Cars Clips: February 28, 2024

 

 

House

 

Republicans Dig Into EPA Hiring Spree, Progress On EV Chargers — “House Energy and Commerce Republicans are also investigating the administration on efforts to build out the electric vehicle charging network. In a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, McMorris Rodgers said little progress has been made in EV charging, despite billions of dollars in funding. ‘We have significant concerns that under your efforts American taxpayer dollars are being woefully mismanaged,’ said the letter, also signed by Energy, Climate and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-Va.). The bipartisan infrastructure law included $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. An additional $2.5 billion is available for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program. However, implementing the NEVI-funded chargers has been slow-moving. The first public NEVI-funded charging station opened in December. Three states — including Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania — have opened NEVI-funded stations to the public, according to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation’s latest update.” [E&E News, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

 

 

TV: The Source with Kaitlan Collins (Audience: 734,368) “>> … one thing that his team is going to use this race for is to really examine the data as it looks towards the general election rematch with President Joe Biden. and one thing they’re going to particularly look for is those union voting households. Remember Donald Trump and his team are setting up a battle in 2024 for those working-class voters that really helped propel Trump to The White House in 2016. … favored Biden back in 2020 now, part of that is driving a wedge between Biden and organized labor. We saw Donald Trump in Michigan last week week-he was talking about how migrants crossing the border was bad for workers and in September, visiting non-union shop during an auto workers strike, intentionally telling them that Biden’s policies on electric vehicles would again, hurt union jobs. I do want to give you the latest polling that … showed that Trump’s support fell and union households from 48% in 2016 to 37% in 2020, but they do believe that they can get some of these rank-and-file union members to come back towards Donald Trump. We know the United Auto Workers has endorsed Joe Biden. The Teamsters though, has not yet endorsed. They met with Donald Trump last month led to mixed results. We heard some rank-and-file members were happy. We also heard that executive board member called him a scab and an insurrectionist. So obviously this is a mixed effort. However, Donald Trump and his team believe it’s something they can work towards” [CNN (CNN), 2/27/24 (+)]

 

TV: America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer & Dana Perino (Audience: 1,664,017) “>> President Biden: We have a big fight in front of us. We’re fundamentally changing the economy of this country. The days of working people being left out of the deal are over in this country. >> Bill: That whole line about fundamentally changing the economy-is that what you the Green New Deal does? Trump will say your jobs are gone in three years in Tennessee, South Carolina, or China. >> Absolutely. He is changing the whole economy. His EV mandates will reduce the number of auto workers needed to build a vehicle by needed to build a vehicle by 30%. Bill, we have had two engine plants close in this county in the last few years while they were ramping up to build more electric vehicles. Think about it. What does an electric vehicle not need? An engine. We have entire plants with thousands of workers devoted to building gasoline engines and he is getting rid of those. So, it’s a real easy decision for automakers to make. We vote for Donald Trump on November 5th. We’re out there in droves today voting in the primary. We’ll get Nikki Haley out of this race just like she needs to get out like Vivek Ramaswamy did when she realizes she is not getting the nomination. Trump is getting it. She better get out and get on the team and support us all the way through November.” [FNC (Fox News), 2/27/24 (-)]

 

 

 

Energy Department Announces $366M For Rural And Remote Areas — “The Energy Department announced on Tuesday it would award $366 million for projects ranging from microgrids to renewable energy and charging stations for electric vehicles in rural and remote communities. The department’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program received $1 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law to support energy systems in communities with 10,000 or fewer people. The 17 projects selected by DOE so far to receive the money will serve 20 states and 30 tribal nations and communities. Twelve of the projects are on tribal lands with tribal partners, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters. The selected projects include microgrids, solar and battery storage systems, hydropower, heat pumps and electric vehicle charging, among other technologies. One of the selected projects in Chignik Bay, Alaska, will renovate a 70-year-old leaking dam and add a 2.1 MWh hydroelectric facility on the same site. Another project in Alaska aims to deploy high-penetration solar and battery storage systems into existing microgrids in eight remote tribal communities that currently rely on diesel for all of of their electrical production. One project in the Navajo and Hopi communities in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah plans to install 2.5 kW off-grid solar and battery storage systems to electrify 300 tribal homes. Another project will install 675 whole-home ducted heat pumps in mobile homes in rural Maine communities.” [Politico, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

AP | Biden Administration Taps $366M To Fund Clean Energy For Native American Tribes And Rural Areas — “The federal government will fund 17 projects across the U.S. to expand access to renewable energy on Native American reservations and in other rural areas, the Biden administration announced on Tuesday. The $366 million plan will fund solar, battery storage and hydropower projects in sparsely populated regions where electricity can be costly and unreliable. The money comes from a $1 trillion infrastructure law President Joe Biden signed in 2021. About a fifth of homes in the Navajo Nation — located in northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southeastern Utah — do not have access to electricity, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates. Nearly a third of homes that have electricity on Native American reservations in the U.S. report monthly outages, according to the Biden administration. The announcement comes as Native tribes in Nevada and Arizona fight to protect their lands and sacred sites amid the Biden administration’s expansion of renewable energy. It also comes days after federal regulators granted Native American tribes more authority to block hydropower projects on their land.” [The Washington Post, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

DOE Tees Up Funding For Tribal, Rural Energy Projects — “The Department of Energy is prioritizing emissions reductions and lower utility bills in Indian Country with hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding announced Tuesday. Using money secured by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, DOE is tentatively committing to spend $366 million for 17 projects across the U.S. Twelve of the projects are in Indian Country. Wahleah Johns, the director of DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, told reporters Monday that Native communities ‘generally pay higher-than-average’ bills for electricity. ‘They face high energy burden and energy poverty,’ Johns said. ‘These projects are really significant in helping to provide more energy security for rural and remote communities.’ The funding is part of $1 billion in total bipartisan infrastructure law spending for energy projects in communities that have 10,000 people or fewer. It builds on a set of Biden administration programs enacted in recent years for Indian County decarbonization.” [E&E News, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

 

 

Federal Highway Admin. (FHWA)

 

DOJ Defends DOT Highway GHG Rule, Disputes States’ Standing To Sue — “The Department of Justice (DOJ) is rebuffing GOP states’ claims that the Transportation Department’s (DOT) rule requiring state and regional planners to set targets for curbing highway-related greenhouse gases exceeds the agency’s authority, with DOJ also contending that the case should be dismissed because the states lack standing to sue. The pitch comes in a Feb. 23 motion in Commonwealth of Kentucky, et al. v. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) -- litigation in in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in which nearly two dozen states argue the rule violates the ‘major questions’ doctrine; is contrary to federalism principles; and is also an arbitrary FHWA action. The court late last month set a March 7 date for oral argument on whether it should grant the states’ request for summary judgement in the dispute, with the court also setting a March 29 self-imposed deadline for a ruling on the matter. The pending dispute centers around FHWA’s November 2023 rule that created a GHG performance measure for states and regional transportation planners, requiring the submission of two-and four-year GHG targets of any stringency so long as they are declining.” [Inside EPA, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

 

 

Apple, Inc.

 

Apple Kills Its Electric Car Project — “Apple has canceled its plans to release an electric car with self-driving abilities, a secretive product that had been in the works for nearly a decade. The company told employees in an internal meeting on Tuesday that it had scrapped the project and that members of the group would be shifted to different roles, including in Apple’s artificial intelligence division, according to a person briefed on the discussion, who requested anonymity because the announcement was not public. As part of the restructuring, Kevin Lynch, an executive who had been involved in the car project, will report to John Giannandrea, the company’s head of artificial intelligence strategy, the person said. Apple declined to comment. The news that Apple was ending its car plan was reported earlier by Bloomberg.” [The New York Times, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Revolutionized The Auto Industry Without Selling A Single Car — “Apple has long been a company shrouded in mystery—and perhaps its most mysterious recent project of all has been the Apple Car. For a decade, reports have continually emerged about the company building an electric, autonomous car as smart and beautiful as an iPhone. The company never confirmed the project’s existence, even as it hired executives from Lamborghini and BMW. MotorTrend created a speculative Apple Car in 2016, treating it like an object of science fiction, then another in 2022. But as of this afternoon, that dream appears dead. Apple is scrapping its electric-car effort and pivoting to generative AI, according to a new report from Bloomberg, in one of the biggest failed endeavors in the tech titan’s history. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the abandonment, if confirmed, will breed plenty of schadenfreude: billions spent with little to show, all the while pivoting to a different breed of Silicon Valley hype. Elon Musk claimed to have once offered to sell his car company to Apple; today, he saluted the news of a potentially powerful Tesla competitor giving up.” [The Atlantic, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

Apple Unplugs Self-Driving Electric Car Project, Reports Say — “Apple has reportedly cancelled its plans to build electric vehicles (EV) a decade after the iPhone maker was rumoured to be working on the project. The firm has never publicly acknowledged the project, which involves around two thousand people. Many employees from the project will be moved to the iPhone maker’s artificial intelligence (AI) division, according to Bloomberg News. Apple did not immediately respond to a BBC request for a comment. The Apple car team was reportedly known as the Special Projects Group as part of its chief executive Tim Cook’s Project Titan. As it spent billions of dollars on research and development, the company was initially rumoured to be working on a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel and pedals.” [BBC, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple To Wind Down Electric Car Effort After Decadelong Odyssey — “Apple Inc. is canceling a decadelong effort to build an electric car, according to people with knowledge of the matter, abandoning one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the company. Apple made the disclosure internally Tuesday, surprising the nearly 2,000 employees working on the project, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the announcement wasn’t public. The decision was shared by Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Kevin Lynch, a vice president in charge of the effort, according to the people. The two executives told staffers that the project will begin winding down and that many employees on the car team — known as the Special Projects Group, or SPG — will be shifted to the artificial intelligence division under executive John Giannandrea. Those employees will focus on generative AI projects, an increasingly key priority for the company.” [Bloomberg, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Cancels Plans To Build An Electric Car — “KEY POINTS Apple will wind down its team working on electric cars, according to Bloomberg. The news signals an end to Apple’s secretive effort to build a car to rival Tesla. Reports of Apple’s ambition to build a car first surfaced in 2014.” [CNBC, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Cancels Secretive Electric Car Project In Shift To Focus On AI — “Apple has cancelled its efforts to build an electric car as it pivots to focus research funding on generative artificial intelligence, according to a person familiar with the matter. Known as ‘Project Titan’, Apple’s electric vehicle project was an example of its attempts to diversify beyond its hit product, the iPhone, which still makes up about half of its global sales. The decade-long effort to build a product that competes with the likes of Tesla and Rivian has never been officially confirmed by Apple, and a spokesman for the company declined to comment. The news, which was announced to employees on Tuesday, was first reported by Bloomberg. The cancellation comes as the EV industry has slowed in recent months. In January, Tesla warned that flagging demand, high interest rates and intensifying competition would lead to slower sales growth rates this year.” [Financial Times, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Reportedly Scraps Multibillion-Dollar Plan To Build Electric Car — “Apple is canceling its plans to build an electric car, according to multiple outlets, ending a secretive project that has consumed immense resources over the past decade. Executives from the company made the unexpected announcement during an internal team meeting on Tuesday, forecasting layoffs and telling employees that many of them would shift to working on generative artificial intelligence, per reports. Apple is believed to have spent billions of dollars attempting to develop an electric, semi-autonomous vehicle under the codename Project Titan, and its decision to kill the program is a major retreat from its previous strategy. The Apple chief executive, Tim Cook, had hinted at the company’s plans for a car in recent years, though he never fully committed to delivering a product. Although Apple did not formally announce its plans to offer a car, the project was a source of intense speculation among the automotive and tech industries. The company hired executives from marquee car companies such as Lamborghini and Tesla to oversee its development, and acquired the autonomous vehicle startup Drive.ai in 2019.” [The Guardian, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

After 10 Years Of Development, Apple Abruptly Cancels Its Electric Car Project — “Apple has ended its secret plans of building a self-driving electric car, a decade-long effort that was seen as one of the most ambitious undertakings in the company’s history. Apple executives on Tuesday informed teams working on the tech giant’s vehicle, called Project Titan internally, that hundreds of employees who worked on the car will be shifted to divisions working on artificial intelligence, according to multiple reports. The push at Apple to build an autonomous vehicle is estimated to have cost the company billions of dollars, with around 2,000 employees working on the endeavor. While some Apple employees are being moved to work on AI products, many others are expected to be laid off, though the exact number of workers affected remains unclear.” [NPR, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Cancels Work On Electric Car, Source Says — “Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab has canceled work on its electric car, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, a decade after the iPhone maker kicked off the project. Shares of the company were up 0.7% in afternoon trading, having pared some losses from earlier in the trading day. Several employees working on the electric car project will be shifted to the firm’s artificial intelligence (AI) division, according to Bloomberg News, which first reported the development. ‘If it is true, Apple will put more focus on GenAI and that should give investors more optimism about the company’s efforts and ability to compete at a platform level on AI,’ said Ben Bajarin, chief executive of consulting firm Creative Strategies. Apple has so far held back from any big moves in AI, in stark contrast to other tech giants such as Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab and Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab, which have first-mover advantage in incorporating the breakthrough technology.” [Reuters, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

Apple Cancels Work On Autonomous Electric Car — “Apple Inc. is canceling a decadelong effort to build an electric car, according to people with knowledge of the matter, abandoning one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the company. Apple made the disclosure internally Feb. 27, surprising the nearly 2,000 employees working on the project, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the announcement wasn’t public. The decision was shared by Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Kevin Lynch, a vice president in charge of the effort, according to the people. The two executives told staffers that the project will begin winding down and that many employees on the car team — known as the Special Projects Group, or SPG — will be shifted to the artificial intelligence division under executive John Giannandrea. Those employees will focus on generative AI projects, an increasingly key priority for the company.” [Transport Topics, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Ends Quest To Build Its Own Electric Vehicle — “Apple AAPL 0.81%increase; green up pointing triangle has put an end to its decadelong push to build its own electric vehicle, an effort once seen as having the potential to transform the auto industry. That transformation, which has been under way for years without Apple, continuously increased the level of difficulty Apple faced as it spent billions trying to catch or exceed the capabilities made available during a revolution led by Tesla TSLA 0.17%increase; green up pointing triangle. The secret group inside the iPhone giant—known internally as Project Titan—has been informed that Apple would be shutting down its efforts in building a car while the company ramps up investments in the area of generative artificial intelligence, a person familiar with the situation said. Some of the employees inside the group will be shifting to Apple’s AI group, while other employees working on car hardware will likely face layoffs. Bloomberg News earlier reported the plans.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Apple Cancels Work On EV After A Decade Of Input — “Apple has canceled work on its electric car, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters Tuesday, a decade after the iPhone maker kicked off the project. Shares of the company were up 0.7% in afternoon trading, having pared some losses from earlier in the trading day. Several employees working on the electric car project will be shifted to the firm’s artificial intelligence (AI) division, according to Bloomberg News, which first reported the development. High interest rates to tame inflation have soured consumer sentiment and led to a slowdown in demand for usually pricier electric vehicles, prompting the industry to cut jobs and reduce production. Several major automakers, including EV market leader Tesla, have decided to pull back on investments, with some shifting plans to focus on hybrids instead of fully battery-powered cars.” [WSAZ-TV, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

BYD Co.

 

BYD Has No Plans To Launch EVs In The US, Says The Market Is Too Confusing For Buyers — “According to BYD executive vice president and CEO of BYD Americas, Stella Li, the Chinese automaker has no plans to sell passenger EVs in the US. The leader called the market ‘interesting’ but too complicated due to conflicting politics. Li sat down for an interview with Yahoo Finance Anchor Akiki Fujita to discuss the global EV market. After confirming that BYD will officially announce a new manufacturing facility in Mexico, likely in the second half of the year, Li shut down rumors the automaker was planning to enter the US. Earlier this month, the head of BYD Mexico, Zhou Zou, told Nikkei the automaker was considering building a plant in the country. Zou said overseas production is critical, and Mexico has significant potential. The comments sparked speculation that the automaker would use the facility as an export hub to the US. Li confirmed BYD is not planning to launch EVs in the US. She said the Mexico facility will ‘only mainly support the Mexican market.’ Li explained, ‘We’re not planning to come to the US.’” [Electrek, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

American Test Of $11,500 BYD Seagull: 'This Doesn't Come Across Cheap' — “China has put everyone on notice, but you probably already knew that by now. European, Japanese, and American automakers have struggled to sell their EV shapes at a reasonable price, without sacrificing any semblance of profitability. Meanwhile, cheap and cheerful Chinese-branded EVs have only continued to proliferate across the globe, reaching price parity with ICE cars without destroying profit. Seeking to figure out how the heck Chinese OEMs do it, Detroit-area Automotive benchmarking company Caresoft imported one for analysis. With it, automotive journalist veteran John McElroy and Terry Woychowski, the president of the Automotive Benchmarking and Cost Reduction Consulting company, Caresoft are left significantly impressed. ‘This doesn’t come across as cheap,’ said Woychowski.” [Inside EVs, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

BYD Storms Into Europe As First Car Transport Ship Docks In Germany Carrying 3K Vehicles — “Global EV leader BYD is taking Europe by storm. BYD’s first cargo ship landed in Germany Tuesday, with about 3,000 vehicles set to roll out BYD’s first cargo ship lands in Germany with 3K cars BYD’s first car transport ship, the Explorer No.1, arrived in China earlier this year. The so-called ‘Ro-Ro’ (roll on, roll off) transport ship is 653 ft long and can carry 7,000 vehicles. The ship is owned by Zodiac Maritime, with BYD leasing it. The vessel is the first of eight for exports. As the first ship built by a Chinese shipyard designed for exporting vehicles, BYD’s Explorer No.1 marks a major milestone. Electric cars already helped China top Japan to become the leading global auto exporter. By using green and clean liquified natural gas as the main fuel, China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC), which built the vessel, says it can ‘significantly reduce emissions.’ After setting sail earlier this month, BYD’s first cargo ship landed in Bremerhaven, Germany, on Tuesday. Around 3,000 BYD vehicles will be unloaded and launched as the automaker expands its overseas presence.” [Electrek, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

BYD Amps Up Brutal China EV Price War With Bigger Discounts On New Car Versions — “Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD on Wednesday unveiled lower-priced new versions of its Han sedans and Tang SUVs, deepening a protracted and brutal price war in the world’s largest auto market with even larger discounts than those in 2023. The newly launched Han sedans, available as plug-in hybrids and pure EVs, and the Tang hybrid SUV, will have a starting price that is 10.35% to 14.3% lower than previous versions, Reuters calculations showed. The products came on the heels of BYD’s introduction of a new version of its Dolphin hatchback and newer plug-in hybrid sedan Qin Plus DM-i last week, both also at lower starting prices. The pricing indicates that BYD is giving bigger discounts on most of these models than last year. The automaker lowered the starting price for the Qin Plus EV and hybrid by 15% and 20%, respectively, versus price cuts of 8% and 11% respectively for the two models in 2023, Reuters calculations showed.” [Reuters, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

China’s EV Champion Is Coming For Your Gas-Powered Cars, Too — “Competition in China’s car market is getting even more intense. That means cheaper Chinese electric vehicles. It is also terrible news for China’s competitors abroad. As margins compress at home, China’s EV makers are increasingly eyeing global markets. And Western and Japanese automakers’ traditional strength in gasoline-powered vehicles won’t necessarily save them: BYD 1211 -2.53%decrease; red down pointing triangle, China’s homegrown EV champion, is starting to undercut the prices of some internal combustion engine-based vehicles too. The price war in the Chinese auto market that began in late 2022 shows no signs of stopping. BYD, which overtook Tesla in EV sales last quarter, dropped another bomb last week—cutting prices of some models by more than 10%. Its Qin Plus DM-i sedan now starts at the equivalent of $11,090, cheaper than some equivalent gasoline-powered cars from brands such as Volkswagen and Toyota. BYD advertised its price cut with the slogan ‘Bi You Di,’ which means ‘cheaper than gasoline’ in Chinese, but it is also a play on its name, which stands for Build Your Dreams. The models in question are plug-in hybrids, which are usually cheaper than pure EVs due to smaller batteries. But the gambit is still significant because they are now explicitly competing with gas-powered cars head-on. BYD’s move has already forced other automakers to follow suit, both foreign and domestic.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Geely

 

The Polestar 3 Can't Come Soon Enough — “Polestar announced today that production of the Polestar 3 crossover has started in Chengdu, China, the same place where it builds the Polestar 2 sedan. In the not-too-distant future—in the middle of 2024—the Polestar 3 will enter production in South Carolina, U.S., becoming the brand’s first model produced on two continents. It can’t come soon enough. The Polestar brand, a product of the Geely Group family and a close cousin to Volvo, has been struggling with slowing sales and doubts about its future. Even Volvo recently announced it would take a step back as an investor in the brand. According to Polestar, the first early production test series in the American factory has been completed successfully. After China, the Polestar 3 will be produced at Volvo Cars’ Ridgeville, South Carolina plant, alongside the Volvo EX90 three-row crossover. ‘This stunning car takes a significant step forward with the start of production marking an important milestone on our journey from a one- to three-car company this year,’ Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said. ‘We have also achieved launch readiness at the factory in Ridgeville, South Carolina, and are well on track with our plans to start manufacturing Polestar 3 in the USA.’” [Inside EVs, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

Zeekr Launches 001 Refresh With Improved Specs And Lower Prices In Hopes Of Doubling 2024 Sales — “One week after announcing a 2024 refresh of its flagship 001 shooting brake was coming, Zeekr has officially launched the EV with better performance and pricing. Through these upgrades, the Chinese automaker looks to stay competitive in a competitive segment and double sales and deliveries compared to 2023. The 001 is the flagship EV from Geely-owned automaker Zeekr, which originally debuted in April 2021 and found early success in China. Zeekr would eventually expand to new markets in Europe with the 001 before introducing a high-performance quad motor variant called the 001 FR in 2023. In 2023, the 001 contributed to 64% of Zeekr’s global sales, and although the automaker has introduced three additional models since (not including the FR), the shooting brake remains its money maker. That said, Zeekr’s newest model, the 007, began deliveries in January and immediately overtook the 001, relaying that this is a wise time for a refresh. We’ve seen Zeekr offer price cuts to the 001 in the past, but those ended with 2023, paving the way for today’s news of not only lower prices, but improved performance in the refresh. Here’s what we’ve learned.” [Electrek, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

General Motor Co. (GM)

 

Buick Unveils New Design And Branding With A Sleek Gold Wildcat EV — “Buick is in the middle of ‘an evolution’ as it introduces a new design based on the Wildcat EV concept. The company revealed a new tagline and brand campaign, ‘Exceptional by design,’ showcased by a sleek gold Wildcat EV model. Buick unveils Wildcat EV-inspired design language Although Buick has yet to launch its first EV in the US, the automaker is prepping for its next era. The revamp started with an updated tri-shield in June 2022, unveiling the stunning Wildcat EV concept. Buick’s new design, introduced Tuesday, is inspired by the Wildcat EV. The company said its unique ‘Exceptional by design’ language will eventually flow through the entire brand. Claiming to be the ‘fastest-growing mainstream brand in the industry in 2023,’ over 70% of Buick’s sales came from new customers. Molly Peck, chief marketing officer at Buick and GMC Global, said, ‘After bringing the Wildcat EV’s design language into production on the 2024 Encore GX and all-new Envista, we’ve found that beautiful design and quiet luxury sets Buick apart from the competition.’” [Electrek, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Hyundai Motor Corp.

 

Hyundai Confirms Its Georgia 'Metaplant' EV Factory Is Opening Early — “If you think every automaker is in retreat mode on electric vehicles after a couple of slower months, think again. Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, which proved last year that it’s a force to be reckoned with in the EV world, has no intention of slowing down this year. The Kia EV9 is already on sale and receiving rave reviews, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 can be had with outstanding deals, and the Ioniq 7 three-row crossover will be revealed this summer. And in an even better bit of news, Hyundai yesterday confirmed that its Georgia ‘Metaplant’—a super factory devoted to EVs, batteries and powertrain components for them—will actually open later this year, ahead of schedule. The Metaplant near Savannah is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a ‘grand opening’ ceremony in the first quarter of 2025, company officials said yesterday. Previously, the plant was slated to open in 2025. This announcement, which the automaker alluded to last year, came at the ‘Hyundai Day’ celebration at Georgia’s state capitol.” [Inside EVs, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

 

Tuscaloosa Mercedes Workers Say Majority Have Signed Union Cards — “A drive to unionize Mercedes-Benz plant workers seems to be gathering momentum, as a Tuesday announcement said a majority have signed cards in support of joining the United Auto Workers. A Jan. 10 release from the UAW put the workers’ signing figure at about 30%. This latest announcement means pro-union votes have risen over the halfway mark. Back in January, local workers said they’d hold a public rally with UAW President Shawn Fain once they got past 50%. The UAW site indicates its rubrics are 30, 50 and 70. At 30%, workers make an announcement; at 50%, the public rally. At 70%, with an organizing committee consisting of workers from every shift and job classification, every group of workers, the UAW will ‘... demand that the company recognize our union. If they don’t, we file cards with the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) and take it to a vote.’” [Tuscaloosa News, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Majority Of Alabama Mercedes Workers Join UAW As Southeast’s Union Battle Heats Up — “A majority of workers at the largest Mercedes-Benz plant in the U.S. have voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). The announcement marks another significant milestone by the union in its campaign to organize the auto plants of the traditionally right-to-work Southeast. ‘There comes a time when enough is enough,’ plant worker Jeremy Kimbrell said in a statement. ‘Now is that time.’ Workers cited a list of grievances that echoed those from other factories where the UAW has gained a foothold. They said in a statement that their pay had stagnated while the company made record profits, and that management had replaced full-time jobs with temporary workers. ‘These same temporary workers then worked for up to eight years before receiving full time jobs, [and] our management gave us a 42 cent raise over a six year period while making record profits,’ the plant workers wrote.” [The Hill, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

 

Europe EV Makers Need Closer Collaboration To Catch Up With China -Renault CEO — “European carmakers and energy suppliers need to collaborate more to catch up with China in terms of the size of its electric vehicle (EV) sector, Renault boss Luca de Meo said on Tuesday. There is space for collaboration within Europe for most manufacturers, especially in the upstream part of the EV value chain such as sourcing of minerals and production, de Meo said during a press conference on the sidelines of the Geneva International Motor Show. Europe lags China in terms of access to materials, their refining and gigafactory capacity, he said, and ‘to create the power and the scale that China has achieved on EVs,’ it has to do more. De Meo also urged EU authorities and governments to push energy providers and car makers to collaborate to help speed up deployment of charging infrastructure, and use EVs to store energy for the grid, as they can act as energy suppliers when needed.” [Reuters, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Renault 5 E-Tech Electric — 249 Mile Range, €25,000 Base Price, 4 Doors, & A Hatch — “Three years ago, Renault started working on a battery-electric version of its iconic Renault 5, a car that was the best selling car in France for 14 years from 1972 to 1986. The original was a typical French car like the Citroen 2 CV. It was basic transportation with a supple suspension designed to tame France’s notoriously bumpy rural roads. It had front-wheel drive and could be had in either a three-door or five-door version. The Renault 5 was marketed in North America as Le Car from 1976 to 1983 when people were hungry for fuel efficient cars after the Arab oil embargoes. Even though the Renault 5 was primarily a utilitarian, no frills people mover, there were those within the company who saw an opportunity to make it something quite the opposite. They shoehorned a 1.4 liter turbocharged 158 hp engine into the space behind the front seats, widened the rear axle about two feet, and unleashed one of the most potent super-mini street legal pocket rockets ever.” [CleanTechnica, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Tesla, Inc.

 

Elon Musk Hypes Tesla Roadster Again After Half Decade Of Delay — “Elon Musk is resurrecting plans for the Tesla Roadster, a performance car he’s now looking to deliver at least five years late. The billionaire said in a series of posts on X that the car will be a collaboration between Tesla Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp., his two most valuable ventures. A Roadster unveiling is planned for the end of the year, and the companies will aim to ship the car next year. Musk first unveiled a second-generation Roadster prototype in late 2017 and said then the car would arrive three years later. Tesla charged as much as $250,000 for reservations at a time when it was running low on cash and struggling to ramp up production of Model 3 sedans. In the course of hyping the Roadster anew, Tesla’s chief executive revisited some of his own past posts on the social network he now owns. Back in June 2018, when Musk alluded to offering a SpaceX rocket thruster option package, he wrote that he had to choose between buying a house or a McLaren after selling his first company. He opted for the car.” [Bloomberg, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Tesla Aims To Ship Roadster Cars Next Year, Musk Says — “Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab will aim to ship its Roadster electric sports car next year, the electric vehicle maker’s CEO Elon Musk said on Wednesday. ‘Tonight, we radically increased the design goals for the new Tesla Roadster,’ Musk said in a post on X, adding that Roadster’s production design will be completed and unveiled by the end of this year. Tesla had announced the Roadster, a battery-powered four-seater, at the end of 2017, which was originally set to be launched in 2020. Musk in 2021 had pushed the launch of the Roadster to 2023, citing global supply chain bottlenecks. In 2023, Musk said Tesla hopes to start production of its long-delayed next-generation Roadster electric sports car next year.” [Reuters, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

Tesla Talks Cybertruck Coming To Canada, Rivian Accelerates Deliveries — “Tesla is talking about soon bringing the Cybertruck to Canada while Rivian quickly accelerates deliveries in the market. The automaker started delivering Cybertruck to customers in the US, primarily in Texas and California, late last year. It has slowly started to expand throughout the US. Generally, it takes a while for Tesla to expand to another market, generally Canada first, after launching in the US. Rohan Patel, head of government affairs and business development at Tesla, was asked about the Cybertruck’s expansion in Canada on X and responded that it just requires some ‘routine paperwork’ and it will happen ‘soon’: Patel added when it was suggested that the delay is due to the Canadian government: ‘Work to do on both sides, to be honest. But it’s fairly standard stuff – we are pushing to get things done as fast as possible.’” [Electrek, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Toyota Motor Corp.

 

Toyota Gives No Answer To Union Demands At Second Round Of Wage Talks — “Toyota Motor (7203.T), opens new tab did not respond to a trade union’s wage demands in a second round of pay talks held on Wednesday, a senior union official said, keeping investors guessing about the outcome of closely-watched annual wage talks due to conclude on March 13. For the past two years, the world’s biggest automaker by volume has accepted the union’s demands in full at the first meeting, which has long served as the pace-setter for Japan’s spring wage round called ‘shunto’. ‘We did not receive a response to our pay demand today,’ Hiroki Akiyama, a senior Toyota union official, told reporters. The Federation of All Toyota Workers’ Union demands record bonus payments worth 7.6 months of salary, while seeking monthly pay raises of up to 28,440 yen ($188.72) depending on job qualifications and occupation. Last week, Toyota said it would continue negotiations with the union after the first round of talks.” [Reuters, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

Toyota Group Sales Lose Steam As Units Weather Data Scandals — “Toyota Motor Corp.’s group sales lost momentum in January after government probes revealed decades of fraud at two major affiliates. Worldwide sales, including those of subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd., rose 4.4% to 831,161 units last month compared to January 2023, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday. Production fell 3.8% to 788,670 units, the first global decline in 13 months. Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus saw sales and output grow in January while its truck-making subsidiary, Daihatsu — still recovering from a safety certification scandal that erupted in December — witnessed global sales and production plummet 51% and 68% respectively. Toyota just came down from a bumper year, however, having sold more passenger vehicles than ever after demand for hybrids and recovering supply chains helped it maintain its lead over Volkswagen AG as the world’s top carmaker for a fourth year running.” [Bloomberg, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

Toyota Finally Launches Its First EV In Australia To Fend Off Tesla’s Top-Selling Model Y — “After an 18-month delay, Toyota finally launched its first electric car, the bZ4X, in Australia. Toyota looks to defend its title as the best-selling car brand in the country as EV leaders like Tesla are gaining market share. Toyota launched the bZ4X electric SUV, its first EV in Australia, starting at $66,000 (plus on-road costs). The electric SUV can be ordered as a FWD or AWD model. Toyota’s base FWD model starts at $66,000 with 332 mi (535 km) NEDC range, or 271 mi (436 km), according to WLTP standards. Starting at $74,900, the AWD variant includes a second motor with up to 214 hp (160 kW). It includes up to 301 miles (485 km) NEDC range or 255 mi (411 km) WLTP. Toyota says the electric SUV can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes with up to 150 kW DC charging. The electric SUV includes a multi-instrument display, mimicking a head-up display. A 12.3″ infotainment is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible.” [Electrek, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

Volkswagen Group (VW)

 

Aston Martin Delays First Electric Car As Losses Narrow — “Aston Martin (AML.L), opens new tab is delaying the launch of its first electric car because of a lack of consumer demand, it said on Wednesday, as record prices for its luxury and special edition models helped the British carmaker shrink annual losses. Aston Martin is now targeting the launch of its battery electric vehicle (BEV) in 2026, a year later than planned - becoming the latest automaker to push back electrification goals as investment in capacity and technology has outpaced EV demand. ‘The consumer demand (for BEVs), certainly at an Aston Martin price point, is not what we thought it was going to be two years ago,’ Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll told journalists. Stroll said there was ‘much more driven demand’ for plug-in hybrid vehicles, especially for a company like Aston Martin, as people ‘want some electrification ... but (to) still have the sports car smell and feel and noise’.” [Reuters, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

 

 

Advocacy

 

Enviro Campaign Aims To Bolster EPA On Emissions — “Amid indications EPA is considering easing up on its aggressive timeline for emissions reductions for passenger vehicles, green groups are investing in major ad buys to encourage the Biden administration to finalize strong emissions rules for both passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. The clean vehicle nonprofit CALSTART, along with the sustainability advocacy organization Ceres and the Electrification Coalition, shared with POLITICO exclusively that they are launching an ad campaign today, including a print ad in today’s New York Times. And Public Citizen has launched a six-figure digital ad campaign to counteract what Chelsea Hodgkins, senior zero-emission vehicles advocate with Public Citizen, calls ‘Big Oil and Big Auto working to undermine vital protections.’ The ads will run on billboards in the Washington, D.C., metro area as well as online and on streaming platforms.” [Politico, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

United Auto Workers (UAW)

 

Op-Ed: Michigan Must Untether Itself From UAW — According to James David Dickson, “Both automakers and the union that represents autoworkers are preparing for a future beyond Michigan. Lansing leadership picked a bad time to tie Michigan to the UAW by repealing right-to-work protections for the private sector. Michigan autoworkers are again forced, as a condition of employment, to join the union. That means the fate of the Michigan auto industry is tethered to a union with wandering eyes. No sooner than right-to-work repeal took effect did the UAW announce plans to spend $40 million over three years to unionize automakers elsewhere, ‘particularly in the South.’ Meanwhile, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the Dearborn automaker will reconsider its manufacturing footprint.” [The Detroit News, 2/27/24 (-)]

 

 

 

EV Batteries & Charging

 

Satisfaction With Public Charging Experience Falling, JD Power Study Shows — “The availability of public chargers is still the least satisfying aspect of owning a battery electric vehicle — and the latest research from J.D. Power shows that experience is actually getting worse. According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, satisfaction with public charger availability is 32 points lower now than a year ago among mass market EV owners, making it a major source of frustration. ‘The increase in the EV share of the new-vehicle market, reflected by seven new rank-eligible models this year, is a notable step in the transition toward vehicle electrification,’ said Brent Gruber, executive director of J.D. Power’s EV practice, in a news release. ‘Many products are hitting the mark and resonating with shoppers. But at the same time the decline in satisfaction with public charging availability should serve as a warning, because concern about access to public charging is a key reason many buyers currently reject BEVs. ‘For EVs to reach their full potential, this issue needs to be resolved. The industry should view this lack of improvement as a critical issue that requires decisive action.’” [Auto Remarketing, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

The Charger Problem — “EV owners’ satisfaction with public charging infrastructure is getting worse, and first-time EV buyers are less likely to say they’ll buy one again than they were a year ago, according to a survey published Tuesday by automotive research firm J.D. Power. The numbers indicate the challenge for the EV industry as buyers increasingly shift from early adopters to mass market consumers less willing to put up with the downsides of an emerging technology. Satisfaction with the availability of public chargers fell by 32 points from a year earlier, according to the survey, which included 4,650 EV owners. The majority of EV drivers say they’d buy electric again, but that percentage is lower among first-time buyers — 39 percent of those new owners say they would consider a hybrid or gas-powered car for their next purchase, J.D. Power found.” [Politico, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

Amenities Are Key To Ev Charging At Convenience Stores — “One thing we’ve written about a lot here at CleanTechnica is the future of convenience stores in the EV transition. My take has been that gas stations can’t just add EV chargers out front next to the gas pumps and hope for the best. Why? Because EV charging is a fundamentally different service than gasoline and diesel sales. Few local drivers are going to charge at a gas station because most charge at home. And the increased dwell time for an EV driver means that gas stations with more food and other amenities will succeed. A recent article at C-Store Dive indicates that the convenience store industry is arriving at the same conclusions. Using data from ChargePoint, editor Jessica Loder gives concrete numbers and evidence where I had only given gut feelings and experience driving EVs myself. The biggest thing is that people are spending an average of 40 minutes plugged in at a ChargePoint station, and that’s the latest data from 2023. This is obviously a lot different and a lot longer than the average gasoline buyer, who fills up, maybe grabs a drink and a candy bar, and then rolls off. So, convenience stores need to make sure to give them something to do, and more importantly something to buy during those 40 minutes!” [CleanTechnica, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Op-Ed: Autonomous Electric Vehicles Will Guzzle Power Instead Of Gas — According to Andrew Grant, “During last month’s Tesla earnings call, Elon Musk gave a vague and somewhat rambling update on the progress of Dojo, the carmaker’s effort to build a supercomputer aimed at bolstering development of self-driving software. ‘The AI hardware question is, that is a deep one,’ Musk said in response to an analyst’s question. He referred to Tesla hedging its bets by placing ‘significant’ orders for graphics processing units from Nvidia, and described Dojo as ‘a long shot worth taking because the payoff is potentially very high.’ Data centers being harnessed to train the algorithms used in cars isn’t new, but efforts like Dojo are getting more attention amid booming interest in all things artificial intelligence. The power intensity involved in the training of AI algorithms is increasingly coming under scrutiny. With the buildout of advanced computing infrastructure happening amid efforts to decarbonize the car industry, the concern is that the power demands of all those fancy computers could undermine some of the hard work toward electrifying vehicle drivetrains.” [Bloomberg, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

EV Critical Minerals & Materials

 

How Slowing EV Sales Are Affecting The Lithium Boom — “Metals like lithium and nickel are important components of lithium-ion batteries, which, among other things, power electric vehicles. But as momentum has slowed for EV sales, so has demand for the metals that make up its batteries. Now even metal producers used to price fluctuations are having to make tough choices about whether to slow their mining operations, or cancel projects altogether. WSJ reporter Rhiannon Hoyle joins host Alex Ossola to talk about the field of battery metals, and what it means for the future of EVs.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/27/24 (-)]

 

EV Sales & EV Transition

 

The Greenest Car In America Isn’t An EV — “If you try to imagine a ‘green’ car, an EV is probably the first thing that comes to mind. A silent motor with tons of torque; no fumes, gasoline smells, or air pollution belching from an exhaust pipe. Last year, U.S. consumers had over 50 electric car models to choose from, up from about 30 the year before. But a new report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy suggests that the ‘greenest’ car in America may not be fully electric. The nonprofit group, which has rated the pollution from vehicles for decades, says the winning car this year is the Toyota Prius Prime, a plug-in hybrid that can go 48 miles on electricity before switching to hybrid. ‘It’s the shape of the body, the technology within it, and the overall weight,’ said Peter Huether, senior research associate for transportation at ACEEE. ‘And all different types of Priuses are very efficient.’ It’s not the first time that a plug-in vehicle has topped the GreenerCars list; the Prius Prime also won out in 2020 and 2022. But with more and more electric vehicles on the market, the staying power of the plug-in hybrid is surprising.” [The Washington Post, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Hybrids, Gas Vehicles Fuel Legacy Automakers' Shares Past EV Rivals — “Shares of legacy automakers have outpaced their electric counterparts over the last few weeks, as investors respond to company decisions to prioritize higher-margin, gas-powered models instead of pure battery vehicles. Automakers, including Ford Motor (F.N), opens new tab, General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab, Mercedes (MBGn.DE), opens new tab, have scaled back on their ambitious EV plans. Electric vehicle demand has slowed of late, suggesting the transition away from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles will take longer than expected. Shares of EV pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab surpassed legacy automakers for the last few years, making it the world’s most valuable car company by market capitalization. But the Elon Musk-led company’s shares are down nearly 20% this year after it warned of slower adoption of EVs. In contrast, GM, Stellantis (STLAM.MI), opens new tab have climbed about 10% this year. Toyota (7203.T), opens new tab is up 38% as the Japanese automaker has favored hybrid vehicles over EVs in the last few years.” [Reuters, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Electrified Vehicles Are Becoming More Popular In US, Survey Says — “Electrified vehicles including hybrids and fully electric are becoming more desirable than their gasoline counterparts, influential U.S. magazine Consumer Reports said on Tuesday, while adding seven of them to its top-ten picks for 2024. Four of Toyota’s (7203.T), opens new tab electrified vehicles made it to the list, including the Prius and a hybrid version of its popular Camry sedan. Tesla’s (TSLA.O), opens new tab Model Y, Ford (F.N), opens new tab Maverick Hybrid pickup truck and BMW’s (BMWG.DE), opens new tab X5 PHEV also made it on the list. The company said electrified vehicles are becoming more popular after accounting for 16.3% of all light-duty vehicle sales in the United States last year. The report added that plug-in hybrids (PHEV), which bridge the gap between a regular hybrid and an EV, are gaining popularity, as sales for PHEVs grew 60% last year. ‘For many drivers, PHEVs will save you money over the long run when compared with a gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle,’ said Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of automotive testing.” [Reuters, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

Auto Sales Nose Up — “S&P Global Mobility projects that new vehicle sales will rebound slightly in February from a slow January, ‘but levels remain tepid.’ Vehicle sales for February are projected to reach 1.22 million units, which would translate to annual sales of 15.5 million units, about the same as 2023.” [Politico, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

 

 

California

 

California Towns Are Banning New Gas Stations. Big Oil Is Paying Attention. — “When oil and gas companies attack a climate campaign, activists usually focus on the obvious negative: One of the world’s biggest industries, with its wealth of resources, is trying to quash their efforts to, for instance, ban natural gas in buildings. But in Northern California, where grassroots activists have succeeded in getting towns across Napa and Sonoma counties to prohibit new gas stations, some consider the emerging backlash a sign of validation. The news of Big Oil’s opposition came to Jim Wilson in late January. The longtime climate activist in Napa County found a flyer in his mailbox one day with a picture of a gas nozzle next to an empty wallet, along with the message ‘Banning gas stations = higher gas prices.’ The mailer, sponsored by the Western States Petroleum Association, the West Coast’s oil industry trade group, warns that efforts to limit new gas stations could lead to less competition and increased costs for the drivers of gas-powered cars. ‘I believe that Napa County is the first in the U.S. to have all of the municipalities ban new gas stations,’ Wilson said. ‘And so maybe we’ve rocked the boat.’” [Grist, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

Connecticut

 

Connecticut Legislators Question EV Push As Biden Relaxes His Plan — “A recently reported Biden Administration decision to relax a timeline for EV production has trickled to the state level with Democrats and Republicans in Connecticut sounding concerns about their state’s efforts, according to CT Insider. The New York Times broke the news about Biden relaxing the timeline to gain favor with automakers ahead of the upcoming election. The administration proposed that 60% of new vehicle production be EVs by 2030. He is expected to push production requirements to after 2030. ‘Reacting to the news of the president’s decision this week, House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, conceded that it would likely bolster critics of a quick transition to EVs while complicating the path for legislation sought by Democrats who want to see Connecticut moving faster than the federal government,’ CT Insider reports.” [Repairer Driven News, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Massachusetts

 

Boston Unveils Plan For Hundreds Of New Curbside EV Chargers — “Electric vehicle drivers who park in Boston could see hundreds of new locations for curbside charging installed around the city over the next two years, under a plan discussed on Tuesday by Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration. Two companies have been initially selected to install about 250 charging locations at no cost to the city, Matt Warfield, new mobility director at the Boston Transportation Department, told a hearing of the City Council’s ways and means committee. The effort is just one part of the city’s plan to add more places to charge EVs for people who park on the street. The Wu administration is also adding 60 city-installed chargers at 15 sites around the city. Almost 7,000 EVs were registered to people living in Boston at the start of the year, according to data from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.” [Auto Remarketing, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Michigan

 

Consumers Energy Adds 25 EV Stations In Michigan, Aiding Electric Vehicle Push — “Drivers will soon find more spots to charge their electric vehicles in Michigan. Monday, Consumers Energy announced 25 electric vehicle charging locations will be installed in their communities in the near future. ‘Consumers Energy is powering Michigan’s electric vehicle transformation by offering solutions that make EV driving convenient and affordable,’ Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience, said. ‘Our support for public charging is improving the EV driving experience, giving people confidence they can power up quickly and affordably anytime they hit the road in Michigan.’ As of Tuesday, it is unknown where these charging stations are expected to be installed.” [WWMT-TV, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

New Jersey

 

Say Goodbye To The Sales Tax Break For Buying Electric Vehicles In N.J. — “Over the next three years, New Jersey will phase out a sales tax waiver for people buying new and used electric cars, state officials said alongside Gov. Phil Murphy’s state budget address Tuesday. New Jersey last year announced all new car sales must be electric starting in 2035, a regulation that will be phased in starting toward the end of 2026. Murphy administration officials told reporters prior to Tuesday afternoon’s budget address that as the state works to end the sales tax break — which has been in place since 2004 — it will shift toward prioritizing EV incentives. Ending the sales tax waiver on electric vehicles over three years is also expected to net about $70 million a year based on current estimates, administration officials noted. Since 2004, New Jerseyans were exempt from paying the 6.625% sales tax when buying, leasing and renting new or used fully electric vehicles, based on the zero-emission light duty vehicle tax break. The exemption did not apply to plug-in hybrid cars.” [NJ.com, 2/27/24 (+)]

 

New York

 

Utility Con Edison To Reward NYC EV Charging Operators For Reducing Demand At Peak Times — “New York City operators of commercial electric vehicle charging equipment can now enroll in a new managed charging program Consolidated Edison is offering to reduce grid stress at times of peak demand in exchange for financial incentives. The SmartCharge Commercial program will be open to certain public, workplace, multifamily, retail and fleet sites, and offers financial rewards for charging overnight and avoiding charging when local power demand is high. The program will build on the success of Con Edison’s SmartCharge New York retail managed charging rewards program, the utility said in a Feb. 14 announcement. The new managed charging program aims to speed the buildout of commercial charging stations, ‘which will increase the number of electric vehicles on our roads’ and ‘encourage station operators to lower their charging load when local power demand on the grid is high,’ Con Edison Director of E-Mobility & Demonstrations Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud said in a statement.” [Smart Cities Dive, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

West Virginia

 

Public Meeting Held To Discuss Electric Vehicle Program In The State — “The first of three public meetings to talk about West Virginia’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan, which provides federal funding for the state to deploy charging stations, and increase reliability for EV drivers, was held Tuesday. The program is in its first phase, focused on meeting the fast charging spacing requirements for alternative fuel corridors (AFC’s) in the state. Those AFC’s are required to have electric charging stations every 50 miles or less and have four ports for charging at each station. The meeting aimed to hear the publics input on the NEVI program and the needs of EV drivers. ‘A lot of it will be to set up that phase two. Where we are going to look to put additional chargers, what seems to make sense? Making sure that in our phase one our locations seem to be accurate or what people think would be the better locations to put them,’ said Perry Keller, Chief Economic Development Officer with the Division of Highways.” [WSAZ-TV, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Public Meets To Discuss WVDOT's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan — “People gathered at the public library in Cross Lanes on Tuesday to discuss West Virginia’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure plan. In 2022, the West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 4797, which directed the West Virginia Department of Transportation to create an electric vehicle infrastructure development plan for the state. People brought questions and comments with them to the public information session on Tuesday. ‘45 million is the total amount you’re talking about that’s going to be spent on this project on both phases,’ one meeting attendee asked.” [WCHS-TV, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Wisconsin

 

Milwaukee Auto Show Attendees Shed Light On Wisconsin's Lagging Embrace Of Electric Vehicles — “In her heart, Mary Haag wants to join the electric vehicle revolution. Haag, of Menomonee Falls, is ready for a new car. It’s time, she said, ‘to spoil myself and get something fun.’ She’s thought long and hard about an EV, but a lack of public charging infrastructure in Wisconsin and concerns about range for longer trips make her leery. A plug-in hybrid probably makes more sense, she thinks. ‘My heart wants to, but I’m just not there yet,’ she said of an all-electric vehicle. ‘My eco sense wants to do it, but Wisconsin is not a very EV-friendly state.’ Cox Automotive Economic and Industry Insights has dubbed 2024 ‘the Year of More’ when it comes to EVs as automakers increase inventory and push out new models, more vehicles qualify for federal tax incentives and EV charging infrastructure improves. Cox forecasts EV share of the U.S. market in 2024 will reach 10%, up from 7.6% last year and 5.9% in 2022.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/27/24 (~)]

 

 

 

Asia

 

China Plug-In Car Sales Almost Doubled In January 2024 — “Plug-in electric car sales noted a very strong start of the year in China. The volume almost doubled year-over-year to a level exceeding expectations. According to EV Volumes’ data, shared by researcher Jose Pontes, 668,000 new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered in China in January, roughly 94% more than a year ago. That’s about 32% of all new car registrations. All-electric car registrations amounted to 56% of the total plug-in car registrations, which is about 374,000 (up 55% year-over-year). That’s about 18% of the market. It means that plug-in hybrids are the ones that contributed the most to the outstanding growth. PHEV registrations amounted to about 294,000 (up nearly 150% year-over-year, we estimate). This number includes the EREV series hybrids with plug-in capability, which are becoming popular in China. Plug-in car registrations for the month (YOY change): BEVs: about *374,000 (up 55%) and 18% market share PHEVs: about *294,000 and 14% market share Total: 668,000 (up 94%) and 32% market share * estimated” [Inside EVs, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Europe

 

Automakers Say They Won’t Try To Push Back EU’s 2035 ICE Ban — “Rumors have been brewing for weeks now that Europe’s automakers were challenging the EU’s decision to ban ICE vehicles as of 2035. But the ACEA, Europe’s automakers association, said that it is not pushing back and is all in with the EV future. Is this PR spin or the real thing? President of the ACEA and CEO of Renault, Luca de Meo told the press this week at the Geneva Motor Show that the auto industry wants no part in arguing ‘against the regulation,’ reports Automotive New Europe. ‘We are not contesting 2035,’ said de Meo. ‘Now we must get down to it.’ He added that the upcoming ban target of 2035 ‘is potentially feasible, but the right conditions must be put in place.’ Still, a tentative tone… De Meo added that the industry has invested billions in electrification, which all would be a waste if regulations switched gears. ‘There is no way the industry can go back to square one. It’s bad for the environment,’ he said.” [Electrek, 2/28/24 (=)]

 

United Kingdom Considers Probe Of Chinese State Subsidies For EVs — “Britain is considering whether to investigate Chinese state subsidies for makers of electric vehicles, two people familiar with the nascent plans told POLITICO. A U.K. investigation would follow the launch of a similar probe by the EU last October. That probe sparked fury from Beijing, while critics have warned that it could jack up the price of more climate-friendly vehicles during a climate emergency and cost of living crisis. Now, British automakers are urging the U.K. government to speed up its own work amid concerns the U.K. will see a flood of Chinese-made EVs diverted into its market from the EU if the bloc slaps duties on imports when its probe wraps up later this year. In the last few weeks ‘the wheels have started turning,’ said a senior figure at a major British automaker familiar with plans at the U.K. Department for Business and Trade. There is ‘work behind the scenes to look at what those options might look like,’ the person said. Like others, they were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.” [E&E News, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

Vauxhall Group Tells Ministers To Do More To Convince UK Drivers To Go Electric — “The UK government must do more to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles before Stellantis, owner of the Vauxhall brand, will commit to a full conversion of its Luton van factory to battery-powered models, one of the company’s top executives has warned. The demands by the vehicle maker, which also owns Citroën, Fiat, Peugeot and Opel, come as it holds talks with ministers over financial support to convert the plant in Bedfordshire. Last week, Stellantis announced it would begin a ‘limited’ first production run in the UK next year of its mid-size electric vans at Luton, where it currently makes diesel-powered vehicles. But Uwe Hochgeschurtz, the company’s head of European operations, said the country’s biggest van maker would not commit the funds to convert Luton to an all-electric factory until the government had a concerted policy to encourage drivers to ditch combustion engine-powered vehicles.” [Financial Times, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

 

 

Report Details Labor Shortages From Climate, Infrastructure Laws — “The U.S. is running short on workers in occupations that are central to the Biden administration’s clean energy agenda, according to a new report first shared with E&E News and commissioned by the BlueGreen Alliance, a trade group representing labor and environmental groups. Nearly 175,000 worker shortages are expected for truck and tractor-trailer driving positions once spending from the Inflation Reduction Act, 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, and the semiconductor-focused CHIPS and Science Act is at full statutory levels and all cash has been released, says the study, which will be released Wednesday. It was co-commissioned by the nonprofit National Skills Coalition, which backs worker training programs and authored by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Political Economy Research Institute. Together, the worker shortages are expected to total nearly 1.1 million for 20 occupations that require entry-level certifications or other requirements, the report says. Other fields with major projected shortages include electrical power-line installers and repairers, carpenters, water and wastewater treatment operators, and ‘first-line supervisors’ for construction and extraction projects. … For months, clean energy advocates have warned that the U.S. is set to experience serious skills shortages as the energy sector decarbonizes, which requires massive new construction of electricity infrastructure, electric vehicles and wind and solar farms.” [E&E News, 2/27/24 (=)]

 

 

 

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