NEWSNOTES | August 4, 2021
News Notes

NEWSNOTES | August 4, 2021

NEWSNOTES | August 4, 2021

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 / Kimberly Taylor

Ford Motor Company, as well as other companies, will showcase their F-150 electric pickup truck at the White House tomorrow as the Biden administration will lay out plans for new fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles. The draft plan called for increasing fuel efficiency requirements through model year 2026. Also on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Senate is working on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. The new spending proposal calls for $39.2 billion for public transit and $7.5 billion for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

With billions on the table for public transit, what is the dream scenario that could make a difference for passengers? Reasons to be Cheerful points to Sound Transit which built Station House apartments above a light rail station serving the Seattle metropolitan area. Their formula was to dedicate their unused land for hyhttps://bit.ly/3xj1cCg in a desirable area and make sure 80% of the housing is affordable to people earning 80% or less of the area’s median income. Sound idea.

There’s groundbreaking transformation coming out of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), too. As they move toward diesel-free by 2025, the agency is renovating a facility to include expansive EV charging to help with the transition. Additionally they have a workforce development focus targeting young people to provide hands-on job training and internships.

There are so many talented fleet leaders focused on sustainability and Fleet Solutions showcases none other than Clinton Bench who is the Director of Fleet and Transit for UCLA. Recognizing the importance of state and federal incentives, Bench believes now is the time to move. The University of California system has close to 5,000 vehicles across their 10 campuses which will be carbon neutral by 2025.

Lightning eMotors has a new partner. Helbiz is a global leader in micro-mobility and as part of their electrification pathway they plan to deploy Lightning Electric Ford Transit 350HD vans throughout Miami and Washington D.C. to manage its intra-urban operations.

Kudos to Lion Electric, a manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles. The company will deliver two of its all-electric heavy-duty trucks to Vermont’s Green Mountain Power (GMP). GMP is one of the first utilities in New England to receive all-electric heavy-duty trucks for its fleet.

TEC Equipment has been named Volvo Trucks’ first Volvo EV certified dealer in North America. TEC’s Fontana, CA location is the first to achieve the EV certification. TEC Equipment was an integral partner in the Volvo Lights project.

CLIP is a winner. If you don’t know about them, they are a Brooklyn-based startup that has a portable e-motor that turns any bicycle into an e-bike (at a price under $400!). Enter the Keeling Curve Prize that recognizes excellence with cash for companies addressing the complexity of skyrocketing greenhouse gas emissions. Congratulations to CLIP for winning the 2021 prize!

 

RESOURCES

White House to Roll Out Car Rules Tomorrow, ClimateWire - https://bit.ly/3AbLDOw 

What’s in the Senate’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill, autoblog - https://bit.ly/2WJHP8L

Seattle Affordable Housing Project a Transit Rider’s Dream, Reasons to be Cheerful - https://bit.ly/3xj1cCg

COTA Breaks Ground on McKinley Modernization Project, Metro Magazine - https://bit.ly/3yl03eK

Electrifying Your Fleet, UCLA, Fleet Solutions - https://bit.ly/3fuHmy2

Helbiz Partners with Lightning eMotors, NGT News - https://bit.ly/3jmZQl1

Green Mountain Power and Lion Electric Partner, electrek - https://bit.ly/3ftehmg

TEC Equipment Becomes Volvo EV Certified Dealer, Automotive World - https://bit.ly/3fxRhCW

CLIP Wins 2021’s Keeling Curve Prize, LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/37qTWtn