Publications

Clean Cities and Communities Partnership 2023 Activity Report

1/16/2025

Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) partnership within the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Technology Integration (TI) Program. CC&C advances clean transportation nationwide through collaboration with communities by building partnerships with public and private stakeholders to create equitable deployment of clean transportation solutions that advance the nation’s environment, energy security, and economic prosperity. 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 partnership activities based on data and information provided in their 2023 annual reports.

Authors: Singer, M.; Johnson, C.; Wilson, A.; Reichelt, L.; Abdullah, M.; Downs Dybas, N.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

1/9/2025

A hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is two to three times more efficient than a comparable vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine running on gasoline. Because of their efficient operation, FCEVs can travel long distances with less fueling. A FCEV also produces clean tailpipe exhaust, emitting only water vapor and warm air. FCEVs have driving ranges of more than 300 miles per tank of hydrogen. Drivers can fuel their FCEVs in less than five minutes at a dispenser that looks and feels similar to gasoline dispensers except for the high-pressure gaseous connection. In addition, FCEVs are propelled by an electric motor, so they are very quiet, have very few moving parts and fewer fluids to change, and have minimal maintenance requirements overall.

Model Year 2025: Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles

1/1/2025

This document lists the model, vehicle type, engine size, and fuel economy of a variety of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

Model Year 2025 Fuel Economy Guide: EPA Fuel Economy Estimates

12/4/2024

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.

The 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Fuel Economy, and Technology since 1975

11/1/2024

This report represents the 50th in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Automotive Trends Report series, which provides the U.S. public with up-to-date information on light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and manufacturers’ performance in meeting the agency’s GHG emissions standards. This edition of the Automotive Trends Report series covers 50 years of fleetwide trends, vehicle attributes and technologies, and manufacturer GHG program compliance.

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.

Model Year 2024: Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles

1/1/2024

This document lists the model, vehicle type, engine size, and fuel economy of a variety of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.