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Impact of Battery Characteristics on PHEV Fuel Economy
5/12/2008
The most significant technical barrier to developing commercially viable plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is the energy storage system. The challenge is to develop batteries that are able to meet both the requirements imposed by a PHEV system and market expectations of the system's cost and length of life. In this context, a vehicle systems approach is needed to investigate the operational requirements specific to PHEV technology. This paper describes work in which several tools were used to evaluate the impacts of various parameters on PHEV fuel economy. First, the impacts of the battery's energy and power were evaluated by using a global optimization algorithm. Then the impact of temperature was assessed by using two complementary approaches to evaluate battery hardware: simulation in an emulated vehicle system and actual vehicle testing.
Authors: Rousseau, A.; Shidore, N.; Carlson, Richard; Karbowski, D.
Options for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles in Greensburg, Kansas
5/1/2008
After a devastating tornado that destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kansas in May 2007, plans were developed to rebuild the town as a sustainable community. This report focuses on outlining key success factors of infrastructure, alternative vehicles, and alternative and renewable fuels as part of an integrated energy strategy.
Authors: Harrow, G.
Analysis of the Efficiency of the U.S. Ethanol Industry 2007
3/27/2008
In 2007, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) conducted a survey of US ethanol production plants to provide an assessment of the current US ethanol industry. The survey covers plant operations in both corn dry mills and wet mills. In particular, it includes plant type, ownership structure, capacity, feedstocks, production volumes, coproducts,process fuel and electricity usage, water consumption, and products transportation and distribution. The survey response was based on year 2006 data. At the request of RFA, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has performed a statistical analysis of the survey data, as an in-kind effort, under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) between ANL and RFA. During November 2007 and January 2008, ANL processed and analyzed the raw data for statistics. This extended technical memo serves as an official documentation to summarize ANL?s analysis.
Authors: Wu, May
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - January 2008
1/1/2008
The January 2008 Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report keeping you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between Jan. 21 and Jan. 31, 2008, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 illustrates that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has risen 23 cents to $2.99 per gallon; CNG has risen 16 cents to $1.93; and ethanol (E85) has risen 11 cents to $2.51 per gallon.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
BAE/Orion Hybrid Electric Buses at New York City Transit
1/1/2008
This report is part of a series of evaluation from the U.S. Department of Energy through the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) at NREL. The role of AVTA is to bridge the gap between research and development and the commercial availability for advanced vehicle technologies that reduce petroleum use while meeting air quality standards.
DOE/NREL evaluated the original 10 prototype diesel-hybrid buses from Orion and BAE Systems operated by the New York City Transit Co. (NYCT) The next report focused on 10 new compressed natural gas (CNG) and 10 next generation diesel hybrid electric buses. In the present evaluation, the focus is on hybrid-electric transit buses (equipped with BAE Systems' HybriDrive propulsion system) purchased by NYCT in an order group of 200 (Gen II), and their performance during their first year of service.
Authors: Barnitt, R.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles: How Does One Determine Their Potential for Reducing U.S. Oil Dependence?
12/1/2007
Estimation of the potential of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles' (PHEVs') ability to reduce U.S. gasoline use is difficult and complex. Although techniques have been proposed to estimate the vehicle kilometers of travel (VKT) that can be electrieid, these methods may be inadequate and/or inappropriate for early market introduction estimates. Factors that must be considered with respect to the PHEV itself include (1) kWh battery storage capability; (2) kWh/km depletion rate of the vehicle; (3) liters/km use of gasoline; (4) average daily kilometers diven; (5) annual share of trips exceeding the battery depletion distance; (6) driving cycle(s); (7) charger location; (8)charging rate. Taking into account PHEV design trade-off possibilities (kW vs. kWh of battery, in particular), this paper attempts to extract useful information relating to these topices. Costs per kWh of PHEVs capable of charge depleting (CD) all-electric range vs. those CD in "blended mode (CDB) are examined. Lifetime fuel savings of alternative PHEV operating/utilization strategies are compared to battery cost estimates.
Authors: Vyas, A.; Santini, D.; Duoba, M.; Alexander, M.
On-Road Evaluation of Advanced Hybrid Electric Vehicles over a Wide Range of Ambient Temperatures
12/1/2007
Hybrid electric vehicles can provide increased fuel economy over convention gasoline powered vehicles but these advantages can be affected dramatically by wide variations in operating temperatures. To investigate cold and hot temperature effects on HEV operation and efficiency, an on-road evaluation protocol was defined and conducted over a 6-month study at widely varying temperatures ranging from -14 degrees C to 31 degrees C.
Authors: Carlson, R.; Duoba, M.; Bocci, D.; Lohse-Busch, H.
Impact of Component Size on Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Energy Consumption Using Global Optimization
12/1/2007
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are a promising alternative to gas-only vehicles and offer the potential to greatly reduce fuel use in transportation. Their potential energy consumption is highly linked to the size of the components. This study focuses on the impact of the electric system energy and power on control and energy consumption. Based on a parallel pre-transmission architecture, several vehicles were modeled with an all-electric range from 5 to 40 miles on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule to illustrate various levels of available electric energy. Five other vehicles were created, with various levels of power and the same battery energy. The vehicles were then simulated under optimal control on multiple combinations of cycle and distance by using a global optimization algorithm. The results from each optimization were analyzed to highlight control patterns. The potential minimal fuel consumption that can be achieved by each of them is presented in this report.
Authors: Karbowski, D.; Haliburton, C.; Rousseau, A.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - October 2007
10/1/2007
The October 2007 Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report keeping you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between Oct. 2 and Oct 20, 2007, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 illustrates that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline has dropped 27 cents to $2.76 per gallon; CNG has dropped 32 cents to $1.77; and ethanol (E85) has dropped 23 cents to $2.40 per gallon.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Validation of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Infrastructure Technology
10/1/2007
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles could play a central role in future transportation system. They produce only electricity, heat, and water at point of use. They could also use predominantly domestic--potentially renewable--energy supplies instead of imported oil for transportation.
Through a 2003 competitive solicitation, DOE selected four automobile manufacturer/energy company teams to participate in the project--Chevron/Hyundai-Kia, DaimlerChrysler/BP, Ford/BP, and GM/Shell. DOE is cost-share fundung those teams to build small fleets of fuel-cell vehicles plus fueling stations to demonstrate their use in five regions of the United States.
Clean Cities Annual Metrics Report 2006
7/1/2007
Clean Cities coordinators submit an annual report of their activities and accomplishments for the previous calendar year. Coordinators submit a range of data that characterize the membership, funding, projects, and activities of their coalitions as well as data about sales of alternative fuel blends, deployment of alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, idle reduction initiatives, and fuel economy activities. NREL analyzes the data and translates them into gasoline reduction impacts.
Survey results indicate that about 375 million gallons of gasoline were displaced through Clean Citiew efforts in 2006, 50 percent more than in 2005. Alternative fuel vehicles accounted for 71 percent of the reduction. Biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) used in AFVs displaced 128 million gallons, 34 percent of the total 375 million.
Authors: Bergeron, P.; Putsche, V.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, July 2007
7/1/2007
The July 2007 Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report keeping you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between July 3, 2007 and July 13, 2007, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 illustrates that all fuel prices except propane and biodiesel have risen but the price increases are well below the increase in the price of regular gasoline. CNG is almost a dollar less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, March 2007
3/1/2007
The March 2007 Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report keeping you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between February 21, 2007 and March 2, 2007, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 1 illustrates that alternative fuel prices relative to conventional fuels vary, with some (propane and biodiesel) higher and some (E85 and CNG) lower. CNG is about 36 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about 20 cents less per gallon than gasoline.
Authors: Laughlin, M.D.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle R&D Plan, External Draft
2/1/2007
The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting the development of hybrid vehicles that have the ability to operate in botn electrical/mechanical and electric-only modes recharging from a standard electric outlet. This is in line with President Bush's challenge of technology that would allow 40 miles electric range, enough to satisfy approximately 70 percent of daily U.S. travel. In May 2006, the FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technology Program convened a 2-day meeting to discuss a path forward. This report is the external draft of the research & development plan for the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle program.
Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.: Potential Carbon Emissions Reductions from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 2030
1/1/2007
Energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies have the potential to provide most, if not all, of the U.S. carbon emissions reductions that will be needed to help limit the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide to 450 to 500 ppm. The document includes a section on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This section focuses on plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology, which adds additional battery capacity and charging capability to current hybrid electric vehicle technology. Plug-in vehicles thereby make possible substantial vehicle operation on energy derived from the electrical grid rather than from gasoline.
Authors: Kutscher, C., Editor; Lilienthal,P.; Brown, H.
