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Category Archives: News
Epa’s Upcoming Climate and Energy Webinars for State, Local, and Tribal Governments
National Lab Tool Helps Buyers Compare Electric and Traditional Vehicles
Looking to Buy an Used Electric Vehicle? A Buying Guide Has Been Created
Looking to buy a used car? Why not consider a used electric vehicle (EV)? With more used battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles permeating the market than ever before, consumers have amazing opportunities to purchase a clean vehicle at a very reasonable price. The potential to save money on fuel and maintenance is a strong draw for people everywhere. However, buying a used electric vehicle is not exactly the same as buying a used internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.
To help make your purchase of a used EV easier, Plug In America recently released the Used EV Buyer’s Guide (PDF). The guide instructs the consumer on what to look for with a used EV. The biggest concern will be the health of the battery. However, even with a decreased battery capacity in a used EV, a battery range of 75 miles may still be plenty for drivers with access to either home or workplace charging. Just like buying an internal combustion engine car, research is key. There are pros and cons to buying a used EV from either a certified pre-owned dealer or from a private seller, so consumers should carefully assess all of their options.
The guide also includes information on available incentives for a used EV purchase. Plug In America will continue to update these incentives as they change. Many utilities around the country offer a rebate for the purchase of a used EV.
One helpful tip from Lynn W, a used EV buyer, is to spend time calculating your weekly driving habits, including commute, errands, and weekend fun. Your need for a battery with extended range and Level 2 charging may not be as great as you think!
To share your experience with a used EV, please contact info@pluginamerica.org.
UPS Makes 3-year, $450M Commitment to Expand Natural Gas Fleet
UPS continues to bank on alternative fuels being the future of its fleets, announcing plans to purchase more than 6,000 natural gas-powered trucks between 2020 and 2022.
United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) said Monday the three-year commitment represents a $450 million investment in expanding the company’s alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle fleet, as well as supporting infrastructure.
As part of the move, UPS said it entered into an exclusive agreement with Agility Fuel Systems, a subsidiary of Norway-based Hexagon Composites, to purchase compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems for a combination of heavy- and medium-duty trucks and terminal tractors.
UPS said the deal builds on previous CNG investments: $130 million in 2018, $90 million in 2017 and $100 million in 2016. It also complements the Atlanta-based logistic giant’s May 2019 commitment to purchase 170 million-gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas (RNG) from Clean Energy Fuels Corp through 2025.
Vehicles equipped with CNG fuel systems can interchangeably use RNG and conventional natural gas. RNG is produced from landfills, dairy farms and other bio sources, yielding up to a 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional diesel, according to UPS.
Over the past decade, UPS says it’s invested more than $1 billion in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations to help meet its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12% across its global ground operations by 2025.
Since 2016, Agility Fuel Solutions provided natural gas fuel storage and delivery systems to more than 1,700 UPS trucks. Under the new agreement, Agility builds end-to-end natural gas systems for heavy-duty gas trucks, terminal tractors and medium-duty walk-in vans, which are UPS’s familiar brown delivery trucks.
UPS said it will deploy the new vehicles on routes utilizing its partnership with TruStar Energy, which is designing, manufacturing and installing five CNG fueling stations in California, Texas and Ohio. UPS said that by the end of 2019 it will be operating 61 natural gas fueling stations strategically located across the U.S., and outside the U.S. in Vancouver, Canada, and Tamworth, United Kingdom.
UPS says it deploys more than 10,000 low-emission vehicles that can vary from all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, ethanol, CNG, liquefied natural gas and propane.
EPA Requests Applications for Grants to Help Reduce Diesel Emissions from School Buses
WASHINGTON (September 30, 2019) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of approximately $10 million in rebates to public school bus fleet owners to help them replace older school buses. Upgrading buses with older engines reduces diesel emissions and improves air quality. Tomorrow marks the start of Children’s Health Month, and today’s announcement is an important part of the agency’s commitment to protecting children’s health and their future.
“Children’s health is a top priority for EPA, and these grants will help provide cleaner air and a safer, more reliable ride to and from school for America’s children,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This DERA funding reflects our broader children’s health agenda and commitment to ensure all children can live, learn, and play in healthy and clean environments.”
EPA standards for new diesel engines can make them more than 90% cleaner than older ones, but many older diesel engines still in operation predate these standards. Older diesel engines emit large quantities of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have been linked to serious health problems such as aggravated asthma and lung damage.
EPA will accept applications from Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, to Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019.
This is the seventh rebate program to fund cleaner school buses offered under Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) appropriations. Nearly 30,000 buses across the country have already been made cleaner as a result of DERA funding.
To learn more about the rebate program, applicant eligibility, selection process and informational webinar dates, visit: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-rebates.
Questions about applying may be directed to: CleanDiesel@epa.gov.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Opens Refuse Hauler Funding Round
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Up to $7,500 Available Per Vehicle from the Propane Council of Texas
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Now Accepting Grant Applications: Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program
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Stakeholder Meeting to Solicit Comments on the Implementation and Administration of the Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program
The Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet (GAFF) Grant Program is established under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 395, to be administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ or commission). The GAFF Grant Program is one of several incentive programs under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP).
The GAFF Grant Program will provide grants to assist eligible applicants in purchasing or leasing new motor vehicles that operate primarily on compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen fuel cells, or electricity, including electricity to power fully electric motor vehicles and plug-in hybrid motor vehicles. The GAFF Grant Program will also provide grants to assist eligible applicants in the installation of refueling infrastructure for grant funded vehicles.
Eligible applicants include:
- a state agency or political subdivision that operates a fleet of more than 15 motor vehicles, excluding motor vehicles that are owned and operated by a private company or other third party under a contract with the entity; and
- a mass transit or school transportation provider or other public entity established to provide public or school transportation services.
The TCEQ will conduct a stakeholder meeting to solicit informal comments on the implementation and administration of the GAFF Grant Program on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., at the commission’s central office located at 12100 Park 35 Circle, Building E, Room 201S, Austin, Texas.
Written comments may be submitted to Ron Hieser, MC 204, Implementation Grants Section, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, or faxed to (512) 239-0077. Electronic comments may be submitted to terp@tceq.texas.gov. Comments must be received by the TCEQ no later than September 30, 2019. Please note that this is an opportunity to provide informal comments to staff. While staff will review all comments received, the TCEQ will not be formally responding to any informal comments.
For additional information, please contact Ron Hieser at (512) 239-0244, or toll free at (800) 919-TERP (8377).