Clean Energy Coalition Conducting Alt-Fuel Studies with Michigan Fleets

The Michigan Fuel Forward program is intended to accelerate the use and availability of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) and infrastructure across Michigan.

by Staff

August 6, 2013

2 min to read

The non-profit organization Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) is working with a number of fleets in Michigan to conduct studies that will help the organization present a business case, for each fleet, for operating alternative-fuel vehicles. CEC is calling this project Michigan Fuel Forward and intends to make this information available to fleets across the U.S. CEC received $500,000 from U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative for this project.

Participating private-sector fleets include DTE, Edw. C. Levy, McNaughton-McKay, and Metro Delivery. Four more private fleets have yet to confirm their participation as of press time. Participating public-sector fleets include Auburn Hills; Dearborn; Farmington Hills; Flint; Grand Rapids; Holland; Pittsfield Twp; Saline; Warren; Western Michigan University; and Ypsilanti. A total of 20 public- and private-sector fleets have committed to participating in the program, according to CEC.

Each fleet will provide data about their fleet vehicles and fuel use in order to help CEC create a baseline for annual fuel use, associated costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. From there, CEC will study a range of different alt-fuel use scenarios and compare it to that baseline data to present the aforementioned business cases for alt-fuel use. The CEC’s reports will also provide guidance for creating and implementing practices and policies that reduce fuel consumption and support the use of alternative fuels.

The CEC said it’s using assumptions in Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET Model fleet footprint calculator to conduct baseline and scenario analysis for the different fleets.

According to Laura Palombi, CEC’s project manager heading up the fleet studies, fleets with a number of vehicles between 50 and 1,000 typically see the most value in the analysis CEC is conducting. In addition to the fleets CEC is currently working with, CEC plans to complete analysis for other fleets through fee-for-service work at the non-profit.

Client report examples are located on the Fuel Forward page on CEC’s website.

Topics:U.S. Department of Energy Clean Energy Coalition Green Fleet

More Green Fleet

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.