STEPS Program Overview
The Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS) Program at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis) is a leading contributor to industry, government and public understanding on the comparison of alternative fuel pathways. The STEPS program is a major collaboration between ITS-Davis, state, national and international government agencies, and international energy and automotive companies.
The STEPS program is focused on providing world-leading independent, interdisciplinary research for the transportation and energy communities studying the comparison of alternative fuel pathways. STEPS has a broad scope that encompasses many fuels and vehicles and types of analysis (as shown in the figure below). Our interdisciplinary research team of 15 faculty and 20 graduate students is supported by a diverse consortium of sponsors including state, national and international government agencies, energy and automotive companies.
Four main transportation energy categories will be investigated, and interdisciplinary projects will study the differences between the varying energy pathways. The categories are: hydrogen, biofuels, electricity, and fossil fuels. Interdisciplinary research comparing these pathways are divided into six areas of study: Markets and Behavior, Infrastructure Modeling, Energy, Environment, & Cost Analysis, Policy & Business Strategy, Vehicle Design, and Integrative Scenarios.
STEPS program researchers are developing new and innovative tools to better understand the technological, economic, social and environmental characteristics of alternative energy systems including: integrated energy system modeling; Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis; qualitative market research techniques; and policy analysis. The goals of the STEPS program are to inform the public debate and to assist our public and private sponsors by providing tools and knowledge concerning sustainable transportation alternatives. The program will carefully analyze potential transitions in the transportation sector by addressing markets and consumer behavior, engineering and economics of vehicles and fuel infrastructure systems, societal and lifecycle environmental impacts (climate change, air quality, energy security), and public policy. Our intent is to generate a strong understanding and solid foundation of knowledge for companies and government agencies analyzing technology, investment and policy options.
Five students graduate from STEPS Program