Module 5: Alternative Transportation

• Overview
• Program Planning
• Identifying Options
• Program Implementation
• Resources

Identifying Options

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Related initiatives for fleets

Companies with fleets may wish to explore other ways to reduce the environmental impact of those operations by exploring these options:

1. Hybrids and alternative-fuel vehicles for fleets.

For companies with automobile fleets, new hybrid electric automobiles offer double the gas mileage, a greater range, and half the tailpipe emissions of a conventional car. Federal funding also may be available to provide an incentive for your business to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Funding may be available to offset the incremental cost difference of AFVs from comparable gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. More information on funding and what types of vehicles may qualify.

2. Flexcar.

The latest initiative to reduce the congestion and resulting pollution from single-occupancy vehicles is Flexcar, the national car-sharing company with designated parking spaces on Georgia Tech and Emory University’s campuses. Simply sign-up with one of Flexcar’s membership programs, and receive access to a variety of fuel-efficient vehicles for as long as you need; then pay an hourly-use rate that covers gas, premium insurance, and 150 free miles. Each shared car put in service about 15 other cars off the road, plus Flexcar’s fleet of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles and fuel-efficient hybrids averages more than 30 miles per gallon.

3. Re-refined motor oil and recycled antifreeze

According to the U.S. EPA, the recycling of used oil has evolved from simply removing water, insolubles, and dirt, to the more complicated removal of heavy metals, nitrogen, chlorine, and oxygenated compounds. Today, re-refined lubricating oil is subject to the same stringent refining, compounding, and performance standards as virgin oil for use in automotive, heavy-duty diesel, and other internal-combustion engines, hydraulic fluids, and gear oils.

In addition, extensive laboratory testing and field studies have concluded that re-refined oil is equivalent to virgin oil, passes all prescribed tests, and can even outperform virgin oil. In fact, General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford, the three major U.S. automobile manufacturers, now recognize that re-refined oil meets the performance criteria in their warranties.

According to the U.S. EPA, recycled engine coolants, also known as antifreeze, might actually be purer than virgin coolant because the recycling process reduces the chlorides that come from hard water. Testing shows that, like new coolant, recycled coolant meets nationally recognized performance specifications established by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

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