Use of Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Vehicles by Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems

A survey was conducted of small urban and rural transit agencies regarding their use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles. Responses were received from 115 transit providers across the country, including 31 that use biodiesel, eight that use E85, 10 that use compressed natural gas (CNG), four that use propane, and 24 that own hybrid-electric vehicles. Larger agencies and those operating in urban areas tend to be more likely to adopt alternatives than smaller, rural providers. Improving public perception, reducing emissions, and reducing operating costs tend to be the greatest motivating factors for adopting these alternatives, in addition to political directives and incentives. Concerns about infrastructure development and costs, vehicle costs, maintenance, and fuel supply are the greatest deterrents to adoption. Those agencies that have adopted alternative fuels or hybrids have been mostly satisfied with their experience, but some problems were identified. An analysis of satisfaction with biodiesel indicates that agencies with a larger fleet size and those that have committed a larger percentage of their fleet to biodiesel have been more satisfied with the fuel. Findings provide useful information to transit operators considering adoption of alternative fuels and hybrids and to policy makers considering policies on alternative fuels and hybrids.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=721
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052

  North Dakota State University, Fargo

  Small Urban and Rural Transit Center
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108-6050

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mattson, Jeremy
• Publication Date: 2012-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 105p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Benefit cost analysis; Biodiesel fuels; Compressed natural gas; Ethanol; Hybrid vehicles; Propane; Rural transit; Transit operating agencies; Urban transit
• Subject Areas: Energy; Public Transportation; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01379150
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 2012 8:52AM