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The objectives of this Native-led public-private partnership project are to address electric vehicle (EV) barriers for Tribal members in the western Great Lakes region and demonstrate EV charging equipment in Tribal communities providing equitable access to clean, affordable transportation in rural, underserved Tribal communities. Project objectives will be accomplished through community engagement and planning; the installation of approximately 15 Level 2 charging equipment in strategic community locations; working with regional utilities to facilitate direct current fast charging station installation in priority locations for Tribes; collecting and analyzing data to quantify community benefits; and a robust education and outreach effort reaching Tribal leaders, potential site hosts, utilities, and other stakeholders. The project will take place in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The project will involve three Clean Cities Coalitions: Minnesota Clean Cities, Wisconsin Clean Cities, and Michigan Clean Cities.

The Fast Track to Ohio AFV Adoption project streamlined local and state processes for alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) procurement; incorporate AFVs into local Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs); created a compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder tracking system and Renewable Natural Gas Credit Purchase system; delivered technical and safety workshops on various fuels; and expanded the Ohio Green Fleets program and the Ohio Natural Gas Vehicle and Propane Partnerships.

Currently, railroads are operating inefficient legacy diesel locomotives with emissions substantially higher than proposed Tier 5 requirements that are costly to maintain. Reducing criteria pollutants is of critical importance because rail yards tend to be in areas where underserved populations have some of the poorest air quality. In this project, Gas Technology Institute (GTI), in collaboration with OptiFuel Systems, LLC, and other partners, is conducting a field demonstration of a 4,300 horsepower, Tier 5-compliant, hybrid line-haul locomotive that can operate on compressed or renewable natural gas (CNG/RNG) with near-zero emissions. GTI has a multi-engine approach that increases fuel efficiency by 20% and, with the use of RNG, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. The utilization of proven, commercially available equipment (i.e., engines, CNG storage, CNG refueling) and usage of domestic CNG and RNG has both emissions and cost advantages for the railroad industry.

For more information on this project, check the Technology Integration 2021 Annual Report or the Annual Merit Review presentation.

This project leveraged existing alternative fuel vehicle curricula that was previously developed by the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Consortium (NAFTC) or FS Circle to provide training to fire marshals, code officials, mechanics, and technicians. The training focused on issues related to compressed natural gas, propane, and electricity and filled training needs across a 4-state area in the South Central U.S. The project team held a total of 30 training classes with over 350 attendees using grant funds. A Future Action Plan to guide future alternative fuel training was also developed to assist others with successfully deploying future trainings.

The project will demonstrate how strategically located infrastructure can leverage existing real estate assets of the goods movement network to increase the range of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and provideaccess to fleets at each stage of the supply chain. The project will also prepare cities to plan for infrastructure deployments and ensure community-wide benefits from incentive packages.

In 2014, the Southern Colorado Clean Cities coalition and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument collaborated to replace two gasoline vehicles with two all-electric low-speed vehicles, install an electric vehicle charging station, and add an all-electric utility vehicle to their fleet. The project also included an idle-reduction education and outreach initiative.

Forwarding Wisconsin's Fuel Choice expanded highway road signage to include available alternative fueling stations; worked with the Wisconsin Technical College System to offer training for first responders, public safety officers, and permitting officials; and assisted public fleets in developing and implementing petroleum reduction strategies and policies.

This project aims to improve multi-vehicle heavy-duty truck platooning efficiency and safety through the use of automated controls, advanced communications, real-world testing, data analysis, and simulation development. This project aims to autonomously control the entire fleet of three following vehicles – throttle, brake, and steering – while optimizing the entire platoon for fuel efficiency and safety.

In 2012, the expansive Golden Gate National Recreation Area switched from higher-emission vehicles to five new electric vehicles (EVs). Golden Gate, which partnered with San Francisco Clean Cities, also installed five EV chargers and implemented a biodiesel project for heavy-duty vehicles.

In 2011, Grand Teton National Park added five hybrid electric vehicles to its fleet. Subsequently in 2014, the park added one plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and installed three electric vehicle charging stations. The installation of the charging stations supports an initiative to grow a larger regional electric vehicle infrastructure network. This initiative introduced charging stations and electric vehicle use to the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and set the stage for government agencies, local business, residents, and visitors to begin using charging stations throughout the area. Working with Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities, the park has launched an extensive education and outreach effort designed to eliminate unnecessary engine idling, reduce fuel consumption, and improve local air quality.