Congress

 

EPA Air Chief Defends Strict Tailpipe Rule At House Hearing — “In his first appearance before a House panel Wednesday, acting EPA air chief Joseph Goffman defended stricter tailpipe emissions standards against Republican criticisms that they are intended to force adoption of more costly electric vehicles unaffordable to many Americans. Recently proposed regulations to tighten emissions limits on new cars and trucks starting in the 2027 model year ‘would deliver dramatic improvements in public health, notable savings for consumers and commercial fleets, and increased energy security,’ Goffman told members of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs at the outset of a morning hearing. The proposed changes also mesh with automakers’ commitment to ‘accelerate clean vehicle technologies,’ he said. But GOP lawmakers honed in on the fact that electric vehicles generally remain considerably more expensive than gasoline- and diesel-powered models. While Goffman highlighted carefully plotted efforts by both business and government to bring down costs over the long term, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) interjected, ‘Please excuse me if I seem a little bit skeptical.’” [E&E News, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

House Committee OKs Spending Bill With Climate Cuts — “The House Appropriations Committee approved legislation Wednesday with cuts to climate and energy-related programs. The committee passed, along party lines, its Homeland Security and Legislative Branch bills, as appropriators look to make headway on fiscal 2024 legislation before a two-week recess. The Homeland Security bill includes $62.8 billion in discretionary funding for the department and $20.3 billion for major disaster response and recovery, a $2 billion increase from 2023 levels. But House Republicans proposed cutting spending for new electric vehicles by $30 million, an effort to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from increasing its electric car fleet. House appropriators also rejected a $97 million White House budget request for expanded charging stations, microgrids and other sustainable infrastructure. Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) said she was seeking to ‘reduce spending where we can and prioritize funding for our core responsibilities.’ The legislation includes clawing back money approved in the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill ‘rescinds $312 million for climate change activities ... and repurposes those funds for more important border security operations,’ said Republican appropriators.” [E&E News, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

 

Federal Government

 

Department of Energy (DOE)

 

Energy Department To Offer $192M In Battery Recycling Funding — “Dive Brief: The U.S. Department of Energy on June 12 announced $192 million in funding to expand battery recycling research and development, calling the investments ‘essential’ to the advancement of a domestic supply chain of critical materials for the energy transition. The lithium battery market could grow ten-fold by 2030, driven by growing adoption of electric vehicles and a need for stationary energy storage, the agency said. President Joe Biden has set a goal for half of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. The recycling funding falls into three buckets: consumer electronics recycling, a new advanced battery R&D consortium, and continuation of a lithium-ion battery recycling prize DOE launched in 2019.” [Waste Dive, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Department of the Treasury (USDT)

 

Climate Law Can Build Clean Energy Supply Chain – Treasury — “A top Treasury Department official will tout the Inflation Reduction Act and efforts to bolster U.S. clean energy investment in a speech Thursday at a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace event in California. Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo will urge more domestic investment in manufacturing supply chains to counter Chinese dominance over critical mineral production and refinement, according to prepared remarks. The comments point to the Biden administration’s struggle over policy on China, the globe’s second-largest economy and currently the biggest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide. … Alongside Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Adeyemo is spearheading the rollout of numerous new federal tax breaks. Last week, the IRS — a branch of Treasury — proposed new rules on direct pay and transferability, tax options that experts say will boost clean energy investment. That follows proposals on electric vehicle breaks and other credits. The IRS is expected to propose new rules soon on prevailing wage and apprenticeship tax benefits, according to a senior Treasury official. The official, who spoke to reporters Wednesday on background, also said the Treasury Department is continuing to negotiate mineral trade deals with other countries to allow those countries to access EV tax breaks. The domestic mining sector and environmental groups oppose the side trade deals, as do many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.” [E&E News, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

Biden EPA's Renewable Fuel Rule Disappoints Biodiesel Makers — “Advanced biofuels industry groups had urged EPA to increase the biomass-based diesel volumes annually under its final rule by at least 500 million gallons. Sean Gallup/Getty Images The Biden administration issued biofuel blending mandates on Wednesday that call for modest growth in biodiesel consumption over the next three years — but at volumes the agricultural sector dismissed as far too low to accommodate the industry’s growing production. EPA’s final rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard is the latest iteration of the program designed to increase the use of biofuels by setting the minimum volume that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supply — and which has come to be seen as a litmus test of the administration’s support of the powerful farm sector. The volumes set by the EPA under the new rule through 2025 were quickly panned by farm state lawmakers and biofuel makers as failing to take into account the rising output of biodiesel. ‘EPA’s reported final rule on biodiesel blending requirements is woefully inadequate compared to production potential — failing to support farmers, protect our environment or keep up with demand,’ tweeted Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa).” [Politico, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

EPA Rule Boosts Biofuel, Drops Electric Vehicle Proposal — “EPA said Wednesday it will gradually boost minimum amounts of biofuel in the nation’s transportation fuel supply over the next two years, but the agency put on hold a plan to extend the renewable fuel standard to electric vehicles. In a final rule, EPA said it’s still reviewing comments on the EV proposal, which would establish renewable fuel credits for electricity that’s produced from biogas, for instance, to be used to power the vehicles. EPA said the regulations would reduce U.S. oil imports by as much as 140,000 gallons per day through 2025, for an economic benefit between $173 million and $192 million annually. ‘The final rule follows a robust engagement strategy and reflects comments from a diverse set of stakeholders on the potential economic impacts of the program,’ the agency said in a news release, adding that officials are ‘committed to successful implementation of the program.’” [E&E News, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

EPA Releases Final Renewable Fuel Standard Rule Without Proposed Credit Market For EV Fueling — “The U.S. EPA released the final version of rules for its Renewable Fuel Standard program on Wednesday without the inclusion of a new program that would have boosted funding for renewable electricity generation but with better credit volumes for biogas. The rules deliver value to the waste industry while holding back on implementing a major addition to the RFS. The updated rules set the volume of credits that renewable fuel manufacturers could sell to refiners and importers of petroleum-based fuels for 2023, 2024 and 2025. In determining targets for renewable natural gas, the EPA looked at the RNG industry’s growth since 2015 to get a sense of pre-pandemic norms. The agency boosted its projections as a result. ‘Today’s final rule reflects our efforts to ensure stability of the program for years to come, protect consumers from high fuel costs, strengthen the rural economy, support domestic production of cleaner fuels, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,’ EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.” [Waste Dive, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

 

Manufacturers, Fleets, & OEMs

 

BYD Co.

 

BYD Expands North American Presence With First 100 Yuan Plus EV Deliveries In Mexico — “BYD has been a force in the Chinese EV market, setting a new May sales record with over 119,000 EVs sold (+124% YOY) last month alone. The EV manufacturing giant has evolved from a battery maker into an electric car-making powerhouse. After revealing plans last summer to expand into Japan, BYD quickly followed it up by vowing to enter Europe (beyond Norway and Sweden), Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the UK, and others. In April, BYD launched its most affordable EV in Europe, the BYD Dolphin hatchback, which starts at around 30,000 euros ($33K) and is a contender to take further market share from automakers in the region.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

BYD Launches Dolphin EV In Europe This Summer — “It is official, the BYD Dolphin is coming to Europe this summer, with deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of this year. It will cost between 29,990 euros and 37,740 euros and be available in four versions. The basic Active version combines a 70 kW engine and an LFP battery with 44.9 kWh capacity. The Boost version uses the same battery, but offers 130 kW of power. In addition, the Comfort and Design variants are each equipped with a 150 kW engine and a 60.4 kWh LFP battery. BYD will initially offer only the models with a bigger battery in Europe. The Active and Boost variants will be offered from Q1 2024. BYD gives the WLTP ranges of 310 to 427 kilometres, depending on the version. All versions are euipped with a ‘a high-efficiency integrated heat pump’. It is said to increases the thermal efficiency by up to 15 per cent in the winter.” [Electrive, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

Ford Motor Co.

 

Ford CEO Dismisses Tesla Cybertruck, Suggests It’s Not A Real Work Truck — “Ford CEO Jim Farley does not mince words when it comes to describing potential competitors for the Blue Oval’s pickup truck business, including the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck, which he dismissed as not being a real truck during a recent interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer. Farley said he isn’t worried that Elon Musk’s pickup venture will take his company’s customers away, adding that America loves an underdog, but when it comes to EV trucks and vans, Ford knows those customers better than anyone. ‘And if he wants to design a Cybertruck for Silicon Valley people, fine,’ the Blue Oval company’s head honcho said during the interview. ‘It’s like a cool high-end product parked in front of a hotel,’ Farley continued. ‘But I don’t make trucks like that. I make trucks for real people who do real work, and that’s a different kind of truck.’ The comments come in the context of Ford being the first automotive company to strike a deal with Tesla to use its expansive Supercharger network of over 12,000 DC fast chargers across the United States and Canada, with Ford customers gaining access to the most reliable EV charging stations in North America starting next year. The Michigan-based firm’s all-electric vehicles will also be fitted with the NACS plug from 2025, eliminating the need for an adaptor. General Motors and Rivian soon followed, striking similar deals.” [Inside EVs, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

Ford CEO Dismisses Tesla Cybertruck: ‘I Make Trucks For Real People Who Do Real Work’ — “Ford CEO Jim Farley dismissed Tesla Cybertrucks as ‘a cool high-end product parked in front of a hotel’ rather than ‘a truck for real people.’ Will he eat his words? During an interview with CNBC, Farley appeared to want to distance Ford from Tesla a bit after his company agreed to adopt Tesla’s NACS connector. He described the move as an ‘opportunistic’ one to increase access to charging for Ford customers, but he claimed that Ford’s charging network was already extensive before that. The CEO was asked about the imminent launch of the Tesla Cybertruck and he seemed unimpressed. Farley said about the Cybertruck: ‘The reality is, America loves an underdog — and we are the market leader for EV trucks and vans, and we know those customers better than anyone. And if [Elon Musk] wants to design a Cybertruck for Silicon Valley people, fine. It’s like a cool high-end product parked in front of a hotel. But I don’t make trucks like that. I make trucks for real people who do real work, and that’s a different kind of truck.’” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Ford EV Battery Plant Petition Fails In Michigan — “Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan was announced earlier this year, as the latest Ford EV battery plant facility to be built in the United States. When it comes online in 2026, the manufacturing center is expected to churn out lithium iron phosphate batteries for the automaker’s second generation electric vehicles. However, not everyone in Michigan is happy about its existence. As Ford Authority recently reported, opponents in the city of Marshall filed a petition in an effort to stop it from being built. That effort has now failed, according to a new report by WWMT News 3. As it turns out, the Marshall City Clerk rejected the petition due to a lack of valid signatures and other issues. The ‘Committee to Save Marshall not the Megasite’ apparently collected 800 signatures, but a legal review determined only 136 were valid, which did not meet the 578 signature threshold. The group filed the petition over a grievance regarding rezoning, as 700 acres of land were transferred to the city from Marshall township, with the land promptly being rezoned as industry after transfer, essentially paving the way for the Ford EV battery plant.” [Ford Authority, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Petition Against Ford Battery Plant In Marshall Fails Due To Insufficient Valid Signatures — “A petition to derail the Ford Motor Co. battery plant in Marshall was rejected Tuesday evening, due to a lack of valid signatures and other provisions, according to the Marshall City Clerk. In a Certification of Insufficiency Letter from the Office of the Marshall City Clerk, the petition also did not meet the targeted ordinance, was not subject due to a vote, and the inclusion of an appropriation of money. Approval: Marshall City Council rezones land for Ford’s electric vehicle battery plant The group known as the ‘Committee to Save Marshall not the Megasite’ allegedly collected nearly 800 signatures against the rezoning May 30. While the group claimed it submitted more than 800 signatures as part of its voting effort, only 136 were valid, a legal review determined.” [WWMT-TV, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

General Motor Corp.

 

GM Out Of Top Ten Most American-Made Vehicles In 2023 — “In today’s era of modern globalization, it’s not uncommon for companies to source materials and parts from several different counties in an effort to save on costs, with automakers being no different. With this in mind, a recent study was performed to determine which automaker featured the most American-made vehicles, and GM wasn’t included in the top ten. According to a report from Cars.com, Tesla EVs swept the top four most American-made vehicles for 2023, while entries from Honda and Volkswagen rounded out the top ten. As for General Motors, the Corvette was ranked as the 19th most American-made vehicle, while the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado ranked 33rd and 34th, respectively. Notably, this GM ranking is drastically lower than the 2022 Kogod Made In America Index, which had the Bow Tie brand’s sports car ranked as the third most American-made vehicle.” [GM Authority, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Hyundai Motor Co.

 

Hyundai Raises E-Mobility Budget To €25 Billion — “The Hyundai Motor Group with its car brands Hyundai, Kia and Genesis is further tightening its electric course. As the Korean Group announced at its ‘CEO Investor Day 2023’, the annual sales target for pure electric cars will be increased to two million units by 2030. This is another 130,000 BEVs per year more than announced in the Group’s strategic plan from last year. The new strategy ‘Hyundai Motor Way’ envisages total investments of 109.4 trillion won (equivalent to about 77.5 billion euros) over the next ten years. Of this, 35.8 trillion won (approx. 25.4 billion euros) is to be invested in electrification. 9.5 trillion won (6.7 billion euros) of this is earmarked for battery development, with the remainder funding the development of a new electric car platform and increased production capacity for electric cars. The second-generation BEV platform is the Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA), which will replace the current Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) in the future. The IMA will be used in 13 new electric models of the group by 2030. The IMA will standardise not only the chassis, but also the motors and the battery system with cell-to-pack technology. This should significantly increase economies of scale and reduce complexity (and thus development costs).” [Electrive, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Hyundai’s New EV Platform Signals An Electric Truck Is Coming – Could It Be Kia? — “The Hyundai Motor Group unveiled its next-gen EV platform this week, designed to support 13 new EV models from the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands. Hyundai’s CEO confirmed the new platform will allow the automaker to produce EVs in all segments, including electric trucks. During its 2023 annual investor day, Hyundai said it’s leveraging its established position ‘amidst a seismic change in the industry’ with a KRW 35.9 trillion ($27.8 billion) investment to advance EVs. Hyundai has taken advantage of the shift so far, introducing new electric models with bold designs and advanced technology, including the IONIQ 5 electric SUV and Kia EV6 crossover. Between the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, Hyundai’s first two dedicated EVs, the automaker recorded over 100,000 in global sales last year. The group (including Kia and Genesis) plans to become a top three EV producer by the end of the decade.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Lucid Group

 

Lucid Appears Reluctant To NACS, Needs High-Voltage Version — “Lucid Motors is not expected to be among the first movers to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Wilmot had an opportunity earlier this month to speak with Lucid Motors CEO Peter Rawlinson and ask him about the whole CCS1 to NACS transition. As we can see in the video (see from about 7:00 here or a small part in a tweet below), Lucid’s boss does not appear to be too excited about NACS. He pointed out that the CCS1 and NACS are just plastic plugs with some copper. The far more important thing, in his opinion, is not the plug, but the high-voltage (a level of 1,000 volts), which must be utilized to reduce the current (assuming the same power) and losses, and thus increase efficiency. That’s fundamental, according to Peter Rawlinson.” [Inside EVs, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

 

Renault Could Build EVs In South Korea — “Renault could be the first foreign carmaker to invest in an EV facility in South Korea. According to local media, the company is looking to expand its production facility in Busan and make up to 200,000 electric cars there per year. The investment in the new EV facility could amount to more than one trillion won, equivalent to about 703 million Euros. Production could kick off as early as 2026. Renault already has a factory in Busan – some 320 kilometres southeast of Seoul- building seven ICE models. Guido Haak, executive vice president of Renault Group, met with Korea’s Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon in Paris to discuss the possible investment. ‘The Busan plant is an important production base for us. We will accelerate our transition to future vehicles through large-scale investments’, the group vice chairman was quoted as saying.” [Electrive, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

Nissan Takes The Long, Costly Road To Reusing EV Batteries — “In a small seaside town in northeast Japan, factory workers are disassembling old batteries from the world’s first mass-market electric cars and preparing them for a second life. Reusing batteries could help the auto industry live up to its promise to make a truly green transition. But it’s time-consuming and, for now, unprofitable. Early models of Nissan Motor Co.’s all-electric Leaf, which first went on sale almost 13 years ago, have started to reach the end of their life spans. In an effort to make the end of the cars’ lives as green as their operation was, their used batteries are collected at Nissan dealerships in the US and Japan and sent to the factory in Namie, Fukushima, a town devastated in 2011 by a tsunami and a nuclear disaster. Engineers at the plant, operated by 4R Energy Co.—Nissan’s joint venture with trading house Sumitomo Corp.—spend hours on each battery pack before shipping them out, mostly to be used again in another electric vehicle but sometimes to be repurposed in other devices, such as backup generators.” [Bloomberg, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Rivian Automotive Inc.

 

Rivian R2 Reveal Coming In 2024, May Cost About $40,000 — “The Rivian R2 is still three years away, but we’ll get to see it a lot sooner than that. On Thursday, Rivian Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough spoke about the Rivian R2’s pricing and timeline with Emmanuel Rosner from Deutsche Bank. McDonough revealed the R2 will be revealed in early 2024. The clay design bucks are in the design studio and the executive has spent time with them along with the design team. ‘We’re incredibly excited about the differentiation of the products,’ McDonough said. In May, CEO RJ Scaringe and design boss Jeff Hammond showed the R2 clay model covered under a sheet during an Instagram question and answer session. Despite being covered it was clear the design is that of a boxy SUV with a shrunken R1S SUV profile. The R2 is expected to be about the size of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. McDonough told Rosner the R2’s targeted price spectrum is $40,000 to $60,000 as the automaker aims to the broader market. Supply chain cost basis will play a major factor as the automaker’s in a better position to negotiate contracts than it was in 2018, before having the R1T electric truck in production.” [Green Car Reports, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

First Rivian R2 Model To Be Revealed In 2024, Priced From $40,000 — “Rivian will reveal the first model in the smaller, more affordable R2 range in early 2024, according to the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Claire McDonough, who spoke with Emmanuel Rosner during Deutsche Bank’s Global Auto Industry Conference Call. The American EV startup’s CFO said that she saw the clay model that was teased recently during a Q&A session with CEO RJ Scaringe and that the whole team is ‘incredibly excited about the differentiation of the products.’ Rivian’s first R2-based model will be a mid-size SUV crossover which could have a starting price of around $40,000 and a maximum retail price of $60,000, slotting right under the flagship R1T pickup which starts at $73,000, and the R1S SUV that has an MSRP of $78,000.” [Inside EVs, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Inc.

 

Tesla Seen Staying As Top EV Seller In US Through 2026, Buoyed By Discounts — “Tesla Inc. is poised to remain the top seller of electric vehicles in the US through at least 2026 as it benefits from renewed sales momentum sparked by a recent discounting binge, according to a new report. The automaker’s models should account for 18% of the domestic EV market that year, BofA Securities analyst John Murphy predicted in his annual Car Wars report. That will leave General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. to fight for second place, with about 14% share each, followed by Stellantis NV at 8%. The forecast marks a shift after Murphy said last year that Tesla was likely to be overtaken by Ford and GM in 2025. The landscape has changed due to Tesla’s price cuts, the latest report said. Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has been willing to take lower profits as he reduces prices to keep market share. With affordability an increasingly important factor in wider EV adoption, Tesla is in line to protect its market-leading position through additional price reductions and new models. The report predicts the company will launch a new, low-priced vehicle in 2026 and a revamped Model 3 the following year.” [Bloomberg, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Sweeps Top Four Spots On Cars.Com American-Made Ranking — “Tesla Inc.’s electric vehicles took the top four spots on this year’s Cars.com Inc. list of the most-American-made cars, the second time in as many years all of the EV-maker’s models ranked in the top ten. Tesla’s Model Y SUV, Model 3 sedan, Model X SUV and Model S sedan ranked in spots one through four, according to a ranking released Wednesday by the online vehicle listing and data provider. Volkswagen AG’s ID.4 SUV was the only other EV to crack the top ten, which was otherwise dominated by Honda Motor Co.’s namesake and premium Acura brand models. The ranking — Cars.com’s 18th annual compilation — comes amid a US government push to build out a domestic electric-vehicle supply chain. The Inflation Reduction Act signed into law last year by President Joe Biden offers up billions of dollars in potential incentives for companies to produce electric vehicles and their components in the US.” [Bloomberg, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Tesla, VW ID.4 Take Top Spots In Most American-Made Cars List — “Tesla can claim to be the most American-made automaker, based on the annual American-Made Index published by Cars.com on Wednesday. It’s the only automaker with 100% of its U.S. sales coming from domestic manufacturing, and its four models take the top four spots as the most American-made cars. ‘Tesla debuted on the index just three years ago, but with headquarters and significant operations in the U.S., its rise shuffled the deck, displacing many traditional domestic manufacturers,’ Jenni Newman, Cars.com editor-in-chief, said in a statement. The bestselling Tesla Model Y electric crossover led the charge, followed by the Model 3 compact sedan, Model X three-row SUV, and Model S full-size sedan.” [Green Car Reports, 6/21/23 (+)]

 

Has Tesla Already Won The EV Charging War? — “Tesla’s bid to become the future of electric vehicle charging is gaining traction. Texas, where Tesla is headquartered, announced on Tuesday that all new EV chargers built using federal funding in the state will have to include Tesla’s ‘North American Charging Standard’ (NACS) port, as first reported by Reuters, and confirmed to Gizmodo by the Texas Department of Transportation. The state-level decision follows a string of automakers announcing their intent to include Tesla ports on forthcoming vehicle models.” [Gizmodo, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Is Taking Over America’s Charging Stations — “On Tuesday, electric car maker Rivian announced it will adopt Tesla’s North American Charge Standard, or NACS. The move follows similar announcements from Ford and GM in recent weeks; Hyundai is reportedly mulling a shift too. Allowing non-Teslas into the extensive Tesla charging network will be a boon for the company: The flurry of new deals could add some $3 billion to Tesla’s revenue in 2030 and more than $5.2 billion in 2032. It could also give one company and its mercurial, right-wing CEO enormous sway over how and where infrastructure critical to decarbonization gets built.” [The New Republic, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Elon Musk Hints At Tesla Entering India Next Year — “Elon Musk is hinting that Tesla might enter the Indian automotive market as soon as next year after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has the biggest auto market that Tesla has yet to enter. For years, Elon Musk said that Tesla’s launch in India was imminent, but strong import tariffs have made it difficult. Nonetheless, the automaker has had some indications of preparing for a launch over the last year. In 2021, Tesla officially incorporated an Indian company in Bengaluru, the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state. During the summer, Indian government officials said that they are considering Tesla’s proposal to greatly reduce import duties for electric cars, which has been the main hurdle for the company to enter the market. The government has maintained high import duties on EVs to encourage local production, but so far, it has mainly resulted in preventing automakers to import popular EVs produced outside the country, including in China.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Proposed Minnesota Nickel Mine Begins Environmental Review, Would Supply Tesla If Approved — “Talon Metals Corp. filed papers with Minnesota regulators Wednesday to launch the environmental review process for its proposed underground nickel mine near the northern town of Tamarack, which would supply nickel to Tesla for electric car batteries. The Department of Energy has already given the project a $114 million grant to build an ore processing plant in North Dakota, part of the Biden administration’s efforts to boost domestic production of nickel, lithium and other metals needed for electric vehicles and the fight against climate change. That funding contrasts with the administration’s efforts to kill another proposed mining project in northern Minnesota, the Twin Metals copper-nickel mine near Ely, which is just upstream from the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. And the federal government earlier this month raised a new obstacle to the separate NewRange Copper Nickel mine near Babbitt when the Army Corps of Engineers revoked a crucial water quality permit.” [Associated Press, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Is Looking To Acquire Wireless Charging Startup — “Tesla is an interested buyer of a small Germany-based wireless charging startup following the automaker’s indications that it might launch its own EV wireless charger. Several companies have been working on wireless charging for electric vehicles in recent years, but the technology has never taken off. There are several issues with it. For example, it’s not as efficient as charging with a cable – though the technology has been closing the gap in recent years. It’s also more expensive, as you generally have to embed a charging pad securely in the ground instead of just mounting a charger on the wall. And for these downsides, the problem it solves is not a major one: having to plug in your car. It’s not a super difficult or time-consuming task. Nonetheless, Tesla has previously talked about automating the task in order to be ready for self-driving technology. If the cars could drive themselves, it would make sense for them to be able to charge themselves without a human needing to plug them in.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Accused Of Infringing 5 Vehicle Patents — “Tesla Inc. has been hit with a suit alleging it has willfully infringed five patents relating to ways to increase the efficiency in electric vehicles, with the patent owner saying the ‘technology is particularly innovative and useful.’ Patent holder iQar Inc. filed a lawsuit in Texas federal court on Tuesday against Tesla. The suit — which alleged one count of patent infringement for each of the patents-at-issue — said the inventors of the patented technology ‘envisioned and set out to create technology ahead of the times.’ ‘This resulted in, among other things, patents, such as the five patents-in-suit, that use data and various information sources to increase the efficiency of vehicles,’ the suit said. ‘This technology is particularly innovative and useful when applied in electric vehicles.’ The patented technology, according to the complaint, was created almost two decades ago.” [Law360, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Toyota Motor Corp.

 

Toyota Will Use AI To Maximize Future EV Range — “Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly capable of performing complex tasks. Toyota plans to harness the power of AI to improve the car design process while optimizing vehicle aerodynamics, a critical factor in enhancing EV range. The Toyota Research Institute (TRI), Toyota’s R&D division aimed at developing products and technology that can ‘dramatically improve the quality of life for individuals and society,’ unveiled its latest innovation Tuesday. Researchers revealed a new generative AI technique that can improve the vehicle design process, giving designers access to new capabilities, according to Toyota. Avinash Balachandran (director of TRI’s Human Interactive Driving Division), whose team worked on the technology, explained, ‘Generative AI tools are often used as inspiration for design, but they cannot handle the complex engineering and safety considerations that go into actual car design.’ Engineers often reject initial designs as they go beyond certain restraints. The back-and-forth process can take valuable time away from production and deliveries.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Mazda Explores EV Battery Partnership With Panasonic Energy To Fuel Next-Gen EVs — “Japanese automaker Mazda Motor and Tesla’s primary battery cell supplier, Panasonic Energy, are in talks over establishing a battery partnership to power Mazda’s future EVs. Mazda and Panasonic discuss EV battery partnership The business leaders revealed Wednesday that they are discussing establishing a medium-to-long-term partnership to ‘meet demand for battery EVs and automotive batteries in a rapidly expanding market.’ Mazda and Panasonic will enter ‘concrete discussions’ for Panasonic to supply Mazda with lithium-ion batteries manufactured at the company’s plants in Japan and North America. The Japanese automaker plans to deploy EVs with Panasonic batteries, but not until the second half of the decade (likely around 2025 to 2027 or later). Mashiro Moro, who took over as CEO in March, said: As part of our electrification initiatives, Mazda is working with its partners in three phases to flexibly respond to changes in regulatory trends, consumer needs, and other areas.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Volkswagen Group

 

VW Judge Rips Opt-Out Drivers' Fee Ask, 'Lavish Spendings' — “A California federal judge has rejected all but one attorney fee request by consumers who opted out of Volkswagen’s $10 billion settlement in multidistrict litigation over its diesel emissions cheats, slashing the sole winning plaintiff’s ‘grossly inflated and unreasonable’ fee bid and saying he’s ‘troubled’ by counsel’s and experts’ ‘lavish spendings.’ In a 26-page order Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer rejected a request for more than $620,000 in fees by roughly three dozen attorneys who represented seven opt-out plaintiffs in the litigation. The judge noted that after a trial and a Ninth Circuit appeal, couple Luke and Kathryn Sanwick were the only opt-out plaintiffs to recover damages that were more than what plaintiffs were found to owe Volkswagen in costs, and their recovery netted them only $249 more than what Volkswagen had offered four years ago. ‘The average person would say trial was not an unalloyed success for the plaintiffs,’ Judge Breyer’s order says.” [Law360, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Volkswagen’s EV Battery Effort Keeps Its Executives Up At Night — “Volkswagen AG is trying to build up a leading battery maker to supply its ever-expanding fleet of electric vehicles — a feat so challenging, it’s leading to sleepless nights at Europe’s biggest carmaker. The cell plants VW is setting up in Germany, Spain and Canada will underpin its shift away from the combustion engine. The automaker has earmarked €20 billion ($22 billion) worth of investment through 2030 to try and turn its one-year-old battery unit PowerCo into a behemoth with 20,000 workers and enough capacity for 3 million EVs a year. VW on Wednesday mapped out a renewed profit push, with Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz telling reporters the company remains open to eventually selling shares in PowerCo. Whereas Mercedes-Benz Group AG is tapping a planned Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. factory in Hungary and has joined Stellantis NV and TotalEnergies SE in a €7.3 billion battery venture, VW is setting up some of its battery plants without partners. PowerCo will make unified cells designed to fit most of the group’s EV platforms, a strategy that could be a major advantage if the company can pull it off, but also risky.” [Bloomberg, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

 

EV Charging Cos. & Parts Mfrs.

 

Wallbox Embraces NACS Charging Connector Option — “Wallbox announced that its Supernova DC fast charger will be offered with the Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connector as an option. The company announced the decision earlier this month, as one of roughly ten other EV charging companies, following Ford and General Motors’ announcement about the switch from the Combined Charging System (CCS1) to NACS. Today we already know that the NACS coalition will include Rivian so there is no surprise that EV charging equipment manufacturers are working on the NACS option. Wallbox, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, intends to incorporate the option for NACS on its 180-kilowatt (kW) Supernova DC fast chargers, which are expected to enter the North American market later in 2023. However, let’s note that we are not sure when exactly the CCS1-compatible Supernova will get the NACS option - it might not happen immediately. So far, Wallbox sold this model in 33 countries globally (mostly in Europe).” [Inside EVs, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

 

Electric Vehicles

 

Battery Technology

 

EV Battery-Swapping Could Help Solve The US Charging Problem — “More than a decade ago, a high-flying startup called Better Place made a billion-dollar bet that electric car drivers would prefer to swap depleted batteries for fresh ones in minutes rather than charge them for hours. At the time, most EVs had 75-mile ranges and chargers were slow, few and far between. But soon after Better Place launched its battery-switching stations in 2012, Elon Musk unveiled a free fast-charging network that would serve drivers of Teslas, then (and now) the most popular brand of electric vehicle. Within months of Musk’s announcement, Better Place went bankrupt, leaving investors that included Morgan Stanley, General Electric and HSBC out more than $750 million. In the US, at least, battery-swapping seemed consigned to the technological graveyard. It’s back. Over the past two years, San Francisco startup Ample Inc. has quietly deployed more than a dozen robotic battery-swap stations around the Bay Area and in Europe. On an afternoon in May at an unmarked warehouse, the company previewed its next-generation swapping stations, at which a drained battery can be changed out for a charged one in about five minutes — half the time of its current stations.” [Bloomberg, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Analysis: For EV Batteries, Lithium Iron Phosphate Narrows The Gap With Nickel, Cobalt — “As the auto industry scrambles to produce more affordable electric vehicles, whose most expensive components are the batteries, lithium iron phosphate is gaining traction as the EV battery material of choice. The popularity of the chemical compound known as LFP is due partly to environmental and geopolitical concerns. But technological advances have also reduced the performance gap with more widely used materials such as nickel and cobalt. LFP, embraced by EV industry leader Tesla (TSLA.O) two years ago, has sparked new interest especially in the U.S., where a clutch of domestic and overseas manufacturers has pledged more than $14 billion in new production facilities. Overseas, two of the world’s largest automakers, Toyota Motor (7203.T) and Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), have both announced plans in the past week to equip their future vehicles with LFP batteries, but have not disclosed plans for the U.S.” [Reuters, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Factbox: As Electric Cars Take Off, Makers Pledge $14.3 Billion For US Lithium Iron Phosphate — “Interest and investment in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells and materials, used to power electric vehicles, continue to climb in the United States. LFP is a lower-cost competitor to nickel cobalt manganese cells. Seven companies have committed more than $14 billion in future LFP manufacturing facilities in the U.S., with others, including Tesla (TSLA.O) and Rivian (RIVN.O), reportedly considering similar investments. Here is a look at some of the announced LFP projects. FORD Ford Motor (F.N) is planning to open a $3.5 billion LFP manufacturing plant in 2026 in Marshall, Michigan, using technology licensed from China’s CATL (300750.SZ). GM General Motors (GM.N) has announced a $3 billion LFP plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with partner Samsung SDI (006400.KS), to open in 2026. LG ENERGY SOLUTION South Korea’s LGES (373220.KS) plans to add LFP production later this year to its Holland, Michigan, battery cell plant as part of a $1.7 billion expansion.” [Reuters, 6/21/23 (+)]

 

Charging Infrastructure

 

How Charging Electric Vehicles During Peak Hours Could Be A Problem — “Could electronic vehicles be causing a problem for local power companies? Back in April, President Biden announced his desire to have 50% of new vehicles be electronic by 2030. While electric vehicles are becoming more prominent, they could be less cost effective in the long run. Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s Chief Operating Officer Brad Kimbro spoke at the Kiwanis Club meeting Wednesday afternoon, expressing his concerns with electronic peaks and energy use of EV chargers. Kimbro referred to EVs as ‘a threat and an opportunity.’ He also said a typical house will peak around five or six kilowatts an hour (KwH), but a level two EV charger uses 19 KwH, so charging and using electricity at home could lead to an excessive demand. ‘What if 50%, at 19 KwH, was plugged in at our highest capacity,’ asked Kimbro to the room. ‘You know the answer. It would blow the place up. It would melt the system down.’” [WTVY-TV, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

EV Sales & Transition

 

Residential Heat Pump, EV Sales Surged Last Year In US And Globally, Boosting Energy Efficiency — “Dive Brief: Global energy demand rose 1% in 2022, but the rate of energy efficiency improvements in 2022 was double the average of the past five years, boosted by ‘surging’ sales in more efficient technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles, the International Energy Agency said in a report this month. In the United States last year, residential heat pump sales exceeded gas furnaces for the first time, constituting 53% of heating system sales. Sales of electric vehicles grew 55% last year in the United States, and in the first quarter of this year they were more than 7% of new car sales. Globally, EVs made up 14% of new car sales in 2022 and could reach 18% this year, IEA said.” [Smart Cities Dive, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Which Cars Help Fuel The American Economy? Cars.Com Releases Annual American-Made Index — “Between the four Tesla models and the Volkswagen ID.4, half of the top 10 models in this year’s index are electric. Cars.com’s survey found 39% of car shoppers say they’re considering an EV as their next car, with another 26% saying they are ‘maybe’ considering purchasing an EV. The shift comes as the Biden administration aims for half of all vehicles sold in the country to be zero-emissions by 2030, with a focus on expanding American-made vehicles and batteries. Legislation signed last year created strict battery component and sourcing mandates for EV tax credits, and the infrastructure law passed in 2021 includes over $7 billion to make sure U.S. manufacturers can access EV battery components, critical minerals, and materials. ‘We’re seeing a lot of automakers boosting investment in electric vehicles and electric vehicle components like batteries, motors, things like that, all made in the United States,’ Bragman said. ‘So that’s driving a lot of investment coming up. And I think that that’s going to be very interesting to see how many more electric vehicles appear on the list over the next few years.’” [USA Today, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

 

Advocacy

 

Electric Vehicle Tour Highlights Need For Equitable Charging Access In Cleveland — “A coast-to-coast electric vehicle road relay recently stopped in Cleveland and highlighted the need for equity in the transition to electric vehicles. Drive Electric Northeast Ohio welcomed the Route Zero Road Trip for its June 11 stop at the new headquarters of the Cleveland Foundation. The foundation chose the location to promote equitable growth in the Midtown and Hough neighborhoods, a historically redlined area where a majority of residents are Black and median household incomes are less than half of Ohio’s statewide median. The Route Zero Road Trip is an electric vehicle tour from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., that began last month. Drive Electric Northeast Ohio worked with the Cleveland Foundation to host the stop at the foundation’s new headquarters, which features a solar-powered carport, to draw attention to the neighborhoods and the importance of making sure that people at all income levels can take advantage of the shift toward electrification.” [Energy News Network, 6/21/23 (+)]

 

 

States & Local

 

Florida

 

What To Do This Hurricane Season If You Have An Electric Vehicle And The Power Goes Out — “It’s not a secret that making the switch to an electric vehicle requires a shift in lifestyle. An EV can go days without charging, but ‘fueling up’ takes longer. Figuring out when and how to charge your EV takes thought even when there is power to charge it. But it’s hurricane season in Florida, which begs the question: What’s a Florida EV driver to do when the power goes out? Here’s a roundup of what you need to know if you lose power and need to charge your car.” [The Palm Beach Post, 6/21/23 (+)]

 

Georgia

 

Op-Ed: A Republican Governor Does The Climate Policy Tap Dance — According to Michelle Cottle, “Quick quiz: Which popular governor has been sweet-talking electric vehicle industries and developing E.V. infrastructure in his state, with an eye toward making it ‘the electric mobility capital of America?’ If you guessed Brian Kemp of Georgia, give yourself a high five. Maybe even a high 10. Because on the face of it, there’s no reason to guess that an ultraconservative leader of a reddish-purple state is a green-vehicle revolutionary. The issue remains a favorite culture war cudgel for Republicans, slamming Democrats as a bunch of bed-wetters wrecking the economy over an inflated threat that, as Donald Trump scoffed, ‘may affect us in 300 years.’ Except, as Mr. Kemp tells it, electric vehicles aren’t about combating climate change. His political team may not flatly deny climate change as fiercely as it once did, but Mr. Kemp still says babble like this: ‘Look, I think man causes all kinds of problems every single day, whether it’s violent criminals — I’m sure there’s effects on the environment from people that do things the right way and people that don’t.’” [The New York Times, 6/22/23 (+)]

 

Maryland

 

Maryland Urged To Cut Emissions By Swiftly Adopting Rules Electrifying Cars And Trucks — “A week after climate change-driven wildfires worsened air pollution and exacerbated environmental justice concerns in the region, advocates and health experts have urged Maryland’s environmental regulator to hasten efforts to reduce transportation emissions and electrify the state’s on-road vehicles by adopting the Advanced Clean Cars and Clean Trucks Rules. The call to act came with the Wednesday release of two new studies by the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Both studies simulated effects of vehicular emissions on Maryland residents and the environment, and the cumulative impact on minority communities, and argued that moving to electrify on-road transportation quicker would benefit the state, the environment and Marylanders.” [Inside Climate News, 6/22/23 (+)]

 

Michigan

 

Will ‘Battery Belt’ Replace ‘Rust Belt’? — “Toyota’s plan to construct a battery laboratory in Michigan marks the latest move by automakers and suppliers to remake Michigan’s Rust Belt into a ‘Battery Belt’ to support the industry’s move to battery-electric vehicles. Toyota will join General Motors and Ford in building a research lab for electric-vehicle batteries in Michigan, giving the state’s automobile industry another boost as it moves to retool for EVs. Toyota Motor North America says it plans to spend nearly $50 million to construct a new laboratory facility at its North American R&D headquarters in York Township, 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Detroit, to evaluate batteries for electric and electrified vehicles. The new lab will be staffed by current employees who will have new tools to continue and expand their work, according to Toyota executives. ‘With increasing production for electrification coming to North America, it’s important to have local supporting infrastructure, but more importantly it enables us to invest in team members and technology development,’ says Jordan Choby, group vice president of powertrain at TMNA R&D.” [WardsAuto, 6/21/23 (+)]

 

Texas

 

Texas Surpasses 200K Electric Vehicle Registrations Statewide — “As more drivers here in Austin and beyond embrace greener technology, the state of Texas just cleared a major electric vehicle milestone. More than 200,000 electric vehicles are now registered in Texas, according to data compiled by Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities. Of total EVs registered, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro accounts for the highest percentage, with 36.7%. Houston comes in second, accounting for 24.07% of EVs statewide, with Austin rounding out the Top 3 with 20.1% of registered EVs residing in the state capital. ‘It’s tremendous growth,’ said Tom ‘Smitty’ Smith, director of the Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance. Since last year, Smith said EV registrations had climbed 64%, with more than 72,000 EVs added to the state’s vehicle registry. Smith credited increased variety and lower costs of EVs on the market as contributing factors to the bump, paired with state and federal efforts to expand EV charging infrastructure. In Texas, a significant proportion of chargers are headquartered in the state’s major metropolitan areas like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Smith said. However, new federal efforts are working to accelerate the number of fast chargers located both in the Lone Star State and across the country.” [KXAN-TV, 6/21/23 (+)]

 

Texas Requiring Tesla NACS Connectors On State-Funded Chargers — “Texas officials on Tuesday said EV charging sites looking to tap state funds must include Tesla connectors alongside the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) connector that has been the default up until now. The decision was made in response to announcements by Ford, General Motors, and Rivian to adopt the Tesla connector, which the automaker has branded as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), the Texas Department of Transportation said in an email to Reuters. Texas, which is home to Tesla’s headquarters and its second U.S. factory, becomes the first state to mandate Tesla connectors for state-funded chargers. States have control of $5 billion of the $7.5 billion in funding set aside in the Biden administration’s infrastructure law to create a national network of 500,000 EV chargers. The state funding will be spread over five years, and spending plans must be approved by the federal government. The feds said earlier this year that Tesla will have to open its network to other EVs in order to be eligible for a piece of the infrastructure-law funding. The White House earlier this month said that it will offer subsidies to charging stations that use Tesla connectors, as long as they include CCS connectors. That statement did not clarify whether CCS adapters would be enough to prove interoperability.” [Green Car Reports, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Texas Will Require NACS-Compatability To Get Public Funding For Chargers — “Another day brings more significant news related to the transition from the CCS1 to the NACS fast charging standard in the United States. According to an exclusive report from Reuters, the Texas Department of Transportation will introduce an additional requirement of NACS compatibility to new charging infrastructure, if companies would like to get federal funding. ‘...Texas saying it would require electric vehicle charging companies to include both Tesla’s standard as well as the nationally recognized CCS if they want to be part of a state program to electrify highways using federal dollars.’ Let’s recall that, on the federal level, there is up to $7.5 billion available for charging infrastructure, as long as new projects comply with multiple requirements. Particular states remain in control, as the funds are flowing through their transportation departments, which means that they can add their own additional rules and regulations.” [Inside EVs, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Virginia

 

A New Factory In Virginia Will Make Batteries For Electric Buses And Mining Trucks — “Electrification and automation giant ABB just launched a new factory in Virginia that will make batteries and other components for electric buses, heavy mining trucks, and trains. ABB’s new $6 million factory in Mechanicsville, Virginia, will manufacture and distribute such components as batteries, compact and auxiliary converters, EV chargers, and energy storage for electric trains, heavy mining machinery, and buses. The building features more than 65,000 square feet of operational space and will create nearly 100 jobs when at scale. In September 2022, ABB E-mobility announced that it would open an EV charger factory in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s making EV chargers ranging from 20 kW to 180 kW in power for public use, school buses, and fleets. ABB E-mobility rolled out its first US-made Terra 184 DC fast charger in May at a Circle K EV charging site in Wytheville, Virginia. The Terra 184 can add 100 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

Wisconsin

 

Wisconsin Republicans Vote To Raise Electric Vehicle Registration Fees — “Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled legislative finance committee has voted to raise electric vehicle registration fees to $175 a year, up from $100 a year. Registering an electric vehicle in Wisconsin is already more expensive than registering a gas vehicle or hybrid, which cost $85 and $75 a year respectively. Before the vote late on June 13, Democrats raised concerns that the added fees would discourage people from buying electric vehicles. ‘I don’t want to disincentivize people from making that choice,’ said Democratic Rep. Evan Goyke. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimated that the increased fees will bring in an additional $3.3 million to the state’s transportation fund over the next two years.” [PBS Wisconsin, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

 

International

 

China Extends EV Tax Exemptions Totaling $72 Billion Through 2027, The Largest Tax Break To Date — “China’s Ministry of Finance has confirmed that tax exemptions for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) scheduled to expire at the end of this year have been extended through 2027. Consumers in China will now be able to take advantage of EV tax breaks amounting to over $4,000 per vehicle to start, which will dwindle down over the next four years. China has used cumulative tax breaks to encourage EV adoption for over a decade now and has found great success. The country remains one of the fast growing EV markets and as of 2022, one in four vehicles sold was electrified. These enticing tax exemptions have helped boost sales of local automakers in China such as BYD, NIO, and XPeng – helping further fund their research and develop to introduce new EV technologies and expand to new markets around the globe. In fact, China’s EV tax options have been so successful, they’ve already seen a set expiry after three consecutive renewals between 2014 and 2022. The Chinese government previously offered a significant subsidy for NEV purchases, but that expired last year. This led EV automakers like Tesla to slash prices in China to maintain its market share.” [Electrek, 6/21/23 (=)]

 

China’s New EV Subsidies Might Not Be Enough To Bolster Slowing Growth — “KEY POINTS One of the few detailed stimulus plans Beijing has announced this year extends tax breaks for electric car purchases, according to documents released Wednesday. However, tax breaks don’t resolve the fundamental reason why people in China haven’t bought more electric cars: mileage concerns. ‘Growth in EV sales can only be sustained if charging demand is met by accessible and affordable infrastructure, either through private charging in homes or at work, or publicly accessible charging stations,’ according to the International Energy Agency.” [CNBC, 6/22/23 (=)]

 

Analysis & Opinion

 

Op-Ed: Repealing The Inflation Reduction Act Would Drive The Economy Into A Ditch — According to Ben Evans, “On Tuesday, Indiana’s Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that GM and Samsung will build a $3 billion electric vehicle battery cell plant employing 1,700 people in St. Joseph’s County. On the same day, 600 miles away in Washington, House Republicans were voting — again — to repeal clean energy tax incentives from last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that are driving the Indiana announcement and scores of others nationwide. While the latest Republican effort to roll back the popular IRA incentives is likely to fail just as an earlier attempt in the debt ceiling negotiations did, the juxtaposition of the politics in Congress against the kitchen-table economic impact in rural Indiana was jarring. The GM-Samsung plant is the latest in a growing wave of historic clean energy investments that are poised to transform communities around the country, from a new battery plant in West Virginia to a solar factory in Oklahoma.” [The Hill, 6/18/23 (+)]

 

 

 

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