NEWSNOTES | February 16, 2022
News Notes

The Biden administration is poised to reverse a Trump-era rollback on California’s authority to allow it to adopt stricter vehicle emissions standards. In 2019 the Trump administration rolled back California’s decades old waiver allowing it to set its own air pollution standards. The current administration wants to put the waiver back in place.

The Department of Energy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs; $1 billion for a Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program; and $500 million for Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing and Recycling Initiatives to support equipment manufacturing and strong domestic supply chains. This is all part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

WattEV aims to deploy 12,000 electric heavy-duty trucks on the road by 2030 and to do that they are building the necessary charging infrastructure. CEO Salim Youssefzadeh spoke of their plans last week at CALSTART’s California Policy Summit. CANARY Media shares the details of how their model works and if you can spare under 3 minutes, they have a compelling video depicting their model.

Daimler Truck North America (DNTA) has ambitious charging plans as well and they’ve partnered with NextEra Energy and BlackRock Renewable Power to form a joint venture to deploy a national U.S. charging network for medium- and heavy-duty battery electric and fuel cell trucks. DTNA has partnered with others as well to roll out infrastructure including Siemens, Engie and Volvo among others.

Indiana-based Cummins is expanding its powertrain platforms by leveraging fuels that include natural gas and hydrogen. One of their sustainability goals is to reduce scope 3 absolute lifetime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from newly sold products by 25%.

Volvo Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks, buses, construction equipment and engines and CALSTART is pleased to welcome them as our newest Drive to Zero pledge partner. 130 manufacturers, fleets, governments, infrastructure providers and market leaders have signed on to accelerate the zero-emission vehicle market.

Lightning eMotors and General Motors have reached an agreement that they will collaborate to provide fully electric Class 3 through Class 6 commercial fleet vehicles for GM customers. GM will provide the truck platforms and Lightning eMotors will electrify medium-duty vehicles to provide zero-emission solutions to fleets.

NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck industry is once again hosting, in person, their Green Truck Summit taking place the week of March 7. They’ve announced their keynote speaker, Liane Randolph, who is the chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Prior to her appointment she served for six years as a commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission. The week also includes a Ride & Drive which will include offerings from Allison, EAVX, Freightliner, GreenPower Motor Company, International, Kenworth, the Lion Electric, Motive Power Systems, Peterbilt Motors, SEA Electric, Workhorse and XL Fleet.

CALSTART members should check their inbox for the invitation to our member-only reception, sponsored by AlphaStruxure.

RESOURCES

EPA to Expand California Clean Car Authority, E&E News | https://bit.ly/3HXmMT4

DOE Issues Two Clean Hydrogen RFIs, Green Car Congress | https://bit.ly/3LBtlNf

This California Startup Wants to be the Pony Express of Electric Trucking, Canary Media | https://bit.ly/3JAch8m

Daimler To Deploy US Commercial Charging Network, ChargedEVs | https://bit.ly/3JCcicd

Cummins Unveils Industry-First Reduced Emissions Pathways, Metro | https://bit.ly/3Jz5GuY

Volvo Group Pledges to Drive to Zero Program, WFMZ | https://bit.ly/3Bo6OyV

Lightning Enters an Agreement with GM, electrek | https://bit.ly/3GQEHt7

Liane Randolph to Present Keynote at Green Truck Summit, Contractor | https://bit.ly/3rRP4sj

New Electric Vehicles Set to Launch at Work Truck Week, Fleet Equipment | https://bit.ly/3JzaS1W