InfoHive – Transportation

What is happening? Ford Motor Company is committing Billions to 2 EV manufacturing facilities. One located in Kentucky and the other in Tennessee.

Why is this important? Let’s look at the numbers:

• 11,000 jobs in total
• 5,000 in Kentucky
• 5,800 in Tennessee
• KY will house a $5.8 billion battery manufacturing complex
• KY’s economic development deal: $250 million forgivable loan, 1,550 acres of property for the facility and $36 million towards job training
• $7 billion from Ford for the facilities in TN & KY
• $5.6 billion to build a 3,600-acre “mega campus” in TN to produce all-electric F-Series trucks and advanced batteries
• $500 million in advanced incentives are being offered by TN for successful completion

How will this be important? This is part of a total of $30 B investment from Ford to see fully electric vehicles to make up 40% to 50% of its U.S. sales by 2030

Route Fifty | Ford to Invest Billions in Electric Vehicle Production in Two States

What’s happening? New Jersey is unveiling a solar powered bus stop with LED lighting, USB charging outlets and motion censors for safety and conservation.

Why is this important? Riders returning to mass transit are said to be expecting more tech.

How will this be important? A solar powered bus stop price tag is $11,900 and are being tested in NJ, NY, PA, Canada

Governing | New Jersey Unveils Solar-Powered, USB-Equipped Bus Shelter

What’s happening? Michigan’s Governor is proposing a series of EV chargers to be installed along Lake Michigan near tourist destinations. The Governor refers to the program as Lake Michigan Electric Vehicle Circuit.

Why is this important? The Governor says “we’re going to serve as the best new road trip for electric vehicle owners in America”

How will this be important? This is the first time I’ve seen the tie between EVS and tourist spots, there have been mentions of state parks like Rivian’s state park chargers in Colorado.

Detroit Free Press | Whitmer wants EV charging circuit around Lake Michigan

What is happening? Oregon Governor signed SB 794 (2021 | OR) that would charge out of state RVs 25% more at state parks.

Why is this important? Policymakers say it evens out the RV playing field as Oregonians pay extra to register their RV with Oregon’s DMV.

How will this be important? Whether other states will follow suit and impose tourist taxes

Salem Statesman Journal | ‘Tourist tax:’ Oregon State Park campsites to cost 25% more for out-of-state RV travelers

What’s happening? Local governments looking to switch their fleets to EVs are also looking for incentives and grants. Here’s what is available:

• Federal Highway Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program 
• EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program
• Alaska “Fleet applicants and rental companies located at Ted Stevens International Airport are eligible for $1,500 per charger and up to $3,000 per location.”
• “California Air Resources Board (ARB) provides vouchers to eligible fleets to reduce the cost to purchase qualified electric and hybrid trucks and buses at the time of purchase. Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis and range from $2,000 to $315,000 depending on vehicle weight and type”
• In California, “PG&E’s EV Fleet Program offers competitive incentives to facilitate the installation of EVSE for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet to support organizations in electrifying their fleet operations”
• Colorado’s  Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant program & the Colorado Department of Local Affairs offer funding for municipalities, counties, and special districts to cover the cost of AFVs for public fleets.
• Illinois waives fleet registration fees for EV fleets
• Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ Clean Vehicle Project provides grants for public and private fleets
•  Nevada Energy provides rebates for purchasing and installing Level 2 chargers and DC fast-charging stations including for fleets
• New Mexico’s Alternative Fuel Acquisition Revolving Loan Program provides loans to state agencies, political subdivisions and educational institutions to acquire AFVs
• Washington’s Green Transportation Grantprogram provides funding to transit authorities to electrify fleets and install electric vehicle infrastructure among other green transportation projects. 
• cities and counties across the country—from Honolulu to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Montgomery County, Maryland—have also banded together to form an electric vehicle purchasing collaborative

Why is this important? Switching to EVs has a cost to purchase the EV fleet, but results in lower maintenance costs.

How will this be important? As more local governments switch to EV fleets, more EV grants or incentives will emerge.

Route Fifty | Electric Vehicles Poised to Rev Up Government Fleets

What’s happening? Michigan and Indiana are both vying to be the first state with a mile long roadway that charges EVs.

Why is this important? Michigan will move forward with its Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot. Indiana will use magnetizable concrete to enable wireless charging of EVs.

How will this be important? EV charging roadways are functioning in Europe and small test areas exist in the U.S. but a long stretch of public roadway in the U.S. is forthcoming if this Indiana and Michigan competition is any indication.

Detroit Free Press via Governing | Michigan Challenges Indiana in Wireless Charging Road Race

What’s happening? A proposal for a high speed rail from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is gaining calls for wildlife bridges to protect the mountain sheep along the rail line.

Why is this important? How this high speed rail project considered the wildlife bridge may be telling for other rail lines and may be a way to preemptively make amends with opposition.

How will this be important? let’s watch and see how this unfolds- wildlife bridges the new negotiating tool

@LosAngeles Times on twitter

What’s happening? Houston is expanding its EV fleet with a transition anticipated in 2030. The city anticipates recouping about $55 million of that cost in fuel savings and avoided maintenance costs

Why is this important? The current fleet is 15 EVs. This year it is adding 100 EV light duty trucks and transit vans.

How will this be important? The charger roll out will be 3 phases. (1) replace 42 chargers destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. (2) add chargers at police and fire stations (3) add chargers to parks and other city-owned spots.

Houston Chronicle | Advocates charged over Houston plan to add 100 electric vehicles in shift to gasoline-free fleet

@hou_climate on twitter

What’s happening? Elizabeth Warren has sided with gig workers to be classified as employees as the fight about gig worker classification plays out in Massachusetts.

Why is this important? Like in California, industry has proposed a ballot proposition to ensure that gig workers are not employees.

How will this be important? Let’s watch what all the states do. Some will codify that gig workers are contract workers, some will codify that gig workers are employees, and some will have ballot propositions. It’s who is on which side that helps you shape your allies.

WWLP | Warren to join opposition to potential app-based driver ballot question

What’s happening? A new study by Reason, SHOULD GOVERNMENTS LEASE THEIR AIRPORTS?, says 31 airports could free up $131 billion for infrastructure improvements in local governments. It works by a local government leasing or selling its airport, a revenue-producing asset. Congress’ 2018, The new Airport Investment Partnership Program, allows cities to enter into public private partnerships for their airports. Those lease proceeds can then be used as general revenue.

Why is this important? Cities have seen revenues impacted by the pandemic and this would provide access to new general revenue without raising taxes.

How will this be important? Look to the 3 most likely leases: global airport companies, infrastructure investment funds, and public pension funds. The value of the 31 airports, including multiple in Texas and California, can be found here.

Reason | Study: Leasing 31 U.S. airports would generate $131 billion to fund other infrastructure and pay debt

Governing | Why Big-City Airports Are Prime Candidates for ‘Asset Recycling’