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U.S. EPA Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
9/1/2024
Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) contribute 25% of the U.S. transportation sector’s emissions. To reduce these emissions numbers, on April 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published new greenhouse gas emissions standards for HDVs, requiring a 60% emission reduction per ton-mile of freight moved by up to 60% for vocational trucks and up to 40% for tractor trucks by 2032 compared with 2027 levels. This report details the projected benefits of the EPA’s ruling and highlights key elements of the plan, such as the emissions standards themselves, as well as finances, fuel use, electric vehicle battery logistics, and more.
Authors: Yihao Xie
Hydrogen Policy's Narrow Path: Delusions & Solutions
8/27/2024
This report examines the growing hydrogen fuel industry within the U.S., providing key takeaways regarding hydrogen’s role in a clean economy, as well as a series of demand-side policy recommendations to boost hydrogen’s uptake in competitive areas, and its adoption in applications where hydrogen is less likely to compete with other alternative clean energy technologies. Where possible, the report offers technology-neutral policy recommendations to support a widescale expansion of hydrogen use. The report ultimately summarizes hydrogen’s use in 12 end-use sectors, detailing hydrogen’s emission reduction potential, infrastructure requirements, social impacts, and strengths and weaknesses.
Authors: Dan Esposito
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Multi-Year Program Plan
5/31/2024
The Multi-Year Program Plan sets forth the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office's (HFTO's) mission, goals, and strategic approach relative to broader clean energy priorities of the U.S. Department of Energy. Aligned with the priorities in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, the Multi-Year Program Plan identifies the challenges that must be overcome to realize the full potential of clean hydrogen and fuel cells and explains how HFTO's research, development, and demonstration activities will help to overcome those challenges in the near-, mid-, and longer-term.
Clean Cities and Communities Overview
4/26/2024
Clean Cities and Communities is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) partnership to advance clean transportation nationwide. More than 75 DOE-designated Clean Cities and Communities coalitions work locally in urban, suburban, and rural communities to strengthen the nation's environment, energy security, and economic prosperity. As partners with DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office, coalitions work to deploy affordable, efficient, and clean transportation; energy efficient mobility systems; and fuel-saving technologies and practices.
National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy
3/1/2024
This report details the United States strategy for accelerating the sustainable and scalable deployment of reliable zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) infrastructure along national freight corridors and at truck depots within freight hubs through 2040. The strategy is designed to guide infrastructure deployment to meet market demands, catalyze investments, and support utility and regulatory planning. This document identifies current opportunities for the early introduction of ZE-MHDVs, evaluates deployment factors that target favorable investment areas, and demonstrates how infrastructure can be phased in around the country, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration and a multi-tier government approach.
Authors: Chu, K; Miller, K; Schroeder, A; Gilde, A; Laughlin, M
Levelized Cost of Dispensed Hydrogen for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
3/1/2024
This short technical report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) examines a range of levelized costs of dispensed hydrogen (H2) from hydrogen refueling (or fueling) stations (HRS) for H2 heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). NREL presents a cost range for infrastructure feasible within the 2030 timeframe and explores different scenarios by varying hydrogen delivery distances, HRS sizes, HRS utilization rates, and economies of scale in the Hydrogen Delivery Scenario Analysis Model (HDSAM) tool. These comparisons reflect how different supply chain components affect the levelized cost of dispensed hydrogen.
Authors: Justin Bracci; Mariya Koleva; Mark Chung
Simulation-Based Assessment of Energy Consumption of Alternative Powertrains in Agricultural Tractors
2/27/2024
This report developed simulation models for conventional, parallel hybrid electric, series hybrid electric, fuel cell hybrid, and battery electric powertrain technologies for agricultural tractors, analyzing the potential energy efficiency and emissions benefits as well as technical challenges for implementing the vehicles. The study showed that both the battery electric and fuel cell hybrid tractors have higher potential to reduce energy consumption and emissions, but currently have inherent technical challenges, while the parallel hybrid and series hybrid powertrain tractors have varying energy efficiency benefits depending on the tractor size and operating cycle conditions.
Authors: Lajunen, A; Kivekas, K; Freyermuth, V; Vijayagopal, R; Kim, N
Hydrogen and the Global Energy Transition - Path to Sustainability and Adoption across All Economic Sectors
2/8/2024
This article analyzes the role of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the global energy transition, providing an overview of current hydrogen technology and its applications across various industries, including transportation. Additionally, the article discusses the need for policy makers, industries, and researchers to collaborate to allow hydrogen technology to reach its full potential.
Authors: Cheekatamarla, P
Clean Cities Coalitions 2022 Activity Report
1/29/2024
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’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 emissions. This report summarizes the success and impact of coalition activities based on data and information provided in their annual reports.
Authors: Singer, M.; Johnson, C.; Wilson, A.
AFLEET Assesses Vehicle, Fuel, and Infrastructure Impacts
12/13/2023
AFLEET is a free tool from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that fleet managers can use to quantify the environmental and economic impacts of new fuels and vehicle technologies. The AFLEET fact sheet explains how the tool works and how to access it.
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.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Usage and Owner Demographics in New York State
8/1/2023
With mounting concerns over climate change and the environmental impact of fossil fuels, the United States has witnessed a growing interest in alternative fuel vehicles (AFV). This report presents the results of an analysis of AFV adoption patterns in New York State and the rest of the United States based on data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey. Overall, the report reveals the demographics and mobility factors (e.g., household income, homeownership, and trip length) that contribute to the adoption of AFVs. The insights identified in this report can inform policy decisions aimed at promoting sustainable transportation solutions.
Authors: Pan, M; Uddin, M; Biehl, A; Hwang, H
Road to Zero: Research and Industry Perspectives on Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles
5/19/2023
Medium-and heavy-duty vehicles comprise only a small fraction of on-road vehicles, yet disproportionately contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This report provides an overview of the status, opportunities, challenges, and uncertainties for commercial zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). A bright outlook for ZEVs is identified, and the report discusses remaining ZEV barriers and uncertainties around fleet decisions and changes to vehicle operation, infrastructure, manufacturing, and future fuel and technology trends that can be informed through analysis.
Authors: Muratori, M; Borlaug, B; Ledna, C; Jadun, P; Kailas, A
