NEW CONCEPTS/IMPACT ASSESSMENTS/DATA ANALYSIS (a) Technology Assessment and Implementation If we are to meet our national goals, we must assess impacts and identify barriers to technology implementation. The technology assessment and implementation function is to support the transportation program in areas that focus on technology transfer through commercialization and information transfer through constituency and consumer response. Technology assessments accomplished in FY 1978 include those related to alternative fuels for all modes of transportation, an electric car national impact study, and scenarios for market penetration studies. These assessments examine the future relationship of the technologies being developed (with Federal or private funds) to the environment in which they are to be operated. Regional or integrated assessments focus on transportation in a common framework to that used for other end-use supply/demand analyses. A Great Lakes Regional Assessment has been accomplished in FY 1978 for all transportation modes for all freight commodity classes. Methodologies provide guidance for research in a framework for uniform application. Four methodological studies have been accomplished, and briefing workshops have been given to Federal Program Managers and others. These are as follows: (1) Assessment of Passenger Transportation Alternatives; (2) Methodology for Setting Transportation Energy Priorities Within the Framework of National Transportation Policy; (3) Evaluation Methodology for Near Term Devices and Strategies to Reduce Highway Vehicle Energy Use; and (4) Technology Implementation Plan. Information transfer has been accomplished by a series of workshops for decision makers and planners. Four annual national conferences on the Effects of Energy Constraints on Transportation Systems have been held and proceedings published. Environmental Development Plan (EDP) preparation has been accomplished in FY 1978. The first ERDA pilot EDP was published covering electric vehicles. The TEC Programmatic EDP has been submitted to the responsible Assistant Secretaries for approval. The Programmatic EDP focuses on issue status, performance goals and strategy, and Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements are scheduled for preparation. For an appropriate technology application, bicycle utilization and planning guidance has been prepared in FY 1978 for use by decision makers at various levels of government. This has been closely coordinated with EPA's Clean Air Act releases and DOT programs. These overall program supporting technology assessments will continue at their present level of support in FY 1979. Two new initiatives will be completed in FY 1979: a study of the commercialization process specifically in relation to transportation technologies and a consumer representation study. (b) New Concepts Evaluation It has been recognized that individual inventors and small businesses are untapped sources of ideas that may be able to enhance, encourage, and provide methods for the conservation of petroleum fuels for the immediate future, near-term, mid-term and/or long-term. These inventions and ideas normally fall into one or more of the following three categories: 1. 2. New Systems, Engines, Vehicles and Component Configurations 3. Energy Saving Techniques The goal is to encourage the submittal of transportation oriented inventions, concepts and techniques in order that they may be carefully evaluated. If a concept proves to be viable, the submitter is then assisted in further research and development and/or implementation or commercialization. One promising concept under evaluation has developed into the Driver Aid/Education Test Project, which has become the kernel for the Driver Energy Conservation Awareness Training (DECAT) Program for all Federally licensed drivers of the Department of Energy. The program eventually potentially could be expanded to all Federally licensed drivers and eventually to all industrial fleets. This driver training program could increase the fuel efficiency of the drivers by approximately 10-20 percent. In the hardware area, an inventor's carburetor concept is being reduced to practice and prototype. Evaluative testing will be conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as a project in the New Concepts Evaluation Program. A go/no-go decision for minifleet testing of a new carburetor concept will be made in FY 1979. The evaluation of a new retrofittable stratified charge concept for spark ignition engines was initiated in FY 1976, and a decision for minifleet testing will be made in FY 1978 after laboratory testing has been successfully completed at JPL. That would be followed by a go/no-go decision regarding a fleet test program in FY 1979. A Mobile Refrigerator Van Leakage Program is being conducted in FY 1978 to study past mobile refrigerated van equipment and to assess the present state of knowledge in order to determine the causes of energy losses. It will provide a basis for development, design and fabrication of a prototype portable test set in FY 1978. Some FY 1979 support will be required for full-scale, on-the-road testing. (c) Data Analysis The second edition of the TEC Data Book was published in FY 1978. These data books have been widely used within DOE, by other Federal Agencies, and by others in the transportation field. These data books are intended to serve as desk top reference by energy conservation professionals, focusing on the detailed demands for energy use in the past and at the present time. Projections of future transportation demand and the corresponding energy requirements are provided in a consistent manner so that all may use common assumptions about the future when estimating the impacts of transportation programs. The TEC Data Book will be updated in FY 1979. Development of the TECNET (Transportation Energy Conservation Network) system which calculates the indirect as well as the direct energy use associated with each of the transportation modes was completed in FY 1978. Using various runs of the system has shown that indirect energy use as a percent of direct energy use varies by mode and also over time. In fact, under certain scenarios the indirect energy use exceeds the direct energy use in several modes. Also, there are indirect energy costs associated with several transportation technologies that conserve direct energy. These must be taken into account when calculating the total energy savings resulting from technology alternatives. These data anslysis tasks which provide direct support and give direction to all the transportation energy conservation programs will continue at their present level of funding in FY 1979. VEHICLES AND SYSTEMS UTILIZATION PROGRAMS The overall approach has been to develop and implement transportation energy conservation programs and activities among the decision makers by: o Influencing the automobile purchasing, operating and maintenance habits of consumers; o Providing energy conservation information to operators of truck and bus fleets; o Encouraging employer support for, and employee participation in, commuter ridesharing; o Removing regulatory barriers to energy conservation through intervention in the proceedings of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Maritime Commission, and State governments and public utility commissions; o Providing technical and financial assistance to States for the implementation of State energy conservation plans; o Reducing institutional barriers, such as prohibitive insurance rates and unclear Federal labor and income tax regulations which impede carpooling and vanpooling; o Developing recommendations regarding Federal policies and legislation to foster energy conservation in the transportation sectors; o Coordinating with other Federal Agencies in order to enhance interagency cooperation and communications, eliminate redundant efforts, and joint/fund research projects of mutual interest. o Coordinating with industry associations to identify technological and operational deficiencies in the transportation network, and to promote modifications consistent with our national energy conservation objectives. This category complements longer-range energy conserving technology research, development and demonstration by emphasizing the merits of existing techniques and technology and working toward elimination of the institutional constraints that impede their implementation in the interim period before new technologies are available. The Transportation Programs staff has established the following outreach programs aimed at achieving short-range energy conservation in the transportation sector. (a) Systems Utilization Programs 1. National Vanpools and Carpools 2. This program involves information transfer and analysis relating to commuter ridesharing by vans and cars. The major activities include coordinating with other Federal Agencies in ridesharing policies and program issues; monitoring of nationwide activities; dissemination of information to States, employers, and other interested groups; and removing institutional and regulatory impediments. Intercity Transportation Programs--Freight and Passenger The intercity transportation program involves both the intercity freight and passenger modes including airlines, railroads, motor carriers, water carriers, and motor buses. The program involvement has included concentrated efforts in analyses, legislative and regulatory intervention and the transfer of information. 3. State Technical Assistance in Transportation This program involves technical assistance in the analysis and transfer of information related to all the transportation modes, and the regulatory policies and legislative actions which influence their operations. (b) Vehicle Utilization Programs 1. Fuel Economy Information Programs 2. 3. The major activities of this program involve the provision of fuel economy information to prospective new car buyers by developing, printing and distributing approximately 20 million mileage guides each year. In addition, the program activities include evaluations of measures for improving consumer acceptance and understanding of the fuel efficiency standards as they are established. The Voluntary Truck and Bus Fuel Economy Program The program activities reflect a joint effort by the Department of Transportation to improve the utilization of fuel by the Nation's commercial trucks and buses. Vehicle-In-Use Program This program emphasizes information transfer by identifying, demonstrating and educating motorists on appropriate conservation techniques for the purchase, operation, and maintenance of automobiles. Major problems include the continued existence of regulatory barriers and the lack of adequate incentives to the adoption of conservation programs by energy users. During FY 1978, the DOE programs will continue efforts initiated in FY 1977 and earlier. Approximately 20 million mileage guides will be produced and distributed; the automobile labeling program will be modified and carried out in company with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); the insurance industry will be encouraged in accepting and assisted in implementing the vanpool rates adopted by the States; the study of State implementation of ridesharing programs will be continued as well as that of Federal initiatives that might be taken to effect energy savings; several ICC and CAB proceedings with significant energy impact will be investigated and intervention will be accomplished where necessary; effort with DOT will be sustained in providing fuel economy |