Trucks Clips: August 13, 2024

 

 

Opposition To Big Trucks — “A coalition of rail and smaller trucking interests are urging House leadership from both parties to oppose a bill that would allow heavier trucks to drive on interstate highways. The groups wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries last week, citing concerns about potential impacts on infrastructure. The bill, H.R. 3372, would require that DOT launch a five-year pilot program that states could voluntarily opt into. They would issue permits so six-axle trucks up to 91,000 pounds gross vehicle weight could operate on interstates. Current federal limits for the highway system are set at 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight per truck. Sam has the details here.” [WKRN-TV, 8/13/24 (=)]

 

 

 

Federal Highway Admin. (FHWA)

 

Fuel Sellers Voice Opposition To Recharge Act — “On Thursday, a coalition of organizations representing travel centers, convenience store owners and other fuel retailers voiced their opposition to the Recharge Act. The National Association of Truck Stop Owners (NATSO) joined the National Association of Convenience Stores to oppose the legislation that it threatens to halt private investment into electric vehicle charging stations. The Recharge Act would amend national policies that prohibit allowing automotive services at rest areas, the groups said, giving state governments an unfair advantage in refuel competition. ‘Our industry has demonstrated a willingness to invest in EV charging. This legislation represents a misguided approach to electrification that ultimately will limit the development of a safe and reliable EV charging network,’ David Fialkov, executive vice president of government affairs for NATSO said. The legislation would undermine policies starting to gain momentum like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Grant program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that provides states with funding to build out the national EV charging network. Already, nearly half of the $5 billion in NEVI grants have been awarded to fuel retailing locations, the organizations said, underscoring the role that fuel retailers play in building out the network of fast-charging stations.” [Daily Energy Insider, 8/12/24 (-)]

 

 

 

EPA, Others Float Briefing Schedule In ‘Phase 3’ Truck Rule Suit — “EPA and all other parties in litigation over the agency’s ‘phase 3’ heavy truck greenhouse gas standards are jointly proposing a schedule that would have briefing conclude in March, though they are pressing an appellate court to hold oral arguments quickly afterward. The proposed briefing schedule ‘provides adequate time to brief the petitions in an orderly fashion, commensurate with their complexity, while still enabling this court to hear oral argument during the 2024-2025 term and issue a decision by the end of that term,’ says the Aug. 12 joint filing in Nebraska, et al. v. EPA, et al., pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Holding oral argument by the end of the D.C. Circuit’s 2024 term ‘will ensure the petitions are resolved expeditiously and provide all parties with regulatory certainty as soon as possible.’ Under the joint proposal, state and industry challengers’ opening briefs would be due Oct. 16, with amicus briefs supporting their position due Oct. 23. EPA would have to file its response brief by Jan. 14 -- just days ahead of a looming change in presidential administration -- and amicus filings supporting the government would be due Jan. 21.” [Inside EPA, 8/12/24 (=)]

 

 

 

Geely

 

Volvo's All-Electric Semi-Trucks Reach New Milestone With Mind-Boggling Distance Driven: 'Another Driver Of The Shift' — “Volvo’s all-electric semi trucks have reached the landmark of driving 50 million miles, making work safer and quieter for drivers. According to Electrek, Volvo said that if its vehicles had gone 50 million miles with diesel-powered engines, the trucks would have used more than ‘25 million liters [6.6 million gallons] of diesel fuel and more than 68,000 tons’ of toxic gases. The company first started delivering its all-electric semi trucks to customers in 2019. In 2023, deliveries increased 256% from 2022 to 1,977 Class 8 trucks, and the growth continues in 2024. In addition, 56% of European electric truck buyers chose Volvos in early 2024, and 44% of comparable buyers in the United States did too. Volvo Trucks president Roger Alm said, per Electrek: ‘The transport sector represents 7% of global carbon emissions, and battery-electric trucks is an important tool to reduce the climate footprint. Thanks to many early adopters we can already now see the huge potential with this technology.’” [The Cool Down, 8/13/24 (+)]

 

 

 

Arizona

 

Phoenix Progresses Plans For Zero-Emission Bus Fleet By 2040 — “Hybrid buses have passed all tests and are running on the city’s roads, aligning with Phoenix’s aims to be the most sustainable desert city in the world.” [Smart Cities World, 8/12/24 (=)]

 

California

 

Smiles, ‘Butterflies’ And A Little Boy Cries ‘I Want My Mom.’ It’s LAUSD’s First Day Of School — “‘I get butterflies in my stomach,’ said Alberto Angulo of the first day of school. He’s a fourth-grade teacher at Main Street Elementary in South Los Angeles. And he’s far from alone in his nervous excitement. For students and parents, the first day of school Monday at Los Angeles Unified was a crush of new schedules, new teachers and new things to learn, along with a modicum of excitement — and those familiar butterflies. And then around lunchtime — a magnitude 4.4 quake. By early afternoon the district said no damage was reported but the quake apparently triggered some real-life campus earthquake drills, adding to the jitters of the day. … The district is advertising ‘transportation for all.’ What that has meant is that parents can contact the transportation division to request an available seat if a bus stops where that student needs to go. This year the transportation division also has tried to add stops based purely on demand. ‘It’s about how to be more efficient with the resources we have,’ said transportation director Daniel Kang. ‘So we’ve brought in several routing experts, consultants, to provide their solutions and using our routing software as well.’ Some 59 operating buses are electric — with 250 expected to be in service by the end of year. They cost twice as much — about $350,000 apiece — and require the construction of charging centers, but are expected to save money over time in fuel costs, while also reducing pollution.” [Los Angeles Times, 8/12/24 (+)]

 

Oakland Unified's School Bus Fleet Goes Fully Electric — “Zum and and the district also will pilot a new program in which the power stored in the batteries of those 74 buses will be sold back to the California electrical grid just like customers do with the excess power generated by solar panels at home. When the buses are plugged in back at their base, instead of the one-way charge into the vehicle, the battery’s leftover power is sent back to the grid through Zum’s charging infrastructure. Zum estimates that 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy can be sent from batteries back to the California grid annually. The company’s goal is to add 10,000 bidirectional electric school buses across the U.S., with 300 gigawatt hours of energy available to power grids each year. A Zum spokesperson told NBC Bay Area that school buses aren’t keeping up with what famiilies want, according to an annual survey of parents. The survey also found that parents want improvements in other areas.” [NBC Bay Area, 8/12/24 (+)]

 

It's Electric: Electric Bus One Of 3 New Buses Added In Camden — “Some Camden County middle and high school students will be among the first students in the area to ride an electric school bus to school. Camden County school officials announced last week that three new school buses have been added to the district fleet, one gas-powered bus, a small activity bus and the school district’s first-ever electric bus. Mike Reaves, chief student services and auxiliary officer for Camden County Schools, made the announcement during his presentation to the Camden Board of Education. ‘We picked those up last week,’ he said. All three buses will be ready for the school year that begins for most Camden students on Monday, Aug. 26. Camden County Early College starts classes today. However, the electric bus is ‘such a new thing’ in the district, Camden County Schools has scheduled some training for the bus’s drivers, Reaves said. ‘Our mechanic, Robert (Overton) is going to meet with emergency management, and the local fire department,’ he said. ‘They’ll walk through the bus, show them where the battery pack is, discuss specific safety procedures in case there is an accident with the bus.’” [NBC Bay Area, 8/12/24 (=)]

 

Florida

 

Pinellas County Schools Rolls Out 20 Electric School Buses — “School districts across the Tampa Bay Area are making sure everything’s in place for the first day of school next week, and at the same time, Pinellas County Schools is rolling out a few new sets of wheels. With just days until the new school year, James Cummings is getting everything in gear for day one. ‘This is just part time for me to get out of the house so I’m not getting in trouble,’ said Cummings. It’s his 7th year as a bus driver, but his ride is a little different. ‘It’s still got the new car smell,’ said Cummings. He’s behind the wheel of an electric bus. Pinellas County Schools is adding 20 electric school buses to its fleet. Randy Reynolds drives one too.” [WPMT-TV, 8/9/24 (=)]

 

Georgia

 

School Board Puts The Brakes On A Plan To Buy More Propane Buses — “School district officials want to buy 12 new propane-powered buses, along with three traditional diesel-powered buses for longer field trips. But some Board of Education members questioned whether the district should instead be investing in electric buses instead of propane. At a work session on Thursday, board member Tim Denson was concerned about the district’s seeming long-term investment in propane buses over electric ones. ‘The idea of still buying propane buses with a 20 year lifespan, putting us into 2050 of us still using a fossil fuel system that actually creates more carbon than diesel does, I share some pretty grave concerns,’ he said. Board member Patricia Yager also noted that propane buses produce significant emissions and tied that to health issues that affect the district’s students. ‘Specifically asthma rates, which are produced from air pollution, which is produced by our propane buses as well as our diesel and gas buses. Asthma rates are the number one reason why kids don’t go to school because they stay home with difficulty breathing,’ Yager said.” [WUGA-TV, 8/9/24 (=)] 

 

Michigan

 

Alpena Selected As One Of 29 Michigan Districts For Eco-Friendly Bus Funding — “As part of Michigan’s Clean School Bus grant program, Alpena Public Schools is one of 29 districts in the state to receive funding to replace diesel buses with those powered by electricity, propane, or natural gas. This initiative aligns with a broader state and federal push to improve air quality, reduce harmful emissions, and promote the health and safety of schoolchildren. … The shift to clean school buses is part of a larger movement across Michigan, supported by state and federal funding. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has been a critical partner in this initiative, leveraging funds from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In May, the administration announced nearly $24 million rebates for Michigan schools to purchase 100 clean-energy buses, including 97 electric and three propane buses. This investment builds on earlier efforts that had resulted in only 17 electric school buses across the state before the law’s passage.” [Environment+Energy Leader, 8/12/24 (+)]

 

New York

 

State Makes $200M Available For Electric School Bus Purchases — “An additional $200 million is now available to school districts and bus operators for zero-emission school buses through the second installment of funding from the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act). The funding, distributed through the New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP), provides support for the purchase of electric buses, charging infrastructure, or fleet electrification planning as public schools transition to zero-emission technologies that improve air quality and reduce pollution in communities. ‘Paving the way for zero-emission school buses not only cleans our air, it protects the health and wellbeing of our students,’ Governor Kathy Hochul said. ‘With increased funding for schools to transition to clean transportation options, we are reducing harmful emissions and pollution, helping to ensure that both students and residents are breathing clean, fresh air and enjoying healthier environments to live, work, and do business.’” [Finger Lakes Daily News, 8/13/24 (=)]

 

$200 Million Boost: New York Schools Get Major Funding To Switch To Zero-Emission Buses — “New York State is making significant strides in reducing transportation pollution and improving air quality through the New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP). Recently, an additional $200 million was allocated for school districts and bus operators to purchase zero-emission school buses and install necessary charging infrastructure. This funding, part of the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, is crucial for transitioning public schools to cleaner, more sustainable transportation options. The NYSBIP not only aims to reduce harmful emissions but also makes it financially feasible for schools to transition to zero-emission buses. By replacing traditional gas and diesel buses with electric alternatives, schools can protect the health and well-being of students and the local community. The initiative also supports the development of customized fleet electrification plans, ensuring that the adoption of zero-emission technologies is both practical and affordable for all public schools.” [WRRV-Radio, 8/12/24 (=)]

 

Pennsylvania

 

Susquehanna Township School District Announces Launch Of New School Bus Safety Program — “The Susquehanna Township School District announced it is teaming up with its local police department and Bus Patrol to launch a new school bus safety program ahead of the upcoming school year. As part of the initiative, the school district’s 39 buses will be equipped with photo enforcement technology to detect the license plates of vehicles that do not stop for school buses. The video footage will be forwarded to police for review before a notice of violation is issued, according to the district. Failure to stop for school buses puts students at risk, the school district added. The program is set to go live on August 22, following a public education and awareness campaign. The campaign is aimed at teaching drivers about school bus safety laws and teaching students how to enter and exit buses safely. ‘Our partnership with Bus Patrol boosts school bus safety by highlighting the importance of bus signals as critical life-saving tools,’ said Dr. Tamara Willis, superintendent of the Susquehanna Township School District. ‘Through community awareness, we aim to promote shared responsibility for students’ safe travel to and from school. Together, we can create a safer environment for everyone.’” [WPMT-TV, 8/12/24 (=)]

 

Tennessee

 

Tennessee School Districts Receive $12 Million For Electric School Buses — “In a push to make yellow school buses greener, several Tennessee school districts will receive a combined $12 million to cover the additional cost of replacing diesel school buses with electric school buses through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. The EPA’s program will provide $5 billion over five years (2022-2026) to replace school buses across the nation with ones that are better for the environment and students’ health. Eight Tennessee counties are set to receive four or more buses: Bledsoe, Cheatham, Davidson, Jackson, Maryville, Obion, Wayne, and Henry. After applying for the grant two previous times, Metro Nashville Public Schools was selected as a recipient of the funding this year. The district will use the money to supplement the additional cost of replacing 15 diesel buses with electric, ideally by next school year. ‘The health folks tell us there should be some accompanying health benefits to the students, both who are riding the bus and waiting in line whilst the buses are idling,’ said Ken Stark, the executive officer of operations for MNPS.” [WKRN-TV, 8/12/24 (+)]

 

Virginia

 

Lynchburg City Schools To Save Up To $150,000 Annually With Electric Bus Fleet — “It’s back to school season and kids are gearing up to head back into the classroom. Lynchburg City School’s first day back is August 20. When kids across Lynchburg board the bus to go back to school, nearly half of the students will be on one of LCS’s new electric buses. LCS officially added 25 electric buses to their fleet on Monday. They said the EV’s could save the district around $150,000 each year, while also reducing the division’s carbon footprint and increasing transportation safety for the schools. This is the largest investment of school buses that we’ve ever had in Lynchburg City Schools,’ Dr. Reid Wodicka, LCS’s deputy superintendent of operations and strategic planning, said. On the first day of school, they’ll have 23 of those buses up and running for kids. Wodicka said the buses will not only bring a quieter ride to school every day, but they’ll teach children the importance of sustainability.” [WSET-TV, 8/12/24 (=)]

 

 

 

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