The Connected Traveler: A Framework to Reduce Energy Use in Transportation
Technology Description:
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its partners will create a network architecture that approaches sustainable transportation as a dynamic system of travelers and decision points, rather than one of vehicles and roads, in order to create personalized energy-saving opportunities. The project will use currently available demographic and transportation data from an urban U.S. city as a test bed for energy reduction. To incentivize travelers to pursue energy-efficient routes, the control architecture will develop algorithms to understand a traveler’s preferences, tailor recommendations to the user, and identify personal incentives that will enable transportation system energy benefits. The Connected Traveler framework will provide local transportation authorities and individual travelers with a tool to identify personal travel decisions that balance quality of service with energy efficiency.
Potential Impact:
If successful, NREL’s system will demonstrate that energy-efficiency gains in personal transportation can be accomplished through network controls that encourage individual travelers to take specific, energy-relevant actions.
Security:
NREL’s system could facilitate a reduction in transportation energy use and help reduce demand for imported oil.
Environment:
More efficient transportation networks will minimize energy consumption, resulting in improved air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Economy:
NREL’s system could help reduce congestion in metro areas without requiring investment in new infrastructure. A more efficient transportation network could further improve the overall productivity within a regional transportation network.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Patrick McGrath
Project Contact:
Stanley Young
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
Stanley.Young@nrel.gov
Partners
Metropia Inc
Related Projects
Release Date:
11/10/2014