NAFA Fleet Management Association’s Post

Join #LocalInfrastructureHub Wednesday, February 28, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT for the next Tech & Innovation Center session – No-Emission Buses: How American Cities Are Driving Innovations in Vehicle Technology, Charging Infrastructure, and Technician Training. U.S. DOT recently announced more than 130 awards totaling some $1.7 billion for low- and no-emission buses and bus facilities. Vehicle technology is driving these investments—more than 1,8000 zero-emission buses have been funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But cities are also using federal infrastructure funding to deploy new charging technologies in depots and along routes, improve the resilience of transit systems’ electric power supplies, and upgrade transit mechanics’ skills for the electric age. Featured speakers include Abena Ojetayo, Assistant City Manager, City of Tallahassee, Florida; Chris Payton, Associate Director of Transit, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Brandt Hertenstein, Programs Manager, Electrification Coalition. In this session, cities will learn about future funding opportunities through the FTA's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs, and lessons learned from cities’ successful FY2023 proposals. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gRjm7QNz

Many thanks to Matthew Adams of the REA for his thoughts on how the crucial role of UK local authorities in the buildout of charging infrastructure could be optimised. In short: 1) more LA staff better incentivised to stick around 2) less bureaucracy overall (time to get rid of Section 50s — 1991 legislation, people! —for chargers?) and perhaps most crucially 3) fleets and LAs working more closely together https://lnkd.in/e4Aw8eF9 #evcharging #evcharginginfrastructure

Great insights from Matthew Adams below. Let me know if you'd like to hear more about this and we'll get on it!

🚗🌱Embracing Electric Vehicles: A Shift Towards Sustainable Infrastructure 🚗🌱 As we accelerate towards a greener future, the transition to electric vehicles will reshape how we fund our roads and highways. While EVs promise cleaner air and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, they will also present new challenges in infrastructure funding. Recently, Dynamic Sustainability Lab at Syracuse University released a report documenting the direct and indirect funding at risk from the EV transition and the associated increases in public expenditures. This information is vital in ensuring a smooth transition to EVs and continuing to build the climate economy. NECEC wants to acknowledge our partner Dr. Jay Golden, director of the DSL at Syracuse, for conducting this research that embraces renewable energy while maintaining vital infrastructure investments. We are thrilled to see this kind of progress after our joint EV symposium in Boston this past March, and we look forward to our continued collaboration. NECEC is dedicated to promoting clean energy solutions, including electric vehicles (EVs). We fully recognize and embrace the challenges of transitioning to a diverse climate economy, which inspires us to actively pursue innovative solutions. Let's collaborate and tackle these challenges by leveraging facts and embracing innovation. Together, we have the power to pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future that benefits everyone! https://lnkd.in/gMbqsq9H #SyracuseUniversity #ElectricVehicles #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #Infrastructure #ClimateEconomy

🔋🚗 #Exciting_news on the #electricvehicle (EV) front! The #Biden_Administration is making significant strides in building a robust and accessible #EVchargingnetwork across the U.S. Here are the major highlights: 1. #Massive_Investment: The administration announces an impressive $623 million in grants to propel the expansion of the EV charging infrastructure nationwide, creating jobs and ensuring accessibility for all Americans. 2. #Rapid_EV_Growth: Under President Biden's leadership, EV sales have quadrupled, and more than 4 million EVs are now on the road, showcasing the success of historic investments in the EV sector. 3. #Comprehensive_Funding: The grants, facilitated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, will support 47 projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including the construction of approximately 7,500 EV charging ports. 4. #Community_and_Corridor_Focus: Community Projects: $311 million allocated to 36 community projects, including two Indian Tribes, investing in EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure at strategic locations like schools, parks, and libraries. Corridor Recipients: $312 million for 11 projects along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, addressing gaps in the national charging and alternative-fueling network. 5. #Justice40_Initiative: Over 70% of the CFI funding will support projects in disadvantaged communities, aligning with President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to ensure that benefits reach marginalized communities. 6. #Diverse_Project_Selections: New Jersey: $10 million to build EV charging stations for residents in multi-family housing, with a focus on disadvantaged communities and rural areas. Maryland: $15 million for 58 EV charging stations in urban, suburban, and low- to moderate-income communities, including an HBCU and 34 disadvantaged areas, coupled with workforce development programs. North Central Texas: $70 million to establish up to five hydrogen fueling stations for medium- and heavy-duty freight trucks, creating a hydrogen corridor from southern California to Texas. 7. #Consistent_Charging_Standards: To ensure a seamless and reliable charging experience, EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must adhere to minimum standards, including being Made in #America and meeting strong workforce standards. This monumental step aligns with the administration's commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future, fostering economic growth, job creation, and #environmentalbenefits. 🌎🔌 Source: https://lnkd.in/etfchfPr  #ElectricVehicles #SustainableTransportation #CleanEnergyFuture #EVChargingInfrastructure #BidenAdministration #voltify🚀⚡

With so much change in our industry, it is great to see this parliamentary engagement on national strategic transport objectives. Electrification, shared mobility, MaaS, DRT, clean air zones, road tax, active travel, 15 minute cities, 45 minute regions, light rail, very light rail. The choices ahead of us are mind boggling at times. Without a clear strategy, we risk these changes happening to us, rather than shaping them to maximize the outcomes we want. Any good strategy starts with vision & objectives - as I learnt from Greg Marsden many years ago now! So it's a vital step to get our heads up and define these; as well as the deficiencies in current structures & processes that hold us back or are inadvertently biased towards certain solutions. #funding, #ComputerSaysRoad https://lnkd.in/defM6B2r

The successful transition to 🚗 EVs in the U.S. largely depends on expansion of the #EVcharging infrastructure to resolve disparities such as lack of DC fast public and rural charging, uneven distribution across states and more. Government funding and encouragement is driving collaboration between public, private and community stakeholders to realize this important opportunity for 🌳 environmental and economic benefit. Read more:

🔌 Federal Boost for EV Charging: A Game Changer for Infrastructure As we drive forward in 2024, two major federal initiatives are supercharging the installation of EV charging infrastructure across the nation, marking a significant milestone in our journey toward a zero-tailpipe emissions future. 🚀 First Up: The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program We're hitting the ground running with a whopping $623 million from the first two years of the program's budget. This isn't just funding; it's a catalyst for widespread adoption of EVs, bringing EV charging and alternative fueling stations to highways and communities alike. 🛣️ Tax Incentives Paving the Way The Treasury Department and IRS have laid out the roadmap with guidance on the Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Tax Credit. The bottom line? Installing EV charging stations just got more cost-effective, not only for individual drivers but for businesses too. 💡 Here’s Why This Matters: This federal support is more than just a nudge—it's a full-on acceleration toward electrifying transportation. It ensures that EV ownership becomes a reality for more individuals and businesses, propelling us toward our climate goals with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner local air. 🌱 The Bigger Picture: These steps are part of a larger federal vision, which includes the NEVI program's ongoing deployment and grants to enhance existing charger reliability. The message is clear: robust infrastructure is the key to EV adoption, and we're laying the groundwork now. 🤝 Join the Charge: For businesses and individuals alike, the road to electrification has never been more inviting. As we celebrate these federal initiatives, let's connect and discuss how this can benefit your journey to embracing EVs and contribute to a greener world. #EVCharging #SustainableTransport #FederalInitiatives #InfrastructureGrowth #ElectrifyAmerica

#PostBudgetReactions: "Certainly, particulars regarding the E-Mobility mission and encouragement of EV infrastructure were missing in the speech, however, the budget did point toward creating ambitious policies for the adoption of EV's in the public transportation sector." Read more: https://lnkd.in/ehGgbi-F Atul Gupta e-Sprinto #BudgetWithTG #Budget2024 #NirmalaSitharaman #UnionBudget #UnionBudget2024

On October 24th, UK Members of Parliament gave the green light to the UK Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, soon to be officially published. These regulations are a critical part of the government's efforts to fast-track the installation of EV charge points, a key component of the recently introduced Plan for Drivers. Here are some highlights from the plan: - Reviewing and expediting the grid connections process for EV charge points. - Streamlining approvals for charge point installations, with a focus on support for schools. - Expanding charge point grants to include innovative pavement-crossing solutions. - Providing guidance for safe pavement-crossing charging options and considering eased regulations for private charge point installation. - Collaborating with the industry to address common EV misconceptions. Meanwhile, the Department of Transport expressed intention to oblige local authorities to produce and integrate EV charging strategies within their local plans. Let's recall that the U.S. Federal Highway Administration indirectly imposed such an obligation to each state by translating it through the required NEVI State deployment plans, so that each state can get their dedicated funding for development of the public charge point infrastructure. I presume more European countries would follow led by example. Regulating the EV charging business by meeting at the needs of both EV drivers and industry experts will definitely streamline the EV transition. Stay tuned for more regulatory news!