FUELS & INFRASTRUCTURE
No matter what fuel powers a vehicle, CALSTART and its members are working to make it cleaner, less carbon-intensive and more economically viable. As a unique “big tent” organization, we convene fuel producers, fleets and stakeholders from every corner of the clean transportation technology industry. There are several paths to lower-carbon fuels, and CALSTART’s Fuels and Infrastructure Initiative champions all of them.
CALSTART is at the center of clean fuel innovation: from working with members to secure $1 billion in utility proposals for commercial electric-vehicle infrastructure, to amplifying industry support for California’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard, to hosting the Clean Low Carbon Fuels Summit.
The Fuels and Infrastructure Initiative uses three Activity strategies to drive its outcomes:
- Engaging in research and policy development work to define the rates and infrastructure investments needed to expand clean fuel use.
- Teaming with fleets, manufacturers and governments to identify the fuel and deployment location needs of facilities, cities and critical clean corridors.
- Evaluating the cost, performance, best practices and business case of clean, low carbon fuels and infrastructure to support broader adoption.
ASSESSMENT & VALIDATION
When a cleaner new fuel comes along, how do you know if it works — and if it will serve your unique transportation needs? CALSTART’s technology evaluation and validation services help fuel and infrastructure providers deploy, assess and improve their products and gives fuel users best practices for deployment and data to understand efficiency, safety and payback implications. Examples include:
- Assisting the first electric school bus users with planning and use support to deploy their vehicles and recharge them safely and cost-effectively.
- Providing fleets with data on high-power charging efficiency and best ways to use energy storage to moderate loads and costs.
- Measuring full fuel cycle emission levels and efficiency performance of different fuels in daily operations.
MARKET ACCELERATION
CALSTART and its partners are working to expand production, distribution and fueling infrastructure for clean, low-carbon fuels to cars, buses and trucks across the nation. CALSTART plays a key role by linking low-carbon fuel providers with end users looking to test and deploy advanced low carbon fuels. Examples include:
- Designing the framework enabling 100 percent renewable natural gas procurements for low NOx vehicles in California.
- Identifying fuel and infrastructure needs and planning deployment locations along national highway corridors.
- Coordinating with utilities to connect fleet vehicle purchasers with timely infrastructure assistance and funding.
PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT
The right policies can set the table for a flourishing market in low-carbon fuels and supporting infrastructure. The wrong policies can set clean-fuel efforts back. CALSTART works with its members and others in the clean transportation community to advance good policy at the local, state and federal levels. Examples include:
- Ensuring long-term funding for low-carbon fuels by supporting and helping shape state policy development and investment strategies.
- Convening clean transportation industry groups like the Electric Fleet Alliance to secure funding, boost investment and shape regulations to rate-base infrastructure and fueling rates and support aligned utility proposals.
For information on how to become a member, please contact Director of Member Services Kimberly Taylor at 626-622-6229 or [email protected].