Mass. FD unveils new ladder truck purchased with American Rescue Plan funds

By Melanie Gilbert
The Sun

LOWELL, Mass. — Ladder 4 has arrived.

The $1 million dollar truck was on display on JFK Plaza last Tuesday, with its 100-foot steel aerial ladder extended toward the roofline of City Hall. The brand-new truck will replace the current apparatus that operates out of the West Sixth Street firehouse after training and upfitting is completed.

Captain Josh Luna and firefighters Elvin Dominguez, James Boudreau, Victor Berlus and Fire Chief Phil Charron provided tours of the new truck to residents, City Councilors and administration staff prior to the June 25 council meeting at which Charron updated the council on the status of the department’s fleet.

” The Fire Department as of late is in a Renaissance period,” he said. “It’s due to the goodwill of the council and the administration.”

After the almost $14 million social impact program funding, the Fire Department’s $10 million allocation was the second-biggest ARPA allocation in the city. In a September 2022 report to the council, Charron outlined the dire condition of the aging 43-vehicle fleet, noting that the average age of the department’s equipment was 15 to 16 years. National Fire Protection Association standards recommend apparatus replacement at the 15-year mark.

“We’re looking forward to the arrival of another five engines right at the end of the calendar year,” Charron said. “That’s going to be crucial because our situation with some of the older vehicles is getting pretty critical.”

At one point, the department had to depend on a loaner truck from the Dracut Fire Department due to a firehouse truck being under repair.

With ARPA, free cash and capital budget funding, the department is receiving a total of eight fire engines, and 10 fire support vehicles, as well as ancillary gear, equipment and increased training opportunities that Charron said will create a safer fire ground environment for firefighters.

“The fireground is very dangerous,” Charron said. “Firefighters get cut, injured. They fall. We need to have the right procedures in there so that we can ensure their safety in a very volatile environment. Training on that continues.”

The chief also told the council that for the first time since 2015, the department will be fully staffed at 213 personnel. The department has begun the process of hiring seven new firefighters.

“We’re going to get them into the academy, and we expect to have them on trucks by November,” Charron said.

The new equipment and personnel come at a critical time for the fire department, which has responded to over 6,900 calls for service, including 35 structure fires, over 4,100 medicals and numerous other calls for assistance.

The Fire Department utilizes 46 vehicles, 3 boats, and various trailers and support equipment to respond to the 24-hour needs of the community.

Charron said new fleet vehicles will continue to roll into Lowell’s eight firehouses through 2025, including replacements for Ladders 1 ( Lawrence Street firehouse) and 2 ( Branch Street firehouse); Engines 1, 3, 4, 6 and 11 — or the Gorham, Moody, High, West Sixth and Lawrence street firehouses, respectively — and various support vehicles.

Capital funds are being used to upgrade firefighting turnout gear, battery-powered extrication tools and saws, connectivity to the dispatch system for response vehicles and a dive rescue truck, while grant funding is being utilized for the purchase of several interoperable portable radios, two new rescue boats and new handheld sonar devices for use with fire boats and the Dive Team.

After years of brownouts due to staffing challenges and broken or out-of-service fleet vehicles, Councilor John Leahy thanked the administration of City Manager Tom Golden and Charron for building out a robust future of fire-fighting capability in Lowell.

“We’re really on a roll, here,” Leahy said. “We’re really making some headway here. Appreciate all the work that you’re doing.”

(c)2024 The Sun, Lowell, Mass.
Visit The Sun, Lowell, Mass. at https://www.lowellsun.com/
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

LouisianaFirefightersFoundation.jpg

Firefighters in the Baton Rouge area take time to deliver CPR, and AED training to middle school students

McEwen_2024_Lombard_Web.jpg

Chris Lombard was presented the Chief Harlin R. McEwen Public Safety Broadband Communications Award

Copy of Affiliate Images (6).jpg

Save on charging stations, fitness and outdoor essentials, from Pelotons to camping tents

US-NEWS-BIRMINGHAM-SHOOTING-THAT-KILLED-1-1-AMG.jpg

Police call the fatal shooting of Birmingham Firefighter Jordan Melton one of the most horrific crime scenes in the city’s recent history

Credits

House Fiscal 2025 Bill Allocates $200 Million for Truck Parking

(grandriver/Getty Images)

[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]

WASHINGTON — A fiscal 2025 House committee-approved transportation funding bill would dedicate $200 million for expanding parking availability for the nation’s truck drivers.

The Appropriations Committee on July 10 gave partisan backing to legislation that would ensure programs at the U.S. Department of Transportation are funded during the upcoming fiscal year.

The measure’s Republican sponsors applauded its focus on safety and supply chain efficiency.

“The bill prioritizes the safety of all modes of transportation from our railways to roads and airways. We ensure a responsible safety net with housing support for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.

“Whether on a highway or airport runway, the strength of our transit systems, flow of freight, and safety of the traveling public are prioritized,” Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) added. “Safety net resources to help vulnerable populations, including veterans and the elderly, are maintained.”

The legislation also would advance programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The parking funds included in the bill would be managed by the department’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects program with priority given to rural corridors. An explanatory report accompanying the legislation noted: “The committee expects DOT to continue working proactively with the private sector, states and metropolitan planning organizations to address this critical supply chain challenge, to encourage the use of formula funds for investment in new truck parking capacity, and to prioritize truck parking when considering discretionary funding awards.”

Specific to the trucking industry, the legislation would dedicate $909 million for operations at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

“This funding supports nationwide motor carrier safety and consumer enforcement efforts, including the compliance, safety and accountability program, regulation and enforcement of freight transport, and federal safety enforcement at the U.S. borders,” per the report’s emphasis on the agency tasked with regulating the trucking industry.

Additionally, the transportation bill would block enforcement of electronic logging devices for carriers transporting livestock or insects. It would prohibit inward-facing cameras as part of a commercial driver apprenticeship. And it would pause rulemaking associated with speed-limiting devices for commercial vehicles. The measure also would urge FMCSA to assist in the development of guidelines that safeguard against predatory towing.

American Trucking Associations touted the bill’s provisions.

“Charging truck owners thousands of dollars for each unwanted tow and holding cargo hostage with excessive invoices are egregious practices that disrupt our supply chain,” ATA President Chris Spear said July 11. “ATA and our federation of state associations are fighting back against these predatory towers and ransom payments that target the truckers we depend on to deliver our nation’s goods.

“We welcome this important step forward to develop common-sense reforms that will inject more transparency and fairness into the system and hold unscrupulous companies accountable.”

Who Gets What?

For other agencies within the Department of Transportation, the bill would provide …

Federal Highway Administration: $63.5 billion

Federal Aviation Administration: $21.6 billion

Federal Transit Administration: $15.3 billion

Federal Railroad Administration: $2.7 billion

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: $1.2 billion

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, explained her caucus’ opposition to the legislation.

“Democrats are working hard to connect our communities and make our transportation infrastructure more reliable. Meanwhile, the House Republican bill makes commutes longer, causes service delays and incites cancellations to major and desperately needed transportation infrastructure improvement projects.”

Speaking with reporters recently, Secretary Pete Buttigieg observed: “In terms of what we’re seeing from appropriators, I’m glad that there seems to be robust support for aviation and aviation safety but concerned about cuts to other areas that we think are really important.”

Relatedly, House Republican lawmakers backed separate fiscal 2025 funding bills that included provisions specific to the trucking industry. The measures would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to produce hair testing guidelines as an alternative drug testing for commercial drivers as well as establish a Supply Chain Fraud and Theft Task Force.

“The trucking industry takes great pride in delivering America’s freight safely and on time,” said Henry Hanscom, ATA’s senior vice president of legislative affairs. “The billions of tons of goods transported by trucks to every American community have increasingly become a prime target for organized crime, putting truck drivers at risk and raising costs for consumers,”

Meanwhile, House leaders have yet to schedule consideration for the White House’s emergency funding request to repair the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore this year. The White House detailed a request for about $3 billion to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, has endorsed the White House’s emergency request. This month, her panel formally kicked off its consideration of the dozen annual appropriations bills.

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us to go from top lines to final passage of strong bipartisan bills,” she said.

Fiscal 2025 measures have not cleared for President Joe Biden’s signature. Failure to enact the bills by Oct. 1 would result in a partial federal shutdown.

Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:

Credits

The next era of truck driver training

Ontario has a long, proud history of being one of the safest jurisdictions in North America from a truck safety perspective. We’d like to keep it that way, but to do that, we, as an industry, need to evolve and there are ways to achieve this.

It’s no secret that there are increasing concerns from both carriers and the traveling public with the level of safety fitness on some highways in certain parts of the province – specifically in Northern Ontario. 

(Photo: iStock)

In a survey released by the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) earlier this year, 96% of respondents who operate in the north identified persistent problems related to highway safety and infrastructure in Northern Ontario. Nearly 80% want better trained truck drivers, while more than 70% said more oversight for unsafe drivers and fleets is needed. 

These were the reflections professional drivers have about other drivers they share the road with. 

Mandatory entry-level training (MELT) – introduced in most provinces several years ago – has served its purpose. But we need to do more, and Ontario can be a shining light again in this area, just as the province led by championing MELT. 

The OTA board has been discussing the issue of truck driver training and has mapped out a direction and concepts that can shape what the future of truck driver training and enforcement in the province could look like. The province is listening intently. As part the Safer Roads and Communities Act, officials indicated they will initiate a comprehensive review of the training regimes. 

Graduated licensing 

OTA believes introducing a graduated approach to licensing truck drivers, based on the configurations they operate and through a licensing endorsement regime, needs to be considered by the ministry. 

Because each truck configuration has its own unique operating and maneuverability characteristics, and is designed for many different types of cargo, we need to ensure that specific training provides drivers the knowledge and skills to safely and efficiently operate these vehicles.

From a progression standpoint, prospective truck drivers at the beginning of their training journey would enroll in an entry-level truck driver training program (with some recommended enhancements) and upon successful completion, they would be eligible to participate in a certified trucking company or driver training school program to earn a specific configuration endorsement.

If additional configurations are desired by the driver, subsequent enrollment in another program would be possible. At a minimum, endorsements would be required for van/box type configurations, tankers, multi-axle and double semi-trailers. 

Enhancements to MELT

Meanwhile, enhancements to the entry level-training program are being proposed in two specific areas – to require an aptitude assessment prior to a student enrolling in a program to establish suitability in advance of investing in a training program; and a significant increase in the amount of driving time a student would be required to complete before advancing to MTO’s qualifying road test. 

Responsible trucking operations are already engaged in the endorsement concept in the form of boarding/upskilling/mentoring. Historically, these programs, which are self-funded by the trucking company, are necessary for many trucking companies to put a driver behind the wheel who they feel is safe and reliable and to meet certain insurability requirements.

Unfortunately, as we know very well, not all fleets take on this responsibility and road safety can be impacted. 

Of course, funding has remained the stumbling block to achieving wider success for on-boarding programs. Ideally, funding should be institutional like other designated occupations, and be available for qualifying carriers to offset some of the costs they currently incur today and to incentivize carriers to take on the task of training new drivers. 

OTA has done some preliminary costing analysis that could shape a government funding mechanism we feel is reasonable and we look forward to evolving the concept. 

As consultations begin, discussions and the design around a robust and proactive oversight regime for carriers, driving training schools, driver trainers engaged in the onboarding/mentoring endorsement process will be critical. 

Once the driver completes the endorsement phase of the training, they would be fully licensed to operate the designated configuration. We believe this plan would successfully fill in some of the critical steps currently missing from the truck driver training regime in Ontario.

Certification training for designated configuration and enhancing the entry level training model are just some ideas and plans OTA has for boosting truck driver and highway safety in the coming years.

Our multi-faceted supply chain has faced many challenges in recent years and will continue to adapt to change. It is our responsibility to provide the safest, most employable, truck drivers who can be relied on to continue moving our economy and to work with the ministry and likeminded industry groups to achieve this. 

Credits

This Stealthy Delivery Truck Camper Perfectly Hides a Modern, Feature-Packed Living Space

If you think van life is hard, think about how it is when you're a person with physical disabilities. For some, such a lifestyle might sound impossible. However, if there's a will, there's a way. Today, I'm discussing a wheelchair-accessible camper that serves as a full-time home.

Meet Ben and his wheelchair-accessible stealth camper, a converted delivery truck. What we have here is a former delivery truck for Snap-On sporting a 5.9-liter Cummins diesel engine paired with an Allison automatic transmission.

Ben had a skiing accident when he was 22 that shattered two of his vertebrae, leaving him wheelchair-bound. Many years later, he decided to build a tiny home on wheels to be closer to nature and the outdoors. In fact, just like he described, a mobile home allows you to change spots and explore the outdoors while also offering a cozy spot to relax when you feel like staying inside.

How about Ben's budget? All you'll see inside and outside this rig wasn't cheap. Ben estimates he invested about $50,000 (€46,314) into the conversion, which excludes the price of a base vehicle.

It's a bit expensive, but Ben made sure to add all the creature comforts he needed and wanted. His vision for this camper was to have a comfortable, modern living space perfectly hidden behind an inconspicuous exterior. And that's exactly what he managed to build in 15 months.

Indeed, at first glance, there's a very high chance you'll think this is a normal, old delivery truck. The only two elements that might give away the rig's "camper DNA" are a window on the passenger side and the solar panels on top.

The vehicle measures 25 feet (7.6 meters) in length, with an additional 5 feet when you lower the lift at the rear. Specifically, it's a cargo lift that can support up to 1,400 lb. (635 kg). Ben uses it to be able to reach the rear door, which is the entrance. What's more, it can also serve as a patio.

Other notable exterior features are exterior storage compartments, one of which holds a diesel heater. Moreover, the camper's tanks are located underneath the vehicle: 90 gallons (341 liters) fresh and 45 gallons (170 liters) grey.

Normally, a delivery truck (also known as a step van) has steps in the driver's cabin that allow you to enter via the front passenger-side door. Since Ben can't use that door, he covered the steps and installed a passenger seat above them.

Trucks - This Stealthy Delivery Truck Camper Perfectly Hides a Modern, Feature-Packed Living Space

Before we take a look at the living space, let me tell you more about the driver's cabin. One of the first things Ben did when he got the truck was install a system that allows him to drive. It consists of a lever system – pull it to accelerate and push it to brake. To be able to steer, Ben installed a spinner knob on the steering wheel.

You'll notice this truck's interior boasts an open layout, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the living space. Regarding aesthetics, you'll discover a bright and modern design with vinyl plank flooring and stainless steel cabinetry.

As you enter from the rear, you'll find the kitchen on your right. It features a deep stainless steel sink, a dual-burner induction stove, a ton of counter space, a slide-out table, and a small 24 V refrigerator. Other notable details include a wireless charger that can be popped up to reveal outlets, a swivel fan, and a control panel for the utility systems.

The latter comprises a battery monitor/controller, an air cleaner/purifier controller, and heater controls. The electrical system is housed inside a kitchen counter, but unfortunately, we don't know any specific information about it, like the battery capacity.

Trucks - This Stealthy Delivery Truck Camper Perfectly Hides a Modern, Feature-Packed Living Space

On the opposite side, Ben devised a wet bathroom that, at the time the presentation video was filmed, was still a work in progress. The shower wasn't finished, but the toilet was.

It's an extremely basic setup with a seat and a bucket. However, Ben uses that only for solids. He created a funnel for liquid waste that drains directly into the greywater tank underneath the vehicle.

How about storage? Well, Ben devised an enormous storage area next to the bathroom. It has various drawers that allow Ben to grab stuff while sitting in a wheelchair.

Finally, we have the living room/bedroom at the front of the truck. It has two arrangements, depending on whether the elevator bed is lowered or raised. When it's up, you'll find Ben's powered wheelchair while the rest of the floor space remains empty. Ben usually has people over and asks them to bring their own camping chairs – he had up to 11 people in the living room.

Trucks - This Stealthy Delivery Truck Camper Perfectly Hides a Modern, Feature-Packed Living Space

The driver's and passenger seats can be swiveled to serve as extra sitting spots in the living room. Naturally, seating is everything for Ben since he spends a significant amount of time sitting down.

So, besides having two comfortable wheelchairs, he made sure the other two seats inside his truck were as cozy as possible. He got them made to spec for himself, complete with heating, massaging, and electronic adjustment.

To turn the living room into a bedroom, all Ben has to do is press a button and lower the bed. He also installed an articulating bed frame that lifts the front and rear parts of the bed. This feature not only enables him to adjust the bed for more comfort but also allows him to park on a slant and level the bed.

On lazy days, Ben can lift the front part of the bed to transform it into a couch and enjoy a movie or a series on a projector and a roll-down projector screen.

Trucks - This Stealthy Delivery Truck Camper Perfectly Hides a Modern, Feature-Packed Living Space

All in all, Ben created a brilliant tiny home on wheels that allows him to enjoy life on the road despite his physical disability. No part of this rig's interior was left to chance – everything serves a purpose, making Ben's life easier. Props to him for this amazing project and his determination and ambition.

Video thumbnail

Credits

Toddler killed by truck in Burke County

Toddler killed by truck in Burke County

Updated: 1:56 PM EDT Jul 5, 2024

WEATHER TEAM. OFFICERS ARE SEARCHING FOR A SHOOTER AFTER JULY 4TH, CELEBRATIONS TURNED DEADLY IN HIGH POINT. OFFICERS SAY AROUND MIDNIGHT THEY WERE CALLED TO LEXINGTON AVENUE ABOUT SHOTS FIRED. A LARGE CROWD WAS IN THE PARKING LOT FOR AN UNOFFICIAL FIREWORKS SHOW, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT. NOW, OFFICERS FOUND TWO GUNSHOT VICTIMS, ONE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. THE SECOND, KEITH LYNCH, DIED AT THE HOSPITAL. NOW, POLICE SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY YET. KERNERSVILLE POLICE BELIEVE THIS WOMAN KILLED HER MOTHER. OFFICERS WENT TO BUCK VIEW COURT AROUND 326 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THEY SAY THEY FOUND 74 YEAR OLD LINDA TURNER TYRRELL, DEAD IN THE HOME WITH TRAUMA TO HER HEAD. POLICE ARRESTED MICHELLE DE GUZMAN. SHE’S IN JAIL WITHOUT BOND. CARRBORO POLICE SAY THEY’RE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING FROM MAY 29TH. CARLA MARIA MACHUCA OF BURLINGTON IS CHARGED WITH MURDER, CONSPIRACY AND ATTEMPTED KIDNAPING IN THE CASE. IT HAPPENED AT ESTES PARK APARTMENTS. OFFICERS HAD FOUND A DEAD MAN, LATER IDENTIFIED AS JUAN MALDONADO ESPINOSA. POLICE ARRESTED MACHUCA IN LOS ANGELES ON JUNE 12TH. SHE’S BEING EXTRADITED BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA TO FACE THOSE CHARGES. A MAN HAS DIED AFTER A CRASH IN ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 122. NOW, THAT WAS ON LITTLE UWHARRIE ROAD NEAR KENNEDY FARM ROAD IN RANDOLPH COUNTY. TROOPERS BELIEVE 56 YEAR OLD EDDIE FOUTZ OF THOMASVILLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND OVERTURNED. HE DIED ON THE SCENE. NOW, INVESTIGATORS DON’T KNOW WHY HE DROVE OFF THE ROADWAY. AUTHORITIES WANT TO REMIND YOU AGAIN TO PLEASE USE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN OUT SWIMMING. THIS WEEKEND. CREWS ON OUR COAST ARE SEARCHING FOR A 14 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WENT MISSING NEAR NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH. YESTERDAY, OUR NBC AFFILIATE WRAL, REPORTS. TWO BROTHERS WADED OUT INTO THE WATER TO FISH WHEN THEY WERE SWEPT AWAY PEOPLE IN A BOAT HELPED PULL ONE BROTHER OUT. THE SECOND BOY WENT UNDER, WITNESSES SAY. NOW, TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE RESCUED FROM THE OCEAN THERE EARLIER THURSDAY. THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WAS HIGH THURSDAY AND REMAINS HIGH TODAY. RESCUE CREWS ARE ALSO ON LAKE NORMAN, SEARCHING FOR A MISSING SWIMMER. THE SEARCH IS CENTERED AROUND AN AREA NEAR A SANDBAR. OUR NBC AFFILIATE, WCNC, TALKED TO RESPONDERS AND THEY’RE URGING PEOPLE TO ENSURE THEY WEAR THEY WEAR PROPER LIFE VESTS WHEN ON THE WATER. THIS IS FOR AN ADULT OVER 90 POUNDS. SO IF YOU WERE TO PUT THIS ON A YOUTH LIKE A CHILD, THEY BUTTON IT UP. IT COULD SLIP OFF OVER THEIR SHOULDERS BECAUSE IT’S JUST IT’S NOT SMALL ENOUGH FOR THEM. THIS IS JUST A GENERAL PFD THAT YOU CAN BUY IN BULK AT JUST ABOUT ANY SPORTING GOODS STORE. AND YOU CAN SEE THE COAST GUARD APPROVAL ON HERE. AND IT’S FOR YOUTH. AND THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY FOR 50 TO 90 POUNDS. SO WE KEEP THESE IN OUR BOATS TO GIVE TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED THEM. SOMETIMES THE MISSING SWIMMER’S AGE AND GENDER ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. TURNING TO CHARLOTTE, TWO DOZEN APARTMENTS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY A MASSIVE FIRE THIS MORNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHARED THESE VIDEOS SAYING THE ALARMS WENT OFF AROUND 2:30 A.M., A TEAM OF 60 FIREFIGHTERS GOT THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL WITHIN AN HOUR, MEDICS TREATED SIX PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE FIREFIGHTER. THE CAUSE OF THAT FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. CHARLOTT

Toddler killed by truck in Burke County

WXII logo

Updated: 1:56 PM EDT Jul 5, 2024

An 18-month-old girl died Thursday after a pickup truck hit her at a Burke County campground.The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said it happened just before 11 a.m. at the Steel Creek Park & Family Campground northwest of Morganton. Top Stories56-year-old Thomasville man killed in crash on Fourth of JulyHigh Point police investigate homicide at fireworks show, officers sayNorth Carolina mother accused of killing two of her adopted children, forcing child to dismember a body, documents sayGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereThe driver of a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado was trying to pull around a building when the girl walked in front of the truck.The girl died of her injuries at the scene. The pickup driver, a man from West Virginia, was unhurt.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Troopers said alcohol and speed were not factors. Charges will not be filed.For more on this story, visit our news partner, WCNC.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |TRENDING STORIES

An 18-month-old girl died Thursday after a pickup truck hit her at a Burke County campground.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said it happened just before 11 a.m. at the Steel Creek Park & Family Campground northwest of Morganton.

Top Stories

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

The driver of a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado was trying to pull around a building when the girl walked in front of the truck.

The girl died of her injuries at the scene. The pickup driver, a man from West Virginia, was unhurt.

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

Troopers said alcohol and speed were not factors. Charges will not be filed.

For more on this story, visit our news partner, WCNC.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

TRENDING STORIES

Credits

The 2024 Polaris Slingshot R Is Part Sports Car, Part Pickup Truck, And All Ridiculous

There is a cry from within the automotive community for manufacturers to have more fun. Most cars have gotten so sterile and clinical in their missions to appease every living soul with a good enough credit rating. As it turns out, fun has been in your face this whole time. The 2024 Polaris Slingshot R is somehow a vehicle that combines sports cars, motorcycles, and pickup trucks into one totally ridiculous vehicle. Everything about the Polaris Slingshot seems to be a big middle finger to convention, yet driving one is ridiculously fun.

The Polaris Slingshot has been around for about a decade now. We’ve all seen these machines on the road before. I mean, how could you miss them? A Polaris Slingshot is like a Transformer that got stuck halfway through its morph. I’ve long wondered about the striking three-wheelers. I’ve wondered if they’re fun, if they’re comfortable, and honestly, the biggest question I’ve had is simply why? Why does the Polaris Slingshot exist? Why aren’t these people just buying a Miata?

Vidframe Min Bottom

For the next couple of weeks, I’m finally getting the chance to answer my own questions. I’ve now spent a day with a 2024 Polaris Slingshot R and I have some first impressions.

A Wild Concept

20240702 183858

As of today, the Slingshot is the only road-legal vehicle to bear the Polaris nameplate. Sure, Polaris also owns Indian Motorcycle, but Indian also doesn’t make anything like this.

Polaris says the idea that became the Slingshot was conceived by Polaris engineers in 2010. Company brass loved what they saw so much that they greenlit the prototype for production. The engineers then formed a team to turn that idea into reality. According to the Star Tribune, the Slingshot was developed at the Polaris R&D center in Wyoming, Minnesota over the course of four years.

The original Slingshot debuted in 2014 for the 2015 model year, just in time for Polaris’ 60th anniversary. 

2015 Polaris Slingshot Base GrayPolaris

The early Slingshots were parts bin specials, featuring a lot of bits of Polaris’ own design, such as the tube frame and the bodywork, but were very General Motors underneath. Power came from a 173 HP 2.4-liter GM Ecotec LE9 four-cylinder, famous for its use in the Chevrolet HHR. And the transmission? Oh, that was also GM, but we’ll talk about that one later. In other words, if you squinted really hard, the Polaris Slingshot was basically the coolest version of the Chevy HHR.

The Slingshot in my possession right now comes from the vehicle’s 2020 redesign. Polaris doesn’t call this a second-generation but does say the 2020+ Slingshots have 70 percent all-new content over the older ones.

20240702 182552

The update brought new visuals and a much better cockpit to the table, but what’s under the plastic also got revamped. The engine is now a Polaris ProStar 2.0-liter four. This unit is making 203 HP at 8,250 RPM and 144 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 RPM. The transmission is where things get fun. Bolted to that engine is an Aisin AR5.

Before you drop your mouth, yes, that is the transmission from the first-generation Chevrolet Colorado (and related to the AX15 found in Jeeps and Dodge Dakota pickups) and adapted to the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. It’s a five-speed unit and has updated ratios for the Slingshot. The 2020 year also brought an automatic transmission to the Slingshot for the first time ever. This transmission is more or less the same manual transmission, but with the clutch and shifting handled by a computer. Instead of a stick and a clutch pedal to play with, you get flappy paddles. Think of it like BMW SMG, but Polaris-style.

20240702 182851

The Slingshot has a trim level spread starting with the basic S for $21,999 and rising up to the Roush Edition for $38,149. The top of the regular line is the R, which sits at $34,799 before options. Much like with a car, the trim levels dictate how much content you get. For example, the base S has the 2.0 ProStar engine, but it’s tuned to 178 HP. You also get base-level bodywork, standard brakes, no windshield, and so on. Even the infotainment system is optional and you don’t even get the option to equip the Slingshot S with a backup camera.

The R is the top of the food chain, sporting all of the features either locked out of the S model or optional as standard. That includes a 20″ 305mm rear wheel, Apple CarPlay, tri-tone paint, a graphics package, a 200 W Rockford Fosgate sound system, and so much more. The R even gets big vented 339mm discs with four-piston Brembo calipers, which aren’t on the lower models.

20240702 182740

I’ll cover all of this in my main review, but what you need to know for now is that the in-house engine and truck transmission is matched with coilovers and a double wishbone suspension. That truck transmission sends power that hits the rear wheel through a belt final drive.

A Total Riot

20240702 183443

The first thing you’ll realize when hopping into a Polaris Slingshot is that this is nothing like anything else you’ve ever driven. The floor sits just 5.4 inches above the ground and its 1,636-pound curb weight is about 200 pounds shy of a Smart Fortwo. You don’t even have to look up to see absolutely nothing above you and the sides of the Slingshot also don’t come up very far either. A side-by-side feels more enclosed than this!

All of this lends to great visibility, well, so long as you don’t plan to look behind you. Turn your head and there’s a huge sail blocking your view. Reversing the Slingshot is reliant on either the backup camera, the mirrors, or by craning your head outside of the vehicle.

20240702 183412

20240702 182605

Hit the start button and you’ll be presented with a soundtrack that reminds you of a side-by-side engine. At idle, the ProStar engine sounds like a four-cylinder Suzuki. That’s just the first hint of what you’re about to be in for. The next hint is the realization that the Slingshot R’s windscreen is almost useless. If you’re of average height your head will sit above it. That’s one of the reasons, aside from safety, that this is a ride fit for helmets. That windscreen isn’t stopping rain, bugs, or rocks from pelting you.

Speaking of rain, I received my unit during a downpour and was crazy enough to commit to driving it right then and there. Sure enough, the windscreen fed water straight to my body. The good news is that the Slingshot’s interior is water-resistant and features drains, so it’ll be okay in the rain even if you aren’t.

20240702 182640

I gave myself a good soaking before deciding to park the unit until the weather passed. Thankfully, that happened right on time for me to be done with work for the day, so I grabbed my wife and we plopped down into the Slingshot R.

We began to see the appeal of the Slingshot before we even left the neighborhood. No fewer than three neighbors walked up to the machine and gave it a look before complimenting it and asking me questions about it. Another neighbor looked on from her bedroom window. She looked shocked, like I shot a dog or something.

20240702 182901

Eventually, my neighbors let me go and I clicked the transmission into first gear. Now, at this time I wasn’t aware of the AR5 down below, but I got a sense of deja vu. This was repeated as I took off and the transmission made a soft whine. I then grabbed second and the shift was as I’d describe as “agricultural.” Not bad by any means, but a bit like a pickup truck.

I didn’t really have much time to ponder the transmission because once I got free and clear of my neighborhood I punched the throttle. The rear tire let loose before traction control reined the wheelspin in. The result was a burst of speed, a ton of giggles, and the smell of a briefly burned tire.

20240702 182828

 

Polaris says the Slingshot R can hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. I know that doesn’t sound all that amazing in an era when EVs can easily do the job much quicker, but it’s faster than a Mazda Miata ND and only a couple of clicks off of a Toyota GR Supra. It’s no supercar, but it’s not a slouch, either.

The Polaris Slingshot has the perfect formula for the kinds of hooliganism that would normally be reserved for muscle cars and Can-Am Rykers. It’s easy to light that rear tire up, turn that wheel, and go for a spin cycle or a few. If you keep that rear tire hooked, the truck transmission is also pretty satisfying to throw through the gears. Go ahead, race up to that 8,500 RPM redline — you’re going to need to if you want that 203 HP — slam it into the next gear, and do it all over again.

20240702 182713

20240702 183151

Something I’ve found refreshing about the Slingshot was that its complete disregard for convention made it feel better than many of the cars you’ll drive today. You get just enough technology, but the rest is all on you. Come in too hot into a turn? I hope you like drifting. Punch the throttle while doing a U-turn? There aren’t a million nannies that will scream at you. Traction control will try to stop you but you’ll find yourself overpowering it. Or, you could just turn off traction control and tell it to shut up. You aren’t going to find a radar, a lane-keep assist, or anything like that here.

I was also surprised to find out that the Slingshot is the exact opposite of everything everyone complains about in modern cars. You feel the road through the wheel and you can decipher what each wheel is doing through your tuchus. If you’re having a really spirited drive, you can even watch the front wheels work through their suspension range. Toss in the lack of a roof and driving a Slingshot fast involves almost all of your senses.

20240702 182931

 

 

20240702 182619

The best comparison I can come up with is that the Polaris Slingshot R drives like a modern sporty roadster. It grips the road surprisingly well for a vehicle with just three wheels and you will have a blast opening it up on a backroad. And the experience is not the same as just driving a convertible. I love my Saturn Sky Red Line, which has the same truck transmission and 57 extra horses, but it does not deliver drama like the Slingshot.

Quirks

I’ve had this machine just for a day, but I’ve already noticed a few quirks

One annoyance I’ve had was with the steering wheel. It sticks out pretty far, but there is no telescoping ability. I can’t quite find the perfect seat adjustment for a good pedal feel and to push the steering wheel as far back as I’d like it. Hopefully, this is something Polaris changes in a future update one day.

20240702 182654

The Slingshot is also loud, like really loud. Thankfully, the noise is muffled by a good helmet, but it’s also loud enough that conversations with your passenger are a non-starter while you’re moving unless both of you have a helmet communicator system. I just waited until we stopped at red lights to say things to Sheryl. From what I can tell, this is because the engine is right ahead of you and there’s little in the way of sound deadening.

Some of the hard plastics, and there are a lot of them, rattled against each other, adding to the symphony of loudness.

One final quirk is with the Slingshot R’s Ride Command system. This infotainment system is found all over the Polaris portfolio and it’s usually good, giving you vehicle vitals, maps, and music. Sometimes it doesn’t play nice with my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Every now and then the track I’m streaming starts skipping hard like a heavily-scratched CD. The fix seems to be restarting Ride Command, which is easy enough, but it’s a weird quirk I’ve only experienced with the Polaris infotainment system and not other brands.

So Much Drama

20240702 183813

If I had to find a common theme with the Slingshot, it would be drama.

Everything about the Slingshot is loud and in your face from its styling to the fact that the Rockford Fosgate sound system can be used as a boombox for a block party. The Slingshot doesn’t do anything without drama. It likes to billow clouds of smoke from the rear wheel, it likes piercing your helmet with its loud engine, and it can’t go anywhere without drawing a small crowd.

Seriously, the Slingshot has been out for about a decade now, yet it draws in people like bugs to a zapper. I’ve had it for just a day now and I’ve been approached at gas stations, red lights, and even a pharmacy. Everyone has something to say about the Slingshot. Sure, some of those people think the Slingshot is as ugly as sin, but everyone wants to say something, give you a thumbs up, or take a picture. You cannot own a Slingshot and be an introvert unless forcing yourself to talk to people is your kink.

20240702 182951

Slingshot owners are also a diverse group of people. They include women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and just people of all stripes. Many of these people love customizing their rides to be as unique as they are. On any given weekend I’ll see Slingshots covered in chrome wraps, bearing giant wheels, and adorned with speakers so huge they could swallow your head whole.

I actually love the truck transmission in this application. Its mechanical feel and distinct whine only add to the drama. I feel like I’m commanding a racecar from a Forza Motorsport game.

20240702 182757

20240702 182914

The Slingshot R is somewhat practical, too. You get to sit in awesome heated and cooled seats and there’s more than enough locking storage for a couple of helmets and some light grocery shopping. I have no doubt you could have a Slingshot as a daily driver. I almost wish Polaris loaned me the Slingshot during the winter so I could really enjoy those bun warmers. But, just keep in mind that safety is more like a side-by-side than it is to an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Don’t get into a fight with a Toyota RAV4 because that’s a battle you won’t win.

In my day of driving thus far, I’ve found myself sitting on a fence. On one hand, driving a Slingshot R is such a visceral experience that I have not experienced in any normal convertible. On the other hand, I can put up the roof on my Saturn when the weather gets foul. A Polaris Slingshot requires a similar commitment to being in the elements as riding a motorcycle but with the ease of driving a car. In a way, a Slingshot is the closest thing you can get to riding a motorcycle without getting your endorsement.

20240702 182814

The Polaris Slingshot also has a value proposition, provided you forget the extra 25 ponies and stick with the cheaper trims. Sure, a Morgan 3 Wheeler is a better looker, but you can’t buy one of those new anymore and used ones cost more than a Slingshot. There’s the Morgan Super 3, but that’s a pricey unit, too. Vanderhalls are also stunners, but cost more than the Polaris, are front-wheel-drive only, and automatic only.

My impressions may change over the next couple of weeks, but for now, I feel as if the Slingshot has been unfairly given a bad reputation. Sure, it’s not as practical as a normal convertible and the higher trims get silly expensive, but the fun factor is off of the charts. There’s lots of genuine joy to be had here and if you want a vehicle that’ll get you attention, prepare to become a local celebrity.

Popular Stories

Credits

Crash involving a fire truck reported on Wold Avenue in Evanston

Crash involving a fire truck reported on Wold Avenue in Evanston

Updated: 3:59 PM EDT Jul 1, 2024

THE WAY WITH BREAKING NEWS FIRST AT NOON, LEADING THE WAY ON BREAKING NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON. A MAJOR DECISION HAS BEEN MADE IN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY CLAIM. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M KELLY RIPPIN, AND I’M STEPHEN ALBRIGHT IN THE SUPREME COURT ISSUING AN HISTORIC RULING ON THE FINAL DAY OF ITS TERM RULING. THE PRESIDENT IS IMMUNE FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY FROM OFFICIAL ACTS. THAT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HERE, BUT IT ALSO LEAVES SEVERAL BIG QUESTIONS UNANSWERED. NEWS FIVE REPORTER AMY LOU JOINS US FROM OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT WITH THE DETAILS. THE KEY WORD IN THIS DECISION IS OFFICIAL. THE COURT ESSENTIALLY RULED THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND ANY PRESIDENT FOR THAT MATTER, IS ENTITLED TO ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY AS LONG AS THOSE OFFICIAL ACTS WERE DONE WHILE IN OFFICE. THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THIS CASE AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND THE CHARGES IN ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION WILL BE SENT BACK DOWN TO A LOWER COURT TO DECIDE ON WHAT CONSTITUTES AN OFFICIAL ACT. IT ALSO MEANS THAT THIS TRIAL THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FACES WILL LIKELY BE DELAYED AS A LOWER COURT JUDGE DECIDES WHAT WILL HAPPEN HERE, WHETHER THOSE INDICTMENTS ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL ACTS, AND WHICH ONES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, RESPONDING, SAYING, QUOTE, THIS IS A BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AT THE SUPREME COURT. I’M AMY LOU. THE SUPREME COURT ALSO JUST ISSUED RULINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FREE SPEECH. THE JUSTICES KEPT ON HOLD LAWS FROM TEXAS AND FLORIDA DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE POWER OF COMPANIES LIKE FACEBOOK, TIKTOK AND YOUTUBE TO MODERATE POSTS, BOTH LAWS NOW HEAD BACK TO LOWER COURTS. THEY WERE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS CONSERVATIVE CRITICISM THAT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES WERE CENSORING USERS ON THE POLITICAL RIGHT. THOSE COMPANIES ARGUED THE LAWS VIOLATE THEIR RIGHTS TO SPEECH. YOU CAN READ ALL ABOUT THESE RULINGS AND GO IN DEPTH ON THEM. ON WLWT.COM. ALL RIGHT, TURNING TO WEATHER NOW. BEAUTIFUL START TO JULY. GORGEOUS. COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURES. OF COURSE IT IS JULY. SO WE’RE GOING TO SEE HOW THAT EVOLVES. YES ENJOY JULY 1ST BECAUSE JULY 2ND THREE, FOUR AND PROBABLY THE REST OF THE MONTH WILL BE QUITE DIFFERENT WITH THE HUMIDITY AND STORMS COMING FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY. KATIE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE’VE GOT A LOT OF HUMIDITY IN THE FORECAST, A LOT OF HEAT TODAY. OUR TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S. SO IT IS A COOLER THAN AVERAGE DAY VERY COOL START TO JULY. THAT’S THE CASE FOR MOST COMMUNITIES ARE OFFICIALLY AT 71 IN CINCINNATI MIDDLE TO UPPER 60S FROM HILLSBORO TO MOUNT ORAB, 68 IN DILLSBORO AND ABOUT 69 AS YOU HEAD INTO OWENTON. THIS MORNING. SO DEW POINTS AT 40S 50S REALLY UNHEARD OF HERE. AS YOU HEAD INTO THE JULY MONTHS. TYPICALLY VERY HOT, HUMID TIME OF THE YEAR AND IT’S JUST NOT THE CASE TODAY. WE HAVE SOME REALLY REFRESHING TEMPERATURES TO ENJOY AS WE GO THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. FORECAST HIGHS TODAY, BARELY MAKING IT TO 80. WE GET AROUND 78 TO 79 DEGREES. I THINK SOME OF US REACHING THAT 80 DEGREE MARK. BUT THIS IS MUCH COOLER THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. SO THINGS FEELING REALLY NICE HERE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WE’RE LOOKING AT SOME SUNSHINE AS WE GO INTO THE AFTERNOON AGAIN, 79 TO 83 THIS EVENING, AND THEN WE’RE LOOKING QUIET AND COOL AS WE HEAD INTO THE MIDNIGHT HOURS TONIGHT. AGAIN, MENTION THAT HUMIDITY IS GOING TO BE RISING. WE’RE IN THAT REFRESHING RANGE AS WE GO THROUGH TODAY, BUT INTO WEDNESDAY. BACK INTO THAT TROPICAL ZONE FOR THE HUMIDITY LEVELS. AND THAT’S REALLY GOING TO AFFECT OUR WEATHER. IT’S GOING TO ALLOW FOR MORE OF A HEAT INDEX VALUE AND IT’S CERTAINLY GOING TO ALLOW FOR MORE THUNDERSTORMS TO PUSH BACK IN THE AREA. AND THAT COULD AFFECT THE HOLIDAY. WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN FUTURE CAST COMING UP KELLY AND STEPHEN. ALL RIGHT KATIE THANK YOU. ALSO BREAKING HERE ON WLWT A SHOOTING JUST STEPS AWAY FROM UC’S CAMPUS HAS LEFT THREE PEOPLE DEAD AND TWO OTHERS INJURED. WE’VE BEEN LEADING THE WAY ON THIS STORY ALL MORNING, AND THIS MAP SHOWS WHERE IT HAPPENED. THE CRIME SCENE JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM UC MEDICAL CENTER, A SHORT WALK FROM THE UNIVERSITY. WLWT NEWS FIVE REPORTER BRIAN HAMRICK JOINING US FROM QUARRYVILLE. NOW, BRIAN, THERE IS STILL VERY MUCH AN ACTIVE SCENE OUT THERE. YEAH. KELLY. WELL, IT WAS A VERY VIOLENT CRIME SCENE HERE. PEOPLE DESCRIBE A BARRAGE OF GUNFIRE WHEN IT WAS OVER. FIVE PEOPLE WERE HIT, THREE PEOPLE WERE DEAD. TAKE A LOOK. YOU CAN SEE EVEN NOW, NEARLY TEN HOURS LATER, POLICE ARE STILL OUT HERE AT THE SCENE COLLECTING EVIDENCE. THERE ARE 99 EVIDENCE MARKERS HERE. UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY COMPLEX CRIME SCENE HERE. UH, AGAIN, LONG AFTER THIS GUNFIRE ERUPTED, POLICE STILL ON THE SCENE. NOW, THIS IS RIGHT BESIDE OF WHAT USED TO BE MECKLENBURG GARDENS AT HIGHLAND AND UNIVERSITY. THE STREETS ARE COVERED WITH BLOOD HERE OR POOLS OF BLOOD, WHERE AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE FELL THEIR TRAILS OF BLOOD ALL OVER THE STREETS ON EITHER SIDE OF MECKLENBURG GARDENS. UH, THERE ARE NO LESS THAN, UH, A DOZEN OFFICERS STILL OUT HERE, STILL AT THE SCENE NOW. THE GUNFIRE BEGAN JUST BEFORE 3 A.M. POLICE ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE A COURSE OF EVENTS. WE’RE TOLD ONE OF THE VICTIMS HIT BY THE GUNFIRE WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. POLICE ARE ONLY SAYING THAT THE VICTIMS ARE ALL MALE, NO AGES. THIS IS MAYBE 400M FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOORS AT UC. A WITNESS DESCRIBED AT LEAST TEN GUN SHOTS FIRED IN VERY QUICK SUCCESSION. NOW. BOOM, BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, YOU KNOW. SO I’M LIKE, MAN, ANYBODY THAT HAD ANY IF THEY WAS SHOOTING DIDN’T NOBODY HAVE ANY TIME ROOM TO DUCK BUT TO HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN YOUR NOT BACKYARD BUT YOUR FRONT YARD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YEAH. NOW, POLICE SAW A MAN RUN INTO ONE OF THE HOUSES HERE. EVENTUALLY, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM OUT. HE WAS APPARENTLY ARMED WHEN HE WENT IN. THEY ARE STILL QUESTIONING THAT PERSON. SO FAR, NO ARRESTS, THOUGH. REPORTIN

Crash involving a fire truck reported on Wold Avenue in Evanston

WLWT logo

Updated: 3:59 PM EDT Jul 1, 2024

A unit with the Cincinnati Fire Department has been reported on Wold Avenue in Evanston. No injuries or damages have been reported at this time. Other units from the Cincinnati Fire Department, along with city of Cincinnati police officers, are responding to the scene. For live traffic updates, click here.Click the video player above to watch other afternoon headlines from WLWT News 5This story was curated by Hearst's WLWT Alert Desk.Sharing brings us closer together. If this story happened near you, share this article with friends in your area using the WLWT mobile app so they can read along with you. The WLWT app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.Do you have photos or video of an incident? If so, upload them to https://www.wlwt.com/upload. Be sure to include your name and additional details so we can give you proper credit online and on TV.

A unit with the Cincinnati Fire Department has been reported on Wold Avenue in Evanston.

No injuries or damages have been reported at this time. Other units from the Cincinnati Fire Department, along with city of Cincinnati police officers, are responding to the scene.

For live traffic updates, click here.

Click the video player above to watch other afternoon headlines from WLWT News 5

This story was curated by Hearst's WLWT Alert Desk.

Sharing brings us closer together. If this story happened near you, share this article with friends in your area using the WLWT mobile app so they can read along with you. The WLWT app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.

Do you have photos or video of an incident? If so, upload them to https://www.wlwt.com/upload. Be sure to include your name and additional details so we can give you proper credit online and on TV.

Credits

The State of Electric Truck Charging In Mid-2024

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Last month, news broke of a massive new electric truck charging station in California. What made this station so impressive is the capability of charging 96 electric trucks simultaneously! As we know, electric trucks can require some serious power to charge, so that means the station must have equally impressive access to power. But, the devil is in the details.

The sad fact was that the local power grid simply didn’t have the power for that kind of charging. Electric cars and light trucks? Not really a problem. But, when you get into the level of power needed to charge that many trucks in the same place, you’re talking about another thing entirely.

But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. The grid isn’t some aging non-upgradeable thing from the 1970s. Grids are always getting upgraded as population grows and demands for power grow. The problem in this case is the wait time involved. According to the press release, the company would have to wait two years for the local power company to be ready to go.

So, the company chose instead to build a microgrid. They’re going to pull some power from the grid, but generate megawatts of power from hydrogen generators on site, paired with 18 megawatt-hours of battery to provide up to 9 megawatts of charging at peak!

While that’s certainly an impressive setup, we don’t want to see hydrogen become a favored power source for electric truck charging. It’s a good idea in a pinch, like the one they’re in with the local grid. But, eventually, you need to get onto grid power and continue the work of cleaning up the grid so that the trucks can run on truly clean energy. Hydrogen is theoretically clean, but only if it comes from clean sources, which basically means using clean power to separate hydrogen from water. This would add a huge inefficiency to the process, as that power has to come from somewhere.

Instead, it’s likely that the “clean” hydrogen gas will come from natural gas, aka methane. In other words, it’s a great way to launder dirty energy and pass it off as clean energy that’s used to charge the trucks. Really, it would likely be more energy efficient to simply use the methane to directly power the truck charging site until such time as grid power is available.

Why They’re Going To Such Great Lengths To Make It Look Extra Clean

The situation at the Port of Los Angeles is a bit of a vanguard. There’s great pressure to electrify trucking in California, and at the same time the Port of Los Angeles needs a lot of trucks to carry goods from the port to the terminals that take the goods to the rest of the continent. the press release says that as many as 20,000 trucks will need to go electric, so there’s a lot of work to do.

As the rest of the country electrifies, many places capable of charging dozens of electric trucks will be needed. Truck stops, large merchants like Walmart, and perhaps even highway rest areas will need to be able to do this. So, we’re not seeing one special case that’s not going to happen again. We’re seeing something that’s going to happen again and again as the industry shifts toward electric. That’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be fast. Sadly, though, many trucks will need it to basically happen all at once to be able to reliably send trucks anywhere like they do today.

The point in mentioning this isn’t to bash Tesla or the Biden administration as much as to show how big of a challenge this is. Even Tesla’s nine megawatt charging stations have been a big problem, and we’re going to need thousands of such stations to serve long-haul trucking needs.

Ways We Might Get There

While I was at Kempower last month, I came across another possible solution to the problem: folding some of the truck charging in with charging for electric cars.

When charging systems are flexible enough to accommodate a broad variety of charging levels, it’s possible for a charging site to support charging for multiple electric cars or support brief megawatt charging for one electric truck, or any mix. As I pointed out in another article about this, a modular approach to station construction makes it possible to do this without having to build dedicated megawatt chargers all over the place.

While this won’t work for all trucking needs, it’s going to be common in the future for many places that receive electric trucks to also want to provide charging for customers coming in cars and light trucks. If we split the power and make it accessible to electric trucks to use during unloading and some overnight stays (like you’d see at Walmart, for example), this kind of opportunity charging can give an alternative to dedicated truck charging, at least for that kind of truck.

It might be wise to look for slower charging opportunities for electric trucks, too. Contrary to popular belief, trucks don’t usually run continuously, even on long-haul routes. Something that’s equivalent to Level 2 hotel charging for electric car drivers on road trips could work well for trucks that don’t need to charge in under an hour. With U.S. regulations requiring 10 hours of time in the sleeper, there’s definitely time to charge a battery up without megawatt stalls, at least for the first part of a truck’s route that day. With a megawatt-hour battery, an electric semi-truck would need only 100 kW of power to charge up in ten hours, and that’s less power than most Tesla superchargers.

finally, we need to rethink freight some in the United States. Other easier to electrify things like river and waterway barges, trains, and smaller trucks could all be part of the answer. Local production with additive manufacturing (3D printing) could also lessen the need for freight in some cases.

All in all, innovative solutions could soften the blow of electric trucking.

Featured image by Jennifer Sensiba.

Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica.TV Videos

Advertisement‌

Credits

CMPD: Man Arrested After Stealing Amazon Delivery Truck While Trying To Flee Police

Cmpd Man Arrested After Stealing Amazon Delivery Truck While Trying To Flee Police

");
$spagination = flexSlider.find(".spagination");
SPagination.Init($spagination.get( 0 ), {
size: slide_obj.count, // pages size
page: 1, // selected page
step: 3, // pages before and after current
cb: function(p){
flexSlider.flexAnimate(p-1, true);
}
});
}
}
}

function gtx_gallery_slide_before(slide_obj){
var slide=slide_obj.animatingTo;
$active_slide=$all_slides.eq(slide) ;
slideshow_ad_loaded = false;

var current_html = $active_slide.children(".gtx-ad-container").html();
if (current_html) {$active_slide.children(".gtx-ad-container").html(current_html.trim())}

gtx_track_slide( slide_obj );

changeURL(parseInt($active_slide.attr("data-attachment_id")));

//THUMBS SYNC - PAGINATED THUMBNAIL NAVIGATION
if($thumbs!=="" && navigation == "paginated_thumbs"){
var right_item=$slider.find(".slides li[data-i="+(slide +1 )+"]").attr("data-i-only-pics")
if( right_item!= ""){
$thumbs.find("li.gtx-thumb-img").removeClass("flex-active-slide");
$thumbs.find("li.gtx-thumb-img[data-i="+(slide +1 )+"]").addClass("flex-active-slide");
$page=$thumbs.find(".slides>li").has("li[data-i="+(slide +1 )+"]");
$thumbs.flexAnimate($page.index(), true);
}
}
}

function gtx_gallery_slide_after(slide_obj){
var slide=slide_obj.animatingTo;
$active_slide=$all_slides.eq(slide) ;

if($active_slide.hasClass("gtx-ad-slide")==1){
if ($active_slide.find('iframe').length === 1) {
$active_slide.find('iframe')[0].remove();
}
$slider.delay(100).queue(function(){
$(this).addClass("gtx-gallery-loading").dequeue();
});
$ad_container=$active_slide.children(".gtx-ad-container").first();

if ($($ad_container).html().length < 1) { addAdInto($ad_container,{slide:slide_obj.animatingTo +1}); } //Force arrows to be shown when on mobile and when the slide is an ad if(mobile_mode){ $slider.find(".flex-direction-nav").show(2000) } } else { //Force arrows to hide when on mobile and when the slide is not an ad if(mobile_mode){ $slider.find(".flex-direction-nav").hide("fast") } } //THUMBS SYNC if($thumbs!=="" && navigation == "thumbnails"){ var right_item=$slider.find(".slides>li[data-i="+(slide +1 )+"]").attr("data-i-only-pics")
if( right_item!= ""){
$thumbs.find("li.gtx-thumb-img").removeClass("flex-active-slide");
$thumbs.find("li.gtx-thumb-img").eq(right_item -1 ).addClass("flex-active-slide");
$thumbs.flexAnimate(right_item-1, true);
}
}

if(typeof(googletag) != "undefined" && googletag !== null && googletag.pubads){
// Refresh ads within view

var tmp_now=new Date().getTime();
var last_refresh_diff= tmp_now - last_ad_refresh;
if(last_refresh_diff > 1000){
reset_ads_and_refresh();
last_ad_refresh=tmp_now;
}
}

//LAZY LOAD
range=5;
var $slides_to_hanle=$all_slides.slice(slide, slide + range +1);
if(slide - range >= 0){
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(slide - range, slide ));
}else{
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(0, range ));
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(range * -1 ));
}
if(slide + range >= $all_slides.size()){
//handle first slides
$slides_to_hanle= $.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(0,range));

}

$slides_to_hanle.find(".gtx-image-container[data-background]").each(function () {
var src = $(this).attr("data-background");
$(this).css("background-image", "url("+src+")").removeAttr("data-background");
});

adjustNavHeight();
if( typeof SPagination !== "undefined" && flexSlider.find(".spagination").length>0 ){
if(SPagination.page != slide+1){
SPagination.page = slide + 1;
SPagination.Start();
}
}

}

function reset_ads_and_refresh(){
if(!advanced_ad_refresh){
// if option is not enabled, refresh all ads, minus out of page ads
if(ads_to_refresh.length > 0){
googletag.pubads().refresh(ads_to_refresh);
}
return;
}

if(ads_to_refresh.length == 0){
return;
}

var newAds = [];
var fullAdsToRefresh = [];
for(var i = 0; i < ads_to_refresh.length; i++){ var adSlot = ads_to_refresh[i]; if(!ad_is_in_view(adSlot)){ // do not replace this ad, but store it so it can be refreshed when back in view fullAdsToRefresh.push(adSlot); continue; } if (adSlot.getSizes().length == 1) { //Ad only has one ad slot define, skip and refresh all ads at the end newAds.push(adSlot); continue; } var slotId = adSlot.getSlotElementId(); var slotName = adSlot.getAdUnitPath(); var targeting = adSlot.getTargetingMap(); var slotWidth = adSlot.tn_width; var slotHeight = adSlot.tn_height; var slotX = adSlot.tn_positionX; var slotY = adSlot.tn_positionY; $('#'+slotId).css({minHeight: slotHeight+'px', minWidth: slotWidth+'px'}); var sizeMappingVar = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([0, 9999999], [slotWidth, slotHeight]).build() googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.destroySlots([adSlot]); }) googletag.cmd.push(function() { var newAdSlot = googletag.defineSlot( slotName, [slotWidth, slotHeight], slotId ).defineSizeMapping( sizeMappingVar ).addService( googletag.pubads() ); if(targeting){ for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(targeting)) { newAdSlot.setTargeting(`${key}`, `${value}`); } } newAdSlot.tn_positionX = slotX; newAdSlot.tn_positionY = slotY; newAdSlot.tn_width = slotWidth; newAdSlot.tn_height = slotHeight; newAds.push(newAdSlot); fullAdsToRefresh.push(newAdSlot); }); } //refresh all ads with new defined slots googletag.pubads().refresh(newAds); ads_to_refresh = fullAdsToRefresh; } var ads_to_refresh = []; // set the ads we wish to refresh function set_ads_to_refresh(){ var checkingAdsInVew = false; if (typeof googletag === 'object' && typeof googletag.pubads === 'function'){ googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { // Out-of-page ads are not eligible for refresh if(event.slot.getOutOfPage() === true){ return false; } var slotWidth = $('#'+event.slot.getSlotElementId() + ' iframe').width(); var slotHeight = $('#'+event.slot.getSlotElementId() + ' iframe').height(); event.slot.tn_positionX = $('#'+event.slot.getSlotElementId()).offset().left; event.slot.tn_positionY = $('#'+event.slot.getSlotElementId()).offset().top; event.slot.tn_width = slotWidth; event.slot.tn_height = slotHeight; if(ads_to_refresh.indexOf(event.slot) < 0){ ads_to_refresh.push(event.slot) } }); } } function ad_is_in_view(slot){ var wTop = $(window).scrollTop(); return slot.tn_positionY > wTop && slot.tn_positionY < $(window).height() + wTop; } $(window).load(function(){ set_ads_to_refresh(); }) function gtx_gallery_thumbs_set_backwards(){ backward_pos = $thumbs.find(".gtx-thumb-backward").position().left; backward_width = $thumbs.find(".gtx-thumb-backward").width(); backward_right_pos = backward_pos + backward_width; container_width = $thumbs.find(".flex-viewport").width(); fully_visible = backward_right_pos < container_width; partially_visible = (backward_right_pos - container_width) < backward_width/3; if(partially_visible){ $thumbs.find(".flex-next").hide(0); }else{ $thumbs.find(".flex-next").show(); } } function gtx_gallery_thumbs_before(slide_obj){ if(slide_obj.count > 8){
gtx_gallery_thumbs_set_backwards()
}
}

function gtx_gallery_thumbs_after(slide_obj){
if(slide_obj.count > 8){
gtx_gallery_thumbs_set_backwards()
}
}

function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_start(slide_obj){
gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_lazy();
if(false && slide_obj.count > 8){
$thumbs.find(".flex-control-nav.flex-control-paging").removeClass("flex-control-paging").addClass("g-pagination");
}
if(slide_obj.count > 8){
$thumbs.find(".flex-control-nav.flex-control-paging").hide().after("");
$pagination = $thumbs.find(".spagination");
SPagination.Init($pagination.get( 0 ), {
size: slide_obj.count, // pages size
page: 1, // selected page
step: 3, // pages before and after current
cb: function(p){
$thumbs.flexAnimate(p-1, true);
}
});
}
}

function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_before(slide_obj){
var slide=(typeof slide_obj == "object" && slide_obj.animatingTo ? slide_obj.animatingTo : 0);
gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_lazy(slide_obj);

}

function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_after(slide_obj){
var slide=(typeof slide_obj == "object" && slide_obj.animatingTo ? slide_obj.animatingTo : 0);
//THUMBS SYNC - Go to first slide of this batch
if($thumbs!=="" && navigation == "paginated_thumbs"){

var $active_slide=$slider.find(".slides>li.flex-active-slide");
var $active_thumb_page=$thumbs.find(".slides>li.flex-active-slide");
//Check if the current slide is within this thumb batch
if(!$active_thumb_page.find("li[data-i="+$active_slide.attr("data-i")+"]").size()){
first_thumb=$active_thumb_page.find("li").first().attr("data-i");
flexSlider.flexAnimate(first_thumb - 1, true);
}

}

if( typeof SPagination !== "undefined" && $thumbs.find(".spagination").length>0 ){
if(SPagination.page != slide+1){
SPagination.page = slide + 1;
SPagination.Start();
}
}

}

function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_lazy(slide_obj){
var slide=(typeof slide_obj == "object" && slide_obj.animatingTo ? slide_obj.animatingTo : 0);
//LAZY LOAD THUMBS
if($all_thumbs!=="" && navigation == "paginated_thumbs"){
range=1;
var $slides_to_hanle=$all_thumbs.slice(slide, slide + range + 1);
if(slide - range >= 0){
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(slide - range, slide ));
}else{
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(0, range ));
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(range * -1 ));
}
if(slide + range >= $all_thumbs.size()){
//handle first slides
$slides_to_hanle= $.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(0,range));

}
$slides_to_hanle.each(function () {
$(this).find("img[lazy-src]").each(function () {
var src = $(this).attr("lazy-src");
if(!src) return;
$(this).attr("src",src).removeAttr("lazy-src");
$thumbs.find("img[lazy-src=""+src+""]").attr("src",src).removeAttr("lazy-src");
});
});
}

}

function adjustNavHeight(){
imageHeight = flexSlider.find(".gtx-slide-img.flex-active-slide .gtx-image-container").outerHeight();
if(imageHeight > 0){
flexSlider.find(".flex-prev,.flex-next").css("top",Math.round(imageHeight/2));
}
}

var nextSlotId = 1;
function generateNextSlotName() {
var id = nextSlotId++;
return "adslot_" + id+"_"+Math.floor( Date.now() / 1000 );
}

function addAdInto(selector,options) {
try{
gtx_gallery_enable_dfp();
}catch(err) {
}

var slide=options.slide || -1;
var slotName = generateNextSlotName();
var ad_index = 0;

// Create a div for the slot
var slotDiv = document.createElement('div');
slotDiv.id = slotName; // Id must be the same as slotName
$( selector ).append( slotDiv );
try{
ad_index=$( selector ).closest(".gtx-ad-slide").attr("data-i-only-ads");
}catch(err) {

}

// Define the slot itself, call display() to
// register the div and refresh() to fetch ad.
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
slideshow_ad_loaded = true;
adslots[slotName] = googletag.defineSlot('/132916964,50847294/wccbcharlotte.com/active-alert', [300, 250], slotName)
.addService(googletag.pubads())
.setTargeting("placement", "gallery")
.setTargeting("slide", slide)
.setTargeting("post", '3142597')
.setTargeting("category", '["active-alert","alert-app-banner","crime","local-crime","local-news","news","north-carolina-news","top-story"]')
.setTargeting("galleryAdIndex", ad_index);

googletag.display(slotName);
googletag.sizeMapping().addSize( [0,0], [[300,250]])
googletag.pubads().refresh([adslots[slotName]]);
});
}

gtx_gallery_syncHash = function(path){
pic = "";
re = /pic/?([0-9]+)/?$/i;

if(!path && window.location.hash && window.location.hash.match(re)) path = window.location.hash;
if(!path && window.location.pathname && window.location.pathname.match(re)) path = window.location.pathname;
if(path){
matchslide = path.match(re);
if(matchslide && matchslide[1]>0){
pic = parseInt(matchslide[1]);
}
if(!isNaN(pic) && pic > 0){
slide=get_slide_by_attachment_id(pic);
if(slide>0){
avoid_next_pageview = true;
flexSlider.flexAnimate(slide - 1, true);
}
}
}else{
gtx_track_slide( )
}
}

function debounce(func, wait, immediate) {
var timeout;
return function() {
var context = this, args = arguments;
var later = function() {
timeout = null;
if (!immediate) func.apply(context, args);
};
var callNow = immediate && !timeout;
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(later, wait);
if (callNow) func.apply(context, args);
};
};

// delay the url state replacement to avoid overload
// RAYOS-271
var efficientlyReplaceState = debounce(function(title, path){
window.history.replaceState({}, title, path);
}, 1250)

function changeURL(pic){
basepath = window.location.pathname.replace(//pic/?([0-9]+)/?$/i,"/");
if(isNaN(pic)) return;

path = basepath + "pic/"+pic+"/";

title = "Pic "+pic;
if (typeof(window.history.replaceState) == "function") {
efficientlyReplaceState(title, path)
} else {
window.location.hash = path;
}
}

function get_slide_by_attachment_id(id){
var slide=$slider.find(".slides li[data-attachment_id="+id+"]").attr("data-i");
return parseInt(slide, 10);
}

function gtx_track_slide( slide_obj ){
if(slide_obj){
var slide = slide_obj.animatingTo;
}else{
var slide = 0;
}
$active_slide=$all_slides.eq(slide) ;

if(!avoid_next_pageview){
try{
var loc = location.pathname + "#slide" + (parseInt(slide) + 1);

if (rayos_gtm_gallery_pageviews) {
// Add gallery navigation info to dataLayer
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push({
'event': 'rayos_virtual_pageview',
'location' : loc
});
}

// Legacy support for GA tracking
ga("send", "pageview", loc);
if (ga.getByName("gtxcelTracker")) {
ga("gtxcelTracker.send", "pageview", loc);
}
}catch(err){

}
}
avoid_next_pageview = false;
}

//Add a callback on ad render
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) {
var slotName=event.slot.getSlotElementId();
if(typeof adslots[slotName] !=="undefined" && !event.isEmpty){
$slider.clearQueue();
$slider.removeClass("gtx-gallery-loading");
}
});
});

jQuery("#gtx-gallery-thumbs-3142597").flexslider({
animation: "slide",
controlNav: false,
animationLoop: false,
slideshow: false,
itemWidth: 75,
itemMargin: 5,
move: 1,
//asNavFor: "#gtx-gallery-slider-3142597",
prevText: "",
nextText: "",
after: gtx_gallery_thumbs_after,
after: gtx_gallery_thumbs_before
});
$thumbs=$("#gtx-gallery-thumbs-3142597").data("flexslider");
$thumbs.find("li.gtx-thumb-img").first( ).addClass("flex-active-slide");

$("#gtx-gallery-slider-3142597").flexslider({
animation: "slide",
pauseOnHover: true,
controlNav: false,
//animationLoop: false,
//slideshow: false,
//sync: "#gtx-gallery-thumbs-3142597",
prevText: "",
nextText: "",
slideshow: false,
init: gtx_gallery_slide_init,
start: gtx_gallery_slide_start,
before: gtx_gallery_slide_before,
after: gtx_gallery_slide_after
});

if(mobile_mode){
$slider.find(".flex-direction-nav").hide();
}

});

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police say a man has been arrested after he stole an Amazon delivery truck while trying to flee from officers.

CMPD says they were made aware of a stolen Ford F-250 that was entering their jurisdiction just after 11am on Thursday, June 27th. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle on Sam Wilson Road at West Pointe Drive.

The driver of the stolen truck failed to stop and fled the scene at a high rate of speed, according to a news release.

CMPD’s Aviation Unit tracked the truck as it moved through parts of Charlotte and eventually came to a stop on Pressley Road in south Charlotte, according to police. Investigators say the driver and a passenger in the stolen truck jumped from the vehicle and ran from police.

With the assistance of good samaritans, the K-9 unit and other CMPD agencies, the passenger, 26-year-old Michael Watts, was located hiding in a nearby dumpster. Watts reportedly has multiple outstanding warrants in both Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties, according to police.

The driver of the truck, 28-year-old Devin Mitchell, is accused of stealing an unoccupied Amazon deliver truck that was left running while the Amazon employee was making deliveries, according to a news release.

Investigators say CMPD’s Aviation Unit followed the stolen delivery truck into Lincoln County where Mitchell jumped and ran from the vehicle. Mitchell was quickly located by responding officers and taken into custody.

No other details have been released at this time. Check back for updates.

Credits

Diesel fuel remains top power choice for heavy-duty trucks, analysts say

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gasoline, diesel, natural gas and propane continue to be the primary fuel and technology choices for America’s commercial trucks, transit and school buses, with the population of advanced technology near-zero emissions diesels increasing four percent over 2022, according to the Engine Technology Forum (ETF).

“As more of the nation’s trucking fleet adopts the latest generation of advanced diesel and natural gas technology, communities are experiencing cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions,” said Executive Director of the Engine Technology Forum, a not-for-profit educational association, Allen Schaeffer. “And truckers save on their fuel expenses, too. Previous research showed the significant climate, fuel savings, and clean air impacts in the US of the newer generation (2010 and later model year) of advanced diesel in Class 3-8 heavy-duty trucks. From 2010 through 2030, this generation of diesels will save approximately 1.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions, 130 billion gallons of fuel, yield a cumulative savings of one million tons of particulate matter and 18 million tons of nitrogen oxide emissions. These benefits will be even greater once new emission regulations are implemented for new vehicles starting in 2027.”

ETF’s analysis of S&P Global Mobility TIPNet data of US Commercial Vehicles in Operation as of December 2023* found that 99.9 percent of the nation’s commercial vehicles, from small white box delivery trucks on up to the largest 18 wheelers, are powered by internal combustion engines. Diesel makes up the largest share at 76 percent, followed by gasoline at 22 percent, then natural gas and propane.

As of December 2023, 61 percent of all commercial diesel trucks on the road were 2010 and newer model year (2010 + MY) vehicles. That’s a four percent increase from 2022. They are equipped with the latest emissions controls to help them deliver near-zero emissions. California has the fastest growing population of advanced technology diesel vehicles in operation with a 13.3 percent increase compared to 2022.

“While traditional petroleum-based fuels still dominate the vehicle sectors, the role of renewable fuels is growing. It’s especially important given the opportunity to deliver significant carbon and other emissions reductions across millions of internal combustion vehicles in operation,” said Schaeffer.

In 2023, more than 2.8 billion gallons of renewable diesel and 1.9 billion gallons of biodiesel were consumed. Both are low carbon fuels. Renewable diesel fuel production capacity could reach 5.9 billion gal/y, by the end of 2025.

According to the Transport Project, more than 79 percent of the natural gas (CNG) used in transportation in 2023 was renewable natural gas (RNG). In California, according to data from the California Air Resources Board, Bio-CNG/RNG achieved an annual average carbon intensity score of -126.42 grams of CO2 equivalent /Mega Joule (gCO2e/MJ) for 2023, which is the lowest carbon intensity score of any clean fuel option.

“As the timing and degree of transition to alternative vehicles and fuels remains in flux, the importance of continued investment in new technology ICE vehicles is vital to ensure continued

progress on clean air and climate commitments,” Schaeffer said. “Replacing older vehicles with new advanced ICE technology delivers substantial benefits. It would take more than 60 of the current generation diesels to equal the emissions of a single heavy-duty diesel truck built in the 1990’s.”

Vehicles fueled by electricity – battery electric or fuel cell – make up 0.1 percent of the commercial truck population. Of the nation’s largest trucks, Class 8, tractor-trailer size, 97 percent are powered by diesel. For all diesel trucks Class 3-8, 61 percent of these are equipped with the newest, most advanced, diesel technology that achieves near zero tailpipe emissions standards established by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

Continued improvements for internal combustion engines (ICE) in the form of even nearer-to-zero emissions and lower fuel consumption are on the horizon. Engine and vehicle manufacturers are working toward meeting the most recent emissions regulations for both light and heavy- duty vehicles. Advanced diesel trucks are expected to deliver the overwhelming majority of clean air and greenhouse gas reduction benefits in the near term while zero emission vehicles are expected to play a greater role in the later years of phase 3 rule implementation 2027-2032.

“While battery electric and hydrogen options develop, along with their fueling networks, internal combustion engines are expected to dominate our goods movement and public transport sectors for decades to come,” said Schaeffer. “That’s why continued innovation, having the newest generation of these vehicles in place, and expanding our use of renewable fuels will ensure continued progress as well as lower the burden of greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the future.”

Emerging zero-emissions technologies, including battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, presently make up a small fraction of the commercial vehicle fleet. In this analysis, the largest portions of vehicles powered by electricity in the studied population are transit buses (7.8 percent EV), followed by school buses (0.4 percent EV). Electric-powered commercial trucks (Class 3-8) account for over 20,000 units, while school buses powered by battery electric technology account for about 2,000 units.

With 82 percent of class eight diesel trucks in operation now being advanced generation (2010 +MY) technology, Indiana leads the nation for diesel trucks, followed by the District of Columbia (72.8%), Pennsylvania (72.5 percent), Illinois (68.9 percent) and Oklahoma (68.8 percent). (The full ranking of states can be found at www.enginetechforum.org)

California leads all states in the adoption of EV technology in commercial trucks, non-school buses, (transit, inter-city buses) and school buses. For commercial trucks alone, California accounts for more than 25 percent of all EV commercial trucks in operation, followed by Pennsylvania, Washington, New York, and Massachusetts.

Additional Findings

The newest generation advanced diesel trucks (2010 + MY) outnumber electric trucks (any model year) 367:1

For every electric Class 8 truck in operation (any model year), there are 240 new generation (2010+MY) advanced technology diesel trucks

For every electric transit bus in operation (any model year) there are more than 5 new generation (2010+MY) advanced technology diesel buses

For every electric school bus in operation (any model year) there are 155 new generation (2010+MY) advanced technology diesel buses

Note: *S&P Global Mobility TIPNet Commercial data is based on snapshot taken Dec. 31, 2023

Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

Credits