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Originally published on the NRDC Expert Blog.

The Biden administration’s 2022 budget released on Friday includes major funding increases for important Department of Energy (DOE) programs to drive clean energy innovation, address the climate crisis, and build a strong and equitable economy. These funding increases complement the investments proposed in the President’s American Jobs Plan (AJP). Now it’s up to Congress to pass AJP and write a government funding bill that reflects the President’s proposals.

Below are five components of the budget that would accelerate clean energy innovation and redirect DOE programs toward our greatest challenges and opportunities.

1. Historic Funding Increases for Clean Energy

The budget includes $4.7 billion in regular-year funding for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), a $2 billion (or 65%) increase from 2021. EERE houses the agency’s efforts focused on heavy industry, building decarbonization, clean transportation technologies, and renewable power. These programs are underfunded relative to the need for investment and the opportunity to build out domestic clean energy industries. The administration’s budget would give these programs a much-needed funding boost.

The budget also ramps up funding for other clean energy programs at DOE and establishes a new Advanced Research Projects Agency — Climate with initial funding of $500 million, of which $200 million is at DOE.

2. Demonstrations & Deployment to Round Out the Innovation Portfolio

The budget emphasizes funding for demonstration projects and deployment of climate solutions, a welcome pivot from the Trump DOE’s narrow focus on early-stage research and development. The new Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, funded at $400 million, fills a critical gap in DOE’s efforts to commercialize newer, better clean energy technologies, reduce costs, and address barriers to widespread deployment. The $300 million for Build Back Better Challenge grants will help bring the benefits of clean energy to more communities. And the focus throughout the budget on research, development, demonstrations, and deployment will better equip DOE to accelerate clean energy innovation at the scale necessary.

3. Bringing Clean Energy to More Communities

DOE should play a critical role ensuring that more communities see the benefits of technologies like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles. Strong community engagement practices and funding for clean energy projects to benefit low-income, pollution-burdened, and energy transition communities and communities of color can help DOE meet these goals.

The budget includes several new programs to bring clean energy to more communities. For example, it proposes to prioritize the new Build Back Better Challenge grants for marginalized, overburdened, and energy transition communities. It also appears to expand the Weatherization Assistance Program — one of the only existing efforts focused on low-income communities — to enable more households to access funding for cost- and energy-saving retrofits, though the details on the expanded program are not yet clear.

The budget also indicates that EERE’s goal is to accelerate a just, equitable clean energy transition. This explicit focus, while just a start, is an important shift. Historically, EERE and most other offices at DOE have not been designed to support equity and environmental and energy justice.

4. Procurement and Funding to Decarbonize Heavy Industry

Technologies to clean up industrial facilities like steel mills and cement plants are critical to addressing the climate crisis. But these sectors have long been a major gap in DOE innovation efforts. The budget acknowledges that decarbonizing heavy industry should be a focus for both EERE and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. This focus is a great first step toward building out a strong federal industrial sector program. As Congress turns the President’s proposals into a detailed appropriations bill, we hope to see large funding increases for the Advanced Manufacturing Office, funding for large-scale demonstrations at industrial facilities, and support for DOE to expand its heavy industry efforts to include electrification, hydrogen, circular economy measures, novel processes, and carbon capture and storage.

The budget also includes more details on the industrial-sector decarbonization efforts proposed in the American Jobs Plan, including, notably, funding to procure low-carbon materials. The federal government is a top purchaser of industrial products like steel and cement for the construction of roads, bridges, buildings and other projects. Government procurement is thus a critical lever in creating early markets and sustained demand for cleaner materials, alongside direct investments to help ensure U.S. industry is making the cleanest products on the market.

To better leverage procurement to drive innovation, the federal government should support efforts to create a reporting system that helps manufacturers account for all the carbon associated with producing a range of industrial products, and require that all construction projects receiving federal funds take climate pollution and labor protection into account when awarding contracts. We urge Congress to include funding in the FY22 budget for the federal government to support these priorities. Doing so will ensure we capture the significant emissions reduction opportunities associated with switching to lower-carbon materials in projects funded by the American Jobs Plan.

5. Support for State, Local, and Tribal Governments

Action from states and municipal governments is critical to meeting our climate goals; increasing clean energy; and driving adoption of innovative technologies, policies, and business models. Federal funding is necessary to support states and cities in these endeavors, but current programs lack the budget to meaningfully support them.

The budget proposes several new programs to support states and cities, including Build Back Better Challenge grants for states and a new Local Government Energy Program. The success of these programs will depend on the details, but it is promising to see new efforts to support states and cities in the budget. Moreover, these programs build on the block grant funding proposed in the American Jobs Plan to provide an influx of support for states to advance clean energy, building electrification, and efficiency.

The budget also includes funding increases to support tribal nations to advance clean energy. Households on tribal lands lack access to electricity at extremely high rates and often face high costs to connect to the electricity grid. The budget proposes a six-fold increase in funding for the Office of Indian Energy (a $100 million increase) to support American Indian and Alaskan Native nations, including to help address energy access and energy poverty.

Federal clean energy programs have already helped foster a revolution in technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries. Now, we have an opportunity to accelerate clean energy innovation to improve, demonstrate, and deploy the technologies and strategies we need to combat the climate crisis. With the right funding and policies, we can do so in a way that creates strong economic growth rooted in the industries of the future, addresses inequalities in our energy and economic systems, and cuts pollution in places that have borne the brunt of it in the past. President Biden’s energy budget is a major step toward realizing these goals, and Congress should pass a government funding bill that incorporates these proposals and brings the benefits of clean energy to communities across the country.


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Redditor: my Polestar 2 window stopped a bullet from hitting me [pictures]

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Redditor: my Polestar 2 window stopped a bullet from hitting me [pictures]

This one’s pretty simple, kids – it’s exactly what it says on the tin: a Polestar 2 owner took to the Polestar subreddit this week claiming that the window glass in his new EV actually stopped a bullet from hitting him. Plus, he says he’s got the pictures to prove it. (!)

The brand may be evolving into its own, but the OG Polestar 1 and Polestar 2 were little more than hot electric versions of Volvo cars – and Volvo cars are known throughout the world for their secure, planted feel on the road and absolutely bananas high-tensile steel safety cages. As such, it should come as no surprise that the Polestar 2 is one of the safest sedans on the road today … but is the car really bulletproof?

That’s what one redditor is claiming after his window was hit by what they believed to be a stray bullet just five days after taking delivery.

Polestar stopped a bullet.
byu/CptMerica29 inPolestar

Now, as the growing brand rivalry between Polestar fans and their Tesla-driving counterparts might lead you to expect, some of the comments are pretty pointedly referencing Tesla – and pretty funny. Here are a few of my favorites:

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Comment
byu/CptMerica29 from discussion
in
Polestar

Comment
byu/CptMerica29 from discussion
in
Polestar

Comment
byu/CptMerica29 from discussion
in
Polestar

Comment
byu/CptMerica29 from discussion
in
Polestar

Now, that was fun, sure – but it’s worth noting that a number of commenters claiming alternately that there’s no way this was a .22 caliber bullet (certainly not a .22 WMR) or that it was a stray shot from very far away. The consensus seems to be that a .177 caliber air gun pellet is most likely to blame, but my money is on a small piece of stone or gravel kicked up at a weird angle from a nearby vehicle.

Regardless, it seems like CptMerica29 is A-OK, and their Polestar 2 hardly seems worse for wear, either. Here’s hoping it’s the last time we have to have a debate about what kind of bullet was being fired at an EV driver for a long time.

If you’d like to try your hand at driving a Polestar 2 through a volley of flying debris and other assorted projectiles and letting us know how you do, click the link below to score a great deal on one near you (while you still can):

Disclaimer

I would like to believe this is obvious, but there’s a “do not use batteries as toothpaste” sticker on this pack of Duracell batteries for a reason, so I’m going to err on the side of caution here and tell any of you reading the above and taking it seriously that: I am kidding. That was a joke.

To be clear, it is my position that NO VEHICLE this side of a Mercedes-Benz EQS GUARD or Inkas Armored S Class is actually bulletproof – and that, yes, a .22 is a real gun with plenty of lethal stopping power and, also yes, a pellet gun can and has killed a lot of people. DO NOT SHOOT AT CARS, and do not sit in your cars and let others shoot at you if you can at all avoid it.

As getsome75 so eloquently puts it:

Comment
byu/CptMerica29 from discussion
in
Polestar

Stay safe out there, kids.

SOURCE | IMAGES: CptMerica29; featured image via Polestar.

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Slate emerges with customizable EV pickup available for under $20k [Video]

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Slate emerges with customizable EV pickup available for under $20k [Video]

After about a month of speculation and subtle hints from industry insiders, American EV startup Slate has emerged from stealth to share its flagship model with the world. This simplified all-electric pickup arrives with over 100 accessories, a five-seat SUV configuration kit, and get this… crank windows. Even better, this no-nonsense pedigree of EV is priced refreshingly low, starting below $20,000 after US tax incentives.

As we pointed out last month, there was much more we didn’t know than we could confirm about a new EV brand called Slate. The American automaker was verified as an official business on LinkedIn as of March 5, giving us a sparse trail of breadcrumbs to follow to learn more.

According to the page, Slate had already established a team of 200 to 500 employees, and 46 additional open roles were listed. Some open jobs, such as plant manager and suspension engineer, hinted that Slate has been working on at least one EV.

Aside from promising “the next generation of innovation in the industry” (despite not confirming what industry), Slate’s website stated that we would learn more on April 24. We had heard rumblings that the Troy, Michigan-based startup was on the cusp of debuting a simple, all-electric pickup.

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However, that wasn’t confirmed until two days ago, when the first real-world images of the EV emerged ahead of Tesla’s earnings call. Our readers pointed out that “Slate” is an anagram of “Tesla,” which offers interesting fodder to the conspiracy theory scene at best.

While Slate’s name may be a tongue-in-cheek nod to reimagining an EV industry Tesla championed early on, the name seems more rooted in the fellow American company’s clean slate approach to EV design. From what we’ve now seen, Slate is breaking from the trend of other startups kicking off market entry with top-tier, luxe models starting in the $80-$100k range.

Instead, it has created a no-nonsense EV pickup that starts at a super low price, leaving the upgrades and customizations to the customer. Better still, if you US customers prefer a five-seat option, Slate also offers that. See below:

Slate debuts EV that can be 2-seat pickup or 5-seat SUV

Slate has officially arrived and, in my opinion, is a welcome breath of fresh air (because of no emissions, of course) to an American EV industry that is growing by the day, but has yet to reach critical mass in adoption.

Much of that struggle relates to pricing (not to mention lackluster local charging infrastructure). Most EVs are not affordable enough for the average consumer yet, and to get an electric pickup like Slate is now offering, for example, you have to opt for a model from Ford, GM, or Rivian that will cost at least $63,000 and will easily go up from there with added features like range.

Instead of coming out swinging against the big boys, Slate has dug itself a nice little niche in simplified affordable EVs that are modular and customizable. Slate’s first CEO, Chris Barman, elaborated:

The definition of what’s affordable is broken. Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry. It is a radical truck platform so customizable that it can transform from a 2-seat pickup to a 5-seat SUV.

Steel wheels, HVAC knobs, and crank windows – Slate is most certainly taking a clever approach to affordable US EVs for all. Designed to be “approachable and timeless,” the startup flagship model is truly a black slate canvas that puts the brush in the hands of its customers.

The company shared it will offer over 100 accessories, available a la carte or in a bundle, available from your initial order or years down the road. The dash also includes a universal phone mount with USB power, enabling you to use whatever smart device and OS you’d like. Have it custom wrapped by the Slate team or do it yourself, Slate is not only offering variety to customization, but also the process by which it is achieved.

Another example is Slate’s flat pack SUV Kit, which turns the EV pickup into a 5-seat SUV, complete with a roll cage, airbags, and rear seat. Again, you’ll have the choice to have Slate integrate it in Michigan or do it yourself, adding a bit of a DIY “gearhead” philosophy the EV segment has lacked since day one.

“But Scooter, what about specs?” Don’t worry my friends, we got you:

  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 174.6 inches
    • Wheelbase: 108.9 inches
    • Width: (w/o mirrors): 70.6 inches
    • Height: 69.3 inches
    • Pickup Interior Volume: 55.0 ft3
    • SUV Interior Volume: 80.5 ft3
    • Frunk Cargo Volume: 7 ft3
    • Bed Cargo Volume: 37 ft3
    • SUV Cargo Volume (behind seats): 34 ft3
  • Weights:
    • Curb Weight: 3602 lbs.
    • Max Payload: 1433 lbs.
    • Max towing: 1,000 lbs.
  • Power and Battery:
    • Powertrain: Single motor, RWD
    • Battery: 52.7 kWh (standard) or 84.3 kWh (add-on)
    • Power: 150 kW (201 hp)
    • Torque: 264 Nm (195 lb-ft)
    • Acceleration (0-60 mph): 8 seconds (est.)
    • Top speed: 90 mph
  • Charging and Range:
    • Onboard charger: 11 kW
    • Level 1 AC: 3.6kW / 20-100% in 11 hrs.
    • Level 2 AC: 11kW / 20-100% in under 5 hrs.
      Level 3 DC: 120kW / 20-80% in under 30 mins.
    • Charging Configuration: NACS
    • Standard Range (52.7 kWh) (est.): 150 miles
    • Large Pack Range ((84.3 kWh) (est.): 240 mi.
    • Combined city/highway (est.): 96 MPGe
  • Bed Dimensions (Pickup):
    • Bed width (between wheel wells): 42.9 inches
    • Bed Width Min./Max.: 50.0 inches /54.9 inches
    • Bed Length: 60.0 inches
    • Bed Length (Tailgate Down): 81.6 inches

According to Slate, its flagship EV will be sold directly to consumers and is available to reserve now with a $50 deposit. The trucks will be built in the US and start at an MSRP below $20,000 (after federal tax incentives). No timeline on when production may begin, but a representative for Slate told Electrek that initial customer deliveries are… slated to begin in Q4 2026. Not too shabby.

While we await more details regarding this new American brand, here’s a better look at Slate’s first EV from a video it provided below:

Source: Slate

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Port of Long Beach shows off electric service fleet for Earth Week

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Port of Long Beach shows off electric service fleet for Earth Week

Earth Week may be winding to a close, but with electric vehicles being de rigueur at the busy west coast Port of Long Beach, it should come as no surprise that they’ve got put their EV fleet front and center at municipal events all week long.

The Port of Long Beach has been leading the charge for electrification and clean air for years, becoming a hot bed of electric vehicle deployment from terminal tractors to semi trucks to material handlers. Along the way, the busy port has found itself at the center of a number of highly visible DC fast charging hubs and hydrogen fueling stations, as well – becoming a quiet, clear-skied example of what an America port could and should sound and smell like.

One of those projects is the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) in Long Beach, California has received a $34.9 million grant from the FHWA to replace 155 on-site commercial trucks and buses with zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). The grant will fund both the purchase of new electric trucks and the necessary charging infrastructure to support them.

To celebrate those achievements and further publicize the California port authority’s successful decarbonization efforts, the Port of Long Beach took to social media to highlight the variety of electric vehicles it employs.

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From the images shared (above), it looks like the Port of Long Beach fleet includes electric lawn mowers, street sweepers, parking enforcement vehicles, and the more expected work trucks and SUVs like the Chevy Silverado EVs, Ford E-Transit vans, and Acura ZDX. Which, hey – if they’re good enough for one of the hard-working port authorities in the country, these EVs might be good enough for your business.

Electrek’s Take

Port of Long Beach EV fleet; via Port of Long Beach.

Back in 2018, Power Progress reported that the Port of Long Beach had plans to install zero-emissions cranes and cargo handling equipment at its terminals. True to its word, the port has invested more than $2.5 billion to convert its cranes and terminal tractors vehicles to electric equipment. Which is great, but is it news?

Not really – but the Port of Long Beach is a standard bearer in the electrification movement, having advanced the art of both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell projects in recent years both by providing a ready market for manufacturers to sell into and by proving, beyond question, that EVs are up to any challenge the freight and logistics industries can throw at them … and do so quietly and cleanly, too.

As such, I think they deserve their victory lap. I’m just the guy who gets to give it to them.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Port of Long Beach.

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