NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by 

Partnering with In

to Shape the Futu

NTEA Green Truck Summit

Michael A. Pacheco, PhD

March 6, 2013

NREL/PR-7A20-58090
The Future Comes in Many Shapes an

Prioritization is a Mu
Setting Priorities and Overcoming Cha

Source: GreenRoad’s Fleet Leader 2013 Outlook

Courtesy of Automotive Fleet; December 11, 2012 (www.automotive‐fle
One Size Does NOT Fit All
NREL’s Role in Making Calculated Deci

Compliance & Regulations

People
Intersection of Gasoline and Diesel De

Source: NACS Retail Fuels Report 2012
Diesel Retail Prices Outpace Gasoline
The Rise of Natural Gas Use in Transpo

Looking Forward: Natural gas will

grow from 1% of today’s global

vehicle fuel mix to 4% by 2040.

• Compressed Natura• Liquid Natural Gas

• Gas‐to‐Liquid• More R&D Underwa

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 
U.S. Natural Gas End Consumption

2,700

60,406

116,249

Transportation Fuel

Pipeline & Distribution Use

Lease & Plant Fuel

Commercial & Residential

0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 

Mcf: November 2012
World Transportation Fuel Demand by 

Millions of oil 

equivalent barrels 

per day

Source: Exxon Outlook for Energy 2012: A View to 2040
Spectrum of Advanced Biofuel Techno

Ethanol: Grain or cellulosic material

Biodiesel: Transesterified vegetable and see

Green Diesel: Hydrogenated fats, waste oils

Other Fermentation Products: Butanol, ace

etc.Pyrolysis Liquids: Alternative feedstock to re

Synthesis Gas: Fischer‐Tropsch liquids, meth

ether, or mixed alcohols.

Algae‐Derived Fuels: Source of triglycerides 

carbohydratesHydrocarbon Fuels: From hydrogenation or 

situ.

Long

Term

Near

Term
Looking Beyond Liquid Fuels

Vehicle technologies areadvancing beyond liquid

fuels, like these electrichybrids.Electric vehicles,however, come withtheir own challenges.

Image Credits NREL (Clockwise from Top): 22259,

17631, 19816, 19684, 19544, 18148
Let’s Talk Operations

NREL Approach to Support Fleet Op
Spectrum of Analysis Tool
10 Ways to Get Started
Bringing Advanced NGVs Transportation

• Partnering with California E

Commission

• Driving innovation to make 

robust NG engines

• Expanding market offerings 

• Identifying challenges acros

• Policy• Technology• Behavior

• Engaging with stakeholders 

problems
Driving Down the Cost o

• Cellulosic ethanol prices tied to 

used to convert biomass into f

• NREL partnered with Novozym

to engineer new low‐cost enzy

• Collaborated on biomass chara

pretreatment, and process inte

• Exceeded enzyme cost‐reducti

• DOE and NREL shifting focus to 

to redirect focus to replacing d

(vs. gasoline)

Biofuels
Enabling Heavy HybridsTransportation

• Developed new hybrid prop

• Doubles efficiency of heavy

buses while improving emis

• Partnering with UPS, Coca‐

• Projected savings of more t

barrels of oil in 2020
Tripling Lithium Battery 

Transportation

• NREL patented a unique th

battery

• Potential to triple performa

cost of today’s lithium‐ion b

• Licensed by Planar Energy t

commercialize for electric a

hybrid vehicle market

• NREL partnering with Plana

and process development t

market
Vehicle Efficiency Researc

Transportation

• Built ADAM, the “sweaty, s

manikin to measure human comfort in cars

• Air conditioning consumes 

of gasoline annually ‐ 10% o

crude oil

• NREL researchers goal is to 

used for air conditioning

• ADAM used by most major 

manufacturers to test new 

cooling systems
Questions and Follow Up