In 2019 Clean Fuels Ohio successfully applied for and received funding for three Department of Energy projects. We are approaching the end of year one for these projects, so an update on each of them has been provided below.

Decentralized Mobility Ecosystem: Market Solutions for 21st Century Electrified Mobility

In this project, Clean Fuels Ohio is working with Columbus Yellow Cab (CYC) to create a decentralized and electrified mobility ecosystem. Leveraging CYC’s growing fleet of EVs, this project will bring mobility hubs to three quadrants of the Columbus region. Each of these hubs will offer a small fleet of EVs and associated charging infrastructure for use by any licensed drivers.

During the first year of the project, CYC taxi data was analyzed and used to inform and finalize the mobility hub deployment plans. Specifications for EV purchases and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) were created, and a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) was recruited. The PAC also held quarterly meetings where members provided feedback and ideas on the project. Overall, Clean Fuels Ohio and the project team are largely proceeding as planned with this project.

Proof of Concept: Heavy Duty EV Demonstrations for Freight & Mobility Solutions

While the number of commercially available light-duty EVs is growing and continues to penetrate the market, medium-heavy duty EVs have yet to successfully implement the same amount of diversity and market penetration with fleet partners. Therefore, this project aims to prove the operational and financial effectiveness of medium and heavy duty EVs in new fleets and communities with the ultimate goal of increasing medium-heavy duty EV adoption in various fleet applications across the country.

Clean Fuels Ohio is working with three fleet partners who will each implement a medium or heavy duty EV into their fleet. During the first year of the project, a data collection and analysis plan was developed along with a plan for deploying these fleets. Additionally, Clean Fuels Ohio completed purchase specifications for the EVs and EVSE these fleets will deploy, a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) was recruited, and quarterly meetings were held where the PAC members provided feedback and ideas on the project. Overall, Clean Fuels Ohio and the project team are largely proceeding as planned with this project.

NGV U.P.T.I.M.E. Analysis: Updated Performance Tracking Integrating Maintenance Expenses

There is little publicly available data that clearly compares the relative maintenance costs of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and diesel trucks to validate claims of NGVs’ lower total cost of ownership and their potential to improve energy security and cost-effectiveness nationwide. This project aims to quantify the difference in maintenance cost between diesel and natural gas vehicles and identify opportunities to enhance individual NGV fleets’ operations. Data will be collected from over 1000 vehicles from various fleets to accomplish this goal.

During the first year of the project, a data collection and analysis plan was developed and Clean Fuels Ohio worked with other Clean Cities Coalitions to identify key NGV fleet stakeholders in their region to have them agree to use their vehicles for the project. Additionally, a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) was recruited, and quarterly meetings were held where the PAC members provided feedback and ideas on the project. Overall, Clean Fuels Ohio and the project team are largely proceeding as planned with this project.

If you have any questions or would like more information on any of these projects, please reach out to Andrew Conley, our Chief Program Officer, at andrew@cleanfuelsohio.org.