Ribbon cutting for new fast chargers in Paris, photo courtesy of Paris Board of Public Utilities.
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New Fast Charge TN Sites Open to the Public |
Brownsville
Brownsville Energy Authority, TDEC, TVA, and Seven States Power Corporation recently held a ribbon-cutting for a new electric vehicle (EV) fast charging station with four fast chargers at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and Tina Turner Museum in Brownsville. The charging station is part of the Fast Charge TN Network and is the first fast charger between Jackson and Memphis off Interstate 40.
Paris
The city of Paris, Paris Board of Public Utilities, TDEC, TVA, and Seven States Power Corporation also recently held a ribbon cutting at 109 South Fentress St. in downtown Paris. Also part of the Fast Charge TN Network, the chargers will serve nearby Highway 641 North and South and Highway 79.
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Tennessee Tech University eTruck Demonstration Project Now Welcoming Interested Participant Fleets |
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Tennessee Tech University and Tennessee Clean Fuels are actively welcoming fleets interested in testing a medium-duty all-electric step van for its organizational operations. The Medium-Duty eTruck Pilot Project is a testbed project that offers the opportunity for Tennessee fleets to test the all-electric Xos FXSV01 at no cost to evaluate how it performs within their operations. Participating fleets will be able to trial the vehicle for up to one month and will be provided with Level 2 charging infrastructure at no cost by the project.
Fleets will provide information and feedback to the project team on successes and challenges related to driving and charging the vehicle, as well as utilization data, and will receive valuable insight into how an EV can be the right fit for their fleet. Interested fleets are encouraged to complete the form linked here. For more information or for answers to any questions, please contact Mark.Finlay@tn.gov.
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Aero Build to Expand Electric RV Manufacturing in Nashville |
Aero Build, LLC recently announced it will invest $861,000 to expand its manufacturing operations in Nashville. The investment will create an additional 43 jobs at its headquarters in Davidson County, and these new positions will support the production and innovation of its Coast fully electric luxury RVs.
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EV Charging Consumed Less Energy than Water Heating in a Typical U.S. Household in 2020 |
U.S. DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office recently reported that in U.S. homes with EVs, the annual household electricity consumption for EV charging averaged 2,363 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2020. Comparatively, water heating consumed 2,706 kWh of electricity on average in 2020, similar to consumption for space heating and air conditioning, according to recently released estimates from the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey.
Stay updated on weekly transportation facts from the U.S. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office by subscribing to the newsletter.
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Tennessee Volunteer Emission Reduction Strategy Engagement Opportunities
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The Tennessee Volunteer Emission Reduction Strategy (TVERS) is an emissions reduction plan currently being developed by TDEC with support from various partners. This plan is funded through the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Through this program, funding will be provided to states, local governments, air pollution control agencies, tribes, and territories to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful air pollutants. Watch the TVERS kickoff webinar to learn more about the plan.
Tennessee is one of 47 states that accepted allocated funding to participate in this federally funded initiative, with TDEC as the State grant recipient. As part of this program, TDEC will work closely with the three municipalities in Tennessee that also received funding: Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville.
Multiple opportunities for engagement are scheduled across the state, and registration is encouraged.
Scheduled events include:
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- Chattanooga, Development Resources Center: September 21, 5:30 PM Eastern
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Memphis, Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library: October 2, 5:30 PM Central
- Knoxville, East Tennessee History Center: October 16th, 5:00 PM Eastern
- Nashville, Lents Public Health Center: October 19th, 5:30 PM Central
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Johnson City/Kingsport, Meadowview Hotel and Convention Center: October 24, 6:00 PM Eastern
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Watch the TVERS kickoff webinar to learn more about the plan.
TDEC has developed a survey to collect input from stakeholders and the public about emission reduction priorities, current actions, and concerns for you and your community. The TVERS survey should take less than ten minutes to complete and is open until November 15.
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National Drive Electric Week Events
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National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Register for an event below and check out each event page for information on how to participate in or volunteer for the event.
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Music City EV Fest, September 23, 12:00 – 7:00 PM Central
The event will take place at the Fair Park at the Nashville Fairgrounds. The family-friendly event will feature over 50 EVs, including many of the latest EV models, some of which will be available to ride in and drive. Attendees will also be able to ask questions and speak to EV owners who will be showing off their vehicles. An EV-powered stage will also feature some of Nashville’s best up-and-coming artists. -
2023 Knoxville Drive Electric Festival, September 23, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern
The event will take place at Pellissippi State Community College and will include a ride and drive opportunity, food, and live music. -
EV Ride and Drive at Tennessee Tech, September 30, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Central
The event will take place on Tennessee Tech’s campus in Cookeville, next to the DC Fast Charger. Participants will be able to test drive an EV and speak with students and faculty about the EV ecosystem. -
2023 Chattanooga Drive Electric Festival, September 30, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern
The event will take place at the Chattanooga State Community College and will include test rides for EVs. -
Tri-Cities National Drive Electric, October 7, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern
The event will take place at the Kia dealership in Kingsport and will offer rides in EV owners’ vehicles and in several dealers’ cars.
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2023 Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo Early Bird Registration Open |
Registration is now open for the Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo on December 5-6 at the Music City Center in Nashville, presented by TennSMART in partnership with the State and Tennessee Clean Fuels. The Expo is a showcase of the technology research and development occurring right here in the Volunteer State, from the latest on EV charging and grid security to vehicle-to-infrastructure technology and freight logistics. This year, the Smart Mobility Expo has joined with the Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo. The joint event aims to promote greater networking and educational opportunities for mobility stakeholders.
The Expo is a forum for everyone, from transportation leaders to breakthrough founders, to connect and collaborate on the future of mobility in Tennessee and beyond. With thought-provoking sessions, tech demonstrations, and a custom indoor test track with the latest EVs—including many built in Tennessee—the Expo celebrates the state’s position as an automotive manufacturing giant and generator of smart mobility solutions.
Register now for early bird rates, available until October 7. Learn more at tnsmartmobilityexpo.com. Speakers and panel sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.
Those interested in sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities at the event should contact Sara Pruneski at sara@hallstrategies.com.
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| EMPOWER TN Workplace Charging Assistance Program |
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Tennessee Clean Fuels announced the launch of the EMPOWER TN Workplace Charging assistance program. The program can provide up to $2,000 in no-cost technical assistance and consulting to assist workplaces with implementing electric vehicle charging through funding from the U.S. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office. The first round will allow for 24 workplaces to participate.
Available assistance includes:
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- Assessment of work sites for suitability and collecting information from employees to help determine interest and demand;
- Connections to local power companies, leading charging equipment manufacturers, certified installers, and other important vendors;
- Statewide promotion of your workplace's efforts;
- Resources and planning assistance for installation, signage creation, employee education, company policy development, and more;
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Information and updates on funding opportunities that may offset the cost of purchase and installation; and
- Access to the project team’s network of experts and stakeholders.
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USDA Biofuels Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program will award $450 million to increase the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. The expansion of biofuel infrastructure will broaden the availability of renewable fuels like E15, E85, and B20.
These grants will continue to support the infrastructure needed to lower out-of-pocket costs for transportation fueling and distribution facilities to install and upgrade biofuel-related infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks. Grants cover up to 75% up to $5 million of total project costs to help facilities convert to higher-blend fuels. The fuel blends must be greater than 10% for ethanol and greater than 5% for biodiesel. Eligible entities include transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities.
For additional information, view the program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity, Factsheet, FAQs, and How to Apply document. Applications must be submitted by 4:30 PM Eastern September 30.
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Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants
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U.S. DOE announced $2 billion in funding to spur the conversion of longstanding facilities to manufacture electric vehicles and components. The Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for electrified vehicles program will provide cost-shared grants for domestic production of efficient hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, plug-in electric drive, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. This program will expand manufacturing of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electrified vehicles and components and support commercial facilities, including those for vehicle assembly, component assembly, and related vehicle part manufacturing.
Eligible entities include institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, nonprofit entities, State and local governmental entities, and Indian tribes. View the funding opportunity for additional information.
Concept papers are due October 2, and the deadline for full applications is December 7.
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Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation Grants Program |
The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program is now open for FY 2023. The SMART Grants Program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
The SMART Grants Program includes two stages: Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants and Stage 2 Implementation Grants. U.S. DOT anticipates that only recipients of Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants will be eligible for Stage 2 Implementation Grants and anticipates funding projects of up to $2 million per project for Stage 1 and up to $15 million per project for Stage 2.
Eligible applicants for the SMART Grants Program include states, political subdivisions of a state, tribes, public transit agencies and authorities, public toll authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and groups of two or more of these eligible entities applying through a single lead applicant.
SMART grants may be used to carry out a project that demonstrates at least one of the following:
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- Coordinated automation
- Connected vehicles
- Sensors
- Systems integration
- Delivery/logistics
- Innovative aviation
- Smart grid
- Traffic signals
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Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program |
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In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was signed into law. This law includes $7.5 billion in dedicated funding to help make EV charging infrastructure accessible to all Americans for local and long-distance trips. This funding includes a $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to help states create a network of EV charging infrastructure along nationally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). The State of Tennessee expects to receive approximately $88 million over 5 years (FY2022-2026).
TDOT and TDEC have released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for grant funding under the NEVI-funded Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (TEVI) Program. Awardees will purchase, install, own, operate, maintain, and report on Program-funded EV charging infrastructure throughout the state of Tennessee.
Applications in response to this NOFO are due no later than Wednesday, November 1, at 5:00 PM Central.
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An informational application webinar was recently held; view the recording of the webinar here. For more information on the application process and program requirements, please visit the TDOT TEVI Program website. Questions regarding the NOFO may be submitted to TDOT.TEVI@tn.gov and will be addressed on the website in the FAQs section.
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| EV Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator |
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U.S. DOT recently announced the EV Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator program, which will provide up to $100 million in funding to repair and replace non-operational EV charging infrastructure. Funded under the BIL’s NEVI Formula Program, the funding may be utilized for the repair or replacement of publicly and privately owned chargers so long as they are available to the public without restriction.
Eligible applicants include State departments of transportation and local governments. Additional information is available on the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications are due through Grants.gov November 13.
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Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Grants |
Under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), EPA is offering funding assistance to accelerate the upgrade, retrofit, and turnover of the legacy diesel fleets to address diesel emissions and protect public health and air quality.
The DERA program promotes an array of diesel emissions strategies by working with manufacturers, fleet operators, air quality professionals, environmental and community organizations, and state and local officials to address the varying priorities of different regions and sectors.
Eligible applicants include:
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A regional, state (including the District of Columbia), or local agency, Tribal government (or intertribal consortium) or Alaska Native Village, or port authority, which has jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities, and counties are all generally eligible entities under this assistance agreement program to the extent that they fall within this definition.
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A nonprofit organization or institution that:
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represents or provides pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets; or
- has, as its principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.
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Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with EPA and California Air Resources Board certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies.
Eligible vehicles and equipment include:
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- School buses
- Class 5 – Class 8 heavy-duty highway vehicles
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Locomotive engines
- Marine engines
- Nonroad engines, equipment, or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at ports or airports), agriculture, mining, or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).
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U.S. DOE Announces up to $10 Billion in Loan Authority for Automotive Manufacturing Conversion Projects |
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U.S. DOE recently announced $10 billion for Automotive Manufacturing Conversion Projects under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program. Automotive Manufacturing Conversion Projects eligible under the program include manufacturing facility projects for eligible vehicles or qualifying components, including projects to build new facilities; reequip, modernize, or expand existing facilities; and for engineering integration performed in the U.S. related to the manufacturing of eligible vehicles or components.
Potential applicants can contact the U.S. DOE Loan Program Office directly for no-fee, no-commitment consultations about the project before applying by contacting atvmloan@hq.doe.gov.
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U.S. DOE Releases Notices of Intent for EV Battery Program Funding
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$3.5 Billion to Bolster American Battery Manufacturing
U.S. DOE released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for approximately $3.5 billion to boost the production of advanced batteries and battery materials for EVs and energy storage. The NOI outlines the second round of funding under the Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Grants, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Read the full NOI here.
$37 Million to Advance EV Battery Recycling and Second-Life Applications
U.S. DOE released an NOI to issue an FOA for $37 million in funding from the BIL for the EV Battery Recycling and Second-Life Application Program. The program supports research, development, and demonstration of second-life applications for EV batteries that have been used to power EVs and technologies and processes for the final recycling and disposal of EV batteries. Read the full NOI here.
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Transportation Electrification in the Southeast Annual Report |
Atlas Public Policy and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy have released the fourth annual Transportation Electrification in the Southeast report. The report benchmarks progress on transportation electrification from July 2022 through June 2023 in six states across the Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Tennessee is recognized in the report for the highest relative growth in its Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) network and for the EV manufacturing investments occurring in the state.
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An Active Roadmap: Best Practices in Rural Mobility |
Smart Growth America released the report, An Active Roadmap: Best Practices in Rural Mobility, to discuss rural transportation needs, challenges, and success stories from across the county. The report looks at active and multimodal modes of transportation for rural areas and notes that strategic transportation investments and improvements are important for building sustainable and resilient rural communities.
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For more information or to submit an idea for a future Monthly Transportation Edition, contact:
Audrey Jackson, Communications Officer
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-917-6683 or audrey.jackson@tn.gov
OR
Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, OEP Programs
U.S. DOE State Energy Program / Innovation & Transportation / Communications
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-613-1096 or alexa.voytek@tn.gov
OR
Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst, TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-772-6011 or mark.finlay@tn.gov
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Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-EE0009487
Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
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