No. H256/05
For release November 24, 2005
OTTAWA - Nine 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 $1.3 million. This funding will support a variety of initiatives ranging from parallel hybrid electric delivery vehicles to marine best practices.
"I'm pleased to see that members of the freight transportation industry are coming up with innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Mr. Lapierre. "The Government of Canada is dedicated to funding industry projects that will ultimately benefit all Canadians by helping the environment."
The following organizations will receive funding under the program: Acquis Route inc., Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd., Azure Dynamics Inc., BC Ferries, Frygy Cube International inc., Drexan Corporation, Innovation Maritime, M.A. Turbo / Engine Ltd. and WestJet.
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 $4.7 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 $4.4 million for 31 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:
Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
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.
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BACKGROUNDER
PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SEVENTH ROUND OF
THE FREIGHT SUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
The following projects have been selected for the seventh round of funding under the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program:
Parallel hybrid electric delivery vehicles
Project location: Burnaby-New Westminster, British Columbia
Azure Dynamics will receive $200,000 to demonstrate the fuel efficiency improvements possible through the use of parallel diesel-electric hybrid technology in both the urban and rural environments. This technology uses both a diesel engine and electric motor and batteries to supply power to the drive wheels simultaneously. This project involves testing in the lab and in an operational environment. And as such, Azure Dynamics will design and build the trucks, and Purolator Courier will use these trucks as part of their fleet for approximately six months.
Fuel Saving / Emission Reductions System for marine diesel engines
Project location: Vancouver, British Columbia
M.A. Turbo / Engine Ltd. will receive $125,000 to demonstrate the potential reduction of carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide and PM emissions through the Fuel Saving / Emission Reductions System. The system maintains the improvements in turbocharger performance realized through cleaner turbocharger components by injecting water into the combustion air. The project will install the system, and the fuel consumption and the condition of the turbocharger components will be monitored to determine the effectiveness of the system.
Operating performance indicators
Project location: Victoria, British Columbia
BC Ferries will receive $125,000 to determine the impact of operational best practices on fuel consumption and engine emissions. The project will identify the best operational parameters for ferry manoeuvres, engine setting and cargo loading through simultaneous measurement of power, position and emissions. This project will enable optimum voyage profiles to reduce total fuel consumption and engine emissions.
WestJet fuel management systems
Project location: Calgary, Alberta
WestJet has been selected for funding for $250,000 to undertake a project for reducing fuel consumption, noise and greenhouse gas emissions, for the fleet of Next-Generation Boeing 737 aircraft through the implementation of a series of fuel saving measures identified by the pilot and dispatch groups at WestJet. These measures include the implementation of Required Navigation Performance, a satellite-based approach-flight efficiency system, improved flight planning techniques and a tailored thrust program. The program's performance will be monitored monthly and on an ad hoc basis by assessing fuel efficiency and comparing flight plans with actual flight data.
Valve set program
Project location: Saint Boniface, Manitoba
Truck manufacturers recommend adjusting valve leashes, fuel injectors and Jake Brake settings after a 100,000-kilometre break-in period and every 200,000 kilometres after that. Most operators, however, do only the initial adjustment believing that it is neither cost-effective nor necessary to do the others. Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. will receive $43,750 to test the impact on the fuel economy of performing the recommended 200,000 - kilometre adjustments on their trucks. Fuel economy will be tracked and the software tool, FEAT (Fuel Economy Analyze Tool) will be used to determine the impact of the adjustments by reporting on the fuel economy of the unit.
Fuel savings and tire life extension
Project location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Drexan Corporation of Vancouver, British Columbia, will receive $70,046 to demonstrate the fuel savings and tire life extension of new and retreaded tires inflated with nitrogen instead of air. Tire casing life is expected to increase and the incidence of under inflated tires is expected to decrease. This in turn is expected to improve fuel efficiency, decrease tire tread wear and tire failures. Harris Transport, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, will use nitrogen inflated tires to determine the difference between nitrogen and air inflated tires.
Evaluation of fuel-saving technologies on three trucks
Project location: Louis-Hébert, Quebec
Acquis Route inc. will receive $93,045 to demonstrate trucks that are equipped with fuel saving technologies. Some of these technologies will prove to be cost-effective, but have not been widely adopted. The company will equip these vehicles with advanced technology tires, semi-automatic transmissions, navigation systems, cab heaters, and on-board computers that provide real-time feedback to drivers on fuel efficiency. Three companies have agreed to work with Acquis Route inc. to test the vehicles. The project will be completed over 18 months.
Marine best practices
Project location: Rimouski, Neigette, Témiscouata and Les Basques, Quebec
Innovation Maritime will receive $218,000 to evaluate and quantify the impact on fuel consumption and emissions of operational measures, including the complete overhaul of propulsion engines, adjustment in transit operation and presence of performance indicators on ships. Results will be determined through the collection and interpretation of data obtained. Some of the collected data will be shared with operations to further improve fuel efficiency and reveal the impact on ships' operations.
Efficiency comparison between Frygy Cube, Thermo-King and Carrier Transicold refrigeration systems
Project location: Sherbrooke, Quebec
Frygy Cube International inc. will receive $138,000 to demonstrate the efficiency and environmental-friendliness of the Frygy Cube refrigerating system compared to other systems when transporting frozen merchandise. The system is different from others because it draws power from the electricity grid rather than using a diesel engine to power the refrigeration equipment. The Frygy Cube refrigerating system keeps merchandise cold or frozen for 10 hours per day and in an operational context allows the doors to be opened 25 to 30 times per day at an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.
November 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 $4.7 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 31 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.
November 2005
