Projects

This research evaluated the potential of renewable natural gas, hydrogen fuel cell electric, and battery electric vehicles to reduce the carbon footprint of heavy-duty diesel linehaul trucking. Research insight was based on an extensive literature review, the Argonne National Laboratory’s transportation emissions and economic modeling tools, academic and fuel-vendor interviews, and a summer internship on Amazon’s Transportation Sustainability team. Five criteria were determined to influence the fit of alternative powertrains for linehaul trucking: greenhouse gas reduction potential, vehicle availability, vehicle functionality, cost, and scalability. No one technology is a perfect decarbonization solution, and all powertrains require a facilitative market and policy environment. The resultant report will make contingent recommendations for decarbonizing linehaul trucking activities in order to contribute to net-zero carbon goals.