Use of Alternative Fuels and Hybrids by Small Urban and Rural Transit

To better understand the problems and benefits of using biodiesel, E85, propane, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles in smaller communities, a survey of 115 small urban and rural transit agencies was conducted. This study describes the use of alternative fuels and hybrids by these transit providers; identifies motivating factors and deterrents for adoption; describes the experience of transit agencies that have adopted these alternatives, including costs, maintenance, reliability, and overall satisfaction; and examines differences between those agencies that use these alternatives and those that do not, as well as differences between rural and small urban areas. Larger agencies and those operating in urban areas were found to be more likely to adopt alternatives than smaller, rural providers. Beliefs about the benefits of emissions reductions, improved public perception, and cost savings were the greatest motivating factors for adoption, and concerns about infrastructure costs and fuel supply were the most likely to negatively influence adoption. Introduction Transit agencies of all sizes across the U.S. have been or are considering using hybrid-electric vehicles or alternative fuels such as biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, or E85. The use of these alternatives has increased in recent years due to concerns about environmental and energy issues and increased incentives and regulations from local, state, and federal governments that have encourJournal of Public Transportation, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2012 44 aged their use. Benefits to transit agencies for using alternative fuels and hybrids have been documented in terms of reduced emissions of harmful pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and hydrocarbons (HC) (FTA 2006; FTA 2007; Nylund et al. 2004). A reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has also been found (FTA 2007; EPA 2007; Beer et al. 2002). On the other hand, a number of barriers have prevented widespread adoption, including higher capital costs of vehicles and supporting facilities, reliability concerns, and limited availability of alternative fuels (FTA 2006). Transit agencies have been leaders in using alternative fuel vehicles. Smaller transit agencies, including those operating in small urban and rural areas, however, may face greater difficulties in making the transition. Infrastructure or capital costs could be prohibitively expensive, or the agencies could lack the resources and expertise to successfully operate these vehicles. Furthermore, the supply of vehicles designed to meet their standards could be limited, as could an adequate and dependable supply of the fuel. Reliability and maintenance issues could also be a concern for smaller agencies that could face significant disruptions in service if any of their vehicles were out of service. Small urban and rural transit agencies need to be fully informed of the costs and benefits of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles before adoption, and they can learn from the experiences of those that have been using these alternatives. Decision makers also need to understand the needs and concerns of transit agencies. While previous research has identified advantages and disadvantages from using alternative fuels and hybrid buses, less is known about the factors that motivate agencies to adopt these alternatives or the degree to which different deterrents are preventing adoption, especially among small urban and rural transit agencies. A survey was conducted of small urban and rural transit agencies to learn more about these motivating factors and the experiences of transit systems. The survey focused on biodiesel, E85, propane, natural gas, and hybrid-electric vehicles. It asked users to identify their motivations for adoption, concerns before adoption, overall satisfaction, and problems experienced. Non-users were asked to identify deterrents to adoption and potential benefits from adoption. A logit model was estimated to determine the impacts of agency characteristics and beliefs about benefits and deterrents on the likelihood of adopting biodiesel or hybrid vehicles. An ordered logit model was also estimated to determine the characteristics of agencies more likely to have successful experiences with biodiesel. The findings