Quantifying the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Gap Across U.S. Markets
1/23/2019
The electrification of the United States vehicle market continues, with the most growth occurring in markets where barriers are addressed through policy, charging infrastructure, and consumer incentives. This report quantifies the gap in charging infrastructure from what was deployed through 2017 to what is needed to power more than 3 million expected electric vehicles by 2025, consistent with automaker, policy, and underlying market trends. Based on the expected growth across the 100 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas, this report estimates the amount of charging of various types that will be needed to power these vehicles.
Authors: Nicholas; M.; Hall, D.; Lutsey, N.
MOVES Activity Updates Using Fleet DNA Data: Interim Report
1/16/2019
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) is a publicly available tool used by researchers and policy makers to help understand motor vehicle emission sources at national, county, and project levels. However, estimates of heavy-duty activity (MOVES2014), have been identified as areas needing improvement. The start activities in MOVES2014 are calculated using a limited data set, prompting the concern that inventory values are not representative. In addition, MOVES2014 is believed to underestimate heavy-duty activity that is not captured in the current drive cycles used to represent on-network activity. For example, MOVES2014 does not account for work-day idling activity that takes place on off-network roads, such as at a distribution center while the truck is queuing or during loading and unloading. Under the guidance and expertise of the EPA, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has leveraged its extensive Fleet DNA database of heavy-duty vehicles to reinforce the data set behind the next-generation MOVES model and enhance idle activity and start fractions using six heavy-duty vehicle classes. The data available in Fleet DNA from 420 conventional, diesel powered vehicles provided over 120,000 hours of operation. Start fraction, soak fraction, and idle fraction by hour of the day were derived for each source type, state, and vocation, and results were provided in the form of .CSV files representing MOVES table inputs. This midterm report details these results providing graphical analysis and context for the start, soak, and idle distributions.
Authors: Kotz, A.; Kelly, K.
When Does Electrifying Shared Mobility Make Economic Sense?
1/14/2019
Over the past several years, the reach and use of shared vehicles has expanded significantly throughout the United States, particularly in large metropolitan areas. Use of ride-hailing fleets, often referred to as transportation network companies, is especially on the rise. The deployment of plug-electric vehicles (PEVs) has accelerated in many of the same urban areas experiencing growth in shared mobility. This report assesses the timing of cost-effectively electrifying shared mobility fleets in U.S. cities, with a focus on ride-hailing. The study includes a total cost of operation metric for conventional vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and PEVs in eight U.S. cities to assess changing purchase and operating costs through 2025.
Authors: Pavlenko, N.; Slowik, P.; Lutsey, N.
Notes:
This copyrighted publication can be accessed on The International Council on Clean Transportation's website.
Technology Maintenance Readiness Guide for Zero-Emission Buses
1/10/2019
Transit agencies all over the United States are deploying zero-emission buses (ZEBs), including battery electric buses and fuel cell electric buses. Air quality is the primary driver for adopting ZEBs, especially in states where legislation has been passed to regulate vehicle emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy, through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), tracks the progress of these advanced technologies as they are being developed and demonstrated. NREL works with transit agencies and their manufacturing partners to conduct independent third-party evaluations to validate performance under real-world service and report on the status of the technologies toward entering the market. The results are intended to help transit agencies understand the technology status and make informed purchase decisions.
Increasing Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Deployment: Electricity Rate Design and Site Host Options
1/1/2019
Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) provide customer, environmental, energy grid, and national security benefits. However, limited access to charging infrastructure remains a major hurdle to more rapid PEV adoption. While most PEV charging occurs at home, additional publicly located charging stations – both Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast charging stations – are needed. This paper presents a range of options to increase the deployment of DC fast charging infrastructure, either through rate design or through implementation by the site host. Given the early stages of DC fast charging infrastructure deployment, learning-by-doing is an important option to consider.
Notes:
This copyrighted publication can be accessed through the Brattle Group's website.
Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2018
12/31/2018
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 2018 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year from August 2017 through July 2018.
Authors: Eudy, L.; Post, M.
Model Year 2019 Fuel Economy Guide: EPA Fuel Economy Estimates
12/19/2018
The Fuel Economy Guide is published by the U.S. Department of Energy as an aid to consumers considering the purchase of a new vehicle. The Guide lists estimates of miles per gallon (mpg) for each vehicle available for the new model year. These estimates are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in compliance with Federal Law. By using this Guide, consumers can estimate the average yearly fuel cost for any vehicle. The Guide is intended to help consumers compare the fuel economy of similarly sized cars, light duty trucks and special purpose vehicles.
Model Year 2020 Fuel Economy Guide: EPA Fuel Economy Estimates
12/19/2018
The Fuel Economy Guide is published by the U.S. Department of Energy as an aid to consumers considering the purchase of a new vehicle. The Guide lists estimates of miles per gallon (mpg) for each vehicle available for the new model year. These estimates are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in compliance with Federal Law. By using this Guide, consumers can estimate the average yearly fuel cost for any vehicle. The Guide is intended to help consumers compare the fuel economy of similarly sized cars, light duty trucks and special purpose vehicles.
Zero-Emission Bus Evaluation Results: County Connection Battery Electric Buses
12/10/2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) supports the research, development, and demonstration of low- and zero-emission technology for transit buses. FTA funds research projects with a goal of facilitating commercialization of advanced technologies for transit buses that will increase efficiency and improve transit operations. DOT's Research, Development, and Technology Office (OST-R) also has an interest in zero-emission bus (ZEB) technology deployment and commercialization. OST-R is coordinating and collaborating with FTA on the evaluation process and results by providing funding to cover additional evaluations. FTA and OST-R are collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct in-service evaluations of advanced technology buses developed under its programs. NREL uses a standard evaluation protocol for evaluating the advanced technologies deployed under the FTA programs. FTA seeks to provide results from new technologies being adopted by transit agencies. The eight evaluations selected to date include battery electric buses (BEBs) and fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) from different manufacturers operating in fleets located in both cold and hot climates. The purpose of this report is to present the results from Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) deployment of four BEBs in Concord, California. NREL's evaluation of the BEBs at County Connection was funded by OST-R.
Authors: Eudy, L.; Jeffers, M.
The Plug-In Electric Vehicle Tax Credit
11/7/2018
Buyers of qualifying plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) may be able to claim a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. This fact sheet provides an overview of the PEV tax credit and briefly discusses relevant economic policy considerations.
Authors: Sherlock, M.F.
Clean Cities Coalitions 2016 Activity Report
10/10/2018
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) national network of Clean Cities Coalitions advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to promote the use of domestic fuels within transportation. The nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions, whose territory covers 80% of the U.S. population, bring together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to use alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction (IR) measures, fuel economy improvements, and new transportation technologies as they emerge. To ensure success, coalitions leverage a robust set of expert resources and tools provided by national laboratories and DOE. Each year, Clean Cities coordinators submit annual reports of their activities and accomplishments for the previous calendar year. Data and information are submitted via an online tool that is maintained as part of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Coordinators submit a range of data that characterize the membership, funding, projects, and activities of their coalitions. They also submit data about sales of alternative fuels; use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs); IR initiatives; fuel economy improvement activities; and programs to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). NREL analyzes the submitted data to determine how broadly energy use in the U.S. has shifted due to coalition activities, which are summarized in this report.
Authors: Johnson, C.; Singer, M.
Foothill Transit Agency Battery Electric Bus Progress Report, Data Period Focus: Jan. 2018 through Jun. 2018
10/8/2018
This report summarizes results of a battery electric bus (BEB) evaluation at Foothill Transit, located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles. Foothill Transit is collaborating with the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate the buses in revenue service. The focus of this evaluation is to compare the performance and the operating costs of the BEBs to that of conventional technology buses and to track progress over time. Previous reports documented results from April 2014 through December 2017. This report extends the data analysis through June 2018. NREL plans to publish progress reports on the Foothill Transit fleet every six months through 2020. performance and the operating costs of the BEBs to that of conventional technology buses and to track progress over time. Previous reports documented results from April 2014 through December 2017. This report extends the data analysis through June 2018. NREL plans to publish progress reports on the Foothill Transit fleet every six months through 2020.
Authors: Eudy, L.; Jeffers, M.
Value to the Grid from Managed Charging Based on California's High Renewables Study
10/1/2018
Managed charging of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) loads has the potential to use renewable energy more effectively, shave peak demand, and fill demand valleys while serving transportation needs. However, to date the potential value to the grid from managed charging has not been fully quantified. This paper quantifies value to the grid from managed charging by using three levels of managed loads for 13 terawatt-hours of annual load from three million PEVs in a 2030 California grid scenario.
Authors: Zhang, J.; Jorgenson, J.; Markel. T.; Walkowicz, K.
Notes: This IEEE Transactions on Power Systems article (Vol. 34, Issue 2, (March 2019): pp. 831-840) is copyrighted by IEEE and can be accessed through IEEE Xplore.