Research on novel transportation concepts and strategies, using electricity or hydrogen as fuel, and assessment of their implementation for light, medium and heavy duty on-road and off-road applications
Text Box: Project location: CanmetENERGY Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Timeline: 5 years (2023 to 2028)
Program: Funded by the Program of Energy R&D and cost recovery activities
Project Overview and Objectives
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (MHDVs) are used in on-road applications (e.g. trucks for local, regional and long-haul transportation) and in the off-road sectors (mining, construction, agriculture and forestry). MHDVs create significant emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs). While the first battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for these sectors have recently been introduced to the market or are still under development, it is unclear what the best way is to decarbonize all vehicles used in each of these sectors. To identify the best alternative for different vehicles in different applications, it is necessary to have a detailed understanding of
- the vehicle requirements based on their duty cycle,
- the recharging/refueling infrastructure needed, and of
- the infrastructure necessary to bring the electricity or hydrogen to the recharging locations (electricity grid upgrades/expansions needed, or the building of a hydrogen supply network).
The objective of this project is to identify optimal pathways for MHDV electrification. First, technical and economic data will be collected on the vehicles and their operation, on the charging/refueling infrastructure, and on the electricity grid and hydrogen supply by for instance pipeline and tanker truck. Then, techno-economic analyses will be conducted to compare the costs of the total ‘system’ (vehicles, charging station/hydrogen pump, and electricity/hydrogen supply) necessary to replace the current system of diesel vehicles and the diesel supply network. As MHDVs are used in many different operational contexts, it is expected that the optimal solution may differ per use case and per sector.
This project is a collaborative effort of NRCan-CanmetENERGY-Ottawa, NRCan-CanmetMINING, the Emission Research and Measurement Section (ERMS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and of the Automotive and Surface Transportation (AST) research center of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).
Impact and Innovations
This project creates knowledge on optimal decarbonization strategies for MHDVs on the road and in the off-road sectors, by combining aspects of vehicle and energy infrastructure requirements. Models will be developed to simulate the operation of off-road vehicles, and in-lab and in-field testing of both diesel and electric versions of vehicles used in for instance mining and agriculture will provide the operational data to calibrate these models.
Apart from a comprehensive analysis of conventional plug-in charging options, research will also focus on Electric Road Systems. Electric Road Systems utilize technologies that enable electric trucks to be recharged while they drive, for instance by providing power through an overhead power line (like a trolleybus or an electric train) or via wireless chargers embedded in the road surface. The project will investigate Electric Road Systems as a potential alternative to building a large, nation-wide network of charging stations and/or creating a hydrogen supply network.
Results and Outcomes
This project generates insight in the best decarbonization strategies for MHDVs on-road and in the off-road sectors. This knowledge helps Canada to transition from a fossil-fuels based transportation system to an electrified transportation system. It will guide policy development, support industry innovation, and contribute to a net-zero society in 2050.
Contact CanmetENERGY in Ottawa
To learn more about this project, email our Business Office.