Publications

Funding Options for Low-Carbon Transportation Alternatives to The Federal Gasoline Tax

4/1/2021

This topic brief provides an overview of the problems with current mechanisms for funding innovative transportation and explores other funding methods to support transportation funding in the United States.

Setting TNC Policies to Increase Sustainability

3/31/2021

Cities and states across the United States are assessing fees or taxes on transportation network company platforms, such as Uber and Lyft. The goals of these policies include traffic and pollution mitigation, as well as revenue generation, among other objectives. This research aims to assess the goals and effectiveness of these fees in achieving some of these policy objectives, primarily congestion and pollution mitigation. This study compares 21 fees implemented by state and local governments across the United States and applies a methodology to compare these diverse fees and taxes based on a hypothetical ride informed by Uber’s fare calculator, as well as other sources.

Authors: Fuller, S.; Kunz, T.; Brown, A.; D'Agostino, M.

Notes:

This copyrighted publication can be accessed on the University of California, Davis website.

Carbon Intensity of Corn Ethanol in the United States: State of the Science

3/10/2021

The carbon intensity of corn ethanol, the primary renewable fuel used in transportation, has been actively researched and quantified over the last three decades. Reliable estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for corn ethanol are important since these values help determine significant policy and market decisions on state, national, and international levels. This study reviews well-to-wheel GHG life cycle analyses for corn ethanol and evaluates models, input data, and results for farming, fuel production, co-product credit, land use change, transport of feedstock and fuel, tailpipe, and denaturant.

Authors: Scully, M.; Norris, G.; Falconi, T.; MacIntosh, D.

PTC and ITC for Aviation Fuel: Analysis Using the Biomass Scenario Model

3/5/2021

This analysis uses the Biomass Scenario Model, a system dynamics model of the bioenergy supply chain, to explore different scenarios of implementation of a production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) for sustainable aviation fuel.

Authors: Newes, E.; Vimmerstedt, L.; Haq, Z.; Lindauer, A.

Livewire Data Platform A Catalog of Transportation and Mobility Data

3/3/2021

This fact sheet outlines the capabilities and core services of the Livewire Data Platform, a growing catalog of transportation and mobility-related data that empowers researchers and community planners to easily and securely share and preserve data that support projects and decision making.

Authors: Lauren Spath Luhring

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for Transportation Frequently Asked Questions

3/1/2021

Overview of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), including what it is, how it's made, uses and benefits.

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2020

3/1/2021

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of results from evaluations performed by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This annual status report combines results from all FCEB demonstrations, tracks the progress of the FCEB industry toward meeting technical targets, documents the lessons learned, and discusses the path forward for commercial viability of fuel cell technology for transit buses. The data from these early FCEB deployments funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, state agencies, and the private sector help to guide future early-stage research and development. The 2020 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year from January 2020 through July 2020.

Authors: Eudy, L.; Post, M.

Case Study of the San Pedro Bay Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan 2006-2018: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

3/1/2021

The development and implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is a groundbreaking and ongoing project with significant environmental benefits. The CAAP can serve as a map for other port authorities considering their own air quality actions and near-port communities interested in promoting clean air programs. Although every port’s situation is unique, the objective of this case study is to highlight key CAAP history, programs, and lessons learned to serve as a building block.

Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain for E-Drive Vehicles in the United States: 2010–2020

3/1/2021

Understanding the battery supply chain is particularly important for the strategic planning and development of a battery recycling infrastructure to secure critical materials supply and enable a circular economy. Building on detailed monthly sales data, this report summarizes the manufacturing and production locations of lithium-ion (Li-ion, or LIB) battery cells and packs by make and model for PEVs sold in the U.S. from 2010 to 2020. It also summarizes the annual and cumulative Li-ion battery capacity installed in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) sold in the U.S. Overall, there are about 20 different battery cell and pack manufacturers, which are currently supplying about 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries annually for the U.S. PEV market.

Authors: Yan Zhou, David Gohlke, Luke Rush, Jarod Kelly, and Qiang Dai

Assessment of Prospective Mileage-Based Fee System to Replace Fuel Taxes for Passenger Vehicles in Pennsylvania

3/1/2021

Historically, transportation infrastructure in the United States has been funded through a per-gallon fuel tax levied at the state- and federal-levels. The federal fuel tax has remained constant over the last thirty years, even as road construction and maintenance costs have risen steeply in that time. This funding gap is widened by advances in hybrid and electric vehicle technology, which have significantly improved fleet fuel-economy and reduced revenue from fuel tax. To address this, an increasing number of jurisdictions are considering programs where vehicles are taxed per-mile traveled, rather than per-gallon of fuel consumed. These mileage-based user fees (MBUFs) could replace federal and state fuel taxes and reduce the deficit in transportation infrastructure funding. This report develops high-resolution estimates of annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per vehicle aggregated at the state, county, and zip code level. Based on these estimates of VMT and fuel economy, researchers estimate the annual cost to vehicle owners of the existing fuel tax, and compare this cost against the cost of MBUF’s, at various rates.

Authors: Matthews, H. S.; Fischbeck, P. S.; Yuan, C.; Fan, Z.; Lyu, L.; Acharya, P. S.

Fuel a Greener Future

3/1/2021

This report outlines the importance of utilizing all available low-carbon heavy-duty transport options available today to dramatically lower overall transportation-related pollution and shares important information about the availability of domestically sourced renewable natural gas vehicle and fueling technology.

U.S. Airport Infrastructure and Sustainable Aviation Fuel

2/26/2021

Worldwide, aviation accounts for 2% of all manmade carbon dioxide emissions and 12% of all transportation CO2 emissions In 2018, the U.S. accounted for 25% of the world jet fuel consumption and 21% of global enplanements. Airports and airlines are considering alternative fuel to meet environmental and sustainability goals and mandates. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), made from non-petroleum feedstocks, has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from air transportation. SAF must be blended with petroleum based jet fuel prior to its use in aircraft. This report explores background information on jet fuel use, quality standards and best practices, airport infrastructure, and options for delivering SAF to airports.

Authors: Moriarty, K. and Kvien A.

Essential Energy: 2021 Ethanol Industry Outlook

2/17/2021

RFA's Ethanol Industry Outlook is an annual publication for information on America's ethanol industry. It provides thoughtful analysis of current issues facing the industry, along with current facts and statistics about the production and use of fuel ethanol.

Notes:

This copyrighted publication can be accessed on the Renewable Fuels Association website.

Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions of Ethanol with the GREET Model

2/17/2021

This presentation is from the 2021 National Ethanol Conference on February 17, 2021, and it covers using the GREET model and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with vehicles that run on ethanol.

Authors: Wang, M., Lee, U., Kwon, H., Xu, H.

User Perceptions of the Risks of Electric, Shared, and Automated Vehicles Remain Largely Unexplored

2/12/2021

Advocates of electric, shared, and automated vehicles (e-SAVs) envision a future in which people no longer need to drive their privately owned, petroleum-fueled vehicles. Instead, for daily travel they rely on fleets of electric, automated vehicles that offer travel services, including the option to share, or “pool,” rides with strangers. The design, deployment, and operation of e-SAVs will require widespread willingness of users to share with strangers vehicles that are capable of fully automated driving. To achieve the environmental and societal goals of e-SAVs it is critical to first understand and address safety and security concerns of potential and actual users. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, reviewed the literature to understand potential users’ perceptions of safety and security risks posed by intertwined social and technical systems of e-SAVs and proposed a framework to advance research, policy, and system design. This policy brief summarizes the findings of that work and provides policy implications.

Authors: Kurani, K.