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Greenline Biodiesel Shuttle
Overview
The Greenline Biodiesel Shuttle Bus is coming!!! The bus will be operational summer 2008 and will be running on the Hillcrest Medical Center Route. The 2007 engine for the Greenline has been donated by Caterpillar, Inc. We are working closely with Auxiliary & Plant Services on this project. Associated with the Greenline is a unique opportunity to do research.
Along with Caterpillar, Inc, we will be studying engine durability, the effects of biodiesel on the Diesel Particulate Filter, and the interactions of engine oil and biodiesel. Additionally, we will be doing an economic analysis. This research is partially funded from the UCSD Chancelor's Interdisciplinary Collaboratories Fellowship.
History
It has been over 2 years since the project started. It all began in a meeting that Krista Francis put together for us with Jim Ruby, UCSD Fleet Manager. At that meeting, we were all pleasantly surprised that under Jim's leadership, UCSD had been silently using blends of biodiesel in all the shuttle buses. The plan was to stop at a 20% biodiesel blend with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. The next step was meeting with Gary Matthews, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Auxilliary & Plant Services at that point and now Vice Chancellor of Resource Management and Planning.
The discussions Jim Ruby, Gary Matthews and us had over a couple of months, led us to the understanding that the reason UCSD was stopping at 20% biodiesel blends was not to void the engine warranties of the vehicles. A possible solution was to contact an engine manufacturer and ask for a donation or their participation in a pilot project. Thus Craig Wildman, a mechanical engineering student now at MIT, called Caterpillar Inc. After several calls, Craig was put in touch with the correct person at Caterpillar Inc.
After lengthy talks with folks at Caterpillar, they have agreed to donate the engine for the Greenline as well as participate in the project. They are very interested in learning about engine durability using biodiesel. Interest also includes understanding how the diesel particulate filter will operate with biodiesel as well as the interaction of engine oil and biodiesel.
At the same these discussions were taking place, we learned the Chancellor Fox was starting the Interdisciplinary Collaboratories Fellowships. We gathered faculty support from Steve Buckley (MAE), Kim Prather (Chemistry/SIO), Robert Tukey (Chemistry/Pharmacy) and Richard Carson (Economics) and were awarded the fellowships. Once Steve Buckley went on sabbatical, professor Richard Herz (Chem Engineering) has stepped in as well. Specific research questions with Caterpillar are still being decided and worked on.
Over time, a lot of logistics were worked on. Jim Ruby spent his own time to help further the project. He was able to obtain the permits necessary to have an above storage tank for fuel specifically for the Greenline. Also, Jim put together all the specifications for purchasing a new bus where the donated engine would go into. In addition, Jim got the bus wrapping as a donation from Roman's Truck and Body Paint and the Automated Vehicle Locator donated from Sycromatics. Students proposed the Greenline should operate on the Hillcrest route for added visibility and everyone has agreed this is a good choice. Manuel Ruidiaz made the Greenline image above.
We also branched out and included Terri Durbin, UCSD Corporate Relations Director, on our team. She has handled most of the donation paperwork and has been a great advisor to students moving the project forward. Russ Thackston, current Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor of Auxilliary & Plant Services, has also participated in several of our meetings.
The most recent addition to our team is Transportation and Parking Services, who ultimately will receive the donated engine in the bus they purchased for the Greenline.
Sponsors
Roman's Truck and Body Paint