The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technology Office recently released a report showing that the average fuel economy of fuel cell electric buses from three fleets is approximately 6 miles per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE), 1.4 times higher than conventional diesel buses (approximately 4.2 miles per DGE) from one fleet and up to 1.9 times higher than compressed natural gas (CNG) buses (approximately 3.3 miles per DGE) in another fleet.

According to the DOE, this finding demonstrates ...

Chevrolet and GMC have announced that they are partnering with Power Solutions International Inc. (PSI) to introduce heavy-duty pickups and full-size vans powered by 6.0-liter, V8 compressed natural gas (CNG)- and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-capable engines starting in the first quarter of 2017.

Chevrolet will also offer CNG and LPG versions of its new Low Cab Forward commercial truck.

This announcement follows the selection of PSI as General Motors Fleet’s preferred upfitter for CNG and LPG trucks, as Wood Dale, ...

Question of the Month: How are conventional light-duty vehicle fuel economy ratings determined and reported?

Answer: It’s important to understand the who, what, when, where, and why (and how!) of fuel economy testing and labeling. In particular, you may be interested in the recent changes described below (see “When” section).

“Who” is tested?
Most light-duty vehicles must be tested for fuel economy. Exceptions include motorcycles, pickup trucks and cargo vans with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above 8,500 lbs., ...

from: http://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewNotice.cfm?GNID=648

On October 25, 2016, a Partial Consent Decree was finalized between the United States Justice Department, the Volkswagen (VW) Corporation, and its subsidiaries regarding the installation and use of emissions testing defeat devices in approximately 500,000 2.0 liter vehicles sold and operated in the United States beginning in 2009. Use of these defeat devices has increased air emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOX), resulting in adverse impacts to air quality and violating the federal Clean Air Act. NOX emissions ...

On November 3, 2016 the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration announced their designated Alternative Fuel Corridors under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST). These corridors must be:

1) Signage-ready: Corridors that have sufficient alternative fuel facilities to warrant highway signage developed by the FHWA.

2) Signage-pending: Corridors that do meet the conditions for signage at this time. The FHWA will work with corridor sponsors to identify the steps to change the corridor’s status to signage-ready.

Virginia is ...

Today’s Actions include the Designation of 48 National Electric Vehicle Charging Corridors on our Highways

The Obama Administration is committed to taking responsible steps to combat climate change, increase access to clean energy technologies, and reduce our dependence on oil. Already, in the past eight years the number of plug-in electric vehicle models has increased from one to more than 20, battery costs have decreased 70 percent, and we have increased the number of electric vehicle charging stations from less than ...

Sheetz is celebrating the impact of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Biofuel Infrastructure Project Grant with the opening of its 10th E85 and E15 Biofuel station in Virginia.
The Biofuel station opened on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership, which aims to increase the availability of domestic biofuel in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Sheetz located at 11774 Sudley Manor Drive in Manassas, Va. became ...

Six transit fleets including Alliance partner Van Go Transportation of Richmond VA received the 2016 award for Top User of Propane Autogas from the Propane Education & Research Council at the BusCon Expo in Indianapolis this month. The award celebrates fleets creating healthier environments for riders and cities with clean, cost-effective, and domestically-produced propane autogas. Receiving the award for Van Go was Travis Snellings, General Manager.

Van Go Transportation have been partnering with Alliance AutoGas and users of propane autogas since ...

Heavy-duty vehicle idling, or running a vehicle’s engine while it is not in motion, occurs for a number of reasons, including temperature control during required rest stops, powering electronic equipment, and to avoid cold starting the vehicle. According to Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne), more than 6 billion gallons of diesel and gasoline fuel are wasted by vehicle engine idling—with half from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles alone. Argonne estimated that a heavy-duty long-haul truck generally idles around 6 hours per day, ...

~ Announcement coincides with installation of solar panels at six Albemarle County Public Schools ~

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Governor Terry McAuliffe today unveiled his update to the 2014 Energy Plan at a ribbon cutting for a new solar installation at Monticello High School in Albemarle County. The update, titled “Energy in the New Virginia Economy,” highlights the significant progress the McAuliffe administration has made on his strategic energy priorities to build a new Virginia economy. The event showcased the installation of solar ...