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Interns from UT’s CEM attended the Hydrogen Technology Expo at the NRG Center in Houston, TX. They made the round trip in a caravan of 3 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell sedans. Why hydrogen?
Last year, the CEM installed a Hydrogen ProtoHub at the JJ Pickle Center as part of a DOE-sponsored grant project. Part of that project includes a hydrogen vehicle refueling site and using the Toyota hydrogen fuel cell Mirais for campus use. The Mirai is sold primarily in California due to the network of public fueling sites.
Fueling only at the UT site, the group traveled 365 miles round-trip and returned with a quarter tank of fuel in each vehicle, averaging 85 MPGe.
Learn more about CEM here and follow Central Texas Clean Cities on LinkedIn.
Cummins X15N Natural Gas Engine Demo Program
One natural gas engine and two Class 8 tandem axle truck demo programs are headed to Texas.
Both Chevron and Clean Energy are offering separate demonstration opportunities to eligible potential customers. Please see the brochures and contacts below for more information.
Station locations: Chevon Beyond 6, Clean Energy and the Department of Energy’s Station Locator for US and Canada.
Clean Energy Representative
John Marlow
Business Development Manager
Office: 949-437-1284
Mobile: 661-334-0549
Chevron Representative
Jared Rifenbary
Business Development Manager
Mobile: 518-573-8438
Charging Infrastructure Interconnection Simplification Resource (CIISR)
The Electric Producers Research Institute (EPRI) leads the DOE-funded, CIISR project in partnership with the: Alliance for Transportation Electrification, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and RMI, as well as Clean Cities Coalition partners Louisiana Clean Fuels and Metro Energy Center, which in turn coordinate contributions from 8 Clean Cities organizations including Central Texas Clean Cities.
While universally useful, these tools focus on the special challenges of small EV customers and potential utility supports for them, examples:
Customers noted the lack of access to dedicted project managers and the potential for high upfront installation costs with limited rebate opportunities
Utilities noted that customers were often unaware of the time the process might take, which led to misaligned expectations.
Visit our Resource Page for more information!
Welcome to Our Newest Supporting Member -Highland Fleets!
Highland can handle everything you need to electrify your current fleet – all for one fixed price and no upfront costs. This includes a financing and incentive strategy, site design, vehicle and charger procurement, working with your utility, training your team, ground support, and more. Highland is currently working with school fleets here in Central Texas, Texas and the US. More information.
Meet Dan Rosefield
Southern Regional Manager,
Market Development
Highland Fleets
dan.rosenfield@highlandfleets.com
214-991-4582
Ask Dan about Highland’s Electric School Bus Program, more info below in Funding Opportunities.
Our June EVSE Fleet Manager Roundtable was enlightening, featuring experiences and lessons learned from Travis County, Austin Energy, and the City of Austin Aviation Department.
Here are some of the top tips:
Before purchasing any charging equipment requiring a contract to install or operate, make sure your organization’s legal team approves.
If contracting for maintenance, companies with larger market share can be less likely to negotiate what you’d like. Prepare for negotiation time, this can take 12 months or more.
If signing a maintenance contract, spell out the maximum amount of charger downtime allowed before the company accrues penalties.
EVs overstaying a charge in a parking spot is a frustratingly common occurrence. Consider policies and procedures around the use of public charging. Use signage to be specific about the requirements for using a charging spot. Is there a maximum length of time? What happens if it’s exceeded? Towed? Charged more?
We’ll host another one in August or early September.
Let us know if you’d like details: info@ctxcleancities.org
Funding Opportunity
Highland Electric has a limited-time funding opportunity for eligible Texas-based public school fleets for turn-key bus fleet electrification. This federal funding has been awarded and is available for Texas school districts, particularly those that are Title I, larger in size, or on the EPA’s priority list.
Agreements must be signed by August 11, 2025.
The buses must be operational by June 2026, and districts can access them for as little as $19,000 per bus per year, including infrastructure, maintenance, and electricity, delivering major savings over diesel.
State Funding Opportunity: TxVEMP All-Electric Grant Round
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is still accepting grant applications for the TxVEMP All-Electric Grant Round. There is an estimated $87.5 million in funding available to upgrade or replace vehicles and equipment operating in eligible areas with new, all-electric models.
The deadline to apply is August 31, 2025, but the applications are awarded on a first-come, first served basis, so apply soon!
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A U.S. Department of Energy designated coalition in the Clean Cities and Communities partnership.