The University of Toledo

Biodiesel Study

	The Intermodal Transportation Institute at The University of Toledo is the lead on a U.S. Department of Transportation (Transit Authority) funded “Biodiesel Study” which focuses on the impact of using a mixture of renewable biofuel and diesel fuel on operating costs as well as engine emissions, performance, and expected life in a subset of the local transit authority bus fleet and City of Toledo vehicles. It will also examine the economic and financial impacts of these alternatives on operations.  Unique aspects of the project include 1) its large scale signified by the use of new vehicles to set an effective benchmark, 2) the collection of
extensive emission (in-bus, tail pipe) and engine wear data, 3) the examination of the impact of technology and economies of scale on large scale production. The buses began to use biodiesel in the Spring of 2006; preliminary results for pollution levels were achieved by June 2006. This project was funded at $1.48 million (UT’s share $575,605).  It began in July 2005 and continued through June 2008.
Final Reports
Biodiesel Composite Executive Summary and Recommendations
Biodiesel Composite Report
Biodiesel Year 3 Report Combined
Progress Reports
Biodiesel Study Progress Report 2007
Biodiesel Study Progress Report 2008
Papers
"Characterization of Emissions and Indoor Air Quality of Public Transport Buses Using Biodiesel"
"Morphology of Single Inhalable Particle Inside Public Transit Biodiesel Fueled Bus"