2010 PASBO Conference – “Diesel School Buses: What to Expect in 2010”

March 11, 2010Eric Cheung, Esq.Philadelphia Diesel Difference Coordinator/Clean Air Council Senior Attorney

and the big news story for 2010…

Yellow Buses Are Turning Green

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

Who I amClean Air Council (www.cleanair.org)

•Nonprofit, since 1967

•Protect everyone’s right to breathe clean air

•Six program areas

•Senior attorney

Philadelphia Diesel Difference Working Group (www.cleanair.org/dieseldifference)

•Public/Private partnership, since 2003

•Voluntary adoption of clean diesel technologies and strategies

•Retrofits, Clean Fuels, Idling Reduction

•Co-coordinator with Philadelphia Air Management Services

Philadelphia Diesel Difference (PDD)

Accomplishments…

•Have held four clean diesel workshops, with a fifth one planned for Summer, 2010•Convened three Mid-Atlantic clean ports conferences•Financial support from members•Successes: Wissahickon School District, West Chester S.D., N. Penn S.D., Upper Darby S.D., Unionville-Chadds Ford S.D., Upper Moreland S.D., Garnet Valley S.D., City of Philadelphia, School District of Philadelphia, Upper Darby S.D., Amtrak, SPC Corp., Packer Terminal, and Evans Network of Companies (to be completed by 2011)•31 heavy duty fleets (representing 6,700 vehicles) have signed onto the “Interested Fleets” list

Who I am NOT•A technology vendor

•A scientist

•A mechanic

•An engineer

•A professor

•Anyone who has technical knowledge about diesel vehicles

BUT, PDD can connect you with the right people to answer your technical questions.

Who is this story about?•YOU!

•On Road

•Heavy Duty

•Diesel-powered

•Trucks and buses

•But, not construction, agricultural, marine, railroad or port equipment

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

New Rules2010 Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Rule

•Promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

•Nitrogen Oxides (smog-forming gases) must be reduced to 0.2 g/BHP-hr (83% expected reduction, on average)

•Model Year 2010

Pennsylvania Diesel Idling Restrictions - Act 124 of 2008

•Promulgated by the PA Department of Environmental Protection

•No idling for more than 5 minutes an hour

•“No Idling” signs must be posted

•$150 - $300 in penalties

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

Time Line of Events2001 - Heavy Duty Highway Diesel Rule

2006 – Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel

2007 – Particulate Emission Standards

2009 – PA Anti-Idling Law

2010 – NOx Emission Standards

THIS MEANS THAT TODAY…

•NOx and Particulate Emission Standards are in effect for any new heavy duty school bus you purchase

•School buses cannot idle for more than 5 minutes an hour (15 minutes with passengers)

•Facilities where 15 or more school buses park MUST have at least one “No Idling” sign in place

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

Geographic Scope2010 Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Rule – Federal

•Any school bus produced or imported in the United States

•Producer/manufacturer of the school bus is on the hook

Pennsylvania Diesel Idling Restrictions - Act 124 of 2008

•Applies Statewide

•No new local anti-idling rules, but does not supersede existing rules (Allegheny County, Philadelphia)

•Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection enforces, but so can local police departments as a traffic violation

•Owners and drivers of the school bus are on the hook

•Owners and operators of locations where 15 or more school buses park are on the hook for signage requirements

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

Diesel Emissions 101Fine Particulate Emissions

•Particles that are mostly elemental carbon (soot)

•<= 2.5 micrometers in size

•2006 fuel standards and 2007 heavy duty vehicle emission standards resulted in a 90% reduction

Ozone (Smog)

•Nitrogen Oxide is a precursor to this gas

•2010 emission standards will result in 83% reduction ofNOx

Health impact of diesel exhaust

•Respiratory illnesses, can cause or exacerbate asthma, decrease in lung function growth, premature death

•Cancer risks associated with prolonged exposure

•Large urban centers of Pennsylvania do not meet minimum federal health standards for ozone or fine particulates

Diesel Emissions 101 – Cont’dGlobal Warming

•1 gallon of diesel = 22 pounds of carbon dioxide

•Current emission standards are not intended to address carbon dioxide, but idling reduction strategies can help reduce impact

PA statistics for diesel vehicles

•7.5% of total vehicle miles traveled in Pennsylvania

•48% of smog-forming compounds from highway vehicles

•65% of fine particulates from highway vehicles

Who? What?When?

Where? Why?How?

Compare and Contrast2007 School Buses

•The emissions reduction focus is on particulates

•Relies on diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters

•Ultra low sulfur diesel fuel is required

•Increased costs, but technology is not too much more expensive

2010 School Buses

•The emissions reduction focus is on nitrogen oxides

•Most likely relies on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or advanced exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)

•Diesel exhaust fluid is needed for SCR in addition to ultra low sulfur diesel

•Potential for significant increases in costs for technology

In This Corner - SCRSelective Catalytic Reduction

•Catalyst reacts with exhaust downstream of DPF

•Chemical reducing agent is sprayed into the catalyst

•NOx altered to become N2 and H2O

Diesel Exhaust Liquid (DEF)

•Chemical reducing agent is urea

•Has separate storage container from the fuel

•Reductant delivery system determines effectiveness

Manufacturers

•Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Mack, Paccar, Volvo

•OE experience outside the U.S. = 200,000 vehicles

Benefits – 60-80% NOx reduction; 20-40% PM, 70+% HC, slight possible fuels savings for on highway trucks

In This Corner - EGRAdvanced Exhaust Gas Recirculation

•Enhances existing technology to reduce NOx

•Advanced high-pressure fuel injection technology

•Combustion bowl optimization

•Sophisticated air-management systems.

•Advanced electronic calibration

•Burns the exhaust a second time

•Goal is to lower combustion temperatures in order to decrease production of NOx.

Manufacturers

•Navistar/International

•Limited experience with this strategy, but based on widely used technology

Slight possible fuel economy loss (recirculated exhaust has lower energy content)

Benefits – 40% NOx reduction

FIGHT!SCR+DPF EGR+DPF

DEF Supply infrastructure available through several sources to supply. SCR cannot operate without DEF.

Not needed.

Technology experience

SCR is new application for 2010 HD diesel vehicles in the U.S., but has been used in stationary, large engine applications for years. DPFs have been used since 2007 in new vehicles, and for several more years as retrofits.

EGR has been used in new diesel vehicles since mid-2000s, but has been used in passenger car applications since the 1970s. DPFs have been used since 2007 in new vehicles, and for several more years as retrofits.

Cost Additional operating cost for DEF

No additional operating cost.

Ease of use Driver attention to DEF depletion gauge (similar to fuel gauge).

Nothing peculiar to EGR system.

Fuel use Possible small improvement Possible small loss

Other TechnologiesLean NOx Catalyst

•Different type of Catalyst

•Diesel fuel as a reductant agent

•25% reduction in NOx

Compressed Natural Gas

•Inherently cleaner fuel

•No need for SCR or EGR

Hybrid Electric Diesel

Hydraulic Hybrids

Fuel Cell??

Anti-Idling TechnologiesAuxiliary Power Units

Automatic Start/Stop

Truck Stop Electrification

Anti-Idling Policies

•PA School Bus Anti-Idling Campaign

•Lower Merion, North Penn, Spring-Ford, Unionville-Chadds Ford, Romano School Bus Service

•http://www.cleanair.org/Transportation/idling.html

IdleFreePA

NOTE: Does not meet 2010 NOx emission standards

Funding OpportunitiesFederal EPA – Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

•Most recent opportunity = $500,000 to $2.5 million for the Mid-Atlantic Region in December, 2009

•Economic Stimulus opportunity = $1 to $7 million for the Mid-Atlantic Region last year

PADEP – Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant

•Compressed Natural Gas

•Hybrid Electric

•Biodiesel

Become a Philadelphia Diesel Difference Interested Fleet

•Philadelphia, Radnor, Colonial, Coatesville, Kennett Consolidated, Downingtown Area, Springfield, Lower Merion, Haverford, Krapf Bus Co.

and the big news story for 2010…

Yellow Buses Are Turning Green

And now, for your feedback…

Contact Information:

Eric Cheung, Esq.215-567-4004 ext. 114echeung@cleanair.org