Publications

Electric Vehicle Efficiency Ratios for Light-Duty Vehicles Registered in the United States

3/1/2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are more energy efficient than gasoline vehicles, a primary attribute enabling other benefits such as improved torque and reduced operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. An EV efficiency ratio (EVER) represents the distance a given amount of energy propels an EV divided by the distance it propels a gasoline vehicle, which is important when calculating the financial and environmental benefits of EVs. Researchers have been indirectly estimating EVERs since at least 2007, but most estimates came from small fleets or vehicle simulators. This paper improves upon these estimates by calculating the EVER for all 2021 light-duty vehicles registered in the United States and benchmarks EVERs across various vehicle classes, drive systems, drive cycles, and horsepower-to-weight ratios.

Authors: Singer, M; Johnson, C; Rose, E; Nobler, E; Hoopes, L

Home Charging Access and the Implications for Charging Infrastructure Costs in the United States

3/1/2023

As the electric vehicle market expands, substantial investment in home, workplace, and public charging infrastructure will be necessary. This analysis shows how additional efforts to expand home charging access can lead to overall reductions in the total costs required to deploy the necessary charging ecosystem.

Authors: Pierce, L.; Slowik, P.

Notes:

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

Bioenergy Technology Office Multi-Year Program Plan

3/1/2023

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) works alongside national laboratories, universities, and private industry partners to advance clean energy technologies sourced from renewable carbon resources. This Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP) establishes BETO’s missions and goals, while also identifying strategic approaches to the Office’s research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) plans. Included in these plans are initiatives to decarbonize multiple sectors of the U.S. economy, de-risk relevant technologies, create jobs and economic opportunities, and increase participation in the continued development and use of clean energy technologies. This MYPP is at once an internal, operational guide, as well as a resource to communicate BETO’s mission and goals to stakeholders and to the public.

Charging for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks

3/1/2023

This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Megawatt Charging System and SAE J3271 for heavy-duty electric trucks.

Authors: Bohn, T.

The Costs and Challenges of Installing Corridor DC Fast Chargers in California

2/13/2023

This study investigates the feasibility and cost considerations associated with establishing a national network of direct current (DC) fast charging infrastructure to support long-distance travel using electric vehicles (EVs). Specifically, it focuses on the optimal placement of these charging facilities along major transportation corridors in California, aiming to ensure convenient access for EV drivers without significant deviations from their planned routes. The study delves into the diverse project costs involved in installing and commissioning 54 DC fast charging stations at 36 distinct sites, highlighting significant cost variations influenced by various factors. Additionally, the research explores the unique challenges and complexities of infrastructure investments in remote, underserved communities adjacent to highways, as opposed to more conventional urban settings with shared utility infrastructure. It also examines the potential cost reduction strategies, such as early collaboration with local electrical utilities and the cost-effectiveness of grid-connected DC fast charging designs compared to off-grid solar-powered alternatives with onsite storage.

Authors: Gamage, T; Tal, G; Jenn, A

Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Battery Life Cycle Management

2/1/2023

As the key component powering electric vehicles (EVs), batteries are poised to play a major role in making cleaner transportation while addressing climate change and improving environmental quality. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the default choice for EV batteries, a trend that is predicted to remain well into the future. The objective of this report is to inform all EV battery stakeholders of global initiatives, challenges, and opportunities for optimum EV battery life cycle management and to encourage collaboration to support a sustainable EV battery industry well into the future. This report is divided into two major sections: (1) technical aspects of recycling and reuse and (2) regulations, initiatives, and stakeholder perspectives.

Authors: Pesaran, A; Roman, L; Kincaide, J

Impacts of Regional Air Mobility and Electrified Aircraft on Airport Electricity Infrastructure and Demand

2/1/2023

The U.S. aviation system is an important part of the nation’s economy, transporting hundreds of millions of passengers and billions of pounds of freight annually. In the coming decades, air transportation of people and cargo is set to expand; however, several challenges currently face the aviation sector, including achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, serving larger populations through regional and local airports, managing aircraft noise, and reducing the cost of operations. This report summarizes an analysis of the electrical infrastructure that might be necessary to serve electric aircraft at a subset of airports where potential electric aircraft flight demand has been provided. Additionally, an estimate for the amount of on-site distributed energy resources that could be used to serve electric aircraft in cost-effective scenarios is provided.

Authors: Cox, J.; Harris, T.; Krah, K.; Morris, J.; Li, X.; Cary, S.

Propane Fueling Infrastructure Trends: A Decade in Review

1/31/2023

This report provides information on propane fueling infrastructure and industry trends over the last 10 years. It is informed primarily by propane fueling station location data collected through the Alternative Fuels Data Center's Alternative Fueling Station Locator from 2011 through 2021. Industry stakeholders, including the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and other members of the Alternative Fuels Data Center Station Locator Propane Working Group, also provided data and additional context around trends seen in the data.

Authors: Brown, A.; Schayowitz, A..; White, E.; Carlson, D.

Clean Cities Coalitions 2021 Activity Report

1/24/2023

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) works with local Clean Cities coalitions across the country as part of its Technology Integration Program. These efforts help businesses and consumers make smarter and more informed transportation energy choices that can save energy, lower costs, provide resilience through fuel diversification, and reduce air emissions. This report summarizes the success and impact of coalition activities based on data and information provided in their annual progress reports.

Authors: Singer, M.; Johnson, C.; Wilson, A.

E85 Fueling Infrastructure Trends: A Decade in Review

1/12/2023

This report provides information on ethanol fueling infrastructure and industry trends over the last 10 years. It is informed primarily by ethanol fueling station location data collected through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Station Locator from 2011 through 2021 (AFDC 2021a). Industry stakeholders, including the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, also provided data and additional context around trends seen in the data.

Authors: Brown, A.; Erickson, H.; White, E.

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, October 2022

1/11/2023

The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report for October 2022 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, 2022 and October 15, 2022, 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 65 cents from $4.70 to $4.05; diesel decreased 47 cents from $5.64 to $5.17; CNG increased 12 cents from $2.76 to $2.88; ethanol (E85) decreased 75 cents from $3.93 to $3.18; propane decreased 24 cents from $3.79 to $3.55; and biodiesel (B20) decreased 45 cents from $5.34 to $4.89.

According to Table 3, CNG is $1.17 less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis and E85 is 8 cents more than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.

Authors: Bourbon, E.

Road Map to a U.S. Hydrogen Economy

1/2/2023

Since 1969, America has remained a leader in fuel cell and hydrogen technology, commercializing a wide range of technologies that produce, deliver, store, and utilize hydrogen across applications and sectors. Today, the hydrogen industry as well as the US are at a crossroads as the country’s energy future is determined. Hydrogen is a unique energy carrier with applications across sectors, and its use in the United States could provide many benefits.

Connecting Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure to Commercial Buildings

1/2/2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing in popularity and gaining meaningful market share with record sales year over year in the last decade. EV charging equipment must proportionally match the growing number of new EVs on the road for a comparable experience to gas-powered vehicles. The majority of EV charging currently happens at residential buildings. However, demand for EV charging at commercial buildings will significantly increase with wider mainstream EV adoption and as businesses return to more normal operation following COVID-19 pandemic disruptions. This document describes how EV charging equipment can be connected to commercial buildings, including considerations for facility managers, and the effects that charging will have on the buildings electrical distribution system.

The EPA Automotive Trends Report: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Fuel Economy, and Technology since 1975

1/2/2023

This annual report summarizes information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the agency’s GHG emissions standards.

The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization

1/2/2023

The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization provides a roadmap for how the United States can address the climate crisis to provide better transportation options, expand affordable and accessible options to improve efficiency, and transition to zero-emission vehicles and fuels. It offers a whole-of-government approach to transform the transportation sector and sets forth an interagency call to action to coordinate and work effectively together.