CONVERTING TRANSIT TO METHANOL: COSTS AND BENEFITS FOR CALIFORNIA'S SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN

Methanol offers much promise as an alternative fuel whose combustion produces no sulfates and fewer nitrogen oxides and particulates than diesel. As another advantage, large quantities could be manufactured from domestic coal supplies. Believing that an extensive methanol program might well begin with public transit, we estimate the costs and benefits of converting the bus fleets of California's South Coast Air Basin to methanol. Benefits are based on the reduced mortality attributable to lower sulfates and particulates; costs encompass both bus conversion and replacement. Comparing these benefits with costs over a wide range of methanol prices, we find that conversion to methanol merits further consideration as an anti-pollution strategy. We propose to extend the analysis to additional potential benefits and costs, and to other locales and types of vehicles.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01935860
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Irvine

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  4000 Anteater Instruction and Research Building
  Irvine, CA  United States  92697
• Authors:
  • Frederick, S J
  • Morrison, JLC
  • Small, K A
• Publication Date: 1987-7

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 26 p.
• Serial:
  • Publication of: California University, Irvine
  • Publisher: University of California, Irvine
  • ISSN: 0193-5860

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Benefit cost analysis; Energy conversion; Methanol; Nitric oxide; Nitrogen oxides; Particulates; Pollutants
• Subject Areas: Energy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00469753
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UCI-ITS-WP-87-3
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1988 12:00AM