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7 determine whether methanol blends Methanol for School Buses affect the wear of the engine or cause other problems not seen in gasoline- The California Energy Commission's Safe School Bus Clean Fuel only engines. Efficiency Demonstration Program is testing the use of fuels other than Is methanol here to stay? Will auto- gasoline to demonstrate direct energy savings through the use of high mobile and truck manufacturers need to efficiency engines and to promote alternative fuel vehicles--without causing retool their engines? Will methanol adverse air quality impacts. In Phase I, 153 buses will be purchased, 103 of solve either energy resource or automo- them powered by high efficiency diesel engines, and 50 powered by methanol tive emissions problems faced by engines. societies and economies based on the The Energy Commission has chosen 12 school districts on the basis of use of automotive products? These need, air quality in the district's area, and the quality of school district questions and others like them are maintenance facilities. As part of the program, each district will be required being examined right now by New to keep detailed records on each of the buses to evaluate fuel efficiency, York State as well as by California and environmental impact, safety,performance, and maintenance. EA Mueller is the Maryland MTA (see stories at providing technical support to the Commission and is designing and develop- right) among other fleet owners. As is ing a data collection program to evaluate fuel efficiency, driveability, main- illustrated by the three examples of tainability, and health and safety effects of methanol and natural gas vehicles field evaluation projects described on as compared to advanced diesel vehicles. EA Mueller will also evaluate the this page, EA Mueller is developing data and prepare a statistical analysis of program results. The role of the EA practical experience in design as well as Mueller engineers is to: a body of research concerning perform- ance, emissions, and the energy supply • Provide design, site engineering, and construction field services for effects of using alternative fuels for methanol and natural gas fueling facilities on an as-required basis, and on transportation systems. World politics, going monitoring of fuel quality international economics, and environ- mental quality are among the areas Develop operation,maintenance, and safety training for school bus drivers which will be affected by a change in and maintenance personnel fueling systems--not to mention the neighborhood filling station and our • Prepare public relations materials about the program "wheels." • Provide maintenance support and field services to school district personnel Contact: Rich Bechtold 301-646-4500 ° Supervise emissions testing. Mike Fischer 415-283-7077 The buses began to be delivered in the fall of 1990. Funding for this pro- gram comes from the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account. Liquefied Natural Gas--Another Alternative Next summer, Maryland's Mass Transit Administration (MTA) will be undertaking an on-road evaluation of small fleet of buses powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). EA Mueller will provide the engineering design work for the refueling facility,modification of maintenance facilities, and development of bus purchase specifications. The EA Mueller project team will also write training manuals describing operation, maintenance, safety, and fueling. The buses will be monitored on a daily basis once they are in operation,keeping track of fuel efficiency, emissions, repair work, servicing, refueling problems, and durability and reliability of the engines. EA Mueller will prepare a report to the MTA on the suitability of LNG-fueled buses for intra-city operations. LNG was chosen for evaluation by MTA because it has cleaner emissions characteristics than the diesel fuel now in use, and it offers advantages in onboard fuel storage compared to compressed natural gas.