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Fuel Alternatives and Options Guide, Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Description
The Fuel Alternatives and Options guide, provided by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) through its DieselWise Indiana program, is a strategic resource for mayors looking to modernize municipal fleets and reduce the “diesel signature” in their cities.
Specifically, this webpage serves as a technical guide for city planners and fleet managers. It outlines the primary substitutes for traditional petroleum diesel, including Biodiesel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Propane (LPG), Electricity, and Hydrogen. For each fuel type, the resource provides a breakdown of its chemical properties, compatibility with existing engines, environmental benefits, and the infrastructure required to support its adoption.
Questions this resource can help answer
Representative questions answered by this resources include:
- Which fuels require the least amount of vehicle modification? (e.g., Understanding how biodiesel blends like B20 can often be used in existing engines)
- What are the specific emissions profiles of different fuels? (e.g., How much particulate matter or nitrogen oxide reduction can be expected when switching to CNG or Propane?)
- What infrastructure investments will the city need to make? (e.g., Identifying the difference between slow-fill and fast-fill stations for CNG).
- How do these alternatives impact engine performance and maintenance? (e.g., Understanding the cold-weather performance of biodiesel versus traditional diesel).
How do I use this resource?
This website presents a comparative technical synthesis of data on diesel alternatives. It can be used as a decision support tool and to do the following:
- Target “Quick Wins” for Public Health: Use the emissions data to justify immediate transitions to biodiesel blends for existing fleets, prioritizing vehicles that operate near sensitive receptors like schools and hospitals to reduce particulate matter exposure.
- Audit Fleet Compatibility: Have your fleet manager cross-reference current assets with the guide’s technical specs to identify which vehicles can use “drop-in” fuels immediately versus those requiring long-term infrastructure investment for CNG or Electric.
- Align Policy with State Mandates: Use the guide to ensure city procurement practices comply with Indiana state statutes (e.g., IC 5-22-5-8) regarding alternative fuel use.
Pro tips
When using this resource to shape policy or programs, consider the following:
- Prioritize “Sensitive Receptors” and susceptible populations: When reviewing these fuel options, prioritize the conversion of fleets that operate near schools, hospitals, and low-income neighborhoods. Reducing diesel particulate matter in these “hot spots” yields the highest public health ROI.
- Use as a Grant-Writing Tool: If your city is applying for federal DERA (Diesel Emissions Reduction Act) grants or similar funding, use the technical language and emission reduction statistics found in this resource to strengthen your application’s environmental impact section.
- Conduct a “Phased Transition” Analysis: Use this guide to identify “drop-in” fuels like biodiesel for immediate, low-cost emission reductions while you plan the long-term infrastructure for electric or hydrogen vehicles.
- Leverage Local Partnerships: Use the information here to start a dialogue with community stakeholders. They can help you take the technical data from IDEM and turn it into a localized fueling infrastructure plan.
- Think Beyond the Tailpipe: When looking at the “Electricity” or “Hydrogen” sections, consult with your local utility providers to ensure the city’s power grid can handle the increased load of a centralized charging hub.
Resource information
Technical specifications
IDEM aggregated data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC). The information is then filtered through the lens of Indiana’s specific environmental goals and regulatory framework.
The resource uses a lifecycle assessment approach, evaluating fuels not just by their tailpipe emissions, but by their production, storage requirements, and the feasibility of long-term deployment within public sector fleets (such as school buses, waste management trucks, and transit systems).
