On June 20, the Electrification Coalition hosted the Pennsylvania Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) EV Bootcamp and Showcase. We heard from many enthusiastic and dedicated individuals from across the MHD electric vehicle supply chain, including key business partners, state and federal agencies, utilities, local school districts, and advocate organizations. The day was filled with possibilities for future collaboration to successfully drive forward the MHD EV sector in the commonwealth.
We heard from leaders across Pennsylvania who are leading the charge from the state legislature, city and county governments, state agencies, and utilities. Manufacturers brought their latest models onsite for an EV showcase, giving participants the opportunity to explore this new technology in person.
Thank you to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology for hosting this event! We created a page with additional related resources for participants of the event, which you can view here.
Here are some key takeaways from the event:
- Electrification Potential: Many areas of the MHD sector are prime candidates for electrification now. Fixed route-oriented fleets in private businesses, city, and regional transit systems, and school districts have all shown the maintenance and fuel-saving possibilities electrification can provide.
- Infrastructure Planning: Working with utilities to form concrete plans on how to build out infrastructure, increase capacity, and ensure that the grid can handle a future of widespread electrification must be at the center of future conversations, regulation, and legislation.
- Collaborative Efforts: Regional and multi-state governmental cooperation is needed in tandem with utilities, manufacturers, EV owners, and advocates to build out charging networks and grid and transmission infrastructure effectively and efficiently.
- Workforce Transition: Building out workforce development and educational opportunities for technicians, maintenance workers, and drivers to be able to transition easily, equitably, and safely to working on high-voltage systems in electric trucks, buses, and vans is critical to supporting future MHD electrification efforts.
- Equity Focus: Equity must be at the center of the MHD electrification transition. We must consider questions ranging from which school districts should receive government support and where charging stations can be placed in rural areas, all the way up the supply chain to where materials are sourced and manufactured to make the vehicles.
Agenda:
Time | Topic |
Speaker – Click here for speaker bios |
---|---|---|
9:00-10:00 a.m. | Coffee, Networking, and Electric Vehicle Display |
Thomas Built Electric School Bus – Rohrer Bus Ford eTransit Van – Rohrer Bus Cenntro LS400 Delivery Truck – T.P. Trailers, Inc. Blink Charging – Series 8 Level 2 Charging Station |
10:00 – 10:10 a.m. | Welcoming Remarks | Katherine Stainken, Electrification Coalition |
10:10 – 10:20 a.m. | Remarks from the City of Harrisburg | Karl Singleton, City of Harrisburg |
10:20 – 10:40 a.m. |
Market Update: Medium– and Heavy–Duty Electrification |
Spencer Burget, Atlas Public Policy |
10:40 – 10:50 a.m. |
Break |
|
10:50-11:30 a.m. |
Business Perspectives on Medium- & Heavy-Duty Policy Moderator: Katherine Stainken, Electrification Coalition |
Dawn Fenton, Volvo Group North America Jane Culkin, Highland Electric |
11:30 – 12:05 a.m. |
Laws, Regs and Big Rigs: Policy and Funding Opportunities for Electrifying the MHD Sector Moderator: Nick Miller, Electrification Coalition |
Colton Brown, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Dave Althoff, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection |
12:05 – 12:35 p.m. |
Lunch Break |
|
12:35 – 1:20 p.m. |
Adapting the Grid for Our Electric Transportation Future Moderator: Nicholas Bibby, Advanced Energy United |
Thomas Bonner, PECO Francis Frank, PPL Alan Michel, First Energy |
1:20– 2:00 p.m. |
Getting Buses on the Streets: Electrifying School Buses Moderator: Max Turner, Electrification Coalition |
Kelsey Mattola, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sue Gander, World Resources Institute Mark Carnes, Steelton-Highspire School District Mike David, Rohrer Buses |
2:00-2:15 p.m. |
Remarks from the PA Department of Environmental Protection |
|
2:15-2:55 p.m. |
Making Electrification Work: Lessons in Barriers, Challenges, and Deployment Moderator: Tony Bandiero, Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation |
Matthew Reis, PA GreenGov Council Darwin Craul, Capital Area Transit Thomas (Tommy) Perkins Sr., T.P. Trailers, Inc. Omar Sandlin, Cenntro Electric Group |
2:55-3:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
Electrification Coalition |
3:00-3:40 p.m. |
Networking and Electric Vehicle Display |
Thomas Built Electric School Bus – Rohrer Bus Ford eTransit Van – Rohrer Bus Cenntro LS400 Delivery Truck – T.P. Trailers, Inc. Blink Charging – Series 8 Level 2 Charging Station |