Logistics Decarbonization in Strategic Environmental Justice Areas (LODESTAR), seeks to demonstrate and document the innovative use case for independent contractors to adopt electric delivery vans that serve urban, suburban and rural environmental justice (EJ) areas and provide a holistic solution to distribution center electrification that incorporates electrification of both the freight and distribution activity. LODESTAR will uplift EJ and disadvantaged communities through the Last Mile Leadership (LML) scholarship program that will invest in students and businesses who wish to study or deploy clean transportation.
Project efforts will engage diverse community stakeholders in an authentic, culturally-relevant manner acknowledging past injustices and identifying collaborative ways to address gaps in transportation and mobility as well as explore opportunities for economic and workforce development.
Five (5) class-5 electric delivery step vans and supporting charging stations will be deployed at a terminal located in Virginia to demonstrate the scalability and replicability of this technology for last mile delivery while achieving emissions reductions through the use of battery electric technology and charging stations
Last Mile Leadership Program
The Last Mile Leadership Program (LMLP) is a component of a U.S. Department of Energy project focusing on decarbonization in disadvantage communities of Virginia. This will be a one-time scholarship program that will award 15-20 scholarships ($6000 each) aimed at advancing clean transportation and electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Deadline: Applicants must apply online between January 1, 2024 – April 5, 2024 (11:59 pm).
To qualify for a LMLP scholarship:
- Must be an upperclassman in a 2-to-4-year college program (community colleges included).
- Must be enrolled in a 2-to-4-year college or apprenticeship program in the state ofVirginia.
- Must be in good standing in your academic program.
- Must have a focus on Clean Transportation.
LMLP Cover Letter
To view or download a comprehensive 1-pager on the program, click here:
Apply for the LMLP
To apply for the Last Mile Leadership Program, click here to download the application:
Contact
For questions or more information about the project, contact the project lead below.
