Congress

 

GOP Readies Fight Against New Fuel Economy Standards — “The increased fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks floated by the Transportation Department are aimed at complementing stricter tailpipe emission limits proposed by the EPA in April, putting more pressure on automakers to swiftly transition to electric vehicles over the next decade. And lawmakers are drawing similar partisan conclusions about the fuel economy standards as they did about the tailpipe limits, teeing up more debates on what Republicans say is administrative overreach to mandate the adoption of electric vehicles. ‘At a time when prices for new vehicles are at all-time highs, NHTSA’s new fuel economy standards will add even more to the price tag, depriving people of safe, affordable vehicles,’ House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said in a statement. ‘These new penalties put an additional burden on manufacturers as well, which will ultimately be passed along to the hardworking people of this country.’” [Roll Call, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Something’s Working? — “The House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party is working in ‘bipartisan harmony,’ report Anthony Adragna and Daniella Diaz, and actually has a shot at turning its work into law this Congress. As part of its broad mandate, the panel is focusing on competition with China in emerging transportation fields such as drones, electric vehicles and autonomous driving. In June, the panel’s top members told Irie they were floating legislation that would ban Chinese AV companies from operating in the U.S. due to data collection and privacy concerns.” [Politico, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

 

Federal Government

 

Department of Transportation (DOT)

 

NHTSA Fuel Economy Proposal Might Make Automakers Sell More Electric Vehicles — “A new proposal on fleet fuel economy by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is entering into public comment and, while not directly mandating electric vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning, it may force OEMs to produce more than they currently do. Both the Biden administration and the NHTSA say the new fuel economy rule would save consumers over $50 billion and reduce U.S. dependence on oil by billions of gallons more. How will the proposed new economy numbers work out between now and 2032 and how quickly will the OEMs need to hit nearly 60 mpg across their entire light-duty vehicle fleet?” [MotorTrend, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

 

Automotive Industry

 

Vehicle Manufacturers

 

Ford Motor Co.

 

Ford Restarts F-150 Lightning Production To Meet Order Backlog, Offer More Test Drives — “After a six-week shutdown for retooling and expansion, Ford Motor Co. has restarted production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning in Dearborn with about a 45-day supply of customer orders to fill, the automaker announced Tuesday. ‘We’ve sold stock when we were shut down in June and July. We’ve got work to do,’ Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer for Ford Model e, told reporters about the Monday restart on a conference call. ‘We’ve also got ground stock to replenish as well as demos to deliver.’ Ford restarted production of the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning on July 31, 2023, after taking the plant down to retool and expand production capabilities in Dearborn. Despite a reported dip in demand for electric vehicles industrywide, and globally, he said, ‘We feel very good right now. But the future is somewhat unpredictable and volatile. We’ll have to see how the market plays out. We’re seeing competition increase. ... We’re going to have to adjust with the market ... We look at the U.S. and EVs are growing 40% or more on volume year on year for the automotive industry. That’s incredible growth.’” [Detroit Free Press, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

F-150 Lightning Plant Resumes Production After Six-Week Shutdown To Boost Capacity — “Ford Motor Co. this week resumed production of the electric F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn following a six-week shutdown to expand and retool the plant to support a boost in production capacity. The Dearborn automaker said Tuesday that production restarted Monday and that it remains on track to hit its targeted annual rate of 150,000 Lightning units by the end of the third quarter, representing a tripling of capacity. The plant is expected to deliver approximately 70,000 Lightning units in 2023. The six-week production shutdown involved expanding the plant in the Rouge complex, adding new equipment, and bringing on board an additional 1,200 employees who are in training and who bring the facility’s workforce to 2,000 people. The plant launched production of the Lightning last year with about 500 workers; it will launch a three-crew operation later this month.” [The Detroit News, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Ford Resumes Production Of The F-150 Lightning — “Ford has resumed production of its F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan after a six-week break. The automaker had retooled and expanded the plant during the break to increase production capacity for the electric pickup. Ford is aiming to triple the production rate for the electric pickup to 150,000 units by autumn 2023. In 2023 alone, 70,000 vehicles are to come off the production line there. To achieve this, the production of battery packs at the Rawsonville component plant and of electric drives at the Electric Powertrain Center Van Dyke will also be increased accordingly.” [Electrive, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

Ford Says F-150 Lightning Price Cuts Are Driving Up Orders As Production Ramp Begins — “Good news for those looking to buy Ford’s electric truck. Ford Motor announced Tuesday that F-150 Lightning orders have increased by 600% following the drastic price cuts last month. The automaker says it’s now on track to triple annual production capacity by this fall to meet the higher demand. Ford ups Lightning production to satisfy higher orders Following a six-week revamp and expansion at the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, the company expects to hit its targeted annual run rate of 150,000 electric truck models by this fall. Although the temporary shutdown at Ford’s EV plant limited customer deliveries over the past few months, Ford says it’s ready to accelerate the ramp-up process to help meet the higher demand. Ford’s Rouge EV Center is forecasted to build over 70,000 F-150 Lightning electric trucks this year, with the production ramp for US customers expected this fall. The move will help support ‘shorter order-to-delivery times for customers.’” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Ford Lowers EV Targets For 2023, Points To Cost — “Ford is lowering its 2023 EV production targets, pointing to vehicle prices as a reason for the slowdown. The automaker now expects to be building 600,000 EVs a year sometime in 2024, Ford CEO Jim Farley said Monday in a discussion of the automaker’s quarterly earnings report. Ford has been saying since 2021 (when it doubled EV targets) that it would attain that rate by the end of this year. Ford at the time said it aimed to become the second-biggest EV producer in the world ‘within a couple years.’ Similar language was missing from Farley’s comments, but he did say Ford ‘will maintain flexibility, balancing growth and profitability, on the way to attaining a two-million run rate’ in the coming years.” [Green Car Reports, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Ford Revs Up Electric Truck Output, Testing Mainstream EV Demand — “Ford said Tuesday it has restarted assembly of its F-150 Lightning electric truck and is now driving to triple the production rate, setting up a multibillion-dollar test of whether mainstream U.S. truck buyers are ready to switch to an EV. Ford officials said Tuesday the Dearborn, Michigan, assembly operation that builds Lightnings could hit a 150,000-vehicle annualized production rate by October, the end of the current quarter. Ford has added 1,200 workers to the Lightning assembly system and plans to run it on a three-shift work rotation. As the Lightning factory ramps up, Ford and its dealers will be under pressure to boost monthly sales by three-fold or more from the roughly 4,000 a month the automaker sold earlier this year. The acceleration of Lightning output comes as U.S. EV market leader Tesla (TSLA.O) is ramping up output of its electric pickup truck, the Cybertruck, and Detroit’s General Motors (GM.N) is slowly launching production of its Silverado electric pickup, a direct rival to the Lightning. Startup Rivian is also accelerating deliveries of its electric pickups.” [Reuters, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Ford’s Project To Triple F-150 Lightning Production Is Complete — “Ford’s project to triple F-150 Lightning production is complete, as its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) was expanded after a six-week manufacturing shutdown to make way for improvements. Ford announced today that it has officially resumed production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning following a six-week shutdown that was an expansion and retooling of the REVC plant. The reason for the expansion and retooling was to triple production rates from 50,000 to 150,000 annual units. By this fall, Ford expects to reach a production rate of 150,000 annualized units, it said. Because of the shutdown, Ford said the REVC ‘is now ready to accelerate the ramp-up process to unlock supply and help meet demand for the truck.’ By the end of the year, Ford expects to build more than 70,000 F-150 Lightning units ‘with production for U.S. customers expected to ramp in the fall.’ Debbie Manzano, Director of Manufacturing for Ford, commented on the REVC’s completed expansion: ‘We are all looking forward to getting these F-150 Lightning trucks into the hands of our customers – from the U.S. to Norway. This milestone is the result of a lot of hard work and collaboration.’” [Teslarati, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Ford Fears A World On Fire Will Throw Up Its Hands On Climate — “When Ford Motor Co.’s UK boss visited the automaker’s massive production complex in Turkey last week, temperatures reached as high as 41C (106F). Back home, one topic was dominating the headlines: whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ought to relax his government’s green goals. The dissonance was worrisome to Tim Slatter, a 25-year Ford veteran. ‘We’re in danger of making it feel like the world’s on fire; it’s too late,’ Slatter said in an interview. ‘That’s not the case. If we want to make this happen, we can make this happen. We can reduce CO2 emissions, and we can probably get them down in time. But we need to get on with it.’ Ford’s call to carry on contrasts with a growing inclination on the part of the UK’s Conservative Party to compromise on energy policy and the environment for political gain. Among the measures Sunak is feeling the most pressure to walk back is Boris Johnson’s vow to end the sale of cars powered entirely by petrol and diesel from 2030 onward.” [Bloomberg, 8/2/23 (+)]

 

Geely

 

2025 Volvo EX30: Next Year’s Most Important EV Comes From China? — “What makes the 2025 Volvo EX30, in rear-wheel-drive form with a projected range rating of 275 miles, possible at its remarkable starting price of around $35,000—the price that tripped up Tesla some years ago? It’s undoubtedly the EX30’s manufacture in China, where labor costs are roughly akin to those in Mexico. The EX30 isn’t the first volume EV to be imported to North America from China; that was the Polestar 2 from Volvo’s sister company under the Geely umbrella. Nor is it the first Volvo imported from China; that was the S60 sedan. But it is the first of what may become a wave of cheap Chinese EVs, some of them with corporate ties to established Western brands. With the impending pause of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, only the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV will carry starting prices similar to the EX30—and they’re hardly from brands with the premium cachet of Volvo.” [Green Car Reports, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

General Motor Corp.

 

Detroit Free Press | GM Starts Shipping Chevy Blazer EV, Reveals Price And Range — “General Motors has started shipping the new Chevrolet Blazer EV and is releasing the official pricing for the trims due out this year. The first Blazer EV — the RS all-wheel drive trim — started shipping Monday from GM’s plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, to dealers. It starts at $60,215, higher than initially expected, with an estimated range of 279 miles on a full charge. ‘Customer reception for the Blazer EV has been very strong,’ Chad Lyons, a Chevrolet spokesman, wrote in an email to the Detroit Free Press. ‘For competitive reasons, we are not providing specific numbers of reservation holders.’ The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV RS in Iridescent Pearl Tricoat. GM has started shipping this trim, built in Mexico, on July 31, 2023. The Blazer EV is next in the line of GM’s new EVs built on the Ultium propulsion system and due to roll out this year. The first was the 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup in late 2021, followed by the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq SUV last year. Earlier this year, the Chevrolet Silverado EV launched for commercial consumers. It will be available to retail buyers next year. GM will launch the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Cadillac Celestiq high-end luxury EV later this year.” [USA Today, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Chevy Blazer EV Base Price Increased By $12,000 — “When Chevy announced the Blazer EV, it suggested its new battery-electric SUV in 1LT trim would start at around $45,000 — $15,000 more than the ‘around $30,000’ figure for its slightly smaller sibling, the Chevy Equinox EV. But production has begun at the Ramos Arizpe factory in Mexico and the 1LT entry level trim is nowhere in sight. That doesn’t mean it won’t appear sometime in the future, but if you want to be the first on your street to park a Chevy Blazer EV in your driveway, it’s gonna cost you. The new base model is the 2LT, and although it comes with a lot of equipment not included in the 1LT trim, it also carries a hefty price tag of $56,715, including a destination fee of $1,396. Yes, that includes all-wheel drive — the 1LT was supposed to be front-wheel drive only — but it is also around $12,000 more than the much anticipated 1LT trim level.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Chevrolet Reveals Final US Prices For Blazer EV — “Chevrolet has released the final prices for the Blazer EV in the US, which are now expected to be delivered from the factory in Mexico and available to customers to start immediately. The Blazer EV 2LT AWD will start from $56,715, while the Blazer EV RS AWD from $60,215 and the Blazer EV RS RWD from $61,790. In terms of technical specifications, both the 2LT and RS AWD variants feature a range of 279 miles, according to the EPA, while the RS RWD version is estimated to reach 320 miles of range by Chevrolet, however, ‘final EPA estimates will be announced closer to the models’ launch date’.” [Electrive, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Chevy Nixes $44,995 Blazer EV, Hails $30,000 Equinox EV And Future Bolt — “Chevrolet has canceled plans for a base 1LT version of the Blazer EV, the brand confirmed to Green Car Reports on Monday. The detail, which GM hadn’t yet confirmed publicly, came in follow-up queries regarding its announcement regarding first deliveries of the 2024 Chevy Blazer, initially in RS AWD versions. Chevrolet clarified that the Blazer 1LT won’t just be late; it won’t show up for the 2024 or 2025 model years at all. The base version in the Blazer lineup will instead be a front-wheel-drive 2LT. It had previously priced the front-wheel-drive version of the Blazer EV 2LT to start at $47,595, including destination. But the 2LT was one of the models that GM mentioned on Monday, promising additional details closer to their 2024 launch, so don’t get too attached to the price.” [Green Car Reports, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Hyundai Motor Co.

 

Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV Sales Soar, Breaking New US Monthly Record In July — “Hyundai Motor America had a record month in July, with IONIQ 5 electric SUV sales reaching their highest monthly total. The automaker’s second dedicated EV, the IONIQ 6, is also seeing high demand. Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV sales gaining momentum Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, says ‘green car’ sales have risen significantly month-to-month this year. Parker applauded the automaker’s ‘marketing and dealer programs’ for the success this past month. At the end of June, Electrek discovered Hyundai was offering a new national incentive for current Hyundai drivers, amounting to up to $10,000 in savings. Hyundai offered a $2,500 cash-back Valued Owner Coupon, which could be stacked on top of the $7,500 credit for leasing an EV. Both the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 are eligible for the $7,500 lease credit. Shortly before that, Hyundai sent a letter to dealers stating several IONIQ 6 trims, including the SE Standard Range, SE, and SEL models, would be eligible for a $5,000 retail cash bonus for buyers. The Premium trim also included a $2,000 savings.” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

US: Hyundai BEV Sales Surged Again In July 2023 — “Hyundai Motor America reports 66,527 vehicle sales in the United States in July, which is 10 percent more than a year ago. The year-to-date result amounted to 461,140 units (up 14 percent year-over-year). The most important thing is that Hyundai’s all-electric car sales (E-GMP-based models) tripled last month to a new record level. The company reports 5,880 sales of the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, which is 197 percent more than a year ago and 8.8 percent of the total volume. That’s an all-time record, on top of which comes the Hyundai Kona Electric (for which numbers are not available because it’s counted together with the ICE Kona). Considering that the previous record for the E-GMP-based Ioniq 5 crossover/SUV and Ioniq 6 sedan was set in June (4,298), it seems that the South Korean brand is building some momentum this summer.” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Hyundai Faces Class Action Lawsuit From The USA — “The Hyundai Group is facing a nationwide class action lawsuit in the US from owners of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV60 and Kia EV6 electric models. According to a statement from Hagens Berman, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, when AC charging at home, the electric cars’ charging ports often overheat after just 30 minutes, causing charging to fail unexpectedly and repeatedly. A software update provided by Hyundai in March 2023 means that charging processes now take ten hours or even longer instead of the advertised five to seven hours (depending on the model), as the update automatically reduces the current from up to 48 amps to 23 amps in the event of overheating, which was not communicated when the update was released.” [Electrive, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

'The Hottest Subject In Savannah Right Now': Hyundai Hiring Challenges Local Labor Market — “By the time the Hyundai electric vehicle manufacturing plant is running at full capacity in 2031, Savannah-area employers estimate growing their workforces by 17,500 workers. To put the number of additional workers in perspective, think about the number of people attending two sold-out concerts at Enmarket Arena. Or the current population of Richmond Hill. The EV factory is poised to change Savannah’s labor market, particularly in the manufacturing sector. As of June 2023, Savannah manufacturers employ a combined 19,900 local residents, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. During a recent Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, Georgia Southern University economist Michael Toma projected a 75% increase in manufacturing jobs in the coming years. Hyundai will employ 8,100 workers directly, and supplier labor commitments are already nearing 5,000, with more expected. The wages paid - Hyundai employees will average $58,000 a year - will give locals who work there more spending power as well as attract new residents.’” [Savannah Now, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Kia Pauses EV9 Reservations In Canada As Demand Outpaces Low Supply — “Kia opened online reservations for its flagship EV9 electric SUV in Canada on Monday. Despite only allocating just over 500 EV9 models, the electric SUV received ‘notably high’ reservations. So much so Kia plans to relaunch the program. Kia launches a new flagship electric SUV The South Korean automaker’s first three-row electric SUV is expected to serve as a symbol of what’s to come from Kia in the new electric era. Kia officially introduced the EV9 to the world in March, claiming it’s bringing the three-row SUV into the EV era with available features that matter the most. These include ample interior space (for cargo and passengers), up to 5,000 lbs of towing capabilities, enhanced vehicle dynamics, and modern tech and software. The electric SUV is based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s 800V E-GMP platform – the same one that powers the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6, featuring fourth-gen battery tech and fast charging (10% to 80% in under 25 minutes).” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Lordstown Motors

 

Bankrupt Lordstown Preps For Legal Battle Against Karma Auto — “Ohio-based automaker Lordstown Motors Corp. never maintained a solid footing in the electric pickup truck market. While other automakers like Rivian and Ford were able to produce and sell comparably substantial volumes of electric trucks, Lordstown sold three electric trucks in 2022 alone. To say the least, Lordstown was in a perpetual state of ‘production hell.’ The pickup truck manufacturer succumbed to these struggles by filing for bankruptcy in June of this year. Soon after, Lordstown asked a United States bankruptcy judge to expedite its bidding procedures, giving the automaker a chance to offload its property as soon as this September. However, the judge denied the request as California’s court is considering proceeding with a lawsuit from another EV startup. Irvine-based luxury EV manufacturer Karma Automotive sued LMC in 2020. In the complaint, the plaintiff (Karma Automotive) wrote that Lordstown ‘stole its ideas and employees in order to save money.’” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

 

2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV Starts At $110,450, Offers Standard Air Suspension — “The all-electric 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV is now available to order at the German brand’s dealerships across the United States with a starting price of $110,450, including the $1,150 destination and delivery charge. Unveiled back in October 2022 alongside the non-AMG variants of the battery-powered SUV, the 2024 model of the performance marque’s first-ever electric crossover includes a healthy list of standard features such as the AMG Ride Control+ air suspension setup with adaptive damping, active rear-axle steering, Digital Light headlamps with projections, and the German’s brand MBUX so-called Hyperscreen which includes a 12.3-inch driver display, a 17.7-inch central display, and a 12.3-inch passenger display. Nappa leather upholstery is also part of the standard package, as is the Burmester 3D surround sound system and the panoramic sunroof.” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

NIO Inc.

 

Nio Electric Car Sales Surged To Over 20,000 In July 2023 — “In July, NIO global electric car deliveries significantly accelerated, reaching a new monthly record and far exceeding the previous levels. The company delivered 20,462 cars last month, which is about 104 percent more than a year ago and the first-ever result above 20,000 units (the previous record was 15,815 in December 2022). That’s really good news for the company and a sign that the transition from models based on the NT1.0 platform to models based on the NT2.0 platform is entering the crucial growth phase. The overwhelming majority of NIO sales are in China. The company is expanding its business also in Europe. The volume of 20,462 units includes 14,066 crossovers/SUVs (up 86 percent year-over-year) and 6,396 sedans (up 159 percent year-over-year). The company does not provide a breakdown between the individual models but noted that the ES6 model (the second generation, based on NT2.0 platform) achieved a massive result of more than 10,000 units sold (about half of the total volume). Let’s recall that the new ES6 entered the Chinese market in May.” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

NIO’s New ES6 Electric SUV Breaks EV Maker’s Monthly Delivery Record — “Chinese EV maker NIO delivered over 20,000 vehicles in July, breaking a new monthly sales record. The success was driven by the new ES6, which broke NIO’s monthly sales record for a single model. New NIO ES6 EV sets monthly sales record in July NIO released the second-generation ES6 in May. Despite being compact in size, NIO is seeing big results from the new electric SUV. The EV maker announced in a press release on Tuesday that it delivered a record 20,462 vehicles in July, up 103.6% YOY and 91.1% from June. NIO credited the new ES6 for its success, which set a new monthly delivery record exceeding 10,000 units. Through the first seven months of the year, NIO delivered 75,023 electric vehicles, bringing its cumulative total to 364,579.” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Inc.

 

AP | NHTSA Opens Probe Into Complaints From Tesla Drivers Of Steering Control Loss — “U.S. auto safety regulators have opened yet another investigation into safety problems with Tesla vehicles. This time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into a dozen complaints about loss of steering control or loss of power steering in the 2023 Models 3 and Y electric vehicles. Tesla vehicles charge at a station in Emeryville, Calif. U.S. auto safety regulators have opened a probe into reports of loss of steering control or loss of power steering in the 2023 Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. The probe covers an estimated 280,000 vehicles. Five drivers alleged in complaints they couldn’t steer the vehicles at all. Seven more cited a loss of power steering that required increased steering effort. There was one report of a crash but no complaints of any injuries. The agency says in a document posted Tuesday on its website that loss of steering control can be accompanied by messages to drivers indicating that the power steering assist has been reduced or disabled.” [The Detroit News, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Faces Steering Probe As US Regulators Examine Complaints — “Tesla Inc. is the subject of another probe by US regulators, this time focusing on driver complaints about vehicles possibly at risk of losing control of steering. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defect Investigation opened a preliminary evaluation covering an estimated 280,000 of the battery-power carmaker’s Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs, according to documents posted Tuesday on its website. The agency said it received 12 complaints about the steering issue, including one reported crash involving a fire. No injuries or deaths have been linked to the vehicles involved in the probe, it said. Tesla had no immediate response to a request for comment. The probe is the latest in a series of investigations targeting Tesla, its products and its chief executive officer, Elon Musk. Federal regulators are looking into possible problems with Tesla’s seat belts, steering wheels and driver-assistance features.” [Bloomberg, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Is Under Investigation By NHTSA Over 12 Reports That Model 3/Y Are Losing Steering Control — “NHTSA announced that it launched a new investigation into newer Tesla Model 3 and Model Y over 12 reports drivers are losing steering control and power steering. Tesla has been under many NHTSA probes over the years, especially when it relates to its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features, but while this case is related to steering, it’s not clear if those features are related. Yesterday, NHTSA released a notice of Preliminary Evaluation (PE) about the situation in which it mentions receiving 12 complaints about Model 3 and Model Y vehicles losing steering ability and/or power steering: ‘The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) on 2023 model year Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to reports of inability to steer the vehicle and the loss of power steering.’” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

NHTSA Opens Safety Probe Into 280,000 Tesla Model 3, Model Y EVs — “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation into 280,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles after some customers complained of loss of steering control and power steering. Reuters reported that the US auto safety regulator opened a probe after it received 12 complaints from owners of 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. According to one of the complaints sent by a Model 3 driver in May, the ‘car steering felt stuck and slid off the road which resulted in crashing into a tree.’ Another driver in June reported that a two-week old Tesla Model Y was leaving a shopping center in Alpharetta, Georgia when ‘suddenly steering wheel did not steer. It was hard and saw the alert. Went to very close to opposite side of traffic and some how made it to across the road inside the shopping center.’” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

US Opens Probe Into 280,000 New Tesla Vehicles Over Steering Issue — “U.S. auto safety regulators said Tuesday they have opened an investigation into 280,000 new Tesla (TSLA.O) Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over reports of loss of steering control and power steering. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary evaluation after it received 12 complaints from owners of 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. One Model 3 driver reported in May the ‘car steering felt stuck and slid off the road which resulted in crashing into a tree.’ A driver in Alpharetta, Georgia in June reported that a two-week-old Tesla Model Y was coming out of a shopping center when ‘suddenly steering wheel did not steer. It was hard and saw the alert. Went to very close to opposite side of traffic and some how made it to across the road inside the shopping center.’” [Reuters, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Urges Tossing 'Right-To-Repair' Monopoly Suit — “Tesla Inc. has asked a California federal judge to toss a consolidated proposed class action alleging the carmaker runs an unlawful monopoly on parts for its electric vehicles, saying the plaintiffs failed to explain why the company would risk future sales by ‘deliberately [worsening] the Tesla customer experience.’ Tesla on Monday urged dismissal of claims it violated of the Sherman Act, California’s Cartwright Act and California’s Unfair Competition Law, saying the customers failed to state a claim under any federal or state law. In conjunction with the motion to dismiss, Tesla also filed a motion to compel arbitration with respect to three of the 10 named plaintiffs. Specifically, Tesla said the plaintiffs’ complaint relies on cherry-picked markets, and fails to show any anti-competitive conduct or that the company is illegally tying its electric vehicles with its repair services and compatible parts. ‘They also do not and cannot explain why Tesla would deliberately worsen the Tesla customer experience—thereby jeopardizing future vehicle sales, which the complaint concedes are more profitable—in order to control alleged aftermarkets that, as plaintiffs acknowledge, provide Tesla with a tiny fraction of its revenues compared to EV sales,’ Tesla said. ‘That defies common sense.’” [Law360, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Tesla’s Workaround To Unfriendly States? Build Showrooms On Tribal Lands — “Over Tesla’s 20 years in business, the company has ruffled a few feathers from those who want to maintain the status quo. Of course, traditional automakers and fossil fuel companies were opposed to Tesla’s very existence from the beginning, for obvious reasons. Tesla showed the world that EVs could be both practical and fun. Traditional carmakers saw the writing on the wall but couldn’t come up to speed with EVs quickly enough, so they continued to seed FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) in order to buy some time to catch up. And since EVs run purely on electricity, the need for fossil fuels will diminish as EVs take hold. So, the fossil fuel industry also did its best to limit the company’s success. And yet, despite these powerful foes, Tesla thrives.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Offering Auto Loans With 7-Year Financing In USA – And Why — “Tesla has announced a new 84-month auto loan option for its customers in the U.S., giving buyers up to seven years of financing for new car purchases. The shift, which adds an additional year to Tesla’s previously available financing options, has a very specific reason for being added, according to CEO Elon Musk. Last week, Tesla added the 84-month financing option to its auto loan repertoire, just after Musk had said the company would ‘have to do something’ about rising interest rates, as Automotive News and Yahoo Finance report. In addition to the 84-month financing option in the U.S., Tesla has also added the option for a 96-month loan in Canada, largely due to rising interest rates, according to Musk. ‘When interest rates rise dramatically, we actually have to reduce the price of the car, because the interest payments increase the price of the car,’ Musk said during last week’s quarterly earnings call. ‘So we have to do something about that.’” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Toyota Motor Corp.

 

Toyota Profits Surge As Carmaker Holds Its Own In China — “Toyota reported a 94 per cent surge in profits as the world’s largest carmaker bucked a sharp slowdown in China that has forced Volkswagen and other rivals to cut their delivery forecasts for the year. Global auto giants, including Japanese carmakers, have faced a crisis in China as they struggle to keep pace with the rapid shift away from the internal combustion engine and the rise of local electric vehicles groups. Toyota has also been hit hard, but the company said it was able to offset a 26 per cent profit decline in China thanks to a weaker yen and bumper sales in the US. However, it noted China’s ‘competitive environment is becoming increasingly severe due to the rise of local brands’. … For the quarter, electric vehicles accounted for 34 per cent of its global vehicle sales, but most of them were hybrids. For pure battery-powered cars, Toyota sold 29,000 vehicles compared with 4,000 vehicles a year earlier. Despite its small line-up of electric vehicles, analysts said Toyota had been less affected by the price war sparked by Elon Musk’s Tesla because of its focus on higher end models, as well as its relatively strong brand.” [Financial Times, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Toyota Revamps Iconic Land Cruiser With Hybrid Version — “Toyota (7203.T) on Wednesday unveiled the first hybrid version of its Land Cruiser that it will bring to North America and other key markets as it seeks to put a high-margin and iconic sports utility vehicle back on the map. The world’s biggest automaker by sales said it will produce the new model of the brand that traces its roots to 1951 as well as a smaller, newly released variant at two factories in Japan and ship them overseas from there. The new model will mainly - but not exclusively - be sold as a hybrid in the United States, which will give existing owners of less fuel-efficient Land Cruisers the option to switch to cleaner cars, said Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s chief technology officer. ‘We’ll offer vehicles that customers hope for,’ he said. Land Cruiser models are relatively big cars that come with a higher profitability for Toyota, just as is the case for some other models such as its Alphard van, said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.” [Reuters, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Is Cool, Affordable, Yet Honors The Original — “Toyota formally pulled the wraps off the new 2024 Land Cruiser today, in a rebirth that was hardly surprising considering the enduring cachet this nameplate enjoys across the world. Now off-road enthusiasts with sights set on backcountry travel will be able to hit the trail in a new Land Cruiser instead of waiting years for the price of a used high-mileage Land Cruiser to fall within reach. … Toyota won’t release fuel-economy estimates until later this year, but we expect huge increases over the 2021’s appalling 14 mpg combined (13 city/17 highway). The reformulated hybrid Cruiser should also handily outclass the larger LX600’s 19 mpg combined (17 city/22 highway).” [Car and Driver, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Returns With Retro Looks, Locking Diffs, Hybrid Power — “There was a lot of commotion when Toyota yanked the Land Cruiser out of the United States. But nobody believed it would be gone forever, right? It’s one of the most storied off-road nameplates in all of car-dom, right up there with the Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, and Ford Bronco. It was always coming back. Indeed, this is the North American market’s 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser that returns to our trails and its boxy roots in a package that I can’t stop staring at. We were already gifted a preview of sorts with the new Lexus GX; to quote Huey Lewis & The News, ‘It’s hip to be square’ at Toyota these days. It’s a strong statement of purpose to roll out such straight-edged designs as other automakers focus heavily on aerodynamics. Then again, Toyota knows exactly who it’s going after with this throwback look—which comes with a choice of two different headlight designs, round and square.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Vs. 2021 Land Cruiser: How They Compare — “The 2021 Land Cruiser had a paltry combined EPA estimate of 14 mpg. We don’t yet know how fuel-efficient the hybrid 2024 Land Cruiser will be, but there will almost certainly be a big improvement in that department. One thing that will go the other way with the new LC is towing capacity. The previous version could pull 8100 pounds, but the new one is capped at 6000 pounds.” [Car and Driver, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser: This Is It — “While the looks may be retro, the engineering beneath them is certainly not. For the first time since the 100 Series’ introduction in 1998, the Land Cruiser no longer has a V8 engine beneath its hood. Instead, all 2024 Cruisers will come with a 2.4-liter four cylinder mated to a hybrid drivetrain. Now, before you get all concerned, remember that hybrid power is a replacement for displacement: Toyota claims 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, as well as a 6,000-pound tow rating on all models. One might expect this hybrid drivetrain to cure the Cruiser’s longstanding struggles with fuel economy, but that remains to be seen. Toyota says that gas mileage estimates are yet to come, and will follow sometime before the new truck hits dealership floors.” [Jalopnik, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Toyota Said To Build Subaru 3-Row Electric SUV In Kentucky From 2025 — “Toyota reportedly plans to build a new Subaru three-row electric crossover in 2025 at its plant in Kentucky alongside a similar vehicle that will be sold under its core brand. According to people with knowledge of the plans cited by Automotive News, Toyota will start making the Subaru EV shortly after it begins manufacturing its own version of the three-row electric SUV, which is tentatively called the bZ5X. The name of Subaru’s three-row electric crossover and other details have not been announced, but the report is consistent with Subaru’s May announcement that it planned four battery-powered crossovers in its lineup by 2026. Toyota is retooling its 9-million-square-foot Georgetown assembly plant for the two EVs as part of a $461 million investment announced in 2021. The factory currently makes the Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid and Lexus ES, as well as four- and six-cylinder engines.” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Subaru 3-Row Electric SUV To Be Built In The US… By Toyota — “A new three-row Subaru electric SUV is expected to hit the market in the next few years. Toyota will build the EV at its manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. Toyota to build a new Subaru three-row electric SUV According to sources familiar with the plans (via Automotive News), Toyota will begin building the new three-row electric SUV in 2025, shortly after starting production of its own larger EV model. Toyota revealed at the end of May, it would begin assembly of its own three-row electric SUV, also expected to start in 2025. It is temporarily being called the bZ5X. (Hopefully, they can come up with something better.) The move comes after Subaru joined forces with Toyota in 2019 to develop a new platform to launch a couple of electric SUVs under each brand. The platform, which became known as e-TNGA, powers both of the Japanese automaker’s first electric SUVs, the Toyota bZ4X and the Subaru Solterra.” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Subaru Aims To Have Battery EVs Make Up Half Of Its Sales By 2030 — “Subaru (7270.T) will target annual sales of 600,000 battery electric vehicles by 2030 so that they make up 50% of its global sales target, the Japanese automaker said on Wednesday. It also said it planned to invest about 1.5 trillion yen ($10.51 billion) by around the start of next decade in electrification. ‘The coming five years to 2028 are a really important period for us to realise those goals,’ said Atsushi Osaki, chief executive of the company. Previously Subaru aimed to have battery EVs and hybrids account for at least two-fifths of annual global sales that are expected to total around 1.2 million vehicles by 2030. The maker of the Outback crossover said it would aim to sell 400,000 battery EVs in the United States in 2028, and expand its battery-powered lineup to eight models by the end of that year. It currently makes its first mass-produced EV, the Solterra, at Toyota’s Motomachi plant, and will introduce three new EVs by the end of 2026 and four more by the end of 2028.” [Reuters, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Mazda’s First Electric Vehicle Dies In Infancy — “The typical model run of a modern vehicle is five to seven years, and in most instances the end of that span an automaker will pull the wraps off a new version of it. Or replace it entirely with a new (and presumably better) nameplate occupying the same basic niche. Consider the current Mazda CX-5; it went on sale for 2017 and is still going strong—although it may eventually be supplanted by the similar (and really excellent) CX-50. But their little sibling—the unusual (and star-crossed) MX-30 didn’t make it to its third model year. Mazda has officially announced that, when the 2023 MX-30s are gone, that’s it. The numbers show, starkly, why the MX-30 got the axe. In June 2023, just 16—sixteen—MX-30s were sold, a 30.4 percent drop from last year’s still troubling grand total of 23 sold. From January through June, only 66 MX-30s have made it into the hands of customers, compared to 316 for the same time period in 2022. These are, in mainstream vehicle terms, almost rounding errors. Mazda sold 866 MX-5 Miatas in June, and those aren’t huge numbers in the grand scheme of things.” [MotorTrend, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Volkswagen Group

 

Volkswagen ID.3 Racks Up Over 10,000 Orders Following Price Cut In China — “Volkswagen’s smallest electric car, the ID.3, is seeing more orders in China following significant price cuts implemented last month. VW ID.3 orders soar after price cuts in China Volkswagen’s joint venture with SAIC (VW-SAIC) announced a new limited-time offer on the VW ID.3 in China at the beginning of July. The ‘historical low price’ offer started at 125,900 yuan (roughly $17,500), lasting until the end of the month. The move came after Volkswagen, once a dominant force in China’s auto industry, watched its lead slip as the market transitions to electric vehicles. BYD, China’s largest EV marker, surpassed Volkswagen in passenger car sales in the first three months of the year, extending its lead through the first half. At VW’s general meeting in May, shareholders questioned the automaker’s plans to keep up with rising EV makers in China like BYD and Tesla.” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Volkswagen In Talks With Leapmotor On Tech Tie-Up For Jetta Brand, Chinese Media Outlet Reports — “Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) is in talks with Chinese electric vehicle startup Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (9863.HK) about the possibility of cooperation for Volkswagen’s Jetta brand, a Chinese media outlet reported on Wednesday, citing sources. A joint venture between VW and state-owned Chinese automaker FAW Group could ‘buy’ a platform of EV technologies from Leapmotor, according to the state-backed financial news website Cailianshe. Leapmotor and VW China declined to comment. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the reported discussions between the companies. Leapmotor unveiled on Monday a new platform it developed in-house for making vehicles, which its chief executive said it wanted to license to other automakers. CEO Zhu Jiangming told reporters that Leapmotor was in advanced talks with two foreign companies about such a partnership, including a new player in the electric vehicle segment, which could produce Leapmotor-developed models in overseas markets.” [Reuters, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

Porsche Eyes $3.3B EV Battery Plant In US — “Dive Brief: Porsche, the Stuttgart, Germany-based automobile manufacturer, is in discussions with potential investors to build an EV battery factory that could cost up to $3.3 billion, said Lutz Meschke, its CFO, during a press and analyst call for the second quarter. The luxury carmaker is weighing options in the U.S., Canada and Germany for the planned factory, and will ultimately base its decision on which market offers the most favorable energy costs, said Meschke. The $3.3 billion EV battery plant project follows Porsche’s move to take full control of high-performance battery maker Cellforce Group in May, in its push to strengthen its battery development and production capabilities.” [Manufacturing Dive, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

XPeng Motors

 

XPeng EV Sales Returned To Five Digits In July 2023 — “XPeng global electric vehicle deliveries in July amounted to 11,008 units, which on the one hand is a 4.5 percent decrease year-over-year, but on the other hand, is the sixth consecutive month-over-month improvement and the first five-digit result since December 2022. The recent result indicates that soon the Chinese EV startup might break the 11-month-long period of year-over-year sales decrease. The overwhelming majority of XPeng sales are in China. XPeng does not report individual model sales results but noted that its all-new, all-electric G6 model had more than 3,900 sales in the first month on the market. That would leave less than 7,108 for the other models (G3/G3i, G9, P5, and P7/P7i). There is a high potential that the XPeng G6 will become the brand’s top-selling model this year. ‘The strong sales momentum of G6 has led to a surge in showroom visits, which, in turn, has increased customers’ enthusiasm for other XPENG Smart EV models and the advanced smart technology equipped within. The Company is focused on ramping up the G6’s production with its manufacturing facilities running at its full load. The Company also increased dedicated logistics resources to ensure the speed of G6 deliveries.’” [Inside EVs, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

 

Fleet Operators

 

Revel Transport Inc.

 

Revel All-Electric Tesla Rideshare Service Passes One Million Rides, 300 EVs, 1000 Drivers — “Revel, the all-electric rideshare service based in New York, just celebrated its one millionth ride since the service rolled out in New York City just two years ago. Who was the lucky passenger to take that millionth ride? None other than New York Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer took the opportunity to highlight how funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is helping to electrify dense urban areas like New York City. Electric vehicles’ lack of emissions leads to improved local air quality as well as reduced risk of climate change due to global warming. Revel, which started as an electric moped sharing service in 2018, launched an all-electric rideshare service with 50 Tesla Model Y cars in 2021. The company’s fleet has grown to 300 active EVs operated by over 1,000 drivers. Unlike Uber and Lyft, Revel prides itself as having all salaried employees (with benefits, including healthcare, 401K, and paid vacation time) behind the wheels of its cars.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

 

Battery Companies

 

EVgo LLC

 

GM & EVgo Partnership Achieves New Milestone DC Fast Charging Metropolitan Project — “General Motors and EVgo’s partnership—which aims to expand fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs)—recently achieved a new milestone: installing its 1,000th DC Fast Charging stall. ‘Today, we’ve hit a major milestone in our joint efforts to electrify the transportation sector, and we look forward to further expanding our charging footprint with GM in the coming years to realize our vision of Electric for All,’ commented Cathy Zoe, CEO of EVgo. So far, General Motors and EVgo’s collaboration has resulted in EV fast charging stalls in almost 230 locations in 39 markets spanning 27 states. Most of the EV charging stalls installed were high-powered 350 kW fast charging. The two companies are working hard to provide access to EV charging stalls in areas where drivers spend some time, like grocery stores, retail centers, and city areas. General Motors and EVgo are also looking for ways to provide charging services to EV drivers who are unable to charge at home or work, like renters. ‘This milestone with EVgo underscores our commitment to supporting more customers as they switch to an EV lifestyle by expanding access to convenient charging everywhere,’ noted Hoss Hassani, General Motors’ vice president of Charging and Energy.” [Teslarati, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Gotion High Tech Co.

 

Gotion Buys 270 Acres For Battery Parts Plant In Big Rapids Area — “Battery parts manufacturer Gotion Inc. purchased 270 acres for a $2.4 billion plant in the Big Rapids area, a critical step in the company’s plans for the project. The privately-owned parcels are largely already zoned industrial, except for a 10-acre patch that will require rezoning approval from Mecosta County. ‘Completion of the land acquisition process is a step forward for Gotion Inc. and the region as a whole,’ Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion Inc.-North American Manufacturing, said in a statement. Green Township Supervisor Jim Chapman said the property purchase, in his eyes, marks the company’s ‘final commitment’ to locating in the township.” [The Detroit News, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

 

Li-Cycle Opens Battery Recycling Plant In Germany — “The North American battery recycling specialist Li-Cycle has started operating its first European recycling plant for lithium-ion batteries in Magdeburg, Germany. The first expansion stage is to follow later this year. Announced in March, the plant, called Germany Spoke, can process 10,000 tons of material, with the first main line now in operation. Li-Cycle says a second main line for another 10,000 tons will follow later this year. Another 10,000 tons for a total capacity of 30,000 tons are planned at a later date. Magdeburg would then be ‘the largest spoke in the current Li-Cycle portfolio and one of the largest plants of its kind in Europe,’ the company said. Kion Group is one LiCycle’s first partners for the plant.” [Electrive, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

A Big North American EV Battery Recycler Just Launched In Europe — “Li-Cycle today launched one of Europe’s largest lithium-ion battery recycling centers, and it can process full EV battery packs. Li-Cycle in Germany Toronto-headquartered Li-Cycle’s first European battery recycling center – what the company calls a ‘Spoke’ – is in Magdeburg, Germany, northwest of Leipzig. The Magdeburg Spoke’s first main processing line at the 20,000-square-meter (215,000-square-foot) facility is online and is capable of processing full EV battery packs. Its second main line is expected to launch later this year. Each main line has the capacity to process up to 10,000 tonnes of Li-ion battery material annually. The company says it has an ‘additional 10,000 tonnes of ancillary capacity planned.’ So if that goes forward, then the Magdeburg Spoke (pictured above) would have a total capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year, which would make it one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe.” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

 

Charging Companies

 

XCharge Inc.

 

XCharge NA’s New Texas Facility Boosts EV Charging Solutions — “XCharge North America (NA) has announced the establishment of a 3,500 square foot manufacturing facility in the Greater San Marcos area, Texas, in the City of Kyle. This facility is aimed at conducting research, development, distribution, and services for its central electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. In the pipeline is the company’s strategy to expand the facility to approximately 20,000 square feet in the upcoming years. Why It Matters XCharge NA’s new facility holds great significance due to its potential to enhance the accessibility of local EVs. With merely 20 public-access Level-2 and DC Fast charging stations serving a population exceeding 68,000 within San Marcos city limits and surrounding counties, the company’s effort can greatly facilitate EV usage. Its plans align with the green initiatives set forth by the Biden Administration, as well as support local community initiatives and events, ultimately expanding job opportunities.” [The EV Report, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

 

Advocacy

 

United Auto Workers (UAW)

 

UAW Seeks Double-Digit Pay Hikes In Detroit Three Auto Contract Talks — “United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain said on Tuesday the union was seeking ambitious benefit increases in contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers, including double-digit pay rises and defined-benefit pensions for all workers. The UAW presented its economic demands to Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) on Tuesday and will make presentations to General Motors (GM) (GM.N) Wednesday and Ford (F.N) Thursday ahead of the Sept. 14 expiration of the current four-year contracts, Fain said. They include proposing to make all temporary workers at the U.S. automakers permanent, placing new strict limits on the use of temporary workers and increasing paid time off. Fain also wants increases in pension benefits for current retirees and to ensure all workers get defined-benefit pensions. The union leader, in Facebook Live remarks, called the demands ‘the most audacious and ambitious list of proposals they’ve seen in decades.’” [Reuters, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

 

Electric Vehicles

 

Batteries & Charging

 

Charging Infrastructure ‘Biggest Bump In The Road’ For Electric Vehicle Take-Up — “In 1891, Gustave Trouve added a small electric motor and a rechargeable battery to a tricycle, and began to trundle round the streets of Paris, a full five years before Karl Benz’s first vehicles powered by the internal combustion engine went into production. Since then, internal combustion has dominated, but with more and more businesses adopting targets around emissions and sustainability, the tide is now starting to turn, and nowhere more than with the humble company car. In February, the Climate Group released the latest update on EV100, an initiative to make electric travel the norm. It revealed that businesses that are part of the project are now running more than 400,000 electric vehicles (EVs) globally, a 94% year-on-year increase. The Progress and Insights Report also showed that the EV100 network, which includes global names like Barclays and Siemens, as well as local organisations such as New York’s port authority, has rolled out 30,000 charging units across 72 global markets, part of a commitment to install them at more than 6,000 sites globally by the end of the decade.” [Reuters, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Can The U.S. Power Grid Handle An All-Electric Future? — “The nation’s electric grid is ready for electric-powered cars, say utility officials, dispelling an oft-heard talking point questioning the soundness of an electric delivery system burdened by new loads and demands. ‘Every month we’re seeing thousands and thousands more electric vehicles coming online,’ Nick Morelli, an analyst and decarbonization strategist with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest utilities in California. There are some 477,000 EVs in the PG&E service area, which is about one of every seven EVs adopted across the nation. ‘The convenience and flexibility of electric vehicle charging actually provides a great opportunity to improve grid resilience,’ said Morelli, echoing a common observation among utility officials who note EVs’ ability to charge during non-peak times, as well as the growing prevalence of energy storage, able to offload power when the grid is feeling stressed.” [Government Technology, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Study: 21.5% Of Public EV Chargers Are The Fastest Kind — “DC fast chargers – the fastest way to charge an electric vehicle (EV) – make up just over a fifth of public charging stations, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The department’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) surveys public charging infrastructure quarterly. In the first quarter of 2023, it says, ‘DC fast charging accounted for 21.5% of all [EV] public charging ports.’ The figure grew 7.6% between the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. Critical for Long-Distance Travel America’s automakers have launched business plans that will see the majority of them sell mostly electric cars by the middle of the next decade. Several have said they will have all-electric or mostly-electric lineups by 2030. But analysts and critics worry that America’s electrical infrastructure has a long way to go to make that possible. The AFDC explains, ‘The availability of DC fast charging is critical to making long-distance EV travel practical and helps alleviate consumer concern over range and time spent charging when not at home.’” [Kelley Blue Book, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Clean (All The Way) Up — “The electric vehicle battery supply chain is facing a challenging new trend: the need for renewable and zero-carbon electricity, David Ferris reports. Executives of battery supply chain companies who are building factories across the country said in interviews that the cleanliness of electricity is top of mind as they anticipate that they will be under pressure from their downstream customers, especially automakers, to make their products green and clean. It raises questions about where the power will come from to support a new generation of battery factories for EVs, and points to a new industrial race to grab the fruits of renewable energy as the new manufacturers compete with established firms also seeking to go green.” [Politico, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

How To Live With An EV And Not Panic At Every Turn — “A recent round-trip drive in a Genesis Electrified GV70 reminded us how range anxiety is alive and well. Driving an electric car requires different planning and expectations than a gasoline-powered car. We share several pointers to make sure your own experience with an EV is less fraught.” [Autoweek, 8/1/23 (~)]

 

EV Sales & Transition

 

Are EV Sales Really Slowing Down? What Experts Are Saying. — “Donald Trump is trying to score political points against President Joe Biden by citing data that electric vehicles are no longer flying off the auto sales floor. ‘Thousands of electric cars are piling up on car lots, all unsold,’ the former president and leading Republican presidential candidate said in a video address on auto policy in late July. But do new cars lingering at the dealership mean that the EV — the transportation centerpiece of Biden’s energy and climate agenda — has suddenly lost its appeal? Not really, say experts who closely follow the EV market. ‘A hiccup for adoption’ is what Kayla Reynolds, the customer and market research manager at Cox Automotive, calls it. Cox started the speculation about EVs with a report last month saying electric cars are spending more than twice as long as traditional ones on dealer lots before being sold. What’s going on, according to Reynolds and other analysts, is that EVs are expensive and not quite suited to the needs of the next generation of EV buyers — for now.” [E&E News, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

Electric Cars Aren't Affordable Because America's Workforce Is Underpaid — “Ford hasn’t made it a secret that it has struggled to produce and sell electric vehicles at a profit. Earlier this year, the venerable automaker estimated that it will lose $3 billion on its electric vehicle division in 2023. Ford announced last week that it would reduce EV production to intentionally reduce supply to match demand because their vehicles are too expensive for their potential customers. However, The American Prospect argued against Ford’s direction, stating America’s underpaid workforce is more of the problem, while also untangling the myth surrounding Ford’s high wages during the Model T’s production. First, the argument that electric vehicles are more expensive than comparable combustion cars is somewhat exaggerated. The issue large stems from the decision to electrify only the most profitable and physically largest models. For Ford, that would be the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E. The Mach-E attaching the Mustang nameplate to a crossover SUV-sized vehicle.” [Jalopnik, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Now Might Be The Best Time To Go Electric — According to “Tesla’s electric vehicles have had a record-breaking sales year in 2023, and even other automakers are starting to see buyer enthusiasm grow for their early electric releases. Last year, increasing EV sales were fueled in part by average gas prices topping $5 a gallon. Though, some auto experts are saying that now may be an even better time to go electric. CBS News pointed to four different reasons that auto experts say now is a good time to purchase an EV, including the sheer number of cars finally making their way to dealership lots. In the past, those buying a coveted Tesla would be subject to lengthy waitlists, and the market didn’t have as many options as there are today. Kelley Blue Book Executive Editor Brian Moody recently noted that Tesla and traditional automakers have excess inventory on EVs right now, driving wait times down. KBB data shows that auto dealerships currently have a cumulative total of 92,000 EVs on their lots, over four times as many as there were a year ago.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

 

States & Local

 

California

 

California Firm To Pay $1 Million For Selling Devices To Thwart Diesel Truck Smog Controls — “A California company will pay $1 million for violating federal environmental laws by making and selling devices that defeated smog controls on diesel trucks, prosecutors announced Tuesday. Sinister Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Roseville, doing business as Sinister Diesel, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy and to violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with the monitoring device of an emissions control system of a diesel truck, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office. Prosecutors said that for nearly a decade, Sinister sold products referred to as ‘delete devices’ or ‘defeat devices’ that were designed to bypass diesel truck emissions controls, along with software that could alter a truck’s on-board computer so that it appeared to run normally.” [Associated Press, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Florida

 

DeSantis Targets EVs, ESG, Regulations In Presidential Plan — “Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is focusing on electric vehicle policies and environmental regulations as two main targets in his plan to boost the United States economy. DeSantis, the governor of Florida, said he’d push for an increase in the domestic production of oil and natural gas, repeal pro-EV policies and ‘kneecap’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing if he wins next year’s presidential race. ‘We will achieve energy independence by using our domestic resources,’ DeSantis said Monday at a New Hampshire event in which he unveiled his economic plan. … DeSantis said he would also ‘reverse the policies of Biden that’s trying to force Americans to buy electric vehicles.’ ‘That’s your choice if you want to do it. But I can tell you, most of the stuff that goes into those electric vehicles is made in China,’ he continued in what appeared to be a reference to China’s dominance in the global markets for critical minerals that go into EV batteries and some other components. ‘Why would you want to knowingly make this country more dependent on what goes on in China? So we will make sure that we ditch those regs, and we will save the American automobile in this country,’ he said. DeSantis later said his policy ‘is going to look to address’ the need to increase domestic production and processing of minerals, and mocked California for incentivizing EV adoption despite its electric grid demand problems that have in the past led to temporary warnings against charging EVs. ‘Are you kidding me? I mean, good grief. So let’s get real here,’ he said.” [E&E News, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Maine

 

EV Chargers Are Coming To 13 New Locations In Maine — “More public electric vehicle chargers are coming to Maine. Seven new chargers will be installed at grocery stores, gas stations and shopping malls in Bangor, Augusta and along Route 1 from Freeport to Ellsworth. Six others will be installed along well-traveled routes in Aroostook County, and in Machias. The chargers will be paid for through federal infrastructure and Maine Jobs and Recovery plan funding. The Maine Department of Transportation said the chargers should be up and running some time next year. Maine will receive some $18 million in federal funds over the next few years to fill in gaps in the state’s public EV charging network. There are 216 fast chargers and 708 Level 2 community plugs in Maine today.” [Maine Public, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

New Federal Funding To Add Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In Maine — “New initiatives and funding will produce 12 more stations for high-speed charging of electric vehicles throughout the state. ‘This funding will help expand our states EV charging network, reducing range anxiety for EV users who live, work, and travel in Maine,’ said Bruce Van Note, Maine Department of Transportation commissioner. ‘Increasing electrification of vehicles will help improve our quality of life by reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector.’ More than $6 million in new federal money will fund seven of the charging stations in Bangor, Augusta, and on Route 1 between Ellsworth and Freeport. MaineDOT also announced new funding through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan to build five more stations in Medway, Houlton, Ashland, Danforth and Machias. Maine, according to the department, is working toward a long-term goal of having charging stations available throughout the Interstate 95 and Route 1 corridors in the state.” [Spectrum Local News, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

 

International

 

Asia

 

China’s Electric-Vehicle Makers Tighten Grip With Rising Sales — “China’s top electric-vehicle makers posted better-than-expected July sales as the government attempts to boost auto demand to help revive a flagging economic recovery. Way out front was BYD Co., China’s top-selling automaker, which delivered 262,161 new-energy vehicles last month, up 61% from a year earlier. Xpeng Inc., which last week signed a deal to produce EVs with Volkswagen AG, reported July sales of 11,008 units, up 28% from the month before. Li Auto Inc. shipped 34,134 cars last month, while Nio Inc.’s deliveries jumped to 20,462. After BYD, Li Leads the Way Among EV Startups Li, Xpeng and Nio electric-vehicle sales are all on the rise Sales by Li, Nio and Xpeng beat expectations by 1,000 to 2,000 units, CMB International analysts including Ji Shi wrote in a note. Nio’s sales almost doubled from the previous month. They’re on the rise after an Abu Dhabi investment entity agreed in June to take a 7% stake in the Shanghai-based manufacturer for about $740 million. The uptick in sales suggests a turn in fortunes for Nio, which posted a bigger than expected loss of 4.74 billion yuan ($660 million) in the quarter through March and then saw sales slip to under 13,000 EVs for April and May combined.” [Bloomberg, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

Insight: World Battles To Loosen China's Grip On Vital Rare Earths For Clean Energy Transition — “Refining rare earths for the green energy transition is hard. Just ask MP Materials and Lynas. The world’s two biggest rare earths companies outside of China are facing challenges turning rock from their mines into the building blocks for magnets used across the global economy, from Apple’s (AAPL.O) iPhone to Tesla’s (TSLA.O) Model 3 to Lockheed Martin’s (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet. The West’s push to develop independent supplies of critical minerals took on greater urgency after Beijing imposed export controls last month on the strategic metals gallium and germanium, raising global fears that China could block exports of rare earths or processing technology next. Recent struggles by MP (MP.N), Lynas (LYC.AX) and other companies to refine their own rare earths highlight the difficult task the rest of the world faces to break China’s stranglehold on the key group of 17 metals needed for the clean energy transition, interviews with more than a dozen consultants, executives, investors and industry analysts showed.” [Reuters, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

India Asks Tesla To Copy Apple In Pairing Chinese, Indian Suppliers, Sources Say — “As Tesla (TSLA.O) examines building a plant in India, officials have asked the company to emulate Apple in finding local firms to partner with any Chinese suppliers involved, according to three government sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Tesla has been in talks with India for weeks about setting up a factory which will potentially build a $24,000 car for local sales and exports, however strained India-China ties threaten to complicate Tesla’s plans for bringing in Chinese suppliers. Tesla founder Elon Musk is seeking to expand beyond the company’s biggest foreign base of China where regulatory approvals for expansion are slow to come. But Chinese suppliers could be critical if Tesla were to establish a plant in India and keep costs in check for a cheap EV. India does not have local suppliers for components such as battery cells, with even India’s largest EV maker, Tata Motors, importing them from China.” [Reuters, 8/1/23 (=)]

 

Europe

 

Ireland To Launch €15 Million Charging Scheme — “Ireland’s Department of Transport has announced the launch of the EU Just Transition Fund (EUJTF) Community Facilities EV Charging Scheme. The scheme will invest €15 million from the EU Just Transition Fund to support public fast charge point infrastructure at community facilities. This scheme aims to provide EV charging at popular public facilities, including community centres, public libraries, public health centres, recreational facilities, and enterprise centres. The EU Just Transition Fund Programme (EUJTF) 2021-2027 is an EU-wide programme. The goal is to fund innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of regions most affected by the transition off fossil fuels.” [Electrive, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Norway’s EV Sales Slightly Pass 6,000 BEVs In July — “The Norwegian Road Information Authority OFV registered 6,148 new registrations of electric cars in July. This is an increase compared to the previous year, but a significant decrease compared to June. In terms of models, the Tesla Model Y was not in the lead for the second time this year. In Norway, 6,148 new electric cars were registered in July, less than half as many as in June. Compared to the same month last year, however, new registrations of electric cars in Norway rose by 20.1 per cent. The first month of a quarter is traditionally somewhat weaker in the import-only market of Norway, and July sales in 2022 also more than halved compared to June. This is compounded by the holiday season, which traditionally makes July one of the weaker months in Norway.” [Electrive, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

Sweden’s EVs Take 59.9% – BYD Atto 3 Bestseller — “Sweden’s July auto market saw plugin EVs take 59.9% share, up from 50.1% year on year. Full electrics grew share YoY, and plugin hybrids remained flat. Overall auto volume was 17,300 units, down 3% YoY. The BYD Atto 3 was the best selling vehicle of any single powertrain in July. July’s results saw EVs take 59.9% combined share, comprising 37.5% full electrics (BEVs), and 22.4% plugin hybrids (PHEVs). These compare with July 2022 figures of 50.1%, 26.3%, and 23.8%. While PHEV share remained almost flat, BEV share grew strongly. In volume terms, PHEVs declined by 8% YoY to 3,882 units, while BEVs grew 39% to 6,487 units. This is strong growth from BEVs against the backdrop of 3% lower overall auto volumes. HEVs lost YoY share from 8.4% to 6.7%. Combined combustion-only powertrains lost share from 40.4% to 31.0%, and lost over 25% of their volume YoY. Q4 this year will likely see combined combustion-only share fall below 25%, and largely remain there, going forwards.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Not So Fast On Electric Cars, Says U.K.’s Business Minister — “Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch is hoping to persuade Cabinet colleagues to soften new rules on electric cars, as the row over Britain’s net-zero targets rumbles on. U.K. automakers could be hit with fines of up to £15,000 ($19,160) per car if they miss production goals on electric vehicles next year. But Badenoch — a Conservative rising star often talked about in Westminster as a future leader of the party — has taken up the issue with fellow ministers. It comes after a concerted lobbying effort by industry figures concerned that the United Kingdom isn’t ready to go electric. The levy will be applied to manufacturers unless at least 22 percent of vehicles rolling out of their factories are electric by the start of 2024. The U.K. automotive industry argues, however, that the targets need to be watered down because the government has not made enough progress installing EV charge points or beefing up the electricity grid, both necessary to spur consumer demand. The chair of Ford U.K., Tim Slatter, said his firm’s plans to sell nine EV models in the U.K. by 2025 ‘will be met with more difficulty’ if the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is not refined. As it stands, the mandate poses ‘a threat’ to Ford’s business and investment plans, he warned.” [E&E News, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

 

Research, Analysis  & Opinion

 

Biden's Climate Law Only Halves US Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 2050: Study — “US President Joe Biden’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, could slash US greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 but not come close to eliminating them, according to a new analysis from BlooombergNEF. The law’s $369 billion in financial incentives will speed up the transition to renewable power and electrified transportation, driving the country’s emissions down from 5.3 gigatons last year to 2.3 gigatons at mid-century. Climate scientists have shown that global emissions need to peak before 2025 and approach zero by mid-century to stave off the worst effects of climate change. The report’s authors say that in addition to the many carrots the IRA provides to clean energy technologies, the US government will also have to use some sticks, such as putting a price on emissions or phasing out sales of gas-burning cars by a set date. The US federal government ‘is kind of allergic to sticks,’ said Tom Rowlands-Rees, head of BNEF’s North America Research. That’s why clean energy support takes the form of incentives and tax credits. ‘Our analysis suggests that those incentives can only get you so far,’ he said.” [Bloomberg, 8/2/23 (=)]

 

Researchers Link Electric Cars With Better Air Quality & Improved Health — “It seems axiomatic that breathing clean air is better for the human body than breathing polluted air, just as drinking clean water is better than drinking polluted water and eating good food is better than eating garbage. Now researchers from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California claim they have found evidence that electric cars lead to better air quality, and that in turn leads to better health outcomes for people living where those electric cars are located. In the first study to use real world data to link electric cars, air pollution, and health, team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine have begun to document the actual impact of electric vehicle adoption. Using data from publicly available sources, they analyzed a ‘natural experiment’ occurring in California as residents in the state rapidly transitioned to electric cars. The results have recently been published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. Here is a lightly edited abstract of the study’s findings.” [CleanTechnica, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

Here’s How Much Money You’ll Get With The Inflation Reduction Act — “The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a ‘free electric bank account with your name on it.’ It’s packed with rebates and tax credits that will help Americans purchase everything from EVs to electrical appliances to heat pumps. Check out this easy-to-use IRA savings calculator from Rewiring America that tells you what you’ll get. Rewiring America is an electrification nonprofit whose ‘purpose is to make electrification simple, measurable, and inevitable.’ We are upgrading to 200 amps and then installing rooftop solar and storage this month, so this savings calculator provided information that made me pretty happy. I found out in two minutes that we can claim tax credits for solar, battery storage, and our electrical panel upgrade work. We recently bought a US-manufactured 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, and the Rewiring America calculator confirmed which tax credit the car qualified for – we, fortunately, got the full $7,500 tax credit. In my electrification journey, I’m finding that I need to do my own research and advocate for myself, as electricians, heat pump installers, and car dealerships are still learning about how the new tax credits and rebates work. (Then I share what I learn with you – that is my job, after all.)” [Electrek, 8/1/23 (+)]

 

 

 

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