As as result of the COP21 Paris climate conference, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced an initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s fleet of light duty and heavy duty diesel vehicles.
The initiative relies heavily on new technology diesel engines and bio-based diesel fuels.
New York City plans to transition its medium and heavy-duty fuel mix to include one-third renewable diesel, one-third B20, and one-third CNG.
This combination of cleaner fuels will achieve 34% of the planned greenhouse gas emissions reduction.”
The New York City Clean Fleet Initiative will reduce current levels of greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s fleet by 80% by 2050.
“New York City’s announcement sends a strong statement about the confidence and performance of this technology and the role in using renewable advanced biofuels,” says Diesel Technology Forum executive director Allen Schaeffer.
“Much of the attention on the plan has focused on efforts to convert the city’s light-duty fleet to all-electric vehicles. However, only 9% of the initiative’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction is attributable to the electric vehicle plan,” he says.
“It’s the other major features of the announcement that pertain to heavy duty vehicles and new diesel fuels that will contribute a far larger benefit,” says Schaeffer.
By 2017, New York City says 90% of its medium and heavy duty diesel fleet will be the year 2007 vehicles or newer.
The City will adopt more heavy-duty vehicles that meet the new fuel economy requirements for commercial vehicles established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“These newer vehicles are anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about the same percentage as the switch to electric vehicles in the City’s light-duty fleet,” says Schaeffer.
“The biggest cut in greenhouse gas emissions will be the City’s effort to switch to first and second generation bio-based diesel fuels and CNG,” says Schaeffer.
“The City’s Department of Sanitation maintains one of the largest public fleets of heavy-duty vehicles and has been testing higher blends of biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel,” he says.
New York City already requires the use of B5 (5% blend) and incorporates B20 (20% blend) during summer months. According to the initiative, the City could achieve an immediate 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions using a year-round B20 blend,” says Schaeffer.
