Misinformation about zero-emission vehicles and confusion around federal Environmental Protection Agency standards versus those states can adopt under the Clean Air Act waiver has left many manufacturers, small businesses and fleet managers wondering what market-based policies like the Advanced Clean Trucks rule could mean for their operations and bottom line.
Image courtesy of ftg
By Neda Deylami. This blog was co-authored by José Acosta-Córdova, Senior Transportation Policy Analyst at LVEJO
Transportation accounts for almost one-third of Illinois’ greenhouse gas emissions — the sector responsible for the most GHG emissions in the state. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as delivery vans, transit buses and large tractor-trailers are a disproportionate contributor of these emissions, but also other emissions like nitrogen oxide and particulate matter that directly harm the health of Illinoisans. Despite making up less than 10% of on-road vehicles, these trucks and buses are responsible for 67% of NOx and 59% of PM.
By Lindsay Shigetomi and Kae Tuitt
This week, EDF witnessed the hardworking spirit of the fleet industry at the NAFA Fleet Management Association’s Institute and Expo, where thousands of fleet professionals from all over the country gathered in San Antonio, Texas to learn, share and gain new insights into fleet operations. We saw a level of engagement from fleets and other attendees that showed how the fleet industry is evolving. Fleets are now taking on the additional responsibility as stewards of sustainability projects, which was reflected in the event programming — more than a quarter of the 40-plus educational sessions were focused on sustainability, zero-emission vehicles and electrification.
Two high profile studies released this week by the National Petroleum Council paint a portrait of an industry asserting a positive role in the energy transition but struggling to act on what good science demands of it.
The studies — one on natural gas, the other on hydrogen — were produced at the request of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who is looking to better understand how and under what circumstances those resources can play a constructive role in the energy transition, a strategic and economic imperative for the United States.
Created by President Harry Truman to advise the executive branch on critical energy issues, the NPC has provided successive administrations with analysis-backed recommendations on how to structure and manage U.S energy policy to advance the national interest. Read More
The adoption of electric trucks is on the rise, but as fleets make the transition, the idea of switching from diesel to electricity as a fuel source can raise concerns about reliability in the event of a power outage. Thankfully, this is a manageable challenge on the road to electrification — and one that many industries have experience with navigating. Hospitals, grocery stores and data centers are just a few examples of industries that have extensively explored the question of how to best address power resiliency.
By Kae Tuitt
As more and more companies transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, it is increasingly clear that the future is electric. Still, some fleet owners coordinating receipt of new electric trucks and buses may face challenges with delays arising from the potentially lengthy and opaque interconnection process of getting EV chargers connected to the grid. Interconnection delays can make it difficult to adhere to project schedules and put projects at risk.
Fleets can help address these challenges by encouraging states and utilities to adopt policy and technical solutions for overcoming interconnection delays. Currently available options include hybrid interconnection, flexible interconnection and ramped connection. Fleets don’t have to let grid connection delays slow down project timelines — by urging utilities to implement these strategies, they can avoid unnecessary delays and alleviate risks associated with EV deployment and investments.
