We're easing into the final stretch of the year and can't help but be excited by the mountains of progress that have been made this year in the electric transportation space. It's truly been a year where sales, manufacturing, and investments have accelerated at an encouraging pace.
With the imminent implementation of the two major pieces of recently passed federal legislation that include robust electric transportation investment, 2023 is gearing up to surpass achievements made in 2022 and cement efforts to leave gas-powered cars in the dust.
We're grateful for the positive progress in the electric transportation space that has been made because of readers like you. This year, many of you attended our informational webinars on a range of topics like taking advantage of the clean school bus program for districts and utilities or discussing findings on increasing equitable electric mobility in Black and Hispanic communities. We also met with folks across the Southeast to discuss how our Electric Transportation Policy Toolkit can help local governments plan to electrify their fleets and communities. Without our diverse readership engaging on these resources and more, the Southeast surely would not have seen as much progress.
Cheers to 2023 where we'll continue to charge forward to accelerate the equitable transition to clean energy-powered electric transportation throughout the Southeast! Thank you for being along for the ride!
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
Recently we celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aka the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, which President Biden signed into Law on November 15, 2021. The law authorized a historic investment of $1.2 trillion in transportation and infrastructure spending, with $550 billion for “new” investments and programs. It is expansive in its scope, ranging from energy and power infrastructure to water infrastructure and more. Funding from the IIJA is especially transformative for scaling electric transportation, especially when combined with the eligible electric vehicle funding in the Inflation Reduction Act, signed later within the same fiscal year. Read more.
If you stopped paying attention to the EV hype that was rising in the past decade, we don’t blame you. But you might want to pay attention now, because 2022 will likely mark the year when the EV market lifts off. EV sales rose 37% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. At the same time, EV market share, the percentage of new car sales that are EVs, topped 7%. This is meaningful because once new disruptive technology gets and stays above 5% market share, exponential adoption typically ensues. And today, 14% of vehicle buyers are definitely buying an EV for their next car, with 22% seriously considering it. Read more.
Get Plugged-In
Florida Sustainable Transportation & Technology Expo
Event
The Florida Sustainable Transportation & Technology Expo’s goal is to bring stakeholders together to discuss the latest technologies available to fleet managers. This event will be hosted at the Florida Solar Energy Center and is set to bring attendees exceptional keynote speakers, industry exhibitors, technology seminars and much more.
Florida Sustainable Transportation & Technology Expo
February 1-2 | Cocoa, Florida Learn More + Register
Georgia Environmental Protection Agency Funding Through 2022 State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
Funding
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has been provided funding, in the amount of $557,008, for 2022 early school bus replacement projects. This funding was issued to Georgia EPD for the purposes of reducing diesel emissions through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) State Clean Diesel Grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The application period began Monday, December 5, 2022, and ends Thursday, January 5, 2023.
Early School Bus Replacement in Georgia Application
December 5, 2022 – January 5, 2023 Learn More + Apply
Grant Application Bootcamps Trainings
Submitting strong applications for federal infrastructure money can be challenging for small and mid-sized cities, towns, and villages. To assist underserved local governments with populations of 150,000 residents or fewer, the National League of Cities and the Local Infrastructure Hub are offering a series of bootcamps. Over the next two years, there will be at least 30 bootcamps, each tied to a specific category of funding available as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Current offerings will be available beginning January 2023 and include categories on electric transportation. Registration for these bootcamps began on Monday, November 21 and will run through December 16, 2022 with more offerings to become available in the future.
Grant Application Bootcamps
Current offerings registration: November 21 - December 16, 2022 Learn More + Register
Paving the Way
EVs in South Carolina - Project Sustainability Podcast
Recently, SACE’s Electric Transportation Policy Director, Stan Cross, joined Peggy Smedley on her podcast, Project Sustainability. The two discussed EVs, where the state of South Carolina is in terms of EV adoption and how the state is lagging and leading. They also discussed how much EV sales have increased over the past year, the need for charging infrastructure and how funding will impact it, and where the state of South Carolina is headed with electric vehicles. Listen.
North Carolina Drives Electric Report 2022
We were pleased to contribute to Generation180's latest report that provides a “State of the State” of electric vehicles in North Carolina for policymakers, advocates, and engaged citizens. In addition to leveraging existing data to inform the report’s conclusions, Generation180 conducted a representative statewide survey on transportation electrification and North Carolina’s transition to a clean energy economy. The findings indicate that North Carolinians are overwhelmingly in favor of clean energy, electric mobility, and programs that accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in communities across the state. Read the report.
Charlotte plans an EV sharing service at affordable housing sites
We're proud to be working alongside the City of Charlotte and Centralina Regional Council to bring affordable electric transportation to residents in Charlotte through a pilot EV ridesharing program that will launch in 2023. Speaking on the the project, SACE's Electric Transportation Policy Director, Stan Cross said, "With Governor Cooper’s administration's focus on the rapid and equitable shift to electric transportation, this innovative project will serve as a model for wider-scale EV sharing in underserved communities across (North Carolina). The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has been advocating for centering equity in state electric transportation policies, plans, and programs. We are excited to roll up our sleeves with our partners and help get it done." Besides managing the project, SACE will help promote the benefits of EVs and gather data to inform city and state-wide electric transportation planning, policies, and program implementations. Patrick King, SACE's Electric Transportation Equity Manager, noted the Affordable Mobility Platform project would "improve the air quality, not just for members of the housing developments but for all communities." Read more.
Highway EV charging will need a ton of power — sooner than you think A recent study highlights the work that needs to be done to ensure new federal electric transportation infrastructure investments do not overwhelm electricity providers at a moment when the light-duty EV market is on the cusp of exponential growth and medium and heavy-duty applications are revving up. While this study looks at northern states, southeast utilities must also begin planning for the load growth demand created by rapid adoption of electric cars, trucks, and buses. Concerted policymaker and regulator education and action are needed now to make sure our grids are optimised for what's coming. Read more.
A Best Practice Guide for EVSE Regulations While many localities around the country are beginning to plan for EV growth, research has revealed that most states and localities that were surveyed had little to no policies at all respecting public EV charging. This is expected to change quickly in the next several years as states and localities recognize the need to prepare for the rise in electrification and receive funding from different sources. Many state and local officials for the first time will have to consider developing and implementing policies to expand infrastructure. A new guide from the Fuels Institute will help decision makers and other readers understand in brief form the policy landscape in the U.S. at both the state and local levels, noting the types of policies that have been set and providing several examples of how different authorities have implemented them. Read more.
Georgia Is Becoming An EV Leader -That’s Good For Our Climate
Climate scientist and weather expert, Dr. Marshall Shepherd, recently wrote in Forbes his elation on his home state's progress toward becoming a major player in the EV production and related infrastructure space. Not only because it is good for the Georgia economy, but because it is "also a win for every inhabitant of Earth." Read more.
Schools scramble to prepare for $1B in federal money for electric buses
Last month, nearly 400 school districts across the country were awarded a combined total of almost $1 billion in federal funding to buy about 2,500 electric school buses. It’s the country’s single largest investment so far in cleaning up a fleet of some 500,000 diesel-fueled school buses nationwide. But getting rebates of up to $375,000 per electric bus and associated charging equipment into the hands of school districts is just the first of many steps it takes to put the money to use. South Carolina is a top recipient of the federal funds, receiving enough to cover the costs of 148 electric buses. The state is uniquely positioned to become a test case as we see what it takes to implement these changes – and get kids riding on cleaner buses. Read more.
Will 2023 be the year the electric vehicle hits the fast lane in North Carolina?
A lot of the push to adopt electric vehicles right is being accelerated by governments, using the powers of their office to push industry and consumers to give non-traditional vehicles a chance. Stan Cross, SACE's Electric Transportation Policy Director notes in the Star News Online that, "North Carolina is sitting in a really strong position right now [for electric vehicles to take off.]" Little by little, charging point by charging point, a public ecosystem is emerging to support the electrification of the state's vehicle inventory. While plenty of work needs to be done, including more publicly accessible chargers in rural areas and for apartment dwellers in urban areas, electric vehicles are becoming more of a viable option for more North Carolinians. 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.
Stan Cross of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
This week, we were excited to head down to Dreher Island State Park for an unveiling of a plan to bring EV chargers to state parks across South Carolina. American electric vehicle maker Rivian provided the chargers. The company plans to install chargers at approximately 30 South Carolina state parks over the next year. South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Sue Evette and other officials attended the unveiling. Officials shared that the chargers will be free for public use and will work with all EVs. This project is an excellent example of the power of public and private partnerships that will benefit all consumers and open EV access to desirable destinations across the state's rural landscape. We’re excited for this infrastructure supporting EV drivers adventuring to the state's natural treasures!