Small SUV EVs Produce Over Half Fewer CHG
In 2024, a small electric SUV with a range of 300 miles produces 52% fewer life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than a comparable gasoline vehicle. Electric vehicles (EVs) have no tailpipe emissions, but nearly three quarters of the GHG emissions for a gasoline vehicle come from the tailpipe (vehicle operation). Although GHG emissions from the production and distribution of electricity is about double that of gasoline production and distribution (149 vs. 75 gCO2e/mile), that difference is more than offset by the tailpipe GHG emissions from the gasoline vehicle. Battery production adds an additional 30 gCO2e/mile over the life of the EV but is negligible for the gasoline vehicle. Increasing efficiencies for battery and vehicle production will lower GHG emissions in the future. Also, GHG emissions from electricity production are projected to be lower as the United States moves toward decarbonization of the grid.
Notes:
gCO2e/mile = grams of carbon dioxide equivalents per mile.
Life cycle GHG emissions include those from construction of the fuel production facility, vehicle and battery production and end-of-life, and vehicle use.
Construction of fuel production facilities is included in the “Production: Fuel” category. Lead-acid battery production emissions for ICE vehicles are included in the “Production: Battery” category, but they are negligible.
Lifetime vehicle miles traveled is 183,363 miles, and the assumed grid mix is the 2022 U.S. average in R&D GREET 2023.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency
Biden-Harris Grants $521 for EV Charging 29 States
The Biden-Harris Administration announced $521 million in grants to continue building out electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight Federally Recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia, including the deployment of more than 9,200 EV charging ports.
This new EV infrastructure will increase access and reliability to communities across the country and provides EV charging to light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. The funds are a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals to support the growth of a convenient, affordable, reliable and Made-in-America national network of EV chargers so drivers can charge close to home, at work, and along significant corridors throughout the U.S.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, the number of publicly available EV chargers has doubled. Now, there are over 192,000 publicly available charging ports with approximately 1,000 new public chargers being added each week. This progress is a testament to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the catalyzing effect it has had on private investments for EV charging infrastructure. Through programs like the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, the Administration is playing a critical role alongside private industry, to actively expand America’s EV charging network while creating good-paying, union jobs.
Charging infrastructure is being built in rural, suburban, urban, and Tribal communities alike, supplementing private investment and filling critical gaps where charging is needed most. Additionally, this buildout aligns with the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy investing in EV charging for trucks along one of the nation’s largest freight corridors in America. These investments promote EV adoption, emission reductions, economic development and healthy communities.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has taken action to ensure that America leads the EV revolution, and the historic infrastructure package includes resources to support a nationwide EV charger network so that all drivers have an accessible, reliable, and convenient way to charge their vehicles,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The awards that we’re announcing today will build on this important work and help ensure that the cost savings, health and climate benefits, and jobs of the EV future are secured for Americans across the country.”
“As we build out the EV charging network on our highways, we are also investing in local communities, rural, urban and tribal alike. Today’s grants are a critical part of ensuring every American can find a charger as easily as a gas station, which will decrease pollution from our roadways, lower costs for families, and help people get to where they need to go efficiently,” said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe in building infrastructure from the bottom up and the middle out. This investment puts public dollars in the hands of states, tribes and communities to build a more accessible national charging network,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. “It will deliver good paying local jobs while giving Americans more transportation options no matter their geography or income and allow those looking for a new vehicle to more confidently take advantage of tax credits to purchase new and used EVs.”
“Building new charging infrastructure is already creating good-paying union jobs and modernizing transportation in a way that cleans up the air our kids breathe,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are accelerating private investment to do just that and, at the same time, increasing our capacity to manufacture these technologies in the United States. Today’s announcement helps us move faster to win the future — good jobs, clean air, and a robust manufacturing economy that supports a growing middle class.”
The grants announced are made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5-billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and a 10 percent set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Together, these programs have spurred private investments in growing the nation’s EV charging network and are actively deploying chargers across the country and ensuring more drivers can charge their EVs where they live, work, and shop, while also supporting longer trips. These historic investments are going to accelerate the country’s transition to a clean energy economy while reducing pollution and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
$321 million of today’s investment will be allocated for 41 “community” projects that expand EV charging infrastructure within communities across the country, while $200 million will go towards 10 “corridor” fast-charging projects that build out the national charging and alternative-fueling network along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.
The awards also support the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims for 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities, with over half of the funding going to sites located in disadvantaged communities. Investing in these communities creates jobs, reduces transportation costs, and helps mitigate healthcare costs caused by air pollution, while also ensuring all equitable access to EV charging infrastructure.
“As we reach this important milestone in building out the national EV charging network, FHWA remains steadfast in our continued work supporting the deployment of hundreds of thousands of EV chargers over the next several years,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “The EV charging and alternative fueling projects receiving awards today will deliver clean transportation in communities nationwide and put America on a path to lead the world in zero-emission transportation technology while creating good-paying jobs and reducing our carbon footprint.”
“Most EV charging will happen at homes, workplaces, or other destinations while vehicles are already parked, providing a safe, reliable, and vastly more convenient way for anyone to fuel,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “Today’s investments in public community charging fill crucial gaps and provide the foundation for a zero-emission future where everyone can choose to ride or drive electric for greater individual convenience and reduced fueling costs, as well as cleaner air and lower healthcare costs for all Americans.”
Community project selections in this round of grants include:
The City of Milwaukee will receive nearly $15 million to install EV chargers at 53 sites citywide. During the site selection process, the city prioritized sites in areas that lack existing EV infrastructure, low-to-moderate income communities, and neighborhoods with high ratios of multifamily housing units. This project will support the city’s climate and equity goals by expanding the network in areas that currently lack public infrastructure, or lack the ability to charge at home, making residents more comfortable with switching to an EV, and increasing rates of EV adoption.
The Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority, on behalf of the Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, will receive nearly $3.9 million to install publicly accessible community EV charging stations in eight locations. The sites were selected because they are spread throughout the Reservation’s eight districts, and because they serve as gathering spots where Tribal members can access services.
Corridor project selections in this round of grants include:
The Fort Independence Indian Community in California will receive over $15 million to install a reliable, resilient, and sustainable EV charging hub along U.S. Route 395 corridor, a designated Alternative Fuel Corridor, and the only north-south passage along the Eastern Sierra Nevada range. This project will contribute to emissions reductions by encouraging the use of EVs and powering the charging hub through a solar micro-grid with combined heat and power generation and battery backup.
The City of Atlanta will receive nearly $11.8 million to install a DC Fast Charging Hub at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport with 50 DC fast chargers. The DC Fast Charger Hub would provide critical charging for rental car companies, ride-share drivers, airport shuttles for hotels, employees, the City’s growing electric fleet of light- to heavy-duty vehicles, as well as regional and local EV drivers coming to the airport or driving along the nearby major highway systems. The project aims to improve asthma-related issues in predominantly Black and underserved neighborhoods and would engage underserved communities to ensure widespread adoption of EVs.
A full list of grant recipients can be found here.
On May 30, 2024, FHWA published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for applications for the second round of funding through the CFI Program. The NOFO announced FHWA’s intent to make additional awards for applications submitted under the Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 CFI Round 1 NOFO issued on March 14, 2023, that were not previously selected. The CFI Round 2 application period will close on September 11, 2024.
In response to the NOFO, FHWA received requests for consideration from 277 applicants requesting a combined $2.1 billion in funding, nearly double the amount of funding available. This round of funding expands the total number of states with an awarded CFI project to 38, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with 14 states and the District of Columbia receiving their first CFI award.
FHWA is working closely with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, providing technical assistance on planning and implementation of a national network of EV chargers and zero-emission fueling infrastructure. Information on technical assistance from the Joint Office is available at driveelectric.gov.
For more information on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and investments in electric vehicles, visit FHWA’s BIL website.
GM Moves BrightDrop EV Brand under Chevrolet Brand
General Motors is moving its BrightDrop electric commercial vans under the Chevrolet brand.
The shift brings BrightDrop EVs to Chevrolet’s broad commercial vehicle sales and service dealer network. BrightDrop EVs offer GM-estimated 272 miles of combined city/highway range* and advanced features to help keep drivers safe and alert.
Adding BrightDrop’s electric vans to the expanding Chevrolet EV portfolio will give BrightDrop customers access to one of the industry’s largest and most extensive commercial sales and service networks and enhances brand growth opportunities.
All Chevrolet dealers will have the opportunity to sell BrightDrop vans if they meet certain commercial EV requirements. Once certified, participating Chevrolet dealerships can service BrightDrop products, helping to optimize uptime for commercial fleet operators.
“With the addition of BrightDrop to the Chevrolet lineup, we are combining advanced EV technology with the dependability and widespread accessibility that only Chevrolet can offer,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Chevrolet. “This move strengthens our EV offerings and reaffirms our role as a leading commercial brand that enables businesses large and small to get work done.”
BrightDrop was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2021. In 2023, BrightDrop was integrated into GM Envolve, the company’s fleet business, which serves thousands of commercial and government customers.
“The Chevrolet BrightDrop 400 and 600 will continue to feature state-of-the-art technology designed to help enhance efficiency, reduce tailpipe emissions, and optimize service and delivery operations,” said Sandor Piszar, vice president, GM Envolve. “Integration into the Chevrolet portfolio will expand its reach and accessibility and offer more customers additional tools to help achieve their productivity and carbon-neutral goals.”
The vehicle will continue to be produced at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.
“GM Canada is proud that our team at CAMI Assembly will now produce BrightDrop commercial EVs under the Chevrolet brand,” said GM Canada President Kristian Aquilina. “This branding evolution is a testament to the potential GM and Chevrolet see for BrightDrop in the electric fleet market, and to CAMI’s production capabilities as Canada’s first large-scale EV manufacturer.”
ChargerHelp Reliability Report
ChargerHelp, the country’s leading Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)-dedicated operations and maintenance service provider, has conducted an extensive analysis of EV public charging infrastructure, offering a deeper dive into what’s causing nagging reliability issues. The findings of this analysis are presented in the report, ChargerHelp Annual Reliability Report: The State of EV Charging and the Driver Experience, published in June 2024.
The report, which was reviewed and endorsed by professor Gil Tal, director of the Electric Vehicle Research Center at UC Davis, analyzed data from five primary sources: two complementary sets of first-party data from ChargerHelp’s direct EVSE O&M experience, third-party data from Paren, Inc., and public data from the U.S. DOE’s AFDC database, — each focused on public charging infrastructure. In total, the report analyzed more than 19 million individual data points.
“After pulling data for four years from 20,000 chargers, we identified key areas where the public charging system can be improved to better meet the needs of today’s EV driver,” said Kameale Terry, co-founder and CEO of ChargerHelp. “For the EV market to continue to flourish, we need to work to ensure true uptime is the norm through a standardized and more synchronized approach to data, maintenance and communication networks.”
“Researchers at the UC Davis Electric Vehicle Research Center have studied the charging experiences of EV drivers over many years, identifying charging reliability as a major barrier to creating a dependable network capable of supporting long trips, similar to gas cars,” said Mr. Tal. “Ensuring that EV drivers can travel without worrying about charging reliability is crucial for mass adoption. This study is an important step in understanding the technical difficulties and developing solutions to overcome them. ChargeHelp, a company specializing in the maintenance and repair of various chargers across multiple states, is well-positioned to evaluate the data and produce a reliable report with strong action plans for policymakers and the industry.”
While the report cites a wide swath of issues, a startling lack of interoperability (the compatibility of key system components—vehicles, charging stations, charging networks, and the grid—and the software systems that support them, allowing all components to work seamlessly and effectively) stands out as the overarching threat to system reliability and broader EV adoption in the United States.
The report highlights several key findings:
- True Uptime vs. Reported Uptime: Actual EV charger uptime falls short of self-reported figures, with software often overestimating station functionality, affecting driver confidence.
- Reliability Variations: Charger reliability varies widely by state and network, with older infrastructure and certain networks experiencing higher rates of downtime.
- Targeted Repairs and Standardization: A number of problem stations require multiple repairs, significantly impacting overall reliability. Standardized reliability metrics are crucial for improving uptime.
In response to these findings, the report offers a set of recommendations aimed at improving EVSE reliability and enhancing the charging experience for EV drivers:
- Ensure Data Accessibility
- Measure Uptime effectively with standardized data reporting protocols
- Allocate O&M Specific funding to maintain and renew EVSE infrastructure
- Implement Comprehensive Warranty Coverage and standardized troubleshooting protocols
- Promote leading practices and expand technician training and certification
For more information and to access the full report, visit here.
Blink Charging Partners with Create Energy for Integration
Blink Charging Co. (NASDAQ: BLNK), a leading global manufacturer, owner, operator, and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Create Energy, a Tennessee-based renewable energy company, to deliver next- generation energy management products and solutions. This alliance will allow customers to integrate their energy assets through one centralized platform.
The collaboration combines the strengths of both companies to offer a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” for renewable energy solutions tailored specifically to the commercial and industrial (C&I) market. By offering a unified solution, the collaboration reduces overall project costs through streamlined procurement and integration, cutting administrative and logistical expenses while leveraging the efficiencies of both companies’ technologies. This includes leveraging Create Energy’s suite of products and services, including solar panels, battery energy storage systems (BESS), transformers, switchgear, and EPC services.
Businesses in supply chain logistics, convenience store management, automotive, commercial real estate, and other sectors can now seamlessly integrate Blink Chargers with Create Energy’s offerings.
“At Blink, we prioritize creating a best-in-class customer experience, so it made sense to take our customer relationships to the next level of convenience and team up with Create Energy to provide a full renewable energy stack offering,” said Jim Nemec, Blink’s Chief Revenue Officer. “This innovative collaboration with Create Energy will provide customers with state-of-the-art EV charging infrastructure coupled with Create’s ecosystem of products. This exemplifies how two like-minded organizations can come together in a symbiotic way to challenge the status quo of renewables.”
Dean Solon, Founder, CEO and President of Create Energy, stated, “This collaboration between Create Energy and Blink is blazing a new path for the industry, leaving old tech in the dust. It’s two fearless U.S.-based renewable companies joining forces to offer cool next-generation Microgrid solutions. The EV sector is hungry for innovative American-made technologies, and Create’s proprietary NanoGrid solution is transforming C&I renewable energy projects. With this alliance, customers will benefit from peak demand reduction and energy independence by using Blink’s top-tier chargers and Create Energy’s products. This is another rocket we are launching into the renewables space.”
The companies have already begun deploying their products and integrating their solutions for C&I customers, including leading Tier 1 automotive providers.
About Create Energy
Create Energy, headquartered in Portland, Tennessee, is a U.S.-based renewable energy company founded by visionary CEO & President, Dean Solon. Create Energy aims to disrupt the clean-tech industry and lay the foundation for U.S.-based renewable energy manufacturing, offering products ranging from transformers, switchgear, PV, BESS, and EV solutions as well as full turnkey EPC services.
About Blink Charging
Blink Charging Co. (Nasdaq: BLNK) is a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, enabling drivers, hosts, and fleets to easily transition to electric transportation through innovative charging solutions. Blink’s principal line of products and services include Blink’s EV charging network (“Blink Network”), EV charging equipment, and EV charging services. The Blink Network utilizes proprietary, cloud-based software that operates, maintains, and tracks the EV charging stations connected to the network and the associated charging data. Blink has established key strategic partnerships for rolling out adoption across numerous location types, including parking facilities, multifamily residences and condos, workplace locations, health care/medical facilities, schools and universities, airports, auto dealers, hotels, mixed-use municipal locations, parks and recreation areas, religious institutions, restaurants, retailers, stadiums, supermarkets, and transportation hubs. For more information, please visit blinkcharging.com.
Cummins Inc. to Test at Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center
Allison Transmission, a leader in fully automatic transmissions and electrified propulsion systems, is pleased to announce that Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, has chosen Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center to conduct a series of tests on multiple trucks equipped with Cummins’ powertrains.
“We are thrilled to leverage the advanced testing capabilities of Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center to further enhance our product development efforts,” said Tom Marsh, X15 Program Leader, Cummins. “The facility’s ability to simulate real-world conditions in a secure and repeatable environment is invaluable as we continue to innovate and improve our powertrain technologies.”
The 60,000-square-foot facility is the only one of its kind in the Midwest, designed to facilitate year-round testing in a controlled environment. The facility supports a wide range of vehicle testing, including those powered by diesel, gasoline, natural gas, hydrogen and battery electric systems. Its capabilities are essential for OEMs and suppliers who aim to reduce product development and validation timelines, ensuring that new technologies can be brought to market swiftly and efficiently.
“Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center is equipped to handle a diverse array of testing scenarios across all major propulsion types, which makes it an ideal choice for Cummins’ innovative engine technologies,” said Michael O’Quin, Associate Director, Allison Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center. “We are excited to support Cummins in their efforts to optimize their product development through our specialized testing capabilities.”
The advanced testing facility’s controlled thermal environments and dynamometer road simulations can replicate a broad range of duty cycles, offering the ability to test vehicle performance under various extreme conditions. This not only enhances the reliability of results but also reduces costs compared to on-road testing.
Discover how Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center helps leading OEMs and their suppliers get to market faster at allisontransmission.com.