Publications
Transportation
The following publications and presentations released by the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project relate to
Transportation:
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Economic and Emissions Benefits of Electric Vehicles in Nevada (PDF - 1.62 MB)
With continued investment and supportive policies, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as the most promising clean transportation alternative to gas-powered vehicles. As automakers introduce more diverse and affordable EV models, and as the network of charging stations expands, the market for electric vehicles will continue to grow. This paper analyzes the true societal value of electric vehicles.
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Arizona Electric Vehicle Cost-Benefit Analysis (PDF - 851 KB)
Today, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) and Western Resource Advocates (WRA) released a report estimating the impacts of greater plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) use in Arizona. The report, conducted by the independent consulting firm M.J. Bradley & Associates, found that increased adoption of clean PEVs would reduce utility costs for Arizona families, reduce transportation costs for drivers, support the local economy, and improve air quality for all Arizonans, among other benefits.
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Transportation Electrification in Nevada (PDF - 1.7 MB)
November 2018 - Transportation is now the largest source of greenhouse gasses in U.S. Getting EVs on the road benefits all utility customers and help states realize both environmental and economic benefits.
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EV-Ready Building Codes: Preparing new buildings for EV charging stations. How to put electric vehicle charging in your residential building code:
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Shared, Electric, and Self-Driving: How states and municipalities can encourage autonomous vehicles to be shared and electric (PDF - 1.14 MB)
September 2018 - The transportation sector is now the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. economy. Without high levels of vehicle electrification and an accelerated decarbonization of the electricity sector, it is unlikely that the transportation sector, and thus the entire US economy, will be able to attain the significant GHG reductions necessary to reduce the impacts of climate change.
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GoEVCity Colorado (PDF - 2.22 MB)
September 2018 - This document is a local policy toolkit for electric transportation. The GoEVCity Policy Toolkit is a catalog of local policies, strategies, and programs designed to advance the transition to EVs in Colorado communities. The toolkit takes a holistic approach to the transportation electrification, with specific policy recommendations for public transit, municipal fleets, taxis, ride-hail services, and personal car ownership. Most of these tools have been implemented in cities, counties, states, and utilites in Colorado and across the country.
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Economic Benefits Provided by The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority: 2011-2018 (PDF - 1.49 MB)
August 2018 - While the public may realize that transit systems offer tangible economic benefits to large metropolitan areas, Coloradans also should know that smaller communities can receive significant economic benefits, too, based on their own investments in local transit systems. Read the report to see how RFTA's innovative transit system development has benefited several Colorado communities.
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Electric Vehicle Group Buy Programs: Handbook & Case Studies (PDF - 4.77 MB)
July 2018 - An evaluation of EV group buy programs and toolkit for developing new opportunities with regional stakeholders.
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Electrifying Transportation: Boulder County's Clean Future (PDF - 3.18 MB)
February 2018 - As part of its commitment to sustainability, Boulder County is investigating the potential to electrify its own vehicle fleet and increase plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) adoption by its own employees and the general public. Vehicle electrification offers one of the best opportunities to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the County’s fleets and its employees, which is a necessary step to achieve the County’s goal of carbon neutrality in its operations.
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Denver's Opportunity for Vehicle Electrification (PDF - 3.95 MB)
August 2017 - This non-technical summary is a companion pieces to SWEEP’s longer engineering and economics study "Denver’s Opportunity for Vehicle Electrification,” which appears as the next entry on this page, below.
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Opportunities for Vehicle Electrification in the Denver Metro area and Across Colorado (PDF - 3.86 MB)
August 2017 - This in-depth report examines how electric vehicles can help the City and County of Denver, CO, meet the aims articulated in the city’s Climate Action Plan and Sustainability 2020 Goals, and how the vehicles also can help the surrounding metropolitan area improve regional air quality. To do so, however, the city and metro area must overcome several challenges, which the report also describes, along with possible ways to overcome the obstacles.
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Improving Mobility Without Building More Lanes (PDF - 1.24 MB)
July 2017 - Non-technical overview and companion pieces to longer engineering study "Managed Lanes and Other Strategies to Improve Mobility on the I - 25 South Corridor"
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Managed Lanes and Other Strategies to Improve Mobility on the I-25 South Corridor (PDF - 1.37 MB)
July 2017 - To improve mobility on this corridor, transportation planners should consider the conversion of one lane in each direction to a managed lane, providing drivers a congestion-free option. Revenues from the managed lane would be focused on aggressive transportation demand management (TDM) efforts to provide transportation alternatives to travelers in the corridor.
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The Potential for Electric Vehicles to Reduce Vehicle Emissions and Provide Economic Benefits in the Wasatch Front (PDF - 577 KB)
January 2017 - This report shows electric vehicles – both plug-in hybrids and fully battery-powered cars – will substantially help improve air quality along Utah's Wasatch Front. In addition, the study explains why the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) will bring economic benefits, too. The estimated 2,500 PEVs on the road in Utah at the end of 2016 saved Utahans around $800,000 in fuel costs in 2016 alone.
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Colorado’s Transit, Biking & Walking Needs Over The Next 25 Years (PDF - 4.19 MB)
August 2016 - This report analyzes the level of funding required to provide improved infrastructure for walking, bicycling and public transit in Colorado and discusses policy options to both reallocate existing funds and generate new revenue for multimodal transportation.
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Evaluation of Colorado Electric Vehicle Group Purchase Programs (PDF - 1.71 MB)
March 2016 - This report provides results and analysis of a four-month group purchase program for electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic hosted by Boulder County, Adams County and the City and County of Denver.
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The Electric Vehicle and Photovoltaic Power Purchase Handbook: A toolkit for developing electric vehicle and rooftop solar group purchase programs (PDF - 1.67 MB)
March 2016 - This is a handbook for local governments, utilities, or other agencies interested in launching an electric vehicle or solar group buy program, including information on program benefits, sample RFPs, and sample outreach materials.
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How Leading Utilities are Embracing Electric Vehicles (PDF - 1.61 MB)
February 2016 - This report describes the opportunities and challenges that electric vehicles present to utilities and reviews what leading utilities across the country are doing to increase adoption of electric vehicles.
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Transportation Toolkit (PDF - 1.11 MB)
October 2015 - This guide, coauthored by SWEEP and COPIRG staff, describes a range of options for making our communities better places -- places where residents can safely and comfortably get around by walking, riding a bike, or riding transit, in addition to driving.
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Driving Trends and Transportation Funding in the Southwest: Budgets Can Support Further Reductions in Driving (PDF - 1.03 MB)
September 2015 - This report makes the case for realigning transportation funding to serve the new reality of less driving and more demand for safe, energy-efficient alternatives.
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Boulder Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Adoption Assessment (PDF - 2.97 MB)
April 2015 - The research presented in this report was undertaken to provide recommendations on steps that local governments and other institutions in Boulder County can take to promote electric vehicles among their employees and residents. The report includes summary and discussion of best practices and cutting edge ideas for supporting electric vehicle charging in the workplace, residence and the public.
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Considering a Regional Network of Bus Rapid Transit in the Denver Metro Area (PDF - 2.01 MB)
October 2014 - SWEEP proposes that the region’s transportation planning entities (CDOT, RTD and DRCOG) collaborate on an initial high level study of potential BRT corridors as a step towards developing a regional vision for future BRT lines.
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Economic and Air Quality Benefits of Electric Vehicles in Nevada (PDF - 1007 KB)
September 2014 - Electric vehicles help create jobs and provide economic and air quality benefits to Clark and Washoe Counties and the state of Nevada overall. In order to maximize these potential benefits for all Nevada residents, the state should consider adoption of policies that overcome barriers to greater numbers of people acquiring them.
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NV Energy: Leading the Way on Electric Vehicles (PDF - 1.17 MB)
August 2014 - This case study shows that NV Energy has demonstrated strong leadership and foresight in supporting EVs.
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Policies to Promote Electric Vehicles in the Southwest: A State Government Report Card (2014 edition) (PDF - 944 KB)
April 2014 - A 2014 update includes significant legislation adopted in Colorado and Utah in 2013 and 2014. Those states now lead the region in EV policies.
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Managed Highway Lanes in Colorado: Everyone Benefits from Including Carpools and Public Transit (PDF - 707 KB)
April 2014 - This SWEEP Paper examines the rationale behind Colorado's new policy of focusing on managed lanes rather than adding new capacity, and proposes legislative initiatives to further define and support it.
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Air Quality and Economic Benefits of Electric Vehicles in New Mexico (PDF - 713 KB)
January 2014 - SWEEP's analysis shows that electric vehicles provide significant air quality and economic benefits to residents in New Mexico. State policies can help to overcome barriers to more widespread use of the vehicles.
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Economic Benefits of Transit Systems: Colorado Case Studies (PDF - 8.61 MB)
September 2013 - Because of the significant local economic benefits generated by transit sytems, and because many of these benefits accrue to the entire population (not only transit users), communities’ expenditures on transit service should be seen as wise investments in the local economy.
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Air Quality and Economic Benefits of Electric Vehicles in Arizona (PDF - 831 KB)
September 2013 - Analysis shows that electric vehicles provide air quality and economic benefits to residents in Phoenix and Arizona. State policies can help to overcome barriers to more widespread use of the vehicles.
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Air Quality Benefits of Electric Vehicles in the Denver Metro and North Front Range Area (PDF - 812 KB)
September 2013 - An air quality and emissions analysis for the Denver metro and North Front Range region shows that electric vehicles can reduce emissions of air pollutants compared to gasoline-fueled vehicles.
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The Potential for Electric Vehicles to Reduce Emissions and Improve Air Quality on the Wasatch Front (PDF - 497 KB)
August 2013 - This report shows that in the Wasatch Front region of Utah, electric vehicles significantly reduce air pollution compared to gas-fueled cars.
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Comments Submitted to Utah Public Service Commission (PDF - 540 KB)
July 2013 - The PSC is required to investigate and report to the legislature under S.B. 275 options for cleaner urban air through enhanced use of alternative fuel vehicles. SWEEP and Utah Clean Energy submitted analysis and comments.
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Transportation Fuels for the Southwest: Life-cycle Energy Use & Environmental Impacts of Electric, CNG and Gas Vehicles (PDF - 5.07 MB)
July 2013 - This report for policymakers provides comparative analysis to determine the cleanest car in the six southwestern states of AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT and WY. Comparable performance of electric vehicles improves as renewables & natural gas increase their share of electricity generation over coal.
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Policies to Promote Electric Vehicles in the Southwest: A State Government Report Card (PDF - 944 KB)
May 2013 - More widespread adoption of electric vehicles in southwestern states will bring important public benefits, including cleaner air and lower fuel costs. This report issues "report card" grades for six states for state government policies that advance EVs.
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Transportation Fuels for Colorado's Future: Life-cycle Energy Use and Environmental Impacts of Electric, Compressed Natural Gas, and Gasoline Vehicles (PDF - 2.44 MB)
February 2013 - SWEEP Report: Due to planned improvements in Colorado's electricity generation, electric vehicles will become more efficient and less polluting every year. By 2020 they will significantly outperform gasoline and CNG vehicles.
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Electric Vehicles Can Buffer Arizona from the Economic Shocks of Rising Fuel Prices, Creat Jobs, and Reduce Pollution Control Costs
July 2011 - SWEEP Report
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Protecting Arizona from the Economic Shocks of Rising Fuel Prices (PDF - 490 KB)
June 2011 - SWEEP Report submitted AZ Dept of Environmental Quality
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Comments by SWEEP on the Proposed Revocation of Arizona Clean Car Standards (PDF - 106 KB)
June 2011 - SWEEP Comments
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Transportation Policies to Protect the DRCOG Region from the Economic Shocks of Rising Fuel Prices (PDF - 541 KB)
April 2011 - SWEEP / EDF Report
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Ozone Precursor and GHG Emissions from Light Duty Vehicles: Comparing Electricity and Natural Gas as Transportation Fuels (PDF - 361 KB)
April 2011 - SWEEP Report for presentation to Denver Regional Air Quality Council
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What Can Cities and Counties Do to Promote the Deployment of Electric Vehicles? (PDF - 488 KB)
March 2011 - SWEEP Report
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Nevada Transportation Blueprint (PDF - 1.65 MB)
February 2011 - SWEEP Report
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Colorodo Transportation Blueprint - Presentation (PDF - 2.14 MB)
August 2010 - Presentation to Denver Regional Air Quality Council
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Colorado Transportation Blueprint (PDF - 1.59 MB)
July 2009 - SWEEP Report