Addressing key challenges in transportation mode electrification

Vehicle electrification offers a tremendous potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in transportation in BC, which account for 24% of total provincial emissions. Battery and drivetrain developments have enabled personal electric vehicles (EVs) to start to penetrate the market, but there remain large opportunities in other parts of the transportation sector. The program of research described in this paper is directed toward exploring these additional opportunities. Bus fleets, and other commercial fleets, present unique challenges and opportunities compared to personal EVs and are being explored in concert with fleet operators. E-bikes enable personal mobility and may also afford health co-benefits that can offer overall financial benefits useful in shaping policy. Comparison between battery-electric and fuel-cell electrified drivetrains is also important to understand the overall round-trip and life-cycle relative efficiencies. These studies are all embedded in a number of modeling frameworks that enable studies of grid-interactions of the vehicles with the grid, in particular taking into account temporally and spatially varying GHG intensities, inter-jurisdictional trading, stochastic planning and operation, and demand response (DR) opportunities. The research is ongoing, so the current paper highlights expected impacts and contributions of the various lines of investigation.