Energy 101Energy Technology and PolicyDr. Michael E. WebberThe University of Texas at Austin

Module 23: Transportation II -- Advanced Fuels and Drivetrains

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There are Several Novel Fuels and Drivetrains Available

•Coal-to-Liquids

•Biofuels

•Electricity

•Natural Gas

•Hydrogen

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Electrified Transportation

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Electrified Vehicles Have Advantages

•Displaces petroleum

•Can charge PHEVs with renewable power sources

•Potentially low-carbon

•Quiet

•Excellent acceleration

•Charging can be performed at home

•Cheap operating costs

•Can back-up the grid and power the home

Nissan

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Electrified Vehicles Have Disadvantages•Shifts from reliance on strategic liquids (petroleum from OPEC) to

strategic minerals

‣Batteries are usually imported (SE Asia)

‣ Lithium is often from Bolivia

•Battery production is highly impactful (especially the mining tails)

•Most EV charging is with fossil fuel resources

•Long charging times

•Limited range

•High up-front costs for the vehicle/battery

•EV drivers do not pay gasoline taxes

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PHEVs/EVs Are More Expensive to Buy But Cheaper To Operate

•Electricity is cheaper per mile than gasoline

•Batteries are more expensive than gas tanks

Source: EPRI

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Coupling Plug-in Hybrids and Electric Vehicles to the Power Grid Introduces System Advantages

•Easier to manage emissions of pollutants and GHGs at thousands of power plants rather than hundreds of millions of autos

‣Pollution shifts in time (from day to night) and place (from city to country) and height (tailpipes vs. smokestacks)

•Possible load leveling with o!-peak battery charging

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HEV vs. P(H)EV vs. (B)EVConventional HEV (Parallel drivetrain)

Battery Pack

Fuel TankEngine

2-Way Transmission

Electric Motor

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HEV vs. P(H)EV vs. (B)EVPlug-in HEV (Parallel drivetrain)

Battery Pack

Fuel TankEngine

2-Way Transmission

Electric MotorPower Cord

20–60 mile battery range.Recharge overnight.

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HEV vs. P(H)EV vs. (B)EVPure Battery EV (Single drivetrain)

Electric Motor

Power Cord

Controller

Battery Pack

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Drivetrains Like the Chevy Volt or Ford Energi Put the Engine and Motor in Series

•Gasoline engine drives only the generator, not the wheels

•Gasoline provides greater range after charge wears out

•Chevy Volt: 93 mpgge (37 mpg for gasoline only)

•Fusion Energi: 100 mpgge (41 mpg for gasoline only)

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Trains Use Diesel-Electric Configurations

•Similar to the Chevy Volt (but without the plug)

•For long range and high torque

Wikipedia Commons

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Gasoline Engines Have Higher Torque At Higher Speeds

Ronald R. Gould, P.E., hydraulicspneumatics.com

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Electric Motors Have High Torque Even At Low Speeds

Ronald R. Gould, P.E., hydraulicspneumatics.com

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PHEVs can be Charged at Night at Home

Vehicle ClassSpecific Energy

Requirements [kWh/mile]

Compact Sedan 0.26

Mid-size Sedan 0.30

Mid-size SUV 0.38

Full-size SUV 0.46

Electricity costs ~$0.10–0.15/kWh

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The Short Range of PHEVs Matches Well With American Driving Patterns

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

< 6 6–10 11–15 16–20 21–30 > 30

Sha

re o

f Veh

icle

Tri

ps

Distance [miles]

© Michael E. Webber

75% of trips are of 10 miles or less

2009 U.S. Share of Vehicle Trips by DistanceSource: U.S. Department of Energy, Transportation Energy Data Book, 2012 • Graphic: Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin

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MPG is An Outdated Metric

•gge = gallon of gasoline equivalent

•mpgge = miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent

‣What kind of gasoline? Petroleum-based? E10?

‣What about the local fuel for the electricity?

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EV Purchases are Small, but Growing Quickly

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Natural Gas Transportation

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Natural Gas Vehicles Have Advantages

•Displace petroleum

•Domestically produced

•Cleaner than petroleum

•Lower carbon than petroleum

•Minor modifications required for internal combustion engines

•Fueling can be performed at home

•Infrastructure is extensive

•Cheap operating costs

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Disadvantages of NGVs

•Infrastructure challenges

•Cost of conversion

•Tank space required

•Safety concerns

‣Lack of standardized pumping equipment

•Better or worse for first responders?

‣High pressure combustible gas

‣Might float away from the scene of an accident

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NGVs are Much Cleaner at the Tailpipe

•90%–97% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions

•25% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions

•35%–60% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions

•Emits fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants

•Emits little or no particulate matter

•Eliminates evaporative emissions

•Potentially reduces non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50%–75%

•Possible increase in methane hydrocarbon emissions

‣The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called the natural gas Honda Civic GX the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle on Earth.

Source: USDOE

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CNG Passenger Vehicles are More Expensive to Buy, Cheaper to Operate

•New OEM vehicle – Honda Civic GX

‣Incremental cost of $6,800

•Converted vehicle

‣Kit and installation cost can run $10,000 and up

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There are Some Federal Policies that Support CNG/LNG for Transportation

•30% tax credit for installing fueling infrastructure

‣Up to $30,000 for commercial installation

‣Up to $1,000 for residential installation

•$0.50/gge (gallon of gasoline equivalent) sales and blending tax credit

•Demand by Federal fleets

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There Are Just Over 1,000 U.S. CNG Stations vs. 160,000+ for Gasoline/Diesel

Source: USDOE

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Dr. Michael E. Webber

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