Clean
Car Standards
National
Coalition Of Elected Officials Backs California In Fight With Trump, EPA.
According
to the Palm Springs Desert Sun, “More than 200 elected officials from around the country have come out in public support of California in its ongoing battle with the Trump administration over its authority to set state-specific fuel efficiency standards. The
political tug-of-war centers on a waiver that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted California in 2009 to write its own rules for the timeline by which auto makers must improve fuel efficiency in cars and light trucks sold in the state. Three years
later, the EPA set out its own, national rules. Those standards were not as stringent as California’s and became even less so earlier this year when the Trump administration’s EPA rolled them back. It also revoked California’s waiver. The agency said an update
to the national rules was needed to keep cars cheap in order to get newer, safer cars on the road more quickly. The EPA’s own analysis, though, found that its rule would lead to significantly increased emissions. Several lawsuits are ongoing to challenge both
moves by the EPA, so the support from elected officials is timely. ‘The effects on our climate are not just a concern of a city or a state or even the country. Climate change is the concern of the world,’ Tucson Mayor Regina Romero told The Desert Sun about
why she signed the petition supporting California. ‘Climate does not exist in a bubble. Whatever happens in California affects Arizona.’ Most states are not a large enough slice of an industry’s consumer base to drive market trends, but that’s not the case
for California. The state’s 40 million residents have heavy purchasing power. The show of support is also significant because 13 other states and Washington, D.C., had signed on to California’s standards before the EPA pulled its waiver.” [Palm Springs Desert
Sun, 10/9/20
(+)]
Elected
Officials Urge Automakers To Support Cleaner Cars. According
to Utility Dive, “The declaration came together thanks to work ‘from leading national consumer, health, business, labor, faith, climate and science NGOs as well as local elected coalitions,’ a spokesperson said in an email. And while none of the signers were
made available for further comment, in the declaration they pledged to ‘continue to fight to protect the Clean Air Act’ and ‘vigorously resist’ the Trump administration’s efforts to ‘prevent states from enforcing reasonable, commonsense emissions standards
for vehicles.’ The declaration also noted that the federal government has stepped back in the fight against climate change, leaving states and cities to pick up the mantle. It is the latest step after five major cities and 21 states launched a legal challenge
against the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) fuel efficiency standards rollback in May. ‘Cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,’ Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement. ‘It’s our residents who are increasingly shouldering the consequences
of inaction at the federal level. It’s on us as elected leaders to step up and act.’ A Fiat Chrysler spokesperson declined to comment on the declaration. But in an email, they pointed to statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which
found that while the newest model year cars are all achieving record low new vehicle carbon emissions and record high fuel economy, almost every automaker had to use regulatory credits bought from electric vehicle (EV) companies including Tesla to comply with
the stricter standards. And before model year 2016, the industry on average was able to meet the standard without the need for credits, according to EPA statistics.” [Utility Dive,
10/9/20
(+)]
Why
California Car Regulations Have Become A Minnesota Election Issue. According
to the Minnesota Post, “As Gov. Tim Walz’s administration considers whether to adopt tougher vehicle emission standards that mirror ones in California, car dealers who oppose the idea are working to make the decision a campaign issue. The Minnesota Automobile
Dealers Association is circulating a pledge to legislative candidates saying they oppose Minnesota following California regulatory decisions such as the Clean Cars rules, and 123 candidates have signed on so far. ‘Voters should ask candidates this year, if
you’re running to represent Minnesotans, why aren’t you opposed to California being in charge of an important part of our economy,’ MADA President Scott Lambert said in a prepared statement. The vast majority of those 123 candidates are Republicans, and the
issue has largely split along party lines. Ten DFLers have also signed the pledge, however, including three state senators — Dan Sparks, Ann Rest and John Hoffman — and one candidate likely to be elected to the Senate this fall: Mary Kunesh Podein, who’s running
to represent Minneapolis’ northern suburbs in Senate District 41. There may be more DFL lawmakers who oppose the car rules, and at least two DFL senators who have not signed the pledge, Kent Eken and Tom Bakk, have expressed skepticism or opposition to the
rules. Three Democrats in the House who did not sign the pledge voted this year to restrict the MPCA’s ability to regulate motor vehicle emissions. The decision to adopt the vehicle standards is unlikely to be made by the Legislature. Walz believes the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has authority to enact them unilaterally based on existing state law, and Republican-led efforts to strip that power have been rebuffed by the DFL-controlled House.” [Minnesota Post,
10/10/20
(=)]
Op-Ed:
Time For An Update On Lujan Grisham's MPG Mandate. According
to an op-ed by Paul J. Gessing in the Las Cruces Sun News, “Recently, California Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines with his announcement that by 2035 his state will ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles. That is an ambitious goal, but given the time line, it
is hard to say what compliance will look like. But for another, arguably even more ambitious car mileage proposal, one need look no further than New Mexico. Las September New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that by just model year 2022 New Mexico
would be increasing its fuel economy requirement for new cars to 52 MPG. The current average fuel economy rate is 25.1 MPG according to the EPA. As we noted at the time, Gov. Lujan Grisham had ‘out California-ed California’ by adopting even more stringent
fuel economy standards than those on the books in California. Will California’s decision spur Lujan Grisham to action? Perhaps more importantly, is New Mexico really going through with the governor’s 52 MPG standard? This was put forth at a time of a record
(oil-driven) economic boom in New Mexico. That boom has evaporated thanks to COVID-19 and the governor’s lockdown of the state’s economy. She may not be as enthusiastic about such radical plans at a time of serious economic challenges. If you’re expecting
to find legislation on this topic from the 2020 legislative session, don’t worry, nothing was even introduced. We have never even seen a formal executive order from the governor formalizing this requirement. In fact, after the initial round of media discussion
(led off by the New York Times) the issue has been completely forgotten about.” [Las Cruces Sun News,
10/10/20
(-)]
States
Local
Electric Vehicle Maker Workhorse Secures $200 Million In Financing, Will Add 200 Jobs.
According
to WCPO, “Electric vehicle maker Workhorse announced Monday it had secured $200 million in financing to add jobs, speed up production and expand its product offerings. The Loveland-based company reported the financing from a note purchase agreement with two
institutional lenders. CFO Steve Schrader said the company was in the process of hiring 200 people between its Loveland and Union City, Indiana facilities. ‘We don’t want to lose any momentum while we have a head start,’ he said. He added that the new financing
would allow Workhorse also to speed up production on a backlog of orders for its electric delivery vehicles. Schrader said UPS and DHL have outstanding orders on the company’s C650 and C1000 large delivery trucks. The company also hopes to start production
on smaller trucks and refrigerated trucks, which Schrader said were becoming more sought-after within the delivery industry. ‘With this financing in place, we can more quickly advance our production efforts heading into 2021 by increasing our supply chain
component volumes, hiring more manufacturing employees and automating certain sub-assembly processes,’ Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes said in a news release. ‘We can also accelerate our production timeline for new, high-demand customer products, including a refrigeration
truck for grocery applications as well as a purpose-built class 2 delivery van, allowing us to address one of the fastest-growing vehicle markets in the U.S.’ Schrader added the new financing will also give Workhorse a stronger balance sheet, bringing the
company’s available cash to more than $270 million.” [WCPO, 10/12/20
(=)]
Auto
Manufacturers
As China Emerges From Pandemic, Sales Of GM Vehicles
Recover. According to The Detroit News,
“Continuing positive pandemic recovery in China enabled General Motors Co. to achieve a 12% year-over-year increase in third-quarter sales, the automaker said Monday. The increase for the July through September period was the first time GM saw sales rise quarter
over quarter in two years. Overall, the automaker sold more than 771,400 vehicles despite a global pandemic that caused GM to sell less than 462,000 vehicles in China during the first three months of 2020. ‘Headquarters must be feeling good about this news
out of China, because it’s been a real battle for them in the last 24 to 36 months as they saw sales and market share fall away,’ said Michael Dunne, CEO of Hong Kong-based advisory firm ZoZo Go LLC. GM closed out 2019 with sales down 15%. The automaker has
made changes to its product lineup in China including switching from sedans to SUVS for ‘an SUV-crazy market’ and they have also got attention from the growing number of affluent buyers in China, Dunne said. ‘Cadillac has done a nice job of catching that wave
of optimism among affluent urban consumers,’ he said. In the third quarter, Cadillac had more than 65,000 sales in China, an increase of 28% from a year earlier. Its SUV portfolio of the XT4, XT5 and XT6 had collective sales of more than 40,000. Buick sales
were up 26%. Chevrolet sales were down 20% and Baojun sales dipped by 19%. Wuling sales increased 26%. The brand’s first all-electric model – the Hong Guang MINI EV – has become the best-selling new energy vehicle model in China with sales from July through
September topping 28,000, GM China said. What’s also helped GM is the decision to backtrack on its plan to only sell three-cylinder engine vehicles, which did not go over well with customers in China, causing sales to slip. China’s slowing economy also caused
auto sales to struggle after years of growth.” [The Detroit News, 10/12/20
(=)]
Hyundai To Recall 77,000 Kona Electric Cars Over
Risk Of Battery Fire, Fights LG Chem Over Cause. According
to Electrek, “Hyundai is reportedly preparing to recall 77,000 Kona electric cars worldwide over the risk of a battery fire as the automaker is fighting with LG Chem, the battery supplier, over the cause. Last summer, a Hyundai Kona EV burst out into flames
inside a garage near Montreal in Canada. Since then, there have been about a dozen more Kona EV fires — prompting investigations into the matter. In an official investigation into the issue in Korea, Hyundai claimed to have found the problem (via Korea Times):
‘During the National Assembly audit on Thursday, Hyundai Motor President Seo Bo-shin, who is in charge of quality control, said the company ‘admits the defects in vehicles’ and ‘has found a solution’ to fix the defects, ‘though it is not perfect.’’ However,
different reports are coming to different conclusions. One is putting the blame on the battery cells while another is concluding that it has to do with the battery pack: ‘The ministry said it found ‘the separator in the battery cell was damaged due to errors
in the manufacturing process,’ indicating LG Chem’s battery cell could be the cause of fires. The National Forensic Service also came up with a similar conclusion that ‘electric problems in battery pack assembly’ are assumed to have caused the fires.’ The
Kona EV’s battery pack is made by HL Green Power; a joint venture of Hyundai Mobis and LG Chem, where the latter produces the battery cells and the former assembles the battery packs. LG Chem denies that the cause could be the battery cells. Hyundai already
confirmed a voluntary recall of over 25,000 Kona EVs in Korea and the recall is now expected to be extended to over 77,000. electric vehicles worldwide, including in North America, most of the vehicles are in Europe.” [Electrek,
10/12/20
(=)]
Hyundai’s New Singapore Hub May Make Up To 30,000
Electric Cars A Year. According to Bloomberg,
“Hyundai Motor Group will invest S$400 million ($294 million) in a new innovation center in Singapore that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said may produce up to 30,000 vehicles a year by 2025. ‘Automotive activities are becoming viable in Singapore once again,’
Lee said in a speech Tuesday to mark the virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the center in the city-state’s west. Electric vehicles ‘have a different supply chain, fewer mechanical parts and more electronics, which plays to Singapore’s strengths.’ The seven-story
building, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, is where Hyundai will work on developing artificial intelligence, big data and other technologies to enhance its manufacturing processes, fine tuning the ‘brains’ behind the smarter and more environmentally
friendly cars of tomorrow. The center will also have a 620 meter (0.4 mile) driving track near its roof so customers can test-drive vehicles. Hyundai will ‘instill human-centered values’ in all stages of a car’s life, from ordering and production to the test
drive and service, executive vice chairman of the South Korean conglomerate Euisun Chung said at the event. The company is separately developing flying cars, planning a full lineup of aerial vehicles that it envisages zigzagging city skies within a decade.
The innovation center will also house a small scale EV production facility to test processes using AI and autonomous driving. One of the company’s EVs, the Kona, has been recalled in South Korea following multiple reports of battery fires.” [Bloomberg,
10/13/20
(=)]
Hyundai Begins Building Electric Vehicle Hub In
Singapore. According to Reuters, “South
Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co started construction on a research and development centre in Singapore on Tuesday that will house a small-scale electric vehicle production facility. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
said the facility may produce up to 30,000 electric vehicles (EVs) annually by 2025 and represents an investment of S$400 million ($295 million). Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive places to buy a car and does not currently have any auto manufacturing
capacity. But the wealthy city-state has set out ambitious plans to phase out petrol vehicles by 2040. ‘Automotive activities are becoming viable in Singapore once again. EVs have a different supply chain, fewer mechanical parts and more electronics, which
plays to Singapore’s strengths,’ PM Lee said. A Hyundai spokeswoman confirmed the 30,000 unit target but said that the exact capacity was yet to be determined. The facility is due for completion by end 2022, the firm said in a statement. The announcement comes
after vacuum cleaner company Dyson last year scrapped plans to build an electric car in Singapore, saying it was not commercially viable. Singapore plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, and make a bigger bet on electrification to cut greenhouse
gases and slow climate change. Hyundai said in a statement its new Singapore facility aims to be carbon neutral by using solar and hydrogen energy, will utilise technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, and will include a test drive track
for customers.” [Reuters, 10/13/20
(=)]
Electric
Vehicles
Electric Cars Cost Less To Own — Consumer Reports Agrees With Us.
According to Clean Technica, “We’ve been publishing ‘total cost of ownership’ comparisons
— well, forecasts — for years here on CleanTechnica. Actually, the first ones I published were probably 7 years ago or so. As electric car technology (esp. battery technology) has improved, the comparisons have gotten more and more compelling. Nowadays, any
of the most advanced, most competitive electric vehicles on the market should easily outperform their gasoline-powered class competitors while costing less (unless you drive very little). Consumer Reports agrees. Also, whereas I have to couch my analyses in
paragraphs of disclaimers and notes about assumptions and disclaimers about notes about assumptions or else I’ll get chewed out by people who think I’m being too friendly to electric vehicles, Consumer Reports just blurted it out with almost no nuance in the
very beginning of its press release: ‘Owning a plug-in electric vehicle today will save consumers thousands of dollars compared to owning a gas-powered vehicle, according to a new analysis by Consumer Reports comparing electrics to CR’s top-rated vehicles,
as well as the best-selling, most efficient, and best-performing gas-powered vehicles on the market.’ There actually are important caveats and assumptions you have to pay attention to. There are big differences from individual to individual on key factors
influencing the results, such as total miles driven per year. Therefore, I routinely recommend that anyone interested in comparing lifetime costs copy my Google Sheet and input their own best assumptions. However, if you just assume averages or common scenarios,
it’s easy to come to the general conclusion Consumer Reports shared.” [Clean Technica,
10/11/20
(=)]
Electric Cars Really Do Cost Less To Own Than Gas-Powered Vehicles, Report Says.
According to Engadget, “Electric car manufacturers have long claimed their vehicles are
ultimately less expensive to own than their gas-powered counterparts, and it now looks like that wasn’t just classic marketing spin. Consumer Reports has published a study indicating that the most popular EVs are less expensive to own over their lifespans
than the best gas cars in their respective classes. Among EVs under $50,000, you’d typically see costs drop between $6,000 to $10,000 versus a combustion engine car. The Tesla Model 3 delivered the most value in CR’s findings. The entry-level luxury EV represented
a $15,000 savings compared to not only the best-selling car in its class (the BMW 330i), but also the best-rated (the Audi A4). This was generally true across the board, including plug-in hybrids as well as estimates for upcoming vehicles like Ford’s Mustang
Mach-E. The savings could be particularly large if you buy a used EV when it’s five to seven years old. The savings on fuel unsurprisingly played a large role. CR determined that EV drivers spend about 60 percent less to keep their vehicles topped up, and
owners whose cars have a range of 250 miles or more can handle 92 percent of their charging at home instead of public fast chargers. However, maintenance was also key — reliability reports suggested that EV owners were paying about half as much to maintain
and repair their cars as people with gas vehicles. While repairs could go up (such as fresh batteries) if you buy a used EV, you still stand to reap a large chunk of the lifetime savings. CR also found that depreciation was comparable to that for gas cars
even after factoring in the incentives.” [Engadget, 10/9/20
(+)]
Electric Vehicles Creating A Roadmap To Autonomous Vehicles.
According to Forbes, “With one stroke of the pen Governor Newsom of California has insured
a robust outlook for the future of electric vehicles in California. Finally, electric vehicle manufacturers are in vogue. The executive order requires that starting in 2035 all vehicles sold in the state of California can no longer have an internal combustion
engine. There are many electric vehicle companies in the market. Tesla TSLA +1.9%, Nio and Rivian appear to be leading the way with large contracts and/or significant followings in the electric vehicle world. The EV world has already started to address issues
in unique ways such as Nio’s battery swap. Instead of having to wait for a charge, drivers can stop at one of their battery swapping locations and just switch out batteries in a few minutes. This type of innovation allows the driver to keep going and avoid
downtime waiting for the battery to charge. These are the kinds of real world solutions that can come from widespread use and commercialization. Amazon AMZN +4.8% has just unveiled its electric delivery vehicle, manufactured by Rivian, though Amazon has not
provided specific details on the battery or range. We do know that the van will have exterior cameras which will provide a 360 view outside the vehicle. In addition, it will include Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant for hands-free navigation and other assisted
technologies. Rivian anticipates delivering 10,000 of the vans by early 2022 with a total of 100,000 by 2030. Governor Newsom’s executive order has only served to put a greater spotlight on electric vehicles and charging station infrastructure by legally mandating
that internal combustion vehicles not be sold in the state after 2035.” [Forbes,
10/13/20
(=)]
The Electric Car Market Is Buzzing With Europe And China Taking The Lead.
According to Fortune, “Sales of electric vehicles in Europe are growing at such a pace
that the continent looks increasingly likely to outpace China in the near future. That’s one of the findings of a report released Tuesday by London-based automotive research firm Jato Dynamics. However, it found that Europe and the U.S. still have a few things
to learn from China, the world’s biggest EV market, including prioritizing affordability, centralizing planning, and using data to better understand consumers. Demand for cleaner and smarter cars is rising globally, particularly in Europe where the market
has been bolstered by tighter emissions regulations along with an increasing awareness of climate change. EV sales in Europe in the first half exceeded China for the first time since 2015. Although the coronavirus pandemic hurt all car sales, including EVs,
which fell 15% globally in the second quarter, the market for electric vehicles is forecast to expand about 7% this year, led by Europe, according to a September report from BloombergNEF. ‘What governments in underdeveloped EV markets now need is a more centralized
plan to catalyze growth and create an optimal environment to build consumer confidence by making adoptions as simple as possible,’ Jato’s report said. Besides heavily subsidizing EVs, the government in China has created an effective infrastructure and implementation
strategy that’s crucial to supporting adoption, the report found. According to the International Energy Agency, the number of public slow- and fast-charging spots reached 862,118 worldwide, with China taking a 60% share. Tesla Inc., the California-based company
that’s currently the world’s biggest EV maker, earlier this month cut the price of its China-made Model 3 sedan to 249,900 yuan ($36,800), cheaper than anywhere else, aided by supply chain localization, especially batteries.” [Fortune,
10/13/20
(=)]
Chinese Electric-Car Charging Provider StarCharge Eyes IPO.
According to Bloomberg, “Chinese electric-vehicle charging equipment provider StarCharge
plans to start the process for an initial public offering, just weeks after completing a Series A fundraising round. The company, registered as Wanbang Digital Energy Co., aims to list on a mainland bourse and has hired Guotai Junan Securities Co. to assist,
according to a statement dated Oct. 9 on its website. It didn’t provide more details. StarCharge last month completed a 855 million yuan ($125 million) capital raising led by Schneider Electric SE and a fund under CICC Capital that attracted investors including
Morgan Stanley and CCB International. EV makers and related companies have captured investors’ attention this year as consumer demand for more environmentally friendly and high-tech cars increases. Shares of Tesla Inc. and NIO Inc. have surged while Chinese
EV manufacturers Li Auto Inc. and XPeng Inc. have had successful U.S. stock market debuts. The world’s biggest maker of EV batteries, LG Chem Ltd., is also planning on spinning off its EV battery business into a separate entity in a bid to carve out value.
StarCharge has been profitable for three consecutive years, the company’s chairwoman Shao Danwei, is quoted as saying on the group’s website. Calls to the company, based in Changzhou in China’s eastern Jiangsu province, seeking further details weren’t immediately
answered. Along with rivals Qingdao TGood Electric Co. and State Grid Corp. of China, StarCharge provides a range of charging solutions for EVs, from large petrol station-like centers to smaller ones meant for residential use. China is the world’s biggest
EV market and sales are recovering after taking a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. Competition in the sector is fierce with local players like NIO and BYD Co. vying for attention with international brands.” [Bloomberg,
10/12/20
(=)]
Amazon Shows Off Its New Electric Delivery Van.
According to Axios, “Amazon has taken the wraps off the first electric delivery van developed
with the Rivian, the EV startup slated to begin mass producing vehicles for the e-commerce giant. Why it matters: It shows that Amazon is moving to turn its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2040 into concrete steps and technology deployment. What’s next: Amazon,
which is also a major investor in Rivian, plans to have 10,000 Rivian-built vehicles on the roads as early as 2022 and 100,000 by 2030. The first are expected on the roads next year. How it works: Amazon says the new van will have a 150-mile range. They’re
also touting a suite of features, such as a camera system linked to an interior digital display that provides drivers a 360-degree view. Yes, but: When it comes to EVs, Amazon is also working with other providers, including plans to add over 1,800 battery-powered
Mercedes-Benz vans in Europe this year.” [Axios, 10/9/20
(=)]
Research and Analysis
Electric Car Growth Sparking $300 Billion Budget Loss For States.
According to Bloomberg Law, “States are being forced to adapt to dwindling tax revenues
from sales of gasoline and automobiles that will trigger large shortfalls in their budgets over the next two decades. One economic model suggests the states could lose more than $300 billion annually by 2040 if they fail to modify their tax codes to adjust
to electric and self-driving vehicles. New transportation business models such as shared vehicle ownership and network-owned vehicle organizations will also impact state revenue. ‘Already revenues are way down because of improved fuel economy, and electric
cars and hybrids will further impact gasoline sales,’ said Richard Pomp, a professor of tax policy at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Recent actions by states or companies to promote eco-friendly vehicles raise significant questions about the
long-term viability of state road funds and the federal Highway Trust Fund. Some lawmakers in Oregon and elsewhere are already pivoting toward a tax system based on mobility, or road usage, rather than fuel, vehicles, and drivers. That transportation future
is already unfolding. California’s governor last month issued an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035. Ride-hailing giant Uber announced 100% of its rides would take place in electric vehicles by 2030. And
Michigan’s governor announced a first-in-the-nation initiative for a dedicated autonomous vehicle corridor linking Detroit and Ann Arbor. Kil Huh, vice president for government performance at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said his organization has harbored concerns
about declining road funds for years and commissioned a study by University of Tennessee economist William Fox examining the impact transportation technologies and consumer choice would have on state finances.” [Bloomberg Law,
10/9/20
(=)]
The Future Of Electric Cars May Be Skateboards.
According to The Drive, “When it comes to the future of electric vehicles, should automakers
worry less about batteries and drivetrains and more about what gets built right on top of them? Israeli startup REE Automotive thinks so. It has now prototyped a range of heavy-duty skateboard-style beds capable of carrying up to 7 tons for car and van designers
to add their own ideas on top of. One of the fun things about electric motors is that they’re really small and don’t need to aspirate, so you can put them in all kinds of weird configurations. The toy industry has been doing this for decades and the rise of
using the word e-mobility with a straight face has seen a plethora of skateboards, scooters and weird gyroscopic balance wheels take advantage of the same concept. Cars, though, we tend to keep roughly to the same shape. Barring out-there Batmobile projects
like the Ariel Hipercar or maybe Toyota’s own modular, mobile expo-slash-food-van concept, the shape of cars has basically turned out to be pretty popular for basically getting the job done. That may change with the advent of mass-produced EVs. While General
Motors has played with the idea of an electric skateboard platform for decades now, REE is taking the concept and really running with it. There are still four wheels, driven by individual motors called REEcorners just to emphasize they’re at the expected points
on the vehicle. But everything that drives it is contained in the flat platform. REE is doing that by using ‘X-by-wire’ for everything. Steering and braking are done completely electronically, so there’s no need for any mechanical connection between whatever
you give the driver to control that—might as well be an Xbox controller, so long as you configure it right.” [The Drive,
10/11/20
(=)]
The Case For Big Hydrogen Trucks.
According to Axios, “The big picture: We’ve been hearing about zero-emission, fuel-cell
vehicles for decades. But even now, the economic and practical challenges are still too difficult to overcome — except, perhaps, for commercial truck fleets. The state of play: Like carmakers, truck manufacturers are under intense regulatory pressure to cut
carbon emissions. Tesla is developing an electric semi-truck, but most manufacturers say electric trucks make sense only for shorter routes. Strapping a bulky battery under a long-haul truck is impractical if it takes up space that could otherwise be used
for revenue-producing cargo. Driving the news: Several manufacturers last week announced expanded plans to make or boost deployment of hydrogen-powered big rigs, with news arriving from Hyundai, Toyota and Hyzon Motors. How it works: Unlike conventional gasoline
or diesel cars or trucks, fuel cell vehicles combine hydrogen and oxygen to power an electric motor. The only tailpipe emission is water vapor. One advantage of hydrogen fuel cells over battery electric vehicles is that they can be refueled in less than 10
minutes versus 30 minutes to multiple hours for EVs. Between the lines: A number of automakers have tried to market hydrogen fuel-cell cars over the years with little success. They sold only 7,500 worldwide last year. Finding a place to fill up is among the
barriers. There are just 42 public hydrogen stations, all but one of them in California. Commercial trucks, however, don’t require a large network of hydrogen fueling stations, especially if they’re operating on set routes.” [Axios,
10/9/20
(=)]
Oil Giant Stakes Hydrogen Truck Startup.
According to Axios, “The huge multinational oil-and-gas company Total SE is investing
in the hydrogen fuel cell truck and bus startup Hyzon Motors, the companies announced this morning. Why it matters: It’s the latest sign of increasing interest in hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles amid moves by startups and legacy automakers alike. It also shows
how European-headquartered oil giants are boosting their alternative energy portfolios, even though hydrocarbons remain their dominant business lines. Driving the news: Total’s VC arm is leading the funding round that also has participation from Ascent Hydrogen
Fund, Hydrogen Capital Partners and Audacy Ventures Ltd. Yes, but: The size of the investments in Hyzon were not disclosed, but Bloomberg reports that they’re relatively small. The funding round ‘totaled more than $15 million and valued Hyzon at around $200
million,’ it reports. What’s next: Hyzon says it plans to deliver around 5,000 fuel cell trucks and buses over the next three years from its facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. The company, a spinoff out of Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies,
says it currently has roughly 400 trucks and buses on the roads. The big picture: Hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles are having a moment even though it remains a small market with plenty of barriers to major growth. Two recent examples... Hyundai delivered its
first XCIENT fuel cell heavy-duty trucks to European customers this week and announced plans to bring hydrogen-powered trucks to the U.S. and China, too. It plans to build up to 2,000 trucks a year starting in 2021.” [Axios,
10/9/20
(=)]
International
Europe Can Win Electric Car Sales Race If It Learns From China.
According to Bloomberg, “Sales of electric vehicles in Europe are growing at such a pace
that the continent looks increasingly likely to outpace China in the near future. That’s one of the findings of a report released Tuesday by London-based automotive research firm Jato Dynamics. However, it found that Europe and the U.S. still have a few things
to learn from China, the world’s biggest EV market, including prioritizing affordability, centralizing planning, and using data to better understand consumers. Demand for cleaner and smarter cars is rising globally, particularly in Europe where the market
has been bolstered by tighter emissions regulations along with an increasing awareness of climate change. EV sales in Europe in the first half exceeded China for the first time since 2015. Although the coronavirus pandemic hurt all car sales, including EVs,
which fell 15% globally in the second quarter, the market for electric vehicles is forecast to expand about 7% this year, led by Europe, according to a September report from BloombergNEF. ‘What governments in underdeveloped EV markets now need is a more centralized
plan to catalyze growth and create an optimal environment to build consumer confidence by making adoptions as simple as possible,’ Jato’s report said. Besides heavily subsidizing EVs, the government in China has created an effective infrastructure and implementation
strategy that’s crucial to supporting adoption, the report found. According to the International Energy Agency, the number of public slow- and fast-charging spots reached 862,118 worldwide, with China taking a 60% share.” [Bloomberg,
10/13/20
(=)]
Electric Cars To Triple Market Share In Europe Amid COVID-19, Researchers Say.
According to Reuters, “Electric vehicles made up 8% of car sales in Europe in the first
half of 2020, putting them on track to triple their market share this year, according to analysis by the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). While the novel coronavirus pandemic has seen overall car sales plummet, sales of electric cars - which T&E defined
as both battery and plug-in hybrid models - have increased. This saw electric cars more than triple their market share in the European Economic Area (EEA), compared with the first half of last year, T&E said. Outright sales of such vehicles are expected to
roughly double this year, to one million units, it said. T&E attributed the sales increase to tougher European Union car emissions standards, which took effect this year, and post-pandemic purchase incentives in Germany and France. The NGO expects carmakers
to meet the 2020 emissions standards, which would see electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles triple their market share in 2020 to 10% of EEA car sales. ‘It is because of the EU emissions standards, but it is also thanks to many investments carmakers made last
year,’ report co-author Julia Poliscanova said. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) said electric vehicle sales have been boosted by national support schemes to foster economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic but that this trend was
not necessarily a long-term one. ‘It is difficult to make any predictions on future long-term shifts in consumer behaviour from such ‘artificial’ growth driven by subsidies,’ ACEA said.” [Reuters,
10/12/20
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Europe's Projected EV Surge.
According to Axios, “Electric vehicles are projected to account for 15% of new auto sales
in Europe next year, per new analysis from the group Transport & Environment. Why it matters: That’s a lot of growth. It shows the effects of new European carbon emissions regulations and automakers’ compliance efforts, the report notes. Yes, but: ‘[W]hile
electric cars’ market share will go from 3% to 10% this year, and to 15% next year, we may expect to see it at only 20% four years later if the current CO2 regulation is not revised,’ the group said. Go deeper: The Financial Times ($) has more.” [Axios,
10/12/20
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Brussels Plans Congestion Charge For Cars, La Libre Reports.
According to Bloomberg, “The capital region of Brussels may introduce a congestion charge
for cars accessing the center of the city, La Libre Belgique reports, citing plans of the local administration. The pilot scheme could be introduced as early as next year, and may cost each each driver as much 2,500 euros ($3,000) a year, according to estimates
of local lawmaker André Antoine, the newspaper says. A 3-euro charge for access to the center of the city between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. could bring revenue of 323.7 million-euros per year, according to the scenarios run by the regional government, while a 12-euro
tariff would catapult the annual proceeds to 1.2 billion euros. The capital of Belgium, which also hosts the main institutions of the European Union and NATO’s headquarters, is notorious for its traffic jams during peak hours.” [Bloomberg,
10/9/20
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Opinion Pieces
Op-Ed: How Gas Car Phaseout Boosts Beyond-Gasoline Movement.
According to an op-ed by Janelle London in the San Jose Mercury News, “Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered California’s Air Resources Board to issue regulations requiring all new
cars to be emission-free by 2035. The order creates powerful opportunities to accelerate the transition beyond polluting gasoline. It communicates to automakers, the oil industry, and drivers that the gas-car era has an end date, and that further investment
in it will not be profitable. It signals to utilities, landlords, and the private sector that investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure will be rewarded with high utilization by many millions of EVs. The directive builds momentum for other
states to sunset sales of new gas cars. In Washington state, a bill was introduced this year requiring 100% of new cars to be electric by 2030, and a growing coalition of environmental, health, business, labor, and community organizations is supporting its
passage in 2021. Hawaii and Massachusetts are considering similar bills, and each additional state joining this process will push the transition to electric vehicles faster. Newsom’s order prompts local jurisdictions to lay the groundwork for a quick, smooth
and equitable transition beyond gasoline. To prepare for the all-EV future, local governments must electrify public fleets and ensure everyone has convenient access to electric vehicle charging. Large employers must electrify their vehicles and enable their
employees to stop using gasoline in connection with work. Local jurisdictions must collaborate with disadvantaged communities to implement gasoline-reduction measures that will be effective and just, including electric vehicle car share and lending programs,
targeted EV incentives, and accessible, low-cost charging.” [San Jose Mercury News,
10/9/20 (+)]
Chad Ellwood
Senior Research Associate
Climate Action Campaign
202.448.2877 ext. 119