New Online Toolkit Helps State Fleets Electrify

The Electrification Coalition has released a new online tool providing easy access to hundreds of resources curated for state vehicle fleets to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. The State Plug-In Adoption Resource Kit, or SPARK, is a searchable database of policies, planning documents, reports, case studies, and other resources for state fleet managers, agency leadership, policymakers, and advocates.

In addition to the database of resources, SPARK includes an interactive step-by-step guide to lead state agencies through the process of fleet electrification, from planning to deployment. As users work their way through each step, the tool presents corresponding resources from the database.

The Electrification Coalition unveiled the new toolkit during an online event featuring speakers from the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Officials shared updates and guidance on how states, local communities, and private-sector partners can take advantage of transportation electrification funding opportunities in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed last month by President Biden.

Officials at the online event also announced the creation of a Joint DOT-DOE Office of Energy and Transportation to support the deployment of $7.5 billion from the infrastructure law to build out a national electric vehicle charging network that can build public confidence in EVs, with a focus on filling gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations.

The Electrification Coalition developed SPARK in collaboration with and support from the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

As states, cities, transit agencies, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders prepare to take advantage of federal funding opportunities for electrification, they can use SPARK in tandem with complementary resources and tools developed by the Electrification Coalition:

• Dashboard for Rapid Vehicle Electrification (DRVE Tool): The DRVE Tool provides quick and easy analysis for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fleet electrification. Users can upload fleet data into an easy-to-use tool that calculates total cost of ownership (TCO) and emissions for your existing conventional vehicles and then provides comparison data and recommendations for comparable EVs.
• The EV Laws and Incentives Database: Users can find federal and state laws and incentives for electric vehicles, charging stations, air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics. This tool pulls from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center and is continually updated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
• Federal Funding Guidance for Cities: The Electrification Coalition has developed guidance to local governments for obtaining federal funding for electrification projects. It details resources that can help cities, towns, and counties plan electrification projects and prepare applications for federal funding. The guidance includes project proposal checklists and tips for developing a successful funding application.