The Fuse

Transportation Electrification

Featured Story

Illinois Can Help Lead the Transportation Revolution

A transportation revolution is underway around the globe. The most significant shift in how people move from point A to point B since the transition from horse and buggy to Model T is beginning in earnest, bringing significant opportunities for Illinois and the Midwest.

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Minerals & Materials

Critical Minerals, Critical Constraints

The Theory of Constraints was developed in 1984 by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, an Israeli business management consultant.  Goldratt’s key insight was that every process has at any time one key constraint that limits production flow.  Once the constraint is identified and resolved (through a combination of quick fix and more structural improvements), the next constraint becomes apparent and can be similarly attacked.  The Theory of Constraints (ToC) has since become a powerful management tool frequently used in supply chain and manufacturing.  ToC can also provide insight into the policy maker actions required to hit aggressive regulatory and production targets for EV sales.

topics: Electric vehicle batteries, Electric Vehicles, TOC
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Transportation Electrification

Rural EV Charging: Road Trip Reflections

With the heightened focus on rural EV charging networks following the announcement of the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program, we would like to share this timely piece written by EC Director of Technical Services Matt Stephens-Rich about a road trip in his 2015 Nissan Leaf, and the lessons he learned about the state of rural EV charging in the United States.

topics: Electric Vehicles, sustainability
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Transportation Electrification

How the EPA Can Future-Proof Innovation for School Bus Electrification

One fleet segment in particular is poised to take off in the next few years thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act: electric school buses. If executed effectively, the Environmental Protection Agency’s $5 billion Clean School Bus (CSB) Program and $1 billion Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program will help electrify tens of thousands of the nation’s 480,000 school buses which carry over 26 million kids to and from their local school each week day. 

topics: Electric Vehicles, sustainability
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Transportation Electrification

Funding Roadwork Without Penalizing EVs

Transportation experts have eyed mileage-based user fees (MBUFs) for all vehicles on the road as an alternative to the gasoline tax. It would be fairer and more accurate than the flat annual fee some experts have proposed. With federal gas taxes static since 1993, road usage charges have been considered since 2005. Two decades and dozens of pilots later, policymakers are closer than ever before to identifying the best practices that can create a replacement policy for the gas tax.

topics: Electric Vehicles
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Transportation Electrification

Unlock Electrification at Scale by Harmonizing Fleets with the Grid

Fleets have higher vehicle miles traveled than passenger vehicles, offering the greatest emissions reduction potential per vehicle over individual owners.

topics: Electric Vehicles, Grid & Infrastructure
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Transportation Electrification

Electric vehicles can help break our addiction to oil

The United States is hooked on oil for transportation and Virginians are paying the price. We are the world’s largest consumer of petroleum, accounting for one-fifth of the world’s daily supply.

topics: Electric Vehicles, Oil and Gas
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Transportation Electrification

EV provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act protect our national security

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is the most significant piece of legislation to advance electric vehicles (EVs) in the nation’s history.

topics: Electric Vehicles
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Transportation Electrification

Making Good Financial E-mobility Decisions for Your Fleet

E-mobility can make a lot of sense financially for many fleets, from transit vehicles to work trucks.

topics: Electric Vehicles
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Transportation Electrification

EV Sales Skyrocketing, But Not Fast Enough

Some of the largest automakers unveiled a slew of new commitments and spending plans to scale up their electric vehicle lineups at the start of the year.

topics: Electric Vehicles