AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has been engaged in critical transportation studies and operational tests since 1954. ATRI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Sacramento.
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​ATRI’s primary mission is to conduct transportation research, with an emphasis on the trucking industry’s essential role in a safe, efficient and viable transportation system. ATRI’s research focus areas include: Congestion and Mobility; Economic Analysis; Safety and Security; Technology and Operations; Environment; and Transportation Infrastructure.
RENEWABLE DIESEL – A CATALYST FOR DECARBONIZATION
In May 2022 the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) published research that compared the life-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of petroleum diesel fueled trucks to alternative fueled trucks.1 Using the GREET model, which was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), ATRI’s analysis measured CO2 emission decreases that could be achieved through the use of alternative energy sources.2 These findings included a potential 30.0 percent decrease in life-cycle CO2 per truck through the use of battery electric vehicle (BEV) trucks and a 67.3 percent decrease through the use of renewable diesel (RD) in existing Class 8 trucks
UNDERSTANDING THE CO2 IMPACTS OF ZERO-EMISSION TRUCKS
With the introduction of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) to the Class 8 market, the trucking industry may have viable alternatives to internal combustion engines (ICEs).1 Unlike ICE trucks, ZETs are not powered with diesel – they instead use electricity that is either stored in batteries or produced onboard with hydrogen to power an electric motor. The ZET approach to vehicle propulsion produces no direct tailpipe emissions during operations.
From a life-cycle perspective, however, ZETs are still responsible for generating greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which is tied to climate change. While CO2 emissions are not directly released by a ZET during operations, such emissions are released during the production of ZET fuels (electricity and hydrogen) and the production and disposal of ZET vehicles and their electricity storage equipment (lithium-ion batteries).
That said, the core motivations for a shift to ZETs remain environmental, and it may be possible to decrease the trucking industry’s emissions through their deployment – although the scale of environmental benefit is unclear
A SURVEY OF FUEL ECONOMY AND FUEL USAGE BY HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK FLEETS
This report focuses on heavy-duty fleet fuel economy and related fuel-saving technologies and policies. The main objective of this survey was to understand the current on-road fuel economy performance of heavy-duty truck fleets, and the effects of fuel-saving technologies, strategies, and regulations on such fleets. Also of interest in this survey were various fuel-saving methods fleet managers have employed that have been beneficial, as well as those that have not. Fleet managers were asked to provide overall fleet characteristics and fuel economy information, including their views regarding current and future technologies, strategies, alternative fuels, and regulations.
The survey yielded completed responses from 96 heavy-duty fleet managers, operating a combined total of just over 114,500 truck-tractors and approximately 350,000 trailers, and hauling a total of 9 billion tons of freight across 1.8 billion miles annually.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
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Is California Ready for an Electric Vehicle Future? – One-Page Analysis 12/2023
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Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet: December 2022 – Full Report 12/2022
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Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet 12/2022
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Understanding the CO2 Impacts of Zero-Emission Trucks 05/2022
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Sustainable Freight Practices for the Trucking Industry 10/2021
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Idling Regulations Compendium 10/2021
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Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure Funding – Technical Memorandum 09/2021
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A Survey of Fuel Economy and Fuel Usage by Heavy-Duty Truck Fleets 10/2016
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Energy and Emissions Impacts of Operating Higher Productivity Vehicles: Update 2008 03/2008