Cost-effectiveness analysis of TxDOT LPG fleet conversion. Volume 1. Interim research report

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6397100

Euritt, M A; Taylor, D B; Mahmassani, H

Increased emphasis on energy efficiency and air quality has resulted in a number of state and federal initiatives examining the use of alternative fuels for motor vehicles. Texas' program for alternate fuels includes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Based on an analysis of 30-year life-cycle costs, development of a propane vehicle program for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) would cost about $24.3 million (in 1991 dollars). These costs include savings from lower-priced LPG and differentials between propane and gasoline/diesel in infrastructure costs for a fueling station, vehicle costs, and operating costs. The 30-year life-cycle costs translate into an average annual vehicle cost increase of $308, or about 2.5 cents more per vehicle mile of travel. Sensitivity analyses are performed on the discount rate, price of propane, maintenance savings, vehicle utilization, diesel vehicles, extended vehicle life, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles, and operating and infrastructure costs. The best results are obtained when not converting diesel vehicles, converting only large fleets, and extending the period the vehicle is kept in service. Combining these factors yields results that are most cost-effective for TxDOT. This is volume one of two volumes.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin, TX (United States). Center for Transportation Research
• OSTI ID: 6397100
• Report Number(s): PB-93-186492/XAB; CTR--3-4-90/2-983-4/1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
AIR QUALITY
ALKANES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
CONVERSION
COST
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
COST ESTIMATION
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOLLARS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
LIFE CYCLE
LIFE-CYCLE COST
LIQUID FUELS
MAINTENANCE
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PRICES
PROPANE
REACTIVITY UNITS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SENSITIVITY
STATISTICAL DATA
TEXAS
TRAVEL
UNITS
US DOT
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VEHICLES
YIELDS