Cars Clips: June 22, 2022
Biden Will Push Congress For A Three-Month Gas Tax Holiday. According to the New York Times, “President Biden plans to call on Congress on Wednesday to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, an effort to dampen the soaring fuel prices that have stoked frustration across the United States. During a speech on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Biden will ask Congress to lift the federal taxes — about 18 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24 cents per gallon of diesel — through the end of September, just before the fall midterm elections, according to senior officials speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the announcement on Tuesday night. The president will also ask states to suspend their own gas taxes, hoping to alleviate the economic pain that has contributed to the president’s diminishing popularity. The White House will face an uphill battle to get Congress to approve the holiday, however. While the administration and some congressional Democrats have for months discussed such a suspension, Republicans widely oppose it and have accused the administration of undermining the energy industry. Even members of Mr. Biden’s own party, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have expressed concern that companies would absorb much of the savings, leaving little for consumers. Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, said this year that the plan ‘doesn’t make sense.’ Mr. Biden will demand that companies ensure that consumers benefit from the moratorium on the federal tax, the officials said, though they did not specify how he might do so.” [New York Times, 6/22/22 (=)]
Congress Likely To Reject Gas Tax Push. According to The Hill, “Congress is likely to quash the White House effort to back a suspension of the federal gasoline tax. The White House has flirted for weeks with the idea of temporarily halting the 18-cent tax as one way to bring relief to drivers amid record gas prices — and President Biden is expected to officially announce support for it on Wednesday. But with skepticism spanning the ideological spectrum — from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to swing vote Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to much of the GOP — the idea is unlikely to make it across the finish line. Biden’s position on the gasoline tax issue had been unclear for weeks, but the president will call on Congress to suspend the federal gasoline and diesel taxes. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre affirmed on Tuesday, prior to the announcement, that if Biden supported the measure, he’d be looking at an act from Congress. ‘The way we see it is there would be congressional action,’ Jean-Pierre told reporters during a press briefing. ‘The president is looking at an array of options to figure out how he is going to help give relief to the American public, especially as they are looking at gas prices at the pump,’ she said. ‘This is a No. 1 priority for the president.’ Doubts about pausing the federal gasoline tax are coming from both allies and foes of the White House. Democrats have expressed concerns that some of the savings may get passed to oil companies rather than consumers and have also raised worries about a reduction in federal highway spending that is funded by the tax.” [The Hill, 6/22/22 (=)]
Biden Decision On Gas Tax Holiday Expected This Week. According to E&E News, “President Joe Biden is expected to soon decide whether to pursue a policy to lower gasoline taxes, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters today. ‘The president said he’s going to make a decision about this by the end of this week,’ Jean-Pierre said today in the White House briefing room. She added that ‘Congress would need to take action’ to enact such a policy. Her comments come after Biden made similar comments yesterday. ‘I’m considering it,’ Biden told reporters at Rehoboth Beach, Del., when he was asked about a pause on the federal gas tax. ‘I hope I have a decision based on data I’m looking for by the end of the week,’ Biden said, according to a pool report from a reporter on the scene (Energywire, June 21). The Biden administration is scrambling to ease prices at the pump as national average gas prices topped $5 per gallon earlier this month — a historic first that could hurt Biden and congressional Democrats heading into November’s midterm elections. The president ‘is looking at an array of options to figure out how he’s going to give relief to the American public, especially as they are looking at gas prices at the pump. This is a No. 1 priority for the president,’ Jean-Pierre said. Asked yesterday whether he planned to send out gas rebate cards to Americans, Biden said, ‘That’s part of what we consider.’ But, he added, ‘I’m just not in a position to answer that right now.’” [E&E News, 6/21/22 (=)]
Oil CEOs Will Visit White House For Emergency Meeting. According to E&E News, “Responding to President Joe Biden’s call for an explanation of soaring petroleum prices and surging industry profits, oil and gas executives will visit the White House tomorrow for an emergency meeting with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Granholm and White House officials will meet with executives from BP PLC, Chevron Corp. and Phillips 66 Co., the companies confirmed to E&E News. Other oil majors, including Shell PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp., didn’t confirm their attendance. ‘We look forward to engaging with the Administration,’ a Phillips 66 spokesperson said in a statement yesterday. ‘We are a company of problem-solvers, and only good things can come from working collaboratively to address near- and long-term issues facing our country and energy consumers.’ White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden won’t attend the meeting, but is keenly interested in its outcome. She said seven CEOs will attend, but she did not name them. ‘They’re going to sit down and have a conversation, the second step is coming up with a solution and ideas,’ she said. Facing political heat for gasoline prices averaging around $5 a gallon nationwide, Biden has sought to partly shift blame to oil and gas companies, which he said are sitting on 9,000 unused drilling leases on public lands and also cutting refining.” [E&E News, 6/22/22 (=)]
Biden Backs U.S. Gasoline Tax Holiday To Battle High Prices. According to E&E News, “President Joe Biden is asking Congress to suspend the federal gasoline tax through the end of September in a bid to lower prices at the pump for U.S. drivers, arguing that the move would offer Americans extra breathing room as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. Senior administration officials yesterday said the White House is calling on states to take similar steps, either by a short-term suspension of their own gasoline taxes or helping consumers in other ways such as with rebates or relief payments. But headwinds to a gasoline tax suspension appear likely in Congress and in many states, including from some Democrats. Biden officials said the country can afford to suspend the federal gasoline tax for three months without taking dollars away from the Highway Trust Fund, which is largely supported by fuel taxes and is a key source of federal funding for roads and bridges. ‘With the deficit already down by a historic $1.6 trillion this year, the president believes that we can afford to suspend the gas tax and help consumers while using other revenues to make the trust fund whole for the roughly $10 billion cost,’ a senior Biden official said yesterday. The official said the purpose of the gasoline tax holiday is to address the ‘unique moment’ the country is in, with a particular focus on the summer driving season.” [E&E News, 6/22/22 (=)]
Democrats Cool To Biden's Gas Tax Holiday Plan. According to E&E News, “Congressional Democrats offered mixed responses yesterday to a White House-backed proposal to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, with some citing fears that it would do little to help consumers. Lawmakers will likely face the prospect head on in the coming days. Senior administration officials familiar with the plan told E&E News yesterday that President Joe Biden plans to announce as soon as today his decision to back a pause through the end of September on the 18.4 cent per gallon tax. The goal is to cool rising gasoline prices. Suspending the gas tax would need congressional approval. It has been an idea floated by moderate Democrats in recent months as prices have soared. But getting Congress to agree on the matter could be a tough sell. Most Republicans, and even some Democrats, consider the idea a gimmick that would do little to ease recent price shocks. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, repeated his displeasure with such a move, urging Democrats in a statement ‘to see this for what it is: a short-sighted proposal that relies on the cooperation of oil companies to pass on minuscule savings to consumers — the same oil companies that made record profits last year and a staggering $35 billion in the first quarter of 2022.’” [E&E News, 6/22/22 (=)]
Electric Automakers Make Last-Ditch Plea For More Tax Credits Before U.S. Election. According to US News & World Report, “Shifting political winds during the U.S. November mid-term elections could spell trouble for automakers’ hopes of getting billions of dollars in consumer tax credits that would help the United States compete with Chinese and European rivals. General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV and Toyota Motor Corp have pledged to invest more than $170 billion through 2030 to bolster EV development, production and sales. Automakers are making a furious last-ditch effort to convince Congress to approve an extension of EV incentives before Republicans, who are largely opposed to doling out EV subsidies, could potentially take over both houses of Congress next year. Without those incentives, particularly an extension of a $7,500 EV purchase tax credit, the U.S. auto industry will fall behind on the Biden administration’s goal of 50% EV sales by 2030, auto executives, lawmakers and consultants say. That would put the United States, which is already trailing Europe and China in EV sales, even further behind in developing EV manufacturing capability, industry experts said. The result could be fewer jobs and long-term dependence on China for innovation and battery raw materials, industry officials and analysts said. Without incentives, automakers could shift more production and innovation to Europe and further raise prices in the U.S. market to manage profit margins and cash flow, said Nathan Niese, who leads BCG’s global EV practice.” [US News & World Report, 6/21/22 (=)]
House Panel Advances Interior-EPA Spending Package. According to Politico, “House appropriators on Tuesday advanced a $44.8 billion package that would boost funding for EPA and the Interior Department for fiscal year 2023. The bill advanced out of the House Appropriations Interior-EPA subcommittee on a voice vote. Background: The package would give EPA $11.5 billion, a 21 percent or $2 billion increase over current levels. Interior would get $16.6 billion, $2.1 billion or 14 percent above 2022 levels. The increases targeted Democratic priorities, including PFAS standards, water infrastructure funding, environmental justice and conservation. Markup: Subcommittee Chairwoman Chellie Pingree (D-Me.) called the package ‘first and foremost’ a climate bill. ‘I believe that through the investments made in this bill, our country will be better positioned to confront the climate crisis,’ she said, pointing to funds for adaptation in national parks and investments in renewable energy. … However, he criticized the bill as not supporting an ‘all of the above’ energy policy and for dumping long-standing policy riders he said almost certainly will be added back in during conference negotiations with the Senate. ‘We cannot lock America out from the domestic energy and minerals it needs for a smooth transition to a cleaner energy future,’ Joyce said. ‘And in the meantime, let’s not forget that our economy continues depend on the ‘all of the above’ energy strategy.’” [Politico, 6/21/22 (=)]
Will EPA Use Special Power To Prod Trump Holdovers On Climate? According to Politico, “EPA has a rarely used power to prod other agencies to act if it determines that their actions don’t adequately protect the environment. It’s usually not needed, according to experts, because executive branch agencies tend to be on the same page about environmental protections. But environmental groups and government watchdog organizations are now urging EPA to use that power to challenge recent moves made by independent agencies still stocked with Trump appointees. On Friday, a coalition of groups sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, asking him to use his authority to refer ‘environmentally destructive federal projects’ to the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the White House shop tasked with refereeing environmental disputes among agencies. The Revolving Door Project, a watchdog group, organized the letter. Specifically, the groups — including the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, 350.org and the Sunrise Movement — want Regan to challenge recent actions by the U.S. Postal Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority on the grounds that they’ll be ‘environmentally disastrous.’ The groups are asking Regan to use his authority to stymie the Postal Service’s plans to replace its aging fleet with mostly gas-powered vehicles. They also want EPA to thwart a TVA plan to replace retiring coal plants with new gas plants. … A similar argument emerged in the summer of 2020, when environmentalists talked about the possibility of using the National Environmental Policy Act to undercut DeJoy’s rumored plans to limit mail routes and relocate collection boxes and processing machines. NEPA requires the federal government to analyze the impacts of major federal actions, usually ones surrounding the construction of highways, bridges and pipelines. DeJoy’s reported plans — fueled by Trump — prompted Democrats to claim DeJoy was trying to sabotage mail-in voting ahead of the November election.” [Politico, 6/21/22 (=)]
He's The First Buyer Of The Electric F-150. Why He's The Future Of The Car Industry. According to NPR, “Nick Schmidt was at home when he got the call he had been waiting on for months. Schmidt had ordered the electric version of Ford’s F-150 as soon as it was announced in May of last year. And more than a year later, his F-150 Lightning was finally ready to be picked up. ‘When the dealership called me, they were just as excited as I was,’ Schmidt says. ‘I remember coming up to the parking lot, and they were all, like, gathered around. Everybody came outside.’ It was a big moment for Schmidt, but maybe an even bigger one for Ford. This wasn’t just any F-150 Lightning – it was the very first one to be delivered to an actual buyer. Ford and other legacy U.S. auto makers are investing billions of dollars in developing electric vehicles in a mad dash to catch up to market leader Tesla, which accounted for 70% of new electric vehicles registered in the U.S. last year. The F-150 Lightning is not only a critical part of Ford’s ambitions, it poses an early test of whether established auto makers such as General Motors can compete in that electric future. And judging by Schmidt’s initial reaction, the Ford F-150 may have delivered, even as many challenges still loom.” [NPR, 6/20/22 (=)]
Take A Look Inside Ford’s New F-150 As Electric Pickup Truck Hits Sacramento Streets. According to the Sacramento Bee, “With its new F-150 Lightning, Ford is turning America’s most popular vehicle electric — and hoping to bring pickup truck drivers into the EV market. The shiny new Ford F-150 took to Sacramento’s streets Monday, rolling past the Tower Bridge and into Old Sacramento, drawing attention from drivers and passersby. Orville Thomas, a midtown resident and former F-150 owner who test drove the truck, said pickup drivers have long been wary of the push toward zero emissions, often represented by flashy Teslas or cars clearly meant for city driving. TOP VIDEOS × Thomas said any Ford F-150 driver would feel right at home in the new electric. ‘[F-150 drivers] would know everything. The shifter is the same, the wheel is the same, the body is the same,’ Thomas said. The F-150 Lightning may look the same as its gas equivalent, but it is missing one main feature — the engine. Where a typical large gas engine would be, the Lightning has an added front truck, or ‘frunk.’ The Lightning boasts 320 miles of range on one charge, and can go from 0-60 in four seconds. The new electric truck rollout comes at a particularly popular moment for electric vehicles. Gas prices are soaring nationwide — reaching an average of $6.40 per gallon of regular in California on Monday, according to the American Automobile Association — and California state policy says that all new vehicles must be zero-emission by 2035.” [Sacramento Bee, 6/21/22 (=)]
Swedish EV Maker Polestar Says It Expects To Complete SPAC Merger. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Polestar expects shareholders in a special-purpose acquisition company to approve a merger on Wednesday with the Swedish electric-vehicle maker, in a deal that the company said will raise around $850 million and help fund its future model development. If shareholders approve the deal as expected, Polestar, owned by Chinese car maker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., will combine with Gores Guggenheim Inc. GGPI -3.96%▼ and begin trading Friday. The deal will result in less cash for Polestar than originally planned, after around one-quarter of Gores Guggenheim investors requested a refund. Polestar said in May it expected to raise $995 million from the deal. Investors in a SPAC deal typically are allowed to withdraw their investments ahead of any deal. Polestar said the percentage of investors who asked for a refund was below the market average. Polestar sold around 29,000 vehicles in 2021 and expects that figure to grow to 290,000 by 2025. The company has said it would use the proceeds from the merger to fund new product development and expand into new markets. SPACs, sometimes called blank-check companies, raise money from investors and list on the stock market with the intent of acquiring a privately held company. After a merger is approved by regulators, the private company replaces the SPAC on public markets.” [The Wall Street Journal, 6/21/22 (=)]
Anticipating U.S. Downturn, Elon Musk Details Tesla Staff Cuts. According to Reuters, “Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla (TSLA.O), said a 10% cut in salaried staff at the electric car maker will happen over three months, as the world’s richest man predicted a U.S. recession was more likely than not. His remarks were his most detailed explanation of job cut plans and his first in-person appearance since Reuters reported at the start of this month that the company needed to cut staff by about 10% and was pausing hiring worldwide. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum organised by Bloomberg, Musk said the cuts would apply only to salaried workers, meaning a 3.5% reduction in total headcount, changes he described as ‘not super material’. But he expressed concern about the prospect of a U.S. recession. ‘It’s not a certainty, but it appears more likely than not,’ he said. Musk’s outlook echoes comments from executives, including JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs President John Waldron. A ‘hurricane is right out there down the road coming our way,’ Dimon said early this month.” [Reuters, 6/21/22 (=)]
Tesla Dominates The List Of Most American-Made Cars. According to Electrek, “Tesla dominates the list of most American-made cars, now with the Model Y taking the top spot on the 2022 list. Until somewhat recently, there were still many people who don’t even know that Tesla is an American automaker. There would be, semi-regularly, someone who would compliment my Tesla without knowing what it was, and they would ask where it is from. That has stopped over the last few years, however, as Tesla has become completely mainstream. The truth is that Tesla is not only an American automaker, but it is arguably the most American automaker. Cars.com runs an annual American Made-Index to determine what cars made in the US are the most American-made: Location of final assembly Percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts Country of origin for available engines Country of origin for available transmissions U.S. manufacturing employees relative to the automaker’s footprint” [Electrek, 6/21/22 (=)]
Toyota Partners With Tesla Cofounder’s Redwood Materials To Recycle Prius, EV Batteries. According to Forbes, “Redwood Materials, a battery recycler created by Tesla cofounder and former tech chief JB Straubel, is adding Toyota to a growing list of global automakers it’s working with to create a closed-loop supply chain for materials needed to power electric vehicles. The partnership will initially focus on monitoring, recovering and recycling aging batteries from Toyota’s Prius, which came out more than two decades ago, and other hybrid-electric vehicles the Japanese auto giant sells, including Lexus models, at Redwood’s facilities in northern Nevada. The Carson City-based company will also look for other uses for old Toyota battery packs, including refurbishing them for use in new hybrids, cofounder and CEO Straubel said. Over time, as Toyota increases sales of pure electric models and starts making batteries at a plant it’s building in North Carolina, Redwood will also work to collect and recycle those packs. Closely held Redwood has already begun collecting Toyota batteries but isn’t sharing financial details of its relationship with the automaker. Straubel also declined to say whether Toyota is investing in his startup. A key difference the Toyota relationship brings is the massive number of hybrid vehicles the company has sold in the U.S. over the past 20 years. ‘We’re excited about this one,’ Straubel tells Forbes. ‘It has a massive potential impact (for Redwood) when you look at the existing fleet of electrified Toyotas on the road. It’s really big. And they are steadfast. They’ve had a few twists and turns in their path to electrification but I’m convinced that they’re moving forward aggressively on this now and will continue to do so.’” [Forbes, 6/21/22 (=)]
Toyota Will Recycle Electric Vehicle Batteries With Tesla Co-Founder’s Project. According to The Verge, “Toyota is partnering with Redwood Materials, a battery recycling company helmed by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, to collect and recycle vehicle batteries. The plan is to take old, worn-out batteries and either refurbish them or break them down so their materials can be used to create new batteries. Redwood specifically plans on producing materials for anodes and cathodes — two major components of a battery cell. The company’s ultimate goal is to create a ‘closed-loop supply chain for electric vehicles,’ meaning that it takes batteries from old EVs and turns them into batteries for new cars. While Toyota is currently launching its first long-range battery-electric vehicle, newer cars aren’t the current focus of the partnership’s efforts, given that their batteries are still relatively new. Instead, Toyota and Redwood are focusing on ‘the first wave of battery-electric vehicles,’ which are over 20 years old and nearing their end of life. Mostly, that means first-generation Toyota Priuses in California. Redwood says that in the future, it wants to have some operations near ‘Toyota’s recently announced North American battery plant’ on the East Coast, likely referring to the one in North Carolina. Notably, Redwood’s tech and methods for recycling vehicle batteries aren’t exactly tried-and-true. The company just launched its program to deal with end-of-life electric vehicles in February, with Ford and Volvo as partners. While Redwood’s been planning to handle batteries from vehicles for a while, its capacity to do so at scale is relatively untested.” [The Verge, 6/21/22 (=)]
Toyota Cuts July Global Production Plan By 50,000 Vehicles. According to Reuters, “Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) on Wednesday cut its July global production plan by 50,000 vehicles as semiconductor shortages and COVID-19 parts supply disruptions continued to curb output. The world’s largest car maker by volume expects to make 800,000 vehicles next month, it said in a statement. ‘As it remains difficult to look ahead due to the shortage of semiconductors and the spread of COVID-19, there is a possibility that the production plan may be lower,’ the Japanese company said. The most in-demand, independent talent is at the ready on Upwork. Empower your business with the expertise of the world’s work marketplace. Learn more Toyota and other car makers continue to struggle with supply-chain disruptions and component shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic including those resulting from recent lockdowns in China. Automakers are also having to compete for limited semiconductor supplies with other manufacturers such as consumer electronics device makers. Toyota stuck with its annual global production target of 9.7 million vehicles, although the company signalled in May that supply chain disruptions could eventually force it lower that number. The automaker on Wednesday also expanded production halts in Japan next month at plants that make vehicles, including its GR Yaris subcompact and bZ4X electric SUV.” [Reuters, 6/22/22 (=)]
Volkswagen CEO Says Optimistic About Meeting China Target In 2022. According to Reuters, “Germany’s Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) is optimistic that the carmaker can meet its 2022 targets in China despite COVID-19 lockdowns, its chief executive said on Wednesday. ‘We’re still optimistic that we can meet our 2022 targets in China because we have a recovery plan in place, a huge incentive programme from the government into automotive demand,’ said Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG, told the Qatar Economic Forum. He also said the company remained on track to list Porsche by the fourth quarter of this year.” [Reuters, 6/22/22 (=)]
Aptera Wants To Adopt Tesla’s Charge Connector For Its Solar Electric Car. According to Electrek, “Aptera wants to adopt Tesla’s charge connector for its upcoming solar electric car and believes that the entire US EV market should do the same. When Tesla started making electric cars, there was no dominant charging standard and therefore, Tesla developed its own. Things have changed a lot since then, and now, CCS has become the global standard. While CCS has now been globally adopted, it doesn’t necessarily make it the best charging standard out there, and that’s what Aptera believes. Aptera is building a battery and solar-powered super-efficient three-wheeler electric car. It claims a range of up to 1,000 miles and achieves that by making the vehicle extremely lightweight, with three wheels and a drag coefficient (Cd) of only 0.13. When it first unveiled the new vehicle in 2020, a prototype featured a Tesla connector, it caught our attention since this is a proprietary connector.” [Electrek, 6/21/22 (=)]
Are We At The End Of Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety? According to PC Magazine, “EV range anxiety is in the mind. That’s essentially what we found on our roughly 4,500-mile road trip in a Tesla Model 3 Long Range rented from Hertz, in which we traveled through some of the wildest parts of the Northwest searching for America’s fastest and most reliable cellular network. Charging involves a different mentality than fueling a gas car, as we discovered on the road. With gas, you pretty much assume there’s always a station within a few miles, so you can fuel up when you’re low. With chargers, it’s different. Especially on the longer legs, our drivers would periodically stop for 15 to 30 minutes just to top off and stretch their legs. On the road, we also sought out hotels with their own chargers. Sometimes, that worked out; sometimes, it didn’t. ‘Access to the destination chargers was a mixed bag for me,’ driver Chloe Albanesius says. ‘In Phoenix, they were first-come, first-served and I think one was designated for the valet. They were both occupied by the same two Teslas the whole time I was there, so I used the (very busy) Supercharger. In Vegas, it was all handled by valet and very easy. I pulled up, they asked if I wanted them to charge it, and I got it back the next day fully charged.’ Our driver Angela Moscaritolo gave an in-depth rundown of her first time piloting a Tesla. She pointed out that you can’t always fill up the ‘tank’ the whole way.’” [PC Magazine, 6/21/22 (+)]
Is Inflation Driving EV Prices Into The Luxury Category? According to the Dallas Morning News, “Electric-vehicle prices are going up at a dizzying pace these days. Tesla raised prices by as much as $6,000 per car last week. Rivian bumped up the ask on its battery-powered R1T pickup truck in March, while Ford hiked the sticker on the Mach-E. Add it all up and an electric car now costs $61,000 on average, according to researcher Edmunds.com. That’s a lot of money when the average new-vehicle price — across all cars — has inflated to $46,000. And yet the buyers keep coming. But there’s an underlying problem here. New cars are already out of reach for more than half of Americans, which means EVs are affordable to a limited group of well-off buyers only. Some 30% of all new cars sold last year had a suggested retail price above $50,000, up from just 6% ten years ago, according to Charlie Chesbrough, a senior economist at Cox Automotive. With many buyers priced out of the new-car market, ever fewer people will be able to make the switch to electric and instead keep burning gasoline for years to come. ‘It’s clearly a product for the upper crust,’ Chesbrough said in an interview. ‘It’s going to be a long time before electric vehicles are the majority of cars on the road.’ Part of this is the natural evolution of new technology. EVs are still expensive to build. Ford, for example, is in the midst of launching the F-150 Lightning plug-in pickup and is spending $50 billion to roll out more EVs, with plans to build 2 million annually by 2026.” [Dallas Morning News, 6/21/22 (-)]
North America Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Market To Witness Massive Growth From 2022 To 2030. According to Digital Journal, “The North America Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Market is supposed to reach a worth of $30.63 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 33.5% during the estimated time frame 2022-2029. By volume, this market is supposed to develop at a CAGR of 35.7% from 2022 to arrive at 2.93 million units by 2029. The main considerations driving this market’s development are government drives to support the reception of electric vehicles and related foundations, rising interest for electric vehicle quick charging framework, rising commonness of reach uneasiness, and expanded sending of EVs by shared versatility administrators. Besides, factors, for example, expanded R&D in V2G innovation, rising acknowledgment of electric portability in rising countries, and expanded organization of charging stations by retail MNCs give critical learning experiences to market players working in the North America electric vehicle charging stations market. Vehicles can be connected to charging stations to fuel up instead of filling gallons of gas. An ever-increasing number of individuals are leaning towards electric vehicles with the developing mindfulness in regards to natural issues universally. The Market of North America Electric Vehicle Charging Stations was estimated at USD 426.88 million out of 2021 and is supposed to reach USD 42150.58 million by 2029, enrolling a CAGR of 47.10% during the conjecture time of 2022-2029.” [Digital Journal, 6/21/22 (=)]
Kroger Adding EV Charging Stations As Part Of Sustainability Push. According to WXIX-TV, “Kroger is adding electric vehicle charging stations to its stores across the nation. The Cincinnati-based grocery giant is adding hundreds of EV charging stations to stores in select markets. The stations result from a collaboration with Blink, Electrify America, EVgo, Tesla and Volta. Ohio and Kentucky are among the states where future charging stations are planned, together with Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia. Already 350 chargers have been installed in areas of Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Charging times can vary from as few as 10 minutes, with most sessions averaging around 30 minutes per vehicle, according to the company. Said Kroger Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Yael Cosset, ‘Increasing our customers’ access to EV charging stations at convenient Kroger locations supports our collective transition to a lower-carbon economy, We are leveraging technology and innovation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and are offering customers easy ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle.’” [WXIX-TV, 6/20/22 (=)]
Kroger, The US’s Largest Supermarket Chain, Is Adding More Level 2 And 3 EV Chargers. ccording to Electrek, “Kroger, which has 2,800 food stores under various banner names, has already tested and phased in around 350 chargers with Blink, Electrify America, EVgo, Tesla, and Volta. Kroger currently hosts chargers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Level 3 chargers, also known as DC fast chargers, offer around 50-350 kW of power and can charge an EV in 20-30 minutes. Level 2 chargers operate at around 208-240 V and output anywhere from 3 kW to 19 kW of AC power, which means around 18-28 miles of range per hour. San Francisco-headquartered electric vehicle charging network Volta, which also announced its expansion plans today with Kroger, has already established chargers at 16 Kroger stores in Atlanta and Indianapolis. Volta says it will expand at Kroger stores in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville; Michigan; and Southern California throughout 2022. Volta’s charging stations feature 55-inch digital screens that double as a media network and feature interactive content where drivers can make purchases. The ad revenue covers the cost of Volta’s level 2 chargers – they’re free to use – but there’s a charge for its fast-charging stations.” [Electrek, 6/21/22 (=)]
City Of Phoenix Celebrates Unanimous Passing Of Electric Vehicle Roadmap. According to KNXV-TV, “The Phoenix City Council unanimously passed Transportation Electrification Action Plan, known as the ‘EV Roadmap’ on Wednesday. The goal is to place 280,000 city electric vehicles (EVs) on the streets by the year 2030. Mayor Kate Gallego gathered with city leaders at the Nikola Battery and Electric Vehicle Plant in Phoenix. The mayor thanked Nikola for its partnership in the EV rollout. ‘You are one of the reasons that Phoenix has been called the New Motor City! The Electric Motor City,’ Gallego said. Gallego addressed the scale and scope of the EV Roadmap. ‘It’s an ambitious plan, and will have many partners along the way,’ she said. City Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari is leading the city’s effort, serving as chairperson for the Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Committee. Ansari touted the benefits of an all-EV fleet, saying EVs are cheaper to run and maintain than gas vehicles and better for health. ‘Gas-powered vehicles are the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in the City of Phoenix,’ she said. Ansari outlined the plan’s three focus areas: ‘Equity, accelerating public adoption of electric vehicles, and the city leading by example,’ she said.” [KNXV-TV, 6/21/22 (=)]
Texas Plans To Place Charging Stations For Electric Cars Every 50 Miles On Most Interstates. According to the Caller Times, “Texas is planning to add enough electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state to support 1 million electric vehicles with dozens of new stations to allow for easier long-distance travel. In a draft plan released this month, the Texas Department of Transportation broke down a five-year plan to create a network of chargers throughout the state, starting along main corridors and interstate highways before building stations in rural areas. The plan is to have charging stations every 50 miles along most non-business interstate routes. In most other areas in the state, there will be charging stations within 70 miles, according to the plan. Each station is designed to have multiple stalls so there will likely be one available whenever someone stops to charge. The chargers will be high-powered at 150kW, able to bring most electric vehicles from 10% to 80% in about half an hour, according to the report. The funding is coming from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed last year, which is estimated to allocate about $408 million over five years to Texas for the purpose of expanding its electric vehicle charging network. No funds from the state budget will be used. Nationally, the goal is to create a network of 500,000 convenient and reliable electric vehicle chargers by 2030. In total from the infrastructure act, Texas is expected to receive about $35.44 billion over five years for roads, bridges, pipes, ports, broadband access and other projects.” [Caller Times, 6/21/22 (=)]
German Finance Minister Breaks Ranks On EU Plans To Scrap The Car By 2035. According to Politico, “Germany’s Finance Minister Christian Lindner said today that he does not support his government’s agreed position in support of an EU-wide ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. Speaking at a conference of Germany’s industrial lobby, the BDI, in Berlin today, Lindner said the EU’s draft policy — a key part of the bloc’s bid to slash emissions and go climate neutral — was ‘wrong’ and that the German government ‘will not agree to this European legislation this week.’ Last summer, the European Commission proposed mandating a total phaseout of all new combustion engine cars and vans by 2035, meaning the industry would effectively have to go electric by the middle of the next decade. Lindner’s Free Democrats came out against the plan but the legislation is managed by the Greens, who run the environment ministry. The three-party government agreed in March to support the Commission’s draft proposal on 2035 car and van emission standards. Lindner, a fan of sportscars who supports developing synthetic fuels, now said he opposes the EU legislation. ‘Germany will … not be able to agree to the fleet limits with the de facto ban on internal combustion engines,’ he said at the conference.” [Politico, 6/21/22 (=)]
Exploring Emissions Through Other Cultures. According to Fleet Owner, “Those of you who know me have heard me talk about Gemba before. It is something we learned from Japanese businesspeople. It translates to ‘go and see.’ So, when ClimateWorks invited NACFE to Oslo, Norway, to meet with other organizations (50 people in total) to further their Drive Electric Campaign, I eagerly accepted to see what I could learn. While in Oslo, I spent one very long day with 22 other people from global NGOs working on how to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks globally. I was one of four trained facilitators who was able to help unearth some amazing actions for us to work on collectively and individually. See also: NACFE demonstrates use case for electric vans and step vans On Day 2 we immersed ourselves in Norway, a country that is leading in the area of electrified transportation. Here are a few things I learned: 99% of all power in the country is renewable. In March 2022, 83% of all new car sales were battery electric cars. Plug-in hybrids are now on the way out with their share topped out at 20% and now under 10%. NIO, a Chinese electric auto manufacturer and provider of battery swapping systems that we visited, is operating in Oslo, Norway, and other countries. A World War II bunker has been turned into a car parking and charging garage for EVs. There are five all-electric ferries around the beautiful city of Oslo, each holding 300 people and more than 100 cars. We learned from drivers of electric delivery trucks operated by DB Schenker at the Oslo City Hub, a place where fleets can collaborate for various modes of electric goods movement.” [Fleet Owner, 6/21/22 (=)]
Responses to this email are not monitored.
Please contact Mitch Dunn (mitch@beehivedc.com) with clips related questions and comments