(120a) Quantifying and Comparing the Cumulative Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Financial Viability of Heavy-Duty Transportation Pathways for the Northeastern, United States

This study analyzes several transportation sector decarbonization pathways for the Northeastern, United States. This study calculates the financial viability in terms of net present values achieved and the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions associated with each pathway. Several commercialized Class 8 heavy-duty trucks pathways are analyzed and operate on either a standard petroleum diesel, biomass-based diesel, or a battery-electric pathway and utilize an investment timing methodology. An internalized social cost of carbon is included within the low-carbon pathways in the form of a financial benefit. Additionally, all pathways include a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. This study finds that for the baseline transportation scenarios the biomass-based diesel to battery-electric pathway is responsible for the highest NPV at $1,160,978 and is followed by the biomass-based diesel pathway at $1,155,651. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the biomass-based diesel to battery-electric pathway yields the lowest emissions at 5,676 megagram (Mg) CO₂e and is followed by the biomass-based diesel pathway at 7,508 Mg CO₂e.