National Petroleum Council: Advancing Technology for America's Transportation Future

 The CSIS Energy and National Security Program hosted the National Petroleum Council for a discussion of its recent study examining future opportunities and challenges for transportation fuels and vehicle technologies.

Advancing Technology for America’s Transportation Future is the NPC’s response to a request from Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu. This two-year study involved more than 300 participants from the oil and gas industry, U.S. and international vehicle manufactures, transportation services end-users, non-governmental organizations, financial institutions, consultancies, academia, and research groups.  The study found that transportation in the United States could evolve at an accelerated rate, depending on the speed of technology advancements and the economic viability of alternative fuels and vehicles. Nonetheless, sustained and focused efforts by industry and government are essential for progress to continue and accelerate.  

In order to examine the potential impacts of accelerated technology development, this study assumes that aggressive improvements in alternative fuels and vehicles can be achieved and substantial transition hurdles can be overcome.  Through modeling and qualitative analysis, this approach provides insights about the possible futures of the U.S. transportation system that are associated with significant advances in vehicles powered by biofuels, electricity, hydrocarbon liquids, hydrogen, and natural gas.

Featured Speakers:

Linda Capuano
Chair, FTF Coordinating Subcommittee
Vice President of Technology, Marathon Oil Corporation