In these days of high gasoline prices and talk of global warming, it’s good to know MoDOT is doing its part to manage fuel use and help reduce waste.
Missouri law requires new state vehicles to meet or exceed the corporate average fuel efficiency standards of 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 20.7 miles per gallon for light duty trucks. MoDOT has exceeded these mandates, achieving 34.4 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 23.8 miles per gallon for light duty trucks.
In addition, the state requires MoDOT to burn alternative fuel in any alternative fuel vehicle we buy to the tune of 30 percent. MoDOT started meeting that goal a couple of years go and now is burning alternative fuels at a rate of 99 percent in alternative fuel vehicles. Furthermore, half of MoDOT’s light duty fleet, including passenger cars, is required to burn alternative fuel – a mandate MoDOT has voluntarily increased to 100 percent.
As part of a state mandate that went into effect July 1, 2004, MoDOT is also required to use B20 (a combination of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel) in 50 percent of its diesel vehicle fleet. On July 1 of this year, the percentage increased to 75 percent. MoDOT has 6,400 vehicles in its fleet – 4,550 of them are diesel..
“We have had some difficultly obtaining biodiesel. It’s not always readily available,” said Jeannie Wilson, fleet manager. “Another challenge we faced was the increase in fuel filter changes. The alternative fuel equipment and vehicles require additional filter changes at first because the biodiesel acts as a ‘cleanser’ so the filters clog for a while until the unit is thoroughly cleaned out.”
MoDOT uses an innovative financial program to achieve success with using biodiesel fuels. In 2003, the legislature established the Missouri Biodiesel Fuel Revolving Fund. The fund receives payments from marketing excess alternative fuel credits sold by MoDOT or other state agencies. MoDOT can then request money from this fund to offset the additional cost of using B20 by showing the cost difference between regular diesel fuel and B20.
“We don’t want to take money away from roads to pay for the fuels,” Wilson said.
MoDOT is hoping to expand the alternative fuels program even further. In addition to biodiesel, MoDOT is currently working with districts to install fuel tanks containing 85 percent ethanol at their main location to support the light-duty fleet that can use E-85.
“We are also waiting on the delivery of three hybrid electric aerial trucks that will be the first hybrids added to our heavy-duty fleet,” Wilson said. “The more alternative fuels we are able to use, the less dependent we are upon foreign oil, and of course, it also supports Missouri farmers.”
