'Summer's end is around the bend just flying...' John Prine is right, this summer has cruised by, and we're less than 30 days away from the start of fall. That means two exciting happenings are just around the bend in September: National Drive Electric Week and the fourth edition of our "Transportation Electrification in the Southeast" report produced in partnership with Atlas Public Policy! The forthcoming report will highlight the substantial momentum in the Southeast across electric vehicle market indicators, including economic and workforce development, EV sales and charging infrastructure deployment, and government and electric utility funding. Speaking of sales, our friends at Atlas recently released June's national EV sales data and the numbers are staggering. June 2023 recorded the highest-ever EV sales for any single month: 127,000 EVs sold. That's a 41% increase from June 2022 which had approximately 90,000 EV sales. Stay tuned, next month we'll dig into what those numbers look like across the year in the Southeast.
Source: Atlas Public Policy, August 21 Weekly Digest.
Before you dive into the rest of the newsletter, let's collectively take a moment to celebrate the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act! This historic legislation was signed into law on August 16, 2022. With its passage, it is now easier and cheaper for many to purchase an electric vehicle. Working in conjunction with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that, amongst other things, provides federal funding to states to help build out more EV charging stations, more Americans will be able to skip the gas pump, save on fuel costs, strengthen our economy, and promote healthier communities!
As we continue to track the progress of electric transportation growth in the Southeast and beyond, we remain grateful for our readers who stay connected to us and others on Facebook and Twitter. To receive these newsletters in your inbox, click here to sign up!
Charging Forward,
Dory Larsen
Powering the EV Movement
Electric Van, Truck, and Bus Markets are Revving Up, Part 2
Fleet managers looking for cleaner and lower-cost options are turning to electric medium and heavy-duty vehicle vehicles, and the increased demand shows: this year, at the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Expo in California, electric vans, buses, and trucks from legacy medium and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers and all-electric start-ups were showcased to more than 12,000 attendees. The dominance of battery electric vehicles at the ACT Expo suggests where the market is headed, with the help of supportive public policy, funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, industry innovation, and growing demand from consumers. Read more here. You can also read the first blog in this series, Big Electric Vehicles are Coming Down the Road, Part 1.
What Local Decision Makers Should Know about IRA Tax Credits for Vehicles
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most comprehensive and ambitious climate legislation our country has ever seen, celebrated its first anniversary this month and is helping to accelerate the clean energy transition across the Southeast at an unprecedented pace. Now, newly-released temporary guidance shows how state, local, and tribal governments, non-profits, U.S. territories, and rural Energy Co-ops can access clean energy and EV tax credits, plus how these credits work. Read more.
Get Plugged-In
Activate North Carolina Transportation Convening
In-Person Event
Join the Towards Equitable Electric Mobility (TEEM) North Carolina state-wide convening on transportation. This free, in-person event will bring in partners from both urban and rural areas of North Carolina to leverage federal and state transportation funding opportunities, foster collaboration, share best practices, and discuss community transportation needs. SACE staff will be attending.
Activate North Carolina Transportation Convening
September 30 | 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM ET | Raleigh, NC RSVP and Learn More
National EV Charging Energize Summit: Accelerating EV Charging with Bold Policies and Action
Virtual Event
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy team is excited to participate in the National EV Charging Energize Summit on Accelerating EV Charging with Bold Policies and Action. This free, virtual summit will contain a series of discussions on the important complementary policies needed to realize the investment necessary to support the electrification of transportation in the U.S.
National EV Charging Energize Summit
September 19 | 9 AM - 12 PM PT Register and Learn More
National Drive Electric Week: City of Cape Canaveral EV Expo
In-Person Event
SACE will be hosting ride and drives at the City of Cape Canaveral EV Expo, one of many events celebrating National Drive Electric Week here in the Southeast. Experienced EV drivers will be present to give feedback on their experience with various electrified makes and models and provide resources for those looking to own an EV. Additionally, participants will learn about the infrastructure necessary for city-wide EV adoption and specifically dig into Cape Canaveral's ongoing path to grow its electric fleet.
EV drivers can sign up to show their own vehicle at the expo, and organizers are still looking for volunteers to help with the event. Plus, those who want to test drive an EV can sign up on the day of the event at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy tent.
NDEW City of Cape Canaveral EV Expo September 30 | 10 AM – 12:30 PM | Cape Canaveral, FL RSVP and Learn More
National Drive Electric Week runs from September 22 to October 1. If you're considering going electric, more in-person and virtual NDEW events can be found on the NDEW website.
Paving the Way
Video: Environmental Justice Is... Transportation Equity
The legacy of redlining and federal urban revitalization projects perpetuate transportation injustice by leaving some communities unserved by transit systems. To this day, these policies, projects, and regulations determine where marginalized communities are able to live, their ability to move freely, and their quality of life living in areas plagued by pollution and lack of access to necessities like public transportation.
A video from SACE's partner Sol Nation follows Charlotte, NC resident Michael Wingate, whose community faces unreliable access to public transportation that makes it difficult to navigate everyday life.
"19S and 19C are uncomfortable situations when you got to go to work, you have a doctor's appointment, you want to go shopping and get your groceries back home... Number 19 is one of the worst bus routes there is. I have seen people lose their jobs because of Bus 19."
- Michael Wingate, age 89, Charlotte, NC
Watch the video here. Those who are interested in learning more about how we can collaborate to better meet community transportation needs should RSVP to the Activate North Carolina Transportation Convening.
New Choices for Cleaner EVs (And Some Room for Improvement)
One of the biggest questions when deciding whether or not to buy an EV is how much cleaner is it really to drive an EV versus a gasoline vehicle? It is a question with many layers, since electricity generation is not consistent across the country and at the end of the day, some EVs are more energy efficient than others. This new tool from the Union of Concerned Scientists was created to aid potential EV buyers in their decision making when it comes to which EV options – including fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles – are cleanest and most efficient, and in turn how much global warming pollution that specific EV model is responsible for. To learn more about how this is calculated and how your future or current EV stacks up, read more.
Vehicle Technologies Office Transportation Analysis Fact of the Week #129: All-Electric Cars Offer Wide Selection of Ranges
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, for the 2022 model year, all-electric vehicles (EVs) classified as cars or sedans had range options spanning from 100 to 520 miles. EVs classified as sport utility vehicles (SUVs) had a smaller span of range options, from 180 to 350 miles. Even smaller is the span of electric pickup truck range options, but this is likely due to limited model availability for electric pickup trucks in 2022. More ranges for each model of EV will become available as additional models enter the market. View other Transportation Facts of the Week.
Is it cheaper to refuel your EV battery or gas tank? The Washington Post did the math in all 50 states.
A common argument is that due to high electricity prices, it is cheaper to refuel your gasoline car than recharge your EV. However, a study done by the Washington Post and the nonpartisan Energy Innovation shows that across the U.S., it’s cheaper for the everyday American to fill up with electrons, especially in areas with low electricity rates and high gas prices. Even so, the study also shows that charging an EV on an interstate roadtrip is not that much less expensive than refueling a gas car. Why isn't the gap in savings more substantial?
As current charging infrastructure stands, charging prices vary by available chargers and what state you are charging in – no two chargers are the same. Road taxes, rebates and battery efficiency all affect the final calculation. That is why it is imperative to advocate for better EV infrastructure charging across states in the Southeast and eventually the whole U.S. To learn more about the true cost of refueling in all 50 states — drawing on data sets from federal agencies, AAA and others — read more.
Kicking Gas
Every month we'll spotlight stories and photos from YOU, our readers, about how EVs play a role in your world. To be featured in an upcoming ETS newsletter, send us an email here! We'll also highlight our partners and allies from our testimonials page and feature photos from events SACE has participated in across the region.
Madelyn Collins | Morristown, Tennessee
In June, SACE's Madelyn Collins took our Driving On Sunshine EV for a roadtrip from Knoxville, TN to Morristown, TN to attend a Drive Electric Tennessee EV Leadership Event. The event drew several state and local community leaders who wanted to learn more about the benefits of driving electric vehicles and the roadblocks to electrification in their communities. Also discussed was information on many grants that communities like Morristown can apply for to accelerate their EV infrastructure growth.
The Driving On Sunshine EV got a lot of attention from attendees, particularly State Sen. Steve Southerland, pictured above. Thanks for driving, Madelyn!