Enterprise Plans to Convert 600 Shuttle Buses to 20 Percent Biodiesel Over 5 Years
By Scott Doggett February 9, 2010
Enterprise, North America's largest car rental company, announced plans today to convert hundreds of airport shuttle buses to 20 percent biodiesel (or B20) over the next five years.
Enterprise Holdings LP - which owns Alamo Rent A Car LLC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Co. and National Car Rental - plans to phase in B20 in its more than 600 buses, the company said. They will use 5 percent biodiesel in all of its buses this year.
The company will immediately convert to B20 in nine North American markets where the fuel is centrally stored and available: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio and San Diego. The company expects half of its buses will use B20 by the end of next year.
New biofuels regulations released last week from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency categorize biodiesel as an "advanced biofuel," giving it another boost in possibilities for federal incentives.
The renewable fuels standard guidelines call for 1.15 billion gallons of biodiesel to be used in 2010. In 2008, the country produced 700 million gallons of biodiesel, and total biodiesel production was expected to slump slightly last year.
The National Biodiesel Board estimates the move from Enterprise could reduce the company's petroleum use by approximately 420,000 gallons in the first year and reduce emissions equivalent to retiring 40 buses from the company's fleet.
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