Clean Air Fleets

Background and Goals

Clean Air Fleets (CAF) is a regional public-private initiative to educate on- and off-road diesel operators on how to voluntarily reduce diesel emissions while saving money.  The primary goal of this effort is to reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) through the use of retrofit and idling reduction technologies.  A secondary goal is to provide education and outreach assistance to fleet owners and operators about voluntary efforts they can undertake to achieve emissions reductions on their own.

While this program focuses on both public and private fleets, the main emphasis thus far has been with public fleets due to higher interest in the programs.  To date, Clean Air fleets includes three main program elements: (1) Clean Yellow Fleets for Blue Skies (CYFBS) addressing school buses, (2) Diesel Initiative for Retrofit Technology (DIRT) addressing off-road vehicles, and (3) Clean Local Fleets (CLF) addressing on-road HDDVs.

The program provides information on advances in diesel engine technology, emission control technology, idling reduction, alternative fuels, engine and fuel standards, and much more through the use of a dedicated web site, outreach materials, and educational workshops and trainings.

 

Program Elements

Clean Yellow Fleets for Blue Skies – a regional education and retrofit partnership with over 15 school districts which successfully implemented “best maintenance practices”, installed retrofit equipment, and utilized alternative fuels to significantly reduce emissions throughout the Denver-metro region.

 

• Phase 1 funding $1.35M – diesel retrofits and idling reduction equipment and “best practices” education (2003-2005)
• Phase 2 funding $1.06M – diesel retrofits and idling reduction equipment and implementation of idling reduction policies (2007-2009)
• Potential for increased idling reduction, retrofits, and “best practices” education efforts within scope of work of Healthy Air for Northeast Denver (HAND) Committee

 

Diesel Initiative for Retrofit Technology – a small scale program focused on off-road fleets working in 'sensitive' areas throughout the metro-region, to significantly reduce diesel emissions through the installation of diesel retrofit equipment. 

 

• Phase 1 funding $75K – Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) and Spiracle retrofits (completed 2007).  A final report detailing project challenges and accomplishments will be available on-line soon.

 

Colorado Retrofit Project – a regional retrofit, alternative fuel, and education program focusing on local public and private fleets (2007-2009).

     

• Phase 1 funding $1.6M – diesel retrofits and idling reduction equipment and implementation of idling reduction policies
• Potential for increased idling reduction efforts within scope of work of HAND Committee

 

Rocky Mountain Diesel Collaborative – interested stakeholders working to utilize and administer cleaner burning technologies, alternative fuels, and idle reduction practices in order to reduce harmful diesel emissions based on the work of the RAQC’s completed Diesel Stakeholders Work Group.

 

• Discuss federal and state funding opportunities
• Provide guidance and feedback to others interested in undertaking diesel retrofit and/or education efforts
• Potentially host a “best practices” and retrofit workshop/training

Auxiliary Power Unit Project - a small scale idle reduction project, utilizing advanced idle reduction technology - auxiliary power units to eliminate semi truck idling while vehicle is at rest.

• Secured 9 private owner operator partners
• Purchase and install 9 APU's to reduce ~3000 hours ofidling per vehicle per year
• Provide significant savings in fuel costs, engine maintenance, and harmful diesel emissions

Outreach and Education Efforts

Clean Air Fleets Web Site – a web site (www.cleanairfleets.org) dedicated to diesel-related issues including information on retrofits and repairs, recognition programs, diesel engine technology, emission control technology, alternative fuels, idling reduction strategies, emissions standards, Colorado’s Diesel I/M Program, off-road diesel vehicles, and schools bus fleets. 

Outreach Folder – an extensive folder dedicated to covering diesel-related issues including information on retrofits and repairs, recognition programs, diesel engine technology, emission control technology, alternative fuels, idling reduction strategies, emissions standards, Colorado’s Diesel I/M Program, off-road diesel vehicles, and schools bus fleets.

Clean Diesel Conference – a two-day conference held in 2002 focusing on diesel-related issues including information on retrofits and repairs, recognition programs, diesel engine technology, emission control technology, alternative fuels, idling reduction strategies, emissions standards, Colorado’s Diesel I/M Program, off-road diesel vehicles, and schools bus fleets.    

One-on-One Meetings and Presentations – RAQC staff hosted meetings, participated in presentations, and initiated one-on-one meetings with public and private fleet operators in an attempt to provide information on diesel “best practices” and available retrofit equipment and alternative fuels.