Advanced Trucks

NREL develops and demonstrates solutions for next-generation commercial trucks and infrastructure for depots, freight hubs, and transportation corridors.

A man plugs a high-power charging cable into an electric semi-truck.

Emerging Truck Technologies

NREL researchers support the development and deployment of advanced truck technologies, from hybrid trucks with range-extending engines to models that use electric, hydrogen, and biofuel technologies.

To analyze vehicle operations and optimize them for commercial use, we apply nationally representative duty cycles, developed in house, which capture the effects of vehicle dynamics, geography, and driver behavior. These duty cycles enable us to support the future design, development, and validation of technologies for enhanced vehicle performance.

Our customized analyses can match the technologies of best fit to commercial operations, including freight, drayage, goods pickup and delivery, and service applications.

Hydrogen Trucks

We analyze the technical feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell truck technologies for rigorous operations, such as freight transportation and goods delivery. Our researchers can support industry partners exploring these heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles and refueling infrastructure in real-world settings.

Electric Trucks

We support feasibility studies, demonstration, and implementation of electric truck technologies across a variety of vocations, including regional-haul and long-haul, drayage, and local delivery operations. Our work extends to strategic blueprinting that guides cost-effective transitions to advanced truck fleets and supporting infrastructure.

Hybrid Trucks

To reduce costly energy and fuel requirements of commercial vehicle operations, we help design, develop, and demonstrate new generations of medium- and heavy-duty hybrid trucks. These vehicles can achieve a 50% or greater reduction in fuel consumption and correspondingly lower fuel costs.

Hybrid Range-Extended Trucks

We advance the design, validation, and deployment of range-extended medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which can offer the efficiency and fuel savings of an electrified powertrain with the driving range of a conventional diesel powertrain.

Fleet Infrastructure

NREL researchers analyze real-world duty cycles and vehicle performance to assess infrastructure requirements for electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. We can identify optimal locations for charging and refueling infrastructure, select suitable vehicle chargers, and match industry partners with vehicle models that fit their fleets' energy requirements.

Our customized analyses and blueprints can chart a path to scalable, cost-effective infrastructure for freight facilities such as truck depots, airports and seaports, and distribution centers.

Regional Transportation Corridors

NREL researchers support partners in exploring charging and fueling infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty trucks traveling the nation's freight corridors. This work calls upon NREL's EVI-X suite of infrastructure analysis tools, grid integration research, and hydrogen infrastructure models.