<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O0FsdGVybmF0ZSBmdWVscyZxdW90OyIgb3JpZ2luYWxfdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O0FsdGVybmF0ZSBmdWVscyZxdW90OyIgLz48L2ZpbHRlcnM+PHJhbmdlcyAvPjxzb3J0cz48c29ydCBmaWVsZD0icHVibGlzaGVkIiBvcmRlcj0iZGVzYyIgLz48L3NvcnRzPjxwZXJzaXN0cz48cGVyc2lzdCBuYW1lPSJyYW5nZXR5cGUiIHZhbHVlPSJwdWJsaXNoZWRkYXRlIiAvPjwvcGVyc2lzdHM+PC9zZWFyY2g+" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Texas Ports Readiness and Opportunities for Alternative Fuels</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593188</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will conduct a comprehensive assessment of Texas ports' readiness to integrate alternative fuels, identifying infrastructure gaps, fleet transition opportunities, and economic growth potential. Key project outcomes will include a Texas Ports Readiness Index, a spreadsheet-based tool for evaluating port readiness, fleet transition feasibility assessment, and clear, actionable recommendations for advancing Texas ports readiness for alternative fuels. These outcomes will equip the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with the necessary data, tools, and strategies to position Texas as a leader in alternative fuels at ports, enhancing port resilience and economic competitiveness in the evolving global energy landscape.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:37:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593188</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tailoring Alternative Project Delivery Methods to Deploy an Effective Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure for Commercial Vehicles in Georgia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508956</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The major objective of this research is to assist the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in understanding the market characteristics and laying the foundation for developing delivery approaches for the rapid integration of hydrogen fueling stations for commercial vehicles throughout GDOT’s transportation network.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:01:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508956</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comprehensive assessment of alternative fueling system supply chains in the heavy duty trucking sector</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2495007</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project examines production supply chains for fueling systems of heavy duty vehicles.  The project uses life cycle analysis (LCA) and extends the method to consider impacts beyond energy consumption and associated emissions, including wider societal impacts, such as air emissions generated in the production or operations process, or labor conditions for those engaged in raw materials extraction or component production.  The project builds on current research that is developing prototype supply chains and identifying “hot spots” for particular impacts.  The purpose of the research is to examine strategies for relocating resource extraction, production, and manufacturing activity to reduce overall impacts.  The case of electric batteries for trucks is used to estimate the effects of taking advantage of locations with cleaner energy mix or more robust labor standards, as for example onshoring manufacturing to the US.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:42:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2495007</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Alternative Fuels in Snowplow/Maintenance Vehicles and Identifying Barriers to Adoption</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2344949</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Five existing snow plow trucks from DSM (N) will be outfitted with Optimus Technology Vector B100 conversion kits.  Three new plow trucks will be outfitted with the same technology. The 8th truck will be assigned to the Ames Garage and will receive fuel from the City of Ames B100 tank from a similar project and tank.  The trucks will burn pure biodiesel or B100 for the majority of the time they are running which decreases the amount of petroleum used.

DSM (N) will use the trucks for the duration of the pilot project which is 2 years starting in November of 2019.  B100 will be consumed and fuel transaction data will be collected. The list below indicates the type of data and information that will be available to evaluate: GPH fuel consumed – fuel transaction data will be available, truck performance – engine data will be available, driver experience – interview drivers with scripted questions; vector system malfunctions – document anything that failed; tank / dispenser malfunctions– document anything that failed; calculated reductions in pollutants – could be calculated; # gallons of fossil fuel displaced – could be calculated; acres of soybeans processed into B100 – could be calculated; carbon emissions reduced – could be calculated; accuracy of fuel transaction data – timely delivery etc. – data will be available for review; DPF regeneration cycles reduced – can be measured against sister trucks; and DPF regeneration system maintenance costs reduced - can be measured against sister trucks.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:27:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2344949</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Emerging Vehicle Technologies and Operating Strategies for Tribal and Rural Communities</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2335158</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Often, new technologies and advances in transportation are not readily accessible to all, resulting in their benefits being unavailable to several underserved communities, such as in rural and tribal areas. Technological advancements in transportation, including emerging vehicle technologies and the development of “new mobility” options and other advancements, are generally geared toward serving urban areas. This project will investigate how rural and tribal communities can optimally use new technologies and operating strategies. The general objective is to investigate the feasibility of adopting different vehicle technologies or operating strategies by rural and tribal transit operators. Specific objectives are to measure current adoption rates and identify challenges and opportunities for new vehicle technologies in rural and tribal areas; research strategies for on-demand rural ridesharing and the potential for improved efficiencies. The study, which will incorporate a mixed-methods approach, will provide information about adoption rates, deterrents, challenges, and successes in rural and tribal areas. It will examine the cost, fuel efficiency, and feasibility of operating on-demand rideshare programs in rural areas with different types of vehicles. This project will apply CEM’s 14 Pathways to Health framework to rural and tribal communities. Results will help to ensure an equitable distribution of benefits and disbenefits of these new technologies for rural and tribal communities. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 16:56:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2335158</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Modernizing Fuel Tax Revenue Forecasting</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2307248</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation (DOTs) are facing funding challenges because state and federal fuel tax revenues are changing and becoming harder to accurately forecast. One of the factors responsible for changes is improvements in vehicle fuel economy. For example, there are increases to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, fleet economy changes, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, and changes in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Some state legislation has inadvertently decreased fuel revenues as a side effect. For instance, more than a dozen states have adopted regulations through legislation or other government actions to rapidly scale down emissions of light-duty passenger cars, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles and require an increased number of zero-emission vehicles to meet air quality and climate change emissions goals.

Six separate excise taxes are imposed to finance the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) program. Three of these taxes are imposed on highway motor fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene, and alternative fuels) and generate the majority of the revenues dedicated to the HTF. The FHWA’s Highway Revenue Forecasting Model (HRFM) provides projections for a 20-year time horizon for HTF and new revenue sources. The model uses VMT and fuel economy projections, as well as changes in composition of vehicles over the forecasting period. The fuel efficiency projection incorporates anticipated penetration of fuel-efficient vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs). The model provides revenue projections, contribution of the 21 different vehicle classes to revenues, and costs (tax burdens) to households by income group and other demographics. Outputs from this model are primarily used for conducting highway cost allocation (HCA) studies (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/hcas/final/).

Research is needed to help state DOTs develop improved models to accurately forecast motor fuel transportation revenue in the near and long term for operational and planning needs. Further, these forecasts are necessary to quantify and understand potential shortfalls in revenue that need to be replaced by alternative sources of revenue.

The objective of this research is to develop a method and model(s) to help states forecast motor fuel transportation revenues in light of increased fuel efficiency and alternative fuels.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:33:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2307248</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4861: Updating Cost Allocation and Revenue Attribution</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2306933</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Indiana’s road expenditures are financed primarily by highway user fees. The basic principles of highway financing are user-fee equity and statewide revenue adequacy. It is only through analysis of past costs and revenues that Indiana can develop an equitable pricing structure for its road users and an efficient revenue generation system to cover expenditures. Such studies are needed periodically to ensure user equity and revenue efficiency keep pace with changing travel demand and distributions, construction technology and materials, and above all, new/emerging vehicle technologies including electrification. This proposal is based on a request made to Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) by Indiana’s Legislature, to update Indiana’s 2016 Cost Allocation Study. The goal is to measure/predict/address the impacts of alternative-fuel technology (particularly, electric vehicles) on Indiana’s highway revenue adequacy and equity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 10:37:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2306933</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Comparative Analysis of Alternative Fuel Fleet of Buses (AFB) to Enhance Mobility in Central Florida</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093462</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of the project can be summarized as follows: (1) Collect performance data from the buses in real time with trip mapping to perform various sustainability analytics. (2) Conduct a comparative analysis for the alternative fuel bus technologies to quantify their life cycle sustainability impacts, including environmental impacts (e.g., carbon footprint, air pollution, energy consumption), social impacts (e.g., human health), and economic impacts (e.g., life cycle costs). (3) Investigate the impacts under different policy-relevant scenarios such as charging infrastructure, different ridership profiles, and different routes to better aid effective policymaking. (4) Determine the optimum fleet composition including the number of refueling stations under different market penetration rates, using multi-objective optimization techniques to help ease the transition period and avoid unnecessary investment in the infrastructure to aid transit agencies in optimizing fleet utilization and policymakers in designing effective policies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2023 15:03:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093462</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quantifying Emissions Reductions at Airports from the Use of Alternative Jet Fuels</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1737676</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ACRP Web-Only Document 13: Alternative Fuels as a Means to Reduce PM₂.₅ Emissions at Airports, published in 2012, explored the potential benefits of using alternative fuels for aircraft and ground service equipment to reduce PM₂.₅ emissions. This research indicated substantial benefits from using alternative jet fuels in aircraft and recommended further research in that area. The understanding of potential benefits of alternative jet fuels continues to increase, and new data and analytical techniques have become available.
 
There is a desire by airports, airlines, and air quality regulators to further explore and understand changes in emissions (e.g., hazardous air pollutants (HAP), NOₓ, SOₓ, PM₂.₅) through the use of ASTM-certified alternative jet fuels.

Research is needed to build on the findings presented in ACRP Web-Only Document 13 and other related research to help airport industry practitioners estimate potential emissions reductions benefits from using alternative jet fuels, with the goal of promoting their increased use.
 
The objective of this research is to develop a method to help airport industry practitioners estimate potential PM₂.₅, NOₓ, SOₓ, and HAP emissions reductions by the use of ASTM-certified alternative jet fuels. The method should, at a minimum: (1) 
Allow users to understand the potential impacts of the use of ASTM-certified alternative jet fuels as it relates to PM₂.₅, NOₓ, SOₓ, and HAP emissions; (2) 
Address landing-takeoff (LTO), cruise, and full-flight emissions; and (3) Be compatible with the AEDT model for quantification of emissions and air quality simulation tools (e.g., CMAQ) to model ambient concentrations of PM₂.₅ and ozone.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2020 20:31:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1737676</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Food &amp; Flora Waste to Fleet Fuel: Development and Application of the F4 Framework</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1635487</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As cities strive for more sustainable transportation systems, many are considering renewable fuels for fleets. Biogas has several advantages as an alternative fuel. Composed primarily of methane, it can be cleaned for use in natural gas vehicles, or burned in a turbine/engine to generate electricity for electric vehicles. Biogas can reduce air pollutant emissions from fleet vehicles; in addition, if wastes are used to produce the biogas in digesters, the problem of urban wastes is reduced.  

Many cities already have anaerobic digesters that convert sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to biogas. Because of its abundance in landfilled waste (22%), food waste is of current critical concern to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Yard (flora) waste comprises an additional 7.8% of waste going to landfills. Both food and yard waste could be used to boost biogas production in WWTP digesters. If a city/region is considering enhancing existing WWTP infrastructure to accommodate food/yard waste, several critical questions arise: 

Which existing digesters are the best candidates to produce vehicle fuel from food/yard waste? 

How much fuel will be produced? 

What will be the payback time for capital investments?  

The overall project goal is to facilitate food/yard waste conversion to vehicle fuel, and help cities/regions answer the questions above, via development of the “Food/Flora Waste to Fleet Fuel” (F4) Framework. The F4 Framework will include: 1) Tools for input data collection, 2) Cost Optimization Model, 3) Food/Flora-Waste-to Fleet Fuel Model, 4) Food/Flora Waste Separation Policy Survey and City Guidebook. To select optimal WWTP digesters for converting food/yard waste to fuel, the Cost Optimization Model will balance trade-offs between food/yard waste transportation costs and capital costs for expanding digesters, cleaning gas/generating electricity, and installing refueling stations. The Food/Flora -Waste-to-Fleet Fuel Model will estimate fuel produced and emission benefits. The F4 Framework will be used to conduct an example feasibility study for the City of Dallas. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2019 11:09:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1635487</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Techno-Market Analysis of US Biorefinery Supply Chains from Feedstock to Alternative Jet Fuels</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549413</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cont.. and UT is responsible for generating the feedstock availability database for further analysis by the project team.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:24:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549413</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Techno-economic and Life-Cycle Analysis of Alternative Aviation Biofuels Supply Chains</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549412</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Project has 4 main components and Purdue will provide necessary analytical support to this process.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:24:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549412</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>National Jet Fuels Combustion Program Area 5_Atomization Tests and Models</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549373</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research will measure spray properties for a selected range of alternative fuels and typical operating conditions corresponding to lean blow out and]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:23:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549373</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Methods for the Fast Quantifications of Oxygenated Compounds in Alternative Jet Fuels</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549371</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research will conduct a literature review on methods for the quantification of oxygenated compounds in alternative Jet Fuels.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:22:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549371</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Continuation of Measuring the Turbulent Flame Speed of jet Fuels. Project 27b</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549361</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Provide advanced combustion testing to the FAA's alternative jet fuels program.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:22:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549361</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>