Monday, December 11, 2023
SMART Grants Update
USDOT has announced that over 300 Stage 1 applications were submitted for the FY23 SMART Grant opportunity. USDOT anticipates that it will announce about 30 new Stage 1 awards in early 2024. Approximately $50 million will be available for Stage 1 awards this fiscal year, with an additional $50 million available for Stage 2 grants. USDOT anticipates that separate SMART Grants Program NOFOs will solicit applications for Stage 2 grants in calendar year 2024 as well as for additional Stage 1 grants in calendar year 2024.
DOT Releases Momentum Toolkit to Guide Governments in Supporting Private Fleet Electrification
At COP, the USDOT announced the release of a new toolkit, “Charging Ahead: How Government Agencies Can Support the Electrification of Private Fleet Vehicles.” The toolkit addresses ways that governments can facilitate fleet electrification from convening of fleets to providing funding for rebates to cover the upfront cost differential and deployment of widespread charging infrastructure. The toolkit covers both light duty and heavy duty fleet needs.
Stellantis makes a big bet on EV battery swapping in new deal with Ample
Stellantis struck a deal with California-based EV battery swapping company Ample to power a fleet of shared Fiat 500e vehicles in Spain. But the company says the deal could eventually expand to include personally owned EVs in Europe and the US as well.
By becoming one of the first Western automakers to embrace battery swapping technology, Stellantis is betting that EV charging infrastructure in Europe and the US will remain a barrier to adoption in the near future, necessitating other solutions. Battery swapping could theoretically help EV owners power up and get moving without having to wait for long stretches at a charging station.
By becoming one of the first Western automakers to embrace battery swapping technology, Stellantis is betting that EV charging infrastructure in Europe and the US will remain a barrier to adoption in the near future, necessitating other solutions. Battery swapping could theoretically help EV owners power up and get moving without having to wait for long stretches at a charging station.
Ford and Xcel Energy will build 30,000 EV charging ports for fleet businesses
Ford is partnering with Xcel Energy to install 30,000 EV charging ports for fleet customers by 2030, at little to no cost to the businesses to the businesses themselves.
The project will be run out of Ford Pro, which is the automaker’s commercial vehicle and software division. The first EV charger installations will begin in the first quarter of 2024 in two states, Wisconsin and Colorado, and later will grow to include more states, said Amanda Rome, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Xcel Energy.
Xcel said it would absorb “most of the upfront costs” of the charging installations, with Rome predicting that customers would get “up to $150,000” in savings from the program. Ford, meanwhile, will offer a “full suite” of charging products to customers, including fleet management and software tools to help commercial fleet owners manage their charging.
The project will be run out of Ford Pro, which is the automaker’s commercial vehicle and software division. The first EV charger installations will begin in the first quarter of 2024 in two states, Wisconsin and Colorado, and later will grow to include more states, said Amanda Rome, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Xcel Energy.
Xcel said it would absorb “most of the upfront costs” of the charging installations, with Rome predicting that customers would get “up to $150,000” in savings from the program. Ford, meanwhile, will offer a “full suite” of charging products to customers, including fleet management and software tools to help commercial fleet owners manage their charging.
Monday, December 4, 2023
$3.9B grid investment prompts wave of collaboration
Clean energy partnerships are surging due to the Biden administration's $3.9 billion investment in grid resiliency and growing concerns over extreme weather disruptions. Resulting innovations include new developments in microgrids running on solar power and local batteries, and software that enables utilities to manage and redistribute energy loads.
US to widen restrictions on imports of EV materials
Guidance from the Treasury and Department of Energy indicates the US is to widen restrictions on imported electric vehicle components in 2025 to include imports of critical materials used in their manufacture, particularly from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. "Thanks to the Investing in America agenda and today's important guidance from Treasury and the Department of Energy, we're helping ensure that the electric vehicle future will be made in America," says John Podesta, senior adviser to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation
The Fleet EV Charging Infrastructure Ecosystem, Explained
For fleets there are ultimately five prominent solutions: charging networks, Charging as a Service, Charging Infrastructure as a Service, Fleet as a Service, and real estate owners. Some companies offer more than one solution (for example, charging networks and Charging as a Service).
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