8 States Sign Statement to Accelerate Transition to Zero-Emission Trucks and Buses

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California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont joined with the District of Columbia to sign a statement of intent today to develop an action plan to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission trucks and buses.

The initiative is led by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

“Our states recognize that nearly all new motor vehicles need to be electric by 2050 to achieve the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” the statement reads. “Therefore, transportation electrification is a key climate action strategy and a top air quality priority for our states.”

The next step is for the governors of those states to agree to a Memorandum of Understanding to form a strategy to accelerate the zero-emission truck market.

Cenergy Solutions Debuts ANG, Biogas Transportation and Storage Pods

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Cenergy Solutions is offering 8-foot and 10-foot adsorbent natural gas and biogas transportation and storage pods, designed to give fleet operators and refueling sites flexibility in moving and storing fuel.

The DOT-compliant pods can store natural gas and biogas at low and high pressures, depending on the application. The pods do not require high-pressure compressors and, in some cases, can be filled from a natural gas line into the pod without using a compressor at all. The ANG pods can also expel the gas much faster than high-pressure tanks due to a reduced cooling effect when emptying the gas stored at lower pressures.

Cenergy Solutions’ low- and high-pressure (250 psi to 3,600 psi) ANG pod can move up to 114,000 SCF of natural gas and biogas. They can be filled up to 3,600 psi, depending on the application.

FERC OKs pipeline tariff changes to aid Midwest propane needs

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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accepted two oil pipeline tariff amendments aimed at helping to move propane to the Midwest.

Propane demand in the Midwest has soared in recent weeks, as farmers faced an extremely wet harvest combined with an early blast of winter-like weather that required propane use for space heating.

Both ONEOK North System (ONEOK) and Enterprise TE Products Pipeline Co. (Enterprise TE) said they had received requests from shippers for the changes after the start of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process initiated by FERC last month to alleviate propane pipeline constraints in Midwestern states.

FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee announced the ADR process on Nov. 19, and the pertinent parties met on Nov. 25. Both companies filed their requests on Nov. 26, and FERC issued notices Nov. 27, with a shortened comment period that ended Dec. 4. FERC accepted the pipeline tariff changes on Dec. 5.

Neuron EV Debuts Battery-Electric TORQ Semi-Truck

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Startup automotive OEM Neuron EV has unveiled the Neuron EV TORQ, a battery-electric semi-truck.

TORQ is built on Neuron’s scalable chassis with interchangeable body components that easily attach and detach, enabling it to adjust functionality and expand cargo capacity.

The truck’s functional architecture also features an aerodynamic profile that has an integrated sleeper cabin, with a smooth and robust shell for silent operation.

Trans-Atlantic JV Details Battery-Electric and Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Truck Plans

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veco Trucks and its sister firm, FPT Industrial, along with Nikola Corp. discussed the scope of the joint venture and collaboration agreement under which they plan develop hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric trucks for the European market at a Dec. 3 press conference in Turin, Italy.

The jv agreement, inked in Septmber, is technically between Phoenix-based Nikola Motor Co. and CNH Industrial N.V. CNHI, based in the Netherlands, is the parent of Italy-based truck maker Iveco S.p.A. and powertrain supplier FPT Industrial. The deal includes a $250 million investment in Nikola by CNH.

In a Sept. 3 news release, the two partners stated that Nikola’s zero-emission heavy-duty trucks, powered by proprietary hydrogen fuel cell and battery technology, will be the first such vehicles to go into production. Further, they contended that Nikola’s “disruptive business model foresees an industry-first ‘all-in’ lease rate, which includes vehicle, service, maintenance and fuel costs, providing long-term total cost of ownership certainty at or below diesel costs.”

Under the agreement, Iveco and FPT Industrial will provide engineering and manufacturing expertise to help put into production Nikola’s fuel-cell and battery electric trucks: The Nikola One, a North American Class 8 sleeper truck; the Nikola Two, a North American Class 8 daycab; and the Nikola Tre, a European cabover heavy-duty truck.

At the Dec. 3 presser, the partners showed off a model of the battery electric Nikola Tre, which is based on the Iveco S-Way platform and integrates Nikola’s truck technology, controls, and infotainment system.

Testing of the Tre is expected to begin in mid-2020, the companies said, with a European public launch planned for the IAA 2020 commercial vehicle show in Hanover, Germany. Sales and aftersales support of the truck will be provided by Iveco’s European dealer network.

The Tre is “the first step on the path towards the Nikola fuel cell electric model (FCEV), which will be available to customers by 2023,” the partners also stated.

“This joint-venture with Nikola is testament to both partners technical expertise, which will result in tangible environmental benefits for Europe’s long-distance haulers,” CNH Industrial CEO Hubertus Mühlhauser said at the Turin event.

“This partnership is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Trevor Milton, Nikola Motors CEO.  “From the moment we launched the Nikola One in 2016, truck drivers and government officials have been asking for us to bring Nikola to Europe.

ArticlesHydrogen Mining Company to Deploy Hydrogen-Powered Hauler

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NGIE recently selected Plug Power Inc., a provider of hydrogen engines and fueling solutions, to supply a custom refueling system for the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck, which is set to begin operation with global mining company Anglo American next year.

To support the refueling project, Plug Power has been tasked with building a full compression, storage and dispensing system to service the new hydrogen-powered vehicle. Plug Power’s system will be the first of its kind, and the largest refueling system built by the company to date, with an expected output of 1,000 kg per day.

The hydrogen-powered truck will be tested at one of Anglo American’s South African platinum mines.

4 Ways Telematics Can Improve Fleet Maintenance

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As technology becomes more sophisticated across vehicle class segments, the skills and parts to maintain them are incrementally becoming more expensive. Combined with skilled-technician shortages, all of this means that maintenance can be difficult to manage.

There’s no reason to let maintenance consume your fleet management efforts, whether considering cost containment and staying within budget or vehicle uptime and productivity.

Port Authority Bringing EV ARC 2020 Units Online

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has issued a purchase order for two of Envision Solar International Inc.’s new EV ARC 2020 units to charge its growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs).

The order is part of its Clean Vehicle Program, which includes an interim target of a 35% reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2025, and a long-term goal of an 80% reduction by 2050.

Envision Solar says the EV ARC 2020 is flood-proof to 9.5 feet, so in the event of flooding caused by rising sea levels and/or weather events such as those experienced during Hurricane Sandy, the unit will continue to provide EV charging and an emergency source of power through its emergency power panel even if water levels rise. This capability will enhance the Port Authority’s preparedness in the event of an emergency, particularly an event which causes a blackout or other grid interruption.

The company adds that the EV ARC 2020 can be deployed in minutes without difficult and disruptive trenching and construction, which in port environments can be otherwise prohibitive. In addition, the solar energy used to charge fleet vehicles will enhance the Port Authority’s carbon reduction initiatives.

“We are very happy to expand our presence in the New York City area by entering into a relationship with the Port Authority,” says Desmond Wheatley, Envision Solar’s CEO. “While this purchase is separate from our existing New York City contract, I don’t doubt that our success in the city assisted the port in its decision. Ports are very challenging environments to carry out any sort of construction or electrical work so the flexibility and portability of the EV ARC makes great sense for them.”

How TARC plans to use a $17M federal grant

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Louisville’s public transportation is set for a major upgrade thanks to a massive federal grant.

The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) has been awarded nearly $17.3 million from the Federal Transit Administration to improve Louisville’s aging buses, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office.

Among other initiatives, TARC plans to use the federal funding to replace Louisville’s aging public buses with a new, fuel-efficient fleet, the release stated.

TARC serves about 41,000 riders a day, most of whom commute to school or work, with 43 routes across five counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, averaging more than 12.5 million passengers in the greater Louisville area annually.

Of the 227 buses in the TARC fleet, about 70 of them are beyond their lifespan, according to spokesman Jeremy Priddy. With the grant, TARC can now afford to upgrade 40 of these old buses, cutting their percentage of buses needing replacement from 31% to 13%.