Search Projects

EV Market Stimulation in Divested Economies

This project supports EV purchases, charging station installations, and outreach efforts to notify communities of these resources. The funds will help small businesses and rural cities accelerate their transition to electric vehicles in Missouri and Kansas. The project includes eight partner businesses and municipalities operating within Kansas and Missouri environmental justice areas, opportunity zones, and other underserved areas. The project includes deployment as well as an innovative 15% cost share "overmatch" from its eight core funding recipients, which is leverage to implement a small grants program for underserved communities. These grant recipients will be able to define project features guiding local benefit like installing public EV charging stations in parking lots and curbsides near multi-unit residential complexes and retail businesses. The small grants program will place EV charging stations within underserved or rural areas that feel the effects of environmental justice issues. Diesel emissions from heavy-duty vehicles and off-road machinery contribute to early deaths, asthma rates, and family illness, keeping people away from jobs and school. Those are just some of the health and social impacts from diesel fumes that affect the community members the Metropolitan Energy Center serves. The project launched in March 2022. To learn more about the project or available funding, contact Miriam Bouallegue.

Learn more about the 2021 Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projects.

EVSE innovation: streetlight charging in the city right-of-way

The objective of this project is to expand the availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging at low cost in urban settings using existing electrical infrastructure on the streetlight system to provide on-street EV charging, as well as charging for multi-family dwelling units (MFDU).

Learn more about the 2018 Vehicle Technologies Program-Wide Research Projects.

EVs in Paradise

The project published a plan to develop and implement a permitting process, incentives, policies, and a renewable energy grid system analysis for the expeditious and sustainable deployment of EVs and charging infrastructure. The plan helps provide a model that can be adapted for broader application across the State of Hawaii.

Learn more about the Electric Vehicle Community Readiness.

EVZion: East Zion National Park Electric Vehicle Shuttle System Plan

EVZion demonstrates a small-scale, environmentally sound, zero-emission, electric vehicle shuttle system through a small gateway community and the east entrance of Zion National Park (ZNP). This high-tech, electric shuttle pilot and demonstration project involves national laboratory data collection, industry partner road testing in extreme climate fluctuations, and local community leadership. This nationally recognized project is intended to support the sustainability goals of ZNP along with the economic and environmental resilience objectives of rural gateway communities. EVZion is designed for universal scalability with deployment in other high-traffic, environmentally sensitive national and state parks throughout the United States. This pilot proposes positive strategies and smart mobility solutions through the design of an electrified and resilient park touring transportation system.

For more information on this project, check the Technology Integration 2020 Annual Report or Annual Merit Review presentation.

Learn more about the 2019 Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research.

Fast Track to Ohio AFV Adoption

The Fast Track to Ohio AFV Adoption project streamlined local and state processes for alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) procurement; incorporate AFVs into local Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs); created a compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder tracking system and Renewable Natural Gas Credit Purchase system; delivered technical and safety workshops on various fuels; and expanded the Ohio Green Fleets program and the Ohio Natural Gas Vehicle and Propane Partnerships.

Learn more about the Alternative Fuel Market Project Awards.

Field Demonstration of a Near-Zero, Tier 5 Compliant, Natural Gas Hybrid Line-Haul Locomotive

Currently, railroads are operating inefficient legacy diesel locomotives with emissions substantially higher than proposed Tier 5 requirements that are costly to maintain. Reducing criteria pollutants is of critical importance because rail yards tend to be in areas where underserved populations have some of the poorest air quality. In this project, Gas Technology Institute (GTI), in collaboration with OptiFuel Systems, LLC, and other partners, is conducting a field demonstration of a 4,300 horsepower, Tier 5-compliant, hybrid line-haul locomotive that can operate on compressed or renewable natural gas (CNG/RNG) with near-zero emissions. GTI has a multi-engine approach that increases fuel efficiency by 20% and, with the use of RNG, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. The utilization of proven, commercially available equipment (i.e., engines, CNG storage, CNG refueling) and usage of domestic CNG and RNG has both emissions and cost advantages for the railroad industry.

Learn more about the 2020 Innovative Vehicle Technologies Projects.

Filling Critical Gaps through Innovative Cradle-to-Grave Training

This project leveraged existing alternative fuel vehicle curricula that was previously developed by the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Consortium (NAFTC) or FS Circle to provide training to fire marshals, code officials, mechanics, and technicians. The training focused on issues related to compressed natural gas, propane, and electricity and filled training needs across a 4-state area in the South Central U.S. The project team held a total of 30 training classes with over 350 attendees using grant funds. A Future Action Plan to guide future alternative fuel training was also developed to assist others with successfully deploying future trainings.

Learn more about the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Deployment Initiatives.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

In 2014, the Southern Colorado Clean Cities coalition and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument collaborated to replace two gasoline vehicles with two all-electric low-speed vehicles, install an electric vehicle charging station, and add an all-electric utility vehicle to their fleet. The project also included an idle-reduction education and outreach initiative.

Learn more about the National Parks Initiative.

Forwarding Wisconsin's Fuel Choice

Forwarding Wisconsin's Fuel Choice expanded highway road signage to include available alternative fueling stations; worked with the Wisconsin Technical College System to offer training for first responders, public safety officers, and permitting officials; and assisted public fleets in developing and implementing petroleum reduction strategies and policies.

Learn more about the Alternative Fuel Market Project Awards.

Fuel-efficient platooning in mixed traffic highway environments

This project aims to improve multi-vehicle heavy-duty truck platooning efficiency and safety through the use of automated controls, advanced communications, real-world testing, data analysis, and simulation development. This project aims to autonomously control the entire fleet of three following vehicles – throttle, brake, and steering – while optimizing the entire platoon for fuel efficiency and safety.

Learn more about the 2018 Vehicle Technologies Program-Wide Research Projects.