Clean Car Standards
Dems Want Senate To Look At DOJ Politicization.
According to Politico, “Senate Democrats want Republican leaders to look into allegations made this week that the Justice Department’s decisions on antitrust investigations were influenced by partisan politics, Pro’s Leah Nylen and Alex Guillén report. Klobuchar
(D-Minn.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Antitrust and Competition Subcommittee, said at a markup of a bill related to inspectors general that the Senate should look into the claims from career antitrust prosecutor John W. Elias that the Trump administration
didn’t like the emissions deal California struck with four automakers last year and used DOJ’s antitrust division to attack it. Klobuchar and six Democratic colleagues on the Judiciary panel sent a letter Wednesday to committee chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
and Mike Lee (R-Utah), who heads the antitrust subcommittee, calling for a hearing. Conn Carroll, a spokesperson for Lee, said the senator received Democrats’ letter and is reviewing the transcript of Wednesday’s House hearing. ‘No decision on a possible Senate
hearing has been made yet,’ Carroll said.” [Politico, 6/26/20
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States
New Rule In California Will Require Zero-Emissions
Trucks. According to the New York Times,
“Rebuffing strong opposition from industry, California on Thursday adopted a landmark rule requiring more than half of all trucks sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035, a move that is expected to improve local air quality, rein in greenhouse gas emissions
and sharply curtail the state’s dependence on oil. The rule, the first in the United States, represents a victory for communities that have long suffered from truck emissions — particularly pollution from the diesel trucks that feed the sprawling hubs that
serve the state’s booming e-commerce industry. On one freeway in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, near the nation’s largest concentration of Amazon warehouses, a community group recently counted almost 1,200 delivery trucks passing in one hour.
Oil companies, together with farming and other industries, opposed the measure, calling it unrealistic, expensive and an example of regulatory overreach. Truck and engine manufacturers also opposed the rule, and began a last-ditch effort in March to delay
it, saying companies were already suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 crisis. But California, which two years ago set an ambitious target of reducing emissions of planet-warming gases by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, held firm. The state’s
clean air regulator, the California Air Resources Board, voted unanimously in favor of the rule at a meeting on Thursday. ‘This is exactly the right time for this rule,’ Mary Nichols, the board’s chairwoman, said in an interview. ‘We certainly know that the
economy is in a rough shape right now, and there aren’t a lot of new vehicle sales of any kind. But when they are able to buy vehicles again, we think it’s important that they be investing in the cleanest kinds of vehicles.’” [New York Times,
6/25/20
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Calif. Passes Historic Clean Truck Rule.
According to E&E News, “California yesterday adopted the first regulation in the world
aimed at boosting sales of zero-emission trucks, marking a milestone in the history of regulating pollution from motor vehicles. The California Air Resources Board’s unanimous vote capped a marathon seven-hour Zoom meeting at which more than 130 people signed
up to testify. The meeting was held in a virtual format due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Dialing in, the vast majority of speakers voiced strong support for the Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation, which would require truck manufacturers to sell
a certain percentage of zero-emission trucks in the state starting in 2024. The stringency of the requirements would gradually increase each year, with the goal of putting 300,000 electric trucks on California’s roads by 2035 and phasing out diesel trucks
by 2045 (Climatewire, April 30). California has long led the nation in setting new environmental standards, and a coalition of Northeastern states has already signaled plans to adopt the rule. The final outcome of that effort hinges on the Trump administration.
The rule’s environmental benefits in California alone could be enormous. Heavy-duty trucks are responsible for a third of California’s smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution and a fifth of its greenhouse gases. According to recent research from Energy
Innovation and the Environmental Defense Fund, the rule could prevent 17.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and 60,000 tons of NOx from entering the atmosphere through 2040 (Climatewire, June 17). The vote represented a long-sought victory for environmental
justice groups.” [E&E News, 6/26/20
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Green Trucks Coming To Cali.
According to Politico, “California regulators Thursday approved a first-in-the-nation sales mandate for electric trucks, reports Debra Kahn from our California team. The California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule will start in 2024 with requirements
for zero-emission trucks to make up 5 to 9 percent of sales, depending on truck size, and gradually increase through 2035, when 55 percent of sales of light trucks, 75 percent of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and 40 percent of tractor-trailers will have to
be zero-emissions. Trump trouble: California will likely need a waiver from the Clean Air Act in order to implement the rule, so if Trump wins reelection, it might run into trouble with EPA, which revoked the state’s waiver for its zero-emission sales targets
for passenger vehicles. But environmentalists point out the truck rules’ air pollution benefits are undeniable — it’s projected to reduce nitrogen oxides by about 28 tons per day by 2040 and fine particulate matter by 0.85 tons per day by then. ‘I think EPA
will have a harder time trying to make the same arguments that they’re making now,’ said Paul Cort, an attorney with Earthjustice. ‘It just would fly in the face of an overwhelming amount of evidence.’” [Politico,
6/26/20
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California Approves First-In-Nation Sales Mandate For Electric Trucks.
According to Politico, “State regulators unanimously approved a new rule Thursday mandating
truck manufacturers to increase the proportion of electric trucks they sell in the state through 2035. The California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Truck rule is designed to put more zero-emission vehicles on the road to help meet the state’s ambitious
goals for reducing greenhouse gases and improve air quality across Southern California and the Central Valley. CARB Chair Mary Nichols called the rule ‘the first of its kind in the world.’ The rule will start in 2024 with requirements for zero-emission trucks
to make up 5 to 9 percent of sales, depending on truck size, and gradually increase through 2035, when 55 percent of sales of light trucks, 75 percent of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and 40 percent of tractor-trailers will have to be zero-emissions. ‘It’s
part of a long line of groundbreaking actions that this board has taken to protect our air,’ Nichols said, ‘but it is a very important one given its particular relevance for low income and communities of color, and the fact it’s just been so hard to get a
grip on this particular category of vehicles because they are so critical to the economy and because diesel vehicles last a very long time and turn over very slowly.’ Gov. Gavin Newsom also trumpeted the rule as an example of California’s ability to stay the
course on climate change regulations during the public health crisis. ‘Even in the midst of a global pandemic, climate change is still an existential threat — both to our way of life and our children’s health,’ he said in a statement. ‘Communities and children
of color are often forced to breathe our most polluted air, and today’s vote moves us closer toward a healthier future for all of our kids.’” [Politico,
6/25/20
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AP | Bosch Pays W.Va. $550,000 For Role In Emissions Scandal.
According to E&E News, “West Virginia has received a $550,000 payment from a German firm
related to a car emissions-rigging scandal, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) announced yesterday. Morrisey announced the payment from auto parts and technology company Bosch. German automaker Volkswagen admitted rigging diesel emissions technology
to pass U.S. smog tests. A lawsuit filed by Morrisey alleged the scheme led to false advertising because the self-described ‘clean diesel’ engines actually emitted up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide. Morrisey reached a $2.65 million settlement
in 2018 with Volkswagen AG and its Audi and Porsche brands. Morrisey had accused Bosch of helping to skirt state consumer protection laws through the automakers’ use of its technology. Bosch delivered millions of engine control systems that were installed
on various manufacturers’ cars starting in 2008.” [E&E News, 6/25/20
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Auto Manufacturers
Goodyear, Lordstown Motors Power Up Electric Vehicles.
According to Fox Business, “Goodyear is getting into the electric vehicle business with Lordstown Motors, according to a new partnership
announced Thursday. The two Ohio-based companies have agreed to ‘collaborate on tires and service in addition to future tire intelligence opportunities,’ Goodyear said in a statement. The news coincides with the debut of Lordstown Motor’s first all-electric
pickup truck, the Endurance, which was unveiled Thursday sporting Goodyear tires. Joining Lordstown Motors for the unveiling was Vice President Mike Pence, who rode into the event in the Endurance’s passenger seat. ‘It really is an honor to be here to be able
to drive up and help unveil what will soon be the first fully electric pickup on the market in the United States of America,’ Pence said. ‘Today is a new beginning for Lordstown and its a new day of leadership in electric vehicles in the United States.’ As
part of the agreement, Goodyear will acquire new Endurance vehicles to add to its own servicing fleet. ‘We want to be the tiremaker of choice for electric vehicle manufacturers and working with Lordstown represents an ideal relationship with shared Ohio roots
and shared values of innovation, performance and sustainability,’ said Erin Spring, Goodyear’s director of new ventures. Lordstown Motors operates out of the former General Motors plant in Youngstown, Ohio, where the automaker plans to begin producing its
first vehicles by the end of the year. ‘Debuting the Endurance is the biggest milestone Lordstown Motors has hit to date and having a legendary company like Goodyear a part of the moment is extra special,’ said Lordstown Motor Company CEO Steve Burns.” [Fox
Business, 6/25/20
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Cadillac Will Unveil Its Electric SUV Lyriq On August 6th.
According to The Verge, “Cadillac will reveal its first electric vehicle, the Lyriq SUV, during a virtual event on August 6th. The vehicle’s
original April 2nd debut was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. GM, Cadillac’s parent company, announced the Lyriq at an ‘EV Day’ event last March in Warren, Michigan, that showcased a new modular electric vehicle platform meant to power a wide range
of the company’s electric models in the coming years. The Lyriq will be the first electric luxury SUV from Cadillac, with a sedan — the Celestiq — to follow. An early version showed off at the EV Day featured a 34-inch pillar-to-pillar screen, power doors,
a long wheelbase, and lots of high-end materials. Over a year ago, GM named Cadillac as the brand to lead the automaker’s push into an electric future. At the time, it made sense: the luxury brand needed an improved identity, and GM wasn’t going to pin all
of its hopes on the slow-selling Chevy Bolt. For years, GM was seen as lagging behind its competitors in the luxury EV market. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and BMW have all introduced high-end electric vehicles intended to compete with Tesla’s Model S, while
GM had the Bolt and little else. But the automaker, the largest in the US, has since picked up the pace, announcing plans to release 20 electric nameplates by 2023. All four GM brands — Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick — will be launching new EVs. The Cadillac
Lyriq will be the first vehicle built on the company’s new BEV3 architecture. Next will be the Hummer EV in both pickup and SUV formats. Also to come are a refreshed Chevy Bolt EV and a Bolt electric utility vehicle with a longer wheelbase, a compact Chevy
crossover, two Buick SUVs, and the Celestiq.” [The Verge, 6/25/20
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AP | Tesla Seeks To Make Batteries Around The Clock In Bay Area.
According to E&E News, “Tesla Inc. is planning to expand a battery-research facility in the San Francisco Bay Area, adding manufacturing
capabilities that would run 24 hours a day. The electric-car maker laid out its plans in documents filed with the city of Fremont, Calif., where the facility is located. It’s near Tesla’s auto factory and would employ 470 workers. The plans were filed earlier
this year but surfaced weeks after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, in a contentious battle with Alameda County over coronavirus-prompted stay-at-home orders, threatened to yank the company’s headquarters from the Golden State. Even as Tesla opened new factories
in Nevada and China and is now negotiating for one in Texas, it has steadily expanded its Fremont auto plant and snapped up satellite facilities nearby. Tesla, based in Palo Alto, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. News of the company’s
plans for its battery facility was first reported by Electrek. There’s been increasing focus in recent days on Tesla’s battery efforts. Over the weekend, Musk tweeted that the company is targeting Sept. 15 for its long-awaited battery day to showcase its latest
energy-storage technology. ‘Tentative date for Tesla Shareholder Meeting & Battery Day is Sept 15. Will include tour of cell production system,’ Musk wrote on Twitter. Tesla is developing its own proprietary battery cells with longer range ‘and potentially
lower cost,’ Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, said in a note this week. He expects that ‘will be the focus of the battery day.’” [E&E News,
6/26/20
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Lordstown Motors Rolls New E-Truck Onto Crowded Lot.
According to E&E News, “An electric pickup truck — yes, another one — got its day in the spotlight yesterday as Lordstown Motors Corp.
of Ohio showed off its new product with a mixed blessing from the Trump administration. The Lordstown Endurance is hoping to find its niche as a fleet vehicle. Its profile is that of a conventional pickup, but with bladed taillights and modern body lines as
a nod to its new electric lineage. It arrives at a moment when the pickup truck is of supreme importance to the U.S. auto industry. Pickups are selling like hotcakes as the economy tries to four-wheel itself out of the COVID-19 recession. Nowhere is it more
important than at Ford Motor Co., which also unveiled a refreshed version of its bestselling F-150 yesterday. The Endurance will jockey for attention against not just regular trucks from established automakers, but other electric trucks from new and old makers,
including Rivian’s R1T, Tesla Inc.’s Cybertruck and Ford’s electric F-150 — even as it’s unclear how much of a market for electric trucks there is to chase. Lordstown’s unveiling of its cutting-edge vehicle was stoically Midwestern, with gray-haired men in
suits at the podium in front of an American flag. CEO Steve Burns, in a gray suit, seemed ready to acknowledge that his company lacked some of the dash that came with the electric rollouts by the younger Elon Musk of Tesla or R.J. Scaringe of Rivian. ‘People
expect this kind of innovation to come from the coast, but the Midwest is where the pickups are; the Midwest is where most pickups are sold,’ Burns said. ‘So why should California have all the fun? We think we can build it as well or even better.’” [E&E News,
6/26/20
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Electric Vehicles
High-Powered Wireless EV Charging — Is It Finally Time?
According to Clean Technica, “As long as I’ve been covering electric vehicles (nearly a decade) there’s been a debate in the industry
about the potential for high-powered wireless charging. This is the kind of debate that can go on for hours upon hours without moving either side. However, it has probably gone under many people’s radar that there’s been some serious progress in recent years,
or at least claims of serious progress. For a long time, I saw the claim that wireless charging couldn’t provide high-power charging. And I didn’t see any pushback to that idea. But then Momentum Dynamics (and perhaps others I’m forgetting now) starting putting
out news about achievements in high-power wireless charging. Another longstanding claim was that the efficiency sucked. However, we’ve also reported on much improved efficiency. Well, we’re going to get more than claims, laboratory tests, and wireless dreams
now, because high-power wireless charging systems from Momentum Dynamics are going into a trial program with Jaguar I-PACE electric taxis in Oslo, Norway. The program will also include Nordic taxi operator Cabonline (NorgesTaxi AS) and Fortum Recharge, which
is the largest provider of EV charging points in Norway. The program is being called ElectriCity. Hmm, that one might run into trouble with English speakers. So, how fast is this charging tech and how does it work? We’re talking original ‘fast chargers’ here,
not the newer superfast/ultrafast charging stations rolling out around the world. However, even 50 kW is a significant charge at various locations where you’re sitting and waiting for passengers.” [Clean Technica,
6/25/20
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Study Shows Consumers Save Long Term With Electric Vehicles.
According to Axios, “Why it matters: The peer-reviewed paper in Joule adds to the literature on costs by providing a granular, state-level
look at power rates (including hourly variations), charging infrastructure types, regional gasoline price differences and other variables. The bottom line: The paper finds ‘total projected fuel cost savings between $3,000 and $10,500 compared with gasoline
vehicles’ over a 15-year time horizon. But the savings could be even higher. ‘Regional heterogeneities and uncertainty on lifetime vehicle use and future fuel prices produce even greater variations,’ notes the analysis from researchers with the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory. My thought bubble: While lifetime fuel costs may influence some buyers, it’s the vehicle price that looms larger. So reaching cost-parity and finding affordable models will likely do more to spur adoption than
evidence of lower fuel expenses on a long-term basis. The big picture: It comes as EVs, which typically have higher up-front costs, remain a niche market in the U.S. But new models are coming to market and a victory by Joe Biden, who has pledged to promote
EVs via tougher emissions rules and building our charging infrastructure, could quicken adoption. Advocates are also pushing for expansion of tax credits for buying EVs, which are now capped at 2o0,000 vehicles per manufacturer for the full $7,500 credit.”
[Axios, 6/25/20
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Union Workers Are Strong Allies For Electric Vehicles, As Canada’s Unifor Demonstrates.
According to Electrek, “Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, wants the Canadian government to build an aggressive plan to
produce and sell more electric vehicles. The union’s proposals come as it prepares to negotiate with the Detroit Three – and as the Canadian government makes plans for a post-pandemic economic recovery. All too often and for way too long, a false narrative
suggests that corporations, labor, and the environment can’t work toward common goals. But that myth is outdated, especially when it comes to electric vehicles. In a new union-produced report, Unifor wrote: The government must accelerate the conversion of
passenger and commercial vehicles to ZEVs by providing financial support and tax credits to firms engaged in the manufacture of EVs, for instance, including final assembly and the production of EV component parts in Canada. Unifor wants to see ‘targeted subsidies
and investment’ into consumer incentives, fast-charging infrastructure, and battery technologies. Unifor is not alone. The conversion of the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant to produce only electric vehicles is another shining example of how car companies
can be pro-EV and pro-labor. Union members celebrated the conversion of the Hamtramck plant for EVs to preserve high-wage jobs and produce greener cars.
Mike Plater, plant chairman of UAW Local 22 at Detroit-Hamtramck, said the union is ‘definitely committed to building all-electric vehicles.’ He added, ‘We are going to do any and everything it takes to make this possible.’” [Electrek,
6/25/20
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Lyft's Plan For 100 Percent Electric Vehicles Might Cost Its Riders.
According to Forbes, “Ride-hailing giant Lyft recently launched an audacious effort to become the most emissions-friendly ride-sharing
service. The bold ambition, announced last week and set to take shape by 2030, would require all Lyft vehicles, whether rented or driver-owned, to be battery electric vehicles (BEV). But with grand plans comes harsh realities that might make Lyft’s plan unachievable
without rate increases. Lyft based its plan on a risky assumption – notably the cost parity of manufactured gas-powered and electric vehicles being achievable by 2030. Lyft stated, ‘[We] expect these savings to increase over time as the cost of EV batteries
continues to come down.’ While significant decreases for battery costs may occur as soon as mid-decade, there are other electric vehicle costs to consider. Batteries compromise 25 percent of an electric vehicle’s manufacturing costs, and less obvious parts
like special motors, electronics, and software, cost another 10 percent. And then there are the extra costs associated with EV ownership, like vehicle chargers (including installation), higher insurance, expensive repairs, higher depreciation, and shorter
vehicle longevity. Some of Lyft’s cost/benefit projections were based on the experiences of its Express Drive drivers, which may have resulted in analytical selection bias. Participants in these programs drive full-time and are, therefore, able to recognize
‘high mileage’ cost benefits from gasoline savings that may outweigh the extra costs associated with EV ownership. But there is still a major flaw with Lyft’s surveying approach – Express Drive drivers do not own their vehicles and therefore aren’t responsible
for the extra costs associated with EV ownership.” [Forbes, 6/25/20
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3 Battery Stocks To Watch Amid Electric Car Revolution.
According to Yahoo Finance, “The world of automotives is undergoing a massive change, with several factors rolling in to form a new
need of the hour — the electric vehicle. After all, the shift toward clean energy and high-powered vehicles is a matter of evolution for the expanding automotive market, which has created a new space for investors to look into. The vital component that powers
these cars is undoubtedly at the forefront for gains from the rising trend of electric vehicles in the United States and abroad. Therefore, investors who seek to consider a new arena for investments in the future can look into the global automotive battery
market. The Automotive Battery Market Shows Promising Growth As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global automotive battery market is expected to reach $49.05 billion in 2017 to $85.41 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.02%. As more automotive companies
are flexing their muscles in the area of electric vehicles, features such as lighting, numerous gadgets and car infotainment systems require more power to function. So, the demand for automotive battery has increased significantly over the past few years.
In addition, strict regulation standards regarding emission as set by several government agencies is also pushing the demand for electric vehicles and relevant batteries. Factors Pushing EV Market and That of Automotive Batteries While one may note that the
sale of electric vehicles may not outrun that of conventional combustion engines until at least 2025 or 2030, the shift that has already begun is unlikely to slow down. Three major factors are driving this trend.” [Yahoo Finance,
6/25/20
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EVs Are Cheaper To Fuel Than Gas Cars. Or Are They?
According to E&E News, “Driving an electric car instead of a comparable gas model would save $3,000 to $10,500 in fuel costs over the
vehicle’s lifetime, according to a new study, but the COVID-19 pandemic may undermine those findings. National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers, who plan to publish the work next month in Joule, called the paper an ‘unprecedented assessment’ of how
battery electrics and plug-in hybrids stack up against conventional cars. Other researchers had previously assessed the cost of fueling an electric vehicle versus a gas-powered one by looking at utility electricity rates. NREL’s team expanded the scope, assessing
utility rates with additional factors related to how, when and where EV drivers tended to charge up. In every state, and in most scenarios, EVs and plug-in hybrids were cheaper to refuel, they said. On average, a 2019 battery electric car would save its driver
$7,758 over a 15-year period, compared with a new gas vehicle of similar size and characteristics. Driving a plug-in hybrid produced slightly smaller average savings of $7,317. In certain parts of the country, battery electric drivers could save as much as
$14,500 on fuel, the study calculated. But the coronavirus-induced crash in the price of oil raises questions about whether the study’s conclusions will hold. The NREL team based its calculations on the United States’ average gas price last year — $2.73 per
gallon. As of yesterday, gas was going for $2.17 a gallon nationally, according to AAA. ‘This was the cost of the consumer’s experience in 2019. Things have changed quite a bit since then,’ said Matteo Muratori, the study’s lead author and a senior engineer
on NREL’s team for transportation and energy analysis.” [E&E News, 6/26/20
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E.U. Aims To Outpace U.S. And Build 1.3M EV Stations.
According to E&E News, “The European Union is looking to build more than 1 million electric vehicle charging stations across the continent
as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic — a recovery plan the U.S. would be wise to emulate, some observers say. Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated a €750 billion ($841 billion) spending plan to revitalize the continent,
in part by tackling climate change (Climatewire, May 28). The plan, dubbed ‘Next Generation E.U.,’ incorporates prior spending proposals under the commission’s draft Green Deal for Europe, which aims to make the European Union’s economy carbon neutral by 2050.
Among an array of investment priorities, the E.U. wants to see more than 1 million EV charging stations installed by 2025. The continent already boasts about 170,000 public charging stations with some 18,000 of those considered fast chargers, according to
the European Alternative Fuels Observatory. Dan Goldman, managing director of the venture capital firm Clean Energy Ventures, said the E.U.’s plans are well thought out and would propel Europe’s EV market past the U.S. in EV sales and distribution. Some analysts
even see the plan pulling Europe ahead of China in EV adoption. The Department of Energy says the U.S. has just under 30,000 public charging stations. China holds about 330,000 public charging stations, according to Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy
Policy. ‘The E.U.’s coordinated approach ensures investment in needed EV charging infrastructure at competitive rates,’ said Goldman.” [E&E News,
6/26/20
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Research And Analysis
Electric Vehicles Tread Water Under COVID-19, So What’s Next?
According to Clean Technica, “In a new report that will surprise no-one who has been paying any attention, the International Energy Agency has just added its two cents to the pile
of evidence indicating that electric vehicles are gaining in appeal over their planet-killing cousins, despite the economic crisis wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, what could possible go wrong? When the dust settles after the COVID-19 crisis, electric
vehicles will rule the world — if all goes according to plan (image via IEA). Electric Vehicles After COVID-19: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? In a nutshell, everything. The new report is the latest iteration of IEA’s annual Global EV Outlook. It paints a rosy
picture up front, but leaves a big question mark about the future. On the bright side, the Global EV Outlook expects sales of electric vehicles globally to run ahead of gasmobile sales this year, based on sales figures so far. That’s consistent with the sales
trend here in the US, by the way. That sounds okay, but it leaves the EV market basically running in place compared to last year, at least in the passenger car area. Based on data from January to April, IEA anticipates that total electric car sales for 2020
will hit somewhere around the same 2.1 million units sold in 2019. Considering the festering global economic crisis this year, holding on to last year’s sales figures is a good sign. With conventional auto sales slumping by an estimated 15% for the year, electric
vehicles stand to gain a bigger foothold in the market after the dust settles. According to IEA, 2020 is on track to set a new record for EV penetration at 3% of total global car sales, up from 2.6% in 2019.” [Electrek,
6/25/20 (=)]
International
Germany Is Betting Everything On Electric Cars.
According to Jalopnik, “Earlier in June the German government announced a huge economic stimulus package with sweeping incentives pushing the country toward an electric transit future.
In all, the country will be spending some 130 billion euros on an economic recovery plan that involves cash for Germans buying electric cars, a widespread growth of its charging infrastructure, and investment in public transit. It makes sense that the country
is doing what it can to push electrification. In addition to the country’s desire to lower its emissions totals, automakers like VW have leaned in to the whole EV thing, and what’s good for VAG is probably good for DE. To a lesser extent, every German automaker
has adapted at least some electrification, and that’s expected to expand in coming years across the board. Germany wants Germans to buy German electric cars. Go figure. Germany is already the biggest market for EVs in Europe, and this stimulus package will
only prove to extend that lead in the segment. Here’s what it entails, and how it will be implemented. First, Germany is going to reduce the cost to buy-in to an electric car or plug-in hybrid with incentive subsidies. If you’re looking at an EV in Germany
that costs less than 40,000 euros, you’ll get up to 9,000 euros back in combined incentives with 6,000 coming from the government and 3,000 coming to you from the manufacturer by mandate of the government. Cars priced between 40,000 and 65,000 euros can receive
up to 7,500 in incentives. Anything more expensive than that and they assume you can afford it regardless. If you are buying a new Taycan, you won’t be getting any kickbacks.” [Jalopnik,
6/25/20 (=)]
Chad Ellwood
Senior Research Associate
Climate Action Campaign
202.448.2877 ext. 119