Equipment & Tech

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Clean Fuel Production tax credit is being scrutinized by NATSO, SIGMA, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), American Trucking Associations, (ATA) and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and have expressed strong concern with the Department of Treasury’s preliminary proposed rule implementing the Clean Fuel Production tax credit, also known as the “Section 45Z” credit. “Today’s piecemeal, preliminary proposal is a classic case of ‘too little, too late’ for a supply chain that needed clear, unambiguous direction months ago,” said David Fialkov, executive vice president of government affairs for NATSO and SIGMA. “It fails to provide the market with the certainty needed to mobilize new capital, and as a result we expect that potential investments in clean fuel will be sidelined.” Critical Issues Not Addressed According to the joint press release, the preliminary proposal falls short in addressing issues critical to stabilizing the biofuels market. The associations are urging Congress to extend the $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders’ tax credit as quickly as possible. “This credit represents a decidedly anti-consumer shift in biofuel tax incentive schemes, Fialkov said. “Very few ethanol producers will be able to access the 45Z credit, eliminating any potential for this policy to lower retail gasoline prices. “Even worse, the new 45Z credit will result in a materially diminished incentive for renewable diesel fuels and biodiesel. It appears that the preliminary proposal would allow imported used cooking oil from China to claim the credit if it is making renewable jet fuel, but not renewable diesel. This is environmentally and economically unjustifiable. Diesel prices will go up and fuel emissions will go up. This policy needs to be fixed as soon as possible.” Congress Urged to Take Action on Clean Fuel Production tax credit “It is time for Congress to extend the longstanding $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders’ tax credit to help ensure market stability until the incoming Administration and Congress have the opportunity to address longer-term tax policy in 2025,” said LeeAnn Goheen, senior director of government affairs for NATSO and SIGMA. “For well over a year, the clean fuel supply chain repeatedly has implored the Administration to clearly define how the credit will function with ample time for scrutiny and feedback. By allowing this to languish until days before the next Administration takes office, Treasury has set a course for higher fuel prices, increased emissions, and lost agricultural jobs as the biodiesel industry effectively shuts down.” “ATA supports federal policies that ensure the trucking industry has access to reliable supplies of affordably priced fuels. Trucking companies that use biodiesel and renewable diesel require certainty that these lower-carbon fuel options are cost-competitive and readily available at the pump. We are concerned that this new 45Z guidance fails to meet that needed guarantee,” said Henry Hanscom, senior vice president of legislative affairs at ATA. Uncertainty in Preliminary Proposal According to the release, despite a statutory requirement that Treasury issue final guidance no later than Jan. 1, the biofuels supply chain will continue to navigate a climate of uncertainty left in the wake of today’s preliminary proposal. The Department of Energy’s updated Argonne Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model was not released in conjunction with the rule, and the industry is also awaiting a rulemaking on “climate smart agriculture” practices from the Agriculture Department. “The biodiesel blenders’ tax credit directly lowers the cost of diesel fuel for truck drivers, which in turn reduces shipping costs and helps lower the prices consumers pay for goods transported by truck, said David Heller, senior vice president of safety and government affairs with the Truckload Carriers Association. “This 45Z credit will do none of those things.” The release says that biodiesel and renewable diesel continue to be the most widely used low-carbon fuels in commercial trucking and remain the most viable option for reducing carbon emissions from the nation’s trucking, home heating oil, and rail industries in the near term. The biodiesel blenders’ tax credit has been instrumental in developing a strong renewable diesel industry in the United States, driving significant growth in production. The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel market expanded from approximately 100 million gallons in 2005 to around 4 billion gallons in 2023, all while contributing to lower transportation-related carbon emissions. “This preliminary proposal offers little reassurance to the biofuels supply chain, which is already wary of this untested new credit,” said Doug Kantor, general counsel at the National Association of Convenience Stores. “Extending the Biodiesel Tax Credit is the most effective path Congress can take to keep fuel prices low in the coming year.”    

COLUMBUS, Ind. – December preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes finished 2024 strong, surging 23% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. “Looking back on 2024, measured progress seems like an appropriate description,” said Steve Tam, vice president, ACT Research. “The used market undoubtedly outperformed typical seasonality, which called for an increase of 8% m/m. Preliminary auction activity increased from November by 47%, while wholesale transactions improved 3.7%. Combined, sales were up 23% m/m.” Tam also noted that one theory on the number of better-then-expected sales is buyers trying to time their purchases ahead of impending value increases.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  Konexial has launched a new premium commercial navigation feature exclusively for the My20 ELD app on iOS devices. “At Konexial, we are constantly striving to deliver cutting-edge solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and productivity for our users,” said Ken Evans, CTO at Konexial. “This premium navigation feature takes the My20 ELD app to a new level by providing advanced functionality and user-friendly enhancements that cater specifically to commercial drivers and fleets.” Key Features of the New Premium Navigation Service: Optimized User Interface for Small Devices: The premium navigation feature boasts an improved interface optimized for smaller iOS devices, such as the iPhone SE, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience regardless of screen size. Updated Posted Speed Limits: Drivers can now access more accurate and timely updates on posted speed limits, promoting safer and more compliant driving practices. Enhanced Map Textures and Visuals: With improved map textures, including detailed 3D buildings, drivers can enjoy a richer, more immersive navigation experience. Live Traffic Information: Stay informed with real-time traffic updates, helping drivers avoid delays and choose the most efficient routes. Improved Route Recalculation: Seamless and instantaneous route recalculation ensures drivers stay on track even if they deviate from the planned route. Enhanced Voice Guidance: More detailed and precise driving instructions provide clarity and confidence, especially on complex routes. Refined ETA and Distance Indicators: Get more accurate trip estimates, enabling better planning and time management for drivers and fleet managers alike. According to a company media release, the premium navigation feature was developed in response to the growing demand for smarter, more efficient navigation tools tailored to the transportation industry. “The launch reinforces Konexial’s commitment to innovation and its mission to empower fleets with tools that improve operations and safety,” the release said. The premium navigation service is available now for download and activation exclusively through the My20 ELD app on iOS devices. Konexial plans to expand the service to additional platforms in the near future.  

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced $635 million in grants to continue building out electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative fueling infrastructure with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s signature zero-emission refueling infrastructure programs. “The Biden Administration has made historic investments to support the EV transition and make sure it’s made in America,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These investments will help states and communities build out a network of EV chargers in the coming years so that one day, finding a charge on a road trip will be as easy as filling up at a gas station.” According to a media release, the grants fund 49 projects that will deploy more than 11,500 EV charging ports and hydrogen and natural gas fueling infrastructure along corridors and in communities across 27 States, four Federally Recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia. “President Biden set a goal of building out 500,000 publicly available EV chargers by 2030 – and we are on track to achieve that goal early,” the release said. “As of today, there are more than 206,000 publicly available EV charging ports with 38,000 new public chargers turned on in 2024 thanks to private sector investment, and a combination of direct federal funding, federal tax incentives, and state and local funding.” Thanks to funding from the public and private sectors, the number of publicly accessible EV chargers has more than doubled since the start of the Biden Administration in 2021. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments have not only helped install hundreds of publicly funded chargers, but it has also incentivized industry to invest in EV charging infrastructure and manufacturing, creating good-paying jobs in communities nationwide. “We’re proud to deliver $635 million in Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grants to continue building out EV and alternative fuel infrastructure across America,” saidU.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts, we now have over 200,000 publicly available chargers nationwide and hundreds of new manufacturing facilities across 40 states, creating jobs and economic growth. Today’s awards bring us one step closer to a cleaner transportation future.” The grants are made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5-billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and a 10 percent set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Together, these programs have spurred private investments in growing the nation’s EV charging network and are actively deploying chargers across the country, in urban and rural areas, ensuring more drivers can charge their EVs wherever they live or travel. These historic investments are helping to accelerate the country’s transition to a clean energy economy while reducing pollution and harmful greenhouse gas emissions. “This funding showcases the harmony in government efforts to maximize federal investments and will build on the Department of Energy’s work to develop the 21st century energy workforce and prepare the grid to power zero-emission fueling infrastructure nationwide,” said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “The new charging and refueling locations will deliver more accessible and equitable transportation options, create good paying new jobs, and open up opportunities for innovation in communities across America.” $368 million of the investment will be allocated for 42 projects that expand EV charging infrastructure within communities across the country, while $268 million will go towards seven “corridor” fast-charging projects that build out the national charging and alternative-fueling network along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. With grants for both electric charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the announcement is consistent with the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy. The buildout of hydrogen transportation fueling infrastructure complements and accelerates America’s growing hydrogen economy and meets growing market demand by targeting public investments to amplify private sector momentum in deploying zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This infrastructure will reduce freight-related carbon emissions and improves air quality in communities heavily impacted by diesel emissions. The awards also support the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims for 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities, with 67% of the funding going to sites located in disadvantaged communities. Investing in these communities creates jobs, reduces transportation costs, and helps mitigate healthcare costs caused by air pollution, while also ensuring all equitable access to EV charging infrastructure. “FHWA is working to expand the nation’s EV charging network to guarantee that every American can reliably and accessibly fuel their trips, no matter where they live,” said Gloria M. Shepherd, Acting Federal Highway Deputy Administrator. “The grants announced today will continue this important work by investing in alternative fueling infrastructure in communities, creating economic opportunities, and advancing equity in EV charging by ensuring all Americans can share the benefits of an electrified future.” “Americans deserve real choices in how they get around,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “Today’s investments supplement a combination of federal tax incentives, state and local funding, and private investment to fill gaps in the nation’s rapidly growing alternative fueling network and ensure all communities—whether rural, urban, or suburban—have access to convenient, reliable, and affordable zero-emission transportation options.” Community project selections in this round of grants include: The Cherokee Nation in northeast Oklahoma will receive $10.7 million to install 112 publicly accessible electric vehicle charging ports across 12 community locations. The project will place chargers in prominent destinations like parks and health centers. The initiative supports the Cherokee Nation’s clean energy goals and President Biden’s Justice 40 initiative, ensuring that nearly the entire reservation is within 25 miles of charging infrastructure. The City of Troy, Ala. will receive $724,912 to install community charging at five key locations: the local hospital, museum, university, downtown center, and sports complex. In total, 10 new charging stations will be installed for residents and visitors, bridging the gap in public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in and around Troy. By fostering electric vehicle adoption and attracting more electric vehicle drivers to use U.S. Highway 231, the project will stimulate local businesses and contribute to economic growth. Corridor project selections in this round of grants include: The Port Authority of Houston will receive nearly $24.8 million to construct and operate a hydrogen fueling station for heavy-duty trucks in Bayport, Texas. The project supports national strategies for transportation decarbonization and clean hydrogen. The station will offer high fueling throughput, public accessibility, and support for tube trailer fueling. The Maryland Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia Department of Transportation, will receive $18.6 million to deploy alternative fueling infrastructure along the I-81 and I-78 corridors across Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia. The project includes a plan to analyze medium and heavy-duty vehicle charging/fueling deployment, as well as the installation of six fast charging stations in locations that will serve local fleet needs and build out connections to a regional network of freight truck charging infrastructure. A full list of grant recipients can be found here. According to the release, the funding opportunity received 416 applications requesting a combined $4.05 billion in funding, more than six times the amount of funding available, demonstrating a strong desire for federal funding from applications across the nation. This round of funding expands the total number of states with an awarded CFI project to 44, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with seven states receiving their first CFI award. “FHWA is working closely with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, providing technical assistance to public and private sector stakeholders on planning and implementation of a national network of EV chargers and zero-emission fueling infrastructure,” the release said. Information on technical assistance from the Joint Office is available at driveelectric.gov. For more information on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and investments in electric vehicles, visit FHWA’s BIL website.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Daimler Trucks North America has stopped all new orders for new internal combustion vehicles in Oregon in a Dec. 20, 2024 statement. “Effective immediately, DTNA is pausing all orders for new internal combustion vehicles intended for registration in Oregon,” said Mary C. Aufdemberg Daimler’s general manager of product strategy and market development, in a message to Oregon truck dealers. According to the Willamette Week, Daimler, through its Freightliner and Western Star brands, is the leading producer of large trucks in the U.S., accounting for 40% of all new Class 8 trucks (tractor-trailers) sold in 2023, according to the American Truck Dealers association. The Oregon Journalism Project began to research the issue and the decision stems from a new rule imposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality that went into effect on Jan. 1. The DEQ’s Advanced Clean Truck rule states, “Out of every 100 new Class 8 heavy trucks a manufacturer sells in Oregon in 2025, seven must be electric. That percentage of electric trucks will increase every year, reaching 40% of all heavy trucks sold in 2032.” The Advanced Clean Truck rule was adopted in Oregon to reduce tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions through advanced clean technology. The rule requires manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (Class 2b – 8) to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of its overall sales from vehicle model year 2025 through 2035. “The purpose of this division is to establish an Oregon Low Emission and Zero Emission Vehicle program that implements California vehicle emission standards under section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act,” the Oregon DEQ said. “This program establishes criteria and procedures for the manufacture, distribution and sale of new motor vehicles and trucks in Oregon” In November 2021, Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission adopted the Clean Truck Rules, which includes Oregon’s Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, according to the DEQ website. This specific rule adopts by reference California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation designed to support the transition of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission engines over time. “The ACT Rule requires medium- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero emission vehicles, beginning with the 2025 model year,” the DEQ said. “The rule sets specific sales targets that grow each year, making a shift from producing gas- and diesel-powered trucks to cleaner electric- or hydrogen-powered options. These target requirements apply to all new on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 lbs.” While emergency vehicles, transit buses, charter buses, articulated shuttles and double-decker buses are exempt from the ACT rule, rule applies to any manufacturers offering new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles for sale in Oregon. However, if a manufacturer sells an average of fewer than 500 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in a model year, then it is exempt from the ACT Rule requirements, according to the DEQ. A DEQ fact sheet noted the ACT rule includes a number of flexibilities for manufacturers to determine which vehicle models to move to zero emissions. There is no ban on producing combustion-powered vehicle types. Manufacturers can continue to produce and sell gasoline- or diesel-powered trucks, like motor homes or tow trucks, while focusing on electrifying other vehicles, such as zero-emission school buses. The DEG denied that the ACT rule would be so restrictive that their would be no diesel powered vehicles available for purchase in Oregon. “The ACT rule was designed to ensure a smooth adoption of ZEVs while still ensuring that diesel-powered vehicles are available for purchase,” the DEQ said. “The rule is flexible and was recently changed to accommodate manufacturers’ requests for more flexibility. For example, manufacturers can purchase credits from other manufacturers selling ZEVs or produce and sell near-ZEVs (e.g. plug-in hybrid electric trucks). In 2025, only 7- 11% of vehicle sales must be zero-emission, as shown in the above chart.” The DEQ also noted that vehicle owners and fleets do not have any specific purchasing requirements. The ACT rule only applies to businesses or manufacturers that sell new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in Oregon. According to the Willamette Week, Daimler said its decision was base on “ambiguity” in how Oregon accounts for electric truck sales. The company fears it might fail to meet Oregon’s quota, triggering penalties saying it is an unacceptable risk. DEQ spokeswoman Susan Mills said her agency immediately contacted Daimler after the Dec. 20 announcement. Mills says DEQ sought to resolve what she terms an “inaccurate” communication from the agency about when manufacturers would get credit for an electric truck sale, according to the Willamette Week.  

Fort Wayne, Ind. —  The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) has firmed up some initial plans for Run on Less – Messy Middle. “We chose to focus this Run on the messy middle and specifically on long-haul, return-to-base and over-the-road duty cycles because it is the largest emitting market segment and there is confusion surrounding it,” said Mike Roeth, executive director.  According to a NACFE press release, the event, to be held in September, will feature four different powertrain solutions: diesel, natural gas, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cells. The Run will track trucks from three different fleets in each of the powertrain categories.  “By having trucks with a variety of powertrains, we will be able to capture real-world data and bring some clarity to the long-haul portion of the messy middle,” Roeth said. NACFE is talking to fleets to find the right combination of participants, in order to have an accurate representation of what is currently happening in the trucking industry. NACFE will announce fleet participants in the spring and then will visit each of the 12 fleet locations shortly thereafter.  As in the past, each truck in the Run will be outfitted with Geotab telematics devices. Geotab is the official data partner for the 2025 Run on Less – Messy Middle. In addition, the Run on Less website will be updated and once again contain fleet profiles, stories from the Run videos and a dashboard that will track various metrics. Information from the previous four Runs will be accessible from the Run on Less – Messy Middle website.   Educational bootcamp to be part of the tun  Beginning in February, NACFE will conduct a 13-session Bootcamp in conjunction with Run on Less – Messy Middle. Three sessions will focus on diesel and natural gas vehicles, three on battery electric vehicles and three on hydrogen. There will be a unit recap workshop after each set of technology sessions and a close out session at the end that will focus on other fuel-efficiency technologies.  “The NACFE team has been hard at work over the last few months putting together stellar programming for the Run on Less – Messy Middle Bootcamp, and I’m excited to unveil it to our audience,” said Rachel Ellenberger, industry engagement manager. “Over the years, NACFE has set the bar high for providing timely, educational, and innovative content to the Run on Less Bootcamps and this year, we’re excited to go a little further. This year’s Bootcamp will include the educational sessions we all know and love along with workshops designed to be more conversational and encourage further audience participation. The agenda is set, and we’re excited to continue to recruit engaging speakers who are talented storytellers in their corner of the industry. I’m looking forward to seeing you in February!”  The first Bootcamp session is Wednesday, February 11 at 1 p.m. EST and subsequent bootcamp sessions are every other week. Bootcamp registration is open now and you can register here. ACT News, published by TRC Companies, is assisting NACFE with the mechanics of the Bootcamp.  Initial sponsors announced  NACFE also is pleased to announce that Cummins and Shell have signed on as title sponsors for this Run. To date, event sponsors include Chevron, Clean Energy, The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Eaton, ExxonMobil, FlowBelow, Geotab, PepsiCo, Prologis and TeraWatt.  “We are grateful to the Title and Event Sponsors that have stepped up so early in the process to help sponsor Run on Less – Messy Middle,” Roeth said. “The Run is not possible without industry support, and we still need Executive, Title, Event and Supporter Sponsors.” 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Aurora, Continental and NVIDIA have announced a long-term strategic partnership to deploy driverless trucks at scale, powered by the next-generation NVIDIA DRIVE Thor system-on-a-chip (SoC). “Delivering one driverless truck will be monumental. Deploying thousands will change the way we live,” said Chris Urmson, CEO and co-founder at Aurora. “NVIDIA is the market leader in accelerated computing, and they’ll strengthen our ecosystem of partners and our ability to deliver safe and reliable driverless trucks to our customers at scale.” According to a media release, NVIDIA’s DRIVE Thor and DriveOS will be integrated into the Aurora Driver, an SAE L4 autonomous driving system that Continental plans to mass-manufacture in 2027. Industry-first partnership to scale driverless trucks “Developing, industrializing, and manufacturing powerful self-driving hardware at commercial scale requires unique and unparalleled expertise,” said Aruna Anand, president and CEO, Automotive, Continental North America. “Our industry-first collaboration with Aurora and NVIDIA to deliver driverless trucks positions Continental at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology and will drive value to our business.” Delivering safe, highly performant and reliable driverless trucks According to the release, Aurora is in the final stages of validating the Aurora Driver for driverless operations on public roads. The Aurora Driver is equipped with a powerful computer and sensors, including lidar, radar, and cameras, enabling it to safely operate at highway speeds. Verifiable AI enables the Aurora Driver to quickly adapt to new operating domains while being validated through Aurora’s Safety Case, an essential tool for regulatory trust and public acceptance. Aurora plans to launch its driverless trucking service in Texas in April 2025. NVIDIA will power the primary computer of the Aurora Driver with a dual NVIDIA DRIVE Thor SoC configuration that runs DriveOS. DRIVE Thor, built on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, is designed to accelerate inference tasks critical for autonomous vehicles to understand and navigate the world around them. As Continental and Aurora prepare to manufacture self-driving hardware at scale in 2027, production samples of DRIVE Thor are coming in the first half of 2025. Continental is developing a reliable, serviceable, cost-efficient generation of the Aurora Driver hardware, specifically for high-volume manufacturing, according to the release. The company is also developing a specialized independent secondary system that can take over operation if a failure occurs in the primary Aurora Driver computer. With start of production planned for 2027, Continental will test prototypes of the future hardware kit in the coming months. Continental will then integrate DRIVE Thor with DriveOS into the primary Aurora Driver computer at its manufacturing facilities and ship the full hardware kit to Aurora’s truck OEM partners for integration into customers’ trucks. “The combination of NVIDIA’s automotive-grade DRIVE Thor platform with Aurora’s advanced self-driving trucking technology and Continental’s manufacturing and integration expertise is set to help drive the future of autonomous trucking, helping make roads safer while driving up operational efficiency,” said Rishi Dhall, vice president of automotive at NVIDIA.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will award $122.9 million for six California projects to build zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, including over $55 million for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. “Reducing emissions from our transportation sector is a key component in reaching California’s ambitious climate and clean air goals,” Padilla said. “But to facilitate the zero-emissions transition, we must rapidly deploy charging and clean-fueling infrastructure to keep our supply chain moving and improve the daily commute for millions of Californians. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these investments will decarbonize our freight sector, protect public health, and help low-income communities save on their energy costs.” According to a press release from Padilla, the funding comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program aims to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods. According to the release, the California Energy Commission will receive nearly $55.9 million to install 21 public charging stations and one hydrogen refueling station to support zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty semi-trailer trucks. The project will deploy at least 130 high-powered zero-emission vehicle charger ports across the heavily trafficked routes within California and between California and Nevada, supporting zero-emission freight transportation. Senator Padilla led a letter with 36 of his colleagues in the California congressional delegation in support of the California Energy Commission’s application. Additional California recipients include: City and County of San Francisco Environment Department — $15 million: This funding will be used to install up to 300 EV charging ports in publicly accessible garages, lots, and curbside locations, primarily serving disadvantaged and other underserved communities. The project deploys both Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers to increase the total number of charging ports in the city by 30 percent. San Francisco will have 1,275 publicly available EV charging ports by the conclusion of this project. City of Santa Cruz — $14.35 million: This funding will be used to install EV charging ports at 44 local government-owned sites, primarily public parking lots. The project is equity-focused with sites in disadvantaged and low- and moderate-income communities lacking electric vehicle chargers. These sites will be designed to ensure charger reliability, and 13 percent of the sites will include energy resilience features. City of San Bernardino — $14.06 million: In partnership with Uplift San Bernardino, this funding will be used to create San Bernardino’s first public charging network by installing 101 EV chargers at 15 municipally-owned locations, including parks, community centers, a library, City Hall, the Police Department, and several downtown core parking locations. All sites will include Level 2 and DC fast chargers, in addition to chargers for micro-mobility, like e-bikes and e-scooters. City of San Jose — $12 million: This funding will be used to install electric vehicle charging stations in underserved communities throughout Santa Clara County. The project will install 237 EV charging ports across San Jose and neighboring cities within the Silicon Valley Clean Energy service area. In San Jose, 120 EV charging ports will be installed at 12 city-owned public libraries, community centers, and parks. The project will serve many locations throughout the region, including parks, a public health clinic, community centers, public parking lots, and municipal fleet facilities. Sacramento Municipal Utility District — $11.63 million: This funding will be used to install electric vehicle charging stations at nine locations, with five located in disadvantaged communities. The project aims to reduce transportation-related emissions, eliminating over 930 tons of greenhouse gases annually. The project will engage with the public to educate community members on electric vehicle benefits. According to the release, Senator Padilla has consistently fought for emissions reductions across the transportation and freight sectors. Last year, Padilla successfully pushed the Administration to launch a National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to guide the national deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty freight transportation vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and fueling infrastructure, which followed his efforts to call on the Joint Office to prioritize the deployment of ZE-MHDV as part of its core mission. Last year, Senator Padilla announced over $318 million in two rounds of funding from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program. In 2023, Padilla, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Representative Nanette Díaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced the bicameral EVs for All Act, legislation that would increase access to EVs for residents of public housing across the nation. Padilla and Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10) also previously sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to prioritize investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in clean charging and fueling projects to help reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the most impacted communities.

BLACKSBURG, Va. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. —  Aeva and Torc have expanded their collaboration to advance the development of a new safety architecture for truck applications – enabling autonomous trucks to make safer, more intelligent decisions. According to a media release, under the expanded collaboration, Torc and Aeva will work together on technology advancements in service of L4 autonomous trucking to benefit the development of Torc’s Virtual Driver vehicle software. The companies will share 4D LiDAR sensing data and share a Freightliner Cascadia vehicle platform for use in long-range sensing applications. The data captured will support deeper collaboration between global engineering teams at both companies. “Aeva is pioneering the next generation of 4D LiDAR technology and we’re excited to enter a new phase of our collaboration to continue to position us as industry leaders in autonomous driving technology for production deployment at scale,” said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Torc CEO. The release noted that the collaboration builds on the production agreement signed last year when Daimler Truck selected Aeva as its supplier of long and ultra-long range LiDAR for its series production autonomous commercial vehicle program. The multi-year production agreement is targeting commercializing Daimler Truck autonomous trucks by 2027. “Torc Robotics is a leader in commercializing autonomous truck technology and this expansion of our collaboration is a testament to the capabilities of our talented team and the strength of our production partnership with Torc and Daimler Truck,” said Soroush Salehian, co-founder and CEO at Aeva. “Now our global teams will work even closer together with joint sharing of sensing data from Aeva sensors on North America’s top trucking platform. We look forward to advancing our multi-year production collaboration to commercialize safe autonomous trucks on the road.”

COLUMBUS, Ind – December preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 36,500 units, slipping 2.1% m/m but up 39% y/y, according to ACT Research. “Strength continues to be the applicable descriptor of Class 8 order activity as the industry looks to 2025. In December, Class 8 orders were in line, slipping 2.1% m/m to 36,500 units,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “While down from November, orders were up nearly 39% compared to last December’s performance. With the largest seasonal factor of the year, seasonal adjustment is always unkind in December. On a seasonally adjusted basis, Class 8 orders fell 15% from November to 29,700 units, and a 356k SAAR.” Complete industry data for December, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-January. “MD Classes 5-7 orders continue their consistent, if slowly deflating, trajectory into still historically elevated truck and bus backlogs,” Vieth said regarding medium duty. “Preliminary December NA Classes 5-7 orders fell 40% y/y to 16,800 units, down 300 units or -1.9% from November and the third weakest net order tally of 2024.”