Community

Erin Rathe In Community, Electric Vehicles, Recharge Minnesota

ElectriFUN Faribault: Not Your Average EVent!

Despite threatening weather in the morning, approximately 150 people turned out at Trystar in Faribault, MN, to experience EVs and energy solutions of all kinds!

All Energy Solar and Cooperative Energy Futures were just some of the exhibitors on hand

Trystar’s newly-expanded facility manufactures wires, conduit and other electrical components for the mass distribution of electricity. They incorporated a large solar array into the additional space, allowing them to operate and control their own microgrid on-site. They even manufacture portable, solar-powered generators and were generous enough to allow the food truck from Praeliza Fusion Kitchen to hook up to that during the event.

Trystar’s solar-powered mobile generator

There was an impressive lineup of both showcase and test drive vehicles, and 36 people had the opportunity to take a ride in an EV. The cars were not the only electrified options on display, though. In addition to Trystar’s solar generator, there was also an electric school bus and electric yard equipment. We were also thrilled to welcome Jean Wallace, Deputy Commissioner of MnDOT, who visited with a number of attendees and exhibitors, as well as taking a tour of Trystar.

Selection of electric lawn equipment

The success of the event can be attributed to the dedication of the steering committee, who championed the event across town. Many thanks go out to the City of Faribault, Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Trystar, Harry Brown’s Family Automotive, and South Central College – North Mankato for guiding the organization of the event and helping spread the word throughout Faribault and to our energy partner Xcel Energy.

Erin Rathe In Community, Massachusetts, Recharge Massachusetts

Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) Hosts the Mass Black Expo

Runs October 6-8 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

One of our core values at Recharge America is that people of all backgrounds should have access to the innovations and emerging technologies that make the world more sustainable and more livable. BECMA is one of our newest Participants in Massachusetts, and they’re already a key partner in helping us extend our work into communities of color. BECMA’s mission of closing the racial wealth gap in the Bay State directs their programming, and the Mass Black Expo (MBE) is one of their signature programs. Christopher Sonnie, Jr., BECMA’s Membership Coordinator, talked with us about what the MBE is and what they hope to accomplish with it.

Register to attend or exhibit at http://massblackexpo.com

Why does the Mass Black Expo exist?
The Mass Black Expo offers a unique platform where Black entrepreneurs, Black professionals, and Black-owned businesses can collaborate alongside ally organizations. Together, they can join forces to not only bridge the racial wealth gap but also to cultivate and perpetuate Black prosperity. This event serves as a momentous occasion for the residents of the Commonwealth to gather and exchange innovative concepts, working collectively towards the realization of a more dynamic, inclusive, and fair economy.
What positives have come out of the MBE in the past few years?
The Mass Black Expo held last year drew in an impressive crowd of more than 2,000 attendees, featured an extensive showcase of over 100 exhibitors, and offered a comprehensive program of 30 workshops. This collective gathering provided an unforgettable and profoundly enriching experience for all involved.
Who should attend? What will they get out of it?
The Mass Black Expo is an inclusive event that welcomes a diverse spectrum of attendees, ranging from college students to young professionals and seasoned executives. This year’s theme, “Building Black Wealth in The Commonwealth,” promises engaging discussions, valuable networking opportunities, and a profound exploration of strategies to foster a more equitable and prosperous economy. It’s an event that holds something meaningful for everyone, making it a must-attend gathering.
What’s new for 2023?
2023 holds an array of exciting developments in store for us! Anticipate our upcoming expo, which is poised to be BECMA’s most monumental endeavor yet. What sets this year apart are three remarkable additions: the EV Kickstarter Test Drive, the Career Connect Forum, and the immersive Climate and Sustainability Experience.
What are you, personally, most excited about this year?
I’m personally excited about the EV Kickstarter Test Drive! This exceptional opportunity allows attendees to get behind the wheel of a variety of electric vehicles. Our goal is to equip the Commonwealth for the forthcoming shift towards electric mobility. And who knows, there might even be a Model 3 in the lineup!

Chris concluded by saying, “There’s so much more that we can’t talk about yet. We’re slowly releasing more information in the coming weeks. If anyone is interested in attending or learning more, they can visit www.massblackexpo.com.” And if you attend, be sure to stop by the Recharge America table in the sustainability hall to say hello!

Erin Rathe In Community, Electric Vehicles, Massachusetts, Recharge Massachusetts

Successful Recharge Massachusetts Event on Cape Cod

Recharge Massachusetts held a very successful event at the Hyannis Transportation Center (HTC) on June 3! With test drive cars from Tesla, Ford, VW, Chevy, Toyota, and Lucid, plus showcase cars from both dealers and private owners, the attendees had a wide range of options for learning about EVs. The parking lot also served as a demonstration ground for the Steamship Authority’s brand-new electric bus and e-bikes from Sea Coast Cyclery.

Exhibitors in tent at event Lineup of cars for test drive 48 attendees registered for test drives, with most of them driving two or three different models. Exhibitors under the tent, which was kept lively by a DJ courtesy of Cape Air, included the Cape Cod Commission, Cape Light Compact, Faith Communities Environmental Network, and the Green Energy Consumer Alliance. Energy companies, including Eversource, E2 Solar, and Energy New England, also participated to let consumers know how to qualify for rebates on home energy and EVs.

Despite a blustery, drizzly coastal New England day, a couple hundred attendees turned out for the event. We would like to thank everyone on the steering committee and at the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority for coming together to make this event work!

Erin Rathe In Community, Recharge Massachusetts, Recharge Minnesota

Introducing the Recharge Team

The Recharge team has undergone some changes in the past few months, and we’re excited to introduce our new team members!

Stephanie Dorman has been our National Program Director since November 2022. She has a clear vision for Recharge America, and she’s driving it forward every day! Stephanie is based out of Pennsylvania.

From Stephanie:
“With over a decade of nonprofit experience, I knew that coming into Recharge America, we’d be able to make such an impact on people around the country. Our team is doing just that, by going into communities with educational events, and then continuing the conversations around workforce and economic equity. We have a great team that is focused on bringing positive changes to people, our environment, and our country.”

Erin Rathe is one of our State Program & Events Managers, and she joined our team in March 2023. With a background in economic development and community engagement, she’s fitting right into the work Recharge is doing. Erin lives in Massachusetts.

From Erin: “I love the work we’re doing at Recharge, because it’s amazing to see all the innovation happening around the country! I’m learning so much about how different each community’s needs and goals are, and it’s such a privilege to be helping them shape their goals and then reach them.”

Madeleine Blum is also a State Program & Events Manager based out of Massachusetts. She joined Recharge America in April and has hit the ground running. With her event skills, she has taken point on working with our partners to make our community events happen in Minnesota and Massachusetts.

From Madeleine: “It is an honor to use my decades of event planning and organizational experience to blossom events that make a positive impact. I’m delighted to be working at Recharge where the goals and mission align with my own passion for sustainability.”

Erin Rathe In Community, Electric Vehicles, Recharge Minnesota

Test Drive EVent in Albert Lea!

Recharge Minnesota held a very successful event at Design Ready Controls (DRC) in Albert Lea on May 5! With test drive cars from Tesla, Ford, VW, and Nissan, plus showcase cars from those manufacturers and more, the attendees had a wide range of options for learning about EVs. VIP guests were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of DRC and a ride around town on an electric school bus, courtesy of Interstate Truck Centers.

Attendees completed 86 test drives, and DRC estimated delivering close to 400 tours of their facility. Exhibitors included Nuss Trucking, Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative, Austin Utilities, Riverland College, Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce, MN DOT, and Heliox. Freeborn County 4-H brought kits for kids to assemble their own mini EVs, and food trucks from Nel’s Diner and Just Take the Cake Too were on hand with snacks and lunch options.

Every test drive generated a donation to Alden-Conger High School’s Supermileage Club and VEX Robotics, student organizations that were also on hand to show off what they do. The Supermileage Club is headed to the world championships in India later this year! The student groups will each receive $2,500 as a result of sponsorships and donations from exhibitors and the community.

Erin Rathe In Community, Electric Vehicles, Recharge Massachusetts, Recharge Minnesota

Recharge America – Securing the Promise of EVs for Everybody

Reporting from our annual recognition ceremonies and inaugural symposia in Minnesota and Massachusetts this spring

Recharge America has annually hosted recognition events in Minnesota and Massachusetts honoring leaders in EVs. This year also marked the first-ever statewide symposia in each state, aimed at providing an opportunity to share lessons learned among Recharge participants. Taking place on March 22 on the campus of Minnesota State University Mankato and on April 12 on the campus of University of Massachusetts Boston, these two events incorporated presentations from state officials, nonprofits, energy partners, and manufacturers on their advances and programs in the EV space. The centerpiece of each gathering was a video showcasing the impact Recharge participants have had across their respective states.

Learners eager to replicate successes in their communities participated in small breakout sessions led by industry leaders working to ensure that the rollout of EVs remains innovative and accessible, providing opportunities to everyone:

State officials from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs outlined their priorities and opportunities for implementing National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plans.
Representatives from energy partners like Xcel, Connexus, Fermata, Eversource, and National Grid outlined their programs for commercial customers that encourage EV charging installation and support grid resilience and planning.
Businesses including Voltrek in Massachusetts and Design Ready Controls in Minnesota described their public-private partnerships that are driving economic and workforce development.
Researchers, policy analysts, and students from higher educational institutions — including MSU Mankato, Riverland Community College, Boston University, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute — engaged with participants describing the hurdles ahead so they could lend their expertise to help solve those problems.
Stakeholders from community groups, like PLACE, HourCar and Good2Go carsharing services, Native Sun Community Power Development, and the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, shared their efforts to bring EV access and innovation to Environmental Justice communities.

The goal? Build on the promise that one of the best ways to boost EV adoption is to harness lessons learned from each other. Conversations during these events identified a variety of new initiatives for the coming year:

Aligning various incentive programs that provide grants and rebates with populations who can’t access them: overnight street parkers, deed-restricted parking spaces, and multifamily rental complexes;
Conducting outreach to Environmental Justice Communities (EJCs) to bring both EV cars and infrastructure into those communities in ways that truly serve the constituents who live in them;
Converting fleets of buses, trucks, and service vehicles to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and supporting their adoption with flexible charging solutions that keep those fleets active on demand;
Connecting workforce development programs with manufacturing needs, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities;
Identifying further ways to reduce overall Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs) by connecting bike trails, providing micromobility opportunities, and growing carsharing and ridesharing programs.

Building off community engagement work across these states, the collaborative framework Recharge America is building demonstrates the power of positive storytelling to help realize the promise of an electric transportation system that can serve us all. We’re already looking forward to and planning next year’s symposia!

Leynah McGarghan In Community, Electric Vehicles, Massachusetts, MassEVolves

MassEVolves Spotlight: Braintree Electric Light Company (BELD)

The Braintree Electric Light Department’s innovative “Braintree Drives Electric” program has been generating awareness and promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to Braintree residents since 2016.

The program provides Braintree residents with discounts based on their charging habits and for the installation of charging equipment at their home.

“We want to show residents the many benefits of owning or leasing an EV, including reduction to environmental impacts, affordability, and efficiency,” says Ken Stone, Energy Services and Accounting Manager.

After partnering with Sagewell and Energy New England to help promote the program, BELD currently has about 80 residents enrolled with approximately 100 EVs in the town of Braintree.

As part of the program, BELD has hosted virtual EVents, including a Q&A and a local EV specialist roundtable. Sagewell identifies new Braintree EV owners and contacts them to inform them about the Braintree Drives Electric program and uses smart charging program data to analyze residents’ charging habits. Energy New England manages the Braintree Drives Electric website, processes all customer rebates, and provides outreach to customers and local car dealerships.

BELD currently owns and operates one Chevrolet Volt, two Volkswagen e-Golfs, and two hybrid bucket trucks, with a third hybrid bucket truck ordered and expected to arrive in 2021. BELD also owns and operates two dual head charging stations, which are free of charge for all electric vehicle users.t

To learn more about BELD, visit beld.net. To download the complete MassEVolves BELD PDF case study, click here.

MassEVolves is a statewide initiative conducted by Recharge America in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection. More information about the MassEVolves program is at massevolves.org.

Leynah McGarghan In Community, Electric Vehicles, Fleet Vehicles, Massachusetts, MassEVolves

Leading by Example: A New Program to Promote EV Fleet Purchases in Mass.

Leading by Example Fleet Challenge More than any other single group, fleet vehicle operators stand to gain from going electric. Fleet vehicles tend to be used much more frequently than passenger vehicles and are operated for much longer durations, and as a consequence, the economic benefits of lower maintenance and fuel costs are multiplied.

With fleet vehicles in mind, MassEVolves, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ Leading by Example (LBE), has created a new program opportunity: the Electric Vehicle Purchase Challenge (The Challenge). This annual, voluntary challenge initiative spotlights new electric vehicle (EV) purchases for fleets made by MassEVolves participants.

MassEVolves is a state program recognizing organizations for supporting the use of electric vehicles for their operations, employees, and communities. It is conducted by Recharge America in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection.

For the inaugural year of The Challenge, MassEVolves will recognize participants who have or will be purchasing electric fleet vehicles between 2018 and the end of calendar year 2021 then on an annual basis The Challenge offers a unique opportunity to add additional EVs to the roads of Massachusetts.

Any eligible organization or agency that wishes to participate in The Challenge can:

Submit a MassEVolves participation pledge.
Participate with MassEVolves and LBE staff, as applicable, in technical support activities related to implementing the pledge.
Submit data on the number and types of EVs acquired between January 1, 2018 and the end of calendar year 2021.

While The Challenge is not an incentive program, it does provide valuable recognition, networking, and learning opportunities.

Why Fleet Electrification Makes So Much Sense

An article by Heather Flanagan on CleanTechnica about fleet vehicles (sponsored by ABB) spells out some of the key benefits of fleet electrification.

The not-so-secret sauce is utilization. A typical passenger car vehicle in the US might travel around 12,000 miles per year, but a transit bus or Class 8 truck will see up to five times that usage. Consequently, reliability, longevity, and associated maintenance costs are on an entirely different scale for fleet owners ….

An individual EV owner may save more than a thousand dollars annually on fuel and maintenance costs over a comparable combustion vehicle while reducing their individual carbon footprint. For a fleet of a thousand round-the-clock buses, trucks, or rideshare vehicles operating at 50,000 miles per year or more over the course of ten years, the savings escalate quickly into the millions.

The new Challenge by MassEVolves and Leading By Example provides a unique opportunity for participants to share best practices and gain access to valuable information from peers, helping to guide their EV rollout plans for the months and years to come.

Eligible entities for The Challenge include companies, higher education institutions, and state agencies across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All state agencies should contact LBE’s Eric Friedman at eric.friedman@state.ma.us.

To sign up and learn more, email Leynah McGarghan at lmcgarghan@recharge-america.org.

Leynah McGarghan is Program Strategist at Recharge America

Kirk Brown In Automotive Industry, Community, Electric Vehicles, EV Economics, EV Legislation

GM Aspires to Go All-Electric by 2035: What It Means for EV Infrastructure

GM’s recent announcement aiming to offer an all-electric lineup of light-duty vehicles by 2035 is big news. GM is one the top car manufacturers in the world, and other manufacturers are likely to follow suit. The company is allocating $27 billion to support the pivot to electric vehicles. In light of President Biden’s plans to make the federal fleet all-electric by 2035, it suggests that massive EV adoption is just around the corner, not around the block. This is exciting, yes, but also puts some urgent priorities into the spotlight.

Over the next decade, as we envision EVs becoming increasingly common across our neighborhoods, cities and states some key questions come to mind: Where are the EV chargers? Who doesn’t have access yet to EV chargers yet, and where do they live? What about our rural

GM plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and has committed to setting science-based targets to achieve carbon neutrality. (Photo by Steve Fecht for General Motors)

communities, where residents must drive further for everyday needs like groceries? What about our disadvantaged communities, which often have the most to gain from reducing vehicle emissions given that they often live closest to the most dangerous transportation pollution?

In recent memory, we can recall that the haphazard rollout of the Internet spurred the Digital Divide, where only certain communities had high speed access. With adequate foresight, the EV rollout offers us an opportunity to get it right this time.

Planning is a critical component of any EV initiative within a business, community, state or region. Whether the objective is a Level 2 charge installation in a business parking lot or a corridor-wide buildout of fast chargers across a state, a few key questions must be addressed. Where is the optimal location? What fees will apply, if any? Will charge stations be accessible to the general public? Multiply questions like these on a national scale and the complexity could quickly threaten to overwhelm steady progress without careful, coordinated planning. Decisions now will have consequences for years to come.

Increasingly, the auto industry is recognizing that the future for transportation is electric, and we can expect other manufacturers to follow GM with strong EV announcements. The Biden Administration is certainly providing leadership, with its pledges to support electric vehicles and EV infrastructure. The progress is welcome given that EVs are terrific for local economies, and everyone stands to benefit from a rapid EV rollout no matter where they live. Getting the coordination right from the federal level all the way to local businesses and organizations — with state and local government entities working alongside in helping plan the transition to electric vehicles — will maximize those benefits for the most people.

Kirk Brown is President and CEO of Recharge America

Tim Allik In Community, Electric Vehicles, EV Economics, EV Legislation

Electric Vehicles Are Front and Center for the Biden Administration

President Joe Biden signs his "Made in America" executive order Electric vehicles (EVs) are taking center stage in Washington D.C. policy discussions.

President Biden announced plans this week to convert the entire fleet of federal vehicles, estimated to number 645,000, to electric as part of his Buy American Executive Order. It’s just the latest in a series of statements and pledges that underscore the president’s focus on electrifying our transportation system.

As a presidential candidate, Biden talked regularly about the many advantages of EVs. His $2 trillion Energy and Climate Plan calls for expanding EV tax credits to cover hundreds of thousands of additional vehicles, as well as the installation of 500,000 EV chargers across the United States.

With this latest Biden EV announcement, it is clear that this White House views EVs as a central strategy for addressing multiple challenges confronting the nation.

US Federal Fleet to Go Electric, Says Biden

“The federal government…owns an enormous fleet of vehicles, which we’re going to replace with clean electric vehicles made right here in America by American workers, creating a million auto worker jobs and clean energy and vehicles that are at zero emissions,” Biden said on Monday. While the timeline of this transition remains unclear, the focus on EVs is not.

On fuel, maintenance, power and performance, electric fleet vehicles are unmatched. Current limitations are supply and initial sticker price, but as manufacturing volumes increase and battery technology advances, these should rapidly subside.

Some states already provide incentives for organizations to purchase fleet vehicles. In Massachusetts, for example, under the state’s MOR-EV program, commercial and nonprofit fleets, which include company-owned vehicles, companies with vans, rental car companies, and companies that provide vehicles to employees instead of paying mileage, are eligible to receive purchase rebates of up to $2500 per vehicle. (Vehicles must have been purchased on or after June 25, 2020).

As we pointed out in an earlier Recharge America blog post about EV equity and access, government initiatives that promote EV adoption are an effective means of ensuring that people of all backgrounds and geographic locations can access and take advantage of all the benefits EVs offer.