Ricardo to carry out California HGV study

Consultancy firm Ricardo is to assess the performance of alternatively fuelled heavy goods vehicles in by California’s Air Resources Board (CARB)

Ricardo Strategic Consulting has been selected by CARB to monitor, collect, and analyze the data for heavy-duty vehicle projects funded under Air Quality Improvement Program and the low carbon transportation Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

The work will include the monitoring and analysis of over 140 advanced vehicles

A wide range of advanced technology demonstration projects have been carried out under these initiatives, aimed at helping to pull forward zero emission vehicle technology in the commercial vehicle and bus transportation sectors.

CARB has awarded a contract to Ricardo to quantify the emission reduction benefits and performance of the advanced technologies vehicles, compared to current conventionally fuelled vehicles.

Ricardo will also assess the economic viability and commercial readiness of the zero-emission technologies for wider adoption within the industry.

Vehicles

The work will include the monitoring and analysis of over 140 advanced vehicles. Some of these will be based on battery electric powertrains, while others will feature technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, CNG range extenders, diesel plug-in hybrids, and co-operative-intelligent transportation systems across truck, bus and off-road applications.

Piyush Bubna, programme manager for the project at Ricardo Strategic Consulting, said: “Data-driven assessment is essential to the accurate evaluation of performance, economic viability, commercial readiness and emissions reduction benefits, of advanced new technologies.

“It also allows an assessment of how these technologies can gain wider adoption across several commercial transportation applications. The project will help California to identify the need for future investments and help guide future policy for advanced technology zero- and near zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles.”

Marc Wiseman, president of Ricardo Strategic Consulting North America, said: “Ricardo is extremely pleased to have been given the opportunity to perform this contract for the Air Resources Board.

“We look forward to supporting CARB and those in receipt of project funding as well as stakeholders throughout commercial vehicle industry — including fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure providers and utilities companies — with data collection, analysis summaries, and insights on the potential commercialisation opportunities for the new technologies assessed.”