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| Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities:
Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Update On September 19, 2017, the U.S District Court of Northern California approved the proposed revised Environmental Mitigation Trust (EMT) agreement under the Volkswagen Partial Settlements for 2.0 and 3.0 liter vehicles. The parties must execute the EMT agreement within two weeks from September 19th and file it with the Court. Once the executed EMT agreement is filed, the Trust Effective Date (TED) will be set. States must submit their Certification for Beneficiary Status form within 60 days of the TED. Learn more about Tennessee and the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement by clicking here.
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September 9, 2017 at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville. Picture provided by TN Clean Fuels. |
| National Drive Electric Week in TN National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration of electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. to heighten awareness of their many benefits. This year, between September 9-16, a variety of groups across Tennessee hosted exciting events in support of this nationwide cause. Events took place in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. Click below to visit each location's page at the National Drive Electric Week website to find more details about each event: To learn more about these events and EVs overall, we also invite you to connect with Tennessee Clean Fuels. Tennessee Clean Fuels is comprised of the East and Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuel Coalitions, who serve as fleet guides to navigate alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in the 21st century. Both coalitions are nonprofits and official participants in U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Program. For more information, click here.
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|  | New Jersey's CNG buses kept moving during and after Hurricane Sandy. Picture provided by U.S. DOE. |
| Alternative Fuels Aid Response to Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
In a number of cities and states, alternative fuel vehicles are playing a big role in responding to natural disasters and improving emergency preparedness. In the back-to-back strikes of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, fleets fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) remained fueled and active thanks to underground piping supply while gas fleets were overcome by fuel shortages. Fleets utilizing bi-fuel vehicles (vehicles that can run on more than one fuel type) had increased flexibility in operation and disaster response because they could select between multiple options based on fuel availability. Finally, electric and hybrid vehicles were able to conserve fuel in idling and operational modes during recovery efforts. All in all, alternative fuel vehicles and fuel diversity can aid first responders by shortening recovery times and ensuring fuel availability. Click here to learn more.
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| Tennessee Metro Areas Gear Up for Expanded and Cleaner Transit
U.S. DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced that they are providing $55 million in grants to local transit agencies across the U.S. through its Low or No Emission Vehicle Program. Of note, Nashville MTA was selected to receive $500,000 to purchase additional battery electric Proterra transit buses that will operate on the Music City Circuit downtown circulator routes. The city already operates a small fleet of electric buses on the Music City Circuit, funded in part by Clean Tennessee Energy Grants that covered several vehicle and infrastructure purchases. Through the support of this new FTA grant, MTA will extend one of the Music City Circuit routes to connect to Tennessee State University's main campus. This project is funded by DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) who, in a recent announcement, are supplying $55 million in grants to local transit agencies across the U.S. through the Low or No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle program. The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is also moving to revitalize its transit services by proposing 200,000 additional hours of bus service starting in July 2019. If approved by the MATA Board and Memphis City Council, the added service could dramatically reduce long waits for buses, which in turn could lead to increased employment and educational opportunities. Click here to learn more about the project.
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| U.S. DOE's VTO Launches New Energy Efficient Mobility Systems Program The arrival of new technologies (such as connected and automated vehicles), and the rise of the shared-economy (including car-sharing and ride-hailing), have the potential to provide new, low-cost, mobility options as well as improvements in safety, affordability, and accessibility to the American people. However, they also present challenges that must be understood. A recent study funded by U.S. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) indicates that the future impact of new mobility systems, including connected and automated vehicles, could range from a 60% decrease in overall transportation energy to a 200% increase. To plan for these disruptive transportation technologies and maximize the advantages of emerging transport services, VTO has recently launched a new Energy Efficient Mobility Systems (EEMS) program. This comprehensive research program aims to identify and make full use of energy efficiency opportunities of advanced vehicle technologies and infrastructure, its interactions with existing infrastructure, and improved mobility of people and goods. U.S. DOE also supports other programming that examines the impacts of future transportation technologies, including connected and autonomous vehicles. To learn more, click here.
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| Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cuts Emissions Thanks to B20
In keeping with its history of preservation, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park first began using biodiesel blends to power park-owned diesel vehicles and equipment in 2003. The cleaner-burning fuel has been used park-wide since 2006. In Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park used 43,085 gallons of biodiesel (B20) in 2016, resulting in the following estimated emissions reductions: a 15% reduction in carbon dioxide; 12% reduction in carbon monoxide; 20% reduction in both hydrocarbon and sulfur dioxide; and a 12% percent reduction in particulate matter. Today, numerous locations in the park use B20 to power 40 pieces of heavy equipment such as dump trucks, graders, front-end loaders, a bucket truck and more. Additionally, Bioheat is used to heat the park’s headquarters building. To learn more, click here.
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| 2018 Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum Survey
Organizers of the 2018 Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum invite your participation in a short, two question survey regarding proposed event changes for next year. Please complete this survey by Tuesday, October 10: click here.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| Two Notices of Intent Issued on Extreme Fast Charging for Electric Vehicles, Medium/Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine R&D
U.S. DOE’s VTO recently released a notice of intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “FY 2017 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries and Electrification to Enable Extreme Fast Charging Funding Opportunity Announcement.” VTO is seeking to encourage the development of plug-in electric vehicle systems that can recharge rapidly at high power levels. Advanced battery projects will focus on early-stage research of battery cells that can enable extreme fast charging, while electrification projects will support the development and verification of electric drive systems and infrastructure for plug-in vehicle fast charging. Click here to learn more. VTO has also released a notice of intent to issue a FOA entitled, "Medium / Heavy Duty, On-Road Natural Gas Engine research and Development.” Through this funding opportunity, VTO will seek to address barriers to adoption of natural gas vehicles through early-stage research on medium- and heavy-duty on-road engine technologies. The programmatic goal is to enable natural gas engines that can cost-effectively achieve diesel-like efficiency while meeting current and future emissions standards. Click here to learn more.
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| TRB Funding for Transit Innovators
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is accepting proposals for the Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Program. The Transit IDEA Program provides financial support of up to $100,000 for the early stage development and testing of innovative and unproven concepts and methods for advancing transit practice. The due date for submitting Transit IDEA proposals is November 1. For more information and to view the full funding opportunity announcement, click here.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Webinar: Exclusive Deals on Alt-Fuel Vehicles Through Fleets for the Future
Fleets for the Future (F4F), in cooperation with National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA), Zenith Motors, and National Auto Fleet Group (NAFG), will be hosting a webinar on October 4 to present exclusive deals on some of the most popular alternative fuel vehicle models for public sector fleets. Vehicles range from plug-in hybrid sedans to propane and natural gas trucks to full electric shuttle buses and cargo vans. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure and associated services are also newly available under F4F programming.
In October, Zenith and NAFG will be offering an additional discount on vehicles through F4F. Join the webinar to learn more about how you can transform your fleet while saving thousands of dollars in the process. There will be a live Q&A session following the presentations where participants can ask all of the vendors questions directly.
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| Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference and Expo
The Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference showcases the latest and greatest in advanced vehicles, fuels, and technologies. The conference, which will be held from October 11-13 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a source of on-the-ground experience for increasing fleet efficiency and sustainability, while reducing emissions and costs. For more information and to register, click here.
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| Scrap to Profit Conference
The seventh "Scrap to Profit" conference, an initiative co-sponsored and hosted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), will be held on October 25-26 in Nashville. Innovation to drive new and improved scrap tire markets will be a key theme for the conference, which is also supported by the Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (STREF), and TDEC’s Office of Sustainable Practices and Division of Solid Waste Management. For more information and to register, click here.
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| Clean Cities Alterantive Fuel Price Report, July 2017
U.S. DOE’s Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center has recently released the latest version of its quarterly report designed to keep Clean Cities coalitions and other interested parties up to date on the prices of alternative fuels and conventional fuels in the United States. This issue summarizes prices that were submitted in the first half of July 2017. Click here to access the report.
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| Guidance from DOT on Autonomous Vehicles
The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently released new guidance on autonomous vehicles (called “ Autonomous Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety”). This publication is a follow up to guidelines released last September, which laid out a detailed 15 point safety assessment, as well a model state policy related to autonomous vehicles. The new guidelines eliminate the model state policy, in favor of a list of state best practices. As the technology advances and the Department gathers new information from stakeholders and consumers, it will continue to refine and update the guidance. In fact, DOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are already planning for Version 3.0 in 2018. Read on here.
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| 2017 Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Publications
Two reports were published recently regarding the advancement of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s (NCHRP’s) recent publication, “ Advancing Automated and Connected Vehicles: Policy and Planning Strategies for State and Local Transportation Agencies,” assesses policy and planning strategies at the state, regional, and local levels that could influence private-sector automated vehicle (AV) and connected vehicle (CV) choices to positively affect societal goals. The report aims to assist agencies with exploring actions that might increase the likelihood that AV and CV technologies will have beneficial impacts on traffic crashes, congestion, pollution, land development, and mobility (particularly for older adults, youths under the age of 16, and individuals with disabilities). TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) also released “ Strategies to Advance Automated and Connected Vehicles: Briefing Document.” It is intended for state, regional, and local agency and political decision makers who are framing public policy making for these transformational technologies. The briefing document makes the case for taking action in spite of uncertainties and presents 18 policy and planning strategies that may be useful in advancing societal goals.
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| Report: Alternative Fuels in Airport Fleets
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Airport Cooperative Research Program’s (ACRP’s) recent publication, “ Alternative Fuels in Airport Fleets,” is designed to assist airport operators in analyzing complex procurement, operational, and environmental decisions when considering alternative fuels in airport fleets.
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| Report: Low-Carbon Technology Pathways for Soot-Free Urban Bus Fleets
This report, published by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Council on Clean Transportation, evaluates well-to-wheel (WTW) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from commercially available soot-free transit buses in 20 megacities. Bus types include diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses powered by engines certified to 2010 U.S. EPA emission standards, as well as battery electric buses. For diesel and CNG buses, GHG emissions are calculated for conventional fossil fuels, as well as select biofuel alternatives. The main objectives of this analysis are to investigate: - How WTW GHG emissions vary across soot-free transit bus powertrain and fuel options
- The impact of driving cycle on WTW GHG emissions from transit buses, and
- The influence of electricity generation source mix on WTW GHG emissions from battery electric buses
Learn more by clicking here.
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| Transportation Electrification Beyond Light-Duty: Technology and Market Assessment
This report by ORNL analyzes the electrification of government, commercial, and industrial fleets. In particular, it addresses highway vehicles not used for personal transport; non-highway modes, including air, rail, and water; and non-road equipment used directly or in support of these uses. Read on here.
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| Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Research and Reports
A recent report from the Idaho National Laboratory focuses on direct current fast charger (DCFC) systems and how they can be deployed to provide convenient charging for PEV drivers. Titled, “ Considerations for Corridor and Community DC Fast Charging Complex System Design,” it first shares lessons learned from both previous DCFC deployment and data collection activities to describe consumer experience with DCFC systems to date. Second, it establishes considerations and criteria for designing and upgrading DCFC complexes that provide fast-charging opportunities for PEV drivers in urban communities and on rural corridors. Third, the report shares cost estimates for hypothetical high-power DCFC complexes that meet simplified design requirements. Finally, it presents results for a business case analysis that shed light on the financial challenges associated with DCFCs. A second report by U.S. DOE, titled “ National Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Analysis”, addresses the fundamental question of how much plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging infrastructure—also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—is needed in the U.S. to support both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The result is a quantitative estimate for a U.S. network of non-residential (public and workplace) EVSE that would be needed to support broader PEV adoption.
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| Case Study: Converting Food Waste to Renewable Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel
U.S. DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has released a case study that explores the production and use of renewable compressed natural gas (R-CNG) derived from organic food waste to fuel heavy-duty natural gas vehicles in Sacramento, California. R-CNG has the potential to help fleets decrease fuel costs, operate more quietly, and emit fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants. R-CNG may also eliminate methane emissions that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. Click here for more information.
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