Clean Diesel Vehicles Key to D.C. Sustainability Initiative, Group Says
According to an industry group, diesel fuel is essential to the District of Columbia (D.C.) and pending legislation that would curtail its use should be re-visited.
The essential role, fuel-savings-attribtues and emissions benefits of new “clean” diesel technology were highlighted by the Diesel Technology Forum in a statement before the District of Columbia (DC) City Council on the Omnibus DC Sustainability Act.
“Diesel technology plays a vital role in the District of Columbia. It powers vehicles that provide key government services such as solid waste, public transportation and snow removal. It is also the primary workhorse technology powering the trucks and vans of hundreds of small service and delivery business serving the District, and over 3,500 DC residents have made diesel their personal transportation choice for their cars, trucks or SUVs,” said Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a Maryland-based national non-profit educational group.
At issue in the group’s public statement is the Omnibus Sustainability Act proposed legislation which includes a provision that as currently written, requires that “…no vehicle shall be registered in DC that operates exclusively on the combustion of petroleum diesel fuel beginning January 1, 2018.”
“Clean diesel technology must be a key component of the District’s sustainability initiative because of its superior energy efficiency, near-zero emissions, and ability to use renewable fuels. We don’t believe that the intent of this legislation is to prevent the use of diesel engines, but rather to seek some new approaches to reducing emissions and we look forward to working with District leaders toward that end,” said Schaeffer.
According to his organization, the use of diesel technology in the District “is already delivering significant clean air and fuel saving benefits.” Since 2007 all diesel fuel sold in the District (and nationwide) for highway vehicles has been ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel which reduces particulate emissions from all diesel vehicles, with most significant emissions benefits from 2007 and newer model year vehicles. The current EPA standards for all new diesel engines in cars, trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles as well as even most off-road engines and machines now require near zero levels of emissions for particulate matter (PM), or soot, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a smog forming compound.
“These proven clean diesel technologies are on the road today. Here in the District, at the end of 2012, just over 19% of all registered Class 3-8 heavy-duty trucks are clean diesel (2007 or newer model years). Nationwide, roughly one-in-three heavy-duty trucks is a new-generation clean diesel vehicle that is model year 2007 and newer,” said Schaeffer.
In the District, heavy-duty diesel vehicles can be found performing vital city functions such as refuse collection and powering fire and rescue vehicles, and moving freight including long-haul and short-haul delivery trucks. Nationwide these new clean diesel trucks reduced soot by 27,000 tons and NOx by almost 1 million tons, according to our 2012 research.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) operates hundreds of clean diesel buses and new clean diesel-electric hybrid buses which together make up the largest share of engine technologies providing public transportation for District residents, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
The group noted that light-duty diesel cars and trucks “typically achieve a 20%-40% improvement in fuel economy and a 10% to 20% reduction in emissions relative to comparable gasoline powered vehicles, while delivering superior driving performance and higher resale values.”
“Nationwide, we estimate that the anticipated growth in diesel cars and trucks will save about 7 million tons of carbon emissions, which comes on top of the 7 million tons of carbon emissions reduced from the existing fleet of diesels on the road since 2005,” noted Schaeffer.
More information at: www.dieselforum.org.
Category: Featured, Fuel & Oil, General Update, Green
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