More Tuscon Buses to Run on Biodiesel
Over the next five years, Tuscon, Arizona will be buying more biodiesel buses for the city’s public transportation system.
This story from the Arizona Daily Star says Sun Tran, Tuscon’s bus system, is increasing the number of biodiesel buses… even as the green fuel already goes into a majority of the buses:
The transit system has a contract to expand its fleet of buses running on biodiesel, which already makes up about 56 percent of the buses on our streets. The other 44 percent of the buses run on CNG, said Michele Joseph, spokeswoman for Sun Tran.
Sun Tran plans to buy an additional 119 biodiesel buses over its five-year contract with bus manufacturer Gillig Corp. The buses are also capable of running on regular diesel, but Sun Tran does not use regular diesel in any of its buses.
Sun Tran uses B20 and B5 biodiesel blends in its 114 biodiesel buses.
The article points out that the new biodiesel buses are replacing an even cleaner-burning fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG). But the problem with CNG is that the city would need a new CNG fueling station… a costly proposition at this point. In addition, CNG-fueled buses have to refuel more often.
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Clean_Burning
Between biodiesel and Natural Gas (which are the only two alternative fuels with the power and mechanics in place to supply heavy-duty trucks,) Natural Gas has quickly become the leading choice in areas (like Los Angeles) that mandate alternative fuel use only because it’s the cleanest-burning option currently available.
Furthermore, Natural Gas can be purchased with long-term supply contracts, which insulates larger fleets from market fuel price volatility thereby ensuring more consistent operating costs. Natural Gas is also taxed at a lower rate than diesel in many states.
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