New York Funds Alternative Fuel Vehicles for Private Fleets

Air in the city does not meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards for ozone and particulate matter, more commonly known as smog and soot.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NYSERDA, and the New York City Department of Transportation, NYC DOT, said in a joint statement that integrating alternative fuel and emission controls into fleets in New York City will reduce petroleum dependence and mitigate tailpipe emissions.

"While private fleets are a vital part of the New York City economy, innovative strategies are needed to maintain the flow of goods and services in a manner that reduces the release of harmful emissions and emboldens an alternative fuel market," said NYSERDA Chairman Vincent DeIorio.

"This program will greatly benefit the people of New York City and New York State because of the economic and environmental investments made by private fleet operators and will result in cleaner New York City air," DeIorio said.

The New York City Private Fleet Alternative Fuel/Electric Vehicle Program is a state and local partnership between the two agencies.

Hybrid gas-electric taxi (Photo courtesy NYSERDA)

The program uses federal Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds distributed through NYSERDA to address air quality improvement strategies in the transportation sector. These funds can cover up to half of the incremental cost of new light-duty natural gas or electric vehicles.

The program also to reduce emission of greenhouse gases and dependence on imported petroleum. Transportation accounts for 67 percent of the oil consumed in the United States, with this number projected to reach 72 percent by 2020.

"As we take steps to promote emission reductions among private carriers, NYC DOT is also aggressively reducing pollutants within our own Staten Island Ferry fleet," said NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

"Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC agenda and our agency’s strategic plan set a clear plan to install emission reduction technology in the short term, while eventually operating all Staten Island passenger ferries with ultra-low sulfur diesel."

To date, $7 million has been awarded through previous rounds of the program in which 30 vehicles that run on compressed natural gas, CNG, 50 hybrid-electric delivery trucks, and five hybrid-electric shuttle buses have been brought into service in New York City.

Six projects are also underway to place an additional 11 electric, five hybrid-electric, and 25 CNG vehicles into service.

Funds for this program are awarded based on a competitive process which takes into account the relative environmental, energy, and economic benefits of the projects proposed.

Log on to NYSERDA’s website at: www.nyserda.org, for application information and instructions. The deadline for applications in the next round of funding is August 19, 2008.

NYSERDA also works with New York state businesses to develop new transportation products, including improved vehicles and components that use natural gas, electric and hybrid-electric technologies, biodiesel and ethanol fuels.

Funding of $1.64 million from NYSERDA has helped Manhattan Beer Distributors, Inc. re-power 30 delivery vehicles to operate on compressed natural gas and has helped fund the installation of a CNG refueling facility.

Over the lifetime of these vehicles, they are expected to displace 1.08 million gallons of diesel fuel and avoid emitting 400,000 pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.