The surge of road pricing projects in the U.S. and around the globe over the past fifteen years has been enabled by a set of new communication and transportation technologies. There is currently a wide array of technical configurations ranging from systems based on “tried and true” short-range radio communications to experimental systems relying on global positioning satellites. These technologies provide for a more efficient collection of simple tolls, and also facilitate a movement toward more dynamic, variable user fees.In this study, we provide a comprehensive literature review of...
Identifies potentially promising market segments for electric and hybrid vehicle technologies; covers topics including energy and power requirements, battery and range extender, propulsion system, and air conditioning
This report covers the construction and testing of a Roadway Powered Electric Vehicle (RPEV) proof-of-concept system. The test facility was built at the University of California Richmond Field Station. The facility has a 700-foot test track and an operational 35-passenger RPEV. The report contains an introduction to the concept of RPEV and discusses the following aspects of the project: systems engineering and design, vehicle, facilities, testing, related RPEV research, and control circuits.
Electric vehicle (EV) emissions occur when a vehicle is charged and are based on the mix of power sources used during that period. The rapid growth of solar and wind energy has introduced a high degree of variability in the emissions of the grid for both diurnal and annual periodicities. Growth in solar energy has been particularly prominent in California. Using grid mix data spanning April 2018 to April 2023 from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and power source emission factors, we evaluate the grid mix at 5 min intervals and estimate the emission factors based on the...
This research explores the user dynamics of electric vehicle (EV) carsharing within underserved communities, focusing on BlueLA, a one-way station-based EV carsharing service in Los Angeles, California. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluate how activity patterns differ between BlueLA member types and how membership type influences user retention rates. We conduct an exploratory data, clustering, and survival analyses, using BlueLA trip activity data, supplemented by insights from a user survey and a general population survey. Our results reveal distinct travel behaviors...
This study aims to evaluate the potential of electric vehicle (EV) carsharing services to address social and environmental disparities in urban transportation through an evaluation of BlueLA, a one-way station-based carsharing service in Los Angeles, California. BlueLA provides a clean and affordable mobility option in underserved communities that face significant air quality burdens and have historically been excluded from environmental benefits. By incorporating BlueLA trip activity data from January 2021 to December 2022 (n = 59,112 trips) and an online user survey implemented in early...
Transportation network companies (TNCs) have played an increasingly prominent role providing on-demand mobility for consumers across California. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have adopted and are implementing SB 1014 (Clean Miles Standard), which establishes an annual increase in the percent of zero-emission passenger miles traveled and greenhouse (GHG) emission reduction targets for TNCs. This regulation requires TNC drivers to acquire and operate an electric vehicle (EV).
This study looked at the application of electrification and automation to freeways in the Los Angeles region. The report is broken down into the following sections: Development and Enhancement of Analysis Tools, Inductive Coupling System Design, Value Engineering of Roadway Cores, and Economic Analysis of Roadway Powered Electric Vehicle (RPEV) Technology.
The Highway Electrification and Automation Technologies Regional Impacts Analysis Project (HE&A) addressed the transportation-related problems of freeway congestion, air pollution, and dependence on fossil fuels in southern California. The impacts of roadway electrification and highway automation were investigated to determine to what extent these advanced technologies could alleviate these problems. For the highway electrification technology, utility, environmental, and economic impacts were also studied. The feasibility of implementing one or more demonstrations in the six-county...
This study investigates issues concerning the implementation and impacts of lateral guidance/control systems and the phased implementation of these systems in exclusive-access High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. The study is divided into 5 volumes. The objectives of each volume are as follows: Vol. 1: identify strategies for early deployment of longitudinal control technologies on the highway, and to evaluate potential impacts of these strategies on traffic operation, highway capacity, and traffic accidents. Vol. 2A: assess the feasibility of early deployment of Roadway Powered Electric...
