With the combination of an ageing public transportation system, ever-increasing fuel costs, and growing public environmental awareness, it is time to think about the future of the current bus fleet. Updating the fleet with alternative fuel technology is a popular and cost-effective initiative.
Background: The American transportation system is suffering from major problems. Thirty-six percent of The United States major highways face a serious congestion problem. With the number of vehicles on the road expected to grow steadily with the population, the secondary effects of that increased volume are mounting. The buildup of humans and activities in an urban environment can lead to unfavorable economic, environmental, and social impacts. Some …show more content…
Those consist of Hydrogen, electric, compressed natural gas, and diesel highbred vehicles. It is estimated that hydrogen from natural gas could prove to be the best alternative fuel as the energy system transitions away from petroleum. This is due partly to the fact that natural gas infrastructure that was built during the Abundant Petroleum Era can be repurposed to construct a major component in the hydrogen infrastructure. This is augmented to the fact that onsite hydrogen generation that uses natural gas infrastructure eliminates the difficulty of safely and efficiently transporting a low energy-to-volume ratio fuel. This ratio is important because if it surpasses that of gas it is not a viable replacement for gas or diesel. Unfortunately, from an environmental standpoint, natural gas reforming is not considered a sustainable long-term choice since carbon dioxide is produced in the process. However, from a emissions point of view, when the reformed hydrogen is used in fuel cell for vehicles, greenhouse gas emissions are still significantly less when compared to those produced by an average …show more content…
Natural gas on the other hand, saw prices fell from $4.47/million British thermal units (MMBtu) at the beginning of July to $3.78/MMBtu at the end of the month. EIA Predicts that prices will remain below $4/MMBtu throughout October, rising in the winter with the heating demand. The stability of the CNG not only reduces cost but it also allows for better budgeting practices. Projections of fuel coasts will not fluctuate as greatly as they do with diesel so the fuel budget will be closer to
Background: The American transportation system is suffering from major problems. Thirty-six percent of The United States major highways face a serious congestion problem. With the number of vehicles on the road expected to grow steadily with the population, the secondary effects of that increased volume are mounting. The buildup of humans and activities in an urban environment can lead to unfavorable economic, environmental, and social impacts. Some …show more content…
Those consist of Hydrogen, electric, compressed natural gas, and diesel highbred vehicles. It is estimated that hydrogen from natural gas could prove to be the best alternative fuel as the energy system transitions away from petroleum. This is due partly to the fact that natural gas infrastructure that was built during the Abundant Petroleum Era can be repurposed to construct a major component in the hydrogen infrastructure. This is augmented to the fact that onsite hydrogen generation that uses natural gas infrastructure eliminates the difficulty of safely and efficiently transporting a low energy-to-volume ratio fuel. This ratio is important because if it surpasses that of gas it is not a viable replacement for gas or diesel. Unfortunately, from an environmental standpoint, natural gas reforming is not considered a sustainable long-term choice since carbon dioxide is produced in the process. However, from a emissions point of view, when the reformed hydrogen is used in fuel cell for vehicles, greenhouse gas emissions are still significantly less when compared to those produced by an average …show more content…
Natural gas on the other hand, saw prices fell from $4.47/million British thermal units (MMBtu) at the beginning of July to $3.78/MMBtu at the end of the month. EIA Predicts that prices will remain below $4/MMBtu throughout October, rising in the winter with the heating demand. The stability of the CNG not only reduces cost but it also allows for better budgeting practices. Projections of fuel coasts will not fluctuate as greatly as they do with diesel so the fuel budget will be closer to