For six months 22 Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) buses will be using two different types of fuels: B20, a blend of 80 percent ultra-low-sulfur diesel and 20 percent soybean-derived biodiesel, and a gas-to-liquids (GTL) diesel fuel derived from natural gas, which is first reformed into a synthetic fuel called syngas before being converted into a cleaner-burning diesel. Over the course of the test the buses are expected to travel 400,000 miles and consume 100,000 gallons of alternative fuel.
The GTL fuel will be sourced from Sasol Chevron, a joint venture between Chevron and Sasol Ltd., a South African company that produces and markets chemicals and liquid fuels. Chevron will guarantee the quality of the fuel, while Cummins Engine, which makes engines for the transit district's buses and is also participating in the test, will warrant the AC Transit bus engines.
The pilot program is unique because it provides the opportunity for an end-user, a fuel provider and an engine manufacturer to collectively learn more about the characteristics, distribution, efficiency and emissions of biodiesel and GTL diesel. Over the course of the test, the companies will monitor engine performance, tailpipe emissions, fuel economy, vehicle handling characteristics (including acceleration and noise), the impact the fuels may have on lubricants and engine components, and driver feedback.
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