Trucks Clips: April 12, 2024
Congress |
Inside the GOP's bus brawl with EPA — “The GOP hunt for a new Solyndra is circling around an EPA program funding electric school buses. Why it matters: EV school buses would cut carbon emissions. More importantly, climate advocates see them as a tool for winning the hearts of suburban America. Driving the news: House E&C Republicans sent a letter to EPA last week requesting reams of fresh info about its Clean School Bus program, effectively widening an ongoing probe. The letter cited criticism from the agency's inspector general late last year over burdens that EV buses may place on local utilities. Republicans also stated that 46 school districts selected in the first round of funding under the program withdrew from getting money. They cited a recent EPA report to Congress that said some districts pulled out because local officials opposed the purchases.” [Axios, 4/11/24 (=)]
Department of Transportation (DOT) |
Interstate registrations board seeks to fill all 5 industry seats — “Involving 41 states, the UCR Act, a federal law, affects interstate motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers and leasing companies. The law allows states to use money generated from registration fees and acts as a state revenue program for motor carrier safety programs and enforcement. Congress enacted the law in 2005 to replace a previous program known as Single State Registration System. The revamp expanded the types of businesses subject to the fee, adding brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies, after motor carriers complained about costs.” [Trucking Dive, 4/12/24 (=)]
Truck & Engine Manufacturers |
Purdue, Cummins partner on in-road, in-motion charging for electric semi trucks — “Indiana’s Department of Transportation is teaming up with Purdue University and legendary equipment brand Cummins to test in-road, in-motion charging for electric vehicles. The Indiana DOT (INDOT) plans to set aside a quarter-mile-long strip of US 231/US 52 between Cumberland Avenue and Lindberg Road in West Lafayette, near INDOT’s West Lafayette Subdistrict office. That quarter-mile strip will be fitted with transmitter coils installed in specially dedicated lanes underneath the otherwise “normal” concrete pavement. The coils would then send power “up” to receiver coils attached to the underside of an EV to test how well a patent-pending in-road charging system designed by Purdue engineers can provide power to a heavy duty electric truck traveling at highway speeds.” [Electrek, 4/11/24 (=)]
Volvo building new truck plant in Mexico — “Volvo Group on Thursday said it plans to build a 1.7 million square feet heavy-duty truck manufacturing plant in Mexico to supplement its U.S.-based production and add capacity to support Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks growth. The plant, which will be a complete conventional vehicle assembly facility including cab body-in-white production and paint, is expected to be operational in 2026.” [Commercial Carrier Journal, 4/12/24 (=)]
States & Local |
Local school says transition to electric buses was 'pretty smooth' — “In about ten years, all schools in the state will have to switch to electric buses. So far, the Alexandria Central School District says the ones it has gotten are running just fine. Mechanic John Mahay and Transportation Director Delmar Lambert just got back from Georgia where they received training on how electric buses work. The district is one of the first in the north country to put them on the road. Now, two out of its fleet of 14 are electric. Mahay says with electric buses, you don’t have to worry about an oil change, and maintenance is overall simple.” [WWNY-TV, 4/11/24 (=)]
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