SuperShuttle. You know, the blue vans with the bright yellow writing on the side? They’re the nation’s leading shared-ride airport shuttle service transporting more than 8 million passengers a year nationwide. Across the United States, SuperShuttle has made it a mission to switch to alternative fuels. And in Austin, SuperShuttle is making a big splash by converting their vans to compressed natural gas thanks to the help of Clean Energy.
Operating a fleet of 60 vans, Billy Carter, GM of the Austin fleet, is starting off with six conversions and projecting an additional 10 vehicles within the next year, with more to come in 2015-16. “Our choice of CNG came through our relationship with Clean Energy. They partnered with us for financing our vehicles and conversion costs, which made it possible for a smaller company like ours to afford to be able to make the switch,” said Carter. Conversion costs were also alleviated by using the rebates from the Texas Gas Service’s Conservation Program, the Austin area local gas utility.
SuperShuttle’s CNG vans will outcompete the other ICE powered vehicles in the fleet by 93 percent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions. Each van averages up to 200-300 miles every day, using approximately 114 gge of CNG a week, and approximately 12,000 gallons of CNG per van every year! A major necessity to maintain this program is to improve and support the alternative fuel infrastructure. SuperShuttle in Austin uses the Clean Energy station at Austin Bergstrom Airport.
SuperShuttle and Texas Gas Service are both long-time supporting members of the Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance Clean Cities Coalition in Central Texas.
Witten by Diego Lopez
Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance Clean Cities intern