Lansing, MI - Grants have been awarded for the first electric vehicle projects to be funded through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Michigan Clean Diesel Program. The projects in Livonia and Cadillac will replace a 1996 Class 8 Freightliner diesel semi-truck with a new 2022 Nikola Tre BEV Class 8 electric semi-truck, and a 2014 diesel school bus with an electric school bus.
“We are excited to partner with EGLE in reducing diesel emissions, while also having the privilege of operating the first Nikola class 8 fully electric truck in Michigan. We also want to thank NextEnergy for their help and support with this project,” said Craig Brubaker, chief operating officer of Alta Equipment Group in Livonia, which was awarded $207,621 toward replacement of the 1996 diesel semi-truck with the electric semi-truck.
Equally looking forward to electrification changes is Lansing-based Dean Transportation, which was awarded $157,500 toward its first electric school bus.
“Dean Transportation is excited to deploy this electric school bus with its partners at Cadillac Area Public Schools (CAPS),” said Christopher Dean, director of innovation at Dean. “Both Dean and CAPS share an expectation of excellence and believe that the school bus is an extension of the classroom. This project marks the beginning of long-term change as it relates to electrification in school transportation.”
Applicant proposals were rated on criteria that include emissions reductions of nitrous oxides and fine particulate matter, transition to alternative fuels, and adoption of zero-emission and alternate-fueled vehicles. Additionally, the projects were reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice Screening Tool. The total award of $365,120 aligns with EPA’s Justice40 Initiative, a government effort to deliver at least 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
In the journey toward zero-emissions vehicles, there will be a period of transition where diesel and propane vehicles with cleaner technologies will be part of a bridge toward new technologies. EGLE’s Clean Diesel program will continue to incentivize zero-emissions vehicles, engines, and equipment.
The grants were available through Title 42 of the U.S. Code, Section 16133, Title VII, Subtitle G, Section 793, of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (referred to as the EPA’s State Clean Diesel Grant Program), as administered by EGLE. More funding is expected to be announced later this year, and information will be posted to the Michigan Clean Diesel Website.