Pennsylvania Medium- & Heavy-Duty EV Bootcamp and Showcase

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:

1. 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. 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. 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.
5. 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.