Field Testing Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles with Charge Control Technology in the Xcel Energy Territory
8/1/2009
This report outlines the results of a joint study by Xcel Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to understand the fuel displacement potential, costs, and emissions impacts of the market introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The goal of the current effort was to evaluate, under real-world conditions, the performance attributes of PHEVs with charge control technology in the Xcel Energy service territories. The intention was to expand our knowledge of PHEV benefits, consumer usage, and utility opportunities and challenges.
Authors: Markel, T.; Bennion, K; Kramer, W.; Bryan, J.; Giedd, J.
Advancing New Vehicle Technologies and Fuels
5/1/2009
The Vehicle Technologies Program under the U.S. Department of Energy is actively developing and accelerating the deployment of clean and efficient vehicle technologies, as well as renewable fuels. The Vehicle Technologies program works with industry, universities, and state and local governments to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and reduce the U.S. demand for petroleum.
Hybrid Taxis Give Fuel Economy a Lift
4/1/2009
Clean Cities helped Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and San Antonio, Texas, create hybrid taxi programs that cut gasoline use and air pollution while pleasing drivers and passengers alike.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Review
11/1/2008
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are under evaluation by the U.S.Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program?s Advanced VehicleTesting Activity and other various stakeholders to better understand theircapability and potential petroleum reduction benefits. PHEVs could allow usersto significantly improve fuel economy over a standard hybrid electric vehicle,and in some cases, depending on daily driving requirements and vehicle design,PHEVs may have the ability to eliminate fuel consumption entirely for dailyvehicle trips. The cost associated with providing charging infrastructure forPHEVs, along with costs for onboard power electronics and the batteriesassociated with PHEV technology, will be key factors in the success of PHEVs.This report analyzes the infrastructure requirements for PHEVs in singlefamily residential, multi-family residential, and commercial situations. Costsassociated with this infrastructure are tabulated, providing an estimate of theinfrastructure costs associated with PHEV deployment.
Authors: Morrow, K.; Karner, D.; Francfort, J.
Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool
11/1/2008
The Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool helps fleets, consumers, and business owners create a strategy to reudce conventional fuel use in fleet and personal vehicles. This interactive tool allows users to evaluate and calculate petroleum reductions by choosing one or a combination of methods.
PHEV Technology Analysis at Argonne
11/1/2008
To estimate the impact of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the U.S., Argonne National Laboratory is analyzing typical travel behavior, new technology penetration patterns, and pathways for vehicle fuels.
Clean Cities 2009 Vehicle Buyer's Guide
11/1/2008
This 32-page booklet offers information about available 2009 alternative fuel vehicles including natural gas, propane, electric, hybrid, ethanol and biodiesel vehicles.
Long Beach Transit: Two-Year Evaluation of Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Transit Buses
6/1/2008
This report is part of a series of evaluations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has been tracking and evaluating new propulsion systems in transit buses and trucks for more than 10 years using an established and documented evaluation protocol. This report is part of a series of evaluations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has been tracking and evaluating new propulsion systems in transit buses and trucks for more than 10 years using an established and documented evaluation protocol.
Authors: Lammert, M.
How to Use Life Cycle Analysis Comparisons of PHEVs to Competing Powertrains
5/12/2008
Life cycle analysis techniques for evaluating the merits of advanced vehicle powertrains have been derived from the physical and engineering sciences. These techniques are contrasted to the economic project evaluation technique called cost-benefit analysis. This report examines recent preliminary total energy cycle evaluations of charge-depleting operations of PHEVs made by using GREET (Greenhouse Gas, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation) model.
Authors: Santini, D.; Vyas, A.
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.
Federal Tax Incentives Encourage Alternative Fuel Use
5/1/2008
The U.S. government provides several tax incentives for purchasing alternative fuel, hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles; installing alternative fueling infrastructure; and producing, selling, or using alternative fuels. The IRS has defined alternative fuels as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); compressed natural gas (CNG); liquefied natural gas (LNG); liquefied hydrogen; liquid fuel derived from coal through the Fischer-Tropsch process; liquid hydrocarbons derived from biomass including ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel; and P-series fuels. Current federal tax incentives are outlined in this fact sheet.
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.
Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles and the Vermont Grid: A Scoping Analysis
2/15/2008
The concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the earth?s atmosphere is creating changes in the world?s climate. Reducing GHG emissions has become a national and international priority. Combusting carbon in the transportation sector contributes more than 28 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions (EPA, 2006). Within the transportation sector, light duty vehicles comprise about 60 percent of the GHG emissions footprint.
GHG emissions from the transportation sector are the fastest growing source of GHG emissions in the United States (EPA, 2006). In Vermont, the transportation sector is the largest in-state contributor of GHG emissions. One strategy to reduce transportation?s GHG emissions (primarily carbon dioxide, CO2) is to switch to lower carbon fuels. Because of Vermont?s low carbon electricity supply, switching some portion of the state?s light duty vehicle fleet to electricity could reduce GHG emissions.
This research report specifically examines the CO2 and NOx emissions of switching a significant number of Vermont vehicles from gasoline to electricity. In addition to the environmental and social impacts, the reliance on petroleum to fuel Vermont vehicles impacts the state?s economy and the pocket-books of consumers. Drivers in Vermont spent more than $1.1 billion to fuel vehicles in 2007, an increase of about $500 million dollars from 2002. Changing the fuel in Vermont vehicles can address both emissions and economic issues. Advances in electric drive systems and energy storage devices have made plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) a reality. Building on the success of hybrid electric vehicles, PHEVs allow the consumer to charge the vehicle?s battery pack directly from the electric grid rather than from the vehicle?s gas engine.
Authors: Letendre, S.; Watts, R.; Cross, M.