DriveElectricTN members contribute both time and fiscal assistance to ensure a future for our program. Their contributions help fund DET’s administrative team, produce project materials, and make it possible for DET to reach out to as many Tennesseeans as possible to spread our message.
Local Power Provider(s)
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Drive Electric TNThe Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been actively involved in Drive Electric TN efforts since the beginning and was the driving force behind pulling together over 100 participants in 2018 towards our collaborative development of the Tennessee “EV Roadmap.” Since that time, TVA has invested in DET to expand our understanding of the market barriers we face in Tennessee and how we can collectively work together to remove those barriers.
Local Power Company Members
BrightRidge
BrightRidge provides electricity and related programs, services, and products to the following areas: all of Washington County, as well as parts of Carter, Greene, and Sullivan Counties in northeast Tennessee. BrightRidge provides electric service to approximately 78,600 customer metered locations, and was formerly knows as Johnson City Power Board (JCPB since 1945, changing to BrightRidge just a few years ago). In 2018, BrightRidge launched a new division, BrightRidge Broadband, which offers high-speed internet, voice, and video services to customers.
CDE Lightband
CDE Lightband strives to improve its community through the reliable and affordable delivery of electric and broadband services to over 76,000 homes and businesses in Clarksville, TN. CDE Lightband demonstrates commitment to the advancement of technologies and ideas which improve lives and promote sustainability.
For more information regarding CDE Lightband’s projects and programs, including utility-scale solar and EV projects, visit cdelightband.com.
EPB
EPB provides energy and fiber optic services to the people of the greater Chattanooga area. As a result of joint efforts across a number of organizations, Chattanooga ranks among Tennessee’s top places for the availability of public EV charging stations. EPB has also helped to establish a mile-long traffic test corridor which is used to test automated vehicle technologies along with innovative systems designed to automatically monitor and analyze traffic flows in order to optimize transportation and enhance safety.
HEC
At Holston Electric Cooperative our mission is to provide safe, dependable electric service to our member-owners at a reasonable cost. Our value is service.
Holston Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distributor of TVA power, providing service to more than 30,000 residential, commercial and industrial members in a 525 square-mile area of Hawkins and Hamblen Counties in upper East Tennessee. Our vision is to deliver a level of electric service that meets or exceeds our members’ expectations.
Knoxville Utility Board
Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) provides electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater services to more than 464,000 customers in Knoxville and parts of seven surrounding counties. KUB strives to be a leader in the use of clean fuels and supports EV adoption in our community. KUB was a partner in developing the Tennessee “EV Roadmap” in 2018. Locally, KUB has made strides in promoting the use of EV within its fleet and throughout the community.
McMinnville Electric Systems
The mission of McMinnville Electric System is to provide safe, reliable, and clean electricity to our customers at the best rates possible. In September 2012, MES installed 4 electric vehicle chargers in anticipation of the need for alternative fueling stations. The chargers were dedicated on September 25, 2012. These stations placed McMinnville on the map, literally. The coordinates of MES’s charging stations are loaded into the alternative fuel stops database of the Department of Energy.
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) supports electric transportation to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality. As a partner in developing the Tennessee “EV Roadmap,” which set the goal of 200,000 EVs registered in the state by 2028, MLGW continues to explore opportunities to foster EV adoption and increase EV charging infrastructure across our service territory. Short-term plans include developing an official EV Strategy for MLGW, supporting businesses and organizations with EV fleet expansions, educating the community on the benefits of EVs, expanding our optional residential electric Time-of-Use rate and evaluating the purchase of additional EVs for the MLGW fleet.
Middle Tennessee Electric
Founded in 1936 and headquartered in Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) is the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States, serving more than 750,000 Tennesseans via 315,000+ accounts covering nearly 2,200 square miles in 11 Middle Tennessee counties. MTE provides numerous renewable energy options and is committed to the use of electric vehicles. Its DriveEV initiative is designed to provide information and guidance to EV owners and prospects, homebuilders and developers, and governmental entities to support the adoption of electric vehicles throughout the MTE service area.
Nashville Electric Service
Nashville Electric Service (NES) is working to improve the air quality in Nashville by supporting the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on petroleum-based fuels. As an original member of Governor Bredesen’s Zero Emission Mobility Project, we recognized early-on the value electric transportation brings to our state and our role as the new fuel provider. In fulfilling our commitment to our customers to continue providing safe, reliable and affordable power, we are actively working with our local and state governments, our commercial and residential customers, Drive Electric TN, TVA and other local power companies to implement a series of initiatives to accelerate the adoption of EV’s across the TVA region.
Paris BPU
Established in 1938, Paris BPU is a municipal utility authority that provides electric, water and wastewater services to residents of Henry County as a means of promoting economic development and enhancing quality of life in the community. Serving over 22,000 homes and businesses, Paris BPU strives to provide reliable, safe and affordable services to our community.
State & Local Government Members
City of Knoxville
City of Knoxville is working to further diversify their vehicle fleet and ensure that they are using lower-carbon fuels as much as possible. They also exploring ways to modernize transportation infrastructure in order to accommodate new technologies and improve local transportation systems.
Dealership Members
Central States Bus Sales
Central States Bus Sales provides new and used school buses, and are proud to be Blue Bird’s largest dealer, offering the full lineup of Blue Bird school buses—renowned for safety, durability, and innovation. Explore their wide selection of commercial, transit, and shuttle buses from top manufacturers, featuring ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts and customizable seating options tailored to your group’s needs. They are able to bring several E450 shuttle to full-size electric school bus solutions to customers and provide the needed service after the sale that is the hallmark of great customer service.
Vanguard
Nacarato Truck Centers - now part of Vanguard Truck Centers - is a group of authorized Volvo Truck, Tico Terminal Tractor, and used semi truck dealerships and Service Centers serving the Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Southern Kentucky, Maryland, Illinois, and Georgia areas with 47 Years in the trucking industry. Starting from a single dealership in Nasvhille, Tennessee, we have expanded to a 12 dealership group with the same moral principles that the dealership was founded on. Three generations of the Nacarato family have kept this dream alive and continue to steer this company to where we are today.
Mid-South Bus Center
Thompson Truck Centers has locations in LaVergne (Nashville) TN and Memphis TN. At Thompson Truck, we are committed to some core values: Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Safety, Quality and a "Can Do" Attitude. We offer quality used trucks at competitive prices. We are constantly adding trucks to our inventory but if you are looking for something that we don‘t have in stock, just let us know and we’ll find it for you. We look forward to helping you find your next truck and hope to earn your business for a lifetime!
EVSE & Network Service Provider Members
OpConnect
OpConnect delivers turnkey EV charging solutions tailored for fleets, workplaces, and multifamily properties. Our open-platform network supports multiple hardware brands, giving clients the flexibility to scale without vendor lock-in. With industry-leading uptime and end-to-end onshore support, OpConnect helps communities and organizations transition to electric transportation with confidence.
PandoElectric
Pando Electric is leading the way to a cleaner future with affordable, smart, and efficient charging solutions compatible with all-electric vehicles (EVs). The company delivers a turnkey ecosystem that integrates hardware, software, and service, creating a new standard in EV charging.
PowerUp America
PowerUp is carrying forward a legacy of dependable energy solutions with our state-of-the-art EV charging network. Inspired by a tradition of providing accessible and reliable fueling, we’ve embraced the electric vehicle revolution to offer an effortless charging experience.
Business Members
McNeilus - An Oshkosh Corporate Business
McNeilus is a leader in designing and manufacturing refuse truck bodies and is pioneering North America’s first fully integrated electric refuse collection vehicle — the Volterra ZSL. Certified zero-emission by the EPA and CARB, this cutting-edge electric side loader is set to transform the industry with unmatched innovation, sustainability, and cost savings.
AAA - The Auto Club Group
Check out AAA’s comprehensive resource for EV owners at: https://ev.aaa.com/, and learn more about the Mobile EV charging pilot. The EV Mobile EV charging pilot is now available in 24 cities – including Nashville! This service is provided at no additional charge to all AAA members!
Nonprofits & Support Organizations
Seven States Power Corporation
Seven States Power is a non-profit membership corporation. An energy solutions company that serves power utilities across seven states of the Tennessee Valley. We are owned and operated by our members who are the 153 power utilities that distribute TVA-generated electricity and provide a variety of essential services that build the economy and enhance life in their communities. Our turnkey products and services include solar arrays, EVs (electric vehicle) and EV chargers, backup generation, combined heat and power, battery storage, fiber deployment, cybersecurity, electric ride-through technology and distributed energy resource management systems.
DET Partners
East Tennessee Clean Fuels
The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (ETCleanFuels) is one of the two U.S. DOE "Clean Cities" programs in Tennessee and is the administrative lead for Drive Electric TN. Multiple staff for ETCleanFuels work on the DET effort. ETCleanFuels is a nonprofit that is fuel-agnostic with the goal of advancing the use of all of the alternative fuels to the ends of reducing petroleum and emissions, and strengthening Tennessee’s economy. DET specifically works to put more EVs on Tennessee roads.
Alex Strong - DET Coordinator, member all three Working Groups. Jonathan Overly - DET Administrator, Infrastructure Working Group member; Director, ETCleanFuels.
Middle-West TN Clean Fuels
The Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (MWTCF) is one of the two U.S. DOE "Clean Cities" programs in Tennessee and is a major partner in managing activities for Drive Electric TN. Multiple staff for MWTCF work on the DET effort and serve on the DET Executive Committee, as co-chairs on Working Groups, and as Task Force members to help generate not just outputs but outcomes that positively impact the drive for putting more EVs on Tennessee roads.
Sierra Club - Tennessee Chapter & Harvey Broome Group
As one of four Groups within the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Harvey Broome Group is based in Knoxville, TN, and focuses on Knox and 25 other counties in East Tennessee. We undertake important conservation and social justice issues, offer year-round outings to enhance appreciation of the outdoors, and present monthly programs that range from experts in environmental issues to entertaining speakers who have explored our world.
TN Dept. of Environment & Conservation
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs (TDEC OEP) is the governor-designated State Energy Office for Tennessee. It provides education, outreach, technical assistance, funding, and financing opportunities and promotes the efficient, effective use of energy to enhance the environmental and economic health of the state.
TDOT
Since 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has nominated several interstates and major highways for designation as a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Alternative Fuel Corridor; this allows for federal transportation funding to be used towards building charging and refueling stations along these corridors. TDOT also served as a key stakeholder in the development of Drive Electric Tennessee’s “EV Roadmap”. In 2020, TDOT led development of the regional, FHWA-funded I-40 Alternative Fuel Corridor Deployment Plan and has since intended to provide TDEC with an additional $7 million in federal Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) funds to expand fast-charging electric vehicle infrastructure along FHWA-designated Alternative Fuel Corridors in Tennessee.
Tickle College of Engineering
The Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE) at the University of Tennessee is part of the Tickle College of Engineering and is the major contracting partner for the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. ISSE provides support to the coalition in a number of ways and together the two entities look for collaborative research and outreach opportunities that can help drive DET towards its goal of 200,000 EVs on Tennessee roads by 2028.
TMEPA
Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association (TMEPA) is the statewide membership association of 60 municipal and county electric power providers in Tennessee. Together our utility systems provide power to two-thirds of the homes and businesses in Tennessee which represents approximately 75% of the power sold in the state. Our systems have over 6,000 committed employees providing public power locally to nearly 4.5 million Tennesseans. These committed power providers are organized as government entities operating under either an Electric Power Board or the local municipal City Council.
TVPPA
The Tennessee Valley Public Power Association Inc. (TVPPA) is the nonprofit, regional service organization that represents the interests of consumer-owned electric utilities operating within the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) service area. TVPPA members include both municipal and electric cooperatives, and they serve more than 9 million people in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.
