Vehicle Technologies

The CCPP is conducting research on advanced vehicles to evaluate technology options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Plug-in hybrids are often touted as a key technology for reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector, but few comprehensive studies have been done that model the complex interaction of plug-in hybrids and the electricity sector. The CCPP is evaluating the full emissions profile and cost of plug-in hybrids on a national and regional basis and comparing results to regular hybrids and conventional vehicles.

The CCPP is also evaluating a wider range of advanced vehicle technologies (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, diesel, natural gas, and fuel cell) and ranking them according to potential CO2 savings, development cost, barriers to entry, infrastructure needs, and technological risk. The CCPP is also developing a complementary tool in Excel to allow users to enter the mix of new vehicle technologies over time, and the tool will then forecast CO2 emissions that would result.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

• Transportation Technologies and Potential Greenhouse Gas Reductions Background Paper