HomeMy WebLinkAboutMethanol Fuel Source PD Fleet 4a
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INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
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TO: City Council and City Manager
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FROM: Richard J. Folkers, Assistant City Manager/Public Works ;Director
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SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF METHANOL AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOURCE 'FOR ;THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT FLEET a ir ;
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DATE: March 9, 1989 0 I k 1 14 O
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BACKGROUND: H 4< fx1 11 w rr) rra 4-1
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The Public Works staff has investigated and researched the possibility of
methanol as an alternative fuel for the city's fleet. As you are probably aware,
the City of Palm Desert is now utilizing propane as an alternative fuel , and it
appears from the first six months of operation that it is successful and it is
approximately equal to the cost of per-miles for unleaded fueled vehicles while
lowering pollution emissions during operation.
As part of our research into pollution-free fuel , the City of Palm Desert is
investigated the use of methanol as an alternative fuel for several trucks in
the city fleet. The push for methanol-fueled vehicles in California is for two
main reasons. First, methanol is abundant in the United States because it can be
derived from coal , which is an abundant resource. This will reduce our
dependency on imported petroleum. The other major advantage of methanol is that
it is significantly better for our environment in terms of the emissions
discharged from motor vehicles. The only pollutions methanol emits greater than
gasoline-fueled vehicles is formaldehyde. To what extent formaldehyde from
methanol may have on the environment is unclear at this time.
The California Energy Commission and the Transportation Technology and Fuels
Office have indicated that General Motors and Ford will manufacture a flexible-
fueled vehicle (FFV) which can operate on methanol , ethanol , gasoline or any
mixture of the three. This is state-of-the-art technology in the State of
California's alternative fuel program. This program is in the testing stage and
General Motors or Ford manufactured flexible-fuel vehicles will not be available
until the model year 1993. There have been vehicles converted by the State of
California in the past, but 1993 will be the first model year in which a
manufacturer will produce flexible-fueled vehicles from the production line.
They have also indicated that the manufacturers of flexible-fuel vehicles
are far more reliable than converted fueled vehicles. This is proven through the
experience that Palm Springs has had with methanol-fueled vehicles. Palm Springs
had methanol-fueled vehicles in operation for a number of years. Palm Springs
indicated they had significant problems with these vehicles in maintenance,
service, and safety. Palm Springs had gasoline-fueled vehicles converted to
methanol-fueled vehicles. The energy commission stated though that the
manufactured flexible-fueled vehicles will be far more reliable, safe and
durable. The methanol vehicles that are in operation now throughout California
still have not been tested long enough to report on the engine durability, as
only a few of them have been driven for more than 100,000 miles.
City Council and City Manager
Page 2
March 9, 1989
The other major problem with methanol-fueled vehicles is the availability of
fuel . The flexible-fuel vehicle program is now setting up stations in major
metropolitan areas where card access can purchase methanol fuel . There are now
ten stations available in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Diego,
and there are plans to have fifty stations set up in the next couple of years.
The problem with this is that at this time there are no flexible-fuel stations
planned for the Coachella Valley, and the nearest fuel station appears to be in
the Ontario/Upland area.
The City of Palm Desert also may wish to look into the flexible-fuel
vehicles when they begin to make small trucks available, since the first
manufactured flexible-fuel vehicles will be light-duty (automobile vehicles) such
as Ford Escorts. The Energy Commission has indicated that there will be light-
duty trucks available in the future after production of automobiles.
Other than the availability of fuel and possible lack of maintenance and
service in this area, the cost of running methanol-fueled vehicles per mile is
approximately the same as petroleum-fueled or propane-fueled vehicles. There are
no significant differences in the miles per gallon.
RECOMMENDATION:
Since there have been problems with the converted methanol-fueled vehicles
and the State of California has realized and attempted to rectify these problems
through contracting with the major automobile manufacturers to develop a
flexible-fuel program, Public Works staff recommends that we hold off until 1993
at which time we can then review information the State of California has made
available. The other problems that could be corrected by 1993 is the number of
fueling stations for the flexible-fuel vehicles. Although the flexible-fuel
vehicles can use gasoline along with methanol , or a combination of both fuels, we
feel that at this time, propane fuel with its availability, engine durability and
emission reduction meets the needs of the city more appropriately.
AA
RICH RD J. FOLKS P.E. REVIEWED AND CONCUR
CITY MANAGER
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