This month we practice thankfulness in a year that has tested our collective ability to do just that. The EV team at SACE is thankful for your continued support and the community we've been building together. We're thankful the EV market continues to grow. Despite all the setbacks this year, EVs are still on target for the long haul. We're thankful for an incoming administration that is committed to decarbonizing the transportation sector, reasserting our leadership internationally, and prioritizing equitable infrastructure systems. And we are thankful when electrification projects are prioritized and funded! So admittedly, while our Thanksgiving get-togethers may look different this year we hope we've shared some reasons to give thanks.
Finally, we remain grateful for our readers who stay connected to us and others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To receive these newsletters in your inbox, click here to sign up!
Charging Forward,
Dory Larsen
Powering the EV Movement
In the timespan of this historically relentless hurricane season and amidst all the other chaos of 2020, Florida has managed to set a course toward transportation electrification. This is fitting, especially because electric vehicles (EVs) eliminate one of the biggest sources fueling both ground-level air pollution and the climate crisis: tailpipe emissions from transportation. The SACE clean transportation team has been actively engaging in three of these efforts. Read more in this blog post.
The fourth blog in a series by SACE volunteer Dave Erb examines how almost every media piece about EVs, friendly and FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) alike, states that EVs cost more than internal combustion vehicles (ICVs). But saying it doesn’t make it so. In fact, new and used EVs are competitively priced today, and will only become more so as production volumes increase over time. If that’s true, why do so many people claim otherwise? Read more in this blog post.
Get Plugged-In
Webinar
During this time of social distancing, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Electrify the South and the South Florida Regional Planning Council are offering you an opportunity to experience a virtual electric vehicle ride and drive event. You'll experience just what it's like to test drive a Tesla Model 3 as we highlight the features of the car, talk about the benefits of driving electric, and have time for a live audience Q&A session.
Tuesday, Dec 8, 1 - 2 PM ET
On November 16, 2020, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a $57 million funding opportunity for the purchase of electric school buses to replace eligible diesel school buses. Eligible school districts are designated in the Beneficiary Mitigation Plan and were prioritized based on emissions inventories, air monitoring data, environmental justice indicators, and population data. School districts must provide at least a 25 percent cost-share. The deadline to submit the application is Friday, December 18, 2020, at 5:00 PM, E.T. This is the Electric School Bus Project - Application Worksheet.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced Phase 2 Request for Applications (RFA) for Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSI) to include 32 charging station sites along Interstates 10, 75, 95, and 4, specified by exit number. These infrastructure installations will support broader electric vehicle adoption, facilitate long-distance traveling, and advance evacuation routes. The application deadline to access these funds to install fast-charging infrastructure is January 8, 2021. Click here for more information.
Paving the Way
The U.S. has an important opportunity to transition the future of our freight transportation sector to American electricity and accelerate a host of national security, economic, and emissions benefits. Electric Trucks plug into diverse, domestically produced American energy, have lower operational costs than diesel vehicles, and have zero tailpipe emissions. A new report from the Electrification Coalition identifies key barriers and proposes cross-industry solutions to accelerate freight electrification around the country.
Electric vehicles are getting more popular, with new models of EV sports cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and commercial vehicles rolling out faster than ever. But the newest models only matter to a small slice of the U.S. Seventy percent of the vehicles sold in the country last year were used, according to data from Edmunds. So when Americans go electric, most will do it in a used vehicle. To reduce carbon emissions and meet climate change goals, electric vehicles need to stay on the road as long as possible, which means developing a robust trade in secondhand cars.
A newly published study by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that shifting to a clean transportation system, including a bigger role for electric vehicles, has positive benefits across the region—but the savings are biggest for rural drivers. According to the study, "A typical rural driver can save more than $1,900 every year by switching from a conventional gasoline car to a comparable electric vehicle, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the vehicle."
Readers 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!
Jesse R., Knoxville, TN
"I have been driving my 2013 Nissan Leaf for a few months now and I absolutely love it! I think people would be surprised how affordable EVs have become on the used market. There is sometimes an issue with range anxiety while driving an older EV, especially in the area I live. Chargers are limited. That being said, however, with a little bit of pre-planning I have been able to go pretty much everywhere I need to. My family and I live on a small hobby farm with goats, mini horses, and chickens (all pets, not for meat). We have been able to use some basic DIY solar setups to provide light for the outbuildings. This has saved us lots of hassle not having to wire them from the house power."