Federal Agencies

 

EPA Agenda Delays Key Climate Policies, But Auto GHG Rules On Track. According to InsideEPA, “The Biden administration’s latest regulatory agenda shows EPA and other agencies are delaying deadlines to issue a range of climate rules such as oil and gas methane standards, power plant greenhouse gas rules and climate risk disclosure requirements, even as officials are largely sticking to their timelines for upcoming car and truck standards. The latest Unified Agenda, released Jan. 4, is also broadly underscoring the time crunch federal agencies face to push out a barrage of proposals and other regulations this year and next, in an attempt to codify them before the end of President Joe Biden’s current term. The agenda shows EPA appears on track to propose its next round of car and passenger truck multi-pollutant emissions rules by March, consistent with recent promises by the agency in December. That is the same month the Transportation Department (DOT) expects to issue coordinated fuel economy standards for the vehicles. The agenda also retains a timeline under which EPA would float in March proposed ‘Phase 3’ GHG standards for heavy-duty trucks, though DOT is slated to issue a related fuel economy proposal in May.” [InsideEPA, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

For Your Radar. According to Politico, “EPA’s soot proposal may be out as soon as today — ‘ME-a culpa’ for stating it was happening yesterday. As a reminder, ME is looking out for what EPA proposes when it comes to both the annual average and 24-hour exposure limit for fine particulate matter. Either figure could come as a proposed range or a specific number. Will EPA go as far as environmentalists have hoped, or seek a middle ground? Internal and external experts have advised EPA it could go as low as 8 micrograms for the annual average, down from the current limit of 12 micrograms.” [Politico, 1/6/23 (=)]

 

As EPA Develops New Rules, RFF Flags ‘Big’ Climate, Air EV Benefits. According to InsideEPA, “New analysis is quantifying significant climate and air quality benefits from electric vehicles (EVs), even though several policy and market factors such as zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales mandates or future gasoline prices could introduce wide variations in such benefits. The study released by think tank Resources for the Future (RFF) also highlights modeling challenges for EPA as it weighs whether to assess for the first time the upstream power-sector emissions in its forthcoming standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles, according to the study’s authors. But it also shows ‘even when you count those emissions, [EVs] still get a very large environmental benefit,’ study co-author and RFF senior fellow Joshua Linn tells Inside EPA’s Climate Extra. The Jan. 3 ‘working paper’ more specifically examines the climate, air pollution and health benefits of EVs, focusing on lifetime benefits through 2035 of a modeled set of vehicles sold in 2022 under multiple scenarios. RFF is poised to discuss the findings during a Jan. 13 event about the role of EVs in decarbonization. The paper examines multiple scenarios for different market and policy conditions related to deployment of plug-in EVs and power-sector emissions, according to an RFF blog post.” [InsideEPA, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

 

Manufacturers, Fleets, & OEMs

 

Deere & Co.

 

Deere Jumps Into Electric Excavators In Tech Transformation. According to Bloomberg, “Deere & Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of farm equipment, launched a new electric excavator amid rising demand to reduce emissions in heavy industry. The Moline, Illinois-based company said the battery-powered machine will reduce daily operating costs for construction workers and road builders, while eliminating tailpipe emissions. The company said the electric version won’t sacrifice any power or performance, but did not immediately give details about how often the machine will need to recharge and how long it will take. ‘We’re not in the business of creating new technology just because it’s cool,’ John May, Deere’s chief executive officer, said at an industry presentation in Las Vegas. ‘Technology is the key to driving sustainability on the farm and construction sites and empowering our customers to become more efficient and profitable in the age of significant challenges.’ The announcement comes as large machinery companies like Deere and competitor Caterpillar Inc. begin to improve offerings of fully electric and autonomous equipment that miners, contractors and other heavy industry customers are demanding amid the energy transition. Producing these technologies at scale present some of the biggest challenges for these companies, which could be forced to make costly overhauls of their manufacturing processes.” [Bloomberg, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

Ford Motor Co.

 

Ford More Than Doubles Electric Vehicle Sales As It Chases Tesla. According to Bloomberg, “Ford Motor Co.’s electric vehicle sales more than doubled last year in the US, fortifying its standing as No. 2 in the EV race behind Tesla Inc. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker sold 61,575 EVs last year, a 126% surge as it debuted the F-150 Lightning plug-in pickup and E-Transit van. Ford’s overall US light-vehicle sales fell 2.2% to 1,850,925, according to a statement Thursday, but that was still enough to give the company a small market share gain of 0.7 percentage points. EVs accounted for 3.3% of Ford’s sales last year, but Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley has plans for the company to be producing 2 million EVs a year by the end of 2026 and he’s spending $50 billion to roll out battery-powered models. Strong sales of Bronco sport-utility vehicles helped partially offset a 9.9% decline in F-Series pickup sales last year. Ford said it has sold 15,617 electric versions of the F-150 since it went on sale in May, making it the best-selling electric pickup on the market. Sales of the electric Mustang Mach-E rose 45% to 39,458 models, closing in on the gas-fueled version of the pony car that generated 47,566 sales last year, down 9.2%.” [Bloomberg, 1/5/23 (+)]

 

Ford Reports Smaller Drop In 2022 U.S. Sales As Inventory Levels Improve. According to Reuters, “Ford Motor Co (F.N) on Thursday posted a smaller decline in annual U.S. sales compared with a year earlier, as an improvement in inventory levels allowed the automaker to ship more sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and trucks to dealers. The company sold 1,864,464 vehicles in 2022, down about 2.2%. In contrast, sales in 2021 fell about 7%. U.S. automakers have been able to sell more cars and trucks than their Asian counterparts, following supply chains snags due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China last year. General Motors Co (GM.N) on Wednesday reclaimed the top spot in U.S. auto sales from Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) aided by higher inventory levels. Ford said on Thursday it sold 15,617 units of its popular F-150 Lightning electric truck in 2022 after they went on sale earlier in the year. The automaker last month raised prices of the cheapest variant of the electric truck for the second time in a span of three months as it navigates higher costs.” [Reuters, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

Stellantis

 

Stellantis CEO Delivers A Technology Statement With A Ram Truck. According to Reuters, “Stellantis NV (STLA.MI) on Thursday unveiled a prototype of an electric Ram pickup at the CES technology show, part of the effort by Chief Executive Carlos Tavares to show that the French-Italian automaker is catching up with Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and other rivals. The electric ‘Ram 1500 Revolution,’ unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, is a one-of-a-kind show vehicle meant to whet appetites for a production model due in 2024. It will arrive after rivals’ offerings in one of the most important segments of the North American electric vehicle market. The real electric Ram truck will launch more than two years after the smaller Rivian (RIVN.O) R1T electric pickup and Ford’s (F.N) F-150 Lightning electric truck. General Motors Co (GM.N) plans to start delivering electric Chevrolet Silverado pickups this year. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the long-delayed Cybertruck will launch this year from a factory in Texas. The Ram prototype, and a separate CES show vehicle from Stellantis’ Chrysler brand, are physical representations of the strategy Tavares and other executives outlined last year to match the electric propulsion and connectivity technology Tesla and other rivals are bringing to market.” [Reuters, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

Ram Reveals First Electric Pickup In Late Entry To EV Truck Race. According to Bloomberg, “Stellantis NV offered a glimpse of the first electric pickup from its Ram brand as the automaker aims to move from laggard to leader in the increasingly competitive field of plug-in trucks. The Revolution, a concept vehicle unveiled Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is slated to start production in 2024, roughly two years behind rivals. But while the company didn’t provide details on pricing and range, Mike Koval, head of the Ram brand, said it will deliver on the attributes truck buyers care about most — from towing and payload to charging time. ‘Everything our customers see from Ram in the future will be a direct descendant of this Ram Revolution concept,’ Koval said in an interview. With the advantage of time, ‘we will push past what our competitors have announced.’ The pickup is a key test for an automaker trying to transform itself from an EV skeptic that produced some of the thirstiest gas guzzlers on the road to a serious electric competitor. It’ll be going up against established competitors, including Ford Motor Co.’s F-150 Lightning, along with upstarts like Rivian Automotive Inc.’s R1T.” [Bloomberg, 1/5/23 (+)]

 

Will Ram's Electric Truck Be A 'Revolution'? Here's Where Its Concept Stands. According to The Detroit News, “Stellantis NV on Thursday unveiled the highly anticipated Ram 1500 Revolution battery-electric pickup truck concept during its keynote presentation at the CES consumer electronics trade show at The Venetian Resort with a new face, flexible modern interior configurations, third-row jump seats and eyes-free driving. Some of the features are well off into the future, Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. says, but the concept offers a visionary roadmap for its production model that will launch in 2024. ‘We’re planting our flag on Truck Mountain, saying, ‘Ram is here,’ he told The Detroit News. ‘And this is proof that we are in fast forward and on track to deliver the best portfolio of electrified solutions and as we look to redefine the segment once again. ... Everything that our customers will see from Ram will be a direct descendant of what you see here.’ But the EV truck war already is well underway with products launched from crosstown rivals Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. and even startup Rivian Automotive Inc. Koval has said the later timing of Ram’s offering will allow it to beat the competition in the most important capabilities that matter to customers, including range, towing, payload and charge time.” [The Detroit News, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

Ram Reveals 1500 Revolution Bev Electric Truck Concept At CES. According to Inside EVs, “Ram is giving us a look at next year’s production 1500 Revolution model with what looks like a close-to-production concept that it just revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The show truck brings Ram design into the future and it’s a departure from previous trucks, while at the same time retaining several instantly recognizable elements.” [Inside EVs, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

CES: Ram Truck Previews Electric Pickup Ram 1500 BEV. According to Electrive, “Ram Truck, the US commercial vehicle subsidiary of Stellantis, has brought the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept to CES. The all-electric pickup shall hit the US market in 2024 as the series Ram 1500 BEV but for now mostly stands out in the design.” [Electrive, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

Stellantis CEO Warns Of More Auto Plant Closures. According to Reuters, “Chrysler parent Stellantis NV (STLA.MI) Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares said on Thursday that more auto plant closures will happen if high prices for electric vehicles (EV) cause vehicle markets to shrink from pre-pandemic levels. Automakers will risk losing pricing power as chip supplies recover, Tavares said at the CES technology trade show in Las Vegas. The comments come as lack of affordability looms over the U.S. EV market at a time when top EV makers are raising prices amid high inflation. More U.S. consumers want to buy an electric vehicle but are concerned about rising prices, a survey by consulting firm Deloitte showed on Wednesday. read more ‘Nearly 7 in 10 prospective EV buyers in the United States expect to pay less than $50,000 for their next vehicle,’ according to the survey conducted between September and October 2022. Stellantis said last month it would indefinitely idle an assembly plant in Belvidere, Illionois, citing high EV costs. Tavares told reporters said similar actions ‘will happen everywhere as long as we see high inflation of variable costs.’” [Reuters, 1/6/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Inc.

 

Tesla Semi Efficiency Is Unreal, Twice As Thrify As Ford F-150. According to Inside EVs, “According to detailed calculations by Jon Stewart (Cleanerwatt), the all-new Tesla Semi is twice as efficient as the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Keep in mind, a Class 8 semi-truck weighs in at four to five times that of a gas- or diesel-powered F-150. Tesla is known for producing some of the most efficient vehicles on the road today, and the most efficient cars ever built. While a few rivals have come to market with similar successes, most other EVs aren’t nearly as efficient as Tesla’s, they have less driving range, and they’ll cost you more to fuel. When Tesla set out to produce a commercial vehicle, you’d better bet it was laser-focused on range and efficiency. However, the automaker likely wouldn’t have even attempted to produce a long-range semi-truck if it hadn’t already proven that it could work its magic to make the most aerodynamic, electron-sipping vehicles in many shapes and sizes.” [Inside EVs, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

Vicinity Motor Corp.

 

Vicinity Gets Credits Worth $30 Mn To Ramp Up E-Truck Production. According to Electrive, “Canadian commercial EV manufacturer Vicinity Motor has secured $30 mn in credit commitments from two Canadian institutions to fund the production of the company’s class 3 electric truck. With orders having accumulated, Vicinity is in line to deliver. In October last year, distributor Pioneer placed an order for 1,000 electric trucks with Vicinity and expected deliveries to commence immediately. These were in addition to existing orders worth millions to Vicinity. The company started building the Class 3 truck in 2022 in its Aldergrove, British Columbia, facility and shifted to a new factory in Ferndale, Washington, with 10,000 units of annual capacity the same year. The credit now granted by the Royal Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada may be used for up to 100% of eligible production costs on the vehicle, excluding labour and overhead from Vicinity’s assembly plants, so the agreement. In addition to the $30 mn credit commitment for the VMC 1200 trucks, RBC will continue to provide Vicinity with CAD$10 million for use with its existing bus orders and a US$3 million letter of credit facility.” [Electrive, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

 

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

 

MHD Sales & Transition

 

The Hardest Part Of Electric School Buses, Made Easier. According to CleanTechnica, “With the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program investing five billion in five years in clean school buses, almost all of them electric so far, it’s easy to focus just on the electric school buses (ESBs) themselves. They’re big, photogenic, quiet, and emit no bad smells. They command the floor space of the shows we go to like kings and queens. We all know that Ride and Drive events – experiencing ESBs in person — win hearts and minds, from drivers and mechanics to transportation directors and superintendents. ESBs are so charismatic, you could write a monthly newsletter about them (which I do, by the way). Yet ESBs are useless by themselves. They depend completely on charging infrastructure. And getting your charging right is the hardest part of ESBs, not the waiting for the buses to arrive after you order them. (Though the waiting is hard, too; Tom Petty’s song is partly accurate.)” [CleanTechnica, 1/5/23 (+)]

 

What’s Delaying Freight Electrification? According to Automotive World, “Freight emissions currently account for roughly 29% of all vehicle emissions globally. Despite significant improvements in energy efficiency, freight vehicle consultant Evenergi has forecasted that freight emissions could grow by 56−70% between 2015 and 2050. This is attributed to the increase in freight transport due to the rise of online consumerism, increased urbanisation and reduced vehicle ownership. IDTechEx predicts that electric trucks will account for 9.4% of the global medium and heavy-duty market by 2030. However, the delay from production to deployment is significant, as highlighted by the Tesla Semi—in 2017, the vehicle was anticipated to enter production by 2019; however, it was delayed until October 2022 and Tesla eventually fulfilled some orders to PepsiCo in December 2022. ‘Heavy-duty trucking, aviation, and shipping trains are all currently propelled by internal combustion engines (ICE),’ says Iryna Zenyuk, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor at Samueli School of Engineering, University of California. ‘Battery-driven electric powertrains suffer from challenges of weight and long recharging times,’ she adds. Different battery types and chemistries are better suited to specific applications than others. Lithium-titanium-oxide (LTO) batteries can be charged quickly and respond well to regenerative charging, but they have low energy density and are heavier. Conversely, nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries are lighter and have higher storage capacity—well-suited for long-range applications. However, these batteries are relatively new to the market and still in development.” [Automotive World, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

 

States & Local

 

Florida

 

Cenntro Building-Out Jacksonville Factory And Showroom. According to Jacksonville Daily Record, “Cenntro Automotive is building-out its separate factory and showroom in Jacksonville. The city issued two permits Jan. 4 for the electric utility vehicle manufacturer in West and South Jacksonville. New Jersey-based Cenntro Electric Group Ltd. makes light and medium-duty commercial electric vehicles designed for delivery, maintenance and warehouse uses by corporate and government customers. The Jacksonville plant is its first in the U.S. It also announced its Logimax H864 hydrogen-powered semi tractor at CES technology show in Las Vegas on Jan. 5. The Beach Boulevard Distribution Center showroom will be the company’s flagship retail store in the U.S. as it begins assembling electric vehicles at its new assembly and battery fabrication plant at Lane Industrial Park in West Jacksonville. In a September 2022 earnings presentation, Cenntro reported its European assembly factory in Germany is fully functional, pilot assembly is scaled in the New Jersey facility and the Jacksonville assembly capability would be ready soon. It said the additional vehicle assembly in the U.S. and Europe will boost its total manufacturing or assembly plants to five. It has two in China.” [Jacksonville Daily Record, 1/5/23 (=)]

 

New York

 

New York City Buys Another 1,000 Electric Vehicles. According to Electrive, “New York City announces procuring around 900 new electric vehicles to replace ICE vehicles and installing new charging stations as part of its ongoing commitment to green municipal fleets. The US government supports the city’s effort with grants of $10.1 million. The most significant chunk of funding will go to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), which receives $6.2 mn, and the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) the remainder. The $10.1 million grant feeds into the city’s first major investment in all-electric pick-up trucks and vans. Specifically, the authorities plan to procure 382 Chevrolet Bolts, 360 Ford E-Transits and 150 Ford F-150 Lightning EVs, in addition to seven all-electric rubbish trucks and 25 plug-in hybrid sweepers for DSNY. The city operates over 6,000 pick-up trucks and vans, representing 25 per cent of the city’s total on-road fleet. DCAS will also install 600 EV chargers over the next 18 months, 315 of which will be supported by the US government grant. These will join the network of over 1,300 charging ports available to fleet units.” [Electrive, 1/5/23 (+)]

 

 

 

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