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In The Press

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In The Press

PoleVolt Wins 2023 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations

The first PoleVolt electric vehicle (EV) charging station of its kind in North Carolina has been rewarded with the 2023 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). This award is given to projects in rural or small metropolitan areas that push towards more equitable transportation. NADO is a national association that sponsors this annual award that allows its members to promote their successful projects on a national level.

Along with this award comes an invitation to receive national recognition in the 2023 National Summit on Rural Road Safety held by the National Center for Rural Road Safety in Oklahoma. This event will have customized trainings for rural transportation practitioners, advice on how to form partnerships with local law enforcement and public health professionals, networking opportunities, and more!

We hope you can join us at the biggest national summit yet on September 12th-14th!

You can learn more about how to attend this event here.

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Traffic jam with rows of cars
In The Press

What You Need to Know About the Rise of NACS

Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) appears to be on its way to living up to its name. As more electric vehicle (EV) companies announce their plans to incorporate the NACS into their new models, many people are questioning what impacts this will have on riders and the Combined Charging System (CCS). Here are five big takeaways from current news to know.

 
1. General Motors and Ford Have Adopted NACS

Tesla’s NACS is rising in popularity due to companies like General Motors (GM) and Ford’s ever-growing adoption of EVs. General Motors and Ford are now working with Tesla to allow their EV drivers to access over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in the coming year. NACS will also be fully incorporated into GM’s EV models in 2025. Tesla has developed a new adapter to enable CCS-fitted EVs to access their own V3 Superchargers, this will at least double the number of fast chargers available for EV drivers.

 
2. The Domino Effect

After GM and Ford’s switch to NACS, many other companies have followed suit. GM, Ford, and Tesla alone occupy almost three-quarters of the EV market, but more companies are quickly following in their footsteps to adopt the NACS. Some of which include Blink, ChargePoint, FLO, EVgo, Tritium, ABB E-mobility, and SK Signet. GM believes that this can lead to the NACS living up to its name by becoming the standard in North America. As more companies announce their plans to use NACS, many EV riders begin to ask one question: Is the NACS good enough to overtake the CCS?

 
3. NACS vs. CCS

Some people are questioning whether the popularity of NACS will overshadow CCS. Here are some comparisons between the two to get an idea of where each stands: CCS has 5,240 public DC fast-charging stations in the United States, while Tesla only has 1,803. Tesla, however, has 19,463 ports, while CCS has only 10,471 ports. Many riders are also celebrating the rising popularity of NACS, as it is more compact and easier to use compared to CCS, which is harder to handle. Many EV riders remark that CCS and other chargers have a reliability problem, as their payment methods can be tricky and leave room for error, while it is believed Tesla chargers have more consistent up time and faster charging. It’s important to note, however, that Tesla’s chargers have been extremely reliable for Tesla cars, and it is still early in the process of testing their chargers with other brands. On June 12th, CharIn released an article pledging their support for NACS, and is even inviting members to join a task force that will “work to convene an open task force to align requirements with the goal of submitting NACS to the standardization process.”

 
4. Tesla’s Approach to Opening NACS and The Future

If the NACS is adopted as North America’s standard, it will have to be reliably open and accessible to all EVs. Tesla had already started this process when they made the “Magic Dock” that allows EVs fitted for CCS to charge at their stations. This new adapter that is attached to superchargers is still in its testing phase, however, as there are already reports of these adaptors not charging non-Tesla EVs properly. The Magic Docks are only located at a small number of Tesla stations right now, so it could be assumed that Tesla did this intentionally to monitor its performance and work out any kinks before their mass installation. It is likely that these docks will be installed into V4 Superchargers, which are also expected to have longer cables when they come out, as well as added on to already existing V3 Superchargers. Tesla has even created a membership to lower the cost of non-Tesla EV charging at their ports.

 
5. Only Time Will Tell

There seem to be big expectations for the growth and establishment of NACS. Tesla has their work cut out for them if they want to make NACS the favored standard of North America, but most believe that it will eventually achieve that status due to their superchargers’ speed, reliability, and operability. As more companies declare their adoption of NACS, this outcome becomes more and more likely. The hope is that, after some growing pains, Tesla’s chargers will become yet another dependable, fast-charging option for all EV riders. Only time will tell, and we will be looking out for any other important updates.

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In The Press

Meeting the Secretary of the Department of Energy: Thoughts on the Future of North Carolina and Clean Energy

 

On the 26th of June, Secretary Granholm traveled to North Carolina as her first stop in her  “People Powered EV Summer Road Trip” across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee.  

 

I, Melissa Jamison, a Clean Cities intern at Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, am a Charlotte native with a passion for sustainability and environmental justice. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to attend an energy townhall at Johnson C. Smith University where Secretary Granholm and Mayor Lyles of Charlotte spoke about our state’s future in clean energy and the efforts by the Biden administration to address climate change.

In this town hall, Secretary Granholm shared the projects that the Department of Energy (DOE) had been working on, as well as their goals for the country in terms of clean energy. The Biden administration has set the U.S. power sector on the course for 100% clean energy by 2035, and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Secretary Granholm pointed out the similarity between this plan and North Carolina’s law aimed to reduce 70% of carbon emissions by 2030, and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. This law made North Carolina the first southeastern state to write carbon emission reduction goals into law. She also celebrated North Carolina’s $30 million award for clean school bus replacements. 

Secretary Granholm explained how important it was for the U.S. to start relying on domestic, clean sources of energy. Not only would we be reducing harmful carbon emissions through these efforts, but also eliminate our energy insecurity due to no longer having to rely on other countries for resources to keep our country powered. The DOE is also working on an energy storage technology that can assist with handling the expanding unpredictability of intermittent energy sources and rapidly changing fuel infrastructures.

 

My Question to The Secretary 

Questions from the audience were also taken with their registration to attend the event, and I was one of the lucky attendees who had their query read aloud for the Secretary and Mayor to answer. My question addressed the growing importance of Clean Cities, and the rise in funding for clean transportation. I asked how we can put a stop to the intentional exclusion from policymaking that communities most impacted by pollution face, and how we can ensure that environmental justice meets the needs of clean transportation in our community.  

The Secretary first expressed the gratitude that the DOE has for Clean Cities, as we are one of their partners. She then went on to say that this was an important question to ask, as disparities have been built into our system that creates structural inequality. Due to this, the DOE has a team focused on environmental justice that builds structural equity into how their grants are made. During the review of grant applications, 20% of the evaluation is weighted on whether the application has a community benefits agreement, if the community is at the table, and if there is a workforce development plan. These factors are what developers are graded on to decide whether or not they get the grant, effectively forcing them to work with the community, rather than simply in the community. Secretary Granholm also gave an example of how if you are a solar developer, you automatically get a 30% tax credit. If you choose to develop solar panels on multifamily rooftops, you get an additional 20% tax credit if it’s in a disadvantaged community. If your solar panels are domestically produced, you get an extra 10% tax credit. This totals to a 60% tax credit urging developers to invest in disadvantaged communities. She added a final point that President Biden’s first executive order he signed was Justice40, which requires that 40% of benefits of certain federal investments must go to disadvantaged communities, showing their clear interest in helping these communities from the very beginning. 

Mayor Lyles shared her thoughts on how this is not just an issue with energy, but with transportation, highways, housing, storm drainage, and even how we treat runoff and erosion in our communities. She says that the city council acknowledges the past and recognizes where change can be made, and believes that every part of what they do needs to have an equity lens.

I think that this is a great start to reshaping the DOE’s funding system and some of our federal investments through an equity lens. I also believe that the DOE is doing well in encouraging developers to work with disadvantaged communities. I am happy to say that the DOE has also been showing more support to Clean Cities by writing us into grants and supporting the edition of a Community Engagement Coordinator to our team. I hope we continue seeing support from the DOE, as I think the 75+ coalitions across the nation would be a fantastic instrument for building better relationships with disadvantaged communities and ensuring that their needs are communicated and met as we transform our country to one that is more sustainable and domestically stable.

Learn more about Senator Granholm’s visit to North Carolina and how President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda can strengthen our economy and provide for rural and underserved communities here.

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In The Press

First-Ever U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap is Here

Recently, the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap was released, detailing an all-government approach to clean hydrogen. As the United States continues to take steps towards a more sustainable future, discussion of zero- and low-carbon hydrogen has increased. Not only could clean hydrogen aid us in reaching our decarbonization goals, but it also holds promise in offering a variety of economic benefits. The roadmap boasts that clean hydrogen can bring about a ~10% reduction in economic emissions by 2050 (relative to 2005), 100,000 jobs in fields like engineering, construction, manufacturing, and raw material supply chains by 2030, as well as 450,00 cumulative job-years through 2030. 


The roadmap has highlighted three key strategies to fully utilize the benefits of clean hydrogen. The first strategy is to target areas like steel manufacturing, energy storage, and heavy-duty trucks; all of which are considered to be areas of high value for clean hydrogen to be utilized, as well as lack a variety of decarbonization alternatives. The second strategy is to lower the cost of clean hydrogen through the Hydrogen Shot launched in 2021, which has established a goal of lowering clean hydrogen’s price by 80%. This would allow for the target areas to have better access to clean hydrogen. The third strategy is to invest in Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, which will ensure that prioritized hydrogen consumers will be close to large scale clean hydrogen production. 


While the future is uncertain, it is made clear that clean hydrogen has the capacity to become an exceptional tool in both decarbonization and economic practices. The Department of Energy will be abiding by this document by updating it at least once every three years as necessary.â€Ŋ 


Click here to learn more about the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. 

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In The PressRegional Happenings

Clean Cities Directors from Across the Nation, Including Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition’s, Awarded for Industry Contributions

Clean Cities Coalition Directors were recently awarded the Impact Award at the 2023 Clean Fuels Alliance America annual awards in Tampa, Florida. These individuals represent more than 75 Clean Cities Coalitions which serve as the foundation for the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. These coalitions bring together more than 20,000 stakeholders across the public and private sectors throughout the United States. Through these coalition’s efforts to use alternative and renewable fuels, foster fuel economy improvements and promote new transportation technology, Clean Cities Coalitions support the creation of industry and gasoline alternatives.  

The Centralina Regional Council is proud to host the Charlotte region’s DOE Clean Cities affiliate, the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC). “We work with fleets, fuel providers, community leaders and stakeholders across the greater Charlotte region to promote the use of alternative fuels and reduce overall emissions and traditional petroleum use. Our stakeholders continually implement innovative advanced vehicle technology projects that support our communities, such as the recently completed PoleVolt curbside EV charging demonstration project,” said CCFC’s Director, Jason Wager, AICP CEP. 

CCFC is honored to receive this award in recognition of regional efforts to reduce the amount of petroleum used in transportation. During 2020, CCFC worked with partners in the Charlotte region to reduce the annual energy impact to ~3million gasoline gallon equivalents and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 16,000 tons.  

To learn more about emissions reductions in the Charlotte region, please visit the CCFC website.  You can also learn more about the full list of award winners on the Clean Fuels Alliance America website. 

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In The Press

Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization: Biden Administration Takes Action

The U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency have released the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization: a comprehensive strategy for cutting emissions from the transportation sector by 2050. Read more about the blueprint here.

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In The Press

More Than $6.8 Million to Expand NC’s Electric Vehicle Charging Network

The Department of Environmental Quality has announced that $6.8 million will be distributed to strengthen and expand North Carolina’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Network. This funding will be awarding projects across 64 sites in the state of North Carolina. Grants and rebates, awarded by the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Air Quality (DAQ), fall under Phase 2 of the N.C. Volkswagen Settlement Program.

Among the awards, nearly $5.9 million will fund 104 new DC Fast charging ports across 40 sites. 33 of which will be covered 100% by renewable energy credits. Sites will be along priority corridors and major coastal evacuation routes from Murphy to Manteo. These projects will fill gaps in the charging network along these corridors. DC Fast chargers are suitable along major highways because they offer rapid charging and a quick pitstop while enroute to a destination.

In this program, 75% of funds will go to projects in rural counties, and nearly half will go to historically under-resourced counties. DAQ will also be awarding $764,000 in grants to public and private organizations to make upgrades to 13 existing DC Fast sites. These projects are vital to strengthen the charging network in North Carolina and stay up to date on latest technologies and advancements. 

$196,000 in new rebates will fund the installation of Level 2 chargers at workplaces, apartment complexes, parks, urban centers and other public locations. This will fund the installation of 62 new charging ports at 11 sites across the state. Level 2 Public Access funds are still available to local government agencies, nonprofits and private businesses on a first-come, first-served basis.

As we see the hard work that goes into building out the North Carolina Electric Vehicle Infrastructure network, we can see a few things are true. Not one charger fits all needs, and technology changes fast! Variety in charging infrastructure is necessary, and when 80% of charging is expected to happen at home, we need to build a network large enough to support EV owners that may not be able to charge at home. Be sure to check out the links to see where new and upgraded chargers will be located throughout NC. 

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In The Press

Executive Order No. 271; Accelerating a Transition to a Clean Energy Economy

On October 25, 2022, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 271 directing swift action to accelerate the state’s transition to a clean energy economy that creates good jobs and opportunities for all North Carolinians while protecting public health and the environment. 

Executive Order 271 directs the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to work with stakeholders to propose to the Environmental Management Commission an Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) program that would ensure zero-emission trucks and buses are available for purchase in the state. ACT would require manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of ZEVs over time while providing flexibility, through credits, trading and other features, as segments of the market grow at different speeds. Sales targets would also drive investment in other zero-emission technologies including charging and fueling infrastructure. The Executive Order outlines a comprehensive strategy for the state to support automakers, fleet owners, and other partners to grow the MHD (Medium- and Heavy-Duty) ZEV market through incentives, and workforce development. 

The Executive Order builds on Gov. Cooper’s previous actions to grow the clean energy economy and a clean transportation future. Read the press release to learn more here and the executive order here.

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In The Press

DEQ Awards $30 Million for Clean School Bus Replacements

From the N.C. Volkswagen Settlement Program, $30.1 million will be distributed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to fund 161 new school buses across the state, with the majority of the funding going toward new all-electric school buses. Some of the dirtiest diesel buses in the state, over 30 years old emitting more than 20 times the nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter of today’s clean buses, will be replaced by low- or zero-emission school buses. 

More than $16.5 million will fund 43 electric school buses and associated charging infrastructure, providing a 100% reduction in diesel emissions and greenhouse gases for these projects. Grant recipients span across 84 counties and include public schools, charter schools, and a tribal school. 130 of the buses will be placed in rural counties, 80 of which were awarded to schools in the 37 historically under-resourced counties that DEQ targeted for additional outreach and support during the application process.

Learn more about other funding programs and the full list of awarded projects on the DEQ website. 

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In The Press

All 50 States, DC, and Puerto Rico Have Submitted Plans for National Electric Vehicle Charging Network

EV infrastructure deployment plans have, as required under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, been submitted by all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico by the August 1, 2022, deadline. The plans, established and funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are required in order to unlock the first round of the $5 billion in infrastructure deployment investments. Available over 5 years, NEVI will help accelerate the important work of building out the national EV charging network and making electric vehicle charging accessible to all Americans. The Joint Office and FHWA (Federal Highways Administration) will review the plans and continue to work with states, with the goal of approving plans by September 30th. The on-time submission by all participants demonstrates the widespread commitment to build out EV charging infrastructure to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, create jobs, and reduce our contributions to climate change. With each approved plan, state departments of transportation receive the “green light” to deploy EV charging infrastructure focused initially along designated alternative fuel corridors.  

The N.C. Department of Transportation statewide Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plan submittal sets forth a “roadmap” for the development of the state’s public electric charging network. In addition to outlining North Carolina’s Plan, Vision, and Goals for the use of its NEVI program funding, this document also incorporates the North Carolina Clean Transportation Plan, a requirement of Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 246. Read more about the plans by navigating to the full PDF on the right.â€Ŋ 

Learn more about NEVI Formula Funding here.

View NEVI Formula Program Frequently asked questions here.

Where will this funding apply in our region?

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