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Driving the Future: Captivating Moments from the 2023 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference and Expo

Last month, more than 400 attendees joined the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) in Raleigh, NC for the 2023 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo (SFT). Conference guests were able to discover the latest and greatest in sustainable fleet technology, operations and implementation over the course of three days while networking with other fleet professionals and technology providers. 

“The SFT Conference this year gave fleet and transportation experts a valuable platform to explore cutting-edge vehicle technologies, as well as tools and resources tailored to enhance efficiency and emissions reduction,” said Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC.

In its seventh year, the annual SFT Conference returned to the Raleigh Convention Center where the inaugural conference was held in 2017. The Raleigh Convention Center’s large exhibit halls were the perfect space to display all of the heavy, medium, and light-duty vehicles in addition to transportation and charging technologies for attendees to explore during expo hall hours. 

The exhibit hall was brimming with exhibitors for the 2023 conference including AssetWorks; Alliance Autogas; Kempower; Southeast Propane Alliance; Propane Education & Research Council; Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition; Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition; Triangle Clean Cities Coalition; Lightning eMotors; Advanced Energy; DC-America; Daimler Truck NA/Thomas Built Buses/Freightliner Custom Chassis; North Carolina Department of Transportation; Piedmont Natural Gas; Verizon Connect; Pakistan Smart Energy; ZEVX Inc.; Guardian Fueling Technologies; bp pulse; Revels Turf & Tractor Co.; Forward Thinking Systems, LLC; Atom Power; Sourcewell; NAFA Fleet Management Association; Pioneer Power e-Mobility Solutions; Viatec; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; ROUSH CleanTech; Faster Asset Solutions; Webasto Charging Systems, Inc.; and PortFi.

Pictured: Attendees gathered around a display of Viatec’s flagship electric power take-off (ePTO) product, SmartPTO, which can be retrofitted to fleet vehicles and provides the benefits of enhanced safety, reduced maintenance, lower cost of ownership, and social responsibility for electric utility providers.

Pictured: The industry’s first and only production all-electric bucket truck which debuted last year thanks to a unique collaboration between Viatec, Terex and Navistar/International Trucks.

Pictured: Pioneer Power Mobility’s e-Boost mobile electric vehicle (EV) fast charging solution plugged into a Volvo’s first all electric crossover C40 Recharge.

Pictured: The City of Durham’s Mach-E and City of Charlotte’s Ford F150 and Mach-E fleet vehicles. 

On August 14, 2023 the winners of the 16th annual Green Fleet Awards were announced by NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) during the pre-conference day at the 2023 SFT Conference.

Pictured: Ryan Krogh, Manager of Production System Solutions at John Deere, delivered the opening keynote, From Products to Solutions: The Next Phase of Technology.

Pictured: The keynote plenary, From Good Ideas to Success Stories, featured a panel moderated by Leigh Shamblin, Director of Leadership and Professor of Practice for NC State University Poole College of Management and also included Jamie Cooke, Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Generals Services in Montgomery County, Maryland; Al Curtis, Fleet Services Director for Cobb County, Georgia; and Rick Longobart, Fleet Operations Manager for the City of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Pictured: Ameya Joshi from Corning, Inc. was on the panel for the Advancements in Medium/Heavy Duty Vehicles and Infrastructure keynote plenary along with Rick Sapienza from NCCETC, Mark Childers from Thomas Built Buses, Stuart Weidie from Alliance AutoGas, Jennifer Weaver from Clean Fuels Alliance America, and Marcus Suvanto from Kempower.

Pictured: The final keynote plenary, Advancements in Light Duty Vehicles and Infrastructure, was moderated by Heather Brutz of NCCETC. She was joined by Brian Bradford, Chief Commercial Officer of Jule Power; Bob Glaser, President of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association; Ryan Kennedy, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atom Power; and Chris Thomas, Government Sales Manager at Stellantis.

The 2023 SFT Conference offered 12 breakout sessions across three tracks related to Funding and Planning, Vehicle Technologies, and Fueling and Charging Infrastructure. Pictures from several breakout sessions can be seen below.

The NCCETC hosts the annual Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference as part of its mission to advance a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices and policies.

PowerPoint presentations will be available in the coming weeks at www.SustainableFleetExpo.com. Stay tuned for next year’s conference dates. Don’t miss out on future updates for the 2024 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference – sign up for the clean transportation newsletter now! 

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Everything You Need to Know About Electric Vehicles & Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Incentives in North Carolina

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University has released a new resource for both commercial and public sector customers interested in purchasing an electric vehicle or installing a charging station.

The new guidance document – Electric Vehicles & Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Incentives in North Carolina – will help customers navigate the variety of direct financial incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) and supporting EV infrastructure and planning offered throughout North Carolina. Incentives are available through federal, state, regional and electric utility funded programs. 

Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC, is seeing a frenzy to electrify in both the commercial and public sectors of the transportation industry. “We are seeing light-duty electric vehicle ownership skyrocket and medium duty and heavy duty vehicles are following close behind,” Brutz said. 

With a burgeoning EV market, transportation electrification has gained significant momentum and is leading the way towards an emissions-free future. North Carolina, along with the rest of the United States, is poised to make substantial advancements in the development and adoption of clean transportation technologies in order to affirm the state’s commitment to reducing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and drive the adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) released a statewide GHG inventory in 2018 which found that North Carolina’s transportation sector contributed almost 36% of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions. NCDOT states reducing GHG emissions in the transportation sector is a critical component of the state’s strategy, and the department has been working with stakeholders to develop plans and strategies to reduce transportation emissions. 

On Oct. 29, 2018, Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Executive Order No. 80 (EO 80), “North Carolina’s Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” EO 80 calls to reduce greenhouse gas emission to 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. 

In January 2022, Gov. Cooper signed Executive Order 246 (EO 246), “North Carolina’s Transformation to a Clean, Equitable Economy.” EO 246 builds upon EO 80 and calls for a 50 percent reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It also sets a transportation-specific goal to increase the total number of registered zero-emission vehicles to at least 1,250,000 by 2030 and increase the sale of zero-emission vehicles so that 50 percent of all in-state vehicle sales are zero-emission by 2030.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the most significant action Congress has taken on clean energy and climate change in the nation’s history. The bill includes $370 billion in investments committed to building a new clean energy economy through a combination of grants, loans, rebates, incentives and other investments. 

The IRA makes several changes to the tax credit provided for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles, including adding fuel cell vehicles to the tax credit. The IRA also added a new credit for previously owned clean vehicles. 

Legal and regulatory barriers can affect the pace of EV technology adoption and deployment, but clear policy goals can both provide market certainty and help accelerate deployment. Incentive programs are driving demand higher across the nation, resulting in an increase in EV adoption as electric and hybrid vehicles move past early adoption and into mainstream use.

Drivers who purchase EVs are eligible for tax credits and incentives for making the green choice. Some all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles purchased new are eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. In North Carolina and many other states, qualified EVs may use HOV or carpool lanes, regardless of the number of occupants, allowing them to bypass high congestion traffic areas. 

If you place in service a new plug-in electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in 2023 or after, you may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit. Find information on credits from the IRS for used clean vehicles, qualified commercial clean vehicles, and new plug-in EVs purchased before 2023. The IRS has also released a fact sheet with frequently asked questions related to new, previously owned and qualified commercial clean vehicle credits. 

Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to learn more about federal, state and utility policies and incentives to assist with upfront costs of electric vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment. Maintained and operated by the NCCETC, DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on clean energy related policies and incentives in the United States with summaries of more than 2,600 incentives and policies.

If you are considering making other energy improvements to your home, NCCETC recently published a new Word to the Wise resource to help you become a better educated consumer and navigate the financial incentives offered to you by electric utilities, localities, states, or the federal government. This edition of the Word to the Wise features “Your Guide to Home Energy Upgrades with the Inflation Reduction Act” and includes information about the many incentives expanded or made available via the IRA. To help as many interested individuals as possible, NCCETC has also produced a version en español: Unas Palabras para el Sabio – “Su Guía para Mejorar su Energía en la Casa con la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación.”

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35 Years of NCCETC: Clean Transportation Program Propels Technologies & Public Education

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2023. The NCCETC has dedicated more than three decades to advancing a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices, and policies. 

Founded in December 1987 as the North Carolina Solar Center, NCCETC was first established through a partnership among the state government of North Carolina, NC State University, and the solar industry with sponsorship from the Energy Division of the NC Department of Commerce (now known as the State Energy Office). The North Carolina Solar Center was created to meet the need for a central clearinghouse that could assist the state’s citizens, businesses, and institutions in using solar energy.

Over the years, NCCETC’s focus expanded into a broader array of renewable energy resources, alternative transportation technologies, clean power technologies and industrial energy efficiency. In 2003, environmental leaders from across North Carolina gathered to dedicate an Alternative Fuels Vehicle (AFV) Demonstration Facility while celebrating the 15th anniversary of NCCETC. The AFV Facility served as a research and education facility for a variety of alternative fuels, adding clean transportation to NCCETC’s outreach, education and research activities. 

Clean transportation is one of the primary programmatic areas of focus for NCCETC today. Working with government, non-profit organizations and businesses, NCCETC is helping diversify fuel supplies and support clean, more vibrant local and state economies with the ultimate goal of cleaner air and greater energy diversity. 

Anne Tazewell joined NCCETC in July 2004 and shortly thereafter established the Clean Transportation program before successfully obtaining funding for the Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) project. Tazewell remained at NCCETC for 17 years before she retired in 2021. “I quickly fell in love with the idea of public service and working with others to serve the greater good,” said Tazewell.

To move forward this mission, Tazewell secured regional Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funding to open the state’s first publicly accessible biodiesel service station in Garner, NC. In 2006 and 2009, NCCETC was awarded a total of $2.6 million in CMAQ funding from the NC Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to reduce transportation related emissions in North Carolina counties that do not meet national air quality standards. 

The NC Division of Air Quality and State Energy Office also contributed $200,000 each to support the CFAT project. The three million dollar project encompasses three broad areas: education and outreach, recognition of exemplary activities, and direct project funding. From 2006 through 2019, NCCETC has provided $11.9 million in federal funds to help private and public fleets in North Carolina purchase clean transportation technologies to improve the state’s air quality. 

In 2020, Tazewell efforts were recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the NC Sustainable Energy Association for being a tireless champion of clean air and clean energy. Tazewell explained she first entered into clean energy to express her passion for reducing  oil dependence. Before joining NCCETC, she worked at the Triangle J Council of Governments where she saw the power of public and private partnerships for advancing affordable domestic transportation fuels, energy efficient mobility systems, and other fuel-saving technologies.

One key project completed during Tazewell’s tenure was the tracking and compliance on behalf of the state of the Petroleum Displacement Plan (PDP) Provision, mandated by the NC General Assembly. Implementation of the PDP requirement in fiscal year 2010-2011 has resulted in a 16% reduction in petroleum use by state fleet vehicles as compared to the baseline of fuel use established in fiscal year 2004-2005, through the use of alternative fuels, efficient vehicles and other policies and practices that conserve fuel.

Providing Technical Assistance & Fleet Education

NCCETC engages with government entities and employees through a variety of ways including holding Clean Transportation Demonstration Days where attendees come from across North Carolina to gain education and experience with clean transportation technologies. The Clean Transportation team hosted two Clean Transportation Demonstration Days this year in April – one in Garner and one in Jacksonville, North Carolina – where hundreds of attendees were able to hear about real-world case study results, experience hands-on static review of technologies, network and participate in a closed-course ride and drive. 

Clean Transportation Demonstration Days start with classroom instruction before the ride and drive begins. This year, speakers from Alliance Autogas, Potter EV, Cenntro, Cary Cartco, Pioneer eMobility and Electrify EVSE presented on topics such as telematics, safety, idle reduction technologies, vehicle electrification, and other strategies that improve fleet sustainability. Following classroom instruction, attendees explored a diverse display of vehicles and alternative fuel technologies such as electric and alt-fuel vehicles, buses, police vehicles, utility vehicles, charging equipment and more.

Currently, the clean transportation team is hosting webinars through the Sustainable Fleet Technology Webinar Series, a collaborative partnership with NAFA Fleet Management Association and The 100 Best Fleets, to share the best practices and information on the latest fleet technologies. 

2023 SUSTAINABLE FLEET TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE & EXPO

In 2014, the Center held the Southeast Alternative Fuels Conference. In 2017 the conference was renamed the Sustainable Fleet Technology (SFT) Conference & Expo was held to expand education, training, and networking on advanced clean transportation technologies. The event has been hosted every year since (even going virtual for two years during the pandemic).

Registration for the 2023 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo is open now! Join us on August 14-16, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Come and learn from your peers and experts. Or, join us and share your expertise – opportunities to sponsor, exhibit, and display vehicles are still available. 

The 2023 SFT Conference will feature keynote presentations, 50+ panelists, breakout sessions in 3 conference tracks, indoor vehicle/equipment display and plenty of networking opportunities to engage with more than 350 other registered attendees. Attendees will be able to attend 4 breakout sessions where they can choose the session that best fits their needs or interests across 3 conference tracks:

A. Funding & Planning

  1. Federal Funding Sources
  2. Data for Sustainability and Success
  3. Innovative Funding
  4. Training for Success

B. Vehicle Technologies

  1. New Horizons: AI and Autonomous Vehicles
  2. Sustainable Trucking Solutions
  3. Advancements in Engines, Powertrains, and Batteries
  4. Off-Road Equipment

C. Fueling & Charging Infrastructure

  1. Longer-Term Planning for Infrastructure Deployment
  2. Managing Demand Charges
  3. New Models for Fueling and Charging
  4. Integrating Facility and Fleet Energy Planning

Learn more and register now at www.sustainablefleetexpo.com.

GRANT FUNDING TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY & ACCELERATE FLEET SUSTAINABILITY

The Transportation sector represents the largest contributor to North Carolina’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to a statewide inventory of GHG emissions produced by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ). The Transportation sector represents about 36% of all GHG emissions with onroad light-duty gasoline vehicles representing 72% of Transportation sector GHG emissions in 2018, while on road medium/heavy-duty diesel vehicles are the next largest contributor at 16%. 

Emissions from the Transportation sector decreased by an estimated 3% from 2005 to 2018 in North Carolina according to the DAQ. The fact that on road vehicle GHG emissions decreased while vehicle-miles traveled increased over this period demonstrates the effectiveness of vehicle fuel efficiency improvements. The Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) supported a diverse set of projects that included truck stop electrification and supporting the use of electric motorcycles for a municipal police patrol as well as propane powered delivery vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations. 

Other types of projects funded by CFAT has included infrastructure projects such as fueling stations and electric vehicle charging stations, purchasing alternative fuel and electric vehicles, diesel and propane retrofits, idle reduction systems, and more.  See link HERE for a list of projects supported by the CFAT project.

“The CFAT project aims to promote and accelerate the adoption of new clean transportation technologies,” said Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC. 

Propelling Public Education on Clean Transportation Technologies

The initial CFAT project started by Tazewell also included education and outreach activities that included billboards, workshops and conferences that continue today with Ride & Drive and Vehicle Displays for a variety of audiences to provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about clean transportation technologies including electric vehicles (EVs) and other alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), along with dealers and local EV drivers onsite to answer questions about the driving experience behind the wheel of an EV. 

The Student Art Contest is another annual event hosted by the NCCETC. Students from kindergarten, middle and high schools across North Carolina are invited to submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state. Earlier this month, NCCETC announced the 2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest winners. 

Heather Brutz created the Student Art Contest while drawing on her previous experience as a middle school teacher. “The art contest is an engaging way to get young people involved in spreading awareness about the ways we can reduce air pollution from vehicles,” Brutz said. Students were asked to create art focused on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep the air clean. NCCETC congratulated three artists located in Kernersville, Hampstead, and Cary, NC.

SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT

At the end of 2020, NCCETC partnered with Roanoke Electric Cooperative to demonstrate cutting edge vehicle-to-grid technology. For two years the Cooperative worked with Fermata Energy to pilot the first electric vehicle charging system that meets the North American standard for two-way current as verified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Findings from the demonstration show the positive economic potential for using bidirectional charging technologies to feed energy stored in electric vehicle batteries back to charging sites, especially when the grid is experiencing high demand.

As the market share of EVs continues to grow, there is a nationwide call to establish robust charging infrastructure and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to fuel transportation electrification in the U.S. To assist planners and developers in selecting the perfect site to fit their charging needs, NCCETC recently developed a customizable tool for prioritizing the placement of EV chargers. The EVSE Suitability GIS product is not only able to consider several variables relevant to determining charging infrastructure siting benefits, but also has a custom weighting function so developers can tailor the weight of each variable being considered to their unique situation. 

NCCETC’s Alexander Yoshizumi coordinated with Roanoke Electric Cooperative while creating the EVSE Suitability GIS tool, identifying factors to include in the suitability tool in addition to the approximate weight that each factor should be given. The GIS product was created using data for the five counties covered by Roanoke Electric Cooperative: Bertie, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, and Northampton.

Last year, NCCETC staff provided assistance to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) as they applied for grant funding to support cleaner student transportation in North Carolina.  Following their groundbreaking award of VW Settlement funds for a new electric school bus in 2021, the EBCI received notice from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an award for four additional electric school buses in 2022. EBCI will be replacing five diesel school buses with four new electric buses in collaboration with the Cherokee Boys Club (CBC) and the NCCETC. This award marked The Eastern Band as the first tribe east of the Mississippi to be awarded grant funding through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program administered by the EPA.

The staff at NCCETC provides technical assistance to fleets interested in building toward a sustainable fleet. The Clean Transportation team has previously assisted municipalities such as the Town of Apex and Morrisville to assess their fleet utilization and ultimately transition to  zero-emission vehicles and electrify their fleet. 

This article is part of a series highlighting the work done by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center throughout its history in celebration of its 35th Anniversary. View the previous article to learn how the Training program at NCCETC provides educational opportunities for individuals to get the training and credentials they need to launch their clean energy careers and supports professionals seeking to integrate clean energy into their day-to-day work.
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2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Winners Share Their Story

Students from kindergarten, middle, and high schools across North Carolina were invited to submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state for the sixth annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest hosted by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC).

Students were asked to create art focused on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep the air clean. NCCETC congratulated three artists located in Kernersville, Hampstead, and Cary, NC. 

Heather Brutz, Director of NCCETC’s Clean Transportation Program, created the Student Art Contest while drawing on her previous experience as a middle school teacher. “The art contest is an engaging way to get young people involved in spreading awareness about the ways we can reduce air pollution from vehicles,” Brutz said. 

Air pollution can harm children and adults in many ways. The American Lung Association reports that particle pollution and ozone are a threat to human health at every stage of life, increasing the risk of premature birth, causing or worsening lung and heart disease, and shortening lives. According to the 2023 “State of the Air” report, more than 1 in 3 Americans live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. 

“Clean air is vital for health,” said Brutz. “Children are not only more susceptible to harm from air pollution, but are also more likely to be exposed to it than adults. Exposure to air pollution for children can be harmful to the growth and development or their lungs and breathing ability, increasing their chances of getting asthma, which is a life-long detriment to their health.”

Brutz tried a variety of different teaching methods to capture students’ attention during her teaching days, and artwork emerged as a powerful tool to do so. “That thinking is what inspired me to first come up with the idea for the art contest- I wanted to find a new way to reach our audience than what we were already doing,” she explained. “Young people have a lot of creativity and I wanted to capture that self-expression and merge it with an opportunity to learn more about transportation technologies and practices that help improve air quality.”

NCCETC received submissions from students in elementary, middle and high schools across the state. “I’m very pleased with the number of submissions we received this year. More than 80 elementary, middle and high school students participated,” Brutz said. “It was a very competitive year for selecting winners, and while we are only able to choose three winners to have their artwork displayed on billboards, every single young artist who took time to participate should feel proud of their contribution.” 

To learn what clean air means to them, we asked the winners some questions about their artwork:

Elementary School Winner – Sophia Mira DeBusk | Piney Grove Elementary School | Kernersville, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I wanted to enter the contest because of how recent incidents (of forest fires before in CA now in Canada) have impacted our air quality to a lower condition than before. This makes me sad, and I wanted to attract attention to this problem. I believe we can make a difference through art.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

I wanted to show that it’s important to prevent air pollution. At the center of my picture, there is a car. That car is dividing tree to two as if it is killing it, but you can also see flowers are coming from exhaust because if we can use clean energy, cars may not be that harmful to nature. 

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

“Keep Our Air Clean” means to keep the atmosphere healthy. I think keeping our air clean is important because breathing harmful gasses is not good for you or the wildlife around you.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

I have been composting as much as I can so that less waste goes to landfills to be burnt. I also ride the bus to school so that there are less pollutants coming from our car. Also, my family and I plant trees because trees are lungs of the nature and help keep air clean. I planted my first tree when I was 4 with Virginia Tech community on a creek week.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was so excited that I jumped! I didn’t really expect it, but I am so happy that I have won now.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope people will take it as advice to help keep our air healthy along with me and many others who believe good air quality is important. I hope they can really see that we have a beautiful world to live in, and we need to treat our nature kindly if we want to live healthily. This is important not only for people but also animals and plants.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I think having my artwork up on a billboard will do something to get all people of North Carolina to help renew our air to a better state. Thanks for this contest. It made me think more about our air.

Middle School Winner – Caiya Medlin | Surf City Middle School | Hampstead, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered because I think the contest really has a great impact on North Carolina. Art is an amazing way to express ideas, and so I am using this opportunity to speed awareness on global issues such as idling cars. 

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

I created an art piece with cars and the message “Stop Idling” on billboards throughout our state to raise awareness about the harmful effects of vehicle idling on the environment. My goal is to inspire people to take action and change their habits. Let’s work together to reduce unnecessary idling, protect air quality, and create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

“Keep Our Air Clean” means ensuring the preservation of air quality for the well-being of our planet and all living beings. To me, it signifies the responsibility we have to maintain a sustainable and healthy environment by minimizing pollution and harmful emissions.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

In my life, I am constantly using clean modes of transportation to lower my carbon footprint. My town, Surf City, is becoming a more pedestrian-friendly town everyday. I often find myself walking to get dinner, or to the beach. I am Also an avid user of my trusty skateboard, that can get me anywhere I need to go.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was so excited! I honestly had to double check to see if the email was correct, because I was so blown away. I have been entering this art contest for 3 years now, so when I have finally won, I felt really accomplished!

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope that when people see my art work, they will just stop to think. Well, not actually stop, we are on the road! I just want people to recognize the meaning of my work and what it stands for.

High School Winner – Audrey Song | Cary Academy | Cary, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered this contest because I was motivated to utilize my artistic abilities and contribute to the cause of promoting clean air. The breathtaking beauty of nature that surrounds me daily, too, serves as a constant inspiration. I firmly believe in the transformative power of art to inspire change and raise awareness. Thus, I saw this contest as a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact through my artwork.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

Through my artwork, I aim to convey the simple importance of keeping our air clean in a way that is accessible and relatable. I wanted to express that maintaining clean air can be a manageable task without excessive effort or complex solutions. Instead, it should be viewed as something enjoyable, simple, and integral to our daily lives.

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

To me, “Keep Our Air Clean” signifies an appreciation for life and the well-being of our future generations. It encompasses the notion that clean air is essential not only for our planet’s health but also for our communities thriving. By spreading the message to keep our air clean, we are actively taking responsibility for preserving our limited yet essential resources and acknowledging the action we need to take.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

Absolutely! One of my favorite activities is walking, especially hiking. Recently, I went on a week-long hiking/camping trip in Linville Gorge with my classmates through the Wilderness Club at my school, Cary Academy, to appreciate the areas of nature where our air is clean. These experiences serve as a constant reminder of the importance of our environment and motivate me to make sustainable choices such as walking, using public transportation, and generally adopting energy-efficient practices.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

When I received the news of winning the contest, I was just overwhelmed with excitement. It was an incredible honor, and I still find it hard to believe that my artwork was selected as the winning piece for the High School age group. Sharing my voice and contributing to the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s mission is truly a humbling and gratifying experience.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope to raise awareness and foster a sense of environmental consciousness among the public through my art. When people see my artwork, I aim to capture their attention through visual appeal and inspire them to take action and positively impact their lives by using less fossil fuel-powered transportation. By provoking conversations and spreading awareness, I aspire to instigate a ripple effect of change that motivates individuals to prioritize and actively work toward keeping our air clean.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the NC Clean Energy Center and everyone involved in making this contest possible. This opportunity is not only incredible for me but for many other aspiring artists as well. I am also immensely thankful for the Wilderness Club offered at my school, which has provided me with fantastic experiences and inspired me to be more environmentally conscious. Participating in the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s Art Contest and having my artwork recognized has been a true honor.

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New Resource from NCCETC is Your Guide to Home Energy Upgrades with the Inflation Reduction Act

If you are considering making energy improvements to your home, you may be eligible for financial incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has released a new Word to the Wise resource to help you become a better educated consumer and navigate the financial incentives offered to you by electric utilities, localities, states, or the federal government. This edition of the Word to the Wise features “Your Guide to Home Energy Upgrades with the Inflation Reduction Act” and includes information about the many incentives expanded or made available via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). To help as many interested individuals as possible, NCCETC has also produced a version en español: Unas Palabras para el Sabio – “Su Guía para Mejorar su Energía en la Casa con la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación.”

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the most significant action Congress has taken on clean energy and climate change in the nation’s history. The bill includes $370 billion in investments committed to building a new clean energy economy through a combination of grants, loans, rebates, incentives and other investments.

“The IRA isn’t just for those in the industrial or commercial sectors,” noted Justin Lindemann, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Homeowners, renters, landlords, and building owners can participate in the national effort to decarbonize, electrify, and upgrade their energy efficiency through tax credits, deductions, and even forthcoming rebate programs.”

Residential customers interested in making certain energy efficient updates to their homes could qualify for home energy tax credits to lessen the cost of these upgrades. Some two dozen tax provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will save families money on their energy bills and accelerate the deployment of clean energy, clean vehicles, clean buildings, and clean manufacturing.

DSIRE Insight, a project of NCCETC, previously published a blog post – “The Many Incentives for Homeowners in the Inflation Reduction Act” – discussing provisions in the IRA that target the residential sector. The post provides an overview of five tax credits that can benefit homeowners or prospective car owners which are available now as well as future incentives currently in development as a result of the IRA.

The IRA expanded the credit amounts and types of qualifying expenses, giving taxpayers multiple opportunities to offset the cost of energy and energy efficiency upgrades, from tax credits to rebates; as well as a tax deduction for owners of multifamily buildings over three stories. Lindemann added, “Through these incentives, even low to moderate-income communities have the chance to purchase technologies and install equipment that can make their homes resilient against changes in our climate.”

The bill distributes $4.3 billion to state energy offices through 2031 to implement the Home Energy Performance-Based Whole-House Rebate (HOMES) programs. The state energy offices will determine the final design of these programs, but the Inflation Reduction Act provides the broad parameters and sets the maximum incentive levels. Larger incentives will be available for qualifying low- or moderate-income houses.

The North Carolina State Energy Office has announced it will receive nearly $200 million in funding provided by the IRA to help make energy efficiency upgrades to single and multi-family homes in North Carolina. The Inflation Reduction Act Home Rebates guidance that can be found here on the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s website explains these rebates are split into two programs; the HOMES program and the High-Efficiency Electric Home rebate program (HEEH).

As with the HOMES program, the IRA establishes the general guidelines for the HEEH and the maximum incentives that the resulting programs can provide. The bill also includes a list of the appliance types and non-appliance upgrades eligible for incentives through the program, including heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric stoves, cooktop ranges, electric heat pump clothes dryers, insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and electric wiring.

Heat pumps are a clean, affordable and efficient substitute for traditional fossil fuel furnaces and other heating/cooling systems. “The Good Kind of Global Heating (And Cooling)” article delves into the incentives stipulated in the IRA as well as state incentives currently available to support clean technologies like heat pumps.

The State Energy Office also provides a table summarizing the maximum allowed rebate amounts defined in the law for different types of home efficiency and electrification projects. Currently, the State Energy Office is soliciting public input on how to make rebates easily accessible. Click here to submit comments.

If you are not a North Carolina resident, you can find the State Energy Office in your state for updates on program availability by clicking here.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides more guidance for taxpayers interested in Home Energy Tax Credits. You can claim either the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit or the Residential Energy Clean Property Credit for the year when you make qualifying improvements according to the IRS.

Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to learn more about federal, state and utility policies and incentives to assist with paying for energy-saving home improvements or purchases. Maintained and operated by the NCCETC, DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on clean energy related policies and incentives in the United States with summaries of more than 2,600 incentives and policies.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and provides a tax credit for certain energy efficient purchases by homeowners. While the credit previously had a lifetime cap of $500 and periodically expired altogether, the Inflation Reduction Act extended it through December 31, 2032 and increased its value for purchases made after December 31, 2022. The lifetime cap for the credit was removed in favor of caps on the amount of tax credit for each individual purchase or improvement, and an annual cap of $1,200 with some exceptions.

The Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit was also created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and provides a tax credit for renewable energy equipment purchased by homeowners. Previous legislation had established a phaseout of the credit, decreasing to 22% in 2023 and expiring completely in 2024. The Inflation Reduction Act delayed the phaseout of the credit and extended the expiration date. Eligible equipment placed in service by December 31, 2032 can receive a tax credit of 30%. Additionally, the IRA also made standalone energy storage systems eligible for this tax credit for the first time.

Additionally, the IRA makes several changes to the tax credit provided for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles, including adding fuel cell vehicles to the tax credit. The IRA also added a new credit for previous owned clean vehicles.

If you place in service a new plug-in electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in 2023 or after, you may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit. Find information on credits from the IRS for used clean vehicles, qualified commercial clean vehicles, and new plug-in EVs purchased before 2023. The IRS has also released a fact sheet with frequently asked questions related to new, previously owned and qualified commercial clean vehicle credits.

Many of the tax credits included in the IRA allow direct payments to be made in lieu of a reduction in tax liability (“direct pay”) and/or an option to monetize the credits by transferring them to an entity with greater tax liability (“transferability”). Direct pay is limited to certain tax exempt and governmental entities for most of the eligible tax credits. The U.S. Department of Energy has more information about these options in their Inflation Reduction Act Summary.

You have the power to save money and energy in your own home. U.S. homeowners and renters can find strategies for saving energy and keeping energy costs down during the spring and summer here. If you’re interested in pursuing a renewable energy option like solar power, read our tips for financing a successful and sustainable residential solar photovoltaic system.

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The 50 States of Electric Vehicles: States Examine New Fees, Utility EVSE Ownership, and Telematics Use During Q1 2023

Raleigh, NC – The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q1 2023 edition of The 50 States of Electric Vehicles. The quarterly series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

The report finds that 49 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico took actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure during Q1 2023 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions relating to rebate and grant programs; registration, mileage, or charging fees for electric vehicles; planning activities; and state procurement of electric vehicles. States also continued to take actions planning for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funding distribution.

A total of 621 electric vehicle actions were taken during Q1 2023, with the most active states being California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Texas. So far in 2023, state legislatures have considered at least 500 bills related to transportation electrification, with 14 states enacting legislation as of late April 2023.

Q1 2023 State and Utility Action on Electric Vehicles

The report discusses three trends in electric vehicle actions taken in Q1 2023: (1) states considering fees based on miles traveled or vehicle charging, (2) lawmakers addressing utility ownership of charging infrastructure, and (3) utilities increasingly using telematics to collect electric vehicle charging data.

“Many states are looking to separate the EV public charging market from the electric utility market,” said Rebekah de la Mora, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Bills preventing utilities from owning public charging stations were filed in various states, usually on the grounds of market protection. Regulators in some states have also shown concern regarding utility ownership of public EVSE.”

The report notes five of the top policy developments of the quarter:

  • Georgia and Utah lawmakers advancing electric vehicle charging taxes;
  • El Paso Electric and Xcel Energy proposing new electric vehicle programs in Texas;
  • New York regulators approving demand rate alternatives for commercial charging;
  • AEP Ohio filing an electric transportation plan as part of its electric security plan; and
  • The Colorado Energy Office releasing its 2023 electric vehicle plan.

“This quarter, additional states indicated an intention to adopt the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which require increasing percentages of zero-emission sales in their states until reaching 100% in 2035,” noted Vincent Potter, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “The Governors of Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey each announced intentions to adopt the ACC II this year. The states conducted workshops and outreach, with additional stakeholder engagement planned going forward.”

View the 50 States of Electric Vehicles 2023 Q1 Executive Summary

View and Purchase the 50 States of Electric Vehicles 2023 Q1 update FULL Report

View other 50 States Reports – Solar, Grid Modernization and Electric Vehicles

ABOUT THE N.C. CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER

The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, as part of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, advances a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices and policies. It serves as a resource for innovative, sustainable energy technologies through technology demonstration, technical assistance, outreach and training. For more information about the  Center, visit: http://www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu. Twitter: @NCCleanTech

Media Contact: Shannon Helm, NCCETC, shannon_helm@ncsu.edu

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Photo Gallery Capturing the Power of Clean Transportation at Vehicle Displays & Demonstrations

In April, hundreds of attendees joined the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University to celebrate Earth Month at vehicle displays and Ride & Drive events hosted throughout North Carolina. 

The Clean Transportation program at NCCETC propels the development, awareness and use of alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies. Ride & Drive and vehicle display events are one of the biggest opportunities to promote driver awareness and advance adoption of clean transportation technologies. These events allow drivers to experience driving electric and alternative fuel vehicles, find educational resources, and assimilate a wide variety of information about the vehicles’ operability, handling, availability, costs, environmental benefits, fun factor and more. 

Explore the lineup of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid EVs, alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), and other clean transportation technologies featured at events hosted by NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program in April through our photo gallery below. 

Clean Transportation Demonstration Days Give Government Entities Information & Experience

On April 11 and 12, NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program hosted two Demonstration Days ‒  one in Garner, North Carolina and another in Jacksonville ‒ to give government entities across North Carolina and the Southeast the opportunity to access information and experience with clean transportation technologies.

REAL-WORLD CASE STUDY RESULTS & SUCCESS STORIES

At each demonstration day, attendees heard real-world case study results and success stories during the classroom instruction portion. Key speakers and presentations included NCCETC’s Executive Director Steve Kalland, Heather Hildebrandt of the NC Department of Transportation, Annie Lee from the Triangle J Council of Governments’ Clean Cities Coalition, Sam Spofforth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,  and representatives from companies leading the way in alternative fuel options, technologies, and more. 

Pictured: Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC, introducing keynote speakers and welcoming attendees to the Clean Transportation Demonstration Days on April 11 and 12, 2023.

 

“Demonstration days give government employees hands-on experience with alternative fuel vehicles and valuable networking opportunities they can’t find anywhere else,” said Brutz. “This helps them feel empowered to share the benefits of clean transportation with others in their work.” 

 

Heather Hildebrandt of the NC Department of Transportation oversees the Statewide Initiatives Group. Hildebrandt is pictured discussing current clean transportation-related executive orders on April 11 to event attendees. Executive orders 80, 24, and 271 have set statewide targets such as reducing economy-wide emissions, increasing the total number of registered zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and developing a NC Advanced Clean Trucks rule. 

Representatives from Alliance Autogas, Potter EV, Cenntro, Cary Cartco, Pioneer eMobility and Electrify EVSE presented on technologies and strategies like telematics, safety, idle reduction technologies, vehicle electrification, and other opportunities for improving fleet sustainability. Pictured, Pioneer eMobility’s Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships Scott Bradley discusses how the company has developed mobile off-grid charging solutions for EVs.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE 

Following classroom instruction, attendees were invited to view and test drive a diverse display of vehicles and alternative fuel technologies such as light-duty vehicles, buses, police vehicles, utility vehicles, charging equipment and more. Certain EVs and AFVs were also available for attendees to take for a test drive so they could experience the power of clean transportation themselves.

 

Ride & Drive Events for the General Public

NC State University and its local community were invited to test drive EVs at NCCETC’s Earth Day EV Ride & Drive at The Corner on NC State University’s Centennial Campus on April 21, 2023. Students as well as the surrounding community were invited to explore alternative fuel vehicles and grab lunch from a food truck across the street. Some of the vehicles featured at the event included a Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ioniq Electric, Kia EV6, Kia Niro Electric, Nissan Leaf, Polestar 2, and a Toyota RAV4 Prime.

Look out for more Ride & Drive events you can attend this fall! Stay tuned and keep up with clean transportation news by signing up for the newsletter.

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NCCETC Drives Awareness & Adoption of Clean Transportation Technologies at Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration Days

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University welcomed hundreds of attendees celebrating Earth Month for two Clean Transportation Demonstration Days as well as several vehicle displays and Ride & Drive events hosted throughout April.

The Clean Transportation program at NCCETC hosts Ride & Drive and Vehicle Displays for a variety of audiences to provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about clean transportation technologies including electric vehicles (EVs) and other alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), along with dealers and local EV drivers onsite to answer questions about the driving experience behind the wheel of an EV. 

 

On April 11 and 12, NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program hosted two Demonstration Days ‒  one in Garner, North Carolina and another in Jacksonville ‒ to give government entities across North Carolina and the Southeast the opportunity to access information and experience with clean transportation technologies.

Attendees were able to hear real-world case study results and learn about the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization during the classroom instruction portion of the event. Key speakers and presentations included NCCETC’s Executive Director Steve Kalland, Heather Hildebrandt of the NC Department of Transportation, Annie Lee from the Triangle J Council of Governments’ Clean Cities Coalition, Sam Spofforth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,  and representatives from companies leading the way in alternative fuel options, technologies, and more. 

Speakers from Alliance Autogas, Potter EV, Cenntro, Cary Cartco, Pioneer eMobility and Electrify EVSE presented on topics such as telematics, safety, idle reduction technologies, vehicle electrification, and other strategies that improve fleet sustainability. The Southeast Propane Alliance and Propane Education and Research Council were also sponsors of the event. An overview of the presentation slides are available to download on NCCETC’s website.

Following classroom instruction, attendees explored a diverse display of vehicles and alternative fuel technologies such as electric and alt-fuel vehicles, buses, police vehicles, utility vehicles, charging equipment and more. View the graphic below for a preview of the display lineup.

“Demonstration days are a great opportunity for government employees to gain hands-on experience with alternative fuel vehicles and network with others to learn more about the benefits of clean transportation,” said Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC. Attendees were even able to test drive some of the vehicles themselves or ride-along as they took a lap around the track. 

The local community in Raleigh, NC was also able to test drive electric vehicles at NCCETC’s Earth Day EV Ride & Drive at The Corner on NC State University’s Centennial Campus on April 21, 2023. Students as well as the surrounding community were invited to explore alternative fuel vehicles and grab lunch from a food truck across the street. Some of the vehicles featured at the event included a Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ioniq Electric, Kia EV6, Kia Niro Electric, Nissan Leaf, Polestar 2, and a Toyota RAV4 Prime.

 

The following day, on Earth Day, NCCETC joined the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, the regional EV Association Chapter, TEVA of NC, and the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition for an electric vehicle showcase booth at the 18th Annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair. Attendees were able to see, feel and sit in EVs from the region while getting answers to questions from EV owners themselves. 

NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program propels the development, awareness and use of alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies. Our clean transportation program’s outreach and education initiatives include workshops, meetings, conferences and communication campaigns highlighting the benefits of using clean transportation technologies- from alternative fuel to sustainable fleet management.

NCCETC recently published two new resources to support individuals and organizations planning a ride and drive and vehicle display event:

  1. NC Ride and Drive and Vehicle Display Guidebook for the General Public
    • This guidebook provides answers to frequently asked questions about hosting Ride & Drive and Vehicle Display events to target the general public.
  2. NC Ride and Drive and Vehicle Display Guidebook for Specialized Audiences
    • This guidebook provides answers to frequently asked questions about hosting Ride & Drive and Vehicle Display events to target specialized audiences.

NCCETC hosts several Ride & Drive events throughout the year for a variety of audiences. For general audiences, NCCETC hosts Ride & Drive events at public events such as NC State University football games where fans are invited to explore a lineup of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles before kickoff during the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration & Tailgate event.

Specialized events are held for handpicked audiences. The audience can represent special interest groups such as fleet managers, law enforcement, first responders or emergency management, policy makers, and state and local government personnel. NCCETC’s Clean Transportation Demonstration Days for government entities are one example of these specialized events.

Ride and drive and vehicle display events are one of the biggest opportunities to promote driver awareness and advance the adoption of clean transportation technologies. These events enable interested drivers to experience driving EVs and AFVs, find educational resources, and assimilate a wide variety of information about the vehicles’ operability, handling, availability, costs, environmental benefits, fun factor and more. We hope these event guidebooks will empower others to start hosting ride and drive events in their own communities!

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Vote Now: “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Polls Open

The polls are open for the “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest – vote now for your favorites!

Vote for your favorite art in each age category (kindergarten through high school). Artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples: walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more.

Winners in each category will be featured on billboards across the state!

The contest poll closes at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17.

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on nccleantech.ncsu.edu and FuelWhatMatters.org. For more information or any questions, email Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.

Vote Now to Support a Student’s Artwork→

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NC Cooperative Demonstration of Vehicle-to-Grid Smart Charger Concludes with Positive Results

As electric vehicles (EVs) build market share across the United States, it will be increasingly important to balance the rising demand for charging services at times when the grid has excess capacity, reducing the total costs for grid services instead of increasing them. Bidirectional charging through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology has the capability to deploy demand-response actions to ease concerns, however, and add resilience benefits while decarbonizing emergency generation.

Findings from a two-year demonstration of a V2G technology in North Carolina show the positive economic potential for using bidirectional charging technologies to feed energy stored in electric vehicle batteries back to charging sites, especially when the grid is experiencing high demand. The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) along with Advanced Energy, Enpira, Clean Energy Works, and the Environmental Defense Fund observed this powerful demonstration of a bidirectional charger and software platform from Fermata Energy.

Roanoke Electric Cooperative’s (REC) headquarters in the rural town of Ahoskie, North Carolina, served as the test site for Fermata Energy’s FE-15 bidirectional charger along with the cooperative’s two Nissan LEAF Plus cars. The Nissan LEAF has led the way in the fully electric passenger vehicle market that is capable of vehicle-to-grid technologies in the United States. The market has since grown with the vehicle-to-building capable F-150 Lightning, the Hyundai IONIQ, and the Kia EV6 expanding the development of V2X technologies.

NCCETC Clean Transportation Specialist, John Bonitz said, “We’re honored to be involved in pilot programs like this demonstration at Roanoke Electric Cooperative that can help make fleet electrification more economically viable by proving the value of integrating V2B and V2G technology to shave peaks, improve grid optimization and increase resilience — all while helping the cooperative and its members save money.”

Quantifying the potential value streams from bidirectional charging allows utilities to begin considering incentive payments and other EV program options for customers and members. By demonstrating significant positive value, this study encourages utilities in similar market conditions to help customers overcome the financial barriers to purchasing an EV, particularly in low- and moderate-income areas where these costs may restrict EV adoption. Roanoke is also considering a demand response program to incentivize EV growth and use the storage capacity to reduce peak demand and other charges while at the same time helping to make the transition to EVs more affordable for customers.

A bidirectional EV can receive energy (charge) from electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) such as the FE-15 and provide energy to an external load (discharge) when it is paired with a similarly capable EVSE. “Bidirectional chargers, simply put, can unlock new value streams by enabling energy to go into the car’s batteries or, when needed, can discharge energy back into the grid, a building, a house, or any electrical load,” explained John Bonitz. EV owners can use bidirectional charging to save money with their local electric utility, thus reducing the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.

With only vehicle-to-building use cases, REC demonstrated monthly gross savings that exceed the monthly lease cost for its EVs. Use of the bidirectional EVs as mobile battery storage reduced behind-the-meter electricity costs through three use cases: peak load reduction and load following, backup generator support while the building was islanded from the grid, and coincident peak demand reduction.

Peak load reduction shrinks the cooperative’s building’s monthly demand from the electrical grid, which can generally decrease the facility’s electric bill; load following adjusts the power output from an EV’s batteries as the building’s load increases and decreases; and coincident peak demand is when the cooperative’s peak coincides with the overall grid-system’s peak, thus helping both the electric cooperative, the local region and its customers by minimizing pollution generating sources while reducing electric service costs for all member-owners.

Smart charging and discharging solutions with V2X can be programmed to meet the fleet operator’s needs. V2G systems can schedule responses to system-wide peak demand events in advance, so a fleet manager can choose to reserve the vehicle for the grid (or building) at that time while leaving the vehicle plugged in. After the bidirectional event, the V2G system allows scheduled recharging to be programmed to meet fleet needs while providing transparency on the monetary value the vehicle can provide at different times for grid operations. Alternatively, the fleet manager or vehicle operator can choose a program to prioritize the readiness of the vehicle for transportation first, and grid-support services second.

Fermata Energy’s FE-15 can provide 15 kilowatts (kW) of power to the car and back to the site served by the grid. REC schedules dispatch of the onboard battery in response to predicted peaks, which usually last two to three hours. Using only one of REC’s Nissan LEAFs, the bidirectional charging system has been able to reduce the cooperative’s load and lower system-wide peak demand charges in 11 out of 22 months – every time the peak window was successfully predicted and communicated by the energy suppliers.

In addition to system-wide peak demand response, bidirectional charging can be used for demand charge management for building peak load reduction and load following. Despite having relatively modest demand charges of $9.50/kW, Fermata Energy’s software and charger strategically dispatched the Nissan LEAF battery to reduce REC’s headquarters’ building demand charges, resulting in savings in 16 out of 24 months.

“The combined value streams produced gross savings for REC of more than $3,200 per year, per charger – that’s greater than the lease cost of the EV,” Bonitz said. “The value of this single unit hints at the broader potential for much greater savings when multiplied by many units, serving multiple EVs or even integrated across an entire fleet of EVs.” He further clarified these savings would be in addition to the lower operating costs and fuel savings that have long been demonstrated by electric fleet vehicles.

Both public and private fleets in the United States are looking into viable strategies to transition away from internal-combustion engine vehicles and replace them with EVs. V2G technology can ensure that EVs are charged and ready for driving, secure on-time departure, and reduce total costs of ownership by generating additional revenue for owners.

Vehicle-to-building (V2B) technology could also keep the power on for critical services, such as hospitals and shelters, during extreme weather conditions and other emergency outages, reducing or even eliminating the cumulative number of hours these essential systems have to use backup diesel generators.

The Electrification Coalition’s new guide, “V2X Implementation Guide and Mutual Aid Agreement Template for Using Vehicle-to-Everything-Enabled Electric School Buses as Mobile Power Units to Enhance Resilience During Emergencies” describes the potential to use V2X-enabled electric school buses (ESBs) as alternative emergency backup power sources during outages. The adoption of ESBs is rising as school districts and fleet operators become aware of the significant benefits: clear air for student passengers, savings on bus fuel and maintenance costs, and reduced carbon emissions. ESBs are also gaining attention for their potential to enhance critical electric infrastructure resilience and reliability. Click here to learn more about this resource and how utilizing ESBs to power critical facilities in emergencies can enhance infrastructure resilience, save lives, and strengthen our energy and national security.

On a residential scale, EV owners could use vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology to power their homes during lengthy blackouts. With a bidirectional charging system, homeowners could pull power from their vehicle’s batteries to keep fridges, lights, and heating and cooling systems on in their homes.

Bonitz said, “We’re honored to be involved in pilot programs like this demonstration at Roanoke Electric Cooperative that can help make fleet electrification more economically viable by proving the value of integrating V2G technology to shave peaks, improve grid optimization and increase resilience – all while helping the cooperative and its members save money.”

Quantifying the potential value streams from bidirectional charging allows utilities to begin considering incentive payments and other EV program options for customers and members. By demonstrating significant positive value, this study encourages utilities in similar market conditions to help customers overcome the financial barriers to purchasing an EV, particularly in low- and moderate-income areas where higher EV costs slow their adoption. As the pilot program continues at Roanoke Electric, management is considering a demand response program to expand numbers of EVs by using these bidirectional value streams to help make the transition to EVs more affordable for their member-owners.

NCCETC and Advanced Energy are now sharing these lessons learned with interested parties across NC and beyond.  Other cooperative utilities are intrigued to learn of ways that these EV charging infrastructure investments can help pay for themselves while reducing overall costs for their member-owners.

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