Methanol Buses return to Los Angeles

METHANOL BUSES RETURN TO LOS ANGELES

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will once again operate methanol fueled transit buses, according to the American Methanol Institute (AMI).

The LACMTA has decided to end a demonstration using ethanol fuel in 330 transit buses, and will convert the buses back to methanol operation. The buses were originally purchased from the Detroit Diesel Corporation to operate on methanol, and ran on the natural gas-based fuel for several years. By simply changing a computer chip on the buses the LACMTA had switched the buses to ethanol operation in 1995, and is now switching them back again to methanol fuel use.

"This is a win-win situation for the methanol industry and the people of Los Angeles," said AMI President & CEO John Lynn. "By switching these buses back to methanol operation, the transit authority will be able to reduce its fuel costs, and city residents will benefit as emissions are cut. Our thanks go out to the dedicated staff of the Transit Authority who have made this progress toward cleaner air possible."

The LACMTA had switched the buses to ethanol operation to compare maintenance and reliability with the methanol fuel. Through its ethanol demonstration, the transit authority found that its maintenance concerns were not unique to methanol fuel. The methanol industry has been assisting the transit authority to identify and correct any deficiencies from operating the buses with alcohol fuels.

Returning to methanol operation will provide significant environmental benefits. According to California Air Resources Board emissions certification testing, a bus operating on methanol produces 1.7 grams per hour of nitrogen oxide emissions (smog precursor), as compared to 3.2 grams per hour on ethanol, and 4 grams per hour operating on diesel fuel. On methanol, the buses produce 0.03 grams per hour of particulate emissions (soot), versus 0.06 grams per hour for ethanol, and 0. 17 to 0.25 grams per hour using diesel fuel.

Methanol fueled transit buses are also operating in New York City and Miami. In addition to these transit buses, many school districts operate methanol fueled school buses in California. The state also has the country's largest fleet of light-duty methanol vehicles. Over 14,000 methanol flexible-fuel vehicles or "FFVs" operate in the state running on any combination of methanol (a blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline or "M-85") or gasoline in the same tank. An extensive network of over 100 public retail and privately operated methanol fueling stations is spread across the state.

Methanol is a clean transportation fuel made from domestic natural gas. Onequarter of the world's supply of methanol is produced at 18 U.S. plants in eight states, with a total capacity of over 2.5 billion gallons per year.

The American Methanol Institute (AMI) serves as the voice of the methanol industry in Washington and across the country. AMI works to support the use of clean reformulated and oxygenated gasolines, promote the use of methanol as an alternative fuel, and encourage the development of emerging methanol- powered fuel cells.

SOURCE American Methanol Institute