Image courtesy of UT Knoxville.

Fleet Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) will introduce nine large, all-electric utility and recycling vehicles into its fleet. The new vehicles use electric motors paired with hydraulic systems to handle every lift, compression, and pickup along their routes. Electric trucks operate more quietly than their diesel counterparts, making early morning routes less disruptive along their routes. Bringing these vehicles to campus was made possible through a $3 million grant from TDEC, with the Student Environmental Initiatives Fund contributing $315,000 and UT Facilities Services covering the remaining costs of about $700,000.

If you install property to store or dispense an alternative fuel (e.g., compressed natural gas, propane autogas, etc.) or to recharge EVs at a home or business on or prior to June 30, 2026, you may qualify for the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit. Both individuals and organizations can apply, including for-profit, tax-exempt, and government entities. Tax-exempt and government entities should apply through the mechanism of elective pay.

Eligible Parties:

As of July 5, 2025, the credit applies to property placed in service on or before June 30, 2026. Federal tax credits are available for consumers, fleets, and businesses that install EV charging stations before this deadline.

DriveElectricTN regularly attends events across the state, offering opportunities for attendees to learn more about EVs and EV charging, talk to EV owners, and complete EV test drives and rides. On June 6 in Townsend, TN, DriveElectric TN and the Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association will host the

2026 EVs in the Smokies event, the sixth annual EV showcase in Townsend, TN. The event will feature a wide range of EVs and offer ride-and-drive opportunities.

Nashville Connector will host Ticket to Ride, the 12th annual event inviting the public to ride the WeGo train on May 1. Attendees can ride the WeGo Star Train from the WeGo Riverfront Station to the Donelson Station at no cost, and will then walk to Party Fowl in Donelson to celebrate with appetizers.

Nashville Connector is also promoting the usage of more sustainable modes of transportation through its Commuter Challenge. Residents and commuters can track their sustainable trips through a commute tracking app to participate in transit challenges and for the chance to win prizes. Additionally, all users who track at least 10 sustainable trips each month earn a $20 e-gift card.

The Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo will take place May 4-7 in Las Vegas. The Expo will bring together over 400 vehicle and equipment manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and tech innovators, and attendees can discover solutions that are redefining fleet performance and lowering costs. The Expo includes the industry’s largest showcase of advanced commercial vehicles and will feature a ride-and-drive event to test fleet solutions.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Tennessee will host the ACEC/TDOT Partnering Conference in Chattanooga on May 11. The event will gather transportation professionals committed to delivering smarter, stronger, and more innovative infrastructure solutions. Through engaging general sessions, in-depth breakout discussions, and intentional networking opportunities, attendees will explore emerging technologies, evolving best practices, and forward-thinking approaches that are shaping the future of transportation in Tennessee. 

The Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo is a celebration of the latest transportation technologies, innovations, and research that make Tennessee an emerging leader in mobility solutions. The 2026 Expo will take place on May 12 at GEODIS Park in Nashville. The Expo is attended by leaders from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, Tennessee-based research institutions and universities, fleet operators, utilities, municipalities, state agencies, and the advanced transportation ecosystem, fostering valuable connections. With thought-provoking sessions, tech demonstrations, and networking, the expo celebrates the state’s position in automotive manufacturing and as a generator of smart mobility solutions.

The Tennessee Environmental Network Show of the South (TENSOS) will be held in Chattanooga on May 13-15. The three-day event will host environmental professionals seeking to exchange knowledge and share ideas. The educational program offers over 70 unique panels in nine educational breakout sessions. Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst with TDEC OEP, will present on the panel Alternative Fuels in Action: Fleets and Funding, which will explore how alternative transportation fuels are being deployed across Tennessee and the Southeast, including lessons from projects like the Drive Electric Tennessee roadmap refresh, national policy perspectives from C2ES, and on-the-ground implementation challenges.

The Southeast Hydrogen Energy Alliance will host the webinar Hydrogen Takes Flight on June 18 at 10:00 AM Central. This webinar will explore how the aeronautics industry is using hydrogen as a fuel in the air and on the ground, and include speakers from HYSKY Society, a nonprofit committed to decarbonizing aviation and aerospace with hydrogen.

The US Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program has opened for 2026.  Funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 SS4A Grant Program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning and demonstration activities, as well as projects and strategies to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets for all users. It supports both developing comprehensive safety action plans and implementation projects such as redesigning dangerous intersections, improving crosswalks, adding bike lanes, and upgrading traffic signals. The program can fund a wide range of safety-focused activities, including data analysis, community engagement, infrastructure changes, and demonstration projects.

Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations, political subdivisions of States or territories, and multijurisdictional groups of entities described in any of the aforementioned types of entities. Additional information on eligible projects can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications are due May 26.

TVA EnergyRight and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) are offering $775.00 training stipends through the TVA EnergyRight EVITP Scholarship Program to qualified electricians in the Tennessee Valley who complete the EVITP course and exam. Stipends are available on a , and reimbursement will occur after course completion. This program is open to current and prospective members of the TVA Quality Contractor Network (QCN) and will run until December or until funds are exhausted.

The EVITP consists of the following steps:

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced the launch of the Innovation & Research for Industry Success (IRIS) Grant Program, which aims to enhance and facilitate partnerships between private industry and the state’s leading research institutions. The grant program will encourage companies to pilot innovative technologies and pursue new discoveries within the state, which, in turn, will facilitate collaborations that highlight the strength of Tennessee’s research capabilities and foster long-term corporate investment in the state’s innovation ecosystem.

Applications for the inaugural round of IRIS funding are open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) provides information, data, and tools to help fleets, fuel providers, policymakers, cities, states, Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, and other transportation decision makers find ways to reach their energy, environmental, and economic goals through the use of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, and other fuel-saving strategies. The Tennessee Transportation Data for Alternative Fuels and Vehicles page provides transportation data and information about alternative fuels and advanced vehicles in Tennessee, including laws and incentives, fueling stations, and fuel prices.

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

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

March 2026

February 2026

January 2026

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 State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-SE0001095.

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.