Clean Fuel Taxicabs: An Overview

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Clean Fuel TaxicabsAn Overview
Assistant Commissioner for Safety Emissions
NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Peter
Schenkman September 18, 2006
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Clean Fuel Technologies

• Clean Fuels Ready for prime time?
• Propane - LPG
• Compressed Natural Gas CNG
• Hybrid-Electric vehicles (HEV)
• Clean gasoline-powered vehicles
• Ethanol E85
• Electric Power
• Biodiesel
• Hydrogen Fuel Cells

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Propane - LPG

• Also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• By-product of natural gas processing and
  petroleum refining
• Environmental Impact
• Up to 60 reduction in ozone or smog-producing
  emissions like carbon monoxide
• Economic Impact
• Domestically available
• Generally cheaper on a per-gallon basis
• Less energy content than gasoline

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Propane - LPG

• Vehicle Availability
• More than 9 million vehicles in use worldwide and
  200,000 in the US
• Requires vehicle conversion (approximately
  2,500)
• Dedicated or non-dedicated (bi-fuel) conversions
• Federal and state incentives available (tax
  credits, etc.)
• http//www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/tech_matrx.c
  gi
• Taxi Use
• Ottawa, Niagara, Toronto, Las Vegas, Cleveland

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Compressed Natural Gas - CNG

• Used most commonly in residential and commercial
  utility markets
• Produced from gas wells or along with crude oil
• Natural Gas can also come as Liquefied Natural
  Gas (LNG)
• Environmental Impact
• Between 60 - 90 reduction in smog emissions
• Between 30 - 40 reduction in greenhouse gas
  (carbon dioxide) emissions
• Economic Impact
• Domestically supplied
• Generally cheaper on a per-gallon basis
• Less energy content

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Compressed Natural Gas - CNG

• Vehicle Availability
• More than 5 million vehicles in use worldwide and
  130,000 in the US
• Limited OEM vehicles available
• Generally requires vehicle conversion
  (approximately 2,000 - 4,000)
• Dedicated or non-dedicated (bi-fuel) conversions
• Federal and state incentives available (tax
  credits, etc.)
• Taxicab Use
• Several airports (including Seattle-Tacoma
  International) require the use of natural gas
  taxicabs
• Lack of OEM vehicles may have negative impact
• Ottawa, Palm Springs (CA), New York City, San
  Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto

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Compressed Natural Gas - CNG

• New York City experience
• CNGs began service in early 1990s
• OEM Ford Crown Victoria
• After-market converted Ford Crown Victoria
• Incentives
• Vehicle retirement extensions
• Partial rebates for purchase costs
• Flaws
• Limited number of fueling stations
• Trunk storage space lost due to CNG tanks
• 16 new CNGs recently put into service
• After-market modifier re-entering the market

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Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV)

• Popular choice as a clean vehicle
• Not all hybrids are created equal
• Impacts vary widely depending on specific
  vehicles and technology
• Environmental Impact
• Can lead to reduction in smog and greenhouse gas
  emissions
• Economic Impact
• Fuel economy savings are likely
• Price premium of several thousand dollars
• Federal and state incentives available (tax
  credits, etc.)

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Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV)

• Vehicle Availability
• Wide availability due to increasing consumer
  demand and OEM manufacturing
• Taxicab Use
• Limited number of cities have had hybrid taxicabs
  in service for up to several years
• Initial reports indicate positive owner, driver
  and passenger feedback
• Calgary, Winnipeg, New York City, San Francisco,
  Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver

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Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV)
http//static.howstuffworks.com/gif/hybrid-car-hyp
er.jpg Courtesy of Daimler-Chrysler
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Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEV)

• New York City experience
• HEVs began service in November 2005
• Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius
• Strong performance during regular inspections
• High level of driver satisfaction
• Positive passenger response
• 150 HEVs in service today
• Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Lexus RX 400H, Mercury
  Mariner

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Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles

• Vehicle emissions standards established by the
  California Air Resources Board (CARB)
• Vehicles certified based on smog and particulate
  matter emissions
• Standards adopted by various states
• CA, MA, ME, NY, VT

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Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles

• Environmental Impact
• AT-PZEV and PZEV vehicles have zero evaporative
  emissions
• Tailpipe emissions are 90 cleaner than typical
  new model year cars
• EPA provides Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas
  ratings
• http//www.epa.gov/autoemissions/index.htm
• Economic Impact
• Uses regular gasoline
• Better fuel economy than typical taxicab vehicles

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Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles

• Vehicle Availability
• AT-PZEV and PZEV available as OEM vehicles in
  CARB states
• 35 CARB certified 2005 model year vehicles
  (Accord, Camry, Focus, etc.)
• No significant price premium
• Taxicab Use
• No significant taxicab-specific usage reports

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Clean Gasoline-Powered Vehicles

• Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEVs)
• Widely available in CARB states for popular
  models
• Ford Focus-4Cylinder 26/32 mpg
• Ford Fusion-4Cyclinder 24/32 mpg
• Honda Accord-4Cylinder 24/34 mpg
• Hyundai Elantra-4Cylinder 24/32 mpg
• Mazda 3-4Cylinder 26/34 mpg
• Nissan Altima-4Cylinder 23/29 mpg
• Subaru Legacy-4Cylinder 23/30 mpg
• Toyota Camry-4Cylinder 24/34 mpg
• Volkswagon Golf-4Cylinder 24/30 mpg
• Volkswagon Jetta-4Cylinder 25/31 mpg
• Volvo V70-5Cylinder 22/30 mpg

EPA Highway/City Fuel Estimates
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Ethanol E85

• E85 is a blend of 85 ethanol and 15 gasoline
• Vehicles known as Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
  because they run on regular gasoline or E85
• Environmental Impact
• Some reduction in smog and greenhouse gas
  emissions with use E85
• Renewable energy source produced from crops like
  corn
• Economic Impact
• Comparable prices on a per-gallon basis
• Somewhat less energy content
• Limited fueling network with most pumps in the
  Midwest
• Federal and state incentives available (tax
  credits, etc.)

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Ethanol E85

• Vehicle Availability
• FFVs have been sold widely 5 million in the
  United States
• American automakers have devoted significant
  marketing efforts
• Taxicab Use
• No significant taxicab-specific usage reports
• E85 can have trouble igniting in cold weather

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Electric Power Vehicles

• Currently available technology has limited range
• Used primarily for short-distance, specialized
  fleets
• Environmental Impact
• Zero-emissions vehicles
• Relies on electric power which may have
  significant backend impacts
• Economic savings
• Generally cheaper on a per-mile driven bases
  dependent on local utility rates
• Federal and state incentives available (tax
  credits, etc.)

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Electric Power Vehicles

• Vehicle Availability
• Limited OEM production
• Currently focused on specialized fleets and
  localized usage
• Taxicab Use
• No significant usage reports available
• Limited range poses most significant obstacle
• New York City undertaking pilot program for
  lithium battery power

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Electric Power

• New York City experience
• Pilot Program proposed by manufacturer of
  lithium-battery powered vehicle
• PT Cruiser
• Approved for limited field testing

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Biodiesel

• Type of diesel fuel produced from organic sources
  
• Blend of 20 biodiesel and 80 diesel (B20) is
  most common
• 100 biodiesel (B100) is newer and less available
  for use
• Environmental Impacts
• Older engines raised concerns about noise and
  emissions
• Unclear if newer engines can comply with Clean
  Air standards
• Economic Impacts
• Generally more fuel efficient than gasoline
  engines so fuel economy is improved (up to 30)

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Biodiesel

• Vehicle Availability
• Limited number of passenger vehicles sold in the
  United States
• Taxicab Use
• Seattle
• London Taxi uses regular diesel and is in use in
  limited number of cities
• High vehicle maintenance costs represent
  significant obstacle

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Hydrogen Fuel Cells

• Concept cars, not reality yet
• Combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce
  electricity,
• Water and heat are main by-products 
• Environmental impact
• Zero-emissions
• Economic Impact
• Relies on supply of hydrogen to generate power
• Hydrogen sources are still under development and
  may include fossil fuels or renewable energy
  sources

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Hydrogen Fuel Cells

• Vehicle Availability
• Experimental technology with limited number of
  production vehicles and fuel infrastructure
• Wide variety of OEMs are pursuing this technology
• Taxi Industry
• No applications at this time

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Regulatory Considerations

• How should clean be defined?
• Technology (ie, hybrid)
• Emissions
• Fuel Economy
• Should clean taxicabs be held to the same vehicle
  standards?
• Passenger area
• Vehicle retirement
• How can the use of clean vehicles be increased?
• Vehicle retirement or age limits
• Vehicle Inspections
• Regulatory or financial incentives

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Regulatory Considerations

• Current New York City Experience
• How should clean be defined?
• Technology (Hybrid or CNG)
• Should clean taxicabs be held to the same vehicle
  standards?
• More permissive vehicle standards for hybrids
• Retirement cycle extensions for CNG
• How can the use of clean vehicles be increased?
• Taxicab vehicle retirement rules
• Specialized taxicab medallions (reduced prices)
• Federally-funded rebates for CNG purchase

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Value of Working With OEMs

• Vehicle Development
• Insight on OEM plans for deployment of clean fuel
  technology
• Opportunity to offer regulatory input
• Vehicle Enhancements
• Ford Crown Victoria rear air conditioning
• Ford Crown Victoria enhanced output alternator
• Troubleshooting
• Toyota Sienna radiator
• Ford Crown Victoria shocks
• Taxi-specific accessory development
• Roof-lights, safety shields, meters, etc. can be
  tailored for compatibility

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Overview of NYC Taxi Fleet
2005 TAXI INSPECTIONS 2005 TAXI INSPECTIONS
MODEL YEAR FAILURE RATE
2005 26
2004 41
2003 58
2002 71
2001 and earlier 75
ESTIMATED MILEAGE OVER TAXICAB LIFE ESTIMATED MILEAGE OVER TAXICAB LIFE ESTIMATED MILEAGE OVER TAXICAB LIFE ESTIMATED MILEAGE OVER TAXICAB LIFE
Fleet DOV Owner-Driver
1 Year 72,000 68,000 42,000
2 Years 144,000 136,000 84,000
3 Years 216,000 204,000 126,000
4 Years 288,000 272,000 168,000
5 Years 360,000 340,000 210,000
6 Years - 408,000 252,000
7 Years - 476,000 294,000

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Regulatory Considerations

• Vehicle Retirement
• 20 out of 27 surveyed jurisdictions have vehicle
  retirement or age regulations
• Generally based on age or model year
• Retirement required between 3-10 years
• At least one jurisdiction also uses mileage
• Limited use of exemptions for policy goals
• Accessible Vehicles
• Clean Vehicles

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Regulatory Considerations

• Vehicle Inspections
• Every surveyed jurisdiction requires at least
  annual vehicle inspections
• 15 of the surveyed jurisdictions require more
  frequent vehicle inspections
• 2-3 times per year
• Frequency can also be based on accidents,
  previous inspection history or vehicle age/mileage

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Educate, Communicate, Act

• Clean cars are a hot topic for the general
  public, elected officials and advocacy groups
• Transportation regulators should proactively
  study the issues and develop proposals
• We risk losing control of regulatory authority

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Educate, Communicate, Act

• Current New York City Experience
• Local elected officials framed the regulatory
  agency as slow to act
• NYC TLC moved forward with multiple clean vehicle
  initiatives
• Still dealing with frequent legislative proposals
  
• Compromising safety and reliability
• Challenge to regulatory authority

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Additional Sources

• Introductions, Environmental Impact, Economic
  Impact, Vehicle Availability, Taxicab Use
• US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data
  Center
• http//www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/about.html
• California Air Resources Board Drive Clean
  California
• http//www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/home/index.asp
• IATR jurisdictional survey
• Additional information
• Alternative Fuel Vehicles Institute 2007
  Conference/Expo
• http//www.afvi.org/NationalConference2007/index.h
  tml

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Clean Fuel TaxicabsAn Overview
Assistant Commissioner for Safety Emissions
NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Peter
Schenkman September 18, 2006