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At least 307 records · Page 17

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DOE OSTI2025

The Sensor Dilemma in Intelligent Transportation Systems: Evaluating Radar, Lidar and Camera: Preprint

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are at the forefront in advancing the way we interact with and perceive the transportation network. This revolution is fueled by the significant advancement in sensor perception technologies such as radar, lidar, and video imaging, which are the most popular modalities for ITS. Real-time perception data from these sensors allow intelligent infrastructure-side decision-making to improve the energy, efficiency, and safety at traffic intersections. As traffic departments across the United States transition from traditional loop detectors and emulators and embrace newer technologies, they are often left with a dilemma in choosing a sensor technology for infrastructure-based perception that is reliable, inexpensive, and easy to set up and that has robust performance in varying weather conditions. However, choosing a sensor that checks all these boxes is not straightforward, as every sensor type has unique benefits and drawbacks. Radar is excellent at detecting long-range vehicles and weather resistance but lacks high resolution. Lidar is expensive and weather-sensitive, while cameras provide rich visual data at a low cost but are constrained by lighting and visibility. This study examines radar, lidar, and camera sensor capabilities to ascertain whether any of these qualifies as the "best" sensor for ITS perception. While no single sensor can meet all the demands of ITS, a hybrid approach combining multiple sensor modalities like radar, lidar, and cameras offers the most robust solution for enhancing the safety and efficiency of ITS. Through this evaluation, we hope to draw attention to the necessity of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's infrastructure perception and control framework, which presents a multisensor track data fusion engine to assimilate multiple data streams in order to provide robust and reliable perception.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Design, Optimization, and Control of a 100 kW Electric Traction Motor Meeting or Exceeding DOE 2025 Targets

The overall objective of the electric motor portion of the Electric Drives Technology consortium is to research, develop, and test electric motors for use in electric vehicle applications capable of a peak power greater than 100 kW, power density greater than or equal to 50 kW/l, and a cost less than 3.3 $/kW. To meet the electric traction motor power density and cost targets a number of approaches were pursued simultaneously throughout the course of this project which address all of the major volumetric power density variables. The specific research thrusts at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) are the following: multiphysics design for increased power density through maximum utilization of active materials, synthesis of electric machine windings and PM flux barriers with controlled space harmonics, high slot fill windings for increased current loadings or efficiency, aggressive cooling strategies, and design studies and prototype construction of candidate electric machines.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2023

Electrified autonomous freight benefit analysis on fleet, infrastructure and grid leveraging Grid-Electrified Mobility (GEM) model

Fast-growing freight activities over the decades have become one of the major contributors to air pollution, leading to many efforts in freight decarbonization and electrification. However, the development of freight electrification is slow due to technological uncertainty, slow charging, high capital cost, etc. This paper analyzes the potential impact and benefit of heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) electrification and automation on fleet cost, infrastructure cost, the electricity grid, and environmental outcomes. In this work, we extended the vehicle electrification benefit analysis tool: Grid-Electrified Mobility (GEM) model, which had primarily been used to study light-duty passenger vehicles (LDVs), to analyze heavy-duty vehicle electrification. The extended model is derived for freight transportation electrification, and different freight electrification and automation adoption scenarios were analyzed. We find that the increased penetration of automated electric freight fleets within other types of electrified freight fleets from 1% to 99% will result in an overall cost reduction of 18.2%, fleet size reduction of 20.4%, and lower peak load reduction of 14.3%.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Economic Benefits of Alternative Fuels in Rural Alabama

This fact sheet provides an overview of potential alternative fuel vehicle operational cost savings, opportunities to generate revenue for the state and income for individuals, and several examples of alternative fuels supporting jobs in Alabama. Alternative transportation fuels could potentially provide economic benefits to rural Alabama by lowering operating costs for vehicle owners and creating new revenue streams and job opportunities for fuel providers, technicians, and dealerships. The use of electricity, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane) could result in reduced fuel costs and maintenance expenses for both public and private fleets, as well as individual consumers. Fleet operators often invest in private fueling infrastructure, while publicly accessible stations could attract traffic and commerce to local businesses and communities. Technicians capable of retrofitting alternative fuels and maintaining the vehicles and fueling infrastructure could develop business opportunities as well, but they require special training and often certifications. These cost savings and increased revenues may be recirculated through the economy and impact more than just the beneficiaries listed above.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2023

The Uniform Methods Project: Smart Thermostat Evaluation Protocol

A smart thermostat is an internet-connected device that controls home heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment and can automatically adjust temperature set points to optimize performance and achieve energy savings. Smart thermostat features often include two way communication, occupancy detection (such as geofencing and occupancy sensors), schedule learning, and seasonal optimization algorithms. Smart thermostats can control most conventional HVAC systems, including central air conditioners, heat pumps, and forced air furnaces. Several types of residential utility programs offer smart thermostats as replacements measures. Working with smart thermostat vendors, utilities can offer separate optimization programs to produce energy savings beyond those achieved by installing a smart thermostat. From an evaluation perspective, smart thermostat programs have several noteworthy features. First, the energy savings from a smart thermostat may change over the life of the device. As a smart thermostat is connected to the internet, original equipment manufacturers can update the thermostat software to improve the thermostat's energy efficiency. Likewise, users can adjust the thermostat settings and schedules over time in response to changes in weather, thermal comfort, energy prices, or preferences for energy efficiency. Additionally, many thermostat manufacturers offer seasonal optimization programs that recommend changes or make minor, automated adjustments to the thermostat settings to improve energy efficiency. These opt-in programs are now standard offerings for many smart thermostat manufacturers and provided at no additional cost to users. The potential for software updates and continuous optimization and the evolving nature of user interactions mean future energy savings may differ from first-year savings and the energy savings of smart thermostats may need to be evaluated more than once. Second, smart thermostats often have small unit energy savings relative to a home's total energy consumption, especially in comparison to whole- home retrofit programs. This can make it difficult to detect the smart thermostat savings in billing or advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meter consumption data. For example, as cooling loads in many regions average about 20% of annual electricity consumption, smart thermostat savings of 10% of cooling energy use would equate to a 2% reduction in home electricity consumption. Evaluators should use regression analysis of whole-home billing consumption or advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meter consumption data to evaluate smart thermostat savings because, as explained at greater length below , these data are usually available to evaluators and regression can control for the impacts of weather and other potentially confounding factors on a home's energy consumption. Finally, as with other energy efficiency programs, participation in smart thermostat programs is self-selective. As discussed at greater length below , smart thermostat participants tend to be, among other things, younger, higher-income, and more likely to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) and internet connected devices than nonparticipants. These differences are often unobservable to the evaluator and correlated with a home's energy consumption, creating the potential for bias in estimating savings. Due to the small unit savings of thermostats, errors and biases from self-selection that may not be very consequential when evaluating a whole- home retrofits (e.g., ±2% of home electricity consumption) can have a major impact when evaluating the savings and cost-effectiveness of smart thermostat programs. A percentage point change in the estimated savings could affect the cost-effectiveness of a program. This means it is important for evaluators to assess and to minimize the potential for error from selection bias in estimating smart thermostat program savings. The Uniform Methods Project provides model protocols for determining energy savings and demand reductions that result from specific energy efficiency measures implemented through state and utility programs. In most cases, the measure protocols are based on a particular option identified by the International Performance Verification and Measurement Protocol ; however, this work provides a more detailed approach to implementing that option. Each chapter is written by technical experts in collaboration with their peers, reviewed by industry experts, and subject to public review and comment. The UMP protocols can be used by utilities, program administrators, public utility commissions, evaluators, and other stakeholders for both program planning and evaluation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2024

On-Board AC Charging Topology Integrated with Electric Vehicle Motor Drive System

On-board AC charging is a convenient and widely adopted method for recharging electric vehicles (EVs) directly from standard alternating current (AC) power sources. This paper presents a novel topology for AC charging of EVs that utilizes EV 3-phase electric machine windings as the input inductors, thus eliminating the requirement for bulky grid interfacing inductors and resulting in a compact and cost-effective integrated motor drive and charger system. The proposed approach leverages the motor windings and parallel operating half-bridge inverter during the charging process by interconnecting the inverter phases with the motor windings in a mechanically interleaved and electrically paralleled manner. The implementation of this unique and innovative idea, achieved through precise control and arrangement of the motor winding as a series inductor, successfully eliminates the possibility of unintended motion of the electric machine during the charging process.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Key Performance Indicators for Vehicle Grid Integration

Electric vehicle (EV) sales account for a rapidly growing portion of the light-duty vehicle market and a portion of medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles. However, in many locations, charging stations will require costly utility grid upgrades with long lead times. Today, there are a few methods of smart charge management (SCM) which can reduce the costs and wait times for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) interconnection approvals, as well as reduce impacts of the charging stations on the grid and on EV driver transportation costs. It is crucial for the EV charging industry to understand the vehicle grid integration (VGI) requirements for EVSE to prevent adverse impacts from EVSE interconnections and assure that charging loads and interconnections are affordable.

33 - ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Heavy-Duty Truck Electrification and the Impacts of Depot Charging on Electricity Distribution Systems

Major technological advancements and recent policy support are improving the outlook for heavy-duty truck electrification in the United States. In particular, short-haul operations (=200 miles (=322 km)) are prevalent and early candidates for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) given their short, predictable routes and return-to-base applications, which allows vehicles to recharge when off shift at their depots. Although previous studies investigated the impacts of added electrical loads on distribution systems, which included light-duty EVs, the implications for heavy-duty EV charging are underexplored. Here we summarize the causes, costs and lead times of distribution system upgrades anticipated for depot charging. We also developed synthetic depot charging load profiles for heavy-duty trucks from real-world operating schedules, and found that charging requirements are met at common light-duty EV charging rates (=100 kW per vehicle). Finally, we applied depot charging load profiles to 36 distribution real-world substations, which showed that most can accommodate high levels of heavy-duty EV charging without upgrades.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2025

Federal Home-to-Work Electric Vehicle Program Guide

This document serves as a comprehensive resource for Federal agencies in developing their own program resources that promote the efficient and effective use of electric vehicles (EVs) for home-to-work travel while ensuring compliance with Federal regulations and sustainability objectives. One mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Fleet program is to help federal fleet managers meet or exceed statutory requirements related to energy and environmental performance while improving overall fleet efficiency, reducing costs, and meeting mission requirements. To further this mission, FEMP provides resources to support Federal agencies with increasing alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) acquisitions and reducing petroleum use. EVs are AFVs and help agencies meet federal fleet requirements. Federal fleets include government-owned EVs used for home-to-work travel. The purpose of this document is to serve as a guide for Federal agencies in developing their own internal program documents to manage government-owned EVs used for home-to-work travel. Federal agencies should consult their counsel and consider their own policies and authorities in the implementation of any policies or best practices regarding government-owned EVs used for home-to-work travel. The guide provides key considerations for agencies, including launching a pilot program to fine-tune best practices, conducting a cost-benefit analysis to compare home versus public charging, and exploring cost-effective solutions, such as installing standard outlets instead of dedicated charging stations. The guide underscores the importance of legal and financial considerations, such as verifying agency authority to install home charging infrastructure at an employee's home, ensuring the availability and appropriateness of using agency funds for home charging infrastructure, and understanding the tax implications of reimbursements.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Jumpstart Opportunities to Unleash Leadership in Energy Storage (JOULES)

Current-generation Li-ion batteries with cobalt- and nickel-containing cathodes and graphite anodes are approaching performance and cost limits. In this program, 24M Technologies, Inc. (24M) is teaming with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of Michigan (UM) to develop low cost and fast charging sodium metal batteries with good low-temperature performance and high energy density, building upon previous work performed under ARPA-E programs. Key achievements include optimization of solid electrolyte and anode current collector, optimized cathode active materials, development of high-performance electrolyte formulations, and integration of these components into full cells. The cell design incorporates (1) an ultra-thick cathode (>9 mAh/cm 2 ) comprising advanced cobalt-free, sodium cathode active material, (2) advanced fast-charging electrolyte (up to 12 mS/cm) developed using machine learning and automated high-throughput screening technology by UM, and (3) ceramic modified separator that enable smooth Na transport and deposition, developed at MIT, enabling a high-energy density anode-free configuration and maximizing the energy density of sodium batteries. The team has successfully combined these approaches to sodium chemistry and paved the way to meeting the fast-charging, high-energy density, and low-cost requirements of next-generation drone, electric vertical take-off and -landing, and electric vehicle batteries. Performance for anode-free sodium cells developed under this program is more powerful than the commercial Li-ion batteries. The final deliverable cell design has achieved over 300 Wh/kg and volumetric energy density above 800 Wh/L (Table 1). Additionally, the team has achieved over (1) a lifetime of 340 cycles, (2) 80% capacity retention at -20 °C (compared 25 °C), and (3) the ability to fast charge to 80% SOC in 20 minutes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Integrated Transportation-Energy Systems Modeling

Transportation is currently the least-diversified energy demand sector, with over 90% of global transportation energy use coming from petroleum product. After over a century of petroleum dominance, however, many leading experts anticipate major electrification trends that could disrupt the transportation energy demand landscape. These changes in electricity demand complement profound changes happening within electric power supply systems, including integration of variable renewables, distributed generation and storage, and greater participation in power system planning and operations from traditionally passive consumers. This broader context underscores the importance of understanding how transportation electrification will impact electricity demand, including changes in the load shapes that characterize the system and the opportunity to leverage flexible EV charging to more cost-effectively balance demand and supply. This talk provides an overview of recent findings on infrastructure requirements to support EV adoption, integration challenges and the impact of EV on power systems, and opportunities to leverage flexible (or smart) EV charging to support power system planning and operations.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY PLANNING, POLIC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Clean Cities Coalitions: 2022 Activity Report

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.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Multi-Functional Smart Structures for Smart Vehicles

This report summarizes the development of a new class of recyclable multi-functional composite materials for production of lightweight smart structures and surfaces. Functional high stiffness conductive composites were processed using molding methods that integrated continuous fiber and additively manufactured features. Methods for integration of sensing functionality and controls were also developed to reduce system cost while providing a new capability for structural health monitoring. This new class of composites is applicable to a broad range of vehicle interior, exterior and battery enclosure systems. By way of demonstration, a vehicle instrument panel cross car beam was developed that provided a 38% mass savings compared to steel while maintaining a cost penalty competitive to alternate lightweight material solutions. These technologies were validated for implementation by a uniquely qualified project team comprising a US automotive OEM, Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier, with key contributions from Oak Ridge National Lab, Purdue University and Michigan State University.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Gallium Oxide Techno-Economic Analysis for the Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Market

More than 30% of electrical energy passes through power electronics today with speculation that in the next decade this could grow to 80%. The wide bandgap semiconductor market is already approaching $1 billon USD in 2019 and is projected to be almost $7 billion USD in 2028. Even with its high cost, SiC, is starting to dislodge the incumbent Si technology in some applications, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, due to smaller size, and higher efficiency. We review and report the IHS Markit’s market predictions for wide bandgap semiconductor technologies, and highlight the technoeconomic analysis results for the manufacturing cost of Ga2O3 wafers. Specifically, we focus on the potential for Ga2O3 to be more economically advantageous than SiC using current manufacturing methods and then identify opportunities where research can further reduce the volume cost of Ga2O3 wafers.

28 EE - Advanced Manufacturing Office (EE-5A)↗

DOE OSTI2026

FleetREDI: Mail Delivery Class 6 Propane Trucks

Capturing real-world data is critical to reducing the barriers to technology advancement for commercial vehicles. FleetREDI’s insights provide detailed duty cycle information and highlight unique aspects of the given dataset. Each insight delivers a quick look at the collected data by summarizing the operation and identifying key findings of the initial analysis. This FleetREDI insight explores propane and diesel Class 6 mail delivery trucks. Propane-powered commercial vehicles can achieve the same duty cycles and match the power, acceleration, and cruising speeds of conventionally fueled vehicles. The primary goal of the project was to demonstrate alternative fuel vehicles in a mail transport application and evaluate the viability of propane as a cost-effective alternative to conventional diesel trucks. ![FleetREDI clean delivery trucks](FleetREDI-clean-delivery.jpg)

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2026