BUCKLE UP

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE INTO MAINSTREAM TRANSPORTATION.

BY FAWN ABERSON PHOTOGRAPHY FLOSSIN MEDIA

By the end of 2025, 40%, or about 1 million, of the vehicles sold and on the road in the United States will be electric vehicles (EV). This projection was stated by GM executives participating in a keynote conversation at the 2023 FORTH Mobility Roadmap Conference held in Portland, Oregon this past May. The conference drew thousands of EV industry professionals from across the US, and the world, representing manufacturing, power, software, hardware, payment solutions and workforce development business sectors. Considering EV makes up about 7% of car sales currently, this leap will signify a major shift in the transportation industry, and radically transform our global economy. Not since the ushering in of the information superhighway (the Internet) have we seen such a world-wide phenomenon.

Here in the United States, thanks to a major infusion of cash from President Bieden’s infrastructure bill-Build Back Better- green & clean energy has been inundated with billions of dollars, and EV infrastructure is one of its big recipients.

Even though the EV industry has been solidly in place for about 15 years, the average John-Q citizen has been largely unengaged with it for various reasons. The expensive price tags associated with early EV models like the Tesla, the lack of knowledge by both auto dealers and customers on how to sell/buy/care for these vehicles, and lack of access to and one of the Roadmap conference vendors. Indeed the vocabulary of the EV world is a language all in its own, before acronyms like SOC, GHG and BEV are spoken casually among EV pros. convenient charging stations, are some examples of why EV ownership has primarily consisted of industry insiders and or the elite.

Today, spurred by funding, there is a laser focus on EVs that is fueling, or should I say electrifying, the perceptions, knowledge, and benefits of EV ownership to the general public. And more momentum is coming. Original equipment manufacturers (OEM-i.e General Motors) are building more affordable EVs such as the Chevy Volt that retail at around $30,000 for new and $17,000 used. Charging EVs has been simplified too. Many need only be plugged into a standard electrical outlet. Live in an apartment? No problem, innovators are coming up with multiplex chargers to discourage the long electrical cords dangling from the 4th story. Another benefit of EV ownership is the hefty tax credits. Some are upwards of $7,500, although many luxury brands are now exempt and certain geographic areas have been temporarily suspended pending a replenishment of funds.

Despite the mass infusion, there is hesitancy from much of the population, particularly from low income Black and Brown communities who historically aren’t given a seat at, or are late to, the table when conversations of economic and technological advancements are being discussed. This begs the question, will BIPOC groups be included in this major transportation shift or run over by it?

Jeff Allen, Forth”s Executive Director, set the intention on this very matter in his welcoming remarks to this year’s conference attendees,vowing to keep equity and inclusion forefront in the work ahead for this industry.

“For years, many EVs sat on the far backsides of car lots because it meant a two hour conversation between salesman and customer. It was just easier to sell fossil fuel cars” cited Jonathan Colbert, former auto salesman turned VP of marketing at Voltera-a fleet charging solution company

“You are going to hear the term equity thrown around a lot during this conference. and you probably have in your work as well,” stated Allen. “ So I want to take a minute on what that means for us at Forth. For us, equity starts with race at the core tenant. It starts with recognizing that transportation has a long history of being used as a tool for racial oppression, exclusion, and harm. In Oregon, it starts with that methos of the Oregon Trail, which was really a transportation investment that brought White folks West to occupy land that was being stolen from Native communities. Fast forward a 100 years or so, it is basically the same story.The convention center, the I-5 freeway nearby, the [now named] MODA center sports stadium were all part of an intentional program of Urban renewal that destroyed most of the Albina neighborhood, which was the historic cultural hub of Portland’s Black community and incredibly vibrant neighborhood. Everyone of us has a role to play in contributing to make this transportation system more equitable, and one of the first steps we can all take is just recognizing where we stand. Literally, physically, and also in that historic trajectory of how transportation investments have been used. To recognize that history is a small step, but a very important step towards ensuring [and being responsible] that history doesn’t repeat itself as we think about electric transportation and advanced transportation investments.”

For BIPOC communities in Oregon, much of the equity concerns echoes their national counterparts, all advocating for affordable pricing and opportunities in the workforce during the transition. Oregon is currently on its way to investing nearly 100 million dollars into EV charging stations distributed under the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. To ensure state funding is spent equitably, States must follow the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 initiative. The initiative calls for 40% of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.

EVNoir has compiled extensive data on mobility needs within diverse communities. Travis works diligently to engage diverse and disadvantaged communities, including in Oregon, on the financial & public health benefits of driving next-generation zero emission vehicles.

“We want to make sure our communities are involved at all levels of conversations and opportunities,” shared Travis during a break in sessions at the Forth Roadmap Conference.

Travis has organized his own conference in October in Washington D.C called E-Mobility Diversity Equity and Inclusion Conference. When asked how it may differ from the Roadmap conference, he stated,

“The Forth conference is great, I have been coming for five years now. Our conference will share similarities, but double down on equity and diversity conversations to ensure our people are getting the access they’ve been promised.”

True to their commitment, Forth recruited stellar Black leaders for their conference including Maurice Muia, the Founder and CEO of Muia Materials- a blockchain platform for distributing electric battery materials to manufacturing and recycling companies. Muia led one of dozens of insightful break out session at the conference. Additionally, BIPOC leaders from India, South Africa and Costa Rica; countries from the “Global South”; also took to the stage in testimony that the next wave of EV users and innovators will be powered by people of diverse cultures and color.

Next year’s Forth Mobility Roadshow will head to Detroit, bringing the best of its accumulated data to the home of the motor city. Let’s hope the BIPOC communities are at the table and charged up.

To see snippets and interviews from Forth’s conference go to Flossin Media TV on YouTube.

Black organizers across the US are working to ensure that Justice40 is staying in compliance.

Terry Travis is Chief Disruptor and Managing Partner of EVNoire-a Mobility Intelligence consulting group that works in the areas of transportation, energy, and environmental health equity.