Overview on Current Fuel Trends and Barriers : Propane, CNG, and Electricity Green Vehicles Workshop

Ted Barnes

Gas Technology Institute

April 2014

2 2

Objectives

A. Intro to Fuel Type

B. Fueling Station Basics

C. Barriers

D. Trends and “Typical” Applications

3 3

ESTABLISHED 1941

GTI Company Overview

> Staff of 250

> 350 active projects

> 1,200 patents; 500 products

Energy & Environmental Technology Center

Office & Labs Pilot-Scale Gasification Campus

Training

Applied Energy Research and

Development Focus

4 4

Propane Autogas 101

oLPG or Propane or Autogas is transferred into a vehicle as pressurized liquid and will vaporize at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature

oLike gasoline or diesel, propane gas is heavier than air

oPropane is burned in internal combustion engine to power vehicle; same as gasoline or diesel

oPropane is dispensed and sold by liquid gallon

oPropane Autogas station is similar to gasoline station; fueling time is similar – 10-12 gallons/min

5 5

Propane Station Basics

6 6

CNG 101

oCompressed Natural Gas (CNG) is mostly Methane (chemical formula CH4), stored in gaseous form

oUnlike other fuels, natural gas is lighter than air

oCNG pressure is 3600 psi at 70° F (typical settled pressure), and no more than 4500 psi at any temp

oCNG is burned in internal combustion engine to power vehicle; same as gasoline or diesel

oStation is similar to gasoline station, “fast-fill” 5-10 “gallons”/min. “Time-fill” or home fueling is possible

7 7

CNG Station Basics

8 8

Electricity as Trans. Fuel 101

oFueling can be performed in a residential garage or

at commercial location:

o Level 1 - Standard household 120 VAC, 12 A, 7 to 16 hours for full charge.

o Level 2 - 240 VAC, 20 A, 3 to 7 hours for charge

oDC Fast Charge - requires 480 VAC to charger, DC current goes directly to battery, charges vehicle to 80% capacity in 30 minutes

oElectric motor in vehicle

oCommercially sold in a variety of ways (subscription,

per charge, per hour, per kWh)

9 9

EV Station Basics

10 10

Barriers for Alternative Fuels

o Issues of scale:

oCost – upfront vehicle and station cost

oNumber of fueling locations (range anxiety)

oNumber of available vehicle models

oMaintenance facilities

o Lack of environmental policy and/or incentives to

switch to cleaner vehicles

oUnderstanding/education of alternative fuels (i.e.

availability, safety, code officials)

11 11

Best Practices and Applications

o All of these alt fuels are a triple win:

o Economic advantages

o Environmental benefits

o Energy security benefits

o All of these alt fuels offer “dedicated” and “bi-fuel”

options; option to use traditional fuel and/or alt fuel

o Training and “buy-in” key to every deployment

o Knowing your vehicle needs and driving

characteristics

12 12

Propane “Typical” Applications

o Low fueling station cost and maintenance garage similarities leads to low upfront capital investment

Propane Fleet “Sweet Spot”

Range Limits (miles)

400 to 800 (varies by vocation)

Fleet Size Small to Large (>5)

Vehicle Class Light Duty; Medium Duty

Fuel Usage High (>1000 gal/yr.)

Time of Day Ops 24/7

Station Cost $30,000 (Small Fast Fill) - $175,000 (100’s of vehicles/day)

Fuel Cost per year1 (LD Fleet vehicle)

$2,533 (25,000 miles ; 26.4 mpg; $2.67 / gallon)

1. Fuel cost from Clean Cities Alt Fuel Price Report (Oct 2013, Midwest); Fuel Economy 85% of LD vehicle

13 13

CNG “Typical” Applications

o High Fuel use vehicles have very fast Return On Investment because of low per gallon cost

CNG Fleet “Sweet Spot”

Range Limits (miles)

200 to 600 (varies by vocation)

Fleet Size Medium to Large (>10)

Vehicle Class LD; MD; HD

Fuel Usage High (>2000 gal/yr.)

Time of Day Ops 24/7

Station Cost $40,000 (Small time-fill) - $2M (100’s of vehicles/day)

Fuel Cost per year1 (LD Fleet vehicle)

$1,508 (25,000 miles ; 31 mpg; $1.83 / GGE)

1. Fuel cost from Clean Cities Alt Fuel Price Report (Oct 2013, Midwest); Fuel Economy of 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

14 14

EV “Typical” Applications

o Zero tailpipe emissions and high motor efficiency lead to local environmental benefits

EV Fleet “Sweet Spot”

Range Limits (miles)

30 to 100 (varies by vocation)

Fleet Size Small to Medium

Vehicle Class Light Duty; MD/HD (limited)

Fuel Usage Low

Time of Day Ops 8 hours / day

Station Cost $1,000/vehicle (Level 1) - $75,000 (DC Fast Charge)

Fuel Cost per year1 (Light Duty Fleet vehicle)

$1050 (25,000 miles; .35kwh/mile; .12/kwh)

1. Fuel cost from EIA (Midwest, 2013); Fuel Economy from US DOE eGallon

15 15

Acknowledgement of Support

16 16

Questions?

Thank you for your time.