Today I Learned – September 2025

NACFE does most of its work in the field at industry events and staff members hear a lot of interesting things each month. Here are some things we learned recently. Contact us if you want to ask questions about where and how we learned what we share here.

Waymo has received NYC’s first-ever permit to test autonomous vehicles, allowing up to eight AVs to operate in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn through September.

– Dean Bushey, Director of Programs

This fall Washington State is launching the Washington’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Incentive Program (administered by CALSTART), a streamlined point of sale voucher system to help fleets buy zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road equipment and infrastructure.

– Rick Mihelic, Director of Emerging Technologies

The Port of Los Angeles reported its busiest month on record in July. The port handled more than 1 million 20-foot equivalent units in July, an 8.5% increase compared to July 2024. This could be from shippers frontloading their cargo to get ahead of potential tariffs.

– Mike McHorse, Director of Industry Engagement

A recent ICCT report of electric vehicles shows the average energy recovered from braking was 19% and with some vehicles as high as 32%. That is a lot of free energy.

– Jeff Seger, Clean Energy Consultant

Polara received $1.5 million in funding from NRCan to develop its CHRGPK fleet charging solution, aiming for improved energy efficiency and features like integrated energy management and V2G capabilities.

– Dean Bushey, Director of Programs

Hyroad Energy has purchased the remaining stock of unsold Nikola hydrogen fuel cell trucks, spare parts inventory, and intellectual property with a goal of restoring them to active service and support the other trucks previously sold.

– Rick Mihelic, Director of Emerging Technologies

Rebecca Tinucci was appointed CEO of Uber Freight, replacing founder Lior Ron, now chairman and COO of Waabi, an autonomous trucking company backed by Uber. Tinucci has extensive experience from Tesla and Uber’s electrification strategy.

– Dean Bushey, Director of Programs