Clean Car Standards
Op-Ed: During COVID-19, The Fight For Cleaner
Cars And Cleaner Air Continues. According
to an op-ed by Stephen Handy and Suzanne Harrison in the Salt Lake Tribune, “In the middle of a public health crisis that attacks respiratory function, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced another attack on our lungs
with his final rollback of America’s clean car standards. These critical standards have protected the health and wallets of families in Utah and throughout the country by reducing tailpipe pollution and saving drivers money at the pump. Now, this dangerous
rollback will foul our air and make us more vulnerable to respiratory problems at a time when more than 100,000 Americans have already tragically lost their lives due to this pandemic. Recent studies have demonstrated that increased air pollution makes COVID-19
more deadly and disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities and communities of color that have been affected by decades of inequity, environmental injustice and unequal access to health care. Last year, as co-chairs of the Clean Air Caucus in the Utah
House of Representatives, we spoke out against this misguided proposal, fearing it would impact our ability to protect Utah’s health and economy, as well limit the ability of our state to decide what is best for its residents. With the ongoing pandemic, we
again are speaking out against Wheeler’s decision to finalize the rollback of this vital public health protection, which harms our state at the worst possible time.
[…] Thankfully, Rep. Ben McAdams and Sen. Mitt Romney have stood up for the health of all families by speaking out against rolling back clean car standards. Just like us, they are showing that the fight for clean air is not a partisan issue.” [Salt Lake Tribune,
6/5/20
(+)]
Solutions 6/12: Fighting Trump’s Fuel-Efficiency Rollbacks.
According to Central Jersey, “Having watched President Donald Trump’s denials, delays,
lies and wild forays into questionable medicine, as well as his appointing law-breaking, self-serving, incompetent cabinet members and department heads, to list only a few of his transgressions, it should be no surprise that his administration continues to
try to undo the largest effort by this country to fight the climate crisis. It is understandable that public attention has focused on the pandemic, but unfortunately the conditions which created the climate crisis are mostly still in place. Yes, the pandemic
has reduced travel and manufacturing, thereby also reducing emissions, and allowing water bodies to clear, but there remains enough heat in the oceans and atmosphere to continue the warming, the sea level rises, and the devastating impacts on environments’
flora and fauna. And when life returns to, or close to, prior travel and manufacturing levels, so will emissions, unless dramatic steps are taken. That Trump, despite these impacts and threats to our environments, and food and fresh water supplies, nonetheless
touts his rollback as the crowning deregulatory achievement of his presidency, is a horrifying indication of his ignorance, narcissism and disregard for the well-being of people and the planet. In a recent NY Times editorial, columnist Thomas Friedman, a measured
observer of trends in this country and around the world, concluded that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the worst to ever hold that important appointment.” [Central Jersey,
6/5/20
(=)]
States
Ozone Hit 5-Year High In Los Angeles Region Despite Plummeting Traffic.
According to Politico, “Ozone concentrations in the Los Angeles area actually increased
in May to levels not seen in the past five years despite dramatic reductions in vehicle travel due to coronavirus, state researchers have found. The increase in ozone, which can cause respiratory problems and worsen asthma, shows how stubborn California’s
air pollution problems are in areas that have high transportation emissions combined with topography that traps them. Researchers are still trying to figure out how the counterintuitive result occurred when both car and truck traffic fell in Southern California.
They say a combination of unfavorable weather conditions and chemistry may be to blame. ‘What has been both interesting but also very challenging is a realization that there’s not necessarily a linear relationship between a reduction in emissions and an improvement
in air quality,’ said Michael Benjamin, the California Air Resources Board’s chief of air monitoring. CARB examined state data from embedded roadway monitors and traffic detectors, anonymized traffic records from StreetLight Data and truck fleet data from
GeoTab. They found that driving — which accounts for about half of the state’s emissions — started falling statewide about 10 days before Gov. Gavin Newsom issued his stay-at-home order on March 19. CARB data showed that car traffic fell precipitously statewide
— as much as 80 percent — while commercial trucks reduced their activity by 15-20 percent, Benjamin said.” [Politico,
6/5/20
(=)]
Auto Manufacturers
VW CEO Praised Musk’s SpaceX Success To Motivate Top Executives.
According to Bloomberg, “Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Herbert Diess evoked the historic rocket launch by rival Elon Musk to
motivate top executives at the carmaker as they seek to overcome the auto industry’s biggest market slump in decades, according to people familiar with the matter. Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. last week became the first private company to launch
humans into space, and Diess told a gathering of the company’s top management that they should take inspiration from the achievement as the German manufacturer strives to massively expand its software operations while slashing expenses, said the people, who
asked not to be identified as the meeting Thursday wasn’t public. VW’s push to overcome the advantage held by Musk’s terrestrial venture, Tesla Inc., in electric car sales has run into difficulties beyond the virus-induced market downturn. Tesla overtook VW
in market value earlier this year. Software problems have hampered the rollout of the Golf and the ID.3 hatchback, the two models that are critical for Diess to deliver on his plan to become the world’s leading electric-car maker. Diess has referenced Musk’s
achievements several times in the past. On the sidelines of the Golf’s world premiere last October he stressed that the success of Tesla’s Model 3 had catapulted the manufacturer out of a market niche and acknowledged the U.S. carmaker had a competitive edge
in software. Since then the Covid-19 pandemic has jolted plans across the industry to roll out electric cars.” [Bloomberg,
6/6/20
(=)]
Tesla Model 3 Becomes Best-Selling Car In The UK For Second Month In A Row.
According to Electrek, “Tesla Model 3 has become the best-selling car in the UK for the second month in a row amid the global pandemic.
The global pandemic has hit the automotive market hard since it not only forced the closure of many dealerships, but it also affected the financial situation of millions of people who now wouldn’t dare to make a large purchase like a car. Where Tesla still
had inventory left, the automaker still managed to sell some cars thanks to its mainly online-based selling strategy. This helped Tesla Model 3 become the best-selling car in the UK for the second month in a row. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
(SMMT) announced the registration numbers for passenger cars in May and they are down 89%. At just over 20,000 cars, it’s the UK auto market’s lowest performance in 68 years: UK new car registrations fell -89.0% in May, according to figures published today
by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Some 20,247 cars were registered in the month, as ‘click and collect’ services, allowed from mid-month, saw some movement in the market. However, with 163,477 fewer registrations than in the same month
last year, the performance still marked the lowest May since 1952. Interestingly, every category is down significantly year-over-year except for all-electric cars, which are up more than 20%.” [Electrek,
6/5/20
(=)]
Ford Faces Huge Challenge As It Launches 4 Key Models At Frantic Pace.
According to the Detroit Free Press, “Ford Motor Co. is entering a crucial period as it tries to recover from months of punishing financial
results and stock prices. The roll out of four key vehicles over the next 10-12 months — the 2021 F-150 pickup, Mustang Mach-E electric SUV and Bronco and Bronco Sport SUVs — could determine whether the automaker can change course. It’s unusual for an automaker
to launch — that’s the industry term for the start of production and sales — four vehicles this important in such a short period: The F-series, perpetually America’s best-selling vehicle, is Ford’s best seller and biggest money maker. The sporty Mustang Mach-E
is Ford’s first attempt to build a profitable, unique electric vehicle, and the company’s first attempt to stretch the Mustang nameplate to a new kind of vehicle. The Bronco revives an old name for a rugged new SUV Ford expects to compete with vehicles like
the Jeep Wrangler and possibly some of Land Rover’s luxury SUVs. The Bronco Sport — that name’s not official yet, Ford execs call it ‘the rugged small SUV’ — is an attempt to expand the popularity of the Bronco name to a smaller SUV that become a significant
moneymaker. ‘These are all very high-profile vehicles,’ said analyst Jeff Schuster of LMC Automotive. ‘Since Ford has teased them for quite some time, it is key to get the launch right.’ Success is not assured. Botching the launch of new Explorer and Aviator
SUVs in 2019 cost Ford dearly and left eager buyers waiting for months or fuming over quality issues.” [Detroit Free Press,
6/6/20
(=)]
Nio’s Future Depends More On The Chinese Government Than Ever.
According to The Verge, “Chinese EV startup Nio announced its first-quarter results last week and, by most accounts, the Tencent-backed
company appears to have weathered the impact of COVID-19. That argument was further bolstered on Thursday when Nio released strong May delivery figures. But Nio also recently finalized a crucially-timed $1 billion bailout from a local government in China,
and the price the company had to pay to survive is becoming increasingly apparent. Now Nio — which is billed as an independent startup with ambitions to sell cars in Europe and the US, and even has offices in London, Munich, and Silicon Valley — is more anchored
to the whims of the Chinese government than before. And owners of Nio shares that trade on the New York Stock Exchange have had an extra layer of abstraction placed between them and the company’s most valuable assets. The major deal Nio inked was with the
city of Hefei, the capital of Anhui province. Announced in February and finalized in April, it involves a group of state-owned or state-adjacent construction, economic development, and investment companies pumping about $1 billion into a subsidiary in China
created by Nio called, simply, ‘Nio China.’ In return, Nio had to commit its ‘core businesses and assets in China, including vehicle research and development, supply chain, sales and services and Nio Power’ (that last part being its home charging and battery
swap business) into this new subsidiary.” [The Verge, 6/5/20
(=)]
Nikola Plots Green Hydrogen FCEV Path For COVID-19 Recovery.
According to Clean Technica, “Renewable energy skeptics have been looking forward to a rebirth for fossil fuels as the world unwinds
from the COVID-19 crisis, but yet another sign of a green recovery has just popped up. This one comes in the form of green hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, under the banner of the ambitious EV startup Nikola. Wait — What? Green Hydrogen? Those of you
who know your hydrogen may be shaking your heads right now. After all, hydrogen does not come to your door all wrapped up in pretty paper with a bow. It has to be produced from a feedstock, and right now fossil gas is the source of choice. CleanTechnica has
spilled wads of ink on green hydrogen from renewable sources, primarily by splitting water with an electrical current from wind turbines or solar panels. Wastewater or seawater, and biogas and other bio-based sources, are also in the works. However, the main
consensus among analysts is that commercial viability for green hydrogen lies somewhere far away in the sparkling green future. Well, guess again. One of the hydrogen fuel cell EV companies to surface on the CleanTechnica radar is the Arizona-based startup
Nikola. It made a splashy entrance into the FCEV field in the long haul trucking area, with the promise of generating hydrogen on site at fuel stations with on-site solar arrays. The on-site solar vision appears to have gone somewhat adrift, but green hydrogen
is still part of the mix. Earlier this week, Nikola firmed up its green hydrogen plans by hooking up with Norway’s Nel ASA, which specializes in renewable H2.” [Clean Technica,
6/5/20
(=)]
Tesla Is Making 12 Passenger Electric Van For Boring Company, Says Official.
According to Electrek, “Information about a new Tesla electric van might have leaked as part of a new project from Elon Musk’s Boring
Company. Tesla has been talking about making an electric passenger bus or van for years. In the ‘Tesla Master Plan Part 2,’ CEO Elon Musk talked about two new segments Tesla is looking to electrify: In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types
of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport. Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year. We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the
cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate. Tesla did end up unveiling the Tesla Semi, the ‘heavy-duty truck,’ but it never unveiled a vehicle for ‘high passenger-density urban transport.’ Musk has talked about Tesla
making an electric minibus based on the Model X before, but it didn’t come to fruition. There were talks about Tesla making a passenger vehicle for Musk’s Boring Company, but as time went by, the tunnel-making startup has just used existing Tesla vehicles.
But now a county official working on a new Boring Company project may have leaked a new Tesla vehicle program that the Boring Company will use. The Boring Company has submitted a Loop project to link Rancho Cucamonga with Ontario International Airport in the
greater Los Angeles region.” [Electrek, 6/5/20
(=)]
GM Eyes Move Forward With EV Delivery Van.
According to The Detroit News, “Detroit’s automakers are pushing ahead to stake their claims on the development of all-electric delivery
vans, a segment whose growth potential is likely to rise as consumers spend less time in vehicles and more time ordering online. General Motors Co. is developing an electric delivery van aimed at commercial customers, sources told Reuters this week. The project,
one of 20 new electric vehicles GM plans to introduce by 2023, reportedly is code-named BV1. The Detroit News reported last fall that forecasters expected the automaker to build electric vans at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant. GM has not confirmed the plan, but
told The News in a statement: ‘General Motors is committed to an all-electric future and is implementing a multi-segment, scalable EV strategy to get there. At this time, we do not have any announcements to make regarding electric commercial vehicles.’ The
news did not surprise industry analysts, according to Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst at Guidehouse Insights: ‘It makes total sense. The only thing that surprises me is that they haven’t publicly announced it yet.’ In March, GM detailed plans to spend $20
billion on electric- and autonomous-vehicle programs through 2025. The Detroit-Hamtramck plant is in the process of being converted into GM’s first fully electric vehicle assembly plant, after the last Chevrolet Impalas that were built there rolled of the
lines earlier this year. The facility had been targeted for closure, until contract negotiations between GM and the United Auto Workers last fall secured its future as an assembly plant for electric vehicles.” [The Detroit News,
6/5/20
(=)]
Electric Vehicles
The 2nd Life Of Used EV Batteries.
According to Clean Technica, “When an electric vehicle (EV) comes off the road, what happens to the vehicle battery? The fate of the lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles is
an important question for manufacturers, policy makers, and EV owners alike. Today, EVs are a still a small piece of the automotive market. Many of the batteries coming off the road are being used to evaluate a range of options for reuse and recycling. Before
batteries are recycled to recover critical energy materials, reusing batteries in secondary applications is a promising strategy. The economic potential for battery reuse, or ‘second life,’ could help to further decrease the upfront costs of EV batteries and
increase the value of a used EV. Given the growing market for EVs, second-life batteries could also represent a market of low-cost storage for utilities and electricity consumers. But in order to enable widespread reuse of EV batteries, policy will play an
important role in reducing barriers and ensuring responsible, equitable, and sustainable practices. Last week, I provided testimony to the California Lithium Battery Recycling Advisory Group regarding the reuse of EV batteries. The advisory group’s goal is
to make recommendations to ensure 100% of EV batteries sold in California are reused or recycled. In this blog, I describe the current industry landscape and explain the potential use cases for second-life EV batteries. This blog summarizes a brief white paper
I helped developed with researchers from the University of California Davis for the group.” [Clean Technica,
6/6/20 (=)]
A Million-Mile Battery From China Could Power Your Electric Car.
According to Bloomberg, “The Chinese behemoth that makes electric-car batteries for Tesla Inc. and Volkswagen AG developed a power pack that lasts more than a million miles -- an
industry landmark and a potential boon for automakers trying to sway drivers to their EV models. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. is ready to produce a battery that lasts 16 years and 2 million kilometers (1.24 million miles), Chairman Zeng Yuqun said
in an interview at company headquarters in Ningde, southeastern China. Warranties on batteries currently used in electric cars cover about 150,000 miles or eight years, according to BloombergNEF. Extending that lifespan is viewed as a key advance because the
pack could be reused in a second vehicle. That would lower the expense of owning an electric vehicle, a positive for an industry that’s seeking to recover sales momentum lost to the coronavirus outbreak and the slumping oil prices that made gas guzzlers more
competitive. ‘If someone places an order, we are ready to produce,’ said Zeng, 52, without disclosing if contracts for the long-distance product have been signed. It would cost about 10% more than the batteries now inside EVs, said Zeng, whose company is the
world’s largest maker of the batteries. Concerns about batteries losing strength and having to be replaced after a few years is one factor holding back consumer adoption of EVs. Tesla last year flagged it expected to bring into production a battery capable
of a million miles of operation, and General Motors Co. last month said it is nearing the milestone. That distance is equivalent to circling the planet 50 times.” [Forbes,
6/7/20 (=)]
There's One Segment Of Electric Vehicles Even Tesla Is Late To — Everyone From Amazon To Automakers Is Racing To Build The Perfect Electric Delivery Van.
According to Business Insider, “Move over trucks and crossover SUVs, there’s a new hot vehicle in town, and it’s not what you might have guessed. With cities becoming more congested,
increasing emissions rules, and an uptick in home delivery thanks to the coronavirus, electric delivery vans are set to take center stage, according to Morgan Stanley. And it’s more than just the automakers racing to build the perfect one. ‘Delivery vans have
highly predictable routes, conduct high-value services, operate at a high utilization, and generally stay within a specific geographic area,’ Adam Jonas, the bank’s autos analyst, said in a note to clients. ‘All of which fits well within EV infrastructure
and charging ecosystems which enable their full economic use.’ So far, however, electric vehicles have largely remained constrained to the high-end consumer market. The most obvious example, of course, being Tesla, which handily outsells other EV makers in
most markets, especially the United States. Cargo vans like Mercedes’ Sprinter, on the other hand, have found their place in the market but remain gasoline-powered. Amazon's decision to order 100,000 electric delivery vans from the upstart Rivian while also
investing in the company was a turning point, Morgan Stanley says. The bank also points to Reuters' report this week of a GM electric van as a potential infection point. Commercial vehicles are among the most profitable businesses for Detroit automakers, which
have clearly seen Tesla's planned Cybertruck as eventual competition.” [Business Insider,
6/7/20 (=)]
Electric Delivery Vans Are Having A Moment.
According to Axios, “Commercial vans are emerging as a key growth area for electrification. Driving the news: Reuters reports in an important story that ‘General Motors Co. is developing
an electric van aimed at business users, joining a growing list of carmakers planning EVs for the same segment which includes customers such as Amazon.com Inc. and United Parcel Service Inc.’ The Reuters piece — based on anonymous sources but not denied by
GM — shows how a powerful legacy automaker wants in on the action. The intrigue: The fledgeling battery-powered van market, like other EV segments, includes both startups and giant automakers. Amazon, in late 2019, vowed to buy 100,000 electric delivery vehicles
from the startup Rivian and hopes to have 10,000 operating as soon as 2022. Ford announced in March that it’s developing an electric version of its Ford Transit cargo van. UPS is planning to buy at least 10,000 electric vans from the U.K. startup Arrival.
What they’re saying: Morgan Stanley analysts called electric vans ‘America’s hottest new vehicle’ in a research note yesterday that says there’s a good business case. ‘Delivery vans have highly predictable routes, conduct high-value services, operate a high
utilization and generally stay within a specific geographic area … all of which fits well with EV infrastructure and charging ecosystems which enable their full economic use,’ they write.” [Axios,
6/5/20 (=)]
Congress
EV Charging, Carbon Reduction Included In $500B Transportation Infrastructure Bill.
According to Green Car Reports, “Electric-car charging, hydrogen infrastructure, and penalties for greenhouse-gas-offending states were included in the long-anticipated U.S. House
of Representatives transportation bill, released Wednesday. The INVEST in America Act (Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation) would allocate $494 billion over five years, and it includes some comparable provisions. To put
one word for the House bill versus the Senate transportation infrastructure bill passed last July, it’s more—more money, and more climate accountability. The House bill authorizes $494 billion over five years, while the Senate bill kept spending to $287 billion.
The Senate bill allowed up to $1 billion to go toward charging and alternate-fuel infrastructure projects. The House bill would step that up to $350 million annually for fiscal years 2022 through 2025—including grants toward electric vehicle charging and hydrogen
fueling infrastructure, with funding focused on Alternative Fuel Corridors and ‘projects that demonstrate the most effective emissions reductions.’ The House bill, released by Representative
Peter DeFazio, Democrat, of Oregon, requires a new emphasis on lowering pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. It also reframes the Federal transit program to emphasize the frequency and ridership of public transportation and incentivizes higher domestic content
in transit purchasing. Green-energy details include incentives for transit electrification, and the introduction of a 2.5% bonus for electric buses using domestic battery cells.” [Green Car Reports,
6/5/20 (=)]
Ex-DOT Spokesman Jumps To Capitol Hill; GM Adds Lobbyist.
According to E&E News, “A former Department of Transportation spokesman has landed on Capitol Hill. Stephen Bradford, who left DOT’s public affairs office in February, is now the
communications director for the Senate Republican Conference. He’s working for Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who chairs the 53-member conference as well as the Environment and Public Works Committee. A graduate of University College London, Bradford went to
DOT last March, serving as communications director for the Federal Railroad Administration. Last October, he was named deputy director of public affairs at DOT — a role that entailed advising Secretary Elaine Chao and handling ‘crisis communications’ on issues
such as the grounding of Boeing Co.’s 737 MAX airplane fleet, according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously worked for former Republican Rep. Jason Lewis of Minnesota. Separately, General Motors Co. has added former Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) to its team
of outside lobbyists, according to a new lobbying registration first reported by Politico. After leaving Congress in 2007, Sweeney launched the New York-based firm Sweeney & Associates. In 2016, he helped then-candidate Donald Trump organize his primary campaign
in New York and was later rewarded with a role on the executive committee of Trump’s presidential transition team. GM retains a number of outside lobbyists, including those at Ervin Hill Strategy and Navigators Global LLC, lobbying disclosure forms show.”
[E&E News,
6/5/20 (=)]
Research And Analysis
Blue-Sky Thinking: How Cities Can Keep Air Clean After Coronavirus.
According to The Guardian, “For those not directly affected, the ability to breathe more easily and see further has perhaps been the greatest consolation amid the trauma of the coronavirus
pandemic. As city after city begins to emerge from lockdown, urban planners and environmental campaigners are grappling with how to keep the clean air and blue skies that have transformed our view of the world. ‘Citizens around the world can see change is
possible,’ says Zoe Chafe, an air quality specialist with the C40 group of global megacities. ‘Just put yourself on the rooftop and imagine seeing mountains for the first time, and thinking how amazing it feels to realise this is possible.’ That rooftop could
be in Kathmandu (where residents were astonished to make out Mount Everest for the first time in decades), Manila (where the Sierra Madre became visible again) or dozens of other cities across the world. Not everywhere has seen air quality improvements in
recent months. In some Asian cities, such as Hanoi and Jakarta, pollution has become worse. But, for the most part, people across the world are experiencing a healthier alternative to the smoke and smog that are responsible for an estimated 3 million deaths
a year. Having seen the shroud lift, there is a growing clamour not to let it fall again. Cities across the world are exploring ways to permanently reduce pollution. Chafe says there is no quick, one-case-fits-all solution, but there are lessons – on environmental
justice, community activism, urban design, climate ambition, technological innovation and municipal leadership – that can be learned from the cities and states that were making progress even before the lockdown. Here are three.” [The Guardian,
6/7/20 (=)]
International
Elon Musk ‘Considering Gigafactory For Bristol’ To Boost Production Of Electric Vehicles.
According to The Independent, “On 2 June, Elon Musk tweeted: “Off Twitter for a while.’ It was two days before his Space X rocket launch deployed 60 new satellites, and came just
after the first commercial space flight to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station. There was no explanation. But it has emerged the multi-billionaire Tesla tycoon may have in fact been on a flying visit to Bristol in southwest England. According
to The Times, the Space X founder and Tesla chief executive flew in his private jet to Luton airport for a hasty visit to the UK to inspect a possible new factory for electric cars. Following online speculation that Mr Musk had boarded a rocket himself, or
gone into a secret bunker to avoid coronavirus, more serious rumours began to emerge that the UK government’s Department of International Trade had recently been on the lookout for a 4 million sq ft commercial premises. More specifically, it is thought such
a large plot could be used for a ‘gigafactory’ – a facility for manufacturing electric cars and batteries. Tesla already has one such building, outside Reno in Nevada. Though incomplete, it already produces the company’s Model 3 electric motors and battery
packs, alongside Tesla’s energy storage products, the home energy battery Powerwall and Powerpack – the commercial version. Once complete, Tesla expects the US gigafactory to be the biggest building in the world – and entirely powered by renewable energy sources.”
[The Independent,
6/5/20 (=)]
German Public Electric Car Charging Network Grows By 60%: BDEW.
According to Reuters, “Germany’s public network for electric vehicles expanded by 10,000 charging spots, an increase of nearly 60%, in the last year, the country’s electricity lobby
said on Monday. The tally rose to 27,730 spots in May, up from 17,400 a year ago, the BDEW industry association said. Fast-charging spots made up a share of about 14%, it said. The data comes on the heels of fresh investment to expand electric vehicle infrastructure
in Germany, which has been slow to embrace the shift towards battery-powered cars. ‘The corona crisis is a great challenge for charging station operators. Therefore, it is even more relevant for them to receive government tailwind in the further build-out,’
BDEW managing director Kerstin Andreae said. As part of the country’s stimulus package unveiled last week, 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion) have been earmarked specifically to build out electric charging spots and battery cell technology. Around 280,000 electric
vehicles or plug-in hybrids are currently registered in Germany. Existing public infrastructure can cater for 440,000 cars.” [Reuters,
6/8/20 (=)]
All Petrol Stations In Germany Will Be Required To Provide Electric Vehicle Charging.
According to Forbes, “All petrol stations in Germany will be required to offer electric vehicle charging points to boost consumer demand and address EV refuelling concerns as part
of the government’s post Coronavirus or Covid-19 economic recovery plan. As Europe’s economic powerhouse attempts to avert a deep recession, it has vowed to pump €130 billion ($146 billion) towards an enhanced economic recovery plan which includes providing
a significant boost to EV demand alongside other broader stimulus measures. The government has also unveiled a €6,000 subsidy towards the cost of an EV putting Germany among the European market leaders in battery electric vehicle support. The previous level
was half of the current subsidy being offered. In 2019, EVs constituted less than 2% of new vehicle registrations in Germany, while petrol vehicles led the market with a near 60% market share. Further stimulus measures announced by the German government a
include €2.5 billion research and development grant for battery cell production and charging infrastructure. A spokesperson for BMVI, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, said the move was a ‘natural course of direction’ following
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s unveiling of a goal of having ‘a million electric charging stations across Germany by 2030.’ A recent assessment by German Association of Energy – BDEW – concluded that at least 70,000 charging stations and 7,000 fast charging stations
are required in order to create a mass market for EVs in Germany.” [Forbes,
6/5/20 (=)]
German Gas Stations Will Have To Provide Electric Car Charging Under New Rules.
According to The Verge, “Gas stations in Germany will be required to provide charging for electric vehicles as part of the country’s €130 billion coronavirus stimulus package, Reuters
reports. In addition, the government is also increasing its subsidy for electric vehicles by €3,000 to €6,000 for cars costing less than €40,000. Combined, these measures could be a big boost for electric car adoption in a country where many of the world’s
biggest automakers are headquartered. Electric vehicles are currently relatively uncommon in the country. According to Reuters, less than 2 percent of the cars sold in Germany last year were electric, compared to 32 percent for diesel cars and 59.2 percent
for petrol. A key limiting factor for adoption is range anxiety, with customers worried that they won’t be able to recharge if their vehicle runs out of power while on the road. The new law is an attempt to change this. Despite the increase, research suggests
Germany may need yet more chargers for electric cars to go fully mainstream. Reuters notes that the country has 14,118 gas stations, but one report suggests it will need around 70,000 charging stations and 7,000 fast chargers to achieve mass market adoption.
The country had 27,730 electric car charging stations as of March 2020. Still, it’s a positive step for a country where automotive giants such as VW, BMW, and Daimler have their headquarters. Many of these established automakers are now heavily investing in
electric vehicles after the Dieselgate scandal seriously undermined their green credentials.” [The Verge,
6/5/20 (=)]
Chad Ellwood
Senior Research Associate
Climate Action Campaign
202.448.2877 ext. 119