US public transit agencies increasingly adopt clean diesel technology

HOUSTON -- Speaking at the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Expo Bus and Maintenance Technical Session, Ezra Finkin, the director of policy for the Diesel Technology Forum, explained that US transit agencies were adopting clean diesel technology at a faster percentage than the heavy-duty trucking fleet. 

Nationally, 44% of the diesel transit buses meet or exceed the first EPA clean diesel standard – Model Year 2007 or newer – while 33% of the US truck fleet meet or exceed the standard.

“The rate of adoption by transit agencies of clean diesel technology surprised us and is very significant, since transit agencies are at the forefront for evaluating the best fuels and technologies to serve their communities,” Finkin said. “It also comes at a time when there are a growing number of technology choices, incentives and pressures on transit fleets to procure technology to meet local clean air, energy and climate objectives.

“The new clean diesel bus technology of today is the result of an interconnected system of clean fuels, advanced engine design and exhaust or after-treatment technologies working together to reduce emissions to near-zero emissions.

“Fuel savings as well as hybrid and biofuel capabilities will also allow diesel to be a part of a sustainable transportation future. The result is that we expect clean diesel to be the technology of choice for the U.S. public transportation fleet for decades and decades to come,” Finkin said.

Diesel buses accounted for more than 75% of the US public fleet.

Finkin noted that APTA’s 2013 data showed the share of fuels and engines in the public transit bus fleet in 2013 consisted of:

• 77.71% Diesel Buses
• 19.90% CNG
• 0.96% LNG
• 0.20% Hydrogen
• 0.11% Electric
• 0.10% Gasoline and electric
• 0.08% Propane.

Of the diesel buses currently in the US fleet, Finkin said APTA’s data showed that 81% were conventional diesels, 12% were diesel-electric, and 7% operated on biodiesel.

The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org.