Engine Technology
The use of alternative fuels can provide significant
reductions in NOx and PM emissions, especially in heavy-duty diesel engines for
on-road, off-road, and marine applications. Natural gas engines have shown
significant promise, with the greatest benefit coming from heavy-duty diesel
truck and bus replacement with new natural gas vehicles in urban areas. Hybrid
electric technologies and the use of microturbines instead of ICEs have also
shown promise for replacing higher polluting diesel engines. All of these
options are worth pursuing for cleaner engine technologies and immediate
emission reductions.
In order for alternative fuel heavy-duty engines to achieve
commercial acceptance and market penetration, their performance, durability, and
cost-effectiveness, in addition to emissions reduction, must be demonstrated to
the end user. Future projects will support the development, demonstration, and
certification of alternative fuel engines to broaden their application and
availability.
Emission Control Technologies
Although engine technology research
is required to reduce the emissions at the combustion
source, post-combustion cleanup methods are also needed to
address the current installed base of on-road and off-road
technologies. Existing diesel emissions can be greatly
reduced with after-treatment controls such as Particulate
Matter Traps (P-Traps) and catalysts, as well as lowering
the sulfur content or using additives with diesel fuel.
Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) fuels, formed from natural gas or other
gas rather than petroleum feedstock, and emulsified diesel
provide low-emission fuels for use in diesel engines. And
as emissions from engines become lower and lower, the
lubricant contributions to VOC and PM emissions become
increasingly important.
Infrastructure and Fuel Production
The District has a series of
regulations (see fleet
rules) and incentive programs (see
implementation)
intended to expedite the transition of
gasoline-and-diesel-powered vehicles to those that operate
on cleaner burning alternatives such as natural gas.
A key component to making this
transition possible is the development of an infrastructure
to produce and distribute clean fuels, including compressed
natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
To date, the AQMD has provided over $25
million in funding of cost-shared projects for installing
CNG and LNG fueling stations and production facilities
within the AQMD’s 4-county jurisdiction. The projects are
funded primarily through the Clean Fuels Fund, or through
funds distributed by the Mobile Source Air Pollution
Reduction Committee (MSRC).
These funding programs are intended to
“buy down” a portion of the initial capital cost of a new
fueling station. Through these programs, commercial fuel
vendors, as well as operators of public and private vehicle
fleets, install natural gas fueling stations that are
conveniently located throughout the region, and accessible
to the general public.
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