Plug-in electric vehicles are hitting the road, and Clean Cities
is helping communities take full advantage of their potential
to stimulate local economies, reduce petroleum use, and cut
emissions.
As part of President Obama's all-of-the-above energy
strategy to address the high price of gasoline and reduce
American dependence on foreign oil, the U.S. Department of
Energy today announced up to $5 million available this year
to help expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles, including
electric vehicles (EVs), in cities and towns across the country.
The Energy Department has announced the opening of an
electric vehicle (EV) systems manufacturing facility in
Michigan by a company that was backed by $40 million in
Recovery Act funding.
More than 90 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles are listed on the Preliminary MY 2011 Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Advanced Technology Vehicles spec sheet published by Clean Cities. The list will be updated throughout the fall season. Included are new vehicles such as the all-electric Nissan LEAF, the extended range Chevy Volt, the GMC Terrain FFV, and the Buick Regal FFV.
More than 100 events across the country are scheduled to mark National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Odyssey Day, a biannual event organized by the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. Typical events will feature alternative fuel vehicles and activities to educate the public about the value of these vehicles in reducing petroleum use.
Convoy Solutions, LLC, is reopening the former IdleAire truckstop electrification (TSE) operations using the IdleAire equipment. Their announcement that 16 stations have been reopened brings the total of truckstop electrification stations to 30 with more expected reopenings to come. Other TSEs are operated by Shorepower, CabAire, and EnviroDock.