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Nearly 150 Attend Inaugural SJV Clean Transportation Summit Oct. 19 in Clovis
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The inaugural San San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit was attended by close to 150 people. Conducted Oct. 19 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District in Clovis, the Summit provided an opportunity to learn about the latest in advanced, clean transportation technology options right here in the Valley through an up close and personal experience. Attendees were able to interact with owners and operators of clean emission vehicles, meet with manufacturers and dealers, hear from state and local agencies, and learn about rebate and incentive programs.
In addition to speakers and breakout sessions on topics including electric vehicles and natural gas alternatives, the Summit featured vendor booths and numerous vehicles on display. The event opened with speeches from dignitaries and industry leaders, including California Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, CALSTART President and CEO John Boesel (pictured above left) and George Minter, Regional Vice President of External Affairs and Environmental Strategy, Southern California Gas Co. Keynote speakers were Oliver L. Baines III, Fresno City Council; Sheraz Gill, Director of Strategies and Incentives, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District; and John Kato (pictured above right), Deputy Director of Fuels and Transportation Division, California Energy Commission. The day ended with vehicle ride-and-drive demonstrations.
The Summit was organized by CALSTART in partnership with Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development and various industry partners. View the Summit video to see highlights of the event.
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Envision Solar's EV ARC, using solar panels to power Level 2 electric vehicle chargers from Telefonix, soon will appear at city halls throughout Fresno County, making it the first county in the nation to have EV charging in all of its incorporated cities.
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Fresno County to be First in Nation to Get EV Charging in Rural Incorporated Cities
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Selma residents in late November will see an EV ARC™ providing electric vehicle charging at city hall, followed by similar installations at Kingsburg, Fowler, Kerman, San Joaquin, Huron, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Mendota, Orange Cove, Reedley, Sanger and Parlier. When completed, Fresno County will be the first in the nation to have EV charging at all of its rural incorporated cities. Fresno and Clovis already have several Level 2 EV charging sites, as well as DC fast chargers (Level 3) at multiple locations.
Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) General Manager Moses Sites outlined the project for those attending the electric vehicle breakout session at the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit Oct. 19. FCRTA is directing the project with assistance from CALSTART and funding from several sources, including the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's Charge Up! program, which now offers funding for the EV ARC™.
Envision Solar has patented the EV ARC™ that couples solar power with on-board battery storage to provide EV charging day or night, even during power outages and emergencies. In addition to being transportable, the EV ARC™ does not require any permits, civil engineering or planning, foundations, trenching or electrical connections. The Fresno County sites all will be installed with two Level 2 PowerPost EVSE chargers from Telefonix.
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This Angus Transportation, Inc., truck features a Cummins Westport ISX12-G natural gas engine.
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Natural Gas Engines Provide Clean, Reliable Alternative for Trucking Fleets
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Near-Zero (NZ) emissions from new natural gas engines offer the heavy-duty market technology that is available today and deployable today, George Minter, Regional Vice President of External Affairs and Environmental Strategy for Southern California Gas Co., told those attending the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit Oct. 19.
The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) offers point-of-sale incentives for clean trucks and buses in California. Administered by CALSTART, HVIP's low-NOx incentives (tracked separately than conventional HVIP funding) are designed to cover the full incremental cost over a standard natural gas engine and includes both repowers as well new vehicles. A total of 1.86 million in incentives currently is available exclusively for low-NOx engines/vehicles, with approximately another $21 million in voucher funding added in February 2017. Incentive amounts are determined by the increased incremental cost, with current caps at $15,000 and increasing to $25,000 in February to accommodate the eventual introduction of larger Near-Zero 12 liter engines.
Although more trucks and buses will be added in the future, current eligible engines/vehicles and incentive amounts include:
- Repower any vehicle with Cummins ISL G Near-Zero 8.9 liter engine, $15,000
- New Autocar Xpeditor Refuse Truck with ISL G Near-Zero 8.9 liter engine, $8,500
- New ElDorado National Transit Bus with ISL G Near-Zero 8.9 liter engine, $15,000
- New Gillig Transit Bus with ISL G Near-Zero 8.9 liter engine, $10,000
For more information, go to the HVIP website or call 888-457-HVIP.
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Chevrolet Bolt Expected to Drive 2017 Sales as California Tops 250,000 EVs
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It isn't even at dealerships yet, but with the EPA estimating an electric range of 238 miles and a base sticker price of $37,495 before rebates and incentives, the Chevrolet Bolt already is getting a lot of attention. It has won the prestigious 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year award and has been named the Green Car Reports Best Car to Buy 2017. If such accolades aren't enough for those with any remaining range anxiety, 238 miles is the approximate distance from Bakersfield to Stockton!
California leads the nation in EV sales and is anticipated to top 250,000 EVs sold by this month, according to a Nov. 14 news release by the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative (PEVC). "The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV – the first EV capable of 238 miles of range and offered at an affordable price – will arrive in Chevy showrooms this year and provides an ideal option for even more buyers to purchase an electric vehicle,” Steve Majoros, Marketing Director, Chevrolet Cars and Crossovers, said in the PEVC news release.
San Joaquin Valley residents who purchase or lease a new EV may qualify for up to $15,000 in rebates and incentives, depending on income and eligibility. In addition to a $7,500 federal tax credit, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's Drive Clean rebate is $3,000 and the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) provides an additional $2,500 for all-electric vehicles. While CVRP now has a cap for higher-income consumers, Californians with low and moderate incomes can get increased rebates. Consumers with household incomes less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($72,900 for a family of four for 2016) are eligible for an increased rebate amount of $2,000, bringing the total state rebate amount to $4,500. (Photo by Jennette Waymire)
Most significantly, the Chevy Bolt signals what is to come for EVs. Until now, only Tesla has offered EVs with a range of more than 200 miles – but at more than twice the cost of a Bolt. Tesla has taken nearly 400,000 reservations for its much-hyped Model 3, which its website says will have "215 miles of range per charge while starting at only $35,000 before incentives" and will go into production by mid-2017. The Leaf is the nation's top-selling EV, first introduced in 2010. Nissan has released few details about its 2018 model due out late next year, but it also is expected to compete with the Bolt both in range and price.
Although Valley dealers may receive some Bolts in December and January, they don't know how many they will get and expect them to sell quickly. Those interested in reserving a Bolt can do so by putting down a $500 refundable deposit. In the Fresno area, contact Melissa Dominguez at Hedrick's Chevrolet at 559-347-5436 or MDominguez@hedrickschevy.com. In the Modesto area, contact David Schene at American Chevrolet at 209-499-6380 or DSchene@americanchevrolet.com. In the Bakersfield area, contact Jennette Waymire at 3 Way Chevrolet at 661-444-1761 or jwaymire@3waychev.com. (Photo by Jennette Waymire)
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Biodico Westside Bringing Clean Biofuel and Green Jobs to the San Joaquin Valley
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Biodico Westside is the world’s first fully sustainable liquid biofuel facility in the San Joaquin Valley. Located at Red Rock Ranch in Five Points, the world’s first "Zero Net Energy Farm," these facilities will serve as templates for California and the country as a whole, Biodico Founder and President Russ Teall, told a group attending Fresno State University's San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Cluster meeting Nov. 9 during a tour of the site and presentation.
In addition to processing recyclable feedstocks, including used cooking oil, vegetable oil and animal fats to name a few, the facility also utilizes anaerobic digestion, gasification and an advanced utility scale solar cogeneration system. Biodico Westside produces up to 20 million gallons of biodiesel per year, supplying renewable fuel to the ag industry's truck fleet, and also has created "green jobs" in a disadvantaged area with high unemployment and poor air quality.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded a $1.2 million grant for the project. In addition to the SJV Clean Energy Cluster, some of the other project collaborators include the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the U.S. Navy, which is the world's largest user of diesel fuel. Biodiesel can be used in diesel engines with little or no modification while providing significant emissions benefits.
To learn more, see the Zero Net Energy Farms presentation from the Nov. 9 meeting or view Biodico's video.
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