Natural Resources Canada
98/56
July 10, 1998

CLEANER AIR IN THE TORONTO-DETROIT CORRIDOR

TORONTO — A "Clean Air Truck," running on a mix of natural gas and diesel fuel, is being showcased today at the Moving the Economy Conference, which is being held from July 9 to 12.

A joint effort of many government and private sector sponsors, including Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the United States Department of Energy and Fiba Canning Inc., the truck emits 85 percent fewer smog-producing byproducts.

The Honourable David Collenette, Minister of Transport, on behalf of Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale, announced that the truck will be on display on July 10, 1998. NRCan, through the CANMET Energy Technology Centre, is contributing $320,000 of the $3,000,000 in project costs.

"This truck is an example of newer and "greener" transportation technologies that this conference was designed to promote," said Minister Collenette. "It shows that industries can develop innovative solutions that meet environmental targets while saving money."

The Clean Air Truck is part of a larger project, the first of its kind in North America, demonstrating the use of natural gas in tractor-trailer trucks operating between Toronto and Detroit, Michigan.

"This innovative technology has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Canada meet its international climate change obligations," said Minister Goodale.

Canada committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by six percent below the 1990 level between 2008 and 2012 at the Third Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto, Japan, last year.

Transportation in all forms accounts for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, so a shift to transportation technologies with lower emissions will be an essential part of Canada's response to the climate change challenge. Natural gas is an attractive alternative to conventional fuels because of its low emission rate of non-methane hydrocarbons, which play a critical role in the formation of smog.

Fiba Canning Inc. is the project manager and lead private sector partner. "At Fiba Canning, we believe that the difference you make today counts in all our tomorrows," said Hugh Canning, Project Coordinator. "This project will show the economic opportunities in meeting environmental targets."

The truck is expected to run on an average of 85 percent natural gas and 15 percent diesel fuel. The diesel fuel is used as a "liquid spark plug" to ignite the natural gas. In addition to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by more than half over 1990 diesel benchmarks, it is expected that emissions from this truck will contain 72 percent less nitrogen oxides and virtually no carcinogenic particulate matter or sulphur emissions. It is also cheaper to operate, with significantly lower maintenance and operating costs and a projected fuel savings of $28,500 per year or 40 percent per truck.

The Moving the Economy Conference, subtitled Economic Opportunities in Sustainable Transportation, is an international conference organized by the City of Toronto and Transportation Options, a non-profit organization. The Conference has received federal support from the departments of Health, Environment and Transport.

Funding for the Clean Air Truck initiative was provided for in the 1998 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This announcement is an example of how the Government of Canada is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.

Clean Air Truck Location: On display at Simcoe Park adjacent to the CBC Building at Front & John Streets.
Date and Time: July 10, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on display. Event at 1:30 p.m., ribbon cutting at 2:15 p.m.

For further information, please contact:
John Embury
Press Secretary
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007
or
Stéphane Corbin
Communications Advisor
Transport Canada
(613) 991-0700
or
Ken Canning
Manager, Marketing
Fiba Canning Inc.
(416) 299-1142