Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority biodiesel facility ready for fuel study

Toledo, OH— The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) commemorated the opening of its biodiesel fueling facility March 3, 2006.

TARTA is taking part in a study investigating the impact of using a mixture of biodiesel fuels and petroleum-based diesel fuel. The study is being conducted with a $1.5 million grant made possible by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

The study will be conducted by the Intermodal Transportation Institute at the University of Toledo with two different fuels: ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel; and a mixture of 80% ULSD fuel and 20% methyl ester biofuel—known as “B20”—derived from soybean oil and yellow grease (primarily, recycled cooking oil from restaurants).

Forty-eight TARTA buses and a number of City of Toledo Division of Streets, Bridges & Harbor diesel-powered vehicles will take part in the vehicle testing. The study will focus on differences in emissions, engine performance, engine wear, and operating costs. Air quality for passengers will also be measured—a first of its kind.

An additional TARTA vehicle involved in the study—a mini-bus affectionately called BH-1 (short for bio-hydrogen)—will show the benefits of injecting a small amount of hydrogen in the air intake of the vehicle using B20 fuel.