Clean
Car Standards
Regan:
'We're Going To Meet The Moment'. According
to E&E News, “When EPA Administrator Michael Regan fired every member of two science advisory panels in March, he was trying to send an unequivocal message: It’s a new day for scientific integrity. It was a hardball maneuver by EPA’s new chief, who came to
the job with a national reputation for his work forging consensus as a regulator in North Carolina. He had just taken over a federal agency where career scientists and civil servants felt diminished and attacked under the Trump administration. In remarks to
EPA employees after he was sworn in last month, Regan promised to ‘restore the role of science and transparency’ at the agency. […] The agency is preparing tougher tailpipe emissions limits, which are on track to be proposed by July. And yesterday, EPA signaled
it would return authority to California to set its own stricter tailpipe emissions standards for light-duty cars and trucks, reversing a Trump administration decision to revoke the state’s Clean Air Act waiver that can help cut greenhouse gas emissions. ‘The
tailpipe emissions need to be aggressive. The science informs that level of aggression,’ Regan said, adding the agency has been in talks with the auto industry and unions. ‘We’re going to meet the moment, and we’re going to do it in a way where we protect
the environment and create good-paying jobs.’ We’re going to meet the moment, and we’re going to do it in a way where we protect the environment and create good-paying jobs. EPA Administrator Michael Regan on efforts to tighten tailpipe emissions standards.
Regan and EPA have managed to set the table for Biden’s environmental agenda in the president’s first 100 days. But like every other agency, EPA has requirements for public notice and comments that could slow the process of shifting into regulatory overdrive.
Once rules are in place, litigation is expected to soon follow..” [E&E News,
4/27/21
(+)]
EPA
To Restore California’s Power To Set Its Own Emissions Regulations. According
to Car Scoops, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to reinstate California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions rules and zero-emission vehicle mandates. In 2013, the EPA granted California a waiver for its tailpipe greenhouse
gas emissions and EV regulations but in 2019, the agency revoked this waiver under the Trump administration. ‘The 2019 decision to revoke the state’s waiver to enforce its greenhouse gas pollution standards for cars and trucks was legally dubious and an attack
on the public’s health and wellbeing,’ EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. No less than 13 states have adopted California’s vehicle-emission rules and a number of others are in the process of adopting them. Reuters reports that the EPA
will hold a virtual public hearing on June 2 regarding its notice of reconsideration and will take public comments on the matter through July 6. ‘The Biden Administration is beginning to undo the last administration’s regulatory wreckage,’ Senate Environment
and Public Works Committee chairman Tom Carper added. ‘Rather than celebrate and encourage state innovation to tackle climate change, the last administration sought to stifle progress and tie the states’ hands.’ California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the
decision in a statement issued on Monday. ‘California welcomes the resumption of our decades-long collaboration with federal partners to develop strong vehicle emissions standards into the next decade,’ he said. State director at Environment California, a
nonprofit political organization that lobbies for environmental legislation in the state, Laura Deehan, also thanked the Biden administration.” [Car Scoops,
4/27/21
(=)]
Congress
Bobby
Rush Seeks Momentum For Major EV Investments. According
to E&E News, “Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) yesterday reintroduced legislation that would steer billions of dollars to electrifying the transportation sector and boost domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles. The ‘New Opportunities to Expand Healthy Air Using
Sustainable Transportation (NO EXHAUST) Act,’ H.R. 2852, would authorize more than $7 billion annually in grants and rebates over 10 years for states to implement electric vehicle networks. The bill is a major component of House Democrats’ push on electric
vehicles as part of the party’s efforts on climate and infrastructure. ‘Our transportation sector is the number one offender when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, producing nearly thirty percent of total emissions in the United States,’ Rush said in a
statement. ‘In Chicago, these emissions mean hotter summers, a more vulnerable shoreline, and an alarming prevalence of public health issues related to pollution.’ Rush, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing on the
legislation for next week. It would authorize $2 billion per year for the deployment of EV charging equipment, $2.5 billion annually for large-scale projects that electrify the transportation sector and $2.5 billion each year to boost domestic manufacturing
of EVs. The bill would also approve $100 million annually for rebates to encourage accessible EV supply equipment and $96 million annually to deploy EVs in disadvantaged and underserved communities. The measure would direct the Department of Energy to give
priority to grant applicants who promise to pay prevailing wages. Rush offered a version of the bill last year (E&E Daily, Jan. 8, 2020).” [E&E News,
4/28/21
(=)]
DOE
Barrasso
Calls For Investigation Into Granholm Ties To Electric Vehicle Company. According
to The Hill, “Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) is calling for an investigation into Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm over her connections with a company that makes electric buses, batteries and chargers. In a letter Monday, the top Republican on the Energy and
Natural Resources Committee asked the Energy Department’s inspector general to look into ‘potential conflicts of interest’ related to the company Proterra, where Granholm formerly held a board position. ‘In light of concerns about a potential conflict of interest
associated with Secretary Granholm’s significant investment in the electric bus, battery, and charging company Proterra, Inc. ... I request that DOE’s Office of Inspector General promptly initiate a review of Secretary Granholm’s ethical, regulatory, and statutory
obligations; her relationship with Proterra, Inc. ... and her or her staffs’ participation in or promotion of activities by the Biden Administration to advocate for electric vehicles (including electric buses), batteries, and charging infrastructure,’ Barrasso
wrote. Barrasso raised concerns about Granholm’s activities in promoting electric vehicles, batteries and charging infrastructure. He also noted that President Biden took a virtual tour of a Proterra manufacturing plant. Granholm said in ethics forms that
she would resign from her position upon confirmation and forfeit unvested stock options at that time. She also said she would divest her vested stock options no later than 180 days after her confirmation. An Energy Department spokesperson told The Hill that
Granholm did not play a role in Biden’s tour of the Proterra facility and has stepped down from its board.” [The Hill,
4/27/21
(=)]
Barrasso
Requests Probe Of Granholm's EV Financial Ties. According
to E&E News, “The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s top Republican called on the Department of Energy’s internal watchdog to investigate an alleged conflict of interest concerning Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s financial ties to an electric bus
company. The letter to the DOE inspector general from Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) comes amid conservative outcry over Granholm’s stock holdings in Proterra Inc. following a White House virtual tour of the electric bus manufacturer last week. Granholm has denied
any connection to the tour and vowed she would divest her holdings within the 180-day time frame allotted to Cabinet officials upon their confirmation (Energywire, April 27). Barrasso, however, said Granholm’s connections to an EV company may present a significant
conflict of interest. Electrification of the transportation sector is a cornerstone of the administration’s climate policy. ‘I am concerned about this and other potential conflicts of interest between Secretary Granholm’s significant investment in Proterra,
Inc. and any activities she may have directly or indirectly participated in within the Biden Administration to promote electric vehicles (including electric buses), batteries, and charging infrastructure,’ Barrasso said in the letter to the IG. Barrasso has
been among Capitol Hill’s most vocal opponents of federal support for electric vehicles, leading the legislative effort to revoke EV-related tax credits in the past several Congresses. Granholm had served on Proterra’s board of directors since 2017. She said
in January before her confirmation that she would leave the board and has since stepped down.” [E&E News,
4/27/21
(=)]
Auto
Manufacturers
Ford To
Open Battery Research Lab In Electric Vehicle Push. According
to Bloomberg, “Ford Motor Co. is building a $185 million battery research lab as part of a push to build its own power sources for plug-in cars. The 200,000-square foot research center, to be known as Ford Ion Park, will be located in the Detroit area and
open by the end of next year. It will employ 150 researchers and include a pilot production line where the automaker can prove its ability to manufacture both power cells and full batteries. The investment represents an acceleration of Ford’s shift to electric
vehicles. ‘We’re much more bullish and aggressive on how fast this transition is going to play out,’ Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s product development chief, said in a briefing Tuesday. ‘We will no longer take an approach of hedging our bets and planning around the
uncertainty of how fast that will play out.’ A global semiconductor shortage roiling the auto industry has highlighted the need for greater access to critical components such as batteries for the coming wave of electric vehicles, Thai-Tang said. The shortage
of computer chips, which mostly come from Asian suppliers, is causing automakers to idle factories and could cost the industry $61 billion, according to consultant AlixPartners. ‘It’s heightened the importance of controlling the supply chain,’ Thai-Tang said.
‘That is one of the key learnings we’ve had from the semiconductors. So that’s part of our motivation here, but also getting to the best technology and the best cost.’ The research center is part of the $22 billion Ford has said it is investing by 2025 to
electrify its lineup. The company has already begun selling the battery powered Mustang Mach-E and next year will launch an electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup. The facility will help Ford speed up the development of electric vehicles and reduce
their cost, Thai-Tang said. The carmaker has pledged to go almost all electric in Europe by 2030 and it supported California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to ban the sale of new gasoline powered cars in his state by 2035.” [Bloomberg,
4/27/21
(=)]
Ford,
GM Stock Rallies Hang In The Balance As Earnings Kick Off. According
to Bloomberg, “The stock rally for America’s traditional automakers may face a reality check with companies starting to report results amid an industrywide semiconductor shortage and an uncertain outlook heading out of the pandemic. Ford Motor Co. and General
Motors Co. have drawn renewed interest from investors as they join the race to capture more of the electric-vehicle market dominated by Tesla Inc., the world’s most valuable car company. But quarterly earnings -- beginning with Ford on Wednesday and followed
by General Motors next week -- will leave investors and analysts balancing the companies’ gas-car-fueled performance at the start of the year against their outlook for the future, all against the backdrop of a global shortfall of computer chips. Pandemic-related
supply-chain disruptions and a sudden jump in the demand for products that use those chips -- from laptops and phones, to home appliances and cars -- has led carmakers including Ford, Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp. to halt production and idle plants.
‘Global auto production in first quarter saw a large negative impact from semi shortages, although likely not as much as feared a month ago,’ Deutsche Bank AG analyst Emmanuel Rosner wrote in a note on April 22. ‘Conversely, production schedules for the second
quarter seem to be coming under deeper pressure than anticipated from prolonged shortages, and the potential to make up large lost volume in the second half seems to be diminishing.’ The industry’s first quarter will likely be stronger than initially projected
by analysts after a report showed auto sales for the period largely surpassed expectations and rose from a year ago. But the outlook is likely to face more scrutiny.” [Bloomberg,
4/28/21
(=)]
Ford Takes
Its First Step Toward Producing Its Own Electric Car Batteries. According
to The Verge, “Ford announced the launch of a new battery development center in Michigan, the first step toward taking on some of the burden of building its own battery cells for electric cars in-house. The new ‘global battery center of excellence’ will be
called Ford Ion Park and will be based in Southeast Michigan. Ford said the purpose is to conduct research on how to go about making its own electric vehicle batteries. A team of 150 experts will work on ways to build EV batteries that are long lasting, quick
to charge, and sustainable for the environment. They will also develop a process for making batteries quickly, cheaply, and at scale. But Ford Ion Park, which will open late next year, will not house any actual battery manufacturing at scale. There will be
‘lab scale and pilot scale’ battery assembly at the new center, said Anand Sankaran, the center’s new director, but the automaker will have to build a new factory to build EV batteries at scale. Ford would not provide a timeline as to when it anticipates launching
its own battery cell production line, nor whether it would build a new factory to house battery manufacturing. ‘It’s really for us to develop that expertise and competency in house and give us that flexibility in the future,’ said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief
platform and operations officer. ‘So stay tuned.’ Ford, which is still in the early stages of its transition to electric vehicles, has said it plans to spend $22 billion on the shift, including $7 billion on autonomous vehicles, through 2025. The majority
of vehicles it plans on producing will be battery-electric vehicles, but the company also has hybrid and plug-in hybrid models with traditional internal combustion engines.” [The Verge,
4/27/21
(=)]
Ford To
Join Battery-Making Business In EV Push. According
to E&E News, “Ford Motor Co. signaled yesterday that it plans to make its own battery parts, though its blueprint is modest compared with commitments by electric vehicle rivals General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG. Ford announced it will spend $185 million
to build what it dubs a ‘Ford Ion Park,’ a ‘collaborative learning lab’ that will open late next year to develop both lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. Meanwhile, other major automakers are already moving into production with industrial partners. GM has
developed a proprietary battery with South Korea-based LG Chem Ltd. and is building large factories in Ohio and Tennessee. Volkswagen has created a partnership with Swedish battery maker Northvolt AB, which is planning several factories in Europe. Ford is
hinting that bigger plans lie in store. The new facility ‘will allow Ford to quickly scale breakthrough battery cell designs with novel materials once the company vertically integrates battery cells and batteries,’ the company said in a press release. The
project shows that Ford, the No. 2 U.S. automaker, is being swept up in the automotive battery race amid worries about having a reliable supply. Its plans to use batteries from South Korea’s SK Innovation Co. for its coming lineup of EVs were nearly derailed
earlier this year by a trade dispute between SK and LG Chem (Energywire, April 12). Ford has said it will spend $22 billion by 2025 on electrification. Its first big entry into EVs, the Mustang Mach-E, has arrived in showrooms. Its first commercial electric
vehicle, the Transit, is supposed to go on sale later this year, followed by an electric version of its bestselling F-150 truck next year.” [E&E News,
4/28/21
(=)]
GM Makes
Time's 100 Most Influential Companies: Here's Why. According
to the Detroit Free Press, “General Motors has made TIME100’s first-ever Most Influential Companies list in its stated quest for electric vehicle dominance — though CEO Mary Barra admits GM still has to ‘put a few more points on the board.’ GM, Tesla and Volkswagen
Group are the only other mainstream automakers to make the list, which includes companies such as Facebook, Google, Moderna, UPS, Netflix and Zoom. Time revealed the list Tuesday. It also names BYD Co Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of automobiles, battery-powered
bicycles, buses, forklifts, solar panels and rechargeable batteries. General Motors has made TIME100’s first-ever Most Influential Companies list. Volkswagen Group, Tesla and Chinese automaker, BYD Co., are the only other automakers to make the list. The TIME100
Most Influential Companies is a list of businesses making an extraordinary impact and shaping the future, said Kelsey Dupere, Time spokeswoman. TIME solicited nominations across a variety of industries from its editors, correspondents and industry experts.
It evaluated each nomination on relevance, impact, innovation, leadership, ambition and success, Dupere said. As part of the list, Barra did an interview, sharing her thoughts on EV market leader Tesla, how EVs will change GM’s workforce and GM’s $85 billion
market capitalization versus Tesla’s $700 billion. ‘One of the pieces I think that sometimes investors miss is that virtually all the assets necessary to achieve our vision we already have and have demonstrated. Sometimes we will forget we actually sell more
vehicles in this country than anyone else,’ Barra told Time in relation to GM’s market cap. ‘We have to tell our story better and put a few more points on the board.’” [Detroit Free Press,
4/27/21
(=)]
AP | Late
Taxes Are Another Troubling Sign For Truck Startup. According
to E&E News, “The failure of an Ohio-based electric truck startup to pay $570,000 in real estate taxes due in early March is yet another troubling sign for a company that has been barraged by bad news this year. Lordstown Motors Corp. stock has plummeted from
nearly $31 a share on Feb. 11 to just over $10 yesterday in the wake of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry and the filing of four potential class-action lawsuits by investors who claim they have been defrauded. The company appeared to be primed
for success last June during a showcase event at the massive former General Motors Co. plant outside Youngstown, Ohio. Then-Vice President Mike Pence sat in the passenger seat of an Endurance prototype as it rolled onto a stage to hearty applause. Noisy, colorfully
lit robots building nothing gyrated nearby. The first drip of bad news came in January when an Endurance pickup truck prototype caught fire 10 minutes into its initial test drive in Michigan. A company spokesperson issued a statement afterward saying, ‘No
one was hurt, and like all of our test findings, we do it to create a great product.’ Spokesperson Ryan Hallett said yesterday that the non-payment, initially reported by the Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio, was an ‘unfortunate administrative error’ and
that the company is in the process of paying the taxes and a 10% penalty of around $57,000. Company officials announced in January it had received more than 100,000 pre-orders for the Endurance, and production was scheduled to begin this September, which critics
claim is untrue. Lordstown Motors CEO Steve Burns acknowledged during an earnings call in March that SEC was conducting an inquiry based on a lengthy and hypercritical report by the investment firm Hindenburg Research, which holds a short position on Lordstown
Motors stock.” [E&E News, 4/28/21
(=)]
Infrastructure
Package
White
House Eyes $42B In Existing Funding For Biden Electric Vehicle Push. According
to Utility Dive, “Federal lawmakers are working to translate Biden’s jobs plan into an infrastructure bill that will help to revitalize and decarbonize the United States’ economy. While that legislation is being developed, experts say it is important that
existing funding opportunities be tapped in order to begin making immediate progress on transportation electrification. ‘It’s really encouraging to see federal leadership on EVs and charging infrastructure. We need it right now to succeed in this rapid transition
to electric transportation,’ Houston said. ‘That is the direction the market is going anyway, but we need to get there as quickly as we can.’ ‘Electric mobility is currently in a similar place where renewable energy was a few years ago; trending upwards yet
not widespread,’ ENGIE Impact CEO Mathias Lelièvre said in an email, adding he is ‘encouraged’ by the president’s proposal. ENGIE assists companies and governments in setting and meeting climate targets. The transportation sector is the United States’ largest
contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and in order to decarbonize it and the rest of the economy by 2050 Biden is aiming to electrify much of the U.S. vehicle fleet — and bring the power sector to 100% carbon-free by 2035. His administration’s new report
finds that building 500,000 new public EV chargers is ‘a key strategy’ for reducing emissions. The report concludes federal funding for EV charging infrastructure on U.S. highways is available through 15 programs. Those could be used to build chargers, support
workforce training and integrate EVs into public transportation systems and freight, the report said. But DOT also warned that ‘many of these programs are oversubscribed, and EV charging infrastructure competes with many other types of eligible projects.’”
[Utility Dive, 4/27/21
(+)]
Electric
Vehicles
Just
Transition Needed In Transit Electrification, Labor Leaders Say. According
to Smart Cities Dive, “President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan calls for a major investment in EVs and electrified transit, with a focus on what a senior administration official described as ‘infrastructure for the future.’ But the labor groups said as public
transportation agencies forge ahead with plans to electrify their vehicles, transit workers, including operators and mechanics, are not being prepared to transition to an electric future away from traditional diesel-powered vehicles. In an interview, ATU International
President John Costa said only about 3% of the group’s membership is trained on the technology and how to maintain it safely, even as agencies increasingly turn to EVs. The differences between traditional vehicles and EVs include the different personal protective
equipment required to maintain them, the use of rubberized tools and the difference in motors. Operators must also be retrained, as a new style of driving is required to reduce strain on the battery from braking, he said. Costa said while electrification’s
aim to reduce emissions is noble, agencies cannot rely on vehicle suppliers to train operators in the new equipment, and if there is no training on offer, workers risk their existing skills becoming obsolete. ‘This is all good technology,’ he said. ‘This is
all good stuff. But at the same time, we don’t want to lose workers over this. We want to create more jobs for people to have good paying jobs.’ TWU International President John Samuelsen sounded a similar warning, saying in an interview that in Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania alone, 10,000 mechanic jobs could be under threat with the move to electrification because electric motors require less maintenance.” [Smart Cities Dive,
4/27/21
(=)]
Auto
Suppliers Group Urges Slow Transition To Electric Vehicles. According
to The Detroit News, “An advocacy group representing auto suppliers urged Congress on Tuesday not to back a speedy phase-out of gas-powered vehicles, arguing the shift will cost up to 30% of supplier jobs. The plea stands in sharp contrast with calls from
the governors of 12 states (not including Michigan) to end gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035, as well as a general reticence on the part of most auto executives to honestly grapple with the negative implications of electrification on factory jobs. Any changes
to fuel economy and emissions standards ‘must provide for continued investment in reaching the full efficiency potential of the internal combustion engine,’ Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ann Wilson
said Tuesday. ‘If we move too quickly to an electrified fleet, we could lose 30% of supplier jobs in this country. ... Many of my members think it’s going to be even more than that.’ The governors of California, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina and
eight other states sent a letter last week to President Joe Biden, asking him to support ending the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, which would dramatically speed the transition to electric vehicles. Biden and other senior administration officials
have not committed to supporting such a goal. Wilson was speaking before a subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee headed by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township. Representatives from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Mothers Against
Drunk Driving, and the American Center for Mobility also testified. While the suppliers group agrees the industry is shifting to electric vehicles and the U.S. must be a leader in that switch, ‘neither the current rate of consumer adoption of EVs nor existing
levels of federal support for supply- and demand-side policies, is sufficient to meet our goal of a net-zero carbon transportation future.’” [The Detroit News,
4/27/21
(=)]
State
and Local
200 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations To Be Built Across Michigan.
According to WLNS, “You’ve probably seen electric vehicle charging stations while out
in Michigan, and Consumers Energy plans to bring 200 more stations to help charge the next generation of transportation. Consumers Energy doesn’t make electric vehicles. ‘That’s up to GM and Ford and others,’ said Brian Wheeler of Consumers Energy. But that
isn’t stopping them from promoting more eco-friendly methods of transportation. Consumers is planning to build 200 fast charging stations across Michigan. ‘Plug in your vehicle, charge it for about half an hour, then you can go for hundreds more miles,’ said
Wheeler. Wheeler says he hopes these extra charging stations will help combat what he calls ‘range anxiety.’ ‘It’s kind of this idea of ‘can I get from point A to point B and make sure I can charge my vehicle.’’ Consumers Energy has 24 fast charging stations
already. Stations in Ionia and Jackson have been serving Mid-Michigan already, but the new round of stations will further increase the amount of charging stations in the area. ‘Electric vehicles are still a small part of the car market, but the sales are growing
fast. GM wants to sell one million electric vehicles by 2025, and sales are climbing by 20% every year,’ said Wheeler. Wheeler also said that Consumers plans to install more than 2,000 chargers in homes and businesses to help make electric vehicle ownership
more convenient. ‘Usually a charging station at home will cost somewhere around $500, and $500 is the rebate that we can offer for your electric vehicle charger at home,’ said Wheeler.” [WLNS,
4/27/21
(=)]
Amazon’s First Electric Vans Started Delivering Packages In The Denver Area This Week.
According to The Colorado Sun, “The first Amazon deliveries using new Rivian electric
vans reached Denver this week, one of 16 U.S. locations the online retailer plans to deploy electric vehicles on its routes. Amazon is one of Rivian’s investors and began testing the all-electric vans in Los Angeles earlier this year. It’s part of the company’s
‘Climate Pledge,’ to get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The company purchased 100,000 EVs for deliveries. The Denver-area routes are part of an initial test in different climates that is also occurring in a few other U.S. cities before the Rivian EV
program expands. ‘From what we’ve seen, this is one of the fastest modern commercial electrification programs, and we’re incredibly proud of that,’ Ross Rachey, director of Amazon’s Global Fleet and Products, said in a statement. ‘As we continue to grow and
invest in Colorado, we want to do so responsibly, so we’re excited for customers to see these vehicles cruising through their neighborhood.’ Rivian has attracted a lot of attention in Colorado because of its focus on all-electric SUVs and trucks, which are
the most popular types of vehicles sold in the state, according to the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. Two years ago, the automaker backed a bill in the state legislature to sell its EVs directly to consumers in Colorado. Auto dealers balked and the
proposal didn’t pass. But a law did pass last year after it limited direct consumer sales to automakers with no existing dealership franchise. Last month, the company was approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to install public charging stations
in every state park at no cost to Colorado. The first stations are expected to be installed in July.” [Colorado Sun,
4/27/21
(=)]
International
Rwanda Has Awesome New Incentives For EVs.
According to Clean Technica, “Rwanda is introducing a new set of incentives to catalyze
the adoption of electric vehicles. Rwanda’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), outlines the importance of electric vehicles and the enforcement of vehicle emission standards as key mitigation measures on the path to reduce greenhouse gases.
Earlier this month, Rwanda’s government approved a new set of incentives that will help meet these goals. Speaking at the E-Mobility Technology Showcase in Kigali, Janvier Twagirimana, Transport External link & Donor Coordinator in the Ministry of Infrastructure
(MININFRA), gave a summary of these incentives in his presentation ‘Status of E- Mobility in Rwanda.’ Fiscal Incentives: Electricity tariffs for charging stations to be capped at the industrial tariff. This means that charge point operators will be billed
at close to USD 10 cents/kWh instead of close to 20 cents/kWh Electric vehicles will also benefit form reduced tariffs during off peak periods Electric vehicles, spare parts, batteries, and charging station equipment will all be exempted from import and excise
duties. All of these would also be treated as zero rated VAT products and will also be exempt from withholding tax. Non-Fiscal Incentives: Rent free land for charging stations on land owned by the government Provisions for EV charging stations in the building
code and city planning rules Green license plate to allow preferential parking for EVs and free entry into any future congestion zones Access to dedicated bus lanes Provide preference to electric vehicle for government hired vehicles Regulate the importation
of used vehicles by imposing an age limit Establish restricted zones where only green vehicles can have access Enforcement of existing emission standards to discourage the purchase of polluting vehicles.” [Clean Technica,
4/27/21
(=)]
Brussels Checks The Brakes When It Comes To Slashing Car Emissions.
According to Politico, “It turns out slamming the brakes can be deadly. That’s because
car exhaust isn’t the only source of toxic emissions on the road: When a driver hits the brakes, tiny particulate matter is released from the pads, contributing to pollution and posing a danger to public health, according to researchers. This brake dust represents
almost a third of all polluting fine particulate matter emitted by passenger cars, according to a 2020 study by the OECD. That’s prompting scientists — and legislators — to take a closer look. EU lawmakers are set to include pollution from brakes and tires
in legislation covering the next level of vehicle emissions standards — the so-called Euro 7 reforms, set to land in November — alongside conventional tailpipe fumes. Early work on the legislation has already begun, with the Commission convening experts on
Tuesday to discuss the plans. There’s ‘untapped potential’ in non-exhaust pollutants such as dust from brake wear and tear when it comes to slashing emissions, said a European Commission official working on the upcoming legislation. That’s true for both standard
cars and electric vehicles, whose brakes also cause pollution — though to a lesser degree — dashing hopes that getting more EVs on the road would help solve Europe’s pollution problem once and for all. ‘We want the strictest regulation possible at the EU level
for all vehicles, combustion engines and electric cars,’ said Matteo Barisione, policy officer at the European Public Health Alliance. The brake pads used in cars and trucks — along with those on trains and subway cars — produce particles that can be as small
as a few nanometers, roughly the size of a virus, said Christophe Rocca-Serra, the boss of Tallano, a French start-up that is developing technology to hoover up dust emissions before they escape the brakes.” [Politico,
4/27/21
(=)]
Opinion Pieces
Op-Ed: Michigan Must Invest In Electric Trucks For The Health Of Families.
According to an op-ed by Theresa Landrum in Bridge Michigan, “The other day, I counted more than100 industrial trucks driving past my local community center in a single hour, making
their route from the United States to Canada on Interstate 75. Theresa Landrum is a native Detroiter and retired master mechanic for General Motors. She is a member of the State of Michigan’s Advisory Council on Environmental Justice. (Courtesy photo) My local
community center is tucked between Marathon’s oil refinery and heavily trafficked roads, a landscape that is built upon a legacy of racist housing and development policies that make it difficult for my community to breathe. We’ve been dealing with the impact
of COVID-19 for a year now, but I’ve seen environmental racism harm my friends and family members for far longer. I’ve lived in the shadows of these carbon emitting factories in southwest Detroit, in Michigan’s most toxic zip code, 48217, my entire life. My
community is majority (over 80 percent) Black, and it is no mistake or coincidence that we live next to multiple pollution sources and suffer from high rates of asthma, cancer and respiratory problems, as well as other health problems linked to air pollution.
My economic status, zip code, or race should not determine my ability to breathe clean air. As an environmental justice organizer, my connection to this work is deeply personal, because I’ve seen what this pollution has done to my own family and friends. We
have been working for years to pressure Marathon to pay for the damage of the pollution it has released onto our community and to listen to our voices about the disastrous impacts of the oil industry’s operations in our neighborhood. On the other end of the
oil industry’s environmental injustice is the mobile pollution from the diesel trucks and the black carbon they emit.” [Bridge Michigan,
4/27/21 (+)]
Chad Ellwood
Senior Research Associate
Climate Action Campaign
614.570.3644
He/Him