Informal Market Survey of Training Issues: Heavy Duty Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

The needs and opportunities in the heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicle training arena were examined in an informal marketing survey. A list of 277 potential respondents was compiled from the 220 individuals in the National Alternative Fuels Training Program database and 57 names identified from journals in the field of alternative fuels. When 2 researchers called the 277 individuals, they were able to obtain responses from 33 individuals. The following were among the conclusions drawn from an analysis of the respondents' comments: heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles' engines are supplied by relatively few manufacturers; despite the existence of a federal law defining the term "heavy-duty," there is no consensus regarding the term's use; training is being conducted but is being offered to relatively small groups; "serviceability" after conversion, maintenance, and "runability" are issues that have not been resolved in the heavy-duty alternative fuels training field; the need for conversion training will be small because manufacturers will be supplying bi-fuel and dedicated vehicles; and conceptualization of training products and services must be focused on an extremely small niche market. (Includes a list of the individuals contacted.) (MN)