CNG

Is the U.S. neglecting to take advantage of an opportunity that could further diversify the fuel options available to U.S. drivers? Compressed Natural Gas, an alternative to petroleum, sells at about a $1 less than gasoline, but has barely been made available to the U.S. consumer market. The U.S. has the 6th largest natural gas reserves in the world, but only consumers from two states, New York and California, can purchase natural gas vehicles. Moreover, although there are 800,000 natural-gas-powered vehicles of which there are several makes, only one type of vehicle is available in the U.S. - the Honda Civic GX. Honda sold 459 Civic GXs last year in New York and California. Jeffrey Seisler of Clean Fuels Consulting says people are suffering at the pump because too few alternative fuels have been made readily available to consumers. [Source: Boston Globe]

Hybrid - Electric

Honda Motor Co. has announced that it will unveil an exclusively hybrid sedan for purchase next year. The vehicle will be made available in Japan, North America and Europe as the company hopes to hybridize 10 percent of its fleet by 2010. Honda also plans to add a hybrid version of the Fit to the market. Moving even further in the direction of electric powered vehicles, Bob Shrier, founder of Liberty Electric Cars Ltd. and a graduate of Middlebury College, has announced that his United Kingdom based company will invest £30 million in the production of high performance electric vehicles. It is unsure whether any of these pure electric vehicles will hit the US market, but in other HEV news, Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest automaker, has set the goal of selling 1 million hybrid vehicles annually by 2010. [Sources: Reuters & Auto Industry]

Water, Vinegar, and Gasoline

With relatively few alternatives to the gasoline powered vehicle on the market, smaller companies and individual motorists are creating their own alternatives. Chad Bradshaw of Richmond, Vermont is one of these innovative motorists. Experiencing the high costs of fuel first hand as the owner of a construction business, Chad began searching for a feasible alternative that could save him some money and do some good for the environment. His search ended when he found MagDrive, a company based out of Georgia specializing in a conversion kit that supplements the gasoline powered car with hydrogen. The MagDrive kit uses distilled water and vinegar to create a hydrogen-oxygen gas liquid that is then injected into the intake system and mixed with the gasoline. The conversion allows vehicles driven on average 30 miles a day to get between 20 and 60 percent better fuel economy. The unit, which can cost between $700 and $1,600, is said to provide a savings of 35 percent in fuel costs. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

Popular Park and Ride

With increasing gas prices, soaring bus ridership, and carpooling on the rise, Vermont's Park and Ride facilities are overflowing. Interstate 89's exit 11 Richmond Park and Ride has 105 parking spaces, but as of the past few months the lot has seen several more vehicles than it has spaces to park. Vermont has 27 Park and Ride facilities of these 27 Richmond's is the state's second largest. Nevertheless, 105 spots is just not enough, people have been parking on the grass, placing their vehicles wherever they can find space. As a result, and with the expectation that people will continue to seek alternatives to the single occupancy vehicle (SOV), the state is building a 60 space gravel lot in Richmond to accommodate the influx of vehicles. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

In Other Vermont Transportation News...

Some Say Yes & Some Say No
With the release of Vermont's draft energy plan some are happy and others are a bit perplexed. [Source: Burlington Free Press]



Getting on Board
Rail is the more efficient transportation answer, but when will it make a full-on comeback in the Northeast? [Source: Hippo Press]



Reducing Your Transportation Footprint
Researchers and mechanics including Mechanic Keith Corkins and the UVM Transportation Research Center's Director, Lisa Aultman-Hall, offer a bit of insight on how to "green" your transportation habits. [Source: WCAX]



Medicaid
The Vermont Public Transportation Association will remain in its administrative position of transporting Medicaid patients. [Source: Reformer]



Roads and Bridges
Another $14 million has been made available for road and bridge repair. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

A Glimpse into Transportation at Large...

Travelling Less
For the first time since 1979 the miles driven on public roads in the U.S. declined in the month March. [Source: United Press International]



The Yellow Bus
The EPA continues to provide funding to help reduce the pollution emitted by school buses. Approximately $174,000 was just awarded to Erie County, New York. [Source: EPA]



Environmentally Friendly Warranties
What is the automotive sector guaranteeing? [Source: Warranty Week]



Ethanol
After investing in more than 30,000 ethanol fueled trucks and minivans the post office is consuming millions of gallons more in fuel. [Source: Bloomberg]



Trucks
Ford is revising its truck design and plans to debut a smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient pickup. [Source: Detroit News]

Gas Prices and Behavior Change

How do drivers change behavior in reaction to higher gas prices? Recent Vermont media stories describe anecdotal evidence of changes in consumer behavior such as increases in bicycle and scooter sales (See Clean Cities Archives). Academic research indicates that changes in behavior occur over one to five years and only if the higher prices are sustained. For example, a study from Europe estimates every 10 percent increase in gas prices will reduce fuel consumption by 2.5 percent in the first year, and 6 percent in total over multiple years (Goodwin, Dargay, Hanly: 2004). A recent study by the Congressional Budget Office suggests that 10 percent increases will only reduce gasoline purchases by .06 percent in the short term and 4 percent in the long term. Fuel consumption drops more rapidly than miles traveled for three reasons: Drivers first save fuel by driving more efficiently (slower, less sharp braking, etc. - Learn More!), by choosing routes that burn less gasoline and by driving the most fuel efficient vehicle in their household. The impacts on rural residents are greater than in urban areas (Pew Survey).


Evidence exists in Vermont that fuel consumption is declining, e.g. gasoline sales in March 2008 were 15 percent below the sales of March 2007 (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ezh9tncab.0.0.78995ccab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leg.state.vt.us%2Fjfo%2FTransportation.htm&id=preview) yet accurate data on the impacts of higher gas prices on consumer behavior is lacking. The Transportation Research Center is collecting data on Vermont transportation energy use for a report to be produced this summer. Send us your story!



Richard Watts
Research Director
UVM Transportation Research Center



Become a Vermont Clean Cities Guest Contributor! Send us your article with sources!

Weekly Petro-Stats

Gas at the Pump, Vermont


This Week (May 21-28) = $3.870/gallon
Last Week (May 14-20) = $3.759/gallon
Last Year (May 14-28) = $3.028/gallon


Crude Oil Futures


This Week (May 21-28) = $131.21/barrel
Last Week (May 14-20) = $126.15/barrel

Petro Reserves

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) won't be receiving any more oil in the coming months. A bill to suspend the diversion of 70,000 barrels of oil a day into the U.S. reserve passed on Tuesday May 13, 2008. Passing with enough votes to avoid a presidential veto the measure will suspend any additions to the SPR until the end of 2008 or until the price per barrel drops to $75. 46 Republicans broke from the Bush Administration and helped pass the bill unanimously with a vote of 92-6. There is still a disagreement, however, of whether or not this suspension will reduce the burden of high gas prices on the consumer. The reality is, 70,000 barrels makes up a very small percentage of the 85 million barrel demand per day worldwide. [Source: Wall Street Journal]

Travel Survey

The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) will be polling over 1,500 Vermont households over the next year. This 40 year old survey is designed to provide data on the public's use of the transportation system. As an attachment to the national survey, The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and the University of Vermont Transportation Research Center (TRC) have partnered with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect more detailed travel data for Vermont. The TRC, among other tasks, will be in charge of providing summary results of the data specific to Vermont as it becomes available. In total the DOT survey will collect travel behavior information from 150,000 households nationwide. Vermont is one of 19 "add-on" areas for this years NHTS. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

U.S. Confrontation & the Price of Oil

If disagreements between the U.S. and Venezuela persist will Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cut oil exports to the U.S.? Phil Flynn, an analyst with Alaron Trading Corp., says this is more than a possibility. If the OPEC member nation were to cut the U.S. off from direct exports the U.S. would likely still receive Venezuelan oil through middlemen. Nevertheless, oil prices would certainly soar. In the meantime crude oil prices are continuing to rise and break records. $126 a barrel was the new record set on Friday May 9th. As the price per gallon of gasoline in Vermont inches toward $4, the price per barrel of crude oil is tinkering around $125. People in some regions of the U.S. including parts of California are already experiencing gas prices above $4 a gallon. [Source: Washington Post]

Bicycles in the Spotlight

The production of cars often ends up in the American spotlight, but what about the production of bicycles? In 2007 the number of bicycles made worldwide was twice the number of cars. During the 1990's and early 2000's bike production slowed down, but with increased concern for the environment, human health, and the price of driving, bike production is soaring. 130 million bicycles were produced in 2007 compared to the 52 million cars produced. Although biking is still underused for transportation in the U.S. accounting for only 0.9 percent of all trips, U.S. cities are looking to kick this trend and hope to double their bicycle and pedestrian routes in the coming years. In European cities, like Copenhagen, 36 percent of their commuters bike to work. [Source: Earth Policy Institute]

Public Transit: A National Trend

It is no surprise that public transportation ridership continues to rise. In larger metropolitan areas in the northeast where mass transit systems have long been in place ridership has increased by 5 percent. In places like Boston and New York 5 percent is no small number, nevertheless, people in these cities are rather accustomed to public transit. It is the cities in the west and south where people have typically been less likely to get out of their cars that the rise in transit ridership is even more significant - 10 to 15 percent. Public transportation ridership in more rural areas also continues to rise significantly. Stagecoach Transportation that serves Vermont and New Hampshire has seen increases on its predominant commuter routes rise 20 to 50 percent. With these increases Americans will likely consume slightly less gasoline this year than last - the first yearly decline since 1991. [Sources: New York Times & Concord Monitor]

Way to Go!

Way to Go week in Vermont was the way to go. With beautiful weather gracing the Green Mountain State last week, by Wednesday those participating had already reduced green house gas emissions by 200,000 lbs. Although not quite at the goal of 500,000 lbs Vermonters were well on their way at mid week. With over 567 organizations and 2,738 people participating Way to Go participation has increased by leaps and bounds over the years. Way to Go saw an increase of nearly 1,000 people involved this year over last and more than 2,000 more registrants this year than in 2005. Thanks to each of the 2,738 participants it is estimated that 9,640 gallons of gas were saved equaling a savings of approximately $35,000 (based on the average current gas prices). To learn more visit Way to Go. [Sources: Times Argus & Boston Globe]

In Other Vermont Transportation News...

Hybrid NASCAR

Hybrids don't necessarily have to be just gas friendly commuter cars... [Source: UVM Communications]

A Glimpse into Transportation at Large...

Save the Oil Companies
The American Petroleum Institute is determined to brighten the image of oil companies. The institute has announced it will do so with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign over the next few years. [Source: Washington Post]



Grease Thieves
Not long ago businesses had to pay to get rid of waste grease, now they have to protect it from organized crooks. [Source: Biofuels Digest]



Ethanol Brew Kit
Why go to the gas station when you can brew your own ethanol? [Source:Reuters]



Toyota Stock
The world's second largest automaker, Toyota, is seeing profits drop. [Source: Bloomberg]



Tougher Emission Standards
Arizona will toughen tailpipe emission rules. [Source: Arizona Central]

Weekly Petro-Stats

Gas at the Pump, Vermont


This Week (May 7-13) = $3.671/gallon
Last Week (April 30 - May 6) = $3.609/gallon
Last Year (May 1-13) = $2.948/gallon



Crude Oil Futures


This Week (May 7-13) = $124.64/barrel
Last Week (April 30 - May 6) = $116.82/barrel

Oil Investigation

Oil prices continue to break records rising above $115 a barrel just over a week ago. At the same time Exxon Mobil and other giant oil companies are experiencing record profits. Consequently, Vermonters and U.S. citizens nationwide are weary of the rich man getting richer while everyone else suffers at the pump. The call by the Vermont Senate for an investigation by the attorney general into gasoline and diesel market manipulation is the result of this phenomenon and has caused a bit of a spark. With this spark came the dispatch of the American Petroleum Industry's chief economist, John Felmy, to Montpelier to testify against the Senate Resolution. The lead sponsor of the resolution, Robert Starr, D-Essex-Orleans, says states need to come together on this investigation because those in D.C. are too invested in the oil companies. Felmy said he was astonished by this resolution - the first of its kind in the U.S. [Sources: Burlington Free Press 1 & Burlington Free Press 2]

Not Such a Smooth Ride

The Douglas Administration's Operation Smooth Ride has been everything but in the legislative process. The proposal that would put forth $3 million in funds for emergency road repairs has spent some time in the House Transportation Committee. As a result, Neale Lunderville, Transportation Secretary put a hold on priority road repair projects. When first proposed the question was, where is this $3 million coming from? Now the issue is where does this money go? The administration had planned to put the money toward Class 1 town highways, whereas the House Transportation Committee would like to see some of the money go to the towns. Other issues have also surfaced concerning this money and certain bridge projects in the state. In the meantime Vermont roads are in dire need of maintenance. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

Move Over America

The International Energy Agency has reported that emerging markets will consume more crude oil this year than the United States. This is the first time this has ever happened, says the Paris based agency. With a combined population of 2.45 billion people in China and India and an 8 percent growth in their economies car ownership and their demand for oil is on the rise. Russia and the Middle East are also among these emerging markets that are estimated to grow 4.4 percent and consume 20.67 million barrels a day compared to the U.S.'s estimated consumption of 20.38 million barrels a day. Consequently, crude oil prices will likely remain high at an average of $120 a barrel, topping $150 by the end of the decade, regardless of the U.S. economic downturn. [Source: Bloomberg]