Trucks Clips: November 1, 2024

 

 

EPA Grants 4 States $248.9M For I-95 EV Truck Charging Sites — “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is paying $248.9 million to develop 24 electric truck charging sites for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along the Interstate 95 freight corridor in four East Coast states. The grant recipients were notified by EPA in July, and the award was celebrated Oct. 23. Lisa Garcia, EPA administrator for Region 2, called the federal grant ‘a pivotal investment’ to lower emissions ‘along one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors, create jobs, and deliver health benefits to communities along this key transportation route.’ The corridor was selected for its large population centers, major ports and key freight facilities. The federal government has targeted areas within a 100-mile radius of the nation’s largest ports as initial priority zones for transportation decarbonization, due to their surrounding freight ecosystems. The I-95 corridor handles much of the freight from 15 of the nation’s largest ports. The funding will create EV charging infrastructure along I-95 in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. The 24 sites will offer three charging options: 138 ultra-fast charging ports (1 megawatt), 164 fast-charging ports (350 kilowatt) and 148 overnight ports (150 kW).” [Transport Topics, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

Truck Charging Stations Coming To NJ Turnpike — “As electric trucks become more widespread, their drivers will find more charging stations on the New Jersey Turnpike thanks in part to a $250 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The federal project plans to construct nine sites along the Turnpike as part of a 24-station project that stretches across multiple states. Public officials and environmental advocates touted the investment as a win for the environment and public health at the Thomas Edison Service Area along the Turnpike in Woodbridge Thursday. ‘This has become a once-in-a-generation opportunity to clean up our air,’ said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. ‘This corridor, as well as other heavily trafficked roads in New Jersey, bring enormous amounts of pollution, not just to our communities, but to our entire region.’ The charging stations are needed to help truckers meet state guidelines, which require more zero-emission trucks to be sold until 2035 when all new truck sales must be zero-emission. This rule has drawn the ire of some in the trucking industry, who say it will put undue burdens on businesses and that the charging infrastructure isn’t quite ready.” [NJ Spotlight News, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

 

Nikola Corp.

 

Nikola Corp. Reports Q3 Results With 88 Wholesale Deliveries Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Trucks — “Nikola Corporation via the HYLA brand has reported financial results and business updates for the quarter ended Sep.30 that showed a marked uptick in FCEV fleet adoption. ‘Year-to-date, we had record sales of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, a 78% increase in FCEV fleet adoption, and a nearly 350% increase in hydrogen fuel dispensed at our commercial stations,’ said Steve Girsky, president and CEO of Nikola. ‘We also returned 78 BEV ‘2.0s’ back to end fleets and dealers. With every truck delivered and fueled at our HYLA stations, we continue to deliver proof points to the market that zero-emission trucks are driving the future of Class 8 mobility.’ In a company press release the biggest notes include: Record 88 wholesale deliveries of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in Q3, up 22% quarter over quarter. FCEV Fleet adoption up 78% year-to-date, with 16 end fleets deploying Nikola FCEVs, 32 distinct end fleets across both powertrains. Expanded dealer network for the first time since launch of the FCEV. Reiterating our year-end volume guidance of 300-350 FCEVs.” [The Trucker, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

 

Arkansas

 

PCSSD Expands Eco-Friendly Fleet With New Propane Buses — “Pulaski County Special School District introduced 14 new propane-powered buses to its fleet in July 2024, furthering its commitment to environmentally friendly transportation. This marks the district’s second purchase of alternatively fueled buses since 2022, replacing older diesel models and aiming to cut down emissions. Superintendent Dr. Charles McNulty highlighted the lower maintenance and fuel costs as a benefit to both the budget and students. ‘All savings will go towards supporting the transportation department to ensure our children have access to excellent transportation options to and from school,’ McNulty said. These propane buses reduce nitrogen oxides by 96% compared to diesel, offering a healthier alternative for drivers and students. The district’s partnership with Arkansas Energy Environment and GO RED (Reduced Emissions from Diesel) provided funding assistance, while the district installed two 1,000-gallon onsite propane fueling stations for added efficiency.” [Arkansas Money and Politics, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

California

 

CARB Clarifies Enforcement Of Zero-Emission Truck Reg — “As a result of a lawsuit from the Western States Trucking Association (WSTA) challenging the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, CARB has announced two clarifications to the rule to clear up some uncertainty around how it could be enforced. Notably, CARB is still awaiting a ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency on whether the regulation will receive a Clean Air Act waiver, which would allow the ACF to take effect. CARB needs that waiver before implementing ACF. It’s the companion rule CARB promulgated alongside the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which sets sales requirements for so-called ‘zero emissions’ (ZEV) trucks within the state. The ACF, on the other hand, requires certain fleets -- namely port drayage operations and ‘high-priority’ fleets with 50 or more trucks or those with more than $50 million in annual revenue -- to purchase and operate the trucks on various timetables. EPA recently wrapped up a comment period fielding comments on why it should or should not grant the waiver. The timeline for a final waiver ruling is currently unknown.” [Overdrive, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

‘Historic Investment’: Port Of Stockton Receives $110M Grant For Zero-Emissions Operations — “The Port of Stockton has been awarded a $110.5 million grant to reduce air pollution and upgrade to zero-emission infrastructure. U.S. Rep Josh Harder (D-Tracy) referred to the grant as the single largest federal investment in the Port of Stockton’s history. He said the funds will help the Port of Stockton become the country’s first small port with zero-emission terminal operations. The money will be used for electric cargo handling equipment such as forklifts, cranes, terminal tractors, and a mobile railcar indexer. It will also go toward vessel shore power and charging infrastructure, solar generation, and a battery energy storage system, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the grant will pay for training for existing workers to deploy, operate, and maintain zero-emission equipment and infrastructure. … ‘While ports, of course, serve an essential role for moving goods, the costs that they bring in terms of pollution and impacts on overburdened communities must be confronted,’ said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. ‘Replacing diesel-powered port and freight equipment with clean, zero-emission technologies will reduce air pollution, improve health outcomes in nearby communities, and advance the campaign to tackle climate change.’” [The Stockton Record, 10/31/24 (+)]

 

Climate United Launches $250-Million Electric Drayage Truck Program To Provide Financing For Zero-Emission Vehicles — “Los Angeles-based Climate United in a press release has announced a new program to offer affordable leasing options to small fleets and independent operators to lower operational costs and reduce air pollution in port communities, beginning at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles with the intention to expand nationally. Leveraging a $6.97-billion award from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Clean Investment Fund, Climate United Fund intends to invest up to $250 million to purchase up to 500 class 8 electric trucks, making it the largest single order of electric trucks in U.S. history. This program will accelerate the growth of electric truck manufacturing and battery technology innovation that is needed to deploy zero-emission, heavy-duty vehicles in communities across America. ‘Electric drayage trucks cost less to operate, but high upfront costs make it difficult for independent owner-operators and small fleets to transition to all-electric,’ said Beth Bafford, CEO of Climate United. ‘Through tax credits, incentives and attractive financing, we are significantly reducing a cost barrier to sustain small businesses and help them lead the transition to electric vehicles. Investing in an inclusive green economy means supporting and growing small businesses, reducing pollution, improving public health in local communities that have historically borne the brunt of truck pollution, while building supply chains that make America more competitive globally.’” [Los Angeles Times, 10/31/24 (+)]

 

Massachusetts

 

$22M From Feds Fuels Energy-Wise Transit In Lowell, Mass. — “A Lowell Regional Transit Authority state-of-the-art hybrid-electric bus is already running routes on city streets, carrying passengers to and from their destinations in a vehicle that LRTA staffer David Westcott says ‘rides like a Cadillac.’ ‘I’ve been driving buses for 25 years,’ he said, before a ceremony celebrating the $6.8 million in federal funding to bring six more of the energy-efficient buses into service within the next two years. ‘It’s a lot smoother ride, and it cuts down on pollution. It’s beautiful.’ Local, state and federal leaders attended a Wednesday afternoon event in the courtyard of Lowell High School celebrating nearly $22 million in federal money for what U.S. Sen. Ed Markey called a ‘clean energy revolution.’ … In addition to the nearly $7 million for the LRTA, the federal delegation of Markey, Trahan and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also shepherded another $15 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law monies to LPS to make energy-efficiency upgrades to school HVAC systems. … Since 2020, the delegation has moved more than $320 million into Lowell, including $21.4 million in RAISE grants for four bridges, funding for the Rourke Bridge, digital equity partnership projects and brownfield grants.” [Government Technology, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

BPS Looks To Electrify Bus Fleet With Diesel Bus Retrofits — “As Boston Public Schools looks to electrify its fleet of school buses it’s setting its sights on a new horizon: transforming existing diesel-powered and other internal combustion engine buses into electric ones. It’s an effort that is being supported by a new $2 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, announced Oct. 18 to retrofit, or ‘repower’ 15 buses in the fleet. ‘We don’t just want to avoid being wasteful by reducing emissions, we want to avoid being wasteful in a full picture of that,’ said Jackie Hayes, BPS deputy director of transportation. ‘We don’t want to waste all of the good parts of the bus that we could be using. We don’t want to waste funding buying new when we have great existing things in our own fleet that we could be getting more life out of.’ The retrofitting funding comes alongside another $2 million from the EPA to the city dedicated to buying new electric school buses. The two grants are both part of a total of $125 million in federal investments nationwide to reduce diesel emissions.” [The Bay State Banner, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

New Jersey

 

New Jersey Lawmakers Introduce Legislation To Delay Electric Vehicle Mandates — “Concern in New Jersey about electric vehicle mandates has spurred action on the topic at the statehouse. State lawmakers have angst about the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks electric vehicle mandates. The mandates are described as closely aligning New Jersey’s vehicle electrification requirements with California’s standards. New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco and Republican Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. have called for legislative hearings on the mandates. ‘State bureaucrat employees should not be circumventing the duly elected Legislature by imposing restrictive California-style mandates on residents and businesses,’ Bucco said in previous remarks. ‘Instead of bypassing the Legislature, we should be as transparent as possible by giving stakeholders a platform and providing them an opportunity to be part of the conversation.’ The Advanced Clean Trucks regulation is scheduled to be implemented in New Jersey on Jan. 1, 2025. The Advanced Clean Cars regulation is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.” [Land Line, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

New York

 

Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey Selected To Receive $347 Million In Federal Funding To Support Zero Emission Equipment And Infrastructure — “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that it has been selected to receive $347 million in federal funding from the Biden-Harris administration to bolster the Port of New York and New Jersey’s sustainability and community outreach efforts. The funding represents the largest sustainability award the Port Authority has received to date. The grants were provided through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program, which focuses on helping the nation’s ports address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. … Much of the funding — $344 million in total — will allow the Port Authority and port operational partners such as terminal operators, truckers and other stakeholders to intensify their ongoing sustainability efforts. The funding will enable container terminal operators to purchase zero-emission cargo handling equipment. It also provides funding for the installation of shore power capabilities, enabling a ship to shut its engine while berthed and significantly reduce emissions. The funding will additionally allow the Port Authority to establish a voucher program to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission drayage trucks.” [American Journal of Transportation, 10/31/24 (+)]

 

Washington

 

Washington’s Supply Chain At Risk With EV Mandates — “New zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates on the trucking industry are creating serious challenges for trucking fleets, which face limited and costly options in order to operate legally in Washington state. That should concern all of us, since almost 90% of consumer goods arrive by truck. At issue is the state’s adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) program. ACT is meant to move the industry toward zero emissions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Beginning next year, 7% of all heavy-duty trucks sold in Washington must be ZEVs. As manufacturers work toward compliance, Washington truck dealers are being forced to sell new ZEVs before they can sell legacy trucks. Trucking companies are also scrambling to adapt to these new requirements. But supply is limited, and what’s available is expensive and comes with significant operational limits. New ZEV commercial trucks cost more than two-and-a-half times more than their clean diesel counterparts. They also lose two-and-a-half tons of payload compared to a clean diesel truck. In addition, electric trucks compromise range, and fueling infrastructure takes years to permit and construct. Some dealers estimate that ZEV medium- and heavy-duty trucks will not work for 90% of existing routes.” [FreightWaves, 10/31/24 (-)]

 

Reports Show Bus Drivers Largely In Favor Of Electric Buses — “KWRL Transportation Director Shannon Barnett explains the benefits of electric buses during a Woodland School Board meeting Oct. 24. (Woodland School District, contributed)” [KWRL-TV, 10/31/24 (=)]

 

 

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