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Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| TDEC OEP's Alexa Voytek Named Coordinator for Middle-West TN Clean Fuels The Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition works in collaboration with the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition to provide technical assistance to fleets throughout the entire State of Tennessee. For more information, click here.
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| Pioneering Hydrogen-Electric Semi-Truck to be Made in Tennessee Within the next three to five years, Chattanooga’s biggest trucking carrier will convert some of its fleet to run on hydrogen and electricity. U.S. Xpress Enterprises recently announced that it has agreed to test some of the first new hydrogen-electric semi-trucks to be built by Nikola Motor Co, a truck manufacturing company that wants to revamp the trucking industry by replacing diesel engines with hydrogen fuel and battery-powered electric motors. The initial models of the Nikola One electric-powered trucks are expected to be built in Tennessee, and some of the first drivers will be U.S. Xpress drivers. The Nikola One truck will operate using a 300-kilowatt fuel cell, as well as a bank of 320-kilowatt batteries that provide backup energy and help the vehicle power up hills and respond to high-torque demands. The powertrain will be capable of producing up to 1,000 horsepower and 2,000 pound-feet of torque. The Nikola One truck should be able to travel 800 to 1,200 miles while carrying a full truck load without stopping, and could be refueled at hydrogen fueling stations Nikola also plans to eventually build. Fitzgerald Glider Kits, an automotive parts maker in Byrdstown, Tenn., will produce the first 5,000 Nikola One trucks while Nikola prepares and builds its own production plant.
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| Nashville International Airport Rolls Out 20 New Parking Shuttles Operated by Compressed Natural Gas The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) recently rolled out 20 new shuttles to service parking lots at Nashville International Airport (BNA). In keeping with MNAA’s commitment to advance sustainable practices and environmentally sound initiatives, all shuttles are fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG), making them clean powered and sustainable. This conversion from petroleum-based fuels to cleaner burning CNG across the airport’s shuttle bus fleet is anticipated to reduce the bus fleet’s harmful air polluting emissions by approximately 14 percent. The 20 shuttles join the airport’s eight Express Park shuttles, making all shuttles at BNA fueled with CNG. MNAA is currently constructing a CNG fueling station on property to fuel all shuttles. The new station is set to open spring 2017. For more information, click here.
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| New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Unveiled in Nashville
On February 7, Car Charging Group, Inc. announced that Music City Center, Nashville’s 2.1 million square foot convention center, now provides nine Blink Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the Blink EV chargers are available to the public and operate on the Blink network. The Level 2 chargers, or J1772 chargers, give drivers 12-24 miles of range per hour at 240 volts. For more information, click here. On March 10, EVGo announced the opening of its 900th DC fast charger for EVs at Nashville’s Opry Mills shopping mall. The completed station includes two 480 volt fast chargers manufactured by BTC Power. Each one can deliver a 50 kilowatt charge at the same time, which provides about 150 miles of range in one hour. The EVgo station offers dual chargers that cover all EVs, utilizing both CHAdeMO and CCS standards. For more information, click here.
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| ORNL Develops Process that Could Ease Bottleneck in Battery Manufacturing
A new process developed by ORNL researchers could alleviate a bottleneck in battery manufacturing and deliver higher capacity batteries for electric vehicles. The formation process – where batteries undergo repeated cycling to stabilize and activate them for use – is one of the most time-intensive production steps. The researchers’ new fast-formation protocol could substantially shorten that time, reducing it by up to 90 percent and saving costs and energy. The method also conserves lithium, which improves battery capacity. For more information, click here.
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| XL Hybrids Upfit Powertrains now Available to Government Fleets in all 50 States
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| VW Settlement in Tennessee - Update & Opportunities Webinar
In 2015, Volkswagen (VW) publicly admitted that it had secretly and deliberately installed a defeat device – software designed to cheat emissions tests and deceive federal and state regulators – in approximately 590,000 model year 2009 to 2016 motor vehicles containing 2.0 and 3.0 liter diesel engines. U.S. EPA filed a complaint against VW, alleging that the company had violated the Clean Air Act. On October 25, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, approved a $14.7 billion settlement related to the affected 2.0 liter vehicles in the Volkswagen Clean Diesel Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation. TDEC has been identified by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam as the Lead Agency for purposes of administering the State's trust allocation under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement's Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund. Once the trust is established, TDEC will follow the steps outlined in the Settlement to apply for beneficiary status on behalf of the State, and will provide opportunity for stakeholder input regarding use of the Trust funds. On March 3, TNCleanFuels and TDEC OEP hosted a webinar during which TDEC OEP Director Molly Cripps provided an overview of the VW Settlement and shared information on TDEC's anticipated approach and efforts to date regarding the Beneficiary Mitigation Planning process and stakeholder engagement. To view the webinar slide deck along with the webinar audio recording, click here. TDEC has also developed a webpage to provide resources to inform Tennesseans about the settlement and a web-based form to allow interested stakeholders to submit comments regarding the state’s utilization of environmental mitigation trust fund monies associated with the settlement. For more information, click here.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition Meeting in Nashville
On April 11, from 10 am-12 pm Central, the Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition will host an alternative fuel and vehicle focused meeting for all interested stakeholders at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville. Invited speakers include the Nashville MTA, the Nashville International Airport (BNA), the University of Memphis, Gold Coast Refining, the TMA Group (Franklin Transit), and more! Several alternative fueled vehicles will be present for viewing, and updates on the VW settlement, CMAQ, and other grant opportunities will also be discussed. Following the meeting, attendees will be able to tour the Lane Motor Museum at no charge. To find out more and to register for the event, click here.
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| 2017 Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Clean Fuels, will hold the third annual Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum during Clean Air Month from May 23-24 at the Nashville Public Library. The forum, entitled “Navigating Toward a Livable Tennessee,” will highlight local transportation planning and the pursuit of place-based policies and investments for improved transportation options in our communities. The keynote will be delivered by Russ Brooks, Smart Cities Director at Transportation for America, an organization focused on supporting the development of smart, sustainable, and locally driven transportation policies across the U.S. The morning address on May 24 will be delivered by Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Mayor Megan Barry. An awards luncheon will be held on the second day of the forum, and will include remarks from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau and Tennessee Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Toks Omishakin. The awards recognize outstanding initiatives to improve the efficiency, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of transportation systems in the State, consistent with ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans, provide for a strong economy, and protect our State’s natural resources. 2017 forum panel topics will include: - Behavior Change - Transportation demand management and the utilization of alternatives to single occupancy vehicles
- Mobility Planning - Improved efficiency in the delivery of goods and services, reduced congestion, and improved access to alternative transportation
- Energy and the Environment - Alternative fuel use for reduced emissions, improved air quality, and resiliency
- One Big Idea – Overview of winning projects and ideas
The forum will also feature a showcase of alternative fuel vehicles, as well as a recognition ceremony for a new class of certified Tennessee Green Fleets. Through the Tennessee Clean Fuels’ Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program, any Tennessee-based fleet can receive certification for its efforts toward reducing petroleum consumption, improving air quality, and increasing the use of alternative fuels or advanced vehicle technologies. To view a preliminary agenda and to register for the event, click here.
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| Policy Brief on Transportation Impacts to Public Health in Tennessee
Research shows that transportation infrastructure impacts public health and well-being in many ways. Highways, roads, bridges, bikeways, sidewalks, and public transit all have benefits and trade-offs. The Sycamore Institute recently released a new policy brief on transportation impacts to public health. The brief notes that in the State of Tennessee, 33% of individuals drive more than 30 minutes to work each day, alone. 4.5% of all of our trips are made by walking or biking. To read the full policy brief and to find out more about the points of intersection between transportation and public health, click here.
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| Livable Transit Corridors: Handbook on Methods, Metrics, and Strategies
The Transportation Research Board recently released a handbook on practical planning and implementation strategies to enhance livability in transit corridors. The handbook provides a definition of transit corridor livability and a set of methods, metrics, and strategies – framed within a five-step visioning and improvement process – the communities can use to improve livability in their transit corridors. It also includes a set of tools and techniques that can help in planning and building support for corridor improvements, screening alternatives in preparation for environmental review, identifying a corridor’s livability needs, and developing an action-oriented set of strategies for improving transit corridor livability and quality of life. For more information and to access the handbook, click here.
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| PBS' Nova Features Episode on the State of EV Battery Tech
As growing EV sales make headlines, the general public is becoming more and more aware of battery technology opportunities and advancements. A recent episode of the PBS Nova show, “Search for the Super Battery,” offers a digestible summary of some of the advances happening in the battery field. To view the episode, click here.
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