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

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) will partner with DENSO to develop an advanced traffic safety system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make intersections smarter and safer while protecting individual privacy. The project focuses on two primary goals: predicting the risk of collisions before they happen and detecting crashes immediately when they occur. The system can identify potential dangers in real time and alert drivers or city systems by analyzing how vehicles and pedestrians move through intersections. This project will also deploy cutting-edge technology to assess accidents as they happen, helping emergency responders act more quickly and effectively.

UTC will also work with LG CNS to use AI and real-time sensor data to detect when someone is approaching a crosswalk and adjust traffic signals to give them more time to cross safely. The system will also collect and analyze data to help traffic officials monitor safety in real time and improve emergency response. 

Additionally, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) will partner with NTT DATA to create an AI-driven disaster management platform that will serve as a centralized hub for business continuity, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations. The platform focuses on demonstrating core disaster management capabilities in the Nashville area as a case study. It will integrate real-time data from multiple sources, which will be featured on an interactive web application.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) recently released a Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Readiness Action Plan to guide the implementation, operation, and maintenance of CAV technologies at traffic signals and along roadways across the state. Through this action plan, TDOT aims to position Tennessee as a leader in CAV deployment, ensuring safe and efficient transportation for all road users. Building on TDOT’s previous investments and lessons learned from peer agencies, this plan outlines strategic and actionable recommendations (over a proposed 5-year period) to incorporate CAV technology into TDOT’s standard operations, and considers key industry priorities, such as delivering immediate benefits and achieving interoperability at scale.

Image courtesy of WeGo

The Davidson County Office of the District Attorney has partnered with WeGo Public Transit to launch WeGo Access. This program will provide free transportation through the rideshare partner zTrip for individuals who have a transportation barrier to appear at court proceedings. The program will also support witnesses connected to the Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team and Victim Witness/Prosecution Support Divisions. WeGo has stated that trip requests will be initiated by the District Attorney's Office, and there will be no co-pay charges for participating riders.

Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

Tesla recently announced a plan to build DC fast-charging infrastructure across the U.S. to support the upcoming launch of its Tesla Semi electric trucks. The initial rollout will include 46 charger locations, which Tesla refers to as Megachargers. The charging locations are expected to be operational by early 2027, with multiple sites included in the southeast. The Megacharger network will enable long-haul trucking with Tesla’s electric truck. These sites will build upon the existing Tesla Supercharger network, which is geared towards passenger EVs.

The U.S. DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office recently updated its 45ZCF-GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies) modeling tool to account for new feedstocks and methods of production, including ethanol from corn wet-milling and natural gas from coal-mine methane. The GREET tool assesses the environmental impacts associated with technologies, fuels, products, and energy systems across various stages of the supply chain, and the 45ZCF version is used to calculate the emissions reduction percentages under the Clean Fuel Production Credit. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has adopted the 45ZCF-GREET model to help transportation fuel producers assess their eligibility for the 45Z tax credit. These updates will allow a broader range of farmers and companies to do business in the U.S. alternative fuels market.

Image courtesy of Lucid Motors.

Lucid Motors is hosting a Pop-Up Tour at the Mall at Green Hills in Nashville now through June 29. The pop-up features multiple Lucid EVs and will include opportunities to meet Lucid team members and participate in demo drives.  

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. Sessions will address topics including EVs in higher education, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle futures, and recognition of Momentum Award winners. Contact Alex Strong at alex@driveelectrictn.org with questions or for a DET member registration code.

The Southeast Hydrogen Energy Alliance (SHEA) will host a webinar on the services and value of joining the Alliance on June 26 at 11 AM Central. Attendees will learn how SHEA convenes stakeholders, accelerates opportunity, and offers strategic value. Topics include SHEA’s history and current pursuits, member stories and successes, and member benefits.

Charge at Home, a project that provides tools and resources to advance EV adoption at multifamily housing properties, is hosting virtual education and technical-assistance focused sessions designed to support multifamily housing stakeholders interested in EV charging.

Upcoming sessions:

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. Sessions will focus on multiple topics, including vehicles, charging, community impact, and networking and connection opportunities.

The 2025 Governor’s Conference, or GovCon, will be held November 4-5 in Murfreesboro. The event will bring together leaders from across the state to define what economic development means to communities. GovCon is the premier event for networking and collaboration, designed to elevate business, community, and rural development efforts across Tennessee.

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.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced $1.5 billion in funding available for the Low or No Emission and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. FTA is publishing a joint notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for these two programs as they have overlapping eligibility and must be implemented on the same timeline.

For the Low-No Program, eligible activities include capital projects to purchase or lease zero-emission or low-emission transit buses; and acquire, construct, rehabilitate, and lease required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling, and maintenance facilities. Eligible recipients and subrecipients are direct or designated recipients of FTA grants, states (including territories and Washington, D.C.), local government entities, and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Eligible activities for the Bus Program include capital projects to purchase, lease, or rehabilitate buses and related equipment; and acquire, construct, lease, or rehabilitate bus-related facilities. Eligible recipients are direct or designated recipients of FTA grants, states (including territories and Washington, D.C.), local government entities, and federally recognized Indian tribes. Except for Indian tribes, eligible recipients must allocate funds to or operate fixed-route bus service.

Applications are due July 14.

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 deployment 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.

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program recently released a new report, Data Integration, Sharing, and Management for Transportation Planning and Traffic Operations. Planning and operating transportation systems involves the exchange of large volumes of data that must be shared between partnering transportation agencies, private-sector interests, travelers, and intelligent devices such as traffic signals, ramp meters, and connected vehicles. The report presents tools, methods, and guidelines for improving data integration, sharing, and management practices through case studies, proof-of-concept product developments, and deployment assistance.

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

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

May 2025

April 2025

March 2025

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.