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FEELINGRenewed A


Do today’s alternative fuel choices (and


associated costs) make you anxious? Welcome to the familiar and cleaner world of renewable diesel WRITTEN BY JULIE METEA


s automotive and technology companies collaborate on connectivity and futuristic, over-the-air charging for


consumer vehicles, the school bus industry is focusing on alternative fuel innovation that accommodates government regulation, incentive grants, low cost operations and passenger health. “Te automotive industry is truly so


diverse, and different niches need different fueling applications. Tere’s no silver bullet for fuel options,” said Brian Carney, group account director at ROUSH CleanTech. Tere continues to be a big push toward


propane, as all three major OEMs now offer it as do many of the Type A manufac- turers, and CNG has been gaining ground in not just California. But the simple fact is that diesel continues to dominate the school bus market. So how can some 90 percent of the industry be influenced to go green? Te answer lies in quickly emerging


44 School Transportation News • JULY 2016


drop-in fuel that requires no new infra- structure investments. While biodiesel-petroleum blends are abundant, a next-generation and entirely different green diesel is on the horizon that burns cleaner than traditional Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and performs better. Proponents claim that Renewable Diesel, or RD, is more sustainable and safer to handle, due to its renewable properties derived from animal and fish fat, vegetable oils and greases. According to the U.S. Department of


Energy, producing RD involves hydroge- nating triglycerides to remove metals and compounds with oxygen and nitrogen using existing refinery infrastructure. Distin- guished by this unique processing method, RD is becoming a good fit for fleets subject to greenhouse gas emissions and other strict pollutant reduction requirements, as RD promises 65- to 90-percent reduction in GHG and 9 percent fewer emissions of


NOx. It can be used in all diesel vehicles and fueling infrastructures without warranty or code issues, making it an easy start up. While a great option for school transpor- tation, access is a barrier. For now, the in- dustry will have to watch the performance of new commercial test fleets that ramped up on the West Coast last year. In Califor- nia, for instance, San Jose Unified is the only known school district using RD in its fleet. Lead Equipment Mechanic Andrew DeBolt said the district is transitioning the entire 72-bus fleet to RD as well as depart- ment trucks, vans and off-road equipment. DeBolt, a former Ford dealer mechanic, said RD is offering at least the same fuel economy as ULSD with less soot clogging DPFs. He added that RD is also a better option than biodiesel because there are no warranty or clogging issues. And the dis- trict’s 10 remaining CNG buses are being phased out in favor of new diesel buses that will be fueled by RD.


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