Images courtesy of Jason Bihler and TennSmart

Earlier this month at the Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo, presented by TennSMART in partnership with the State (TDEC, TDOT, and TNECD) and Tennessee Clean Fuels, TDEC Commissioner Salyers spoke on the department’s work in the transportation space and introduced a panel on Tennessee’s progress on electric vehicle (EV) charger installation, which included Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst for TDEC Office of Energy Programs (OEP). Commissioner Salyers noted that in a 2024 report by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Tennessee had increased its public EV fast-charging infrastructure availability by 61% year over year, representing the highest growth rate in the Southeast.

TDEC OEP Deputy Director of Programs, Innovation & Transportation, and Communications, Alexa Voytek, also moderated panels on technologies to improve road safety and the future of freight.

This event highlighted the cutting-edge transportation technologies and research that position Tennessee as a leader in smart mobility solutions. Attendees are invited to share feedback on the event by completing the attendee survey.

Images courtesy of the Harriman Utility Board

In collaboration with TDEC, TVA, and Seven States Power Corporation, the Harriman Utility Board recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the installation of four new electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations at 1827 Griffith Dr. in Harriman, TN. The stations are located along I-40 and Highway 27 and are part of TDEC and TVA’s Fast Charge TN Network.

The TN Department of Economic and Community Development recently announced that two collaborating teams would receive $500,000 each in funding under the Transportation Network Growth Opportunity (TNGO) initiative.

Tennessee Technological University (TTU) will partner with Whisper Aero, located in Crossville, to develop low-cost regional flights from small airports to serve rural needs in the state. Using an existing Whisper Aero glider, TTU faculty and students will be engaged in copper-bird ground testing to ensure the safe integration of engines, batteries, and controllers. This project will also kickstart the university’s new Crossville Mobility Incubator. Learn more in the video announcement here.

The University of Memphis will partner with FedEx in Shelby County to design and implement a comprehensive trucking fleet management framework for short-, medium-, and long-haul trucks. This unified fleet management plan will leverage historical data from each depot or agency within the logistics hub to optimize operations based on remaining life and live telematics data. This project will also underscore the importance of fleet management for longevity, cost efficiency, and strategic application.

The Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TNECD) released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting Tennessee's advancements over the past year. The report noted automotive as a top industry, with over 100,000 new jobs and more than $37 billion in investments since 2019. The report also featured projects supported by TNGO funding.

EV users in rural areas may face challenges finding EV charging stations to charge their vehicles when needed. The Electric Vehicle Emergency Charging Assistance Program, as part of Tennessee Technological University’s Rural Reimagined EV community project, aims to support EV drivers who need a quick charge due to unexpected battery depletion. This program is designed to ensure that EV owners can travel with confidence, knowing that help is available if they run out of charge. The pilot phase of this program will provide emergency charging assistance in the Upper Cumberland region in Tennessee. Learn more about the Program’s features and benefits here.  

The Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo will take place April 28 – May 1 in Anaheim, CA. The Expo unites the transportation sector in an effort to reduce emissions from goods movement, the service industry, and passenger transportation while also driving economic sustainability. The fleet-focused conference agenda showcases the innovations, solutions, policies, and programs driving sustainable commercial transportation.

Through dynamic keynote presentations, executive panel discussions, technical workshops, and in-depth breakout sessions, attendees gain invaluable insights into the future of the industry. At ACT Expo, the world’s leading OEMs and commercial transportation technology providers also showcase the latest products, solutions, and vehicles designed to decarbonize transport and pave the road to a cleaner future.

Fleets interested in attending the Expo for the first time can contact Barbara Brentano at bbrentano@trccompanies.com to learn about discounts through the First-Time Fleet Program.

Technology-Enhanced Advanced Mobility in Tennessee, TEAM TN, will host a State of the Engine update on May 1 at 2:00 PM Eastern. TEAM TN leadership will provide an update on the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program application, as well as opportunities to get involved in the coalition. TEAM TN is a coalition of more than 250 stakeholder organizations with a shared vision to establish Tennessee as a global leader in advanced mobility, focusing on artificial intelligence-inspired information and communication technologies. 

Tennessee Clean Fuels will host a webinar, Alternative Fuel Resources for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fleets, on May 7 at 1:00 PM Central. Following the recent release of funding under TDEC’s Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, the informational webinar will highlight tools, resources, benefits, and Tennessee success stories relating to medium- and heavy-duty fleet transitions to the use of alternative fuels, including electric vehicles, hybrids, compressed natural gas, and propane.

Both public and private truck, school and transit bus, shuttle bus, and emergency responder fleets will have the opportunity to hear about how they can make the transition and take advantage of the now-open Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, applications for which are due by June 13. The webinar will also highlight technologies currently available on the market and other potential incentives for making the transition.

Attendees will also be given the opportunity for Q&A with subject matter experts and will have access to continued technical assistance from Tennessee Clean Fuels staff following the webinar.

For more information on the funding opportunity, visit the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant page here.

The Tennessee Environmental Network Show of the South (TENSOS) will be held May 14-16 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Over the three-day event, TENSOS will host an elite group of environmental professionals seeking to exchange knowledge and share ideas about environmental concerns in Tennessee and across the Southeast region. Breakout sessions will cover a wide range of environmental topics, including energy- and transportation-focused breakout sessions that will discuss alternative energy, including solar and hydrogen, and alternative fuel examples from across the state. The conference schedule is available here.

Drive Electric TN (DET) will host its third annual Momentum Summit at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on June 24. The Momentum Summit will focus on transportation electrification efforts, including economic and environmental benefits, infrastructure progress, and university and college research on transportation electrification topics. Contact Alex Strong at alex@driveelectrictn.org with questions or for a DET member registration code. 

The 2025 Forth Roadmap Conference, an annual event that convenes leaders in the electric transportation space, will take place October 14-16 in Detroit, MI. The conference will allow attendees to forge relationships and gain valuable insights in a highly interactive format from industry and community leaders, including utilities, local governments, vehicle original equipment manufacturers, charging providers, technology startups, public interest groups, and communities.

Forth is offering a Mobility for All Scholarship, providing a complimentary ticket and a $1,000 travel stipend to individuals from community-based organizations working to advance transportation electrification. Applications are due May 2.

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator supports early-stage cleantech businesses and drives commercialization of their technologies in Tennessee and throughout the Midwest and the Southeast. The Accelerator is a 12-week program that kicks off in late August at the UT Research Park in Knoxville. The program provides mentorship, connections, stipends, prototyping services, and business acceleration services to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs to help commercialize innovations. Applications are due May 16.

TDEC has released its fifth solicitation for projects under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT). The purpose of the EMT is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. Under this solicitation, $19.4 million in EMT funding is available for eligible projects.

The grant program, managed by the TDEC Office of Energy Programs, will provide financial assistance to public, non-profit, and private fleets in Tennessee to replace eligible medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with alternate fueled (e.g., propane, natural gas, hybrid) or all-electric vehicles. Fleets may also apply to repower eligible medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with alternate-fuel or all-electric engines or drivetrains.

TDEC recently hosted an application workshop via webinar on April 11. The recording from the workshop is available here, and the presentation slides are available here. Applicants who did not attend the live webinar session will be required to view the recording prior to application submission. The application workshop provides guidance on the application process and program terms and conditions, including project eligibility, timelines for implementation, and reporting requirements. 

Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically via the TDEC online Grants Management System (GMS), which can be accessed at https://tdec.smartsimple.com/. Please refer to TDEC’s “About the Online Grants System” webpage to learn more about the TDEC Grants Management System, including how to register and apply.

Applications must be received by June 13 at 4:00 PM Central. For more information, visit the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant page here.

U.S. DOE recently announced the second round of the Community Energy Innovation Prize, a multi-million-dollar competition supporting grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development.

One of the three available prize tracks is the Vehicles Ecosystem Track. In this track, a total prize pool of $2.6 million will be awarded to up to 10 teams for supporting the deployment of clean transportation technologies in a manner that promotes access to clean transportation technologies, improves health and air quality outcomes, and lowers the burden of transportation impacts on community members.

Eligible entities include private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals. Applications are due June 20.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program provides funding to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries on roads and streets involving all roadway users. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists, micromobility users, and motorists. Two phases of funding are available: one for planning/demonstration and another for implementation.

Planning and Demonstration Grants are used to develop, complete, or supplement an Action Plan and may also fund supplemental safety planning activities and safety demonstration activities in support of an Action Plan.

Implementation Grants are used to implement projects or strategies that are consistent with an existing Action Plan to address a roadway safety problem. Eligible projects and strategies can be infrastructural, behavioral, and/or operational activities. Implementation Grants may also include supplemental safety planning and safety demonstration activities to inform an existing Action Plan, as well as project-level planning, design, and development activities.

Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations and political subdivisions of a State or territory (e.g., counties, cities, towns, special districts, certain transit agencies, and similar units of local government).

Applications are due June 26.

East Tennessee Clean Fuels and Drive Electric TN launched the Charging Smart Program in 2024 to accelerate EV adoption across Tennessee. This program is designed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) to support communities across Tennessee in the equitable expansion of EV infrastructure. Funded by U.S. DOE, the program provides personalized, no-cost technical assistance and a nationally recognized designation system to help local governments align their policies with national best practices for EV adoption. Interested local governments in Tennessee can learn more and express their interest in participating by filling out the interest form available here.

Idaho National Laboratory developed the tool CalderaCast to aid potential funding applicants, local utilities, state agencies, and other stakeholders in planning and preparing for new EV charging stations. CalderaCast, funded by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, incorporates variables such as highway traffic volume along designated alternative fuel corridors, EV adoption rates, and data on EV charging characteristics to create probability functions for when charging is likely to occur. The tool then models these charge events to forecast electrical load. It requires basic information about charging station location, the types of chargers to be installed, and a date of operation (to account for future increased EV adoption). 

Think Tennessee, a nonpartisan think tank, launched an expanded State of Our State Dashboard, an interactive tool designed to help policymakers, advocates, and engaged citizens understand how Tennessee compares to other states across various indicators. Now in its seventh year, the dashboard includes more than 56,000 data points in a comprehensive dashboard that illustrates how Tennessee ranks nationally on 143 metrics across nine issue areas. The update comes during an exciting period of growth for Tennessee, with the state ranking in the top 10 nationally for several metrics, including high school graduation rate (2nd), road quality (6th), population growth (8th), and average price of electricity (9th). Find additional details on energy and environmental metrics in the report available here.  

Visit the TDEC Office of Energy Programs Website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/energy.

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

March 2025

February 2025

December 2024

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

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.