Diesel is an essential partner for delivering a wide array of city services including ensuring vital routine and emergency services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Because of its efficiency, safety, reliability and performance, diesel is the technology of choice to get the job done, no matter the conditions or circumstances.  Continuous improvement of the core technology furthers progress toward nearer-to-zero emissions, integration into hybrid powertrains, and the readiness for low carbon advanced renewable biodiesel fuels ensures its role as a future partner in making cities more sustainable.

Considerations for Diesel in the Alternative Fuel Debate

• When considering sustainability in your fleet, is the comparison between evaluating diesel technology against an alternative?

  Many comparisons present the older generation of diesel technology to demonstrate emissions benefits when in fact new and newer diesels are near zero emissions and near equivalent with natural gas and other alternatives.

• Are the vehicles or transit buses used for secondary purposes? For example, are school buses used to transport students also part of community evacuation plans in a disaster?

  About 95% of school buses are powered by diesel technology and these assets may not fulfill these dual obligations if powered by a fuel with different operating, range and refueling characteristics.

• If you are utilizing gaseous fuels, and operate in a high-risk earthquake area, are there provisions for fueling vehicles if pipeline service is disrupted for considerable periods of time?

  Diesel fueling infrastructure is not easily prone to supply disruptions including earthquakes.

• If you are seeking lower carbon emissions to address climate change goals, has consideration been made for using low carbon renewable biodiesel fuels?

  When switching to advance biofuels including biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel no changes need to be made to fueling storage or dispensing systems, maintenance requirements, etc.

• Do public officials understand the number of the new generation diesel vehicles in your fleet and have you calculated the fuel and CO2 savings from these simple investments and fleet turnover?

  With a fixed investment, many more older and higher emitting trucks, buses and equipment may be replaced with a new technology diesel option than with alternatives to deliver greater over all emission reductions.

• What are all the upfront cost for switching to an alternative including vehicle acquisition and infrastructure enhancements that include permitting, insurance, construction, capitol costs? Do these added costs dilute funding for fleet turnover?

  Thanks to diesel's cost effectiveness, more older buses can be retired and replaced with new advanced technology diesel models than other alternatives available today. Replacing older buses with new diesel models helps guarantee essential city services but also reduces emissions.

• What is the secondary resale market for alternative fueled vehicles and equipment?

  Resale values of niche technology tend to be lower than for mainstream technologies like diesel with established marketplace demand and value.

Diesel Powers the Future, Today

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