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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is working to reduce freight energy use by pairing efficient supply-side technologies and operations with freight demand management techniques in the Albany-New York City corridor. The project aims to demonstrate the mutually reinforcing effects of demand-side and supply-side efficiencies through the adoption of Energy Efficient Logistics (EELs) and to better understand which freight management strategies are most likely to be used by consumers.

As of 2019, the team has evaluated and selected an initial list of EEL initiatives. Based on feedback from stakeholders, the team is currently working to model the impact of the following EEL initiatives: receiver-led consolidation, parking loading zones and parking reservation, off-hour deliveries, parking pricing, and pickup & delivery at alternative locations. In order to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives, the team has conducted an online consumer survey about home deliveries with future plans to conduct surveys for delivery carriers and receivers. The team has also worked to update and integrate four existing models and simulation tools into one Integrated Transport-Energy Model (ITEM). This includes the Behavioral Micro-Simulation (BMS), SVTrip, Polaris, and Autonomie. Significant work has been done to acquire and manage high resolution Global Positioning System (GPS) data from fleets that can be used as inputs for SVTrip. Once completed, ITEM can be used to estimate the impact of various EEL initiatives.

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is partnering with the Clean Cities Coalition Network and fleets in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina to support the integration of a variety of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and fueling infrastructure. CTE and its partners will offset the initial capital cost of AFVs and infrastructure, promote opportunities for collaboration and strategic partnerships among alternative fuel market players, and support the development of alternative fuel corridors.

As of 2019, CTE has incentivized the purchase or installation of approximately 194 alternative fuel vehicles for six public and private fleets. The vehicles are a mix of compressed natural gas (CNG), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and electric. CTE is currently evaluating initial key performance indicators related to operations and maintenance for these vehicles and will publish a report upon completion. Additionally, CTE identified gaps in EV, CNG, and LNG infrastructure along key highway corridors in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. This information will be used to determine locations of future alternative fueling infrastructure.

The City of Seattle is working with Atlas Public Policy to accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in shared-mobility applications and subsequently establish best practices for use in all U.S. metro regions. The project will identify and test techniques for effective PEV deployment and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installation for use by ride hail drivers and shared mobility companies. This project is partnering with four major US pilot markets: Denver, New York, Portland, and Seattle.

As of 2019, the City of Seattle and its project partners have created a strategic deployment plan, developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based prioritization model for EVSE site selection and compiled reports and tools into the EV Shared Mobility Playbook. The EV Shared Mobility Playbook includes the following tools: The EV Shared Mobility Analysis Tool, Seattle’s Dynamic Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Siting Model, and several dashboards developed in coordination with Atlas Public Policy . In 2020 the project will deploy additional EVSE, continue outreach, and evaluate the impacts of implementation strategies in different regions.

This project will develop a replicable regional Commercial ZEV Corridor Infrastructure Deployment Plan to accelerate freight decarbonization by lowering the total cost of freight per mile by guiding the design, location, and scaling of reliable charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure in the right way, at the right places, and right times. The strategic planning effort will spur the deployment of commercial medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure through the development of an East Coast Commercial ZEV Corridor.

The objective of the Helping Rural Counties Transition to Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles project is to create models for effectively transferring advanced clean fuel and vehicle technologies to underserved county governments and rural communities and to share those models and lessons learned through a nationally distributed Replication Playbook. Rural county governments often lack the staff capacity to learn about new technologies, implement new training and maintenance systems, and educate their workforces. The lack of funding and financing options, combined with staff capacity to research and pursue existing incentives, can also be a significant barrier to exploring alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. Transportation Energy Partners is coordinating and supporting Clean Cities coalitions in eight states as they work with rural county leaders to overcome these and other barriers and find models that work for increasing adoption of cleaner fuels and vehicles.

For more information on this project, check the Technology Integration 2021 Annual Report or the 2022 Annual Merit Review presentation and the 2023 Annual Merit Review presentation.