RMI Carbon-Free Transportation

Without significant upgrades, the U.S. electric grid will not be able to support the hundreds of thousands of electric trucks that will be on the road in the coming years. And this challenge doesn’t belong to tomorrow – even today, fleets are putting off purchasing electric trucks due to understandable concerns about charging logistics. Learn what challenges #utilities and regulators face as they work to strengthen charging infrastructure in this article from RMI's Gerard Westhoff. #etrucks #electrictrucks #fleets #evs #electricvehicles #charging #charginginfrastructure #grid #electricgrid https://bit.ly/3QXZdj0

We can *eliminate* the need for the newly mined minerals that go into #EV batteries by 2050, IF we implement the six solutions outlined an RMI's report. These strategies include improving: ?? Battery chemistry ?? Battery density ?? Battery recycling ?? Battery reuse and lifetime ?? Vehicle efficiency ?? Mobility #climate #transportation #electricvehicles #EV #batteries #batterycircularity #batterysupplychain https://bit.ly/4hrt1PI

A growing number of city and state governments are recognizing the benefits of increasing access to e-bikes. Rebate programs have proven wildly successful in multiple cities and those who have rolled out these programs can help others do the same. Matthew Gabb, Sustainability Specialist at the City of Edina shares how they developed and implemented the city's program with help from RMI's free e-bike calculator, which quantifies e-bikes' environmental, health, and economic benefits, giving advocates the hard data they need to secure buy-in. Check the calculator out here: https://bit.ly/4kIFMZ6 #climate #transportation #electrification #ebikes #cityplanning

Most #EV owners live in higher-income communities and have at-home access to an #EVcharger. Meanwhile, lower-income residents of multifamily housing often lack access to EV charging, making many understandably hesitant to purchase or lease an EV. We wanted to understand residents' needs, which is why we talked with low-income communities living in multifamily housing in Portland, Oregon; Atlanta, Georgia; and Phoenix, Arizona. We also elicited the perspectives of city partners, EV equity advocacy groups, car rental organizations, micromobility companies, charging equipment providers, and those involved in building management. This report provides scalable, replicable solutions and recommendations that policymakers, #utilities, and other stakeholders can use to prioritize equity in their #transportation #electrification efforts and #charging #infrastructure development plans. #climate #cityplanning #transportationaccess #EVcharging #charginginfrastructure #electricvehicles

Access to affordable financing is one of the best ways to accelerate the adoption of electric two-and three-wheelers (e-2/3Ws) in #India. Numerous non-banking financial companies nationwide are spurring adoption, and have emerged as primary providers of organized credit to borrowers in the e-2/3W segment. They play a pivotal role in extending loans to low-income individuals new to credit and with limited collateral. Many of these borrowers are actively engaged in the gig economy, offering delivery services, last-mile logistics, and passenger transportation. However, the perceived high risks associated with EV lending can make e-2/3W loan terms 5–14 percent costlier than their gasoline- and diesel-powered counterparts. In this article, we describe two ways that concessional capital providers such as multilateral development banks, philanthropists, corporate social responsibility capital, and foundations can play a pivotal role in addressing this challenge. #transportation #electrification #climate #EVfinance #ElectricVehicles

#Nigeria faces many challenges as it works to realize its ambitious #transportation #electrification goals: its fuel subsidy ended in 2023, nearly tripling #transportation costs and affecting its economy; demand for transportation continues to outpace supply; and the country's infrastructure needs to improve. RMI worked with Nigeria's Energy Transition Office to develop a vision brief for the country's #emobility sector. It offers current and projected landscape analyses; identifies the environmental, economic, and social benefits of electrification; and describes what kinds of policies, finance mechanisms, and actions will rapidly, equitably, and efficiently electrify Nigeria’s transportation sector. #climate #EVs #ElectricVehicles #charginginfrastructure

As #EV adoption continues to grow, so do concerns about the electric grid’s ability to handle these vehicles’ charging needs, not only from passenger #EVs, but also electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Learn what #utilities, regulators, and other #EVcharging stakeholders can do to expedite these upgrades in this easy-to-understand, shareable slide deck. #climate #transportation #ElectricVehicles #charginginfrastructure #cityplanning #urbanplanning #grid

Increasing #EV adoption requires informed infrastructure and supply- and demand-side policies. What should these policies look like? RMI sought to answer this question by exploring how existing policies have driven investment and adoption in eight key markets: Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, the United States, and South Africa. We identified key gaps and explain what makes policies successful. We found that supply-side policies in particular are a powerful lever to support increased EV #manufacturing and production and play a crucial role in the transition to a greener automotive industry. Read more about this and other findings below. #climate #transportation #electricvehicles #transportationpolicy

The global on-demand last-mile delivery service sector, which includes companies such as Uber Eats, Door Dash, JustEat, and Deliveroo, has a value of more than $150 billion. But what are the #climate impacts of these deliveries? And how can we decrease these impacts by #transportation #electrification? RMI sought to answer these questions using quantitative modeling and through interviews with couriers, city officials, and community-based organizations in London, Mexico City, and Seattle. The report found that electrification efforts need to focus on three areas: ?? Reducing upfront costs; ?? Increasing access to charging and battery swapping; and ?? Addressing road safety concerns. Learn more about the barriers to last-mile delivery electrification and what stakeholders can do to overcome them below! #lastmiledelivery #lastmiledeliveries #lmds #electricvehicles #electricbikes #EVs #ebikes

#Fleets understand the benefits of electrifying their trucks: compared to their gas-powered counterparts, they have lower maintenance costs and "fueling" costs. But many are concerned that today's outdated grid won't be able to power them conveniently or affordably given that charging infrastructure buildout can take years. Enter managed charging — an operational strategy that prioritizes charging during off-peak hours — and distributed energy resources like solar panels and battery storage. Whether implemented alone or together, they greatly reduce charging costs while also serving as a stop gap charging solution as fleets work on deploying electric depots. In recognition of these solutions' potential, RMI and the Mission Possible Partnership analyzed #electricity rates from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to better understand how they can improve fleet operations for those in Los Angeles and elsewhere while also saving money. Read what we found below. #transportation #climate #managedcharging #etrucks #electrictrucks #electricvehicles #EVs #charginginfrastructure