Seeking Sources of Truth

John Eichberger |
February 2025

The Transportation Energy Institute prides itself on being objective and fact-based. In a world where data (sometimes without validation) is often presented as evidence to support a position, we try to rise above using data to advocate a point of view and present information that is verifiable from reliable sources to help our audience reach more informed conclusions. Every presentation, graphic and observation is sourced. And when we are prone to conjecture, we try to be pretty open about that (let’s be honest, sometimes conjecture is more fun than dry facts, but only if it is recognized as such and not presented as a truth).

In a recent discussion, I was asked where we get our data because we aggregate and present a lot of it. The fact is, we draw from a wide variety of sources, and I thought it might be worth it to share with you some of the resources upon which we rely.

Vehicle Markets

So much of our analysis is looking at which vehicles are being sold and providing insight into the pace of change in the transportation sector. Some of the data we use is free to the public, some is available only through subscription. As a non-profit, we are very careful with our expenditures and limit subscriptions only to those that prove worthy. Here are some of the places we turn to for data and examples of how we often use that data:

Wards Intelligence – We have subscribed to Wards Intelligence since we first opened our doors in 2013. Each month, we have access to a database reporting which vehicles were sold in the prior month, over the previous three months, year to date and prior year to date. The data is sortable by a variety of fields, including manufacturer, vehicle group type (e.g., small car, cross-over utility vehicle, etc.) and, most important for much of our analysis, powertrain. By using this consistent source of data, it is possible to track trends and identify changes in consumer behavior.

Cox Automotive – With a variety of resources available to the public, Cox Automotive provides a wide variety of data and insights into the vehicles market, including the used vehicles sector. With weekly and monthly data summaries, as well as insightful market analysis, they keep their readers well informed of what’s going on in the market. In addition, TEI is very fortunate to have Cox represented on our Board of Advisors, helping us ensure the research we are doing is relevant and reflective of market realities. In addition, they will be speaking at TEI25 this year.

Baum and Associates – This is another resource to which we have subscribed since our inaugural year. Delivering monthly and quarterly market analyses, Alan Baum and his team provide insights into what is happening at the granular level, evaluating production decisions from each major vehicle manufacturer and developing production scenarios that provide a range of what might happen given various factors. And importantly, they pull no punches – if they believe the data and facts conflict with what some others are saying, they are not afraid to point it out. We are thrilled to share that Alan will also be speaking at TEI25 this year.

EPA Automotive Trends Report – I stumbled upon this a few years ago and the data nerd in me threw a party. This report does not provide monthly insights into what is happening, but it looks back over decades to track trends in vehicle performance, emissions, technical configurations, etc. If you want to know how modern combustion vehicles have achieved improved fuel economy, this report tracks the evolution of transmissions, cylinder configuration, fuel injection, etc.

Statistics Canada – As we develop our Canadian Transportation Council, I have been working to develop a source of market data upon which we can rely. Years ago, Statistics Canada had a reputation for being incredibly inaccurate and outdated. Recently, however, it seems they have really stepped up their game and provided more robust data, greater granularity and valuable insights. While it might still not be the most accurate available in the market, the government applies a consistent and transparent methodology.

Fuel Markets

The fuels and energy market has a lot of organizations monitoring it and claiming they have the ultimate knowledge and insights. After spending 25 years in this sector, all I can say is there is no source that is 100% accurate – best we can hope for is unbiased and consistent methodology. Here is where we most often turn:

U.S. Energy Information Administration – Many in the industry will lament EIA as not accurate enough, but it is a government agency, provides free access to data and applies a consistent and transparent methodology. Most importantly, nobody has stepped up and offered us a free source of data that is more accurate. From my perspective, I think the team at EIA does a really good job and covers a wide range of markets, including petroleum, biofuels, natural gas and electricity. In addition, when they return with their Annual Energy Outlookthis year, they provide in-depth analysis on energy and transportation sectors along with projections based upon a variety of changing variables. Their user interface is easy to navigate and allows users to really dive deep into the topics of their interest.

OPIS – This is another resource I have used since long before founding the Institute. I track weekly average wholesale and retail prices for gasoline and diesel fuel by relying on OPIS. In addition, if I want to better understand what is happening in a particular market, they provide data on more than 350 individual markets where I can see prices at the rack and retail station by brand. Beyond this, when I have other questions about what’s happening in the market, I can turn to their weekly market reports or give them a call. We are again fortunate to have OPIS serving on our Board and speaking at TEI25.

Statistics Canada – We also turn to Statistics Canada for fuels market insights, as shown below

In-house Resources

When there is no resource available for points of interest, TEI builds its own assessment tools. The Carbon Avoidance Tracker (CAT) and the Charging Analytics Program (CAP) are two TEI developed programs which are based upon auditable data and models:

Carbon Avoidance Tracker (CAT) – CAT allows us to quickly determine, using an annually updated GREET model, the metric tons of CO₂e avoided and overall percent reductions for fuel marketers and fleet operators. Using both tailpipe and lifecycle emission calculations, we can determine how alternative fuels can have big impacts.

Charging Analytics Program (CAP) – The CAP program collects and analyzes charger utilization from nearly three million sessions each month (by the end of the first quarter 2025, the number of total sessions per month will be more than seven million) and is designed to provide insights to help create self-sustaining business models around EV charging. TEI is an industry-based organization, and we understand that industry requires tools that help them achieve their goals. The CAP program is a data-rich tool which we are only just beginning to mine.

Other Resources

The above referenced resources are ones we turn to often to create charts and graphics and to inform much of our consistent market analysis. However, this is not an exhaustive list, and we benefit greatly from incredible contributions from our Board of Advisors and partner organizations. While much of our Board is actively engaged in business in the transportation sector, we are fortunate to have insight and perspective provided from a wide range of neutral third parties who frequently provide data and insights in support of our mission. Among these are the following:

It is important to surround yourself with a diverse array of perspectives and expertise, ensuring that they will not sugarcoat the truth to satisfy the preferences of their audience. I encourage anyone interested in understanding the transportation sector to explore the resources we use and those organizations on our Board who are dedicated to putting forth objective information.