Student groups discuss alternative fuels, emissions

Electric trucks, natural gas powered cars and emissions testing equipment were all on display Friday as West Virginia University participated in the fifth National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey.

The event, which is organized by the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, took place at 103 locations across the country, said April Henry, a communications specialist for NAFTC.

"We are all about promoting vehicles and teaching people about how we can reduce emissions, reduce dependence on oil and improve air quality," Henry said.

One group pursuing similar goals is WVU's chapter of the Electric Vehicle Association.

The organization had a completely-electric Formula Lightning car at the event. The Formula Lightning competition series ended in 2004, said Ryan Hanlon, an electrical engineering graduate student and the secretary for EVA. The group still uses the car for demonstrations.

"This is our show and tell car," said Sean Banerjee, WVU's EVA vice president. The car assists in community outreach, which Banerjee said is one of the group's main goals.

"We are now trying to do more with outreach projects," he said. "How important is this if you can't show it, can't explain it to people?"

The group is planning to make trips to local high schools and events such as WVU Homecoming to showcase the car.

In addition, they are trying to get other students interested in their work.

"We need diverse solutions to the (energy) problem, and so we need diverse people at the table," Banerjee said. "We need people from all majors, anyone who is interested in the energy crisis and what we are going to do next."

While many presenters at the Odyssey were focused on energy technology for the future, the presenters from the WVU Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions showcased the work they are doing to help regulate technology currently in use.

Standing in front of a large blue truck, the group joked, "We are the only ones here with a vehicle that is not a hybrid."

But it was not the truck itself that was important. Instead, it was the equipment on the back of the truck, composed of metal boxes, wires and hoses.

"We do in-use emission testing," said Nathan Music, a mechanical engineering graduate student. "We are testing Caterpillar engines in vehicles like bucket trucks that work on high power lines."

The group travels across the country with the testing equipment, which they hook up to the trucks in order to monitor the vehicles' gaseous and particulate emissions. Gaseous emissions include substances like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, while particulate emissions are "what you see when trucks spew black smoke," said Music.

When the group tests an engine, the truck has to run for at least three hours non-idle, said Ross Ryskamp, a mechanical engineering graduate student who is also working on the project.

"They have to meet the 2007 Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Emission Standards," Ryskamp said.

Powering up their demonstration truck, the group showed how the emissions data is graphed on a computer, from which they can begin to determine if an engine meets the standards.

The standards are in place to prevent vehicles from producing too many gaseous emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's website.

Banerjee summed up the event in one short sentence.

"It is a great time to talk about everything energy," he said.