City of Cleveland Explores Use of B20 Biodiesel
The City of Cleveland's biodiesel pilot project will demonstrate the usage and benefits of B20 in municipal operations. The City's Division of Water has committed 16 diesel trucks from its distribution and maintenance operation to the pilot project.
The City of Cleveland is taking significant steps to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable service fleet. Last July the city began piloting the use of biodiesel fuel in its diesel truck operation. Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel typically derived from oil pressed from seeds of plants such as soybeans, rapeseed (canola), peanut and hemp. The plant oils are processed with heat, methanol/ethanol and lye/sodium hydroxide to produce biodiesel, which can then be used as fuel in any diesel engine.
The City of Cleveland’s biodiesel pilot project, financed by a Cleveland Foundation grant, will demonstrate the usage and benefits of B20 (20 percent biodiesel/80 percent petrol diesel) in municipal operations. The biodiesel pilot project is being implemented through the collaboration of the Cleveland Division of Water, Cleveland Division of Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Ohio E-Check, Earth Day Coalition’s Clean Transportation Program (Northeast Ohio Clean Cities) and the City of Cleveland’s Office of Sustainability.
The testing protocol for the biodiesel pilot project was researched and drafted by David Wilt, formerly of NASA Glenn, who volunteered with the Earth Day Coalition. Wilt’s testing protocol emphasizes tracking and evaluating emission reductions, maintenance issues, vehicle operation changes and storage of fuel. Results from the pilot project will guide Cleveland’s fuel procurement decisions and provide best practice recommendations to public and private fleets throughout Northeast Ohio.
The Division of Water has committed 16 diesel trucks from its distribution and maintenance operation to the pilot project. Three diesel trucks in four vehicle classes are using the B20 biodiesel with one vehicle in each vehicle class operating as a control. With support of the Ohio E-Check program, emission tests are being conducted once per month on each truck to track emissions characteristics from using biodiesel. In addition, the Division of Water is tracking each vehicle’s maintenance and performance to quantify the impact of biodiesel on fleet operations. Fuel procurement and quality is being monitored to determine fuel storage characteristics in the Northeast Ohio climate.
For more information, contact John McGovern at 216-281-6468, ext. 223, jmcgovern@earthdaycoalition.org or visit www.earthdaycoalition.org/cleantransport.