Quarterly Newsletter

Q4 2024 - Volume 1

EV News

Bob Koch CCAC Automotive Instructure, Acting Secretary of Labor Julia Su and PA Congressman Chris Deluzio at the CCAC Ribbon Cutting Event on October 31, 2024.

CCAC Launches the First EV Technician Apprenticeship Program in the Country

In October, the Community College of Allegheny County’s West Hills Center is opening a one-year program teaching students the maintenance skills associated with electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. This is made available through a partnership with Partner4Work, the German American Chamber of Commerce Pittsburgh Chapter and the Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Association. The participants will complete 15 course credits, 185 hours of technical instruction/training, and work through a curriculum curated by local and German dealerships. This program was created in response to the growing demand for EVs and in turn the need for EV maintenance and servicing. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new EV lab facilities in October 2024 at the school in Oakdale, PA.

Woman holding a DC CCS Type 2 EV charging connector at an EV charging station (Photo credit: r.classen/Shutterstock.com)

Costco Partners with Electric Era to Bring Back EV Charging in the U.S.

After neglecting the EV chargers since 2012, Costco will be partnering with Electric Era installing a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington. Electric Era is a Seattle based company and it’s CEO, Quincy Lee, is a former SpaceX engineer. The company promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.” It seems like it could rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network and Costco agrees, being confident enough to put its name on the charging station. Costco already has EV-charging available in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea, and last year mentioned installing 20 new location in the US.

Learn More

Surveys and Pledges

Charge@Work Pledge

Are you looking to implement EV charging at your workplace? Join the movement with the Charge@Work program with CALSTART and help build a cleaner, more efficient future! Charge@Work is dedicated to increasing the availability of workplace EV chargers and decreasing the negative impacts on the climate and public health from transportation pollution. They are doing this through supporting workplaces, workers, and community leaders in the development of clean transportation by providing technical and financial assistance. Sign the pledge at the website.

If you are looking for additional resources, check out EMPOWER's resources to get started! Whether it's guidance on installation, incentives, or best practices, we've got you covered. Explore more at https://www.workplacecharging.com/resources.

Upcoming Events

Join PRCC for our next EV Committee Meeting! Participants learn about electric vehicles news and events in Western PA.

When: January 21, 11 - 12 pm

Request to Join: HERE

Please join PRCC and Case Construction for a meeting discussing electric construction equipment projects!

When: January 22, 11am - 12 pm

Open Funding Opportunities

PA-DEP 2024 Alternative Fuels Grant

The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program is now accepting application for the 2024 program year. AFIG has approximately $5 million in funding available to school districts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in Pennsylvania that want to transition to cleaner fuel transportation.

Supported alternative fuels include electricity, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, hydrogen, hythane, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, and other advanced biofuels. Grant funding covers:

Incremental costs related to retrofitting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels;
Incremental costs to purchase alternative fuel vehicles;
Cost to purchase and install the necessary fleet-refueling or home-refueling equipment for alternative fuel vehicles;
Cost to perform research, training, development, and demonstration of new applications or next-phase technology related to alternative fuel vehicles.

Application deadline: December 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Learn more and apply HERE

Clean School Bus Rebate

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the 2024 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program, offering up to $965 million in funding for transformative clean bus projects!

Eligible applicants include:

public school districts
tribal applicants
eligible third-party service providers (school bus dealers, OEMs, bus fleets, etc.)

Application Deadline: January 9, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

Learn more and apply HERE

Recent Success Stories

Partnered with Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation (EP-ACT) for our Quarterly MD/HD Electric Truck Webinar Series

We have a successful partnership with the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation (EP-ACT), in which we have a quarterly EV webinar series. Our latest included a collaboration with Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC) and Mullen Automotive Company. On Tuesday, September 17^th, 2024, we had a special guest, Jacob Frenning of Mullen Automotive, share an overview of Medium and Heavy Duty Electric Truck offerings available in the Mullen Automotive line. Look out for our next webinar coming up soon to learn more about other vehicles and companies in the alternative fuel space. Additionally, reach out to one of our Executive Directors (Tony Bandiero and Richard Price) for information about collaborating with us!

Fun Facts/Did You Know?

Did you know that over half of all BEV and PHEV sales in 2023 were SUVs?

Small SUVs led the charge, and when combined with the standard SUV category, SUVs overall accounted for 53% of BEV sales and 83% of all PHEV sales. Cars (represented by the blue shades in the chart) were under 10% of all PHEV sales but accounted for 43.4% of BEV sales.

Source: Argonne National Laboratory

EV of the Quarter

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV brings a new level of accessibility to the electric vehicle market, blending Chevrolet’s dependable SUV design with modern EV efficiency. Designed with families and daily commuters in mind, the Equinox EV offers a spacious interior, advanced safety features, and a very competitive range on a full charge. With an affordable starting price point, it’s a great option for drivers looking to make the switch to electric without compromising comfort or versatility. This model demonstrates Chevrolet’s commitment to making electric vehicles more attainable and sustainable for all.

The Equinox EV is offered in two models—the LT and the sportier RS—both packed with features to elevate the EV driving experience. Starting at an accessible $33,600, the Equinox EV boasts an EPA-estimated range of up to 319 miles with front-wheel drive, making it ideal for longer commutes and weekend getaways. Inside, a 17.7-inch center touch-screen display provides easy access to navigation, entertainment, and vehicle settings. Plus, drivers may qualify for up to $7,500 in savings through the Clean Vehicle Federal Tax Credit, making the Equinox EV an even more attractive choice in the EV market.

To help inform our choice for this feature, we looked at consumer opinions. A reviewer for last year’s 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 2LT praised the model for its efficiency, value, and family-friendly design. The Equinox EV excelled in efficiency, achieving 3.9 miles per kWh—higher than other BEV3-based EVs—indicating potential for a range beyond its rated 293 miles. During a week of testing, the reviewer drove over 498 miles and praised the Equinox’s spacious interior and efficient charging rate, adding 41 miles in 12.9 hours on Level 1 charging. The reviewer appreciated the affordability of the Equinox EV compared to smaller, less efficient models like the Hyundai Kona Electric, though they noted a few compromises. Overall, the reviewer found the 2024 Equinox EV 2LT to be an excellent family car offering substantial value and range for the price. With added improvements in efficiency and affordability, the 2025 model builds on this legacy.

Photo Credit: Chevrolet