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| TDEC and TDOT Announce Stakeholder Survey and Engagement Sessions to Inform State's EV Infrastructure Formula Program Plan
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL) includes a $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to help states create a network of EV charging stations along Alternative Fuel Corridors designated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). States must submit comprehensive plans to the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by August 1, 2022 in order to receive NEVI Formula Program funds. TDEC and TDOT are working collaboratively to develop the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (TEVI) Deployment Plan, which will detail how the State will deploy NEVI Formula Program Funds along eligible corridors.
The Departments welcome feedback from the public and relevant stakeholders on the NEVI Formula Program planning process and have developed the survey linked here. All responses to this survey must be submitted by 5:00 PM CT on May 31, 2022 in order for feedback to be considered by the State during plan development.
TDEC and TDOT have recorded a webinar to provide background on the NEVI Formula Program, the current state of transportation electrification in Tennessee, and key considerations to be included in the TEVI Deployment Plan. Click here to view the full webinar.
To learn more about NEVI and Tennessee's EV infrastructure planning efforts, visit www.tn.gov/evplan.
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| U.S. DOE Releases Notice of Intent for 2022 Advanced Vehicle Technologies Funding
U.S. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced a notice of intent (NOI) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Fiscal Year 2022 Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide FOA.” The potential FOA will advance research, development, demonstration, and deployment in several areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including advancement of electric drive technologies using less rare-earth metal, materials and structures innovations to reduce the weight of battery electric vehicles, electrification of non-road vehicles, improvements in off-road vehicle charging, improved efficiency of engines using low-carbon fuels, and deployment of these technologies among diverse communities.
DOE anticipates including the following topics of interest in the FOA:
- Batteries and Electrification
- Materials Technology
- Decarbonization of Off-Road, Rail, and Marine Technologies
- Energy Efficient Mobility Systems
- Technology Integration
- Transportation Energy Analysis
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| NGVAmerica Fleet Academy Webinar Series
The NGVAmerica Fleet Academy is a virtual event series that will take place 1:00 PM-2:30 PM Eastern on May 26, June 2, and June 9. Presentations will be by faculty comprised of NGVAmerica member company experts; attendees will learn how vehicles fueled by renewable natural gas (RNG) are an affordable and practical solution to lower fuel costs and reduce emissions impact, how to accurately spec vehicles based on application and need, fueling options, the importance of team training, service and maintenance schedules, safety considerations, best practices, as well as insights from fleets already converting to natural gas. Click here to view the full agenda and to register.
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| Upper Cumberland Area Community Charging Planning Workshop
In concert with numerous community partners including TDOT, the Upper Cumberland Development District, and Tennessee Tech University, DriveElectricTN (DET) is hosting a Community Planning Workshop on June 6 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Cookeville that will focus on developing plans for the Upper Cumberland (UC) region related to installing:
- DC fast charging along corridors,
- DC fast charging in rural areas, and
- Level 2 charging throughout the UC.
This event will be an immersive, three-hour workshop during which DET will provide a background on electric vehicles (EVs) and how to charge them, detail on the current landscape in Tennessee with jobs and EV production, a discussion of funding opportunities, and best practices on charging station site selection to help the UC develop a Community Charging Plan. Click here to register.
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| TennSMART 2022 Member Event Series II
TennSMART will hold the second installment of its 2022 Member Event Series on June 10 at 11:30 AM Eastern, which will focus on federal funding opportunities. This event will highlight new funding from U.S. DOE, with experts reviewing federal grants and guidance related to the hydrogen economy and other transportation-related projects.
The agenda will feature Torend Collins, U.S. DOE Regional Intergovernmental and External Affairs Specialist for Appalachia, discussing the Biden Administration’s energy priorities; Rich Davies, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director for the Sustainable Transportation Program, discussing DOE funding opportunities; and Matt Meservy, Director of TDOT’s Long Range Planning Division, discussing updates on Tennessee’s EV Fast Charging Network. Click here to register.
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| EV Champion Training Series
The EV Champion Training Series is a multi-part virtual training hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is designed to help fleet managers and coordinators become subject matter experts in EV implementation. This training outlines EV technologies and considerations for EV charging infrastructure installation. Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to select the best EVs for their fleet, as well as plan and install the necessary charging infrastructure to serve the needs of these new vehicles. There are two upcoming webinars available for registration:
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The Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association (KEVA) and Drive Electric TN will host the second annual EVs In The Smokies event on July 9 at the Townsend Visitors Center in Townsend. EV and non-EV drivers alike are welcome to participate, bring questions, and enjoy checking out all the EVs that will be present. Attendees will be able to talk with EV owners and learn about transition to clean, quiet, fast, and fun electric driving. This event is meant for all drivers, advocates, and those that are simply interested in EVs. If you have questions about the event, please contact KEVA at Knoxville.ev.club@gmail.com.
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| Save the Date: TN Smart Mobility Expo
TennSMART will hold the inaugural Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo from August 4-6 at the Music City Center in Nashville. Attendees will hear from industry leaders who are charting the future of smart mobility innovations. The three-day event will feature roundtable discussions, panels, and on-site technology showcases from major automotive manufacturers, transportation and logistics companies, and research institutions. Additionally, those who attend will have dedicated time to network with industry colleagues. The day following the conference will feature a public showcase of transportation technologies being researched, developed, and deployed in Tennessee. Registration may be accessed here: https://www.tnsmartmobilityexpo.com/.
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| U.S. EPA Clean School Bus Rebates
Authorized by the recently signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. The first funding opportunity under this program is the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates. EPA is offering $500 million in rebates for zero-emission and clean school buses (including those with battery-electric, compressed natural gas, or propane drivetrains) to replace vehicle model year 2010 or older diesel school buses. The program will offer rebates of between $15,000 and $375,000 per bus for up to 25 buses per applicant, as well as between $13,000 and $20,000 for any associated charging infrastructure, depending on the class and fuel type of the new bus(es) and whether or not the applicant meets prioritization criteria (under this program, EPA will prioritize applicants that are high-need school districts, in low-income areas, rural, or tribal).
Eligible applicants include:
- State and local governmental entities that provide bus service, including school districts;
- Eligible contractors, which include for-profit, not-for-profit, or nonprofit entities that have the capacity to sell clean or zero-emission school buses or related charging or furling infrastructure to school bus owners or arrange financing for such a sale;
- Nonprofit school transportation associations; and
- Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or tribally controlled schools responsible for the purchase of school buses or providing school bus service for a Bureau of Indian Affairs funded school.
EPA will hold an informational webinar on May 24 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Eastern to highlight the program and cover in greater detail eligibility requirements, program timeline, applicant prioritization, rebate levels, application instructions, and more. Click here to register. Full applications are due August 19 through EPA’s Clean School Bus Rebate Form. To see full program details and instructions on how to apply, access the program guide here.
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| U.S. DOE Funding to Boost Domestic Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chains, More Efficient EV Battery Technology
Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) provides approximately $3.1 billion to successful applicants to fund investments within the electric vehicle battery supply chain, increase domestic battery manufacturing, and create good-paying clean energy jobs. The overall scope in this FOA includes demonstration and commercial facilities for battery-grade precursor materials, battery components, and cell manufacturing and recycling. DOE anticipates making approximately 17-34 awards under this FOA, with individual awards varying between $50,000,000 and $400,000,000, depending on the area of interest. Letters of Intent to apply are due May 27, with full applications due July 1. Access the full FOA to view areas of interest, project and applicant eligibility, and more.
Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
This FOA provides approximately $60 million to fund research, development, and demonstration of electric drive vehicle battery recycling and second use applications. This FOA supports reuse, second use, and innovative recycling processing to achieve scale-up and profitability. DOE anticipates making approximately 5-10 awards, with individual awards varying between $4,000,000 and $12,000,000, depending on the Topic Area. Concept papers are due May 31, with full applications due July 19. Access the full FOA to view topic areas, project and applicant eligibility, and more.
ARPA-E EVs4ALL
U.S. DOE announced up to $45 million in funding to support the domestic development of advanced batteries for electric vehicles. Through DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the Department is launching the Electric Vehicles for American Low-Carbon Living (EVs4ALL) program to develop more affordable, convenient, efficient, and resilient batteries.
Questions about the program must be submitted to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern on June 6. Concept papers are due June 16 at 9:30 AM Eastern, and the deadline for full applications is TBD. Click here to access the full FOA.
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| FY 2022 Low or No Emission and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities
The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Grant (Low-No) Program supports the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program assists in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing bus-related facilities.
FTA announced the availability of approximately $1.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2022 grants to help modernize bus fleets and bus facilities across the country and to help transit agencies purchase or lease low- or no- emission vehicles that use advanced technologies to help improve air quality. A Notice of Funding Opportunity has been released in the Federal Register and the application period will close on May 31.
FTA hosted a webinar to provide more information to potential applicants for the FY22 Low-No Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program. The recording of this webinar can be accessed by clicking here.
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| Zeroing in on Healthy Air: A National Assessment of Health and Climate Benefits of Zero-Emission Transportation and Electricity
Zeroing in on Healthy Air is a report by the American Lung Association illustrating the public health urgency of policies and investments that support the transition to zero-emission transportation and electricity generation in the coming decades. Today, over four in ten Americans — more than 135 million people — live in communities impacted by unhealthy levels of air pollution. Research demonstrates that the burdens of unhealthy air include increased asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, lung cancer, and premature death. These poor health outcomes are not shared equitably, with many communities of color and lower income communities at greater risk due to increased exposure to transportation pollution.
The report finds that a national shift to 100% sales of zero-emission passenger vehicles (by 2035) and medium- and heavy-duty trucks (by 2040), coupled with renewable electricity, would generate over $1.2 trillion in public health benefits between 2020 and 2050. These benefits would take the form of avoiding up to 110,000 premature deaths, nearly 3 million asthma attacks, and over 13 million workdays lost due to poor air quality.
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