Clean Cities Program Saves 375 Million Gallons Of Gas In 2006 DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory released a report in early October stating that the Clean Cities Program saved 375 million gallons of gas in 2006. Clean Cities coalitions are on track to reach 3.2 billion gallons of gasoline displaced annually by 2020, exceeding their originally established goal by 700 million gallons. Through its almost 90 coalitions, the Clean Cities Program works with a gamut of industry and government partners, including local, state and federal agencies; public health and transportation departments; transit agencies and other government offices, as well as auto manufacturers, car dealers, fuel suppliers, public utilities, public and private fleets, community business groups and professional associations to increase the nation's economic, environmental and energy security by reducing petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. According to the report: · Seventy-one percent of the gasoline displacement in 2006 came from the use of alternative fuels, 30 percent being attributed to the use of compressed natural gas in primarily heavy-duty vehicles. · The use of E85 grew substantially in 2006, thanks in large part to the doubling of E85 stations from 436 to 995. E85 accounted for 24 percent of this gasoline displacement. · Coalitions reported almost 44,000 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) were acquired in 2006, a 61 percent increase above the 17,100 HEVs purchased in 2005. HEV use accounted for the displacement of approximately 9 million gallons of gasoline. · Idle reduction efforts displaced 8.4 million gallons in 2006, including 1.2 million gallons from truck stop electrification. · Less traveling in 2006 accounted for a reduction in gasoline usage of almost 2 million gallons. "The significant progress Clean Cities made in 2006 shows impressive commitment by our coalition members," DOE Clean Cities Director Dennis A. Smith said. The study was compiled using voluntary reports representing a subset of activities going on throughout the nation and emphasizing the impact of coalitions and their priorities. The Clean Cities Program is part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program. Note: This story has been adapted from material provided by the DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071001165941.htm. Specific Converted Vehicles Approved by EPA to Run on E85 Source: U.S. Department of Energy The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a Certificate of Conformity for three vehicle models that have been converted to allow operation on E85 ethanol fuel. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% regular unleaded gasoline. The certificate  was issued to FlexFuelUS, the alternative fuel converter company. The vehicles certified are the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police model, the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Taxi and the 2006 Lincoln Town Car Airport Livery with the 4.6L engine. These vehicles were originally produced by Ford Motor Company in 2006 to operate on gasoline and were modified by FlexFuelUS to operate on either gasoline or E85. The certification process involves EPA testing on the vehicles prior to issuing the certificate, and certification applies only to the listed vehicles, not the conversion system or kit by itself. These vehicles have been found to conform to the requirements of the regulations on control of air pollution. This certificate covers the listed models, which are designed to meet the applicable emission standards specified in 40 CFR Parts 86 and 88, at both high and low altitude. This initial certification covers up to 225 conversions. When the number of conversions exceeds 225, a revised certificate will be required. For more information on conversions, see the AFDC Technical Bulletin on conversions. Blue Skyways Collaborative New Partners Named to the Blue Skyways Collaborative! U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrators Richard Greene, Region 6, and John Askew, Region 7, presented the partnership awards during the collaborative semi-annual meeting at the Drury Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Louis. The theme of  the meeting is "Making Energy Connections." "We're pleased to recognize our new partners and to spend time sharing information with all our Blue Skyways participants this week,” said John Askew. "The kind of interaction we're having here is important to advancing the goals of cleaner air for all of us." The meeting, which encourages participants to share expertise on air pollution technologies, features presentations on renewable energy, green buildings, transportation, fuels, and funding opportunities, along with updates on the collaborative’s progress and goals. The Blue Skyways Collaborative was formed to encourage voluntary air emissions reductions. Collaborative participants implement projects that use innovations in diesel equipment, alternative fuels, renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency. Participants include private industry, non-profit and environmental groups, and international, federal, state, tribal and local governments. Following are the organizations recognized as new collaborative partners and the projects they are conducting: City of Tulsa, Okla. (alternative fuels and idle reduction) Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (renewable energy) Port of Corpus Christi, Texas (idle reduction and alternative fuels) Pollution Prevention Partnership - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas (vehicle maintenance) Anheuser-Busch Inc., Houston, Texas, Brewery (energy efficiency) Green Mountain Energy Co., Austin, Texas (renewable energy) Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas (diesel retrofits) Silver Eagle Distributors, Houston, Texas (alternative fuels) Entegrity Wind Systems Inc., Boulder, Colo. (renewable energy) Grace Hill Settlement House, St. Louis, Mo. (idle reduction) Metropolitan Energy Center, Kansas City, Mo. (energy efficiency) Missouri Botanical Garden's Earthways Center, St. Louis, Mo. (renewable energy) Omaha Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, Omaha, Neb. (alternative transportation) St. Louis Association for Community Organizations (idle reduction) Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. (renewable energy)
The collaborative comprises ten states - Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas - and the areas along the borders with Mexico and Canada. Learn more about the Blue Skyways Collaborative: http//:www.blueskyways.org National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) announces new 2008 Flex-Fuel Vehicles The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition is very pleased to announce that 31 models of motor vehicles will be offered with an E85 capable engine in 2008. Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Mercedes Benz will all offer flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in the coming year. “We are pleased to see so many popular models offered with a flexible fuel engine in 2008,” stated Executive Director of the NEVC Phil Lampert. “From a humble beginning of less than 500 FFVs in 1993, we expect that more than 750,000 such FFVs will be produced in the coming year. As we work to advance our national energy independence, we encourage consumers to consider the purchase of a flexible fuel vehicle that is capable of operating on regular unleaded gasoline or up to 85% ethanol.” The following platforms will be produced as Flexible Fuel Vehicles during MY 2008: Chrysler
4.7L Chrysler Aspen
2.7L Chrysler Sebring Convertible & Sedan
3.3L Chrysler Town & Country
2.7L Dodge Avenger
4.7L Dodge Dakota
4.7L Dodge Durango
3.3L Dodge Grand Caravan
4.7L Dodge Ram
4.7L Jeep Commander & Grand Cherokee Ford
4.6L Ford Crown Victoria (including taxi & police units)
5.4L Ford F-150
4.6L Mercury Grand Marquis General Motors
3.5L & 3.9L Chevrolet Impala (including police units)
5.3L Chevrolet Avalanche & Silverado, GMC Sierra
5.3L Chevrolet Express & GMC Savana
5.3L Chevrolet Suburban & GMC Yukon XL
5.3L Chevrolet Tahoe & Police Package Tahoe, GMC Yukon
3.9L Chevrolet Uplander
3.9L Pontiac Montana (only available in Canada & Mexico) Nissan
5.6L Nissan Armada
5.6L Nissan Titan Mercedes Benz
3.0L Mercedes Benz C300 Luxury & Sport Excluding the Chrysler Town and Country Minivan which will be available in all 50 states, model year 2008 Chrysler FFVs will not be available for purchase in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Nissan FFVs will be available only in select markets. Ford, GM and Mercedes Benz 2008 FFVs will be available in all 50 states. Chrysler, GM, Ford and Nissan are all members of the NEVC. Lampert added, “We are optimistic that during the course of the next several months, additional FFV platforms will be announced by our automaker members. As the production of such vehicles continues to grow, the NEVC and our partners across the nation continue to dedicate our efforts to the growth of E85 fueling facilities.” The NEVC 2008 Purchasing Guide will include a complete listing of all FFVs, photos, their engine and passenger size, and their gallon fuel capacity. This full color, 16 page guide will be available in early October. To place your order, email order@e85fuel.com. For a complete listing of all model year FFVs, go to www.E85Fuel.com.
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