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| Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities:
Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| TDEC Hosting Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Public Information Sessions
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. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against VW, alleging that the company had violated the federal Clean Air Act.
$2.9 billion in settlement funds from the resulting 2.0 and 3.0 liter partial settlements with the federal government will be placed into an Environmental Mitigation Trust, which will fund environmental mitigation projects that reduce NOx emissions. Trust funds will be allocated among beneficiaries (states, certain territories, and tribes) based on the number of impacted VW vehicles in their jurisdictions.
Tennessee’s initial, combined allocation under the approved 2.0 and 3.0 liter partial settlements is $45,759,914.40. The TDEC Office of Energy Programs (OEP), the lead agency administering the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement funds for TN, will host three upcoming VW Diesel Settlement public information sessions in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis. These meetings will provide an overview of the VW Diesel Settlement, the Environmental Mitigation Trust, TDEC's process for developing a proposed Beneficiary Mitigation Plan for Tennessee, and an overview of the types of eligible mitigation actions that can be funded by Tennessee’s Environmental Mitigation Trust allocation.
The following three public information sessions will be free and open to the public. Please note that registration is required due to space restrictions.
Middle Tennessee:
October 31, 10:30 am-12 pm Central – Sonny West Conference Center, Howard Office Building, 700 Second Ave. S, Nashville, TN. Register here.
East Tennessee:
November 7, 10:30 am-12 pm Eastern – University of Tennessee Ag Extension, 1801 Downtown West Blvd., Knoxville, TN: Register here.
West Tennessee:
November 17, 1:30 pm- 3 pm Central – Memphis Public Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN: Register here.
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| Nashville Mayor Barry Unveils "Let's Move Nashville," a $5.2 Billion Transit Proposal Calling on Nashvillians to get behind the most sweeping and expensive project in Metro history, Mayor Megan Barry recently unveiled a $5.2 billion mass transit proposal called Let’s Move Nashville. The proposal requests that voters go to the polls in May to approve a referendum on increases to four taxes to pay for the massive undertaking: a combination of 26 miles of new light rail, more robust bus service, and a major tunnel below downtown where the new transit lines would run.
The primary revenue generator would be a one-half percent increase to the sales tax in July 2018, which would jump to one percent in 2023. There are also proposed increases to the city’s hotel-motel tax, rental car tax, and business and excise tax.
As stated on its website, Let’s Move Nashville isn’t just about reducing traffic—it’s about ensuring easier and quicker access to everything the city has to offer. The plan is designed to: - Provide economic opportunities for the entire city
- Increase mobility options for everyone
- Enhance accessibility and independence for the disabled, disadvantaged, and elderly
- Connect communities with an enhanced bus system and high capacity Light Rail and Rapid Bus service
- Create a safer and more attractive walking and biking environment
- Support better access to jobs and education
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| Tennessee's Influence in Electric Vehicle Sector Expanding with Denso, Toyota, and Nissan Investments
Tennessee has increasingly positioned itself as a major influencer in the Electric Vehicle (EV) components and vehicle production sector through past partnerships with Nissan, Volkswagen, Toyota, and many other automotive manufacturers. Now, a flurry of recent industry announcements spell out even further investment into efficient vehicle manufacturing and component plants across the state.
First, Denso Corp. announced that it would spend $1 billion to expand its Maryville, Tennessee facility and hire 1,000 workers. Denso’s investment will bolster production of safety components and systems for purely electric cars powered only by batteries as well as for hybrid vehicles.
The Denso expansion will be the largest electric vehicle-related investment in Tennessee since Nissan’s 2009 investment of $1.6 billion to build its Nissan LEAF electric vehicle battery assembly plant in Smyrna. However, Nissan has recently announced that it plans to expand the battery plant at the Smyrna automobile factory by 26,450 square feet. Nissan, which has about 8,400 overall workers at the Smyrna factory, expects expansion work to begin in late 2017.
Finally, Toyota has announced plans to invest $373.8 million in five U.S. manufacturing plants to move hybrid powertrain components to the U.S. from Japan. The investments will include a $14,500,000 investment for modifying the Bodine Jackson, Tennessee plant to accommodate production of hybrid transaxle cases and housings as well as 2.5L engine blocks.
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| Heavy-Duty Trucks Achieve 10+ MPG in Real-World Driving
Last month, the first-ever Run on Less roadshow demonstrated just how fuel-efficient a tractor-trailer can be in real-world operation. Seven Class 8 Freightliner, International, and Volvo tractor trucks drove 50,000 miles across the country, carrying more than 55,000 lbs. of goods on average, and converged in Atlanta for the grand finale and Run on Less press conference. While roadshow organizers (the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and the Carbon War Room) were aiming for 9 miles per gallon, the trucks averaged more than 10 miles per gallon in real-world operation and in real weather, including encounters with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The Run on Less roadshow proves that tractor trucks can achieve high fuel efficiency using today's commercially available technologies—and that these technologies can promise big savings at the gas pump.
In the State of Tennessee, another inaugural fuel efficiency event pitted two drivers from Sharp Transport against each other in the Race to 10 MPG challenge. Each driver drove a Cumberland C10, which is a Class 8 truck that is built in Tennessee and is capable of achieving a fuel efficiency of 10 MPG. The drivers used the same truck and completed the same route through several states and back to Middle Tennessee to see who could reach a higher MPG average. Over a combined 5,599 miles, the winning driver averaged 11.21 MPG!
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| U.S. DOE Celebrates its 40th Birthday - and its 1,000th Transportation Fact of the Week U.S. DOE is celebrating its 40th birthday this October just in time for the Transportation Analysis Fact of the Week to publish its Fact #1000. The Transportation Analysis Fact of the Week was first published on July 12, 1996 as a means of highlighting data trends for U.S. DOE staff and the transportation community at large. Popular topics explored in the Fact of the Week include vehicle fuel economy, petroleum use and production, vehicle sales, and traveler behavior. Facts related to advanced combustion technologies and vehicle electrification have become more popular in the last few years. The Fact of the Week is updated online every Monday and released via newsletter. Last year, they the Transportation Facts of the Week were viewed over 160,000 times. Click here to subscribe to future Facts of the Week.
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| Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, aptly celebrated on October 8 to represent the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008), brought together industry, academia, national labs, government, and other stakeholders to increase awareness of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The day coincided with the recent release of a U.S. DOE 2016 Business Case for Fuel Cells report, which provides an overview of private sector fuel cell installations at U.S. businesses. Highlights since last year’s report include: - Home Depot is now country’s largest stationary fuel cell customer, with more than 140 sites
- IKEA is installing fuel cells at four more stores in California and one in Connecticut
- eBay is adding 3.75 MW to its Utah data center, bringing it to ~10 MW
- More than 15,000 fuel cell‐forklifts are in operation or on order nationwide.
The U.S. military also published a blog post on four ways that fuel cells power our troops and military equipment. Check it out here!
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| NOI: TDEC OEP to Issue Second Round of Funding for Tennessee Natural Gas and Propane Vehicle Grant Program
The second round of the program, managed by TDEC OEP, is limited to one application per grantee, per location. Applications may address a variety of eligible vehicle types (heavy, medium, and light-duty) and uses. Application forms for the second round of the Tennessee Natural Gas and Propane Vehicle Grant Program are expected to be released in the coming months. For more information about this program, or about other TDEC OEP sustainable transportation efforts, contact Alexa Voytek at Alexa.Voytek@tn.gov or 615-532-0238.
Funding: - $1,700,000 will be available under this competitive funding opportunity.
- Each grant will provide up to 70% of the incremental purchase cost of eligible vehicles, with a maximum grant of $25,000 for each eligible vehicle.
- The maximum amount that may be awarded to a grantee shall not exceed $250,000.
Eligibility: - A project must propose to receive funding for a minimum of one vehicle.
- Eligible vehicles must either (1) be purchased new, from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or OEM-authorized dealer or (2) be converted to run on natural gas or propane through an EPA-certified, after-market conversion.
- Vehicles must be registered within the State of Tennessee, unless the vehicle is to receive International Registration Plan (IRP) apportioned registration. In the case of the latter, the entity applying for a grant must submit a letter, certifying the percentage of time that the vehicle is expected to operate within the State of Tennessee.
- Eligible vehicles include dedicated compressed natural gas vehicles, dedicated liquefied natural gas vehicles, and dedicated propane-powered vehicles. Natural gas or propane-powered bi-fuel vehicles, or vehicles that are capable of operating on gasoline or diesel in addition to natural gas or propane, shall be eligible for emergency response vehicles only. (All bi-fuel vehicles will be required to utilize either natural gas or propane for no less than 75% of the vehicle's fuel use for a period of no less than five years. The grant amount available to bi-fuel vehicles will be 75% that of dedicated vehicles. Bi-fuel vehicles will therefore only be eligible to receive no more than 52.5% of the conversion or incremental purchase cost, up to $25,000 for each eligible vehicle.)
- Light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles will be considered eligible, as there will be no gross vehicle weight restrictions or requirements.
- Applicants must intend to maintain operations in Tennessee for a minimum of six years.
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| AmeriGas Clean Community Grant Funds Propane Powered School Buses
A growing number of school districts across the U.S. are shifting parts of their fleets from diesel fuel to propane to stretch strained budgets and promote cleaner air. Propane is a promising alternative fuel for school buses because it is widely available, even in rural areas, and it can cost less than diesel or gasoline. With the AmeriGas Clean Community Grant, eligible school districts have the opportunity to replace their diesel buses and receive up to $5,000.00 per newly purchased propane school bus (bi-fuel engines not eligible). This Clean Community Grant can be combined with other funding, including the Tennessee Natural Gas and Propane Vehicle Grant Program. The Clean Community Grant amount is dependent on the total number of propane powered buses acquired and placed into operation during the specified grant timeline. Buses funded by this grant must be powered by AmeriGas propane AutoGas under a minimum three-year agreement. These funds are dispersed on a one-time annual basis. For more information and to apply, please contact David Rigney, AmeriGas National Accounts Manager, at David.Rigney@AmeriGas.com or 386-299-9422.
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| Alternative Fuel Corridor Designations for 2017
The Federal Highway Administration is requesting nominations for Alternative Fuels Corridor Designations for 2017. Under the FAST Act, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation must designate national EV charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling corridors that identify a near- and long-term need for, and location of, alternative fuels infrastructure at strategic locations along major national highways. Any State or local official may nominate a corridor for designation, and the deadline for nominations is November 30, 2017.
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| U.S. DOE Announces $4 Million for Medium/Heavy-Duty On-Road Natural Gas Engine Research
U.S. DOE recently announced up to $4 million for research projects focused on medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engine technologies. U.S. DOE is seeking projects that address barriers to the adoption of natural gas vehicles. The submission deadline for an initial concept paper is November 8, 2017, at 5 PM ET. To access the funding opportunity announcement, click here.
A public workshop on natural gas vehicles was held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in July, 2017 to identify early-stage research needs for natural gas engines. A summary of the key observations can be found here, and U.S. DOE recommends potential applicants review the materials before making proposals.
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| U.S. DOE Announces $3 Million for Energy Efficient Fluid-Power Systems in Off-Road Vehicles
The commercial off-road vehicle sector, including industrial, construction, mining, and farm equipment, relies heavily on fluid-power systems. However, current fluid-power systems have poor efficiency. Research in this area can provide decreased operating costs for these key domestic industries. Recently, U.S. DOE has announced a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) entitled “FY 2017 Vehicle Technologies Office Energy Efficiency R&D for Fluid-Power Systems in Off-Road Vehicles Funding Opportunity Announcement.” The submission deadline for an initial concept paper is November 20, 2017, at 5 PM ET. To access the funding opportunity announcement, click here.
The Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) is seeking to research and develop technologies that can improve the energy efficiency of fluid-power systems for commercial off-road vehicles (e.g., excavators, large farm combines, pavers/rollers) where fluid-power systems (i.e., hydraulic systems) actuate most of the functions. A public workshop on fluid-power systems for off-road vehicles was held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on September 12, 2017 to identify early-stage research and development needs. A summary of the key observations can be found here.
A webinar on the FOA and application process will be held on November 1 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET. Attendees must register prior to the webinar.
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| U.S. DOE Announces $5 Million for Battery and Electrification Projects, to Enable Extreme Fast Charging
U.S. DOE is seeking research projects to develop plug-in electric vehicle systems that can recharge rapidly at high power levels, decreasing charge time to 15 minutes or less. Advanced battery projects will focus on early-stage research of battery cells that can enable extreme fast charging, while electrification projects will support the development and verification of electric drive systems and infrastructure for extreme fast charging (400-kW). The submission deadline for an initial concept paper is November 21, 2017 at 5:00 PM ET. To access the funding opportunity announcement, click here.
In 2017, VTO developed and verified innovative lithium ion technology with the potential to reduce battery pack cost to $219/kWh of usable energy, an approximately 80% reduction since 2008. This funding opportunity aims to continue building on this progress to decrease the time needed to charge an electric vehicle and drive down battery costs. For more information on this funding opportunity and application requirements, please visit the EERE Exchange website or Grants.gov.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Middle-West TN Clean Fuels Coalition Meeting
On November 2, from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM CDT, Middle-West TN Clean Fuels will hold a coalition meeting in Memphis. During the meeting, guest speakers from Clean Energy Fuels, the University of Memphis, FedEx, Waste Management, Inc., and more will highlight case studies and projects involving alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technology use and opportunities in Tennessee. In addition to the meeting, Middle-West TN Clean Fuels will be offering two tours of the FedEx facilities and vehicles programming, “The Hydrogen + CNG Tour” at 3:30 PM, and “The FedEx Experience Tour” at 10:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, please find more information and registration details here.
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| Webinar: Policy and Planning to Address Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs)
This webinar will discuss the state and local policy and planning actions that can help make sure that the introduction of automated vehicles and connected vehicles will advance community and agency objectives.
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| Webinar: Regulations and Policies Impacting AV/CV Introduction in Transit
TRB will conduct a webinar on Tuesday, November 16, from 2:00PM – 3:30PM ET that features research from the NCHRP’s Web-Only Document 239: “Impacts of Laws and Regulations on CV and AV Technology Introduction in Transit Operations.” This webinar will discuss the changes in the way public transit agencies will approach operating policy with the introduction of connected vehicles (CV) and automated vehicles (AV) over the next few decades. The results of the decisions transit operators make may affect employees, agency management structure, and transit patrons. This webinar will focus on key issues in areas such as AV technology evolution, safety considerations, workforce development, agency operating policies, and laws and regulations. The panelists will also present an action plan for resolving many of these issues.
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| Three New Heavy-Duty Electrification Resources
#1: Transitioning to Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Freight Vehicles
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has released a report that assesses zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle technology within the freight sector, a sector that many governments and companies are seeking to decarbonize through zero-emissions initiatives. Based on the research findings, the report draws the following three conclusions regarding emerging vehicle zero-emission technologies for heavy-duty trucks: - Electric-drive heavy-duty vehicle technologies are essential to fully decarbonize the transport sector.
- By 2030, electric-drive heavy-duty vehicle technologies could offer cost-effective opportunities for deep emission reductions.
- Different electric-drive technologies are suitable for different heavy-duty vehicle segments, but massive infrastructure investments would be needed.
#2: Transportation Electrification Beyond Light Duty: Technology and Market Assessment
ORNL has released a report that discusses the electrification of government, commercial, and industrial fleets. The research provides a basic overview of transportation market segments that may potentially be involved in electrification beyond light duty highway vehicles and provides the background for potential electrification in these markets. The report also examines the challenges and opportunities for electrification in the service, goods, and people movement fleets in order to guide policy makers and researchers in identifying where federal investment in electrification could be most beneficial.
#3: Energy Consumption and Cost Savings of Truck Electrification for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications
TRB recently published an evaluation of battery electric vehicles and plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) in Class 7 local delivery truck and Class 8 utility bucket truck categories. The results of this evaluation show that the e-truck applications studied not only reduce energy consumption but also achieve significant energy cost savings.
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| Report: Effective Policy Design for Promoting Investment in Advanced Alternative Fuels
The ICCT has released a report that examines the adoption rates of advanced alternative fuels (AAF), including cellulosic ethanol, biomass gasification, and pyrolysis, which are made from organic plant materials. Several countries, including the EU, U.S., and Canada, are currently developing policies for AAFs, which may have the potential to achieve climate goals. The report identifies elements of alternative fuel policy that are most successful at addressing the key barriers for AAF commercialization as well as elements that have reduced the effectiveness of policies in supporting AAF.
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| Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently released a new guide called “Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety.” This resource outlines a non-regulatory approach to automated vehicle technology safety, intended to increase autonomous vehicle utilization in the U.S. The 2.0 version is a follow up from connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) guidelines released in September 2016, which then laid out a detailed 15-point safety assessment as well a model state policy for CAV deployment. DOT has already begun planning a 3.0 CAV guide, which will be focused on the integration of connected vehicles along multi-modal policy lines.
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| Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Maintenance Facility Handbook
CNG will rise to the ceiling and quickly dissipate in the event of a release, rather than remain near floor level like liquid fuel vapors. Therefore, there are different safety requirements for facilities that hold CNG vehicles. US DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has released a handbook that covers the requirements for developing a maintenance facility for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that will protect against such release of natural gas.
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| Report: EV Charging Infrastructure Analysis and Best Practices
The ICCT has released a report that outlines the global charging infrastructure deployment practices and challenges in major electric vehicle markets, with an emphasis on public charging facilities at the metropolitan level. This report was undertaken in part to better understand local infrastructure variation, practices, and circumstances. To read the report, click here. US DOE also published an EV infrastructure analysis report that focuses both on metropolitan, community charging and on DC Fast Charging (DCFC) along interstate corridors. The purpose of this analysis is to predict charging models and locational frequency in the future as electric vehicle technologies are adopted and improved. To read the report, click here.
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