RMI Outlet
Mobility
Can Electric Pickup Trucks Save the Grid in Texas?
Just months after it was battered by a winter storm, the Texas electric grid is once again straining under extreme weather conditions. In February, millions of people lost power during a storm that knocked out much of the state’s electricity infrastructure and caused at least 151 deaths.
Bringing Back Clean Air
With the promise of vaccines curtailing the spread of COVID, states and economies are beginning to open up again, and we find ourselves getting back not only the good but also some of the negative aspects of pre-pandemic life. Businesses are powering back up, and cars and trucks are roaring…
What Is Needed to Meet US Climate Commitments
The United States has committed to reduce carbon pollution to at least 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 as part of rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement. This newly ambitious nationally determined contribution (NDC) recognizes the urgency for immediate action to reduce cumulative pollution and stabilize the climate. The NDC…
If You Build It, the Cars (and the Pollution) Will Come
Colorado plans to expand highways by almost 200 new lane-miles over the next decade. RMI analysis suggests this could increase driving and pollution at the scale of adding 70,000 more cars to Colorado roads every year, running counter to Colorado’s robust climate and transportation policy goals. Road Expansion Fails…
Cost-Effectively Transitioning Fleets to EVs without Disrupting Operations
As fleets purchase more electric vehicles, the most important factor for fleet managers is that the transition to EVs cannot disrupt current operations, as our recent report Steep Climb Ahead found. Given this constraint, as fleet managers navigate the complexities of installing charging infrastructure, they may quickly find that minimizing…