Alternate Fuel Vehicles

Hydrogen Production Science and Technology

Tim Lipman
2012

Hydrogen is a widely produced and used commodity, now being considered for use as an energy carrier for stationary power and transportation markets. Tens of millions of tonnes of hydrogen are produced each year globally.

Technology Status and Expected Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Battery, Plug‐In Hybrid, and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

Tim Lipman
2011

Electric vehicles (EVs) of various types are experiencing a commercial renaissance but of uncertain ultimate success. Many new electric‐drive models are being introduced by different automakers with significant technical improvements from earlier models, particularly with regard to further refinement of drivetrain systems and important improvements in battery and fuel cell systems. The various types of hybrid and all‐electric vehicles can offer significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions when compared to conventional vehicles on a full fuel‐cycle basis. In fact, most EVs used under most...

Moving Beyond the Colors: The Full Life-Cycle Emissions of Hydrogen Production Pathways for California

Tim Lipman
Pablo Busch
Stephanie Collins
Arpad Horvath
Alissa Kendall
Daniel Coffee
David Kong
2024

There is growing interest in the use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel but the environmental benefits of using hydrogen depend critically on how it is produced and distributed. Leading alternatives to using fossil natural gas to make hydrogen through the conventional method of steam methane reforming include using electrolyzers to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and the use of biogas as an alternative feedstock to fossil natural gas. This report examines the latest carbon intensity (CI) estimates for these and various other hydrogen production processes, adding important nuances...

Hydrogen Energy Stations: Poly-Production of Electricity, Hydrogen, and Thermal Energy

Tim Lipman
Cameron Brooks
2006

The "hydrogen energy station" is one method of hydrogen production at small and medium scales. Unlike more conventional hydrogen station designs where hydrogen is simply delivered or produced on-site with a fuel "reformer" or water electrolyzer and then compressed and dispensed, energy stations would provide multiple functions in the same facility. They would integrate systems for production of electricity for 1) local uses and/or the utility grid, 2) re-use of thermal energy "waste heat" for building heating/cooling needs, and 3) purified hydrogen for refueling vehicles.Hydrogen energy...

An Assessment of the Near-Term Costs of Hydrogen Refueling Stations and Station Components

Tim Lipman
Jonathan Weinert
2006

Interest in hydrogen as a transportation fuel is growing in California. Plans are underway to construct a “Hydrogen Highway” network of stations across the state to stimulate fuel cell vehicle deployment. One of the key challenges in the planning and financing of this network is determining the costs of the stations. The purpose of this report is to examine the near-term costs of building hydrogen stations of various types and sizes. The costs for seven different station types are analyzed with respect to size, siting factors, and operating factors. The first section of the report reviews...

Economic Assessment of Electric-Drive Vehicle Operation in California and Other U.S. Regions

Jeffrey Lidicker
Tim Lipman
Susan Shaheen
2010

This study examines the relative economics of electric vehicle operation in the context of current electricity rates in specific utility service territories. Fourteen utility territories offering electric vehicle (EV) rates were examined, with a focus on California but including other regions of the United States. The consumer costs of EV charging were examined in comparison with gasoline price data, geographic location, and three highly variable gasoline price periods: July 2008, January 2009, and July 2009. In a switch from a conventional 23 mpg (10.2-L/100 km) vehicle to a 300 Wh/mi...

Lifecycle Cost Assessment and Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Diesel, Natural Gas, Hybrid Electric, Fuel Cell Hybrid and Electric Transit Buses

Antti Lajunen
Tim Lipman
2016

This paper evaluates the lifecycle costs and carbon dioxide emissions of different types of city buses. The simulation models of the different powertrains were developed in the Autonomie vehicle simulation software. The carbon dioxide emissions were calculated both for the bus operation and for the fuel and energy pathways from well to tank. Two different operating environment case scenarios were used for the primary energy sources, which were Finland and California (USA). The fuel and energy pathways were selected appropriately in relation to the operating environment. The lifecycle costs...

Comprehensive Review of California's Innovative Clean Transit Regulation: Phase I Summary Report

Matthew Jeffers
Kenneth Kelly
Tim Lipman
Andre Fernandes Tomon Avelino
Caley Johnson
Mengming Li
Matthew Post
Yimin Zhang
2022

This report–prepared by NREL and UC Berkeley for the California Air Resources Board (CARB)–provides a comprehensive review conducted for implementation of the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation and deployment of zero-emission transit buses in California. The ICT regulation requires California transit agencies to begin transitioning to zero-emission vehicle technologies, defining an increasing percentage of new bus purchases that must be zero-emission buses (ZEBs) each year. The purchase requirements begin in 2023, increasing to a 100% ZEB purchase requirement beginning in 2029. This...

Lifetime Cost of Battery, Fuel-Cell, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Mark Delucchi
Tim Lipman
2010
This chapter reviews the estimates of the full social lifetime cost of a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCEV), which consists of the initial and periodic costs of owning and operating a vehicle, including some nonmarket costs that are incurred by the society as a whole. When compared with a conventional gasoline internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), advanced BEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs have higher initial costs, lower fuel costs, lower external costs, possibly higher insurance costs, and possibly lower...

Reducing Emissions through Monitoring and Predictive Modeling of Gate Operations of Idle Aircraft: A Case Study on San Francisco International Airport

Jasenka Rakas
Achatz Antonelli, Pietro
Walia, Chanan
Rouzbahani, Parham
Gikas, George
2023

The use of airport gate electrification infrastructure in the form of ground power (GP) and preconditioned air (PCA) systems can reduce energy and maintenance costs, emissions, and health risks by limiting the use of aircraft auxiliary power unit (APU) engines at the gate. However, their benefits can only be gained when they are actually being used; otherwise, pilots keep APUs on to fulfill their aircraft’s demands for electrical power and air conditioning. GP and PCA systems require a large initial infrastructure investment to increase energy efficiency, and they are installed with the...