No. H072/05
For release April 18, 2005
FREIGHT SUSTAINABILITY
PROJECTS ANNOUNCED TO
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
OTTAWA — Seven projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the freight transportation industry have been selected to receive funding under Transport Canada’s Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program.
Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced that the selected projects will receive funding totalling approximately $1 million. This funding will support a variety of initiatives ranging from evaluating the impact of alternative fuels on engine performance to assessing the first commercially available hybrid electric-diesel delivery trucks.
"The funding we provide through the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program not only helps the transportation sector develop more energy-efficient operating practices and technologies in today’s competitive environment, but is also an important investment in our future." said Mr. Lapierre. "By supporting sustainable transportation today, we can all enjoy a healthier tomorrow."
The following organizations will receive funding under the program: Air Canada, Canadian Pacific Railway, FedEx, FIBA Canning, Hudson’s Bay Company, Innovation Maritime, and Saskatoon Diesel Services.
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program supports the demonstration and evaluation of innovative tools, technologies and practices that have the potential to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the freight transportation sector in Canada. The Government of Canada will contribute up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses, to a maximum of $250,000, with applicants and their partners contributing the remainder.
Approximately $4.5 million will be allocated under the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program between 2001 and 2007. This announcement brings the total funding allocated under the program to approximately $3.7 million for 30 projects across Canada.
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program is part of the Freight Efficiency and Technology Initiative that was established under the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change.
More information on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program is available at
www.tc.gc.ca/FSDP.
Backgrounders with information on the selected projects and the program are attached.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Chris Krepski
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
BACKGROUNDER
PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SIXTH ROUND OF THE
FREIGHT SUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
The following projects have been selected for the sixth round of funding under the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program:
Alternative fuels
Project location: Calgary, Alberta
Air Canada will receive $106,925 to convert 58 gasoline-powered ground vehicles at the Calgary airport to liquid propane gas. This project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to allow vehicles to operate in locations with limited ventilation. In addition to reducing maintenance and operating costs, the project will demonstrate the suitability of using propane as a fuel in harsh environments, such as Calgary winters.
Efficient Operating Practices
Project location: Calgary, Alberta
Canadian Pacific Railway will receive $250,000 to demonstrate and measure the effects of innovative feedback mechanisms and training for train operators to achieve greater fuel efficiency. Direct feedback will be provided to employees on a regular basis to ensure the best and most fuel-efficient operating practices are being used. To determine if this training initiative can significantly improve fuel efficiency, fuel consumption will be measured on a monthly basis over a 12-month period to assess the impact of feedback mechanisms and training on employees handling of the trains.
FedEx hybrid delivery truck
Project location: TBD
FedEx will receive $250,000 towards the cost of purchasing and operating a number of Eaton E700 hybrid delivery trucks, in Canada, for a two-year period. This project will evaluate whether the first commercially available hybrid electric-diesel trucks will meet operational and reliability standards in day-to-day operations. The company expects a fuel economy improvement greater than 50 per cent and intends to work with its partners on outreach efforts to other fleets, so as to encourage the use of hybrid trucks in diesel fleets.
Wide tires
Project location: Toronto, Ontario
FIBA Canning will receive $68,500 to compare the efficiency of tanker trucks retrofitted with wide base tires to tanker trucks with regular tires. The project will measure the tailpipe emissions on four trucks, two with wide tires and two with regular tires, as they travel between Mississauga and Montreal. The expected benefits include an increase in fuel efficiency, an increase in the vehicles’ passenger and cargo load, and a significant improvement to the vehicles’ safety on the trucks retrofitted with the wide tires.
Biodiesel fuel in transport trucks
Project location: London, Ontario
The Hudson’s Bay Company will receive $28,486 to begin using B20, a blend of biodiesel and regular diesel fuel, in 12 dedicated transport trucks. The project responds to an industry need for more information on the performance of biodiesel by evaluating the impact of this fuel on emissions, fuel efficiency, vehicle performance and maintenance over a one-year period.
Biodiesel fuel in marine transport
Project location: Montreal, Quebec
Innovation Maritime will receive $200,000 to evaluate the use of B20 on a ship’s auxiliary power units while in the Port of Montreal. In addition to demonstrating the use of B20 in a marine environment, this project will address a vital industry need for information on how ships’ engines will respond to biodiesel fuel in terms of maintenance costs and fuel-efficiency, and will assess the possibility of larger-scale use.
WhiteHot auxiliary power unit for oil industry service trucks and long haul highway trucks
Project location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Diesel Services will receive $105,944 to demonstrate an auxiliary power unit that is expected to be more efficient and reliable than any currently available in the market. The auxiliary power unit has been designed to operate in difficult conditions and will employ exhaust gas heat recovery to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
April 2005
BACKGROUNDER
FREIGHT SUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program supports the demonstration and evaluation of innovative tools, technologies and practices that have the potential to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada’s freight transportation sector.
The program, announced as part of the Government of Canada’s Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, will allocate approximately $4.5 million between 2001 and 2007 for projects that meet the program’s criteria. Projects are eligible for a maximum program contribution of $250,000 over two years. Government of Canada contributions will cover up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses, with applicants and their partners contributing the remainder. Some 30 projects have already been approved for funding.
Transport Canada, together with Natural Resources Canada, selects projects to receive funding under the program, taking into account the recommendations of an advisory committee including representatives of other federal departments, academic institutions, and other not-for-profit organizations. Applications are accepted twice a year, in the spring and the fall. For specific dates, please see the Applicant’s Guide on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program website listed below.
All participants in the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program are required to monitor greenhouse gas emissions and report findings from their projects to the program secretariat at Transport Canada.
Transport Canada will make information on successful technologies and best practices available at conferences and other venues and on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program website at
www.tc.gc.ca/FSDP.
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program is part of the Freight Efficiency and Technology Initiative which includes a range of different initiatives designed to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the freight transportation sector.
April 2005
