Suggested Citation:
Burke, Andrew and Hengbing Zhao (2017) Fuel Economy Analysis of Medium/Heavy-duty Trucks: 2015-2050. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-17-49

This paper is concerned with projecting the fuel economy of various classes/types of medium- and heavy- duty trucks and buses that use the conventional engine/transmission and advanced alternative energy technologies from the present to 2050. The alternative truck technologies including hybrid-electric, electric, and fuel cells were simulated over driving cycles appropriate for the applications of each vehicle class and type. Annual fuel and energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions between the conventional and alternative fuels/technologies are calculated. The results indicate that the CO2 emissions for medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses can be reduced significantly using advanced powertrain technologies and electricity and hydrogen as fuels. The largest reductions of 50-60% are in urban stop-go driving for battery- powered delivery trucks and transit buses. The reductions are somewhat smaller using fuel cells and hydrogen produced by SMR in the urban vehicles.

Keywords: medium-duty, heavy-duty, powertrain, energy consumption, simulation