Title: There are twice as many garbage trucks in the US as ther
1Greening Garbage Trucks New Technologies for
Cleaner and Healthier CitiesTeleconference US
Conference of Mayors, March 23, 2005
Joanna D. Underwood President, INFORM
2Background
INFORM is an independent research organization
founded in 1974
- It identifies environmentally sustainable ways of
doing business - It offers thoroughly investigated, innovative,
and effective options for change - It collaborates to promote environmental progress
- Noteworthy INFORM Transportation publications
include - Drive for Clean Air (1990)
- Paving the Way to Natural Gas Vehicles (1992)
- Harnessing Hydrogen (1995)
- Bus Futures (2000)
- Greening Garbage Trucks (2002)
- The Transportation Boom in Asia (2005)
-
3Features of the Garbage Truck Market
Garbage trucks are among the oldest, least fuel
efficient, and most polluting U.S. fleet
- Approximately 179,000 vehicles 136,000
collection trucks, 12,000 transfer trucks, and
31,000 recycling trucks - There are twice as many garbage trucks in the US
as there are urban transit vehicles. - 40 of garbage trucks are more than 10 years old.
- A garbage truck logs an average of 25,000 miles a
year, the fleet travels 3.4 billion miles a year. - Garbage trucks get the lowest mileage of any
vehicle type 2.8 miles per gallon
4Why fleets are switching the natural gas garbage
trucks
Drivers Behind Switch to Natural Gas Trucks
- Surest compliance with clean air regulations
- Addresses urban concerns about asthma and cancer
risk - Improves quality of life (trucks are50-98
quieter) - Economic feasibility
- Federal funds help cover incremental vehicle
costs and fueling infrastructure
5Findings Pioneering Natural Gas Fleets
INFORM survey of fleets operating alternative
fuel garbage trucks in 2002, updated in 2004
- Natural gas is most common commercial alternative
fuel used - Natural gas engines developed for buses making
its way into the refuse hauler market - Short daily routes and central refueling are
conducive to use of natural gas - Still, less than 1 percent of the garbage trucks
in the US operate on natural gas
6Findings 2002 Natural Gas Garbage Truck Fleets
26 Fleets, 692 Natural Gas Trucks
7Findings Expansion of 2002 Fleets by 2004
966 Natural Gas Trucks, Up 40 10 Larger Fleets,
6 Smaller
8Summary of 2004 Update
Strong Growth in Existing and New Natural Gas
Fleets Since 2002
- 40 growth in 2002 fleets, 274 net new trucks
- 26 new fleets since 2002, 382 new trucks
- 1,308 natural gas trucks now in 3 states
- 89 percent growth in 2 years
- LNG emerging as fuel of choice (79 in 2004, up
from 68 in 2002) - California, Texas, and Massachusetts lead
- INFORMs 2002 projection seems conservativenatura
l gas is very strong
9Findings Natural Gas Garbage Truck Use Slowly
Increasing
INFORM Projected in 2002 Natural Gas Refuse Truck
Fleet to Triple by 2010
10Observations
- Natural Gas Fleets A Winning Urban Strategy
- Natural gas trucks are commercial options today.
- Garbage trucks - centrally refueled and traveling
short distances - make fueling infrastructure
viable. - Significant funding can offset the costs of
implementation. - Success relies on partnerships with fuel
suppliers, refueling infrastructure builders,
vehicle providers, and funding sources. - Natural gas, a domestically plentiful fuel, helps
reduce fleet reliance on imported oil. - Natural gas use paves the way for a future
transition to hydrogen.
11A Viable Path to Hydrogen
12Please visit INFORMs website for more
information www.informinc.org
Joanna D. Underwoodphone (212) 361-2400 ex.
222underwood_at_informinc.org