Latest news with #CleanTransportationProgram
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
California Is Giving Incentives For Apartments To Install EV Chargers
The ability to recharge an EV at home is an advantage that no vehicle that runs on fossil fuels can match. Yet this advantage remains elusive for many, particularly apartment or condo dwellers. California recognizes this need and has announced a $56.5-million subsidy available to multi-family homes and nearby sites to install EV chargers for residents to use. The Communities in Charge Project, with funding from the California Energy Commission Clean Transportation Program, wants to fill this as yet unanswered need with an emphasis toward disadvantaged and low-income communities. Up to $8,500 is available to site owners for every Level 2 charger they install, and up to $2,000 for Level 1 chargers. Tribal communities are eligible for additional incentives as well. The idea is to put chargers into less well-off communities that might not otherwise receive them. Although cars are more expensive than ever, EVs are shockingly cheap to lease these days, and used examples can be affordable to buy as well. Read more: These Are The Worst Tire Recalls In Recent History Filling An Important Gap This program helps solve one of the biggest gaps in the entire EV infrastructure. Currently, unless you own your home, you will likely not be able to install your own charger. This leaves apartment and condo dwellers at the mercy of public chargers, which, while improving, are still not particularly reliable. With home prices at an all-time high, most of us will probably rent and keep our gas cars longer to avoid public charging hassles. Giving apartment renters or condo owners the ability to charge at home might be just the incentive residents need to swap their gas guzzlers for EVs. Back in the day, the federal government used to plan and fund infrastructure projects. The Interstate Highway System is a great example of what we can accomplish with proper oversight and funding. However, EV infrastructure has been left mainly to private companies, which has resulted in a piecemeal approach. Electrify America was supposed to be the gold standard, except it's not so good after all. Tesla has thrown a lot of money at Superchargers, just for itself at first, but now basically every car company can use them. With federal EV tax incentives going away, it looks like it'll remain up to individual states and businesses to work out charging infrastructure amongst themselves. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Congress votes to rescind California vehicle emissions waiver
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. The U.S. Senate passed three joint resolutions May 22 nullifying California's ability to set emissions standards for passenger cars, light duty vehicles and trucks that are stricter than national standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Auto and petroleum industry lobbyists targeted California's Advanced Clean Car II regulations, adopted in 2022, which require all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by the 2035 model year. Federal law set in 1990 allows 17 additional states and the District of Columbia to follow California's regulations. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, announced the state's intention to file a lawsuit blocking the congressional resolutions, which await the signature of President Donald Trump to become law. California's ability to set its own vehicle emissions standards stem from the 1967 Air Quality Act, passed at a time when smog and poor air quality often permeated the Los Angeles basin. While air quality in California has improved over the years, experts fear a setback from the Senate's action. 'Public health could potentially suffer as a consequence,' said Michael Kleeman, a professor at the University of California, Davis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. 'This is, plain and simple, a vote against clean air to breathe," said Aaron Kressig, transportation electrification manager at Western Resource Advocates, in an emailed statement. He warned of potential lost days at school or work and premature deaths. 'Over 150 million people in the United States are already exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution,' Steven Higashide, director of the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in an emailed statement. 'The standards are based on the best available science, and were finalized with extensive public input.' Along with public health concerns, the debate around California's emissions waivers include policy, auto and petroleum industry resistance and debate over states' rights. Republicans argue that California overstepped its prerogative. 'The California waivers rules are an improper expansion of a limited Clean Air Act authority and would endanger consumers, our economy, and our nation's energy supply,' Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said May 20 in the Senate chamber. Industry opponents of the emission waivers cheered the Senate's action. 'The fact is these EV sales mandates were never achievable,' John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an auto industry lobbying group, said in a statement. Bozella noted the automakers key concern: 'The problem really isn't California. It's the 11 states that adopted California's rules without the same level of readiness for EV sales requirements of this magnitude.' Petroleum industry leaders weighed in May 23 with a joint statement. 'The United States Senate delivered a victory for American consumers, manufacturers, and U.S. energy security by voting to overturn the prior administration's EPA rule authorizing California's gas car ban and preventing its spread across our country,' said American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO Chet Thompson and American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers in a published statement. California and 10 other states formed a coalition to foster cleaner and more affordable vehicles, Newsom announced May 23. Led by the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan group of 24 governors, the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition said in a news release that it would 'consider next steps for our clean vehicle programs' and work to preserve the states' authority under the Clean Air Act. Participating states include California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. 'The fact remains that states have the legal right under the Clean Air Act to protect their residents from vehicle pollution,' Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp said in an emailed statement. Recommended Reading Congress could soon revoke California's vehicle emissions standards Sign in to access your portfolio
Los Angeles Times
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Uses Innovative SaaS Platform to Manage Charging in Zero-Emission Fleet Transition
California Energy Commission grant supports installation of EV charge management software at Metropolitan A California Energy Commission grant could help Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in its transition to zero-emission vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The grant funding awarded to BetterFleet allows the company to provide its charge management software to Metropolitan and other utilities, allowing them to test the software's ability to reduce electricity charges, optimize vehicle availability and help mitigate strain on the power grid, which is particularly crucial as large fleets across California continue to electrify. With 20 electric vehicles and 21 chargers installed at multiple Metropolitan facilities, this initiative aligns with the agency's Climate Action Plan. That plan sets a path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2045, reinforcing the agency's commitment to sustainability while ensuring water reliability to millions of Southern California residents. Established in 1928, Metropolitan is the largest wholesale water provider in the United States, delivering water to 26 member agencies serving nearly 19 million people across six counties. Its extensive fleet includes specialized maintenance trucks, utility vans and passenger cars, each with unique charging needs. Using BetterFleet's charge management software, Metropolitan can monitor EV charging sessions in real-time, dynamically adjust charging schedules based on demand, respond to emergency power needs for other areas by quickly shutting off all chargers at once, and reduce electricity demand charges without compromising operational needs. The grant is part of a CEC Clean Transportation Program initiative – the Responsive, Easy Charging Products with Dynamic Signals initiative – that is designed to accelerate the deployment of user-friendly charging solutions that can respond to dynamic grid signals. 'Incorporating zero-emission vehicles is key to our broader carbon neutrality goals outlined in our Climate Action Plan,' said Liz Crosson, Metropolitan's chief sustainability, resilience and innovation officer. 'Using advanced charge management software will help us realize cost savings and maintain efficient operations while we transition to cleaner transportation.' Funding under this grant enables Metropolitan to test the BetterFleet platform on several of its chargers. The CEC funding also covers the cost of a new DC fast charging station for the fleet. 'Balancing the needs of the energy market with the needs of fleets is complex but vital. By leveraging our advanced charge management solution along with the CEC's support, Metropolitan can optimize its operations while minimizing the impact on the grid. This project sets up California for a sustainable transition to zero-emission fleets,' said Daniel Hilson, CEO of BetterFleet. BetterFleet's charge management system provides a user-friendly portal for Metropolitan staff to track vehicle charge levels, set smart charging schedules and receive real-time notifications about grid constraints or energy pricing. Machine learning algorithms and digital twin technology enhance the platform's predictive capabilities, accurately estimating how much time remains for each vehicle to charge, projecting vehicle range and enabling data-driven decisions for fleet dispatch. These features play a crucial role in containing operating costs – particularly electricity demand charges – while balancing the needs of Metropolitan's operations. Information was sourced from BetterFleet. To learn more, contact info@
