The research program will include deep cross-technology evaluations for low carbon fuels and infrastructure, roadmapping the industrial development for producing low carbon fuels and freight systems in the southeast, quantifying system level opportunities for freight transport reduction and transport operations efficiency, and tracking progress over time.
- Electrification is already cost effective for urban delivery trucks, and can expand to medium and some long-haul trucking.
- Biomass can fully supply hard-to-electrify transportation: aviation, maritime and rail; doing so will use 75% of US sustainable biomass resources.
- Hydrogen technologies can develop to support long-haul trucking.
- Carbon capture from air can also make freight transport fuels.
- Meeting the net zero freight challenge will require transformative efficiencies in freight management, and development of new industries and infrastructure.
We will develop comprehensive net zero freight transport system assessments, focusing on the southeast, that link to national and global level net zero carbon plans.
Net zero emission means zero emissions of greenhouse gases, without offsets. Social benefits metrics will include employment, equity, service provided by delivered freight, and community impacts of new infrastructure. Environmental impacts will include a broad range of air, water, and land impacts. Resilience addresses system robustness, capability, and flexibility.
Research will be targeted to support infrastructure and policy decisions and to inform stakeholders and the public.