Fleet Data Logging

NREL's data logging techniques and tools provide high-resolution datasets that enable detailed analysis of vehicle operations and inform fleet technology adoption decisions.

NREL researchers dispatch to sites around the nation to install data loggers on commercial fleets. The high-resolution data they collect enable deep engineering analysis into vehicle operations. In turn, NREL analysis allows stakeholders to evaluate the performance and cost of alternative fuel vehicles, such as battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, compressed natural gas, and propane, compared to conventional fuel vehicles, such as diesel and gasoline.

These insights help fleet managers, manufacturers and developers, government and industry partners, and transportation researchers move their fleets toward sustainable, cost-effective operations.

Data Logging Techniques

NREL data logging techniques enable examination and understanding of real-world vehicle performance.

NREL collects in-use vehicle Controller Area Network diagnostics and GPS data at a rate of 1Hz—once per second—that captures information on location, speed, energy use, fuel use, emissions, and other vehicle functions.

The data enables standardized analyses, high-impact targeted analyses, and derived data which generally results in data products such as fleet specific reports, dashboards, or publications. Such summaries can assist fleet managers and other stakeholders by providing important considerations for implementing various vehicle technologies.

Data Tools

Fleet Research, Energy Data, and Insights

The FleetREDI: Fleet Research, Energy Data, and Insights platform is the world's only secure, anonymized, national commercial vehicle data resource where government and industry partners can find—and provide—data to answer pressing commercial vehicle research questions. FleetREDI enables NREL researchers to provide fast, customized recommendations for the low- and zero-emissions solutions of best fit, enabling fleets to meet their goals of reducing energy consumption, harmful emissions, and costs.

Our standardized Fleet Analysis Quick Stats framework allows us to collect, process, and analyze high-resolution fleet data, then generate data visualizations and actionable insights.

Fleet DNA: Commercial Fleet Operating Data

Fleet DNA is a data warehouse that stores the fleet vehicle operating data that form the foundation for the Fleet Research, Energy Data, and Insights (FleetREDI) platform. FleetREDI helps vehicle manufacturers and developers optimize vehicle designs and assists fleet managers in choosing advanced technologies for their fleets. Data summaries and visualizations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles help users understand the operational range of commercial vehicles across vocations and weight classes.

U.S. Department of Energy Platforms

NREL also supports the U.S. Department of Energy's data logging tools, like the Livewire Data Platform. This platform catalogues a wide variety of data from transportation and mobility-related projects. It allows researchers, industry, and academic partners to increase the visibility of their projects within the research community, securely share and preserve data, and leverage datasets from other projects.

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