Posts Tagged ‘NYCLHVCC’

Question of the Month: What are the average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)? How do these emissions compare to conventional vehicles?

Answer: In addition to reducing petroleum consumption, EVs and PHEVs have the potential to reduce pollutant emissions, resulting in environmental and human health benefits. Vehicle emissions can be characterized as:

Upstream: Emissions from the production of the vehicle fuel (e.g., electricity).

Tailpipe: Emissions produced by a vehicle while operating.

Well-to-wheel: The combination of upstream and tailpipe emissions.

EV Emissions

EVs are often referred to as “zero emission vehicles,” meaning they do not emit any tailpipe emissions. Therefore, the well-to-wheel GHG emissions associated with EV operation are entirely dependent on the source that is used to produce the electricity that powers the vehicle. Emissions from electricity production depend on the efficiency of the power plant and the types of fuel sources used. Based on the U.S. average electricity production fuel mix, the GHG emissions are lower for an EV using electricity generated from power plants than a vehicle running on gasoline or diesel. If electricity is generated from nonpolluting, renewable sources, EVs have the potential to produce no well-to-wheel GHG emissions. On the other hand, EVs powered by electricity generated using coal have the potential to produce more well-to-wheel GHG emissions than gasoline vehicles, depending on the power source. To determine your region’s specific fuel mix, as well as the emissions rates of electricity based on your zip code, see the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s Power Profiler (http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/how-clean.html). While factors such as the time of day and season can affect which specific power plant (and fuel mix) provides the vehicle’s electricity, these average emissions rates help approximate the impact of these vehicles.

PHEV Emissions

PHEVs typically operate either in all-electric mode or using an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric drivetrain in a manner similar to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The emissions vary based on the percent of time that the vehicle is in each operating mode. When operating in all-electric mode, emissions are considered from the source that produced the electricity. When the vehicle’s ICE is running, both the upstream and tailpipe emissions must be taken into account. The tailpipe emissions will vary depending on vehicle efficiency.

The Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicle Data Center (AFDC) Compare Electricity Sources and Annual Vehicle Emissions tool (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/electric_emissions.php) allows users to determine an estimate for annual well-to-wheel GHG emissions for an EV, PHEV, HEV, and conventional gasoline vehicle based on the electricity production fuel mix in their area.

In addition, Fueleconomy.gov and EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide (http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do) provide annual emissions estimates for individual vehicle models.

As always, please contact the TRS with other questions, or if you have suggestions for additional resources or a future Question of the Month.

Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team

technicalresponse@icfi.com

800-254-6735

As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to reduce U.S. oil imports by one-third by 2025, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced new steps underway at the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles. This includes the availability of $5 million in new funding for community-based efforts to deploy electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and charging stations. He also outlined a partnership with Google, Inc. and more than 80 EV stakeholders to help consumers find charging stations nationwide. Secretary Chu and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made the announcement on a conference call with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, and St. Paul Mayor Christopher Coleman – leaders of three of the nation’s nearly 100 Clean Cities Coalitions.

“The Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative is bringing together local governments and industry to demonstrate the benefits of advanced technology vehicles and help communities use less oil and gasoline to power their vehicles,” said Secretary Chu. “The initiatives announced today are just the latest steps in our broader efforts to reduce America’s dependence on oil, improve our energy security, and save families and businesses money.”

Under the $5 million in electric vehicle funding announced today, local governments and private companies will partner to apply for funding to help accelerate installation of electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure. Communities will work to develop plans and strategies for EV deployment, update their EV permitting processes, develop incentive programs, or launch other local or regional initiatives that improve the experience of EV users and help bring these highly energy-efficient vehicles to the marketplace. More information on the Funding Opportunity Announcement, including application instructions and deadlines, is available at the FedConnect website under the title “DE-FOA-0000451 Clean Cities FY 2011 FOA.”

In a related effort, DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is joining with Google, Inc. and various industry leaders to provide consumers with consistent, up-to-date information about the EV charging stations in communities nationwide. Drawing on Google Maps, this new collaboration will coordinate an online network of all U.S. charging stations and will serve as the primary data source for GPS and mapping services tracking electric vehicle charging locations. More information is available on the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) website.

The Clean Cities Program is a public-private partnership that brings together federal, state and local governments, the auto industry, private sector fleet operators, and community leaders to help communities make their vehicle fleets more energy efficient. Since its inception in 1993, Clean Cities Coalitions and its stakeholders have saved nearly 3 billion gallons of gasoline. The Clean Cities Program supports a broad portfolio of technologies, including alternative and renewable fuels, fuel economy measures, idle reduction technologies, and emerging technologies like electric vehicles. More information is available on the Clean Cities website.

President Obama has a goal of putting 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road in the United States by 2015. In support of this goal, and emphasizing electricity as a transportation fuel, this Funding Opportunity Announcement seeks projects to plan and implement policies, procedures, and incentives that facilitate that development. The planning and policy activities will prepare communities for successful deployment and implementation of plug-in electric drive vehicles.

• Projects should include planning and wherever possible, policy implementation and execution of planning elements plug-in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Projects for fuels other than electricity will not be considered.
• Plans must address infrastructure deployment for light, medium, and/or heavy-duty plug-in electric vehicles (including extended range electric vehicles).
• Funds may not be used for the purchase and/or installation of any fueling infrastructure.

General Requirements:

• Projects should include the approach to develop local/regional plans and implement policies that support the deployment of plug-in electric vehicles through acquisition and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• Projects at different stages of maturity will be accepted (ranging from projects that have not been initiated to projects that have been initiated, but not completed)
• Teaming up with your local Clean Cities Coalition (NYCLHVCC) is strongly recommended
• Commitment letters from each of the project partners, indicating the amount, timeline, and type of technical or financial support being provided to the project along with affirming their role and commitment must be included in the application
• DOE will consider funding applications that request funding outside the anticipated award size if the applicant proposes a multiple city, state, regional or national approach
• Materials developed under this award will be publicly releasable
• If applicants or their partners have received federal funds for efforts similar to those proposed, the application must clearly describe how the new activities will be different from those already being funded under the other award
• It is expected that: 1. Deliverable of a completed publicly releasable written plan 2. Deliverable of quarterly written progress report that addresses actions taken to execute planning elements 3. Participation in various forums organized by DOE to report on progress and share lessons learned (conference calls, meetings, workshops)

Note: DOE expects to make 10-15 awards ranging from $250,000-$500,000 per individual

For Full 2011 Clean Cities Funding Announcement Opportunity Click HERE

Please contact NYCLHVCC at: info@nyclhvcc.org for assistance with this FOA. The deadline to submit applications is May 15, 2011; 8:00pm Eastern

On Friday, April 1, the President will visit a UPS shipping facility in Landover, MD where he will view vehicles from AT&T, FedEx, PepsiCo, UPS and Verizon’s clean fleets and deliver remarks to the companies’ employees.

The plan includes supply and demand proposals, including reiterating a $1 million plug-in vehicle goal, and the FY12 budget proposals for increased electric drive vehicle r & d funds; for making the plug-in vehicle credit transferable; and the request for $200 million for a Clean Cities grant program to support regional and community deployment of plug-in vehicles and infrastructure. The President also called for all new federal fleet purchases to be alternative fuel vehicles, including plug-in vehicles, by 2015.

Blueprint Secure Energy Future

The EPA recently announced that E15 is now approved for vehicles made in 2001 and newer. For all of the answers to your many questions on this topic, click HERE or visit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/technology_bulletin_1210.html

Congratulations to the City of New York, NYC Parks and Recreation, and NYC Department of Sanitation for receiving the Eye on Biodiesel Award in the category of INFLUENCE!

On Tuesday February 8th at the 2011 Advance Biodiesel Conference in Phoenix, AZ the Eye on the Biodiesel Awards were announced. We are pleased to announce that the City of New York in part with NYC Parks and Recreation and the NYC Department of Sanitation were awarded the Eye on Biodiesel award in the category of INFLUENCE. In a press release it said,

“Influence: City of New York. New York City Department of Sanitation, and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. City of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed landmark air quality legislation that includes a provision requiring all heating oil sold within New York City to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel by October 1, 2012. By moving to environmentally-friendly Bioheat TM, the City will annually replace approximately 20 million gallons of petroleum-based heating fuel. The New York City Department of Sanitation uses biodiesel blends of B5-B20 in its 4,000 diesel vehicles, which include many large trucks and snow plows. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has operated its diverse fleet of vehicles as well as more than 130 buildings on B20-B100 blends since 2006. Because of these two departments’ commitment to cleaner fuels, New York City is the nation’s largest municipal user of biodiesel.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NYC PARKS AND RECREATION AND NYC DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION!

FACT SHEET: President Obama’s Plan to Make the U.S. the First Country to Put 1 Million Advanced Technology Vehicles on the Road

In 2008, the President set an ambitious goal of putting 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015 – which would reduce dependence on foreign oil and lead to a reduction in oil consumption of about 750 million barrels through 2030. To reach that goal, President Obama will propose in his Budget a new effort to win the future by supporting advanced technology vehicle manufacturing and adoption in the U.S. through new consumer rebates, investments in R&D, and competitive programs to encourage communities that invest in advanced technology vehicle infrastructure.

· Making electric vehicles more affordable with a rebate up to $7,500: The President is proposing to transform the existing $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles into a rebate that will be available to all consumers immediately at the point of sale.

· Advancing innovative technologies through new R&D investments: Building on Recovery Act investments, the President’s Budget proposes enhanced R&D investments in electric drive, batteries, and energy storage technologies.

· Rewarding communities that invest in electric vehicle infrastructure through competitive grants: To provide an incentive for communities to invest in EV infrastructure and remove regulatory barriers, the President is proposing a new initiative that will provide grants to up to 30 communities that are prioritizing advanced technology vehicle deployment. This approach builds on bipartisan ideas and proposals.

The President’s New Initiatives to Support Advanced Technology Vehicles

The President’s Budget proposes to make the United States the world’s leader in manufacturing and deploying next-generation vehicle technologies through three new initiatives, expanding funding for vehicle technologies by almost 90 percent to nearly $590 million and enhancing existing tax incentives:

· Making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible for American consumers: A transformation of the existing $7,500 tax credit into a rebate will give consumers the ability to receive this benefit at the point of sale, similar to “Cash for Clunkers”. The current individual credit will be reformed into a tax credit claimable by dealers or financers with clear transparency requirements to ensure the benefit of the credit is passed on to consumers.

· Advancing innovative vehicle and battery technologies through increased R&D: Increased investments in R&D will be critical to the deployment of new technology. ARRA and prior year investments are already making progress on advanced technology vehicles through research initiatives like an ARPA-E grant to develop a battery that will go 300 miles on a single charge. This year’s Budget will significantly broaden R&D investments in technologies like batteries and electric drives – including an over 30% increase in support for vehicle technology R&D and a new Energy Innovation Hub devoted to improving batteries and energy storage for vehicles and beyond.

· Rewarding communities for leadership in reducing regulatory barriers and developing comprehensive electric vehicle-friendly infrastructure: The Department of Energy is beginning a competitive program to help communities across the country become early adopters of electric vehicles through regulatory streamlining, infrastructure investments, vehicle fleet conversions, deployment of EV incentives (e.g., parking, HOV access) partnerships with major employers/retailers, and workforce training. The FY 2012 Budget will expand this initiative so that that up to 30 communities across the country would receive grants of up to $10 million each on the basis of their ability to demonstrate concrete reforms and use the funds to help catalyze electric vehicle deployment.

Building on Progress

The Administration has taken aggressive steps to reduce dependence on foreign oil, including strong fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, and significant investment in biofuels. This initiative builds on that commitment, and on our significant investments in vehicle technology, to-date.

Recovery Act investments that have already transformed the advanced vehicle industry in the U.S.: ARRA included $2.4 billion for battery and electric drive component manufacturing, and for electric drive demonstration and infrastructure – investments that are already transforming the advanced vehicle batteries industry in the US.

· Recovery Act investments have significantly increased U.S. manufacturing capability for advanced technology vehicle batteries: In 2009, the U.S. had only two factories manufacturing advanced vehicle batteries that power advanced technology vehicles and produced less than two percent of the world’s advanced batteries.

· Recovery Act investments will help cut battery costs in half, and make the U.S. a global leader in advanced battery production: As a result, in just the next few years, battery costs are expected to drop by half (2009-2013), the United States will be able to produce enough batteries and components to support 500,000 plug-in and hybrid vehicles and will have the capacity to produce 40 percent of the world’s advanced batteries (2015). The Recovery Act is also supporting the deployment of infrastructure for advanced technology vehicles.

· Upgrading the Federal Fleet: GSA is preparing an initial purchase of 100 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that are anticipated to be delivered in 2011 together with more than 40,000 alternative-fueled and fuel-efficient vehicles that will replace aging and less-efficient sedans, trucks, tankers, and wreckers for Federal agencies across the country. GSA’s investments in cleaner vehicle technologies help to spur growth in the emerging domestic plug-in hybrid electric vehicle market.

Source: www.whitehouse.gov

The Village of Dobbs Ferry has added a new hybrid bucket truck to their fleet with funding provided by ARRA.

Question of the Month: Which federal tax incentives were extended as a result of the recently enacted Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010?

Answer: On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed H.R. 4853, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Public Law No: 111-312). This Act extends and reinstates several alternative fuel tax credits through December 31, 2011. See the Federal Incentives & Laws Web page for additional information.

Extended tax credits include:

* Qualified Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/351

* Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC): http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/399

* Small Ethanol Producer Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/352

* Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/342

The Act also reinstates several tax credits that expired after December 31, 2009:

* Alternative Fuel Excise Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/319

* Alternative Fuel Mixture Excise Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/417

* Biodiesel Mixture Excise Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/395

* Biodiesel Income Tax Credit: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/396

Special Rule for 2010 Excise Tax Credit Claims:

The Alternative Fuel, Alternative Fuel Mixture, and Biodiesel Mixture Excise Tax Credits were reinstated retroactively, meaning taxpayers may submit a one-time claim for qualified fuel sold or used during the 2010 tax year. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued special guidance to allow a 180-day period for the submission of these claims. Please refer to the IRS Notice 2011-10 for additional information (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-11-10.pdf).

Expired Incentives:

Two vehicle purchase incentives expired after December 31, 2010, and were not extended:

· Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Tax Credit

· Light-Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Advanced Lean Burn Vehicle Tax Credit

The descriptions of these expired tax credits, including the expiration dates, will remain on the Federal Incentives & Laws Web site until the federal tax filing deadline.

Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team

technicalresponse@icfi.com

800-254-6735

Starting today, Wednesday, January 19th, Hertz is offering the Chevy VOLT Plug-In Hybrid EV for rent in New York City! Hertz is excited to be the first car rental company to offer this next generation vehicle, and to provide you the opportunity to be among the first to drive it. To learn how to reserve this vehicle, contact Hertz at ev@hertz.com or give Hertz a call at (551) 574-8331.