Evaluating Alternative Fuels in Snowplow/Maintenance Vehicles and Identifying Barriers to Adoption

Five existing snow plow trucks from DSM (N) will be outfitted with Optimus Technology Vector B100 conversion kits. Three new plow trucks will be outfitted with the same technology. The 8th truck will be assigned to the Ames Garage and will receive fuel from the City of Ames B100 tank from a similar project and tank. The trucks will burn pure biodiesel or B100 for the majority of the time they are running which decreases the amount of petroleum used. DSM (N) will use the trucks for the duration of the pilot project which is 2 years starting in November of 2019. B100 will be consumed and fuel transaction data will be collected. The list below indicates the type of data and information that will be available to evaluate: GPH fuel consumed – fuel transaction data will be available, truck performance – engine data will be available, driver experience – interview drivers with scripted questions; vector system malfunctions – document anything that failed; tank / dispenser malfunctions– document anything that failed; calculated reductions in pollutants – could be calculated; # gallons of fossil fuel displaced – could be calculated; acres of soybeans processed into B100 – could be calculated; carbon emissions reduced – could be calculated; accuracy of fuel transaction data – timely delivery etc. – data will be available for review; DPF regeneration cycles reduced – can be measured against sister trucks; and DPF regeneration system maintenance costs reduced - can be measured against sister trucks.

• Record URL:
  https://ideas.iowadot.gov/subdomain/ideas-main/end/node/3080?qmzn=iiDThb

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $67308
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Managing Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Project Managers:

  Clute, Khyle

• Performing Organizations:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
• Principal Investigators:

  Hallmark, Shauna

• Start Date: 20220901
• Expected Completion Date: 20231031
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Biodiesel fuels; Costs; Fuel consumption; Pilot studies; Snowplows
• Geographic Terms: Iowa
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01910232
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 27 2024 5:27PM