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2022 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference a Success for the Clean Transportation Community

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The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) welcomed more than 350 registered attendees in Durham, NC for the 2022 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo. The conference showcased the latest and greatest technologies in the biofuels, electric, natural gas and propane arenas – including everything from Progress Solar’s latest mobile solar electric vehicle (EV) charging model to the diverse display of alternative fuel vehicles and other clean transportation technologies.

Over 80 speakers from a variety of backgrounds presented their ideas and best practices during the conference – highlighting the leading edge of sustainable fleet practices and clean transportation opportunities – including fleet managers, technicians, company presidents and CEOs, university professors, researchers, analysts, nonprofit managers, motivational speakers and more. “It was inspiring to see professionals from different industries and backgrounds coming together to exchange ideas for improving the sustainability of transportation in our state and beyond,” said Heather Brutz, Director of the NCCETC Clean Transportation Program.

The sixth annual Sustainable Fleet Technology (SFT) Conference was able to return in-person in 2022 for the first time since 2019, bringing together fleet professionals and decision-makers to share and discuss evolving clean transportation strategies and technologies. Brutz marked SFT 2022 as a success in meeting this objective. “We’re fostering a community where members support each other during this transition to integrate sustainable operations and technologies into their fleets,” said Brutz.

During expo hall hours, attendees were able to network with more than 60 exhibitors while exploring over a dozen vehicles inside and outside of the convention center, with displays including a Chevy Bolt, Ford E-Transit, the City of Charlotte’s Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford Mustang Mach-E, the City of Durham’s bucket truck with a plug-in electric power take-off (PTO) solution by Viatec, Lightning eMotors, Thomas Built Buses Jouley Saf-T-Liner C2 electric school bus, Zero Motorcycles, an Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast Charger from Siemens, Progress Solar’s Mobile Solar Light Tower solution, XL Flee’s Hybrid Electric Upfit, Cenntro’s all-electric Logistar 400 and off-road utility task vehicle ORV, a long-range electric low-speed vehicle from Carolina Industrial Equipment, and more.

“This year the expo hall was full of a lot of electrifying conversations,” said John Bonitz, Clean Transportation Specialist at NCCETC. “There’s a lot of opportunities coming from recent federal and state actions encouraging creativity from both the manufacturers and the end-users.”

During the pre-conference day, NAFA Fleet Management Association hosted a Sustainable Fleet Management Program Boot Camp before announcing the 2022 winners of the 100 Best Fleets and Green Fleet Awards. Triangle Clean Cities also hosted the Triangle Electric Vehicle Summit, and Cenntro vehicles were available for the ride & drive outside of the convention center.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Keynote speakers John Konkel, Director of GM Fleet in the Southeast Region, and Robert Gordon, Fleet Management Deputy Director in Dekalb County kicked off day one of SFT 2022.

SFT Conference tracks included Vehicle Applications, Fueling Infrastructure, and Planning & Technology. Attendees were able to choose from 12 breakout sessions across the tracks:

  • Alternative Fuel Vehicle Emissions Reductions & Case Studies
  • Best Practices for Managing Fleet Charging Equipment
  • Telematics: Realtime Information for Optimizing Fleet Performance & Safety
  • Hydrogen as a Transportation Solution
  • Charging Equipment Service & Maintenance for Reliability
  • Considerations & Opportunities for Rural Communities
  • Alternative Fuel Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Case Studies
  • Alternative Fuel Resilience Considerations
  • Funding & Financing Your Sustainable Fleet
  • Understanding Batteries
  • Considerations in EVSE Networking, Communications & Specifications
  • Idle Reduction an Easy Win

The plenary panel Industry Roundtable: Getting the Win in Sustainable Fleet was moderated by John Davis, Emmy® Award-winning producer, host and creator of MotorWeek. The panel featured Ted Koupparis of General Motors Fleet, Patrick Campbell of Cummins, Dawn Fenton of Volvo Group North America, Stuart Weidie of Alliance AutoGas, and Patrick Scully of Ballard Fuel Systems.

Stuart Weidie spoke of the long future of the internal combustion engine and the viable role for propane and other alternative fuels, a view shared by others on the panel. They examined the current state of sustainable transportation and identified opportunities for overcoming barriers to meeting goals for today and the future.

Dawn Fenton outlined two of the barriers many heavy-duty fleets face when building toward a sustainable fleet: the lack of established infrastructure for refueling alternative fuel vehicles and the need for incentives on local and nationwide scales.

Fenton said recent federal programs like those outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act have the potential to help public fleets overcome these obstacles. The Act includes expansions and extensions of utility-scale tax credits and rebates to incentivize the purchase of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks as well as its associated refueling infrastructure.

“Many utilities have also established make-ready programs to help lower the cost of infrastructure for heavy-duty fleet vehicles and equipment,” Fenton added.

Day two began with plenary panel Leadership Triple Play featuring Motivational Speaker & Scottsdale-based Leadership Development Coach Ramsey Bergeron of Bergeron Wellbeing, Lonnie Mayne of Red Shoes Living, Inc. and City of Orlando’s Facilities Management Division Manager David Dunn. The panel highlighted principles for fleet managers to employ to help their organizations successfully embrace change and improve results.

Later that day, Robbie Astrop, Sr. Business Development Manager at ABM moderated the plenary panel Industry Roundtable: Delivering Electrons for Transportation Electrification. Speakers on the panel were Todd Ritter, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of EvStructure; James Tillman, Sr. Vice President Business Development, Brytemove Energy; Sean Ackley, EV & Mobility Segment Lead of Hitachi Energy; and Anne Blair, Electrification Coalition’s Director of Policy.

Sean Ackley, an engineering graduate of NC State University, has had a career focus on electrical infrastructure technologies and execution projects. As Hitachi America’s resident expert on EV technologies, Ackley leverages his background in cloud managed services, product development, testing interoperability, and construction project management in facilitating critical thinking around the transition of large fleets to electric powertrain.

Ackley knows the transition to alternative fuel of large fleets is no small feat and he expressed that during the panel. “It’s a whole ecosystem,” said Ackley. “We’re changing the world.”

Ackley stressed the importance of future-proofing technology to support the expansion of infrastructure and equipment as it evolves. “Start early, think ahead, and get creative,” Ackley advised when asked about specific strategies for load management and deployment.

Overall, the panelists agreed that transitioning fleets to electric vehicles is a multi-aspect process that involves planning, coordination, maintenance, strategies for managing electrical load, and more. The roundtable discussion focused on charging options, use cases, policies and strategies to meet today’s needs, as well as what is needed to further transportation electrification.

Industry Roundtable: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Electric Vehicle Portfolio Planning was the conference’s final plenary panel and joined together several major OEMs to share their plans and investments related to bringing a light-duty EV line-up to market from what is available to what is coming.

”A lot of OEMs have been announcing major developments in regards to electric vehicle offerings within their portfolio,” said Brutz, who moderated the panel’s speakers: Bryan Chapman, Southeast Government Sales Account Manager, Stellantis NA; Ted Koupparis, Sales Enablement Manager, General Motors Fleet; James Morgan, Government Sales Manager, Ford Motor Company; Mark Namuth, Manager, Fleet Commercial Sales, Nissan; and Scott Bargatze, Southeast Commercial Sales Manager, Nissan.

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 2023 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference – sign up for the clean transportation newsletter now!

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Kick Off National Drive Electric Week With the NC Clean Energy Technology Center

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National Drive Electric Week starts this month, September 23 through October 2, 2022! National Drive Electric Week, or NDEW, is an annual event in the United States celebrating all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The national campaign is presented by Plug in America, Sierra Club and Electric Auto Association and consists of hundreds of free events across the nation. 

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) is kicking off this year’s National Drive Electric Week at the Wake Forest versus Clemson University football game Saturday, September 24. Before the game begins, fans are invited to join the NCCETC for a tailgate and plug-in electric vehicle (EV) car show at Truist Field on Wake Forest University’s campus. The following Thursday, September 29, NCCETC is hosting another EV car show and demonstration with test drives at Venture Plaza on NC State’s Centennial Campus. 

National Drive Electric Week began in 2011 to provide free, helpful and in-depth information for those beginning their electric vehicle journey. Today, more than two million EVs have been sold in the United States, and 90 percent of EV drivers report they will purchase another EV for their next vehicle, according to a recent survey conducted by Plug In America. 

NDEW events help spread awareness about the benefits of driving electric, including decreased emissions, fuel savings and enhanced performance of electric vehicles. Thousands of North Carolinians attend National Drive Electric week events each year, and there are currently ten individual events currently scheduled for this year across the state. 

The Clean Transportation Program at NCCETC has participated in the national campaign for several years now and, in 2021, sponsored two in-person EV ride and drive events in addition to two virtual webinars on electric vehicle topics including innovative charging solutions and idle reduction. 

“Every year during National Drive Electric Week events, we give people the opportunity to get their hands on an EV and ask EV owners all of their questions,” explained Heather Brutz, Clean Transportation Program Director for NCCETC. “When they leave, they are confident in making their next vehicle purchase electric and even come back to showcase their new EVs to get others to make the switch at future events!”

Learn more about upcoming events and register to attend by visiting the links listed below. 

Those interested in going electric can also explore a variety of EVs and their drivers’ experiences driving electric through our Electric Driver Profile series. NCCETC previously sat down with seven EV drivers to hear about the benefits of going electric.

Our newest EV Driver Profile features Kelly Witter, a recent EV owner who shared, “EVs are quiet, have fewer moving parts and reduce air pollution and fossil fuel use. Plus, charging at public stations is more enjoyable than gas stations and I can be productive while I charge.”

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The 50 States of Electric Vehicles: Zero-Emission Buses, Charging-As-A-Service Programs, and Demand Charge Alternatives Addressed During Q2 2022

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Raleigh, NC – (August 5, 2022) The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q2 2022 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 47 states and the District of Columbia took actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure during Q2 2022 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions relating to rebate and  grant programs, rate design for vehicle charging, and state procurement of electric vehicles.

A total of 569 electric vehicle actions were taken during Q2 2022, with the most active states being Massachusetts, California, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey. So far in 2022, at least 82 bills related to transportation electrification have been enacted across 35 states.

Q2 2022 State and Utility Action on Electric Vehicles

The report discusses three trends in electric vehicle actions taken in Q2 2022: (1) states encouraging zero-emission school bus deployment, (2) utilities proposing charging-as-a-service programs, and (3) states and utilities continuing to examine demand charge alternatives for commercial charging.

“There was a flurry of legislative activity across the second quarter. Along with expanding some existing financing programs to include EV infrastructure, legislators ordered the creation of new incentive programs, implemented new or more stringent procurement targets, and even weighed in on permitting issues,” observed Rebekah de la Mora, Policy Analyst at NCCETC.

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

  • Indiana and New Jersey regulators approving new utility incentive programs;
  • Maine lawmakers adopting zero-emission vehicle targets;
  • The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission approving new electric vehicle charging rates;
  • Arizona utilities filing transportation electrification plans; and
  • California regulators filing proposed regulations establishing targets for zero-emission vehicle sales.

“We have seen utilities developing creative programs for EVs,” noted Brian Lips, Senior Policy Project Manager at NCCETC. “From subscription rates coupled with managed charging, to EV service equipment tariffs, utilities are exploring new services to offer their customers.”

View the 50 States of Electric Vehicles Q2 2022 Executive Summary
View and Purchase the 50 States of Electric Vehicles Q2 2022 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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2022 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Winners Share Their Story

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In the fifth year of the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC)’s “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest, students in North Carolina from kindergarten through high school submitted their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state. 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 Morrisville, Weddington and Raleigh, N.C. 

The art contest originated from Heather Brutz, Interim Director of the Clean Transportation Program at NCCETC, who thought of the Student Art Contest while recalling her previous experience as a middle school teacher. “I hoped the contest could engage young people’s creativity to help spread awareness about the ways we can reduce air pollution from vehicles,” Brutz said. 

Air pollution is one of the ways climate change impacts our health today, with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reporting almost 9 out of 10 people who live in urban areas worldwide are affected by air pollution. The NIEHS explains air pollution can affect lung development and increase the amount and seriousness of lung disease and asthma. Children, the elderly, and people living in areas with high levels of air pollution are especially susceptible. 

“Clean air is vital for health,” Brutz said. “This is true for people of all ages, but there is research that shows that exposure to air pollution for kids increases their chances of getting asthma, which affects their health for the rest of their lives.”

As a teacher, Brutz would try a variety of different teaching methods to capture students’ attention. “I applied that same thinking when I first came up with the idea for the art contest- I wanted to engage a different audience than we sometimes interact with in our other educational activities at the Center and engage that audience in a different way than what we were already doing,” explained Brutz. “Artwork is a powerful tool and I was excited to find a way to work together with young artists to help spread the message about ways we can keep our air clean.” 

NCCETC received submissions from students in elementary, middle and high schools across the state. “It’s always rewarding to see how creative students are with their work,” said Brutz. “Although we are only able to choose three winners whose artwork will be displayed on billboards, every single young artist who submitted 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 – Sudeep Asam | Morrisville Elementary School | Morrisville, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I want to express my feelings in the “keep our air clean” contest.

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

My artwork expresses how pollution spoils our environment and ways to stop the pollution and be a solution.

What does “keep our air clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

If our air is clean, people and nature stay healthy.

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

Yes, I do walking and biking.

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

I feel very happy.

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

I am hoping my artwork inspires some of the people and will start working on stopping pollution.

Anything else you’d like to share.

Everyone should take a pledge to stop the pollution and be a solution.

Middle School Winner – Evie Frain | Weddington Middle School | Weddington, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered this contest with the purpose to show the progression of pollution, because it is commonly seen as something intangible. People often think that climate change, pollution, and global warming are far off in the future, when in reality they aren’t.

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

My artwork is meant to express that the current rate of fossil fuel burning is dangerous to both the lives of humans and the environment.

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” stresses the importance of conscientious efforts today. Clean air is needed for all living organisms, so the viability of the future depends on us acting now. 

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

I try to carpool and limit the amount of places I have to go.

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

I was surprised, I had never expected to win. I only put my artwork into the contest because I am passionate about switching to clean energy.

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

I hope people will rethink some of their own personal uses of fossil fuels and find a way to limit them.

Anything else you’d like to share.

Besides limiting fossil fuels, it’s also environmentally beneficial to recycle and reuse items.

High School Winner – Emilyn Haddock | Broughton High School | Raleigh, NC 

Why did you want to enter the contest?

​The reason why I wanted to enter the contest was to get the chance to express my artwork. There are rare times in my life I was able to have a chance to submit my artwork into a contest. Usually when I enter my creations, I do it for the sole purpose of expressing my work and have a chance for someone to review. It is nice to see my artwork being appreciated and to be seen by people.

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

​My meaning behind my artwork is to have a conscious decision between riding your bike to work or to your local grocery store then potentially spending more money on gas and burn more carbon fuel.

What does “keep our air clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

​The phrase “keep our air clean” means that keeping toxic fumes in our air we breathe. We take clean air for granted and if we don’t appreciate and take measures of keeping it clean, masks will be more ingrained to our daily routine then the pandemic. It is important to keep our air clean because having unclean air can cause health problems, terrible living conditions and people with breathing conditions will have a much harder time going outside. Keeping our air clean also means some caring about other peoples health by going to measures of reducing carbon fuel and debris in the air.

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

​Yes! I have bought my own bicycle so that I can easily travel to my local stores. Recently, I have the responsibility of buying grocery items for my parents to make dinner so having a bike makes it 10 times more faster to get to my destination and 10 times more fun.

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

​It was actually two months after I found out that I won the contest. I wish I found out sooner because I was traveling with my parents over the summer outside of America, so my phone was practically dead. Having to find out now is pretty exciting and gave me butterflies in my stomach.

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

​I hope that the next time they drive by my billboard, they would’ve use their bikes or scooters instead for the next time they wanna go out. Riding your bike is a totally different experience than just driving your car.

Anything else you’d like to share.

​The last thing I wanted to share is, I hope my local government makes more sidewalks or bike lanes for bikers like me that can travel more openly and safer for me to travel. As much as I want to make a good decision on riding my bike instead of driving, I cannot take full advantage of riding my bike to father destinations if there is no extended sidewalks for me to go. If they’re more sidewalks, I my prediction will be that more people will be willing to walk or use their scooters then traveling with cars.

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

​It was actually two months after I found out that I won the contest. I wish I found out sooner because I was traveling with my parents over the summer outside of America, so my phone was practically dead. Having to find out now is pretty exciting and gave me butterflies in my stomach.

Anything else you’d like to share.

​The last thing I wanted to share is, I hope my local government makes more sidewalks or bike lanes for bikers like me that can travel more openly and safer for me to travel. As much as I want to make a good decision on riding my bike instead of driving, I cannot take full advantage of riding my bike to father destinations if there is no extended sidewalks for me to go. If they’re more sidewalks, I my prediction will be that more people will be willing to walk or use their scooters then traveling with cars.

Thank you to all you participated in the 2022 Student Art Contest!

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Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project Accelerates Fleet Electrification with Plug-and-Play Electric Power Take-Off by Viatec

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In June 2022, the industry’s first and only production all-electric bucket truck was unveiled at the 68th Electric Utilities Fleet Managers’ Conference. The electric bucket truck’s debut was realized two years earlier than the most optimistic industry projections thanks to a unique collaboration between Viatec, Terex and Navistar/International Trucks.

Viatec shared that a project of this magnitude required a seamless collaboration between the three critical components of the all-electric bucket truck – an electric chassis, an aerial upfit and the electric power take-off system to power a full day of work. The Terex Optima 55 foot aerial device is powered by a plug-in electric power take-off (PTO) solution by Viatec and mounted on an International® Electric MV™ series chassis from Navistar’s International Trucks.

Viatec’s flagship electric PTO (ePTO) product, SmartPTO, is part of their series of zero-emissions worksite solutions for hydraulic powered applications. The SmartPTO’s 2018 pilot program first brought the electric PTO system to North Carolina municipalities after being awarded grant funding from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s (NCCETC) Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (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. “With CFAT funds, SmartPTO deployed 24 SmartPTO units in NC municipalities with significant air pollution, including Apex, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Cary.” Learn more about 2018 air quality improvement grant projects here.

Anjali Deodhar, VP of Sales at Viatec, discussed how the universal plug-and-play solution is helping the entire industry, regardless of which vehicle manufacturer they use, to adopt SmartPTO. “We believe that, for the foreseeable future, utility fleets will be an optimal combination of internal combustion chassis as well as full electric vehicle chassis,” Ms. Deodhar explained, “And the good news is- SmartPTO works as the go-to ePTO solution on both!”

Whether it’s installed on an all-electric chassis or a legacy bucket truck, SmartPTO has the benefits of enhanced safety, reduced maintenance, lower cost of ownership, and social responsibility for electric utility providers. This ePTO is built around an EPA Certified production hardened electric power train and is “Buy America” compliant. The unit is fit for utilities, tree service, sign and light companies and other aerial device applications.

On an electric vehicle (EV) chassis, exhausting a vehicle’s mileage range for the sake of powering worksite equipment is not ideal. Viatec’s SmartPTO can provide all of the power needed for worksite operation so the chassis battery power is reserved for travel and its maximum range is protected. EV’s cut down on fuel usage and reduce both environmental emissions and noise pollution.

When retrofitted on a diesel bucket truck, the electric PTO allows bucket truck crews to turn off their engine and perform work in a safe, clean and quiet environment, benefiting the owners, operators and the communities in which they work. “Hybrid trucks use their engines about 60 percent less than conventional trucks,” said Ms. Deodhar. “Truck engine maintenance and downtime can be reduced by half annually while extending the life of the vehicle by over 20 percent.”

Viatec was able to demonstrate the benefits of SmartPTO to Duke Energy in 2019 thanks to funding from the CFAT project. “By partnering with Duke’s fleet services team and with the support of their senior leadership, we were able to develop, test and deploy systems ready for real-world use,” Ms. Deodhar stated. During Viatec’s collaboration with Duke, they were able to gather feedback, rapidly implement improvements and ultimately produced a superior, production ready ePTO that Duke determined to adopt across their fleet of roughly 600 units over a 5-year period.

Investing in any sort of new technology is financially risky for fleets, Ms. Deodhar noted. “CFAT funding greatly reduced the financial risk of both Duke Energy and many NC municipalities, like the Town of Apex, that would have had to shoulder for the initial pilots of these sustainable new products,” she said. The first 24 units deployed through CFAT were funded 80 percent through grant funds and, according to Ms. Deodhar, all of these units are still being used in the field today.

Ms. Deodhar contributed the success of Viatec’s SmartPTO to the active support of their partners Duke Energy, Terex utilities, International Trucks/Navistar, Ultimaster, the South Carolina Research Authority, NCCETC and Zero Motorcycles along with other key individuals who mentored and guided Viatec on this journey. “Collaborations like these are important because every company has a unique strength and our impact is that much greater when we team up to build a more sustainable future together,” Ms. Deodhar said.

Mark Ferri, Viatec’s President and CEO, is grateful for the support CFAT funding provided in the early stages of developing SmartPTO. “The NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s support made this possible- from presenting at the Clean Cities Coalition meeting where they introduced the CFAT program, assisting with the application process, confirming our Buy America status and managing the funds during the life of the project,” Mr. Ferri stated. “The support, communication, coordination and follow up helped to guarantee our success.”

The CFAT program, which NCCETC has administered since 2006, aims to reduce transportation-related air pollution emissions by funding public and private organizations projects in 24 eligible North Carolina counties. CFAT is supported with federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds provided by the NC Department of Transportation (NC DOT). In 2022, $1.5 million in federal funding is being awarded. The 2022 CFAT Request for Proposals was released in May 2022 and applications are due Monday, August 1, 2022.

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Best Strategies for Sustainable Fleet Management Showcased at the 2022 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo

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The 6th annual Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference and Expo returns in-person for 2022! Discover the latest and greatest in sustainable fleet technology, operations and implementation at the 2022 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference on August 31 and September 1, 2022 at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, NC.

The 2022 Sustainable Fleet Technology (SFT) Conference and Expo will showcase alternative fuel technologies and operations in the biofuels, electric, natural gas, and propane arenas, with a strong focus on data-driven decisions and best practices. The event will include keynote presentations, over 50 speakers and more than 40 exhibitors with indoor vehicle/equipment on display in the expo hall. Find the full conference agenda for SFT 2022 online here.

Building toward a sustainable fleet is a multi-aspect process that involves planning, understanding, learning, tracking, analyzing, training and changing organizational culture, which can be challenging for individual fleets to navigate. SFT serves as a resource for public and private fleets by leveraging the knowledge of top performing fleets and industry experts sharing their best practices and operations for increasing vehicle fleet efficiency and sustainability.

Attendees of SFT 2022 can expect in-depth presentations from award-winning and expert speakers sharing their best practices and lessons learned to help fleets run more efficiently. Session topics include a strong focus on data-driven decisions, tools and technologies from real-world applications of fleets across the nation. From simple strategies like idle-reduction programs to more complex operations like best practices for managing fleet charging equipment, the conference agenda has it all. Each session spotlights innovative opportunities for effective sustainable fleet management.

Who should attend?

Public & Private Fleet Managers

Purchasing Officials

State Government Leaders

Municipal Government Officials

Non-Profit Stakeholders

Clean Cities Coalitions & Stakeholders

Alternative Fuel Trade Organizations

Sustainability Managers

Academic Leaders & Researchers

Wednesday, August 31 will begin with a welcome and introduction to the 2022 SFT Conference from keynote speaker John Konkel, Director of GM Fleet of General Motors. Later that day, John Konkel will join a panel of industry leaders for the keynote plenary Industry Roundtable: Getting the Win in Sustainable Fleet to discuss the current state of sustainable transportation, opportunities, obstacles and measures needed to meet today’s and future goals. The panel will be moderated by Emmy® Award-winning producer, host and creator of MotorWeek, television’s original and longest running automotive series, John Davis. Other plenary speakers on this panel include President of Alliance AutoGas, Stuart Weidie; Vice President of Volvo Group North America, Dawn Fenton; and Regional Sales Manager of Cummins Inc., Patrick Campbell.

Day two begins with plenary panel Leadership Triple Play featuring Motivational Speaker & Scottsdale-based Leadership Development Coach Ramsey Bergeron of Bergeron Wellbeing, Lonnie Mayne of Red Shoes Living, Inc. and City of Orlando’s Facilities Management Division Manager David Dunn. Two other keynote plenary sessions are also on the agenda for Thursday, September 1: Industry Round Table: Delivering Electrons for Transportation Electrification and Industry Round Table: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Electric Vehicle Portfolio Planning.

Those interested in attending SFT 2022 can find out more during a free pre-conference webinar on August 9 from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. This preview will feature information on the breakout session topics and highlighted technologies of the program, as well as select presentations from a few of the speakers on the agenda for the conference. Register for the preview webinar for free online now.

This year’s breakout session tracks are Vehicle Applications, Fueling Infrastructure, and Planning and Technology. Session topics will be:

  • Alternative Fuel Vehicle Case Studies
  • Hydrogen
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biofuels
  • Local, State, and Federal Policies & Resources
  • Considerations & Opportunities for Rural Communities
  • Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)
  • Managing Fleet Charging Equipment
  • Fleet Performance & Safety
  • Sustainable Garage & Facility Operations
  • Natural Gas
  • Idle Reduction

Pre-conference events on Tuesday, August 30 include:

  • NAFA Sustainable Fleet Management Training | 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Ride & Drive with Cenntro | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Triangle Electric Vehicle Summit  | 12 – 2 p.m.
  • NAFA 100 Best Fleets | 2:30 – 5 p.m.
  • Green Fleet Awards | 5 – 5:30 p.m.
  • Networking & Reception Event | 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Fleets and stakeholders can take advantage of early bird pricing through July 29, 2022 to register for $199. General admission early bird pricing for SFT 2022 is $249 and will increase to $299 after Friday, July 29. Registration for groups of 3 or more is $149 each, and $50 for students. For additional details, contact Heather Brutz at hmbrutz@ncsu.edu.

Don’t miss out on future updates for the 2022 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference- sign up for the clean transportation newsletter! More information about SFT 2022 can be found online here. Register for the conference here.

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center 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.

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Winners Announced for the “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest

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The winners of the fifth annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest have officially been announced by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University.

The selected artwork will be featured on billboards around North Carolina.

Elementary School Winner

Sudeep Asam | Morrisville Elementary School | Morrisville, NC

Middle School Winner

“Museum of Trees”

Evie Frain | Weddington Middle School | Weddington, NC

High School Winner

Emilyn Haddock | Broughton High School | Raleigh, NC

 

Thank you to all who participated!

 

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2022 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project Grant Funds Available Now

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For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Shannon Helm, 919-423-8340, shannon_helm@ncsu.edu

Project Contact: Heather Brutz, hmbrutz@ncsu.edu OR Rick Sapienza, 919-515-2788, resapienza@ncsu.edu

2022 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project Grant Funds Available Now

Over $1,500,000 to be awarded for transportation-related emission reductions

Raleigh, N.C. (May 12, 2022) – The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at North Carolina State University announces the following request for proposals (RFP) through the 2022 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) project. The 2022 initiative will offer $1.5 million, focused on reducing transportation-related emissions, and supported with federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funding from the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT). The primary purpose of the CFAT project is to reduce transportation-related emissions in 24 eligible North Carolina counties. 

Project proposals will be limited, none higher than $300,000 and none lower than $5,000. Applications will be due Monday, August 1, 2022. This will likely be the only solicitation for 2022. Learn more here. 

Projects located in the following counties are eligible for CFAT funding: Cabarrus, Catawba, *Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, *Haywood, *Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Nash, Orange, Person, Rowan, *Swain, Union, Wake, (*Represents partial counties). 

Projects for electric vehicle charging stations (EVSE) will be accepted within all 100 counties.

*Available funds: $1,500,000

Maximum per project award: $300,000

Minimum per project award: $5,000

Application deadline: July 1, 2022

Project period: December 5, 2022 – September 30, 2024

Click here for the 2022 CFAT Request for Proposals

Click here for the CFAT RFP FAQs

Click here for the 2022 CFAT Budget Worksheet

Click here for the 2022 CFAT RFP Application

Click here to download a guidance document with resources for how to get ready for transportation electrification and where to find detailed guides for different aspects of building EV charging infrastructure.

Click here and here to learn about previous successful CFAT projects

NOTE: Applications should be emailed to CFAT_grants@ncsu.edu.

NCCETC will host a CFAT 2022 Informational Webinar from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 16, 2022. The free webinar will present an overview of eligible projects and have Q&A to assist with application submission. Learn more and register for the webinar here.

View examples of prior successful CFAT project proposals in 2018 and 2019.

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 N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, visit: http://www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu. Twitter: @NCCleanTech
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Vote Now: 2022 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Polls Open

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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. this Sunday, May 22.

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

Vote Now

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The 50 States of Electric Vehicles: Federal Infrastructure Funding and Managed Charging Programs in Focus During Q1 2022

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Raleigh, NC – (May 4, 2022) The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q1 2022 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 all 50 states and the District of Columbia took actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure during Q1 2022 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions relating to rebate programs, grant programs, rate design for vehicle charging, and state procurement of electric vehicles.

A total of 627 electric vehicle actions were taken during Q1 2022, with the most active states being Massachusetts, Illinois, California, New York, Minnesota, and Hawaii. Activity in these states was largely driven by numerous bills related to electric vehicles. So far in 2022, 21 states have enacted legislation related to transportation electrification.

Q1 2022 State and Utility Action on Electric Vehicles

The report discusses three trends in electric vehicle actions taken in Q1 2022: (1) states planning for federal electric vehicle infrastructure funding, (2) utilities developing active managed charging pilot programs, and (3) state lawmakers addressing charging infrastructure siting issues.

“With the passage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year, many states are taking steps to plan for the use of electric vehicle infrastructure funding that will be flowing down to the states,” said Autumn Proudlove, Senior Policy Program Director at NCCETC.

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

  • Washington lawmakers approving a light-duty vehicle electrification target;
  • Utilities filing new managed charging pilots in North Carolina and Wisconsin;
  • Missouri regulators approving new utility transportation electrification programs;
  • The Governor of North Carolina increasing the state’s zero-emission vehicle adoption target; and
  • Georgia legislators adopting a resolution to study transportation electrification.

“Utilities and regulators are examining plans to meet the needs of expanding EV charging networks and broader EV deployment. This quarter, we saw proposals for managed charging programs and targeted EV charging tariff designs,” says Vincent Potter, Policy Analyst at NCCETC.

Potter added, “The managed charging programs would give utilities information about the vehicle’s charging status and allow them to interrupt and resume charging according to larger grid demands. Tariffs that offer discounted electricity during low-use times have had some broad success and some utilities are moving to offer EV charging-specific time-of-use rates. The goal of both of these tools is to charge EVs when strain on the grid is lowest.”

View the 50 States of Electric Vehicles Q1 2022 Quarterly Report Executive Summary

View and Purchase the 50 States of Electric Vehicles 2022 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, 919-423-8340

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