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May 2024
Mastering the Fundamentals: A First Step for Promising New Sustainable Vehicle Fuels
NREL's fuels and combustion researchers studied the combustion and chemical properties of a potential new biodiesel made by sugar-eating bacteria. This fundamental research is a necessary step to creating well-vetted, reliable, and appropriate new vehicle fuels to hasten the clean energy transition.
Zooming in on Electric Vehicles: How Duluth, Minnesota, Is Preparing for the EV Future
Nearly 33 million electric vehicles (EVs) nationwide—that is the number of vehicles the Unites States should be prepared to support through a national charging network by the year 2030, researchers at NREL estimated in a recent landmark study.
April 2024
Short-Circuiting on Purpose: How NREL-Licensed Tech Continues To Make a Difference in Space
NASA and NREL created a device that causes an internal short circuit inside the layers of a battery cell, providing information that allows NASA to meet its stringent battery safety requirements.
New Report Tackles Electric Vehicle Charging Payment Challenges and Offers Key Recommendations
Payment issues can affect electric vehicle (EV) drivers' charging experiences. EV charging should be accessible, convenient, and reliable, and payment issues affect both accessibility and reliability.
NREL Analysis Shows Snapshot of the Clean Supply Chain of the Future
Researchers from NREL, in collaboration with industry partners, have demonstrated the potential for a zero-tailpipe emissions supply chain—one that transports goods from the nation's busiest ports to their final destinations without producing vehicle emissions—all while using today's technology.
Study Examines Cost Competitiveness of Zero-Emission Trucks
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) account for just 5% of vehicles on the road in the United States, yet they are responsible for 21% of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
March 2024
Electric Aircrafts Will Need Powerful Ports
An important consideration for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft is where they will charge and whether the existing power grid infrastructure can accommodate this demand.
NREL's Rail Optimization Software Is Putting Freight Electrification on the Fast Track
Combined, two first-in-the-world products—NREL's ALTRIOS rail optimization software and Parallel Systems' autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles—aim to help shift a portion of the freight currently carried by on-road trucks to rail, catalyzing decarbonization across the whole transportation sector.
How Many Transformers Will US Distribution Grid Need by 2050?
New NREL research is providing first-of-its-kind modeling to help curb the current shortage of distribution transformers and ensure a reliable and resilient power grid.
February 2024
NREL's Recyclable Carbon Fiber Composites Made Greener With Thermoforming
Senior polymer science researcher and group manager Nicholas Rorrer currently leads a team of NREL researchers working to replace the heavy, resource-intensive steel parts in vehicles with recyclable carbon fiber composites.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025