March Program Focuses On Sustainable Energy
By Nina Russin

Rising fuel prices are once again reminding consumers that oil is a limited and increasingly expensive resource. PAPA’s March program focused on alternative fuels which might reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Guest speakers included Bill Shaeffer, executive director for the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition, and Craig Pike, senior project engineer for the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf, a fully-electric production car, is currently rolling out in selected markets. The state of Arizona will be installing 2000 charging stations in anticipation of the need for expanded infrastructure.

Shaeffer covered various alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, including electric and hybrid electric powertrains, biodiesel, ethanol, propane and liquid natural gas. According to his statistics 48 current production cars are E-85 compatible.

Shaeffer added that there are 25 production gasoline/electric vehicles on the market, including models from BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet, Honda and Toyota. Automakers have recognized B20 biodiesel as a viable fuel, although they continue to address issues of shelf life, especially in warm climates. Shaeffer cited five production trucks which can run on biodiesel.

Nissan isn’t the only manufacturer producing all-electric cars. The 2012 Ford Focus will be available in an all-electric model. Tessla Motors is producing a sports car and sedan: both equipped with electric powertrains.

The fact that over 100 production cars feature alternative fuel powertrains is proof that this new technology is no longer the stuff of science fiction. These production cars are part of the automotive mainstream.

According to Shaeffer, Maricopa County leads the nation two-to-one in the use of alternative fuels, thanks to the foresight of heavy-duty truck fleet managers and urban planners. Valley Metro is the nation’s largest consumer of liquid natural gasoline. The light rail system in the east valley and downtown Phoenix provides an alternative transportation choice for some commuters. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport is the largest consumer of compressed natural gasoline in the United States

There are, however, roadblocks which continue to limit the widespread use of certain types of renewable energy. The biggest is the lack of recharging infrastructures. Shaeffer and his colleagues are working on the local and national levels to enact legislation and raise funding,in order to construct charging stations which might in the future replace the traditional gas station.

Craig Pike discussed his work on the Nissan Leaf, which he currently uses to commute between his south Chandler home and the office. Pike, who is an ASU grad in mechanical engineering, came to the Leaf project after working on Nissan’s full-sized Titan pickup and Armada sport-utility vehicle.

Pike went through the same “range anxiety” as early adopters who are driving the fully-electric sedan. But once he realized that the Leaf was easily capable of making the 72-mile round trip to and from work, he began to enjoy the car.

“When (consumers) told me that the Leaf feels just like a gasoline car, I was kind of upset,” said Pike. “The Leaf is a lot quieter than a gasoline car. It doesn’t have a traditional transmission, so there’s no shift shock. Because electric motors develop full torque at start up, they accelerate extremely hard, and feel faster than they actually are.”

Recharging time for the Leaf is about 17 hours on 110-volt current and 8 hours on 220 volt. The first of Arizona’s 2000 public recharging stations, equipped with 220-volt outlets, will open in Tucson in the near future.