The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $96 million loan to increase the accessibility of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and maximise EV efficiency and affordability in order to aid in the decarbonization of the domestic transportation sector. The agricultural, construction, railroad, maritime, and aviation sectors are the main targets of the decarbonisation drive. These industries produce the most carbon emissions in the US. The aim of a net-zero economy by 2050, set by President Joe Biden, will benefit from reduced vehicle carbon emissions.
Furthermore, the DOE will invest in the development of electric, natural gas, and other fuel alternatives for non-road engines as well as research into less environmentally harmful non-road engine technologies. The financing will assist DOE in supporting the expansion of charging infrastructure to meet the increased demand for EVs, in line with Biden’s call for EVs to represent half of all automobile sales in the US by 2030. The department will also allocate funds to build regional plans for refuelling infrastructure to support medium-and heavy-duty zero-emission electric and hydrogen-powered cars.
Earlier this month, the DoE planned to construct clean energy projects as part of a $500 million programme on current or former mine lands across the country. The initiative would support a number of technologies, including solar PV, microgrids, and/or energy storage, and at least two funded projects must use solar energy. In order to provide the projects, the DoE is investigating options for domestic solar manufacturers.
