Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation

06/11/2026

Tesla's Semi program is gaining momentum. The company has begun high-volume production of its Class 8 battery-electric truck, now available in 325-mile and 500-mile range configurations. Tesla also launched a new charging program that allows businesses to own and operate Megachargers and Basechargers, helping fleets support everything from long-haul routes to regional operations.

We were fortunate enough to have a Tesla Semi cab at our event, Green Drives Conference & Expo, where vehicles across a broad range of fuel and class types were on display for attendees to see and ask questions. Multiple were also available for a test drive, including the Tesla Semi.

Read more about the latest developments for Tesla Semis: https://loom.ly/a35nGdU

06/09/2026

The 2026 State of Sustainable Fleets Market Brief highlights the complexity commercial and public fleets are navigating in the transportation landscape.

Despite the uncertainty, one trend is becoming clear: Fleets that use a mix of powertrain technologies are proving more resilient than those relying on a single solution, with renewable diesel, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, and BEV solutions all seeing increased adoption.

Read more about the trends shaping the future of fleet technology and transportation in a summary by ACT Expo / ACT News: https://loom.ly/SMZsgKA

Download the report: https://loom.ly/0CAPjic

The 2026 Brief finds that fleet resilience is increasingly tied to diversified powertrain and energy strategies that manage cost, uncertainty, and operational risk.

06/08/2026

The Village of River Forest and Village of Skokie are the newest members of the B20 Club of Illinois!

The B20 Club began in 2014 and promotes the adoption of B20 biodiesel, a readily available, low-carbon fuel solution. The Village of River Forest began fueling municipal vehicles with B20 in the fall of 2024, while the Village of Skokie started using B5 biodiesel in 2020 and then to a B20 blend in 2022.

Read the Illinois Soybean Association's announcement: https://www.ilsoy.org/suburban-communities-commit-to-sustainability-with-low-carbon-b20-biodiesel/

06/05/2026

When an electric or hybrid vehicle is involved in an accident, there are safe handling procedures for emergencies and towing operations. As electric and hybrid vehicle adoption continues to grow, it is more important than ever that first responders understand how to safely assist in these types of situations. While there are training courses all around the country, there are also many online resources for reference to keep yourself and others on the scene safe.

- Emergency Response Guides by NHTSA: Filter by vehicle make and model to view emergency response guides and rescue sheets https://www.nhtsa.gov/emergency-response-guides
- Submerged Hybrid/Electric Vehicles by NFPA: This fact sheet provides tips for safe response practices for common issues https://www.nfpa.org/downloadable-resources/safety-alert/submerged-hybrid-electric-vehicles
- Interim Guidance for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped With High-Voltage Batteries by NHTSA:https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/811575-interimguidehev-hv-batt_lawenforce-ems-firedept-v2.pdf

06/04/2026

Firms in the battery electric business - The Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (Quad Cities MetroLINK) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms with experience necessary to provide a battery-electric small passenger ferry and charging station to support the passenger ferry, and coordinate installation of the electrical infrastructure required to support the charging system.

Learn more: https://metroqc.ionwave.net/PublicDetail.aspx?bidID=99&SourceType=1

06/03/2026

Idle reduction is becoming a key fleet technology strategy, not just a driver habit. New research from Argonne National Laboratory highlights practical idle-reduction solutions for Class 1–8 vehicles that can help fleets cut fuel use, emissions, noise, and engine wear without replacing vehicles.

Our new blog series, Innovation Lane, focuses on emerging technologies. Read more in our first iteration, Cutting Idling Without Cutting Capability: https://www.il-act.org/cutting-idling-without-cutting-capability/

06/01/2026

May's Fuel for Thought - From the Chair recaps our Green Drives event, hosted on May 14, 2026.

Nearly 175 fleet professionals, a dozen exhibitors, and more than 25 alternative-fuel vehicles and technologies came together for Green Drives 2026. From the Governor’s video remarks to expert-led discussions on fuels, fleet strategies, and funding opportunities, attendees gained practical insights to help match the right fuels with the right applications.

Read more about Green Drives from our Chair, Dr. Ann Schneider: https://www.il-act.org/reflections-from-green-drives/

05/26/2026

We would like to formally introduce our new Chair, Dr. Ann Schneider.

Ann is a lifelong Illinois resident, with decades of previous experience in state government and as a policy consultant. In March, she was elected by IACT's board to serve as Chair for the next two years.

As part of her new leadership, she will be writing monthly letters to our readers in a series entitled "Fuel for Thought - From the Chair." To learn more about Ann, read her first iteration in this series, and keep watch for future additions: https://www.il-act.org/advancing-clean-transportation-across-illinois/

05/19/2026

Join Equiticity for the North Lawndale Ride: Exploring Equiticity's Neighborhood Mobility Models on May 30th.

Equiticity has long been a voice in Chicago transportation advocacy and as an innovator in mobility planning, and one of its most important forms of engagement is its Community Mobility Ritual (CMR). On May 30th, Transport Chicago will be joining Equiticity for an immersive ride through North Lawndale exploring Equiticity’s Neighborhood Mobility Models and neighborhood assets.

Register for the ride here: https://www.transportchicago.org/events/the-north-lawndale-ride-exploring-equiticitys-neighborhood-mobility-models

05/18/2026

We are thrilled with the participation and turn out at Green Drives Conference and Expo last Thursday. Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, displayed a vehicle, exhibited, or helped behind the scenes.

We will be adding speaker presentation videos and slides to our website in the near future if you would like to revisit sessions or didn’t have a chance to attend.

We are looking forward to the momentum of this event and how we can make Green Drives 2027 even better. If you attended Green Drives, please keep an eye on your inbox for a short survey that will help us plan for next year.

Please continue tagging us in your posts, and many thanks once again!

Orange EV Al Warren Oil ComEd Illinois EPA Forest Preserve District of Cook County