Evaluating the growing demand for electric vehicle charging stations requires accurate, region-specific assessment and planning – tasks that are the focus of software developed by the Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH).
Led by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), CARTEEH is a federally funded University Transportation Center (UTC). CARTEEH partners include Johns Hopkins University, Georgia Tech, University of Texas at El Paso and University of California-Riverside.
Existing research at CARTEEH led to the development of software for generative truck charging demand simulation models and cost optimization. First implemented in Houston, this technology meets a national need for fleet electrification and charging solutions.
The new software enables modeling and demand estimation for electric vehicle charging at a fine-grained scale in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Harnessing modeling capabilities for both transportation and energy, the software allows these sectors to work efficiently with communities to meet the needs associated with large-scale electrification. The software’s capabilities and flexibility are applicable to the challenges facing communities across the nation.
The software has been licensed and is currently being commercialized by ElectroTempo, a private-sector startup. This spinoff company is an example of successful technology transfer from the UTC program, generating increasingly in-demand capabilities as well as new job opportunities at the intersection of transportation electrification and data science in a very fast-growing environment, namely vehicle electrification.
The technology co-inventors are all from TTI and include Drs Ann Xu, Joe Zietsman and Alex Meitiv. The technology transfer of the software’s capabilities and the flexibility and broad reach created by the startup company will benefit communities across the nation. ElectroTempo, founded by Dr. Xu, has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Research program and has attracted substantial venture capital investment.
CARTEEH focuses on the impact of transportation emissions on human health.
This article was originally published in DOTNET, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s employee newsletter, November 12, 2021.