Projects

In this research, the researchers will develop a comprehensive framework that jointly optimizes the long-term infrastructure planning and short-term operational execution of a closed-loop EV battery supply chain network.

The Caltrans Sustainable Freight Academy is a four-day in-person training for professional development for Caltrans staff to be held in the fall of 2024 in California’s Central Valley. It is designed to build capacity within department staff, allowing them to gain knowledge of current trends and issues affecting the movement of freight throughout the state.

To meet sales requirements of zero-emission transit buses, medium-duty (MD) trucks, and heavy-duty (HD) trucks in California, improvements in battery performance and costs are necessary. This project will support this transition through analysis of battery capabilities, charging infrastructure availability, and vehicle routing strategies.

This research project will study battery technologies that can significantly increase the energy density to at least 500 Wh/kg or higher and reduce charging time to fifteen minutes or lower and have a cell cost to the original equipment manufacturer of $70/kWh or lower in a large battery pack (>500 kWh).

This research will involve studying global practices of solar bike pathway technology, which refers to the integration of solar energy technologies and systems embedded into bike paths to capture and convert solar energy into electrical power, providing both a functional pathway for cyclists and a source of renewable energy

This project involves expanding prior analysis of the Georgia I-75/I-575 Northwest Corridor Express Lanes by performing an energy use and emission assessment for these Express Lanes against the GP lanes on a per VMT basis.  The tools and results from this project will support assessment and public outreach efforts related to expansion of Georgia’s Express Lanes systems.

This research will update to the spreadsheet version of the Fuel and Emissions Calculator (FEC) to Version 4.0. The update will incorporate the emission and energy use rates from the latest version of the EPA's MOVES 4.0 regulatory model for conventional and electric vehicles, utilizing the latest matrices from MOVES-Matrix 4.0 (also developed by the research team) and associated source type technology parameters.

This project will further build on previous MOVES-Matrix projects by developing MOVES-Matrix 4.0. A case study of the emission and energy use rate outputs will verify that the matrix produces the same results as using MOVES directly.

In this project, the researchers will conduct data collection and analysis to supplement the California AT Benefit-Cost Tool (or "the BC Tool").

This research consists of two primary objectives: identifying opportunities, information gaps, existing resources and research needs by engaging non-government organizations, the California Department of Transportation, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists who expressed interest in working on this project; and with input from these biologists, conduct a preliminary investigation for at least 10 sites, each with concrete median barriers, cable guards or thrie-beam barriers, and vegetated/developed medians, for comparison of rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions with large and all wildlife, as indicators of wildlife connectivity.

This research will create a comprehensive and streamlined framework that empowers Caltrans to efficiently identify and assess technically sound, environmentally sustainable, and economically feasible materials.