Charlotte Water, a public water and wastewater utility company serving over 1 million customers in the city of Charlotte and greater Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA, has shared interim results of a six-month-long pilot project that sees dozens of its vehicles running on renewable diesel.
Some 34 vehicles in the Charlotte Water fleet began running on renewable diesel produced by Renewable Energy Group (REG) in May.
In the first three months, they reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 75 tonnes, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of an average passenger vehicle that has driven over 183,000 miles (295,000km).
Over the course of a year, that would calculate to 300 tons, or the equivalent of over 732,000 miles (1,180,000km) driven.
“As a public utility, we believe we have an obligation to protect the environment,” said Kathy Gibson, fleet manager, Charlotte Water. “Fuelling diesel vehicles with 100% renewable diesel instead of petroleum diesel is a way to promote sustainability in the communities we serve, and the results have been very encouraging.”
The renewable diesel-fuelled vehicles have also performed well, and no equipment modifications were needed for them to run on the renewable fuel.
Compared with ultra-low sulphur diesel, renewable diesel reduces particulate matter by nearly 40%, carbon monoxide by 25%, nitrogen oxides by 15% and total hydrocarbons by over 10%.
“We’re thrilled with the environmental and performance results Charlotte Water has seen so far and are confident Charlotte Water and their customers will continue to benefit from renewable diesel,” said Gary Haer, VP, sales and marketing at REG.
“With transportation being the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., we are proud of the role we are playing in reducing air pollution in the Charlotte area, nationwide and around the world.”
