Refueling Behavior of Flexible Fuel Vehicle Drivers in the Federal Fleet
Federal fleets are a frequent subject of legislative and executive efforts to lead a national transition to alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Section 701 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires that all dual-fueled alternative fuel vehicles in the federal fleet be operated on alternative fuel 100% of the time when they have access to it. However, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, drivers of federal flex fuel vehicles (FFV) leased through the General Services Administration refueled with E85 24% of the time when it was available--falling well short of the mandate. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory completed a 2-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development project to identify the factors that influence the refueling behavior of federal FFV drivers. The project began with two primary hypotheses. First, information scarcity increases the tendency to miss opportunities to purchase E85. Second, even with perfect information, there are limits to how far drivers will go out of their way to purchase E85. This paper discusses the results of the project, which included a June 2012 survey of federal fleet drivers and an empirical analysis of actual refueling behavior from FY 2009 to 2012. This research will aid in the design and implementation of intervention programs aimed at increasing alternative fuel use and reducing petroleum consumption.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Federal Energy Management Program Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1134133
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-5400-61777
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
FEDERAL FLEETS
ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES
SECTION 701
ENERGY POLICY ACT 2005
EPACT 2005
DUAL-FUELED ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
AFVS
FEDERAL FLEX FUEL VEHICLES
FFVS
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION LEASED VEHICLES
GSA LEASED VEHICLES
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DOE
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
NREL
LABORATORY DIRECTED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
LDRD
Transportation