A Deep Decarbonization Framework for the United States Economy – a Sector, Sub-Sector, and End-Use Based Approach
12/8/2023
Using the recently developed Decarbonization Analysis Model, this report analyzes the estimated greenhouse gas mitigation potential for projected energy demand based on several sector-level and cross-sectoral decarbonization pathways, including electrification, low-carbon fuels, and the reduction of fugitive emissions. The report analyzes the remaining projected emissions and highlights the need for developing low-carbon and carbon-negative alternatives to mitigate the fossil-based carbon emissions resulting from the fossil-based fuels in heavy-duty transportation.
Authors: Kar, S; Hawkins, T; Zaimes, G; Oke, D; Singh, U; Wu, X; Kwon, H; Zhang, S; Zang, G; Zhou, Y; Elgowainy, A; Wang, M; Ma, O
Electric Vehicle Program Designs and Strategies to Enhance Equitable Deployment
12/1/2023
This report synthesizes and categorizes information from more than five dozen sources published between 2015 and 2023 – including national, regional, and state-level electric vehicle charging station program summaries, as well as updates, policy briefs, proposals, whitepapers, and reports – and describes three key activities to support informed decision-making for equitable electric vehicle charging station programs: cultivating partnerships, identifying a community’s unique needs, and developing an iterative program design.
Authors: Ball, J; Forrester, S; Grayson, A; Satchwell, A
Evaluating EV Charger Reliability and Performance
12/1/2023
This report analyzes processes for measuring, verifying, and evaluating charger reliability and performance, including gaps in current processes. The report discusses the importance of easily obtainable charger reliability data as well as consistency and standardization of collecting and processing this data.
Authors: Blongewicz, K; Di Filippo, J; Latham, S
Charging Ahead: How Government Agencies Can Support the Electrification of Private Fleet Vehicles
12/1/2023
This toolkit is a resource for government agencies seeking ways to encourage private fleet operators and private sector stakeholders to transition to electric vehicles. It is designed to help government agencies consider, plan, coordinate, and support this adoption. Government agencies can use the toolkit to identify key partners, advance high-impact policy tools, and assist firms in pursuing or advancing fleet electrification.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, October 2023
11/29/2023
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for October 2023 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between October 1, 2023 and October 15, 2023, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 2 reports that the nationwide average price (all amounts are per gallon) for regular gasoline has increased 13 cents from $3.59 to $3.72; diesel increased 64 cents from $3.88 to $4.52; CNG decreased 1 cent from $2.86 to $2.85; ethanol (E85) increased 10 cents from $2.95 to $3.05; propane increased 4 cents from $3.25 to $3.29; and biodiesel (B20) increased 65 cents from $3.77 to $4.42.
According to Table 3, CNG is 87 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis and E85 is 24 cents more than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.
Authors: Bourbon, E.
Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economic Assessment of Current (2020) and Future (2030-2035) Technologies
11/1/2023
This study provides a comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA), or cradle-to-grave (C2G) analysis, of the cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a variety of vehicle-fuel pathways, the levelized cost of driving (LCD) and cost of avoided GHG emissions. The C2G analysis assesses light duty midsize sedans and small sport utility vehicles (SUVs) across a variety of vehicle-fuel technology pathways, including conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), flexible hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with varying vehicle ranges, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Authors: Kelly, J.C.; Elgowainy, A.; Isaac, R.; Ward, J.; Islam, E.; Rousseau, A.; Sutherland, I.; Wallington, T.J.; Alexander, M.; Muratori, M.; Franklin, M.; Adams, J.; Rustagi, N.
Cold Weather Impacts on Electric School Buses
11/1/2023
School bus fleets considering electric school buses (ESBs) can start here to learn how cold weather impacts ESBs and considerations for optimizing bus performance when temperatures drop. ESBs are proven to operate effectively in cold weather; however, cold temperatures will impact their range and efficiency. School bus fleets can effectively manage these impacts on ESB operations by considering effective safeguards during deployment planning.
Charge Up Your Town: Best Management Practices to Ensure Your Town is EV Ready
11/1/2023
With a goal of reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2006 levels by 2050, the State of New Jersey is making a concerted effort to electrify its transportation sector, which currently produces over 40% of the state’s emissions. This paper provides a case study on how state governments can support local municipalities in successfully converting to light-duty electric vehicle (EV) fleets and installing adequate electric vehicle supply/service equipment (EVSE). As municipalities are often in charge of installing EVSE across New Jersey, local government understanding of statewide ordinances, EV charging station installation requirements, and available financial incentives is imperative towards achieving statewide emissions reduction targets. Other state and local governments can adapt this guide to meet their own parameters.
Grid Capacity – What is it, What Determines it, Does One Number Work, and How Does it Relate to Electric Vehicles?
11/1/2023
Electrical power is used in many facets of modern life and electricity demand continues to grow. The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), migration from natural gas to electric heat pumps, and other decarbonization efforts are expected to grow this demand even further. With this increased demand, questions arise on if the power grid can handle this load and questions of “grid capacity” emerge. This report discusses common questions about what grid capacity is and how EVs impact grid capacity.
Authors: Tuffner, F
Exploring Decarbonization Pathways for USA Passenger and Freight Mobility
10/30/2023
Passenger and freight travel account for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today. This report explores pathways to reduce transportation emissions under bounding assumptions on future travel behavior, technology advancement, and policies. Results show diverse routes to 80% or more well-to-wheel GHG reductions by 2050. Rapid adoption of zero-emission vehicles coupled with a clean electric grid is essential for deep decarbonization. Increased sustainable biofuel usage is also essential for decarbonizing aviation and to support legacy vehicles during the transition. Managing travel demand growth can ease this transition by reducing the need for clean electricity and sustainable fuels.
Authors: Hoehne, C; Muratori, M; Judan, P; Bush, B; Yip, A; Ledna, C; Vimmerstedt, L; Podkaminer, K; Ma, O
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Trends from the Alternative Fueling Station Locator: Second Quarter 2023
10/16/2023
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure continues to rapidly change and grow. Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator, this report provides a snapshot of the state of EV charging infrastructure in the United States in the second calendar quarter of 2023 by charging level, network, and location. Additionally, this report measures the current state of charging infrastructure compared with a federal infrastructure requirement scenario. This information is intended to help transportation planners, policymakers, researchers, infrastructure developers, and others understand the rapidly changing landscape of EV charging infrastructure. This is the fourteenth report in a series.
Authors: Brown, A.; Cappellucci, J.; White, E.; Heinrich, A.; Cost, E.
Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide (Sixth Edition)
9/22/2023
This document is a guide for those who blend, distribute, and use biodiesel and biodiesel blends. It provides basic information on the proper and safe use of biodiesel and biodiesel blends in engines and boilers, and is intended to help fleets, individual users, blenders, distributors, and those involved in related activities understand procedures for handling and using biodiesel fuels.
Authors: McCormick, R; Moriarty, K.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, July 2023
9/21/2023
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for July 2023 is a quarterly report on the prices of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue describes prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between July 1, 2023 and July 15, 2023, and then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions and among regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and state motor fuel taxes.
Table 2 reports that the nationwide average price (all amounts are per gallon) for regular gasoline has decreased 10 cents from $3.69 to $3.59; diesel decreased 37 cents from $4.25 to $3.88; CNG decreased 13 cents from $2.99 to $2.86; ethanol (E85) decreased 3 cents from $2.98 to $2.95; propane decreased 38 cents from $3.63 to $3.25; and biodiesel (B20) decreased 25 cents from $4.02 to $3.77.
According to Table 3, CNG is 73 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis and E85 is 25 cents more than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.
Authors: Bourbon, E.