Alternative Fuel Infrastructure: Strategies for Getting Your Fleet

Access to Alternative Fuel

• Vista Consultants, LLC• Marc McConahy

(marc.mcconahy@verizon.net)– FEMP Fleet Contractor since 2001– Facilitator monthly Interagency Committee on

Alternative Fuels and Low Emission Vehicles(INTERFUEL for short) since 1991

– Experience with all alternative fuels and supporting infrastructure

• Department of Veterans Affairs• Regina Larrabee (Regina.Larrabee@va.gov)– Mechanical Engineer– Federal facility energy programs for 20+ years– Part of VA fleet program since 2008– VA Fleet Program Manager since 2010– Has taken the lead in the installation of E85

stations throughout Veterans Affairs

• VA accomplishments– Completed a feasibility study in 2009 identifying

requirements for 91 potential on-site E85 stations– Centrally funded program to install E85 tanks at

medical centers• Awarded contracts for 33 projects in FY 2011;

– 9 have been completed and are now in operation; – 24 more to go

• Department of the Interior• Mark Rich (mark_rich@nps.gov)– Mammoth Cave National Park Concessions and

Safety Manager– 30 + years with the National Park Service (NPS)– NPS Environmental Auditor– Chair of the Mammoth Cave National Park

Green Team since 2004

• Mammoth Cave NP Accomplishments– First unit of the US Department of Interior to

develop an on-site fueling station for E85 ethanol – First unit of the National Park to become 100%

alternative fuel compatible in the GSA motor fleet. – Current alternative fuel station offers E85, Bio-

Diesel, and Propane– Active partnership with the park concessioner

Forever Resorts

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration• Bruce Chesson (Bruce.E.Chesson@nasa.gov)– Transportation Officer and Alternative Fuel

Program Manager for NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida since 2004.

– Built E-85 and electric charging infrastructure. – Current operating fleet is over 1300 + vehicles -

77% alternative Fuels

• Kennedy Space Center Accomplishments – Vehicles in active use: 77 Low Speed Electric; 34

dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG); 87 Bi-Fuel vehicles (CNG or unleaded gasoline); 677 E-85; 110 B20; 33 Hybrids

– KSC has been early adopters for highway speed electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

– Operate CNG, E85, B20 and EV stations on-site

Clean Cars at KSC

• General Services Administration• Sean Seymour (Sean.Seymour@GSA.gov)– Alternative Fuel Vehicle Analyst– Office of Fleet Management for 3 years– Experience in Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Procurement and Monitoring

• GSA accomplishments– Electric Vehicle Pilot• 116 Electric Vehicles• 88 GSA Purchased Charging Stations• 3 Different Vendors

– Electric Vehicle Charging Station Availability• Schedule 23V SIN 272 105 New Technologies• 9 Manufacturers Under GSA Advantage

• Department of the Navy – US Marine Corps• Jim Gough (James.gough@usmc.mil)– Marine Corps Transportation Services Director since

2005.– Responsible for developing and managing the

Petroleum Reduction/Alternative Fuel & Vehicle Strategy

– Acquisition and transportation management operations budget exceeds $100M annually

• US Marine Corps Accomplishments– E-85 use doubled each year since 2007–Biodiesel use strong, leveling off–CNG use recovering increasing from

downward slide ended in 2010–H2 FCV pilots in SoCal &Hawaii, 6 FCVs

– EV charging infrastructure growing

Order of Our Infrastructure Discussion Today– Hydrogen– Propane– Natural Gas– Biodiesel– Electricity– E85 Ethanol

AF Infrastructure Challenges Encountered•Hydrogen– Technology is not standardized– Emphasis on hydrogen vehicles has declined– Infrastructure Cost / Vehicle Cost– Finding space – Tank installation and

vehicle/delivery truck access– Codes/Laws – Fire and building codes

AF Infrastructure Challenges Encountered•Propane– Few vehicles available– Infrastructure Costs relatively low– Fleet acceptance– Codes/Laws – Fire and building codes

AF Infrastructure Challenges Encountered•Natural Gas (LNG or CNG)– Local infrastructure available– Infrastructure costs high / maintenance complex

(gas company willing to install in some locations)– Dispenser electronics do not last forever;

manufacturers come and go – parts availability– Availability of vehicle maintenance limited– Codes/Laws – Fire and building codes

AF Infrastructure Challenges Encountered•Biodiesel– Uncertainties about performance in cold weather– Concern about voiding vehicle warranties– Insufficient use to support bio-diesel tank– Incompatible dispensing hoses– Swap from diesel to biodiesel – Do not use biodiesel in static tanks (emergency

generators)

AF Infrastructure Challenges Encountered•Electricity– Need to reserve parking spaces solely for EVs– Lack authority to allow charging of non-government

vehicles– Up-Front Financial Costs – Infrastructure is reasonably

priced, installation can be very expensive– Storm outages of chargers– Resetting of ground fault protection safety circuit

breakers– Billing and payment issues– How Many Stations are needed to Support a Fleet?– Which Network Manager to Choose?– Codes/Laws – Fire and building codes

AF Infrastructure Challenges Encountered•Ethanol (E85)– Finding space – Tank installation and vehicle/delivery

truck access– Codes/Laws – Fire Codes, permitting– Landlords – Leased property / coordination with other

agencies– NEPA – Complicated process / Historical sites / Odd

requirements– Station installers with no E85 experience, station

designers with limited experience – economic delivery and stock rotation needs

– Installation materials not E85 compatible