Read the blog post here.

Read the blog post here.

As an advanced technology engineer for the BMW Group Technology Office, Julia Sohnen, M.S., Transportation Technology and Policy (TTP), works to improve sustainable mobility and innovation with one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world — all within the heart of California’s Silicon Valley.

Sohnen conducts customer research for the BMW i ChargeForward program. This program partners with California’s Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to study how electric vehicles can operate as a flexible load on the electricity grid through the forward-looking concept known as smart charging. The idea is to manage at-home electric vehicle charging to help the utility manage peak load, stabilize the grid, and provide cleaner source energy.

When PG&E is experiencing peak load conditions, participating BMW i3 electric vehicle owners who volunteered for the ChargeForward program may be asked to delay charging for up to an hour. Owners can choose to opt out of any single delayed charging request. All of this research is being conducted locally in the San Francisco Bay area.

“Now that the program has started, my responsibility is managing all the customer research and establishing research goals,” Sohnen said. “We want to explore how to better match charging of the electric vehicles to dynamic energy supply sources.” While Sohnen conducts fresh research in automotive innovation, she likes to stay connected to her Aggie network, tracing her beginnings with BMW back to ITS-Davis and its multidisciplinary TTP program.

Sohnen, like many recent graduates, did some soul-searching before arriving at her position with BMW. With a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering, she started her career working for Boeing Satellite Systems in Los Angeles. Realizing that she wanted to shift her focus to sustainability, Sohnen left Boeing to return to school.

“I wanted to apply my control systems background to energy systems. A former professor at Cornell suggested ITS-Davis, specifically for the STEPS (Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways) program. The transportation-energy pathways and the infrastructure component really aligned well with where I wanted to go next. It was a perfect fit.”

At ITS-Davis, there is no average student, typical path, or standard curriculum. Students develop their own multidisciplinary program. The flexibility of the TTP program combined with Sohnen’s clear goals and aspirations led her to her current profession. It turns out Sohnen’s thesis on carbon emissions associated with charging electric vehicles is a timely topic related to her current work.

“Through that thesis and the connections I made in the STEPS program, I was able find this position,” Sohnen explained.

Sohnen took advantage of networking opportunities with BMW and other automobile companies, made available to her through the ITS-Davis STEPS program. She networked with several BMW engineers at the STEPS symposia and reached out to her connections when beginning her job hunt. She is now approaching her third year with BMW, working on second-life battery research and technology scouting, in addition to the BMW i ChargeForward program.

“Students should realize the advantage of the program and how Davis is a strong network for state agencies, other universities, and industries,” Sohnen reflected. “There are a lot of talented people that come out of ITS-Davis and stay in this electric vehicle space. These are the people you will be constantly running into for the rest of your career.”

The #AggiesAtWork series is done in partnership with the UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association.

View other Aggies@Work stories:

• Ben Sharpe’s UC Davis Doctoral Degree Leads to Research Career in International Transportation

A dramatic global shift to increased cycling and electric biking, or e-biking, could cut energy use and carbon dioxide emissions from urban transport by up to 10 percent by 2050 compared to current estimates, while saving society nearly $25 trillion. That is according to a report by the University of California, Davis, and the New York-based Institute for Transportation & Development Policy.

The report, “A Global High Shift Cycling Scenario,” takes a comprehensive look at the future of cycling for urban transportation.

“This is the first report that quantifies the potential carbon dioxide and cost savings associated with a worldwide shift toward much greater use of cycling in urban areas,” said report co-author Lew Fulton, co-director of the STEPS Program within the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis. “The estimated impacts surprised me because they are so large. The costs saved in lower energy use and reducing the need for car travel, new roads, and parking lots through 2050 are substantial.”

Cycling’s enormous potential

Currently, cycling accounts for about 6 percent of urban trips worldwide, more than half of which occurs in China, Japan and a few European countries, like the Netherlands and Denmark. In the United States and Canada, only 1 percent of urban trips are by bicycle.

According to the study, the right mix of investments and public policies can bring bikes and e-bikes to cover up to 14 percent of urban miles traveled by 2050 — ranging from about 25 percent in the Netherlands and China to about 7 percent in the U.S. and Canada. The potential is enormous when considering that typically more than half of all urban trips worldwide are less than 6 miles and potentially could be done by bike.

“This study shows the profound impact that cycling can have in developing countries like India and China, where much of the infrastructure has yet to be built,” said co-author Jacob Mason, transport research and evaluation manager for the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy. “Building cities for cycling will not only lead to cleaner air and safer streets — it will save people and governments a substantial amount of money, which can be spent on other things. That’s smart urban policy.’

A pro-cycling culture in Davis

Davis, California, home to UC Davis, has witnessed the health, economic and environmental benefits of creating a bicycle-friendly culture:

• More than 20 percent of employed Davis residents usually commute by bicycle, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• 46 percent of UC Davis students and employees travel to campus by bicycle, while 7 percent walk or skate, according to the 2015 UC Davis Campus Travel Survey, conducted by UC Davis Transportation Services and the Sustainable Transportation Center, which is part of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis.

The city of Davis also created the nation’s first bike lane, first citywide system of bike paths, and installed the country’s first bicycle signal heads on traffic lights.

Both the town and university have received widespread acclaim for their efforts. The League of American Bicyclists named UC Davis a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly University and the city of Davis a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community.

“This represents what’s possible by building excellent cycling infrastructure, focusing on safety, and generally building a pro-cycling culture,” said Susan Handy, who is not a study co-author but is director of the National Center for Sustainable Transportation at UC Davis and a professor of environmental science and policy. “Most cities around the world should be able to approach the kinds of bicycling rates we enjoy in Davis, as well as those achieved by so many in Europe, China and Japan.”

The research was supported by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the European Cyclists’ Federation, and the Bicycle Suppliers Association.

Additional information:

• Read the report.
• Download infographics.
• Link to posting at UC Davis

For Ben Sharpe—Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Davis, 2013—the focus is global.

As a senior researcher for the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Sharpe and his team actively study the impacts of heavy-duty vehicles for the governments of countries around the world, in particular: China, Brazil, Mexico, the European Union, the United States, and, most recently, India. With offices in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Berlin, the widely respected, independent, non-profit ICCT provides “first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators.”

Although Sharpe has been a senior researcher for only three years, his tenure at the ICCT spans more than six; he started his involvement with the council while still pursuing his Civil Engineering doctorate with a transportation focus at ITS-Davis. Not surprisingly, Sharpe credits a lot of his success in the position with the knowledge and connections he made through his UC Davis transportation graduate program. “My first contact with ICCT was back in 2007. I was super lucky to work with [ITS-Davis Researcher and Energy Efficiency Center Associate Director] Alan Meier. He was with the International Energy Agency for a number of years and knew that I had a strong interest in heavy-duty vehicle efficiency: As part of his class we had done some work looking at tractor-trailer operations in the U.S. Well, IEA was doing a workshop in Paris in 2007 to look at regulation of heavy-duty vehicle efficiency, and Alan was instrumental in getting me some funding and a formal invitation to attend that workshop.”

Now a few years into his career, Sharpe is currently tackling issues involving heavy-duty vehicle efficiency in a number of different countries and regions. Recently, Sharpe and his team authored numerous papers answering technical questions for regulatory design in India and also held a workshop in Delhi in April to foster discussions. His team offers policy and technical recommendations to governments around the world who have various levels of experience in traversing through contemporary transportation issues.

“The current mode that we are in is following need,” he said. “And one of the biggest needs right now in terms of fuel efficiency regulatory development for heavy-duty vehicle is in India.”

Sharpe now lives in Sacramento with his family, commuting to his office in San Francisco via the train a few times a week. As he reflects back, Sharpe notes the lasting impacts of his time at ITS-Davis.

“I really could not have asked for better training for the field I am in now. The research at ITS-Davis is extremely aligned with what we do here at the ICCT,” he said. “In terms of the coursework, getting all the exposure to analytical tools, models, and technical jargon—my experience at ITS was terrific. I could not have envisioned a better segue to the ICCT.”

The #AggiesAtWork series is done in partnership with the UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association.

View other AggiesAtWork stories:

• UC Davis Transportation Alums: Changing California, Changing the World
  
• Nevada Department of Transportation’s Sondra Rosenberg: Shaping Policies in the Public Sphere
• For MTC’s David Ory, People & Community are Key to Transportation Planning

Can the UC Davis campus achieve the goal of zero net energy by 2025?

The students enrolled in the class A Path to Zero Net Energy: A Hands-on Approach are doing their part to foster significant energy improvements here at UC Davis. Taught by Program for International Energy Technologies (PIET) and D-Lab Director Kurt Kornbluth, the Zero Net Energy (ZNE) class helps students gain valuable hands-on energy efficiency experience, both in the lab and at various sites on campus. The class is sponsored by the UC Davis Facilities Management Energy Conservation Office, which develops and implements energy projects and initiatives across the campus to help the university reach its energy and climate goals.

Over the duration of the course, student groups work on client-based energy projects, ranging from audits, behavioral studies, energy modeling, and more. These studies aim to inform decisions regarding energy efficiency, consumption, and supply in UC Davis, all building toward campus zero-net energy and carbon neutrality.

A research showcase held in June brought together all of the student groups from Professor Kornbluth’s ZNE class to spotlight the students’ innovative work. Many projects were highlighted:  a campus facility and infrastructure audit of thermoelectric heat recovery opportunities, an energy assessment of the Davis Tri-Cooperatives (energy efficient living on campus), a behavioral study on how UC Davis freshmen utilize the thermostat in the dorms, and the feasibility of hydropower on farms, among others.

One group presenting at the showcase provided energy modeling for the UC Davis Solar Decathlon House for migrant farmworkers and other low-income communities. UC Davis was selected for the Department of Energy’s 2015 Solar Decathlon contest, a biannual contest in which universities are challenged to design, build, and operate solar-powered homes that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The ZNE class team digitally modeled the home in order to provide a comprehensive energy analysis of materials, appliances, and climate conditions of the home. This data will help the UC Davis team make better informed decisions about the building design leading up to the competition in October.

Winning recognition as the top project in the spring quarter ZNE class was, “Charging into the Future: An economic and GHG analysis of fleet conversion to electric buses.” For this project, students worked with the UC Davis public transit program Unitrans on the feasibility of transitioning the current compressed natural gas CNG buses to electric buses. Partnering with the Unitrans staff, students Colin Mickle, Jessica Siegel and Katrina Sutton found that by replacing 13 traditional (CNG) buses with EVs, they could reduce emissions by 540 metric tons of C02e per year. The study was comprehensive, analyzing economics (including cost/benefit, GHG emissions, technology review, and route analysis). Although their class obligations are finished, the students are continuing to follow up with Unitrans with the goal of making EV buses at UC Davis a reality.

The Zero Net Energy class is just one of the many ways that students at UC Davis are getting hands-on experience making impactful change in a real world setting. By working together with their colleagues and professors in a multi-disciplinary program, students learn how zero-net energy buildings and communities are constructed—through field trips, lectures, and direct engagement with the transportation and energy programs on campus.

Photo caption: Speaking at the June ZNE research showcase was Kurt Kornbluth, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Learn more about the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center.

Will the federal Clean Power Plan (CPP) facilitate the introduction of comprehensive carbon pricing in Pacific Coast states, or hinder it?

The UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy has issued a report examining how the pending U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s CPP could impact Western carbon pricing and state and regional greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategies. The report summarizes the findings of a workshop hosted last November by the Policy Institute, in conjunction with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Next 10 and Resources for the Future.

CPP represents a large-scale national effort to reduce carbon emissions through the regulation of GHG emissions from power plants.  (The plan gives states flexibility for meeting a 30% reduction in GHG from 2005 levels at existing power plants by 2030.) The federal plan could have effects on states with preexisting GHG limiting initiatives already in place: California for example, utilizes an emissions cap-and-trade system.

The fall 2014 workshop focused on the interactions between the CPP and preexisting policies – particularly carbon pricing efforts by the Pacific Coast Climate Alliance, comprised of  U.S. states California, Washington, Oregon—and British Columbia. More than 38participants attended the workshop, including regional EPA officials, regulators from Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada, academics, and NGO representatives.

A report summarizes the findings from the workshop:  “State and Regional Comprehensive Carbon Pricing and Greenhouse Gas Regulation in the Power Sector under EPA’s Clean Power Plan.”

James Bushnell acting director of the UC Davis Policy Institute and co-author of the workshop report stressed the importance of state partnerships. “Multi-state cooperation is attractive because it brings down costs to business as well as consumers, serves to prevent the reshuffling of electricity generation to states with higher emissions limits, increases the reliability of the grid and simplifies compliance,” said Bushnell.

Although a full consensus was not reached during the conference, the attendees agreed that the EPA and Pacific Coast states will need to work together to ensure that the CPP will contribute to, and not impede, the implementation of Western carbon pricing policies. A key theme discussed was the need for regulatory clarity when the CPP rules are finalized, expected in August 2015.

Reflecting the comments of other conference participants, report co-author Dallas Burtraw, senior fellow at Resources for the Future, said he looks forward to “greater regulatory certainty as the [plan] is finalized, on issues including how new fossil sources of generation will be treated, how megawatt hours of generation should be calculated, and the best approach to translating-carbon-intensity numbers into mass of emissions totals.”

The CPP creates coordinated nation-wide efforts to reduce GHG emissions. The plan is designed to cut carbon pollution specifically from the electricity sector and is predicted to cut air pollution by more than 25 percent.

“The Clean Power Plan could facilitate state and regional efforts to develop comprehensive climate policies including carbon pricing,” said F. Noel Perry, businessman and founder of Next 10, in a news release accompanying the report. “However, lack of foresight and certain regulatory frameworks could actually limit what states and regions can achieve—thoughtful implementation and coordination are key.”

 

Big congratulations to our newest M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, honored in this year’s commencement!

These distinguished graduates have earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Transportation Technology and Policy. During their time at UC Davis, they have published research on topics ranging from car dealers and the plug-in electric vehicle market to commute behavior changes, taxicab transportation in Colombia, and much more.

ITS-Davis seeks to produce thoughtful and educated leaders ready to make an impact on transportation and energy research and policy. ITS-Davis Director Dan Sperling said: “Our most notable and enduring accomplishment is the nurturing and training of incredibly passionate and accomplished graduate students. To this highly talented 2015 class of students I simply say, the future is in good hands—your own.”

Students who seek degrees with ITS-Davis come from all over the world to work with renowned professors. Yuche Chen (pictured, top left), who earned his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering said that “UC Davis provided a solid foundation and network for me to get involved in the whole research community. There’s no better place to pursue a career in transportation, energy, and environmental analysis.” Chen is taking a position as a research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center in Golden, Colorado. “This is the biggest achievement of my life. I’m speechless,” said TTP Ph.D. graduate Alvaro Valencia Rodriguez. After graduation, he hopes to become a professor at Andes University in his home country of Colombia.

The UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies is looking for talented individuals interested in leading the future of sustainable transportation.  ITS-Davis offers a unique program in Transportation Technology and Policy, and engages with graduate students in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and other related departments. Read all about graduate transportation education at UC Davis and watch a short video about the program by clicking here.

Photo: (Left to right) Top – Yuche Chen, Eric Cahill, Prof. John Harvey, Kevin Fang, Wei Ji, Abdulkadir Bedir, Susan Pike, Cheng Zhuo. Bottom – Prof. Yue Yue Fan, Prof. Alissa Kendall, Juhong Yuan, Prof. Susan Handy, Duaa Gettani, Alvaro Valencia Rodriguez, Bo Wu. Photo Credit: Gene Ang