EVHybridNoire’s Newsletter
EVHybridNoire, the nation’s largest network of diverse EV drivers and enthusiasts, welcomes you to the conversation around equitable transportation electrification solutions.
Our new newsletter will provide the important context you need to foster inclusive conversations and ensure diversity and equity are at the forefront of e-mobility policy and practice.
Noteworthy News
President Biden’s Jobs Plan
President Biden recently spoke in Pennsylvania to unveil his new “American Jobs Plan,” a proposed $2 trillion investment in America’s infrastructure and economy. The plan includes a number of investments in electric vehicles ($174 billion to EV initiatives) which have the potential to greatly benefit communities of color and frontline communities if they are properly prioritized and informed.
In addition to our own outreach to Biden administration officials and Congressional leaders on these issues, EVHybridNoire is part of the CHARGE coalition, , which has helped lay the groundwork for federal transportation strategies to be advanced throughout 2021.
EVHybridNoire has worked as a part of the CHARGE coalition, including co-chairing the EV infrastructure working group, which has laid the groundwork for federal transportation strategies to be discussed and deployed throughout 2021.
Use of electric vehicles, along with their environmental and public health benefits, can significantly decrease the cost of vehicle ownership, from $6,000-$10,000 on average over the vehicle’s lifetime. However, these advantages will only be captured by historically underserved communities if they are made available in an equitable and widespread manner. Let’s see how President Biden’s proposed plan holds up on these criteria:
- Our own research on adoption of electric vehicles within diverse communities demonstrates the importance of point-of-sale rebates. In order to maximize positive impact, rebate plans must include streamlined processes to apply for and receive rebates. Access to and dissemination of rebate-related information must be widespread within communities.
- Rebates should not be restricted by auto-manufacturer caps and should include EVs being sold at all price points. Efforts should be made to ensure rebates are widely accessible, even beyond traditional auto dealerships.
- President Biden’s intent to focus on environmental justice goes hand in hand with his Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of clean energy federal investments to disadvantaged communities. While the plan remains conceptual, the work of progressing ideological goals to practical solutions has yet to take place. Along with funds flowing to these communities, their input should be built into programs and disbursement of funds from the beginning.
- While the inclusion of these goals is the first step, the implementation and success rely heavily on Congress’s cooperation to change existing regulatory legislation. However, regardless of Congressional support, the EPA will play an important role in investigating and pursuing violations. New EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s previous commitment to environmental justice bodes well on this front.
- While the plan boasts historically significant climate investments for the United States, adequately combatting the climate crisis demands much more. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offers her critique to put the numbers into perspective: “This is not nearly enough. The important context here is that it’s $2.25T spread out over 10 years. For context, the COVID package was $1.9T for this year *alone,* with some provisions lasting 2 years.”
- The package stands to look very different (including significantly smaller) by the time it is voted on. Other members of Congress have proposed a suite of climate bills that would accompany and strengthen the American Jobs Plan, including the “Transform, Heal and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Act,” which dictates a $10 trillion investment in climate action over the next decade, dwarfing the American Jobs Plan’s $2 trillion.
EVHybridNoire Member Spotlight
Emily J. lives in Metro Richmond, Virginia and drives a Tesla Model 3, which she was drawn to because of the technology, financial savings and not having to use fossil fuel and get gas. She loves driving her EV, and also loves introducing others to EVs and all their benefits. In fact, last month Emily spoke on the “Ask an EV Owner” webinar EVHybridNoire held with Generation 180, and which was attended by 60+ people who got to hear Emily’s answers to their questions about what it’s like to own and drive and EV, driving range, price, charging and more. Thanks for your work, Emily!
Power Policy 
In recent months, EVHybridNoire testified before state decision-makers in Ohio, Minnesota & Florida, to advocate for strong and equitable transportation electrification policies and programs. In Ohio, we spoke out against EV registration fees, given how they make it harder for some of the very communities who would most benefit from e-mobility’s pollution reduction benefits to purchase EVs themselves. In Minnesota–where the Clean Cars Minnesota program just cleared legal review and is set to take effect–we talked about how rural communities need to be included in transportation electrification programs. And in Florida, we spoke with the state Department of Transportation about how to infuse equity into the state’s draft EV Infrastructure Master Plan.
Read our testimony from Minnesota and Ohio below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GJHmNAFShadjo-vcCISJG49oN9O79Flsr8ZUPXd7x2Y/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OuqAHkw5pbePPuN1Uvx_h8OZubs7JDuKbSl4oci3Txs/edit?usp=sharing
Making the News 
EVHybridNoire’s Dr. Shelley Francis recently participated in a press conference with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance and local elected officials in Georgia, where Dr. Francis lifted up the importance of recognizing the disastrous health effects of transportation emissions in Georgia, and urged elected officials to take action:
“Across Georgia, approximately 250,000 children and nearly 620,000 adults suffer from asthma,” Dr. Francis said, adding that the number of children with asthma could fill Mercedes Benz Stadium about three and a half times. “Exposure to transportation emissions is a public health crisis that not enough people are talking about.”
Plug In to EVHybridNoire 
EVHybridNoire Co-Founder & Director Terry Travis to speak at VERGE Electrify:
- VERGE Electrify is a free online event May 25-26 that catalyzes the electrify-everything movement. Join more than 5,000 leaders — from the private and public sectors, utilities, solution providers, investors and startups — working to achieve rapid and widespread electrification across transportation, buildings, industry and the grid. Register here: https://bit.ly/3uIf4Fy
EVHybridNoire is the nation’s largest network of diverse electric vehicle (EV) drivers and enthusiasts. Our mission is to advance EVs and multimodal e-mobility solutions across the U.S.–and ensure those solutions are inclusive and equitable. Learn more at www.evhybridnoire.com.