"Alternative fuels" are fuels such as natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, propane, hydrogen, and other emerging fuels. Advanced technology vehicles" are vehicles that use hybrid technology, solar power or electricity to power their operation, or other emerging technologies such as fuel cells or plug-in hybrids.
To help address the need to reduce air pollution caused by motor vehicles, DES partners with the Office of Energy and Planning and the Department of Transportation. This partnership includes the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition (GSCCC) hosted by DES., a collaborative of over 70 public and private interests from all regions in New Hampshire. Coalition members support the goals of reducing dependence on foreign oil and improving air quality through the use of domestically produced, cleaner burning alternative fuels and other fuel reduction strategies.
Through these partnerships and coalitions, as of 2008, DES has acquired a total of 28 alternative fuel/advanced technology vehicles, including ten natural gas vehicles, 12 hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles, one electric vehicle, and five flex-fuel vehicles. Also, the GSCCC reports that over 550 vehicles in private, municipal and public transit fleets are using alternative fuels, mostly a blend of 20 percent biodiesel referred to as B20.
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning, domestic, renewable fuel processed from vegetable oils such as soybean or canola oil, or from animal fats. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Biodiesel use in New Hampshire has grown in recent years as evidenced by the fact that there are numerous biodiesel fuel distributors and fueling stations throughout the state. The first state biodiesel fueling station was opened at UNH in Durham in 2006, providing biodiesel for the NH Department of Transportation, UNH, Oyster River School District and other local municipal and service organizations. Other biodiesel users in NH funded through DES and the Clean Cities Coalition include Mt. Cranmore Ski Area and the City of Keene. In 2007, an estimated one million gallons of biodiesel was used in New Hampshire for on and off road vehicles and home heating fuel.
The natural gas vehicles (Honda Civics) are the cleanest internal combustion engines available today, meeting California super-ultra-low-emission vehicle (SULEV) standards. Compared to the average gasoline vehicle on the road today, natural gas vehicles emit:
- 89% less volatile organic compounds
- 87% less oxides of nitrogen
- 70% less carbon monoxide
- 20% less carbon dioxide
- 90% less toxic air contaminants.
In addition to DES, the University of New Hampshire has been a leader in using and promoting natural gas vehicles. UNH now has six compressed natural gas (CNG) shuttle buses and four bi-fuel CNG/gas-powered pickup trucks. Look for more information in the Resources/Links section.
The Toyota Prius hybrid-electric vehicles in the DES fleet operate on a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Depending on driving conditions and as determined by the vehicle's computer, the car will run on the best combination of the engine and the motor, or on either of the systems independently. During normal driving, the vehicle runs mainly on the gasoline engine. However the electric motor, using electric power generated by the gasoline engine, makes up for any deficiency of gasoline power. When the vehicle is stopped, the gasoline engine automatically turns off. The Prius operates like an ordinary gasoline vehicle, including the refueling process, and has a range of approximately 600 miles on one tank of gas. This vehicle never needs to be plugged into a power supply. To learn more about hybrid vehicles, look for Hybrid Cars in the "Resources/Links" section.
Examples of Alternative Fuel or Advanced Technology Vehicles in the DES fleet
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| The 2001 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle was one of the first in the DES fleet. It is powered by both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. (52 mpg city driving; 45 mpg highway) |
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| 2000 Compressed Natural Gas Honda Civic at refueling station in Concord. |
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| 2001 Honda Insight hybrid vehicle. (61 miles per gallon, city driving; 68 mpg, highway). |