Electric Vehicles

The Missouri House gave first-round approval Tuesday to a plan that would block cities and counties from requiring developers to install electric vehicle charging stations in new construction projects.

All of the electric vehicle chargers that are funded through the federal government must now be assembled in the United States, the Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

City officials have approved the installation of two charging stations at a cost of $44,272. The money comes from rates customers pay at parking meters, the garage and the borough's parking lease program.

New electric loads — like those brought about by electric vehicles and heat pumps — will likely force upgrades to home electric systems and building codes, experts say. The real challenge will be making changes consistently.

Even smaller transit agencies — like Greenlink Transit in South Carolina — are phasing out diesel and making the switch to electric buses. That switch is much easier to make when the bus-maker is in your backyard, officials say.

Proposed legislation in Washington state would require school districts to purchase emission-free school buses beginning in 2035, although distance limits and lack of charging infrastructure are potential obstacles.

While the vast majority of the transportation $3.7B budget covers roads and bridges, it also includes smaller pots of funding for public transit, electric vehicle infrastructure and drone development, among others.

A new report by CALSTART shows strong growth in electric buses in 2022. That unprecedented growth is driven, in part, by robust state and federal incentives, policy pressures and cost savings.

Planning to convert its entire bus fleet to electric by 2030, Boston Public Schools this month will put 20 new electric buses on the roads and collect data on route efficiency, operations and climate and health effects.

Public charging networks like EVCS are turning to technology to make their platforms easily accessible and interoperable across a range of charging operators.

Lawmakers are considering a trial electric vehicle rebate for commercial vehicles to find out if they will work in Maine's challenging environment and if the state's industrial sector will give them a shot.

In an effort to make electric vehicles more affordable, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will distribute more than $78 million to California drivers who purchase or lease pre-owned electric vehicles.

The $10 million award to a Buffalo nonprofit is part of the $85 million New York Clean Transportation Prizes challenge. The funding will be used to expand access to e-bikes and an EV car-share program, among other things.

The county’s public utility district began mapping out a strategy for a future that relies heavily on electric vehicles. The planning session follows on the heels of the Washington Clean Fuels Standard law, which took effect this year.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reconsidering a prohibition on autonomous trucks in the state following years of pleading from the industry and rapid advancements in the space.

Department officials this week announced the upcoming changes to their patrol vehicles at the annual State of the NYPD breakfast. New tech additions will include 360-degree cameras and QR codes the public can use to contact the department.

Legislation has been filed in both the House and Senate that calls for the MBTA to operate a fully electric commuter rail system by December 2035. Three lines that serve environmental justice populations would be electrified sooner.

States are increasingly turning their attention to the transmission lines, substations and transformers needed to get that electricity from renewable energy sources into homes and businesses.