Publications

U.S. DRIVE 2021 Highlights of Technical Accomplishments

5/16/2022

The U.S. DRIVE (Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle efficiency and Energy sustainability) 2021 Highlights of Technical Accomplishments report summarizes key technical accomplishments in the development of advanced automotive and related energy infrastructure technologies achieved in 2021 by the U.S. DRIVE partnership. Each one-page summary represents what Partnership experts collectively consider to be significant progress in the development of advanced automotive and infrastructure technologies.

Biofuel Innovation

4/1/2022

Innovations in biofuels research are leveraged today in transportation technologies and infrastructure. This fact sheet provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) biofuels research and development (R&D). Through 300 active R&D projects, BETO initiatives encourage cost-competitive, efficient biofuels.

Electric Trucks Have Arrived: The Use Case for Terminal Tractors

3/1/2022

This report documents the three terminal tractors that participated in the Run on Less - Electric demonstration by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, which was conducted in September of 2021. It provides data from the demonstration, research and interviews with fleets, vehicle manufacturers, and other industry experts about this market segment. The report shares key findings for electrifying terminal tractors.

Notes:

This copyrighted publication can be accessed on the North American Council for Freight Efficiency website.

Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 40

2/1/2022

The Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 40 is a statistical compendium prepared and published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office. Designed for use as a desk-top reference, the Data Book represents an assembly and display of statistics and information that characterize transportation activity, and presents data on other factors that influence transportation energy use. The purpose of this document is to present relevant statistical data in the form of tables and graphs. The latest edition of the Data Book is available via the Internet (tedb.ornl.gov).

Authors: Davis, S.C.; Boundy, R.G.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Standards Technology Review

2/1/2022

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Standards Regulation in 2019 to reduce barriers to accessing public charging stations. The EVSE Standards Regulation establishes minimum requirements for payment methods an EVSE must allow, facilitates roaming agreements between electric vehicle service providers, creates a more complete database of location and pricing information for consumer use, and ensures clarity in the cost of a charging session. To assess barriers drivers may face and understand whether the requirements of the Regulation, particularly the requirement that EVSE must accept both chip payment cards and contactless, “tap” cards, CARB staff conducted a Technology Review. The Technology Review included an evaluation of the availability and use of different payment methods and a survey of drivers’ experiences accessing public charging stations. This report presents the findings and recommendations from that work.

Supporting Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Deployment

2/1/2022

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) helps federal agencies electrify their fleets and support the deployment of charging infrastructure. To assist agencies with the switch to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), FEMP offers technical guidance on electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installations and site-specific planning through on-site and virtual EVSE Tiger Teams.

Run On Less - Electric Report

1/19/2022

This report documents the Run on Less - Electric demonstration by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, which was conducted in September of 2021. It shares the methods used to select the participating fleets, routes, and equipment, and metrics that measured the 13 participating pairs of fleets and original equipment manufacturers. The demonstrations showed that for four market segments — vans and step vans, medium-duty box trucks, terminal tractors, and heavy-duty regional haul tractors — commercial battery electric vehicles are a viable option for fleets.

Notes:

This copyrighted publication can be accessed on the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s website.

The ABCs of Ohio EVs: A Policy Guide to Electrify Ohio

1/18/2022

In this report, the Citizens Utility Board of Ohio examines key issues related to transportation electrification to capture the potential of electric vehicle (EV) growth and use it to optimize the state’s electric system. It includes guidelines for policy development and specific measures to help propel this emerging market transformation and ensure that everybody will benefit from EVs, whether or not they drive one. It identifies factors affecting EV market growth, assesses its ramifications for the electric grid and for consumers, advances principles to protect the interests of electricity customers, and recommends responsive state actions.

EV Charging at Multi-Family Dwellings

1/3/2022

Approximately 30% of U.S. households are multi-family dwellings (MFDs), such as apartments and condos, and almost 75% of MFD households have at least one vehicle. Therefore, it is essential for electric vehicle (EV) charging to be available to MFD residents in order to make EVs an option for a large portion of the population. This paper draws on case studies, other research, and charging use data from the Columbus, Ohio area and New York state to summarize the key drivers and barriers for MFD building managers to install EV charging.

Authors: Lepre, N.

Clean Cities Coalitions 2020 Activity Report

12/29/2021

Clean Cities coalition activities resulted in an EUI of nearly 1 billion GGE, comprised of net alternative fuels used and energy savings from efficiency projects, in 2020. Clean Cities coalition and stakeholder participation in vehicle and infrastructure development projects remained strong, although transportation activity and resulting EUI decreased in 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The pollutant benefits increased in 2020 despite a decrease in EUI because coalitions focused more on technologies with higher benefits per GGE reduced and because the lifecycle of many alternative fuels such as electricity or biofuels is becoming less carbon intense. Coalitions were successful in securing project grant awards from numerous outside (non-DOE) sources. The 90 project grant awards in 2020 generated $151 million in funds from coalition members and project partners in addition to $12.8 million in DOE grant funds. Coalitions also collected $1.1 million in stakeholder dues and $3.1 million in operational funds from host organizations. In macro terms, this non-DOE supplemental funding represents a 4:1 leveraging of the $38 million that was included in the VTO Technology Integration budget in 2020. Clean Cities coordinators spent nearly 135,700 hours pursuing their coalitions’ goals in 2020. The average coordinator is quite experienced and has held the coordinator position for nearly eight years. Coordinators logged more than 3,290 outreach, education, and training activities in 2020, which reached an estimated 31 million people. Activities that reached underserved communities were tracked for the first time in 2020 and accounted for 17% of all activities.

Authors: Singer, M.; Johnson, C.

Future-Proofing Convenience Stores for EV Charging

10/12/2021

Direct current fast charging is the optimal technology for electric vehicle (EV) charging at convenience stores. This document helps convenience retailers plan for EV charging infrastructure at new liquid fueling sites. With careful planning and efficient site design, ground-up facilities can be constructed to keep fuels convenient and safe for store personnel and the public.

A Comparison of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel, Natural Gas, and Electric Vehicles

9/21/2021

Diesel, natural gas, and electric heavy-duty vehicles can be designed and manufactured with the capability of complying with the ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) limits envisioned in the next set of California and federal heavy-duty vehicle regulations. This briefing compares the capabilities of these three powertrain types in meeting an ultra-low NOx standard across four key areas: feasibility, cost, and health impacts.

Authors: Muncrief, R.

Notes:

This copyrighted publication can be accessed on The International Council on Clean Transportation's website.

Electric Transportation Rate Design Principles for Regulated Utilities

7/1/2021

Growth in interest in electric vehicles (EVs) among policy makers in the United States is prompting utilities and state regulatory commissions to consider changes to traditional utility rate designs that more efficiently reflect the drivers of electric system costs, thereby allowing customers to better manage electric bills associated with EV charging in a manner that benefits the system. This paper proposes ratemaking and rate design principles applicable to transportation electrification where state commissions have authority to approve both investor-owned utility rates and rate design.

Authors: Jones, P., Edelston, B.

Near-Term Impacts of Automated Vehicle Technologies

6/30/2021

Automated vehicle (AV) technology may substantially impact light-duty vehicle fuel economy in the coming decade. Although fuel economy and regulations have the potential to encourage highly efficient AV technology, they are not guaranteed to do so; thus, AV technology may actually compromise fuel economy if regulations are not structured effectively. This paper investigates these issues and recommends how current regulations may be amended to better encourage the development of AV technology that improves fuel efficiency.

Authors: Mersky, A.

Electrifying Trucks: From Delivery Vans to Buses to 18-Wheelers

6/10/2021

Electrification of trucks and buses can bring many benefits, including lower energy use, pollutants, and operating costs. However, compared to conventional trucks, these vehicles currently cost more up front, often have reduced range, and must depend on limited charging infrastructure. Efforts to address these limitations are making substantial progress, and leading experts expect electric trucks to be widespread by 2040. This paper summarizes the current state of the industry, including electric truck benefits and challenges, current and imminent models, charging, electric rates, and policies to promote electric trucks.

Authors: Nadel, S.; Huether, P.