Publications

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Fleet and Baseline Performance Testing

4/3/2006

The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) conducts baseline performance and fleet testing of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). To date, the AVTA has completed baseline performance testing on 7 HEV models and accumulated 1.4 million fleet testing miles on 26 HEVs. Tested models include: Toyota Gen I and Gen II Prius, and Highlander; Honda Insight, Civic and Accord; Chevrolet Silverado; Ford Escape; and Lexus RX 400h. The baseline performance testing includes dynamometer and closed track testing to document the HEV's fuel economy and performance in a controlled environment. During fleet testing, two of each HEV model were driven to 160,000 miles per vehicle. At the conclusion of the 160,000 miles of fleet testing, fuel economy tests were rerun and each HEV battery pack was tested. The paper discusses the testing methods and results.

Authors: Francfort, J.; Karner, D.; Harkins, R.; Tardiolo, J.

Notes: Paper is available for purchase from SAE.

King County Metro Transit Hybrid Articulated Buses: Interim Evaluation Results

4/1/2006

This is an interim technical report comparing and evaluating new diesel and diesel hybrid-electric articulated buses operated as part of the King County Metro Transit fleet in Seattle, Washington. This report covers the first six months of a planned 12-month evaluation.

Authors: Chandler, K., Walkowicz, K.

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - February 2006

2/1/2006

The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report provides regional alternative and conventional fuel prices for biodiesel, compressed natural gas, ethanol, hydrogen, propane, gasoline, and diesel. The Alternative Fuel Price Report is a snapshot in time of retail fuel prices.

Credit for New Qualified Alternative Motor Vehicles (Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicles and Qualified Hybrid Motor Vehicles)

1/13/2006

On January 13, 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance regarding the tax credits for light-duty (less than 8,500 lbs. GVWR) lean-burn and hybrid electric vehicles. The guidance establishes the procedures that manufacturers must use to certify that their vehicles qualify for the tax credit. The IRS plans to issue additional guidance at a later date to address procedures for qualifying alternative fuel vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and heavy-duty hybrid vehicles.

The guidance provides procedures whereby a manufacturer may certify to the IRS that its vehicles qualify for the tax credits enacted in EPAct 2005. The guidance also provides procedures for reporting on the total number of qualifying vehicles that have been sold. Upon receiving the required information, the IRS will issue an acknowledgement. A manufacturer that has submitted the proper certification and received an acknowledgement from the IRS may then certify to customers/puchasers that the vehicles qualify for tax credits. For taxpayers to claim the credit, they must place the vehicle in service after December 31, 2005. The taxpayer also must be the original user of the vehicle (first purchaser or lessee) and the vehicle must be predominately used in the U.S.

FAA Inherently Low Emission Airport Vehicle Pilot Program

1/1/2006

This document is the Federal Aviation Administration's final report for the Inherently Low Emissions Airport Vehicle Pilot Program (ILEAV). The report describes the current level of ILEAV project activity based on information provided by participating airport sponsors in their progress reports of Sept. 30, 2005. The ILEAV program produced a total investment of over $14 million in airport low-emission technology, including federal grant and local matching contributions. The lessons learned from the ILEAV program have been valuable to the FAA and its development of new air quality initiatives.

Beyond a Billion: Clean Cities Coalitions Have Displaced More than a Billion Gallons of Gasoline

10/1/2005

Fact sheet describing how Clean Cities portfolio elements displaced a billion gallons of petroleum.

Energy Policy Act of 2005

8/8/2005

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) included measuring governing energy efficiency, renewable energy, oil and gas use, clean coal power, nuclear energy, and vehicles and fuels including the use of alternative fuels, hybrid vehicles, fuel cell buses, clean fuel school buses, automobile efficiency, and diesel emissions reduction.

Authors: Public Law 109-58, 109th Congress

Overview of Advanced Technology Transportation, 2005 Update

8/1/2005

This overview of the 2005 transportation market includes hybrid, fuel cell, hydrogen, and alternative fuel vehicles. It covers vehicle sales, emissions, potential partners, advanced technology vehicle availability, and other factors. It also offers a "snapshot" of current vehicle technologies and trends.

Authors: Barnitt, R.; Eudy, L.

Yosemite Waters Vehicle Evaluation Report: Final Results

8/1/2005

This study was a joint effort between the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The overall goal of the project was to evaluate the use of gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel in combination with passive catalytic regenerative particle filters in real-world service and characterize regulated and unregulated exhaust pollutant emissions from GTL fuel in comparison to petroleum-derived diesel fuel.

Authors: Eudy, L.; Barnitt, R.; Alleman, T.

Knoxville Area Transit: Propane Hybrid Electric Trolleys

4/1/2005

This fact sheet examines the use of propane hybrid electric trolleys by Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) on its Red Line Route.

Travel Matters: Mitigating Climate Change with Sustainable Surface Transportation

11/7/2003

TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 93: Travel Matters - Mitigating Climate Change with Sustainable Surface Transportation presents information on climate change and examines how greenhouse gas emissions from transportation may be reduced. The report also looks at the capacity of public transportation to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Authors: Feigon, S.; Hoyt, D.; McNally, L.; Mooney-Bullock, R.; Campbell, S.; Leach, D.

Notes: Copies of this document can be downloaded from the Transportation Research Board Website at: http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?ID=2071

Challenges and Experiences with Electric Propulsion Transit Buses in the United States

11/1/2003

This document provides background for transit agencies and other fleets that are considering the use of electric propulsion technologies. It tells potential users what to expect and what to plan for when implementing vehicles with electric propulsion systems (such as dedicated electric vehicles, hybrids, and even fuel cells) into their fleets. This document also addresses the unique issues that electrical integration can pose for fleet personnel and points to the similarities between implementing electric propulsion and any other significant new technology.

Authors: Eudy, L.; Gifford, M.

The Energy Smart Guide to Campus Cost Savings

7/1/2003

With 4,000-plus accredited, degree-granting institutions of postsecondary education in the U.S. and its outlying areas, energy efficiency improvements are impacting millions of students, faculty and staff. NACUBO and APPA are proud to have worked with the United States Department of Energy to bring you this resource guide, which is intended to give our members realworld input on a number of critical energy efficiency issues facing us today. It's also meant to alert our members to new opportunities to save both money and energy, while strengthening your institutions' contributions to environmental responsibility. And as such, it is part of our continuing services to our members. Our goal, as always, is to bring you up-to-date information you can use to make the difficult and important decisions that you face every day.

MTA New York City Transit

3/1/2003

The Role of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) is to bridge the gap between R&D of advanced vehicle technologies and commercial availability. This fact sheet examines testing activity for New York City Transit's fleet of diesel electric hybrid buses.

Model Year 2003: Alternative Fuel Vehicles Available or Nearing Completion

8/27/2002

This document provides facts and figures for all model year 2003 alternative fuel vehicles available to fleet buyers and the general public to lease or purchase.

Authors: Coene, N.