New study makes strong case for natural gas garbage trucks - alternative fuels

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Nov, 2003 by Bill Siuru

The incremental cost of vehicles and infrastructure development remains one of the greatest obstacles to a widespread shift to natural gas. In the U.S. fleets studied, the cost of a natural gas garbage truck was roughly 15 to 25 percent more than a comparable diesel truck. The cost to convert an existing truck from diesel to natural gas ranges from $30,000 to $100,000. The overall cost depends on numerous factors, such as refueling infrastructure options, truck maintenance costs, facility requirements, local safety codes, labor and training costs, fuel cost and available economic incentives including government grants and tax incentives. Indeed, such giants have been a major factor in nearly every natural gas vehicle project to date. As might be expected, the study recommends that for maximum environmental impact, regulations and incentives should target high-usage, high-mileage and older trucks.

Workers at nine of the garbage truck operations INFORM studied cited relief from the negative health effects of diesel exhaust as a real benefit. Drivers at the New York City Department of Sanitation consistently preferred natural gas trucks. This was the first agency to use natural gas trucks and now has 36 in service. A comprehensive study of noise reductions in the Netherlands verified reductions of 98 percent alongside, 90 percent inside and 50 percent behind the truck. Truck operators appreciated the reduction in noise, which was hazardous to their hearing and made communication difficult.

Other study recommendations included lowering the tank and fuel minimum weight requirement, which would give natural gas trucks a more competitive load capacity. Also natural gas engines should be developed that produce greater torque and power, more than 400 hp to better compete with the broad range of diesel engines now available to the refuse industry. Finally, natural gas refueling facilities and truck designs should be standardized within the garbage truck industry.

CURRENT U.S. NATURAL GAS GARBAGE TRUCK FLEET

          Location                       Operator

Alameda County (Oakland), CA         Waste Management
Anaheim, CA                        Taormina Industries
Bakersfield, CA                    City of Bakersfield
Berkeley, CA                         City of Berkeley
Corona, CA                           Inland Empire/WM
Fairfield, CA                   Solano Garbage (Republic)
Fontana, CA                          Waste Management
Fresno, CA                          Fresno Hauling/WM
Irvine, CA                           Waste Management
Los Angeles, CA                    City of Los Angeles
Moreno Valley, CA                    Inland Empire/WM
Napa, CA                               Napa Garbage
New York City                      Dept. of Sanitation
Palm Desert, CA                      Waste Management
Palmdale, CA                         Waste Management
San Diego, CA                        Waste Management
San Diego, CA                  Environmental Services Dept.
San Francisco, CA                         NORCAL
San Gabriel, CA                      Waste Management
Santa Monica, CA                   City of Santa Monica
Santa Rosa, CA                          Empire/WM
Simi Valley, CA                      GI Industries/WM
Sunnyvale, CA                      SSW&R of Santa Clara
Washington, D.C.                  National Park Service
Washington, PA                       Waste Management
Yucca Valley, CA                     Waste Management

          Location                    # of NG Trucks
                                       & Fuel Type

Alameda County (Oakland), CA           15 CNG/7 LNG
Anaheim, CA                           50 LNG/diesel
Bakersfield, CA                           5 LNG
Berkeley, CA                              4 CNG
Corona, CA                               27 LNG
Fairfield, CA                          33 LNG/1 CNG
Fontana, CA                           25 LNG/diesel
Fresno, CA                                9 LNG
Irvine, CA                               29 CNG
Los Angeles, CA                          10 LNG
Moreno Valley, CA                        27 CNG
Napa, CA                                  6 CNG
New York City                            36 CNG
Palm Desert, CA                       45 CNG/15 LNG
Palmdale, CA                              9 LNG
San Diego, CA                           122 LNG
San Diego, CA                         77 LNG/Diesel
San Francisco, CA                        15 LNG
San Gabriel, CA                          31 LNG
Santa Monica, CA                         20 CNG
Santa Rosa, CA                            4 CNG
Simi Valley, CA                    30 LNG/2 LNG/diesel
Sunnyvale, CA                            24 CNG
Washington, D.C.                          1 CNG
Washington, PA                            7 LNG
Yucca Valley, CA                          6 CNG

Total NG Trucks                      218 CNG/474 LNG