What's New in Energy

TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 93rd Annual Meeting, January 12-16, 2014, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...

The 2013 series marks the 50th year of TRB’s peer-reviewed journal, which debuted as the Highway Research Record in 1963; became the Transportation Research Record in 1974, with Number 480; and added the subtitle, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, in 2000, with Number 1653. In all, TRB has published more than 25,000 papers in volumes of the TRR Journal and continues to build on its ...

The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at the North Dakota State University has released a report that provides information about railroad fuel efficiency for evaluating transportation energy policies.

The Institute of Transport Economics at the Norwegian Centre for Transport Research has released a report that explores characteristics of electric vehicle owners in Norway.

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 83: Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs consists of a guidebook and toolkit designed to help airports introduce and market alternative fuels to their airport community that includes tenants and consumers off airport. Alternative fuels considered include alternative jet fuel, green diesel, biodiesel, ethanol,...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a report that summarizes recent accomplishments of DOE-funded projects—including motor efficiency improvements and durable fuel cell catalysts.

The Center for Transportation at the University of Minnesota has released a report that discusses development of a prototype fuel cell system for Intelligent Transportation Systems devices, including its hydrogen storage capacities and estimates of its capital and operating costs.

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 744: Fuel Usage Factors in Highway and Bridge Construction includes fuel usage factors for work items in the construction and maintenance of highways and bridges. The report includes the Price Adjustment Calculator Tool, a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet, designed to assist in the calculation of payment adjustments for construction...

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy has released a report that examines whether the timing of vehicle deployment corresponds to recognized limits with technology development and market penetration, and whether the investments are viable for investors.

The World Bank has released a report that reviews recent trends in transport and greenhouse gas emission trends in Europe and Central Asia through comparison of trends in the 15 European Union member states 10 years ago and the current 27 member states.

The Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, part of the National Academies’ Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS), has release a report that finds that by the year 2050, the United States may be able to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent for light-duty vehicles -- cars and small trucks -- via a combination of more efficient vehicles; the us...

The World Road Association has released a report that analyses existing methods for sustainable development of road infrastructure and identifies social, environmental and economic criteria for winter road maintenance strategies and operations. This report is available without a fee after logging on to the site.

The Partnership for Air Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER) has released a report that examines the cost to airlines of meeting the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s goal using renewable fuel produced from a Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids process. PARTNER is an aviation cooperative research organization sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, Trans...

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has released a report that examines the changes in vehicle fuel economy, distance traveled, and vehicle load in the United States between 1970 and 2010, and the effects of those changes on amount of fuel consumed.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has released a report that develops preliminary specifications for high-quality pervious concrete suitable for use in Maryland State Highway Administration projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy has released its quarterly report that explores the prices of alternative fuels and conventional fuels in the United States.

The Montana Department of Transportation has released a report that details a truck traffic forecasting model with specific attention to truck movements for oil development in the Bakken formation in eastern Montana and western North Dakota.

VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, has released a report that provides a discussion on aspects of energy use in the freight transport market and the extent to which resources are used efficiently. The report is written in Swedish with an English summary.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has released a report that explains strategies and best practices to support plug-in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure commercialization.

The University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies has released a report that discusses the development of chemical-based hydrogen storage materials, the efficient generation of hydrogen, and recycling of spent materials for use at remote traffic signals that lack access to a regular power supply.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released a report that summarizes the volume and value of freight flows; the physical network for freight; the economic conditions that generate freight movements; the industry that carries freight; and the safety, energy, and environmental implications of freight transportation.

The U.S. Department of Energy National Renewal Energy Laboratory has released a report that summarizes the activities and accomplishments of 85 Clean Cities programs, which develop public-private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction.

The European Environment Agency has released a report that assesses progress towards key transport- and environmental-related policy targets and legislation, including those outlined in the agency’s 2011 White Paper.

TRB is cosponsoring the Transportation, Climate Change, Energy Security and Jobs Conference in August 2013, in Pacific Grove, California. The conference will explore ways to elevate the national discussion on the potential need for a secure, low-carbon transportation future. The conference will address new strategies and government approaches; ways to recast climate goals in terms of energy sec...

The European Environment Agency has released a report that explores the balance between Europe’s proposed greenhouse gas emissions target for transport and the increasing need for transport that results from economic growth.

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2287 consists of 21 papers that explore driving distance of electric vehicles; charging choices for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2030; emission reduction technologies for large fleets; electric vehicles in rural states; energy use by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; high-coverage point-to-point trans...

VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, has released a report that explains ways to measure the total energy—including both traffic- and maintenance-induced energy use—on roads when managing a road network.

The International Civil Aviation Organization has released a conference white paper that highlights the development of air transport hubs, regulation in the airline industry, challenges associated with fuel costs, and aviation growth in emerging markets.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has released a brief that explains its efforts in pursuing cost-effective opportunities that reduce the U.S.’s oil dependence, decrease pollution, and create jobs.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released a report that details the U.S. Department of Energy's alternative-transportation deployment initiative—called Clean Cities—that saved approximately 645 million gallons of gasoline in 2010.