Dept. of Energy Alt-Fuel Technology Database Provides Benchmarking Data

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has created a new public database that provides cost and performance estimates for advanced vehicle and renewable fuel technologies.

by Staff

July 16, 2012

Dept. of Energy Alt-Fuel Technology Database Provides Benchmarking Data — The Transparent Cost Database provides average fuel economy and capital cost projections for vehicles with alternative-fuel or other types of powertrain technology.

1 min to read

The Transparent Cost Database provides average fuel economy and capital cost projections for vehicles with alternative-fuel or other types of powertrain technology.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has created a new public database that provides cost and performance estimates for advanced vehicle and renewable fuel technologies, in addition to other information.

Called the Transparent Cost Database (TCDB), the site is searchable by category, for example a fleet manager can search the database by fuel or powertrain type (gasoline, diesel, hybrids, electric, natural gas, propane autogas, etc.). In addition, the charts provide historical data and projections.

The site doesn't provide any vehicle-specific information (as the EPA tracks that information), but rather provides information such as average vehicle fuel economy and capital cost estimates.

According to the DOE, the TCDB is designed to provide data that companies, utilities, policy makers, and others can use to benchmark costs and model energy scenarios, among other uses. The TCDB uses data from more than 100 existing reports, and the DOE said it plans to allow outside experts to contribute new data in order to expand and validate the data.

The TCDB was developed by the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and used funds from the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

You can view the database here. To use the database, click the "Launch" button on the site and then the "Vehicles" button on the left-hand navigation.

Topics:Fuel Economy Alternative Fuels Benchmarking Pricing National Renewable Energy Laboratory Department of Energy Green Fleet

More Green Fleet

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.