Research Program Overview
From the University of California, Davis
H2
STEPS Program Goals & Objectives
• The overarching goal of the program
Develop methods that allow for robust comparisons of
different fuel / vehicle pathways.
• The objectives of the program are
 Comparative analysis research. Conduct independent,
interdisciplinary research on multiple pathways
 Knowledge dissemination. Communicate research to
sponsors, scientific community, and policy makers
 Education. Educate next generation of engineers,
scientists, business and policy decision-makers
Addressing Transportation Energy Challenges
Climate change, Air quality, Energy security, Peak oil
Transportation
Efficiency
Alternative Fuels &
Vehicle Technology
• Vehicle fuel economy
• Congestion relief
• Road design
• Intelligent Transportation
Systems (ITS)
• Hydrogen
• Biofuels
• Electric drive vehicles
• Advanced ICE engines
• Low-carbon liquid fuels
STEPS
Focus
Reduced Vehicle
Miles Traveled
(VMT)
• Carpooling
• Mass transit
• Urban design
Research Scope: Cross Comparisons
HYDROGEN
BIOFUELS
ELECTRICITY
FOSSIL FUELS
• Fuel Cell Vehicles
• Bio-ICE Vehicles
• Battery-electric
• Business as usual
• H2-ICE Vehicles
• Hybrid Vehicles
• Plug-in hybrids
• Low-carbon cases
Project Areas:
Markets, Infrastructure, Lifecycle Analysis, Policy, Vehicle Technology
Research Scope: Project Areas
Hydrogen
Biofuels
Electricity
Fossil Fuels
Markets and Behavior
Infrastructure System Analysis
Energy, Environ., & Cost Analyses
Policy and Business Strategy
Vehicle Performance Evaluation
Integrative Scenarios
Continuing hydrogen research -
;
Existing experience at UC Davis -
;
Potential new research -
3 Levels of Comparative Analysis
Characterize future
scenarios and
opportunities
Transition
Analysis
Integrate a
broader
range of
factors and
interactions
System
Integration
Apply
consistent
metrics of
comparison
Comparison
Metrics
“Silver Bullet” Theories
• There is no such thing as a “silver bullet” or one
answer for the transportation energy challenges
• The real comparative questions are:
 What are viable near-term solutions?
 What are viable long-term solutions and what commitment
is needed now?
 How can near-term solutions leverage long-term solutions?
 Which solutions work well in tandem given there won’t be
one answer?
 What policy and/or market signals are needed to move
society in this direction?
• STEPS will address this with independent research
Research Approach
• Develop analysis tools with ability for cross
comparison
• Publish research and present findings; Make
assumptions public and visible
• Independent research projects, but with requirement
that they incorporate cross-comparison aspects
• Integrative Scenarios thread will study the combined
perspective, and will incorporate results and themes
from the independent projects
Unique Aspects of STEPS
•
•
•
•
Comparative & Interdisciplinary analysis
Strong analytic capacity for integrative research
Leverage from other energy research at UC Davis
Active engagement with policy development at the
state and federal level
• Research consortium, good relationship with
sponsors
Program Sponsorship
Energy Industry
• BP
• Chevron
• Shell Hydrogen
• PG&E
• TOTAL
Government
• Caltrans
• NRCan
• US EPA
• US DOE
• US DOT
Automotive Industry
• BMW
• DaimlerChrysler
• Ford
• General Motors
• Honda
• Nissan
• Subaru
• Toyota
• Volkswagen
Consortia Based Funding
• Consortium structure developed over the last 10
years at ITS
• Allows for great flexibility in research structure
 One can “jump in” to a research topic, rather than
changing scope of contract
 Facilitates interaction amongst varying industries
• Sponsor contribution leverages all other sponsors
in the program – i.e. research dollars are
multiplied by 20X
Sample STEPS Projects
• Consumer behavior Thread
 What is the consumer response to fuel economy?
 Vehicle demonstrations
 Meaning of “green”
• Business Strategy and Policy Thread
 Study of business adaptation under particular transition
pathway, and the policy that will encourage that change
 Incentives for firms under and LCFS
Sample Projects, Con’t
• Vehicle Design Thread
 Development of cross-comparison simulation tools
 Detailed cost analysis / predictions for advanced
vehices
• Infrastructure System Analysis Thread
 Builds on H2P research
 Spatial analysis, build-out scenarios
 Modeling, analysis of infrastructure across varying
pathways, including analysis of existing infrastructure
Research Projects, Con’t
• Energy, Environmental, and Cost Analysis
 Lifecycle Emissions Model (LEM)
• The Lifecycle Emissions Model (LEM) calculates lifecycle
emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse-gases from a wide
range of fuels, vehicles, materials, and transportation modes.
 Lifetime social cost and energy-use model (AVCEM)
• The Advanced Vehicle Cost and Energy-Use Model (AVCEM)
calculates the lifetime private and social cost of a wide range of
advanced alternative-fuel and electric vehicles.
 Social-cost calculator (SCC)
• The Social-Cost Calculator (SCC) calculates the external and
social costs of transportation plans involving gasoline and diesel
trucks and buses.
Research Projects, Con’t
• Integrative Scenarios Thread
 Large-scale, broad scope models
 Analysis of LCFS impact
 Will study many different options to achieve LCFS goal
of reduced carbon impact
Research Area Leadership
Tracks
Threads
Hydrogen
Biofuels
Electricity
Fossil Fuels
Joan
Ogden
Bryan
Jenkins
Tom
Turrentine
Cynthia
Lin
Demand and Behavior
Ken Kurani
Infrastructure System Analysis
Chris Yang, Yueyue Fan
Energy, Environ., & Cost Analyses
Mark Delucchi
Policy and Business Strategy
Chris Knittel
Vehicle Performance Evaluation
Andy Burke
Integrative Scenarios
Marc Melaina
Threads: “Cross-Comparison” Focus
Tracks: “Interdisciplinary” Focus
Thank You
http://steps.its.ucdavis.edu