There are many ways to reduce a company’s carbon footprint, but it isn’t necessarily restricted to business activities. Allowing and encouraging employees to carpool to and from work is easy and beneficial in that it promotes an environmentally friendly attitude while bringing employees closer together. iCommute is an excellent example of the San Diego regions efforts in this area, and while there are alternatives such as ZimRide, iCommute is locally ‘grown’ and offers a ‘Guaranteed Ride Home’. Please read below, visit the website: www.icommutesd.com , email: carpool@sandag.org , or call (619) 688-6489 for more information.

iCommute San Diego : SANDAG

Share your daily commute and save! Carpooling is a fast and easy way to reduce your commuting costs by 50 percent or more. Share driving costs and avoid traffic as you cruise along in the carpool lanes or I-15 Express Lanes, which carpoolers can use for free. Park and Ride lots also are free and are a great place to meet your carpool or vanpool. You’ll save time and money, save wear and tear on your car, and help to save the planet. Your employer may even have a designated carpool parking spot waiting for you.

RideMatcher

With RideMatcher, your ride share partner is just a click away.RideMatcher is your green light to enjoy all the benefits of carpooling. RideMatcher is a database of thousands of commuters looking for carpool partners just like you – friends, neighbors, and co-workers who live and work where you do. To get your free, personalized list of potential rideshare partners, sign up for RideMatcher today.

TripTracker

Log your trips. Track your savings. Get more green. If you carpool, you can track the savings to your wallet and the environment with TripTracker. TripTracker allows you to log your trips, then instantly see both your financial and your environmental savings.

By going green you can actually get green. By using TripTracker on a routine basis, you’ll be eligible to be entered in monthly prize drawings. Plus, the more you log your trips with TripTracker, the more your savings will add up. Not only will you see what you save, but you’ll help to prove that the San Diego region is growing greener over time. That can literally mean more funding for transportation programs like new HOV lanes.

Guaranteed Ride Home

No worries. You won’t get stranded. By carpooling three or more times each week, you also can take advantage of the Guaranteed Ride Home program, ensuring that you’ll always be able to get home when you need to.

Park and Ride Lots

Just park and go. Conveniently located throughout the region, Park and Ride lots are free and a great place to meet your carpool or vanpool.

• List of Regional Park and Ride Lots – San Diego County
• List of Regional Park and Ride Lots – Southwest Riverside County

For more information about Park and Ride lots throughout the region, please contact Mike Roy, Caltrans District 11 Park & Ride Coordinator, at (619) 688-6489.

For more information, dial 511 and say ‘iCommute’ or e-mail carpool@sandag.org.

Fuel Reduction Resources is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

Source: Vancouver Sun

SHENZHEN, China — In a bid to get a fully electric car on the road with appeal beyond the “green market,” China’s BYD, Build Your Dreams, has taken one big step ahead of most of its competitors.

In May, the small automotive company, which U.S. financial wizard Warren Buffett put on the map when he bought a 10 per cent stake, watched the first 30 of its e6 purely electric models roll onto the streets of Shenzhen and begin cruising the city as taxis. By the end of June, BYD expects to have 100 e6 taxis on the road and, although the company won’t confirm it yet, some sources say 560 by the end of the year. The ultimate goal is 1,500, about 10 per cent of all Shenzhen cabs.

The red and white taxis have “zero emission” printed on them and emblazoned across the back in Chinese characters is the boast: “This is not a conventional car, this is a declaration of environmental protection.”

It’s interesting to note the reactions because the taxi driver appears totally indifferent to the experiment he’s involved in.

“A car is a car,” he said. “For a taxi driver it’s to make money. If passengers like it better, then we do, too.”

Paul Lin, spokesman for BYD bridles slightly when asked about the e6 experiment.

“It’s not a test program, frankly speaking. It’s a real business. It’s a beginning,” he said.

Lin explains that in China, where there are more than a million taxis on the streets and they are all owned or controlled by some level of government, it makes a lot of sense to begin e-car sales by penetrating the taxis market. So, BYD invested in Pengcheng

Electric Taxi Company with Shenzhen Bus Group, a company that is ultimately controlled by the city government.

“It should give confidence and guide the public,” Lin said. “If the government uses purely electric vehicles, it will be a very big sign for the public. ‘Oh, the electric vehicle, it works!’ It spells it out for the public.”

What Lin doesn’t say, but clearly implies, is that it is also a way to get governments to begin investing in e-car charging stations before, likely well before, they wholeheartedly commit to policies promoting purely electric cars.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: VANCOUVER SUN

Electric Taxi Fleet is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

National AFV Day Odyssey

The Journey Continues

National AFV Day Odyssey

• A biennial event dedicated to promoting cleaner choices in transportation!

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) undertook this project because of the critical need to support the alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) industry. More public awareness is necessary to help ease our dependence on foreign oil, and we must support those manufacturers that are making AFVs a viable option for individuals everywhere. With everyone joining together on one day, working toward the same goals, we cannot help but compound the effect of our individual efforts. Such unity will further increase the impact of each individual site’s program and will catalyze the momentum for the advanced transportation movement nationwide. Together, we will bring national attention to AFVs and advanced technology vehicles and promote them as a cleaner and more efficient choice for transportation.

• Has something for everyone!

Odyssey events are held in numerous locations nationwide and are tailored to the specific needs of the audience. Site coordinators are encouraged to be creative and host events that are fun, interactive, and educational. Past event formats have included ride-and-drives, vehicle displays, and workshops. Additionally, industry experts are often on hand to answer questions that attendees may have while educational seminars provide detailed information about viable alternative fuel options. In 2008, a rock concert, custom paint demonstrations, stock car racing, and an E-85 station fueling event were some of the unique Odyssey events hosted by local site coordinators.

• Guarantees Results!

Odyssey feedback proved that the 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 events were tremendous successes. Sponsors, partners, National Training Centers (NTCs), Clean Cities Coordinators, and attendees alike have seen how valuable the program can be for promoting energy independence and supporting the environment. They have also seen the proven results of Odyssey and the millions of individuals reached by its message. We hope that you will become part of the solution and join us on Friday, October 15, 2010. Together, we can make a difference!

Odyssey; October 15th 2010 is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

The 2010 San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition Survey is currently underway, we are gathering data regarding many organization’s alternative fuel/advanced technology fleets in order to complete our 2010 annual report for the Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities Program. The DOE uses this data to report to Congress, as required by the Energy Policy Act, on the success and benefits of the program and to calculate the millions of gallons of gasoline and diesel displaced in the nation due to the conversion of fleets from gasoline and diesel fuels to alternative fuel/advanced technologies.  The survey will ascertain the number and types of alternative vehicles currently in use, their various fuels and the frequency of use, the fueling station availability for both public and private entities, the idle-reduction and fuel economy improvements for fleets, vehicle miles traveled reduction and incentive programs, and other general information such as operational, stakeholder, and outreach activities of the Clean Fuel Coalition.

The survey will span various city governments of San Diego County, School Districts, Transit Systems, Private Enterprises, and many other fleet types. If you are a fleet manager in San Diego County please take some time to complete the linked survey; your most accurate information is truly appreciated.

Click here to take survey

As part of this years San Diego Clean Cities Survey there will be an updated list of the contributors, collaborators, and companies that have completed the survey and would like to be noted for their efforts in reducing petroleum fuel use. Thank you to all whom have put forward your efforts in transportation sustainability:

Private:

Allied Waste Services, Cloud Nine, EDCO, Kick Gas Co-op , TerraMoto Transportation , Port of San Diego, San Diego Zoo,

Public:

City & County:

Carlsbad , Chula vista , Coronado , Del Mar ,  El Cajon , Encinitas , Escondido , Imperial Beach , La Mesa , Lemon Grove , National City , Oceanside , Poway , San Diego , San Marcos , Santee , Solana Beach , Vista

State & Federal:

Airport Authority, Air Pollution Control District, Camp Pendleton,  California Highway Patrol, CalTrans, Olivehein Water District, Valley Center Water District, US Navy, US Postal Service,

Educational:

Transit Systems:

Chula Vista Transit, MTS, North County Lifeline Transit, North County Transit, SD Transit Authority

Non-Fleet Contributors:

NewLeaf BioFuels

2010 San Diego Clean Cities Progress Report is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

From Green Right Now Reports

Updated 04-17-10. Enterprise Holdings today announced that it will convert its entire fleet of more than 600 Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental airport shuttle buses  in 50 North American markets to begin using at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5). The company said it will immediately convert buses in nine markets to 20 percent biodiesel (B20) as a first step toward the company’s goal of converting its entire bus fleet to B20 over the next five years.

Enterprise Holdings expects to complete the conversion to all B5 by spring of this year, with at least 50 percent converted to B20 by the end of next year. Buses in nine markets are immediately being converted to run on B20 where the fuel is centrally stored and available: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio and San Diego.

“This investment in biodiesel follows our commitment to our customers and our business to use our fleet to help grow the clean fuel market. By embracing alternative fuels and engine technologies, they have a greater opportunity to become commercially viable,” said Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. “Biodiesel’s benefits to the environment support our commitment to environmental stewardship, as well as our sustainable approach to managing our business for long-term success.”

In addition to embracing biodiesel and other alternative fuels as they become commercially viable, Enterprise Holdings has spent millions in support of renewable fuels research. In 2007, the company’s owners, the Taylor family, made a $25 million grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels. Led by renowned plant researcher Dr. Richard Sayre, top scientists work at the Institute to develop alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.

Enterprise Holdings will move its fleet of buses to biodiesel is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

AFV2010.com:

In its sixteenth year, AF&V 2010 is the industry event representing all fuels, vehicles and technologies that provide an alternative to petroleum. This fuel and technology neutral Conference brings industry experts, transportation leaders and policy makers together to help fleet managers and other decision makers sort through which fuels and vehicles make the most sense for them.

AF&V 2010 showcases natural gas, ethanol, biodiesel, propane, electricity, and hydrogen, and their companion vehicles. The Conference embraces advanced technologies that result in fuel efficiency, petroleum displacement and emissions improvements. Included are hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid technologies; blends, including hydrogen; fuel cells; and, idle-reduction devices. All of these are featured as part of the diverse program, Expo Hall and Ride-n-Drive.

Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo 2010
May 9-12, 2010
The Rio All-Suite Hotel; Las Vegas, Nevada

Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Conference is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

The following content is republished with full approval of Cuong Huynh and CleanCarTalk.com.

I had a chance to visit with Jim Ruby, Manager of Fleet Services, and Greg Nishihira, Business Manager of Fleet Services at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD.) We talked about fleet operations at UCSD that support numerous university functions and the many programs that Jim and Greg are spearheading to achieve sustainable transportation for the school.

UCSD is reducing its reliance on conventional, gas-powered vehicles, and capitalizing on new technology by:

• Replacing older vehicles with hybrid and electric models
• Running its shuttle fleet on 20% biodiesel or compressed natural gas
• Installing diesel particulate traps on shuttle buses to significantly reduce particulates
• Collaborating with students on biofuel research

By changing purchasing and maintenance procedures, UCSD’s Fleet Services has become a California certified Vehicle Service & Repair Model Shop. This is the Model P2 Shop Program (P2 for Pollution Prevention,) California’s implementation program to eliminate or reduce waste generation at automotive repair shops.

Among Fleet Services’ improved maintenance and repair procedures are:

• Recap tires on shuttle fleet, which require 30% less energy and 66% less oil to produce and cost 30% to 60% less than new tires
• Synthetic transmission fluid lengthening shuttle fleet service intervals and decreasing hazardous waste

Below is part 1 of our conversation, with Fleet Services photos showing electric, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles in action in and around the UCSD campus.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxnkzFmbc6s

UC San Diego’s Fleet Services – Pushing for Sustainable Solutions in Vehicle Operations is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

Here are some resources on alternative fuel fleets that both the consumers and fleet operators will find useful.

• Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center. This Web site educates consumers and fleets on alternative fuels and advanced vehicles.
• Fuel Economy.gov. This Web site compares gas mileage, emissions, air pollution ratings, and safety data for new and used vehicles.
• SmartWay^SM Transport is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight sector designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and improve energy security. Learn more about what SmartWay can do for you.

EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership

The EPA SmartWay Transport is a voluntary partnership with the ground freight industry aimed at reducing freight and fleet sector energy consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions. Their site includes the FLEET Performance Model. FLEET is Freight Logistics Environmental and Energy Tracking Performance Model. It allows a company to quantify the environmental performance of their fleet operations. Users input the number of trucks in the fleet, gallons of fuel consumed, and mileage accumulated into the model and it expresses the company’s environmental performance for CO2, Nox and PM emissions. In addition, the model evaluates the effectiveness of innovative fuel saving and emission reduction strategies that companies have integrated into their fleet operations.

Fleet Buyers Guide

The One-Stop Shop For Fleets guide is designed to educate fleet managers and policy makers about alternative fuels and vehicles and help them determine whether the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) affects them. Use the site to figure if your fleet is covered under EPAct, obtain pricing and technical specifications for light- and heavy-duty AFVs, find an alternative fueling station in your area, or research information about state AFV purchasing incentives and laws.

Consumer guide

In the market for a new car? The Green Vehicle Guide will help you choose the cleanest and most fuel efficient vehicle that meets your need. The Guide rates cars and trucks according to their emissions and fuel economy performance and provides you with information on how to make environmentally-informed choices when purchasing a vehicle.

Resources for Alternative Fuel Fleet Buyers is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition