A professional auctioneer called out the winning bids to people in the audience

clutching big yellow dollars.

Next year's conference will be

held in Minneapolis, October 3-5,

1999. Stay tuned to future issues of

AFN for more information.

10

1988, the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition

(NGVC) was born.

In 1988, there were no original equipment manufacturer (OEM) NGVs available,

only after-market conversions. For model

year 1999, five OEMs will be building 

light-duty NGVs for sale in the United

States: Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor

Company, General Motors, Honda, and

Toyota, in addition to more than 20 truck

and bus manufacturers that now offer 

natural gas options. In 1988, there were less

than 5,000 NGVs on the road in the United

States. Now there are almost 70,000—an

increase of approximately 30% each year.

These vehicles are all far cleaner than 

comparable gasoline and diesel vehicles,

with most of them easily meeting the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s)

emission standards, as well as California’s

ultra-low-emission vehicle (ULEV) and

super-ultra-low-emission vehicle (SULEV)

requirements. Currently, there are also

about 1,300 natural gas refueling stations

across the country, and coast-to-coast 

road trips by NGV enthusiasts have demonstrated that these vehicles are ready for both

public- and private-sector drivers (see related article, p. 12). That’s a lot of progress in

10 years, and the NGVC has been a key

player in all of it. 

The NGVC now represents more than

180 natural gas companies, engine and

vehicle manufacturers, and service

providers, as well as environmental groups

and government organizations seeking to

develop a sustainable NGV market. It provides technical information and works to

develop marketing programs for NGVs on a

national level by serving as a voice for NGV

interests. The NGVC is also an advocate for

NGV interests in Congress, seeking to

remove barriers to, and provide incentives

for, NGV use. The NGVC encourages state

Despite the progress of the la

much still needs to be done. Acc

Kolodziej, the NGVC’s number 

is to increase demand for light-, 

and heavy-duty NGVs. “But in t

demand up, we face a circular p

he said. “The best way to get de

is to get prices down; the best w

prices down is to get demand up

of the ways the NGVC and its p

tackling this problem is by enco

more support from legislators on 

Hill. Former Representative John 

(R-NV) has introduced a bill tha

provide a 50 cent per gallon tax 

each gasoline gallon equivalent 

gas used as a transportation fue

tive that Kolodziej believes is th

the market needs to really take o

now, the market is working, but 

need an external event, a catalys

NGVs much more economically 

and to get a large number of cus

quickly,” he said. “If we get the 

credit, our market growth chart 

like a ‘hockey stick’... the slow, 

growth we’ve been experiencing 

followed by a huge jump in sale

in the medium- and heavy-duty 

To help focus the activities of 

try’s stakeholders, NGVC has al

nered with the Gas Research Ins

develop the Natural Gas Vehicle I

Strategy, a market development 

outlines specific action steps to a

profitable market by the year 20

was unveiled at the 16th Nation

Gas Vehicle Conference and Exh

in September in Providence, Rho

(see box). The plan basically call

on high-fuel-use fleet vehicles, in

public-access infrastructure, pro

policies that encourage NGV us

increased public awareness of th
The Louisville Clean Cities Program

Just about every household in Louisville, Kentucky, 

has an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV)...in the mail, that 

is. This phenomenon is due largely to the efforts of the

Louisville Clean Cities Program and the Kentucky Clean

Fuels Coalition, the nonprofit organization that houses 

the Clean Cities Program. Through a partnership with 

the United States Postal Service (USPS) and Louisville Gas

& Electric

Company, the

Louisville Clean

Cities Program

sponsored a 

logo contest for

children in 88

area elementary

schools. The

challenge was to

design an AFV

stamp for the

post office’s 

cancellation

machine. Now, more than one-third of all the mail routed

through Louisville’s main post office is franked with an

alternative fuel school bus stamp, bringing AFVs into 

thousands of households in the Louisville area.

Louisville Clean Cities stakeholders are putting actual

vehicles on the road, too. The USPS has 80 compressed 

natural gas (CNG) and four E85 (85% ethanol, 15% 

gasoline) vehicles operating in the Louisville area, and 

the Louisville Water Company will soon have 40 CNG

vehicles in its fleet. Louisville’s Metropolitan Sewer District

recently partnered with IMW Atlas Industries Incorporated

to install on-site refueling. “This is a real step forward,”

according to Clean Cities Coordinator Melissa Howell, in

its plans to convert two-thirds of its fleet to natural gas.

Howell has coordinated the Louisville Clean Cities effort

since the program’s inception. The coalition was officially

designated in October 1994. Since then, Kentucky’s fleet

has grown to include 389 flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs).

Although these vehicles can operate on both E85 and 

yp

contrast with other conventional vehicle keys. A

to eliminate any reservations about refueling av

the coalition has provided a map, conveniently 

each vehicle, of all area public refueling stations

added incentive for the drivers, the coalition ha

with local refueling stations to offer a free cup o

with each fill-up. “It’s a small incentive, but it o

a little, and it’s worked well so far,” said Howe

important for the state to set an example and to 

other fleets that AFVs are a viable transportatio

Kentucky.” And it will. The state plans to buy m

200 additional E85 vehicles, which would make 

the largest state AFV fleets in the country.

In addition to the state fleet, Louisville Clean 

helped to coordinate AFV efforts in other fleets, 

in several area niche markets, including one of 

national parks, the Louisville International Airp

even a military installation. With the constructio

on-site E-85 station, Mammoth Cave National P

made one more giant step toward its goal of be

alternatively fueled. The Louisville Internationa

is moving ahead with plans for installing CNG 

ture on-site to refuel its current fleet of 25 CNG 

Future plans include an additional 15 CNG veh

and Northwest Airlines have established their o

initiatives, and plan to convert their luggage tu

service vehicles to natural gas by next summer. 

stakeholders have also taken advantage of a “g

opportunity for AFV use at the Fort Knox Reser

south of Louisville—one of the largest military 

facilities in the country. Approximately 35 E85 a

vehicles are already operating at Fort Knox, and 

for a total of 250 CNG vehicles.

What’s the key to Louisville Clean Cities’suc

According to Howell, it’s the power of partners

don’t see how any Clean Cities organization is 

can sustain itself, or can flourish without partne

she said. “Literally every project we have work

of the partnerships.”

They say Kentucky is known for three things

horses, beautiful women, and great whiskey. It’

time they added a fourth...a very successful Cle

program...to the list.
12

y y , , , 

drove a CNG-powered Honda Civic GX from California 

to Washington, D.C., in “Cleanest Across America,” even

said during his trip, “I forgot I was driving an AFV.” (See

related story in AFN, Vol. 2, No. 3). 

Mark Looper, an independent AFV enthusiast from

California, has taken “Clean Across America” one step 

further. He went back! In his “Clean Across America and

Back” tour, Looper drove his 1993 Dodge B250 Ram

wagon, a dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle

affectionately named “Penelope II,” from Los Angeles,

California, to Portland, Maine, and back. The trip, which

lasted approximately 3 weeks, included stops in many

Clean Cities along the way.

Perhaps the most important part of the story is that

Mark Looper did all this on his own. He drove on his own

time—his vacation—in his personal, dedicated CNG-powered van that he has used as his “main vehicle” since 1995.

Why did he do it? To show people that AFVs are ready for

the public; that they are a viable, personal transportation

option for the “everyday consumer;” and that the network

of publicly accessible refueling infrastructure is more than

sufficient, not only for trips across town, but for trips

across the country. “I have become convinced this country

needs to overcome its dependence on petroleum fuels,”

said Looper. “Since I’m not professionally involved in

alternative fuels, I thought that a demonstration like this

would be a way that I could do something to advance the

cause more than I had done just by buying my one AFV.”

Looper shares his experience on his Web site at:

home.earthlink.net/~mrgasser/index.html. Not only 

can you catch a glimpse of the road trip through his daily

but more importantly, for taking the time to sh

experience and help get the message out. “Clea

America and Back” has demonstrated that ther

a choice when it comes to transportation.

Criminals Beware! ZAP Power S

Help Recharge Bike Patrols

Anyone who watches cable TV has probably 

of those beach police shows on Saturday aftern

usual scenario is one of the “bad guy” running 

sidewalk or riding a motorcycle into an alley to 

the handsome patrol officer in hot pursuit on a 

bike. The officer chases the wrongdoer and app

the suspect with ease, without much exertion, o

extra breath. 

It’s great for TV, but in “real life,” the police 

is likely to be a little more out of breath by the 

suspect is nabbed, especially after a long chase 

cle. Patrol bikes bring officers closer to the pub

is good for community relations, and they’re gr

weaving in and out of alleys or other places no

by police cars, especially high-traffic areas. But 

bikes require human energy to move, and a lot 

energy to move quickly. 

ZAP to the rescue! ZAP Power Systems has 

a patrol bike that supplements the officer’s ow

power with electric power, thus providing an e

for speed or hill climbing when needed. On pa

hours and burdened with extra police equipme

most physically fit officers appreciate the supp
law enforcement agencies in 22

states, and are also used in a

growing number of Clean Cities

across the country (see side box

for complete list). To learn more

about ZAP Patrol Bikes, check

out www.zapbikes.com.

Evansville, Indiana—Police Department

Los Angeles, California—UCLA Police,

Department of Transportation, Park Police,

Cal State-Los Angeles Police, Los Angeles

Zoo Police, Los Angeles Harbor College

Police

Red River Valley—Grand Forks, North Dakota, Police Department

Salt Lake City, Utah—Police Department, Salt Lake County Sheriff

San Jose, California—Police Department

Oklahoma—Tulsa, Lawton, Okmulgee, and Bartlesville Police Departments

Waterbury, Connecticut—Police Department

ZAP Patrol Bike, Grand Forks, ND

The Smallest State Offers Big

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentives

On September 9, 1998, at the 16th National

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Conference and

Exposition, the state of Rhode Island celebrated the

implementation of its AFV Incentive Act of 1997.

Governor Lincoln C. Almond was on hand to make

the announcement and herald the benefits the legislation provides to alternative fuel vehicle (AFV)

interests, including:

•A 50% tax credit for companies for the incremental cost of AFVs, and a similar tax credit

for the capital, labor, and equipment costs 

associated with conversions

•Business tax credit on the cost of building or

making improvements to alternative refueling

or recharging stations

•Exemption from the gasoline tax for any alternative fuels used by companies operating fleets of

10 or more vehicles

•Exemption from the state sales tax for the incremental cost of purchasing a new AFV and the

cost of conversions

•Deductions from the gross earnings tax for the

total gross earnings realized through the sale of

alternative fuels used to power motor vehicles

•Exemptions from the state sales and use tax 

on alternative fuel sold, stored, or consumed 

in the state.

Governor Almond also declared the week of

September 9-15 “Alternative Fuel Week in Rhode

Island,” in recognition of the new legislation, and in

celebration of the NGV Conference and Providence

Clean Cities designation on September 14, 1998.

From the States
Twenty-five Years of Energy Trends

www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/25opec/anniversary.html

DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) released

a report covering the major energy trends over the past 25

years since the 1973 oil embargo disrupted U.S. and world

energy markets. The report, entitled 25th Anniversary of the

1973 Oil Embargo: Energy Trends Since the First Major U.S.

Energy Crisis, provides graphs depicting world oil supply,

U.S. petroleum consumption, U.S. crude oil and gas

reserves, world oil production, U.S. gasoline and oil prices,

and more.

EIA 4th Quarter Projections

www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html

EIA also recently published the Short-Term Energy Outlook

for 1998 4th Quarter Projections. The forecast period for this

issue extends from October 1998 through Dece

and covers various issues including: domestic 

production figures, coal production, imports, e

nuclear electricity generation, hydroelectric gen

electricity imports, and nonutility generation. T

can be downloaded from the Web site above.

All About Methanol Fuel Cell Ve

www.methanol.org

The American Methanol Institute released a sp

entitled Looking Beyond the Internal Combustion 

Promise of Methanol Fuel Cell Vehicles. The repor

information on fuel cell technology, reviews the 

mental benefits of methanol fuel cell vehicles, a

ines the potential pathways for expanding the 

fuel market to serve these vehicles. The report 

at the Web site above.

14

On the Web

(EPAct) alternative fuel acquisition credits to fleet owners

and covered fleet persons for

the use of biodiesel fuel in

biodiesel blends containing 

at least 20% biodiesel by 

volume. The most commonly

used biodiesel blend today 

is B20, which contains 20%

biodiesel and 80% petroleum

diesel. Prior to approval by

the House Commerce

Committee, biodiesel legislation traveled through

Congress on two separate tracks. The House bill was cosponsored by Representatives John Shimkus (R-IL), Karen

McCarthy (D-MO), and Joe Barton (R-TX). Meanwhile, the

Senate endorsed similar legislation cosponsored by

Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Larry Craig (R-ID).

those of petrodiesel. Fleet owners who wish to 

biodiesel may do so with minimal changes to t

vehicle fleets. 

Initially, both bills set out to declare B20 an “

fuel” under EPAct. This designation would hav

loophole that would allow all conventional pet

fueled vehicles that used B20 to be considered 

fuel vehicles (AFVs), severely weakening the E

tion of an AFV. To gain wider support, the Hou

altered to allow fleet owners to receive one AFV 

under EPAct for every 450 gallons of biodiesel 

medium- or heavy-duty vehicles, rather than d

B20 as an “alternative fuel.” Because Senator Jo

designated B20 as an “alternative fuel” under E

compromise was needed. On October 15, 1998, 

agreed to the Senate amendments—passing the 

Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998.

The new law amends EPAct to

allocate one EPAct AFV acquisition credit to a fleet or covered

person for every 450 gallons of

biodiesel contained in biodiesel

blends of at least 20% biodiesel

by volume. The fuel must be 

purchased for use by the fleet or

covered person in vehicles

owned or operated by the entity

that weigh more than 8,500 lbs

gross vehicle weight rating.
y

Market Launch

Stakeholder meeting

and witnessed the 

designation of DallasFort Worth (DFW),

Texas, as the 11th 

EV-Ready Market

Launch Community.

Central and South

West (CSW) Corporation, a public utility holding company headquartered in Dallas, and the

DFW Clean Cities Coalition have been instrumental in

bringing electric modes of transportation to the local area

along with CSW Total EV. CSW is the host utility and

facilitator for the DFW area EV Market Launch project,

drawing on its long history of promoting and supporting

electric transportation.

Although CSW Total EV, a subsidiary of Central and

South West Corporation, was created to establish a presence in the transportation sector, they are focusing first on

the distribution and sales of ZAP electric bikes (see ZAP

article in “Nuts and Bolts”) and U.S. Pro Drive electric

Area EV projects include:

•An electric pickup was featured at the Stat

AFVs Exposition, as well as natural gas an

vehicles.

•DFW Clean Cites hosted a demonstration o

borhood electric vehicles (NEVs) produced 

Electric MotorCars. This vehicle meets the 

speed vehicle regulations recently develop

National Highway Safety Administration.

•Sal Termini of CSW Total EV spoke at the D

Cities meeting about CSW’s experiences w

duty electric vehicles, electric buses, photo

generation, and the upcoming DFW Marke

•DFW Clean Cities Stakeholders will visit D

International Airport to view firsthand Am

Airlines’extensive commitment to electric g

transportation equipment. 

•CSW will be working with key stakeholder

DFW area to build community awareness a

structure for electric vehicles. A community 

is tentatively planned for the first quarter o

For more information on efforts made by CS

visit their Web site at www.totalev.com/totalev

Nan Miller, Dallas-Fort Worth Clean 

Cities Coordinator, is pictured with Tonya

Shadduck, of CSW Total EV, and 

Dr. Fenton Carey, from the Department 

of Transportation's Research and Special

Programs Administration, at the 

designation ceremony.

Getting the Future Drivers 

of America Involved

You don’t need to be old enough to drive an AFV to play an

active role in New York’s Capital District Clean Communities

coalition! Students from Schenectady area schools demonstrated their creativity in a contest to design the official logo of the

Capital District Clean Communities coalition. Stakeholders

including the Schenectady County Association of Highway

Officials, Aurora Technologies, Cummins Engine Company,

Inc., Matthew’s Buses, and Niagara Mohawk Corporation

donated a total of $850 in savings bonds for student awards.

First prize, a $500 savings bond, went to Laura Wentworth, a

middle school student from Shenedehowa, New York’s Acadia

School. The Capital District Clean Communities Coalition is

located in the Albany, New York, area, and is working toward

official designation.

Electric Trans
16

Propane Vehicle Conference

January 25-27, 1999

Las Vegas, Nevada

Contact: Frank Rowe 303-863-0521

Sun Day Challenge

January 16-17, 1999

Cocoa-Orlando, Florida

Contact: Penny Hall 407-638-1458

3rd Annual Propane Vehicle Conference 

and Exposition

January 25-27, 1999

Las Vegas, Nevada

Contact: RP Publishing 303-863-0521

World Renewable Energy Congress

February 10-13, 1999

Perth, Western Australia

Contact: Dr. Kuruvilla Mathew +61 08 9 360 2896

E-mail: mathew@essun1.murdoch.edu.au

1999 Commodity Classic

February 18-20, 1999

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Contact: Kristi Bumeister 417-232-4999

National Conference on Ethanol Policy 

and Marketing

February 22-24, 1999

Las Vegas, Nevada

Contact: Bryan and Bryan 719-942-4353

SAE International Congress and Exposition

March 1-4, 1999

Detroit, Michigan

Contact: Stephanie Yhelka 724-772-7131

For more information on these events, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center Web site at www.afdc

And ... They're Off!

Get ready for the Fifth National 

Clean Cities Conference and Expo

Where: Louisville, Kentucky

When: May 23-26, 1999

Your postcard with conference 

details is on the way!

Upcoming

Conferences 

and Events

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