NREL Shuttle Services

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL develops renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advances related science and engineering, and transfers knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy goals to industry. NREL is managed and operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. NREL also looks for opportunities to put cutting edge technologies to use on its campus to test energy efficiency, enhanced mobility, and the interchange between the two. OBJECTIVE The objective of this work effort is threefold: One, NREL plans to work with the subcontractor to refresh its shuttle services to ensure they are in alignment with current mobility needs and changes in the NREL workforce. Two, NREL has a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions generated by the NREL campus mobility by transitioning to an electric shuttle fleet – or equivalent zero emissions technology, while continuing to provide staff with reliable transportation to their destinations. Three, NREL is a living laboratory and promotes use of the campus resources to enable research to accelerate the adoption of new technologies or strategies by providing proof of concept demonstrations. NREL seeks a subcontractor that is willing to collaborate with NREL on the demonstrations in the areas of automated mobility as well as on-demand, app-enabled, efficient routing technology. NREL currently provides daily shuttle services for staff members at its South Table Mountain (STM) campus located in Golden, Colorado. Post-pandemic, NREL has adopted a hybrid work environment. On-site staff varies by day of the week, with Friday being the lowest day for on-site staff (approximately 600 people on-site on average) whereas Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are the highest day for on-site staff (approximately 1,000 people on-site on average). NREL’s shuttle services provide transportation to and from area transit facilities located approximately 3-6 miles from NREL, move staff and visitors around the STM campus and between NREL facilities in Denver West Office Park and Camp George West as well as support tours and other NREL sponsored group events, upon request. In future years of this subcontract, NREL is considering utilizing autonomous vehicle technology in place of one or more standard vehicles, particularly on the main campus. The autonomous shuttle would provide service between buildings on the STM Campus (limited to NREL private roads only). The autonomous vehicle that NREL is looking to use on campus would have the capabilities to be operated without an operator, preferably would provide ADA accommodations, and be able to travel at speeds approaching or surpassing 20 mph. This vehicle is not currently available on the market, but when this technology is available NREL will want to visit adding it to the shuttle service subcontract as either an on-demand service (preferable), or a circulator.