Alternative Fuel Vehicles

A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard for California Part 1: Technical Analysis

Alexander Farrell, Daniel Sperling, SM Arons, AR Brandt, MA Delucchi, A Eggert, AE Farrell, BK Haya, J Hughes, BM Jenkins, AD Jones, DM Kammen, SR Kaffka, CR Knittel, DM Lemoine, EW Martin, MW Melaina, JM Ogden, RJ Plevin, Sperling, Turner, Williams, Yang
2007

Executive Order S-1-07, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) (January 18, 2007), calls for a reduction of at least 10 percent in the carbon intensity of California’s transportation fuels by 2020. It instructed the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate activities between the University of California, the California Energy Commission (CEC) and other state agencies to develop and propose a draft compliance schedule to meet the 2020 Target. This report is the first of two by the University of California in response. This first study assesses the low-...

A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard for California Part 2: Policy Analysis

Alexander Farrell, Daniel Sperling, AR Brandt, A Eggert, AE Farrell, BK Haya, J Hughes, BM Jenkins, AD Jones, DM Kammen, CR Knittel, MW Melaina, M O'Hare, RJ Plevin, and D Sperling
2007

The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) can play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stimulating improvements in transportation fuel technologies so that California can meet its climate policy goals. In Part 1 of this study we evaluated the technical feasibility of achieving a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity (measured in gCO2e/MJ) of transportation fuels in California by 2020. We identified six scenarios based on a variety of different technologies that could meet or exceed this goal, and concluded that the goal was ambitious but attainable. In Part 2, we...

Biofuel Boundaries: Estimating the Medium-Term Supply Potential of Domestic Biofuels

Andrew Jones, Michael O'Hare, and Alexander Farrell
2007

We estimate the physical supply potential of biofuels from domestic municipal solid waste, forestry residues, crops residues and energy crops grown on existing cropland using optimistic assumptions about near-term conversion technologies. It is technically feasible to produce a significant amount of liquid biofuel (equivalent to 30-100% of 2003 gasoline demand) without reducing domestically produced food and fiber crops or reducing the total calories available as domestic animal feed. Most of this supply can be attributed to the potential of energy crops, with the combination of municipal...

Ammonia as an Alternative Energy Storage Medium for Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Scientific and Technical Review for Near-Term Stationary Power Demonstration Projects, Final Report

Tim Lipman and Nihar Shah
2007

This report documents the research efforts of a task order under a research technical agreement between the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). The focus of this research is to understand the scientific and technical aspects of the potential use of ammonia and other related carbon-free energy carriers for hydrogen fuel cell applications. Caltrans has a range of potential applications for fuel cell technology, including various field operations and for providing emergency backup power, power “demand response”...

Dynamics in Behavioral Response to Fuel-Cell Vehicle Fleet and Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure

Susan Shaheen, Elliot Martin, and Timothy Lipman
2008

Transportation is a major contributor of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. It accounts for approximately 14% of total anthropogenic emissions globally and about 27% in the United States. Growing concern regarding the impacts of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions has led to innovations in automotive and fueltechnology. However, behavioral response to the newest transportation technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and fueling infrastructure, is not well understood. This paper examines the results of an exploratory F-Cell...

Energy and Greenhouse Impacts of Biofuels: A Framework for Analysis

Daniel Kammen, Alexander Farrell, Richard Plevin, Andrew Jones, Gregory Nemet, and Mark Delucchi
2008

In this paper, we review some of the basic energy balance and climate change impact issues associated with biofuels. For both the basic energy and greenhouse gas balances of producing and using a range of fuels, and for the increasingly debated and important issues of nongreenhouse gas impacts such as land, fertilizer, and water use, we conclude that an improved framework for the analysis and evaluation of biofuels is needed. These new methodologies and data sets are needed on both physical and socioeconomic aspects of the life-cycle of biofuels. We detail some of components that...

Zero-emission vehicle exposure within U.S. carsharing fleets and impacts on sentiment toward electric-drive vehicles

Susan Shaheen, PhD, Elliot Martin, and Hannah Totte
2020

Reducing carbon emissions from the United States (U.S.) transportation sector has emerged as a priority action to combat climate changeCarsharing and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) could be integral to creating a more sustainable transportation system. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated the impacts of...

Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle performance and user-response assessment: Results of an extended driver study

Timothy Lipman, PhD
Matthew Elke
Jeffrey Lidicker
2018

This study examined driver acceptance and performance of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as tested in real-world conditions over a two-year period. The study sample was a volunteer group of “n = 54” drivers who drove the vehicle for a month-long trial period. Each driver took ‘before’ and ‘after’ surveys regarding their driving experience. Drivers drove an average of 1400 miles per month, and either witnessed and/or performed vehicle refueling 3–10 times during their test period.

Key findings from the study include that: 1) 80% of study participant drivers found...

Optimizing fermentation process miscanthus-to-ethanol biorefinery scale under uncertain conditions

Matthew Bomberg
Daniel Sanchez
Timothy Lipman, PhD
2014

Ethanol produced from cellulosic feedstocks has garnered significant interest for greenhouse gas abatement and energy security promotion. One outstanding question in the development of a mature cellulosic ethanol industry is the optimal scale of biorefining activities. This question is important for companies and entrepreneurs seeking to construct and operate cellulosic ethanol biorefineries as it determines the size of investment needed and the amount of feedstock for which they must contract. The question also has important implications for the nature and location of lifecycle...

“Recent Deployment and Capacity Trends for Stationary Fuel Cell Systems in the U.S.” in Data, Facts and Figures on Fuel Cells

Max Wei
Shuk Han Chan
Ahmad Mayyas
Timothy Lipman, PhD
2014

This ready reference is unique in collating in one scientifically precise and comprehensive handbook the widespread data on what is feasible and realistic in modern fuel cell technology.

Edited by one of the leading scientists in this exciting area, the short, uniformly written chapters provide economic data for cost considerations and a full overview of demonstration data, covering such topics as fuel cells for transportation, fuel provision, codes and standards.

The result is highly reliable facts and figures for engineers, researchers and decision makers working in the...