Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced findings that Fiat Chrysler used cheat devices in more than 100,000 U.S. diesel vehicles sold since 2014, including the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks and Jeep Grand Cherokees with 3.0-liter diesel engines. These emissions cheating devices allow the vehicles to pass emissions control tests while emitting excess emissions when in daily use.
On Wednesday, Governor Cuomo is expected to announce plans to install over 500 electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations, 500 at New York workplaces and 69 along the New York State Thruway, as a part of his State of the State agenda.
Today, final numbers of U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales for the 2016 year were released showing that despite low gas prices, a record-breaking 24,785 electric vehicles were purchased this past December, the largest sales month ever (the last highest sales month was September 2016 when 17,224 EVs were sold in the U.S.).
Close to midnight yesterday, on the last day of the informal session, the Massachusetts legislature passed an Act promoting zero emission vehicle adoption, which contains measures to reduce barriers to electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Massachusetts.
Today, an environmental coalition including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Ecology Center, Electric Auto Association, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Fresh Energy, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, Ceres, the Greenlining Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Conservation Law Foundation submitted recommendations to Volkswagen (VW) on how to most effectively spend a portion of national settlement funds to increase green transportation: the “ZEV Investment Plan.”
Albany, NY -- Today, Governor Cuomo announced $3 million in funding for municipalities and electricity cooperatives to purchase electric vehicles for their municipal fleets. The funding is part of the New York Power Authority’s Municipal Electric-Drive Vehicle Program, which provides financial assistance for the purchase of electric vehicles and hybrids to facilitate the replacement of fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
Utah -- Yesterday, the Public Service Commission approved an $10M Electric Vehicle (EV) incentive and time-of-use pilot program, as a part of Rocky Mountain Power's Application to Implement Programs Authorized by the state’s Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act.
Albany -- On Thursday, Consolidated Edison (Con-Ed) issued a request for information (RFI) for a $25 million investment with additional third-party funding, focused on electric vehicle (EV) charging station installations (including curbside in New York City), off-peak rate EV charging design for customers, and government EV fleet transition (delivery vehicles, car-sharing programs, etc.). All of these initiatives will be accompanied by a robust marketing strategy for Con-Ed’s customers.
On Saturday, hundreds of people in and around Watts will gather in front of the community’s historic towers to hear about the benefits of electric vehicles, learn about programs that support electric vehicle purchasing and identify the roadblocks that make it harder for low-income families to go electric.
For six years, National Drive Electric Week has inspired drivers to ditch the gas station. The seventh annual National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), which starts tomorrow, September 9, will boast more events than ever before.