Project Summary
This project addresses the critical need for resilient electric transportation systems during post-disaster recovery. The research team evaluates the techno-economic potential of repurposing public and private fleets, including those equipped with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) charging technology, as “energy tankers” to recharge essential transportation and non-transportation loads when the grid is down. Researchers develop an optimization framework to plan the deployment of energy tankers to minimize power loss for critical electrical loads. The model incorporates movement of the energy tankers, energy constraints, and load prioritization, informed by expert input. Validation is performed using agent-based simulations replicating realistic disaster scenarios such as flooding and wildfires to be co-developed with community partners in Merced and Kern counties.
Finally, the project delivers policy recommendations to support state and local agencies in planning, funding, and coordinating mobile energy in the aftermath of a disaster. Project outputs include decision-support tools, cost models, and scenario-based plans designed to strengthen California’s capacity to sustain electric transportation operations and enhance energy resilience during emergencies.
