
Fleets interested in reducing carbon emissions have more alternative fuel options than ever before. So how do they pick the right one for them?
First, they should recognize that the solution may not be a single fuel. With an integrated energy management approach, fleets can evaluate all viable fuels and pick the ones that best fit their needs. Business objectives, budget, fleet usage and vehicle types, sustainability goals and more factor into the decision-making process.
Understanding the difference between various renewable fuels is key. With that in mind, here is an overview of several of the most talked-about alternatives to diesel fuel.
Electric
Emissions: Fully electric vehicles do not generate tailpipe emissions. With any fuel, however, it’s important to also consider the full lifecycle: what goes into its production, delivery and end use. For this article, we will use the carbon intensity (CI) scores from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Its “well to wheels” approach considers direct effects like fuel production and usage and indirect effects like land use. The lower the score, the better. CARB’s standard value for electricity from the California grid used as transportation fuel is 82.9. For comparison, petroleum diesel is 100.5, and the CI score of other fuels are found in their sections below.
Compressed Natural Gas
Biodiesel
Renewable Diesel
Blend of Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel
Picking the Right Fuel
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