Electric Vehicles

The city’s Mass Transportation Authority replaced its last two diesel buses in April with hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. The $11 million, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this week, will enable it to add to its fleet of fuel-cell buses and expand its hydrogen production facility.

A program in several northeastern states is attempting to bridge training gaps for EV technicians in disadvantaged communities. The endeavor, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, focuses on the need for municipal fleet mechanics.

Assembled in Wyoming, Minn., the new rig is the city’s inaugural electric fire truck. It features an adjustable height, enabling it to maneuver rain and snowstorms that might sideline lower-riding trucks, and wheels capable of turning so as to round tight corners.

Westville School District No. 2 has replaced its old diesel school buses with 15 electric, emissions-free models from IC Bus. The district purchased the vehicles with grants through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program.

Through an initiative called the Michigan Electric Vehicle Jobs Academy, state leaders reviewed 400 courses at community colleges across Michigan to ensure they meet employer needs for a workforce that can build EVs.

The California Air Resources Board approved changes to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, to expand incentives for high-speed electric vehicle charging and advance the use of low-carbon fuels.

Veo, a shared, electric scooter and bicycle provider in numerous cities around the nation, is using technology from Captur to ensure its devices are parked properly. The process is customized according to local regulations.

The San Francisco-based company will partner with autonomous driving tech firm May Mobility next year to field a fleet of Toyota Sienna minivans that will be accessible through its app. Precise details and timing are not yet clear, but initial deployments will use human “safety operators,” transitioning over time to fully autonomous operations.

Gas-powered vehicles account for nearly half the greenhouse gas emissions in the city. Its goal is for 40 percent of passenger and light-duty vehicles registered in Orleans Parish to be battery-operated by 2035.

Guided by a consultant, the state group has opted to plan for putting an extra 15,000 Mainers in electric vehicles by the end of the decade to meet emissions reductions targets. Green hydrogen, members decided, is not likely to be commercially viable as soon as had been hoped.

The funding includes nearly $7 million for the Lowell Regional Transit Authority, which already has a hybrid-electric bus up and running. There’s also around $15 million for energy-efficient upgrades to school district HVAC systems.

The city has made more than 50 electric bicycles and scooters available for residents to rent, on a trial basis. The program, which runs through December 2025, will test whether the initiative makes sense long term.

Artificial intelligence is poised to become the next big energy hog and data centers stand to challenge sustainability goals. Some processing demands, however, can be shifted to periods when demand is low.

Durham Public Schools, which serves the city and county of Durham, will receive 38 electric buses as a result of a new $15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The vehicles arrive as the district is in urgent need of full-time drivers.

After a delay, Linn-Benton Community College will roll out its new electric vehicle program in 2025. The program is designed to recruit women to the field, but had difficulty attracting qualified instructors. It is aimed at filling a training gap for EV technicians.

The northern San Diego suburb has opened a new fire station more than a decade in the making, which will house the city’s first electric fire engine. The engine and infrastructure cost around $2.7 million.

Work is set to commence this month on the fourth phase of the Robotics Technology Park, run by state agency Alabama Industrial Development and Training. It will focus on building and working with electric vehicles. Opening is expected in spring 2026.

Southern Maine Community College's class on EV repairs launched in 2021, teaching students to perform predictive maintenance, diagnose and repair hybrid and electric vehicles, and pass a national certification test.