Technology Analysis

Technology analysis examines the costs and benefits of alternative transportation technologies. The primary focus is on direct costs and benefits at market prices, including so-called “hedonic” costs and costs of meeting present emissions and safety regulations. Technology analysis also considers the potential effect of possible future regulatory actions, since non-market attributes (i.e., externality effects under scientific scrutiny but not presently regulated) of future transportation technology are a major factor in allocating research dollars among future technology options. Greenhouse gases and fine particulates in vehicle emissions are current prime examples of such effects.

Researchers evaluate the oil-saving potential of various transportation technologies, taking into account costs to individual consumers and to society. They address social costs by assessing how technologies meet present air quality and potential future emissions and air quality requirements. Research results are documented in Argonne National Laboratory reports, conference presentations and papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Goals include the following:

• Providing world-class analyses of advanced vehicle technology options
• Evaluating the market potential for electric drive vehicles (hybrids and pure electrics) relative to those of comparable conventional vehicles
• Focusing on the markets and technologies for heavy vehicles to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions and fatalities
• Contributing to development or refinement of regulatory structures that will enable the smooth introduction of advanced and alternatively fueled vehicles into the market
• Assessing potential transitions to a more sustainable transportation system (i.e., a system that uses far fewer energy resources (emphasizing renewables) and emits far fewer greenhouse gases)
• Providing credible assessments of the status and direction of change in today's transportation systems
• Developing computer models to support the preceding goals

October 1, 2004