Parker, Ariz., Mayor Karen Bonds needed to reduce diesel emissions in the area, yet provide cost-effective fuel alternatives for fleet drivers, who are important to Parkers commerce and tourism. The city is among a growing number that are choosing the green fuel as a solution to securing cleaner air quality and lower costs.
The U.S. Department of Energy has promoted a number of Clean Cities Coalitions around the country with the goals of reducing dependence on foreign oil through the deployment of alternative fuel products and reducing vehicle emissions. One of the green fuels that Parker and also Las Vegas, Nevada, is using is called Xentx Fuel Treatment, which was developed by EMTA, an energy, fuel and conservation chemical company based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Both cities saw the benefits and advantages of using this green fuel. In Parker, the Western States Petroleum Co., Arizona's leader in biodiesel delivery, partnered with the Lower Colorado River Valley Clean Cities Program to bring biodiesel and premium low emission high mileage premium diesel to the city.
"It is important that we find ways to reduce our diesel emissions in this area. There are many reasons for this: we draw a lot of visitors in the summertime and we want to ensure the quality of life for our citizens and generations to come," said Mayor Bonds.
Green Streets
For its part, the city of Las Vegas operates approximately 1,500 vehicles of which nearly 87% are alternative fuel vehicles, such as hydrogen and hydrogen blends, clean burning gas and hybrids.
The city, in collaboration with its diesel fuel supplier, Haycock Petroleum Co., chose to pretreat all diesel vehicles with Xentx Diesel Fuel Treatment prior to delivering vehicles to the city's central fueling facilities. This move is yet another initiative that Las Vegas is taking to decrease fuel costs and improve local air quality in compliance with federal clean air regulations.
"This fuel reduces hazardous emissions such as nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel and bio-equipment, says Dan Hyde, Fleet Manager for the city. "Because of our using this treatment, NOx emissions are reduced by 18% in all of our biodiesel powered vehicles. In addition, we increased our fuel efficiencies. We checked this through independent certified testing using the industry standard J-1321 Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure. Then we found out that the fuel economy more than offsets the additional cost of using the product."
Fuel treatment measures have many benefits, but perhaps the best are the financial benefits for everyday consumers. "Many Americans are already driving vehicles that can run on an alternative fuel, but, for those of us using diesel vehicles, the fuel treatments currently on the market, like Xentx, can help improve fuel efficiency," says Ed Lonergan, President of EMTA Holdings Inc.
Keep On Truckin'
Truckers agree. For example, veteran trucker Dave Hart has been running loads ranging from lumber, flatwork, to his current cattle liner haul for over thirty years. He knows his rig inside and out. His current truck is a 2003 model 475 horsepower caterpillar. Dave has been using Xentx Fuel Treatment and has already seen the advantages of increased fuel mileage. He reports that, since treating his entire truck (engine, axles, hubs, and transmission) with XenTx, Dave has been running at 190, fifty degrees cooler than usual -- a benefit he believes will help his equipment last longer. "Everything seems to roll easier," Dave says. Interestingly, Dave mentioned that he has been doing a Texas run with another driver who has been hauling a similar load, minus the XenTx Treatment. The other driver has been running at 250 degrees, sixty degrees hotter than Dave's engine.
Why are fuel treatments a break through?
"Simply stated, an alternative fuel is one that is not entirely derived from petroleum," says Lonergan. "That means the product, distribution and, ultimately, the cost that is passed on to the consumers is not controlled by foreign oil producers or domestic oil companies. Alternative fuels generally cost less than regular gasoline and are better for the environment."
Gay Walley is a freelance writer who resides in New York, New York.
