Cars Clips: September 17, 2024
White House |
Biden finalizes China tariff hikes, including for EVs, batteries and solar panels — “The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative finalized its plan Friday to raise tariffs on a slew of goods made in China, largely adopting hikes it first proposed in May. The heightened tariffs go after strategic product categories, including electric vehicles, batteries, critical minerals, semiconductors and solar cells. The final tariff structure includes 14 product categories that cover thousands of items. The first tariff hikes are set to go into effect on Sept. 27, with the next increase dates at the start of 2025 and 2026.” [Utility Dive, 9/16/24 (=)]
Congress |
House panel to vote on resolutions targeting EPA rules — “The House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider legislation Wednesday targeting some of EPA’s most ambitious environmental regulations, along with legislation mandating AM radios in new cars. The markup is part of a flurry of activity from House Republicans targeting Biden administration environmental policies, including floor votes this week on bills against environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing.” [E&E News, 9/17/24 (=)]
Vehicle & Engine Manufacturers |
Stellantis working hard to avoid Volkswagen plant closure scenario, CEO says — “Stellantis (STLAM.MI), opens new tab has already taken measures and is working hard to avoid the risk of plant closures facing rival Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), opens new tab, the carmaker's CEO Carlos Tavares said on Tuesday. ‘We have done many unpopular things over the last few years to avoid as much as possible’ a situation similar to Volkswagen, Tavares said.” [Reuters, 9/17/24 (=)]
Stellantis sues Panasonic over 4G car radio patent dispute — “Stellantis is suing Panasonic, a company it honored in 2020 as one of its most innovative suppliers, in a dispute that highlights the increasingly complex nature of the vehicles we drive. The suit, which was filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Detroit, is centered on basic contract law, but showcases the increasing stakes for automakers in the connected vehicle space.” [Detroit Free Press, 9/17/24 (=)]
Tesla Supercharger expansion has reportedly slowed significantly – and that’s bad news for all EV owners — “Recent analysis of Tesla’s Supercharger network expansion has revealed that the number of new stations opened in May to August of this year fell by 28 per cent when compared to the same period in 2023. The report by The Wall Street Journal quotes analysis from EVAdoption, a company that specializes in data and analysis for the EV and EV charging industry. It says that for the first eight months of 2024, the number of new stations opened was down by 11 per cent compared to the previous period.” [Tech Radar, 9/17/24 (=)]
Electric Vehicles |
World's 1st solar-electric vehicle visits San Francisco — “The world's first self-charging solar car is being showcased here in San Francisco. The hybrid car is made by Aptera Motors. It runs on solar power, but can also be charged with electricity. The company says it can go up to 40 miles per day when running only on solar, and up to 1,000 miles on a single electric charge.” [KGO-TV, 9/16/24 (=)]
BP to unload onshore US wind as it ramps up EV charging push — “BP is heading in different directions on two low-carbon technologies, pledging Monday to sell its onshore U.S. wind business and unveiling a partnership to help build high-speed electric vehicle charging stations. The dueling plans come as major oil and gas companies have struggled to make returns on green energy but have seen their fossil fuel profits soar in recent years. European majors, including BP and Shell, have started to walk away from some renewable power projects — especially in the United States, where similar projects have faced significant headwinds from supply chain constraints and inflation. William Lin, executive vice president for gas and low carbon energy at BP, said the company’s U.S. onshore wind assets are high quality but are ‘not aligned with our plans for growth.’” [E&E News, 9/17/24 (=)]
States & Local |
San Francisco and California are driving EV adoption — “California's electric vehicle market is far more mature than those in other parts of the country, with San Francisco and other Bay Area cities leading the way. Yes, but: Expanding access to charging infrastructure "is crucial" to further driving adoption, San Francisco's environment department director, Tyrone Jue, told Axios. Why it matters: Fossil fuels for transportation are among the biggest drivers of emissions in the city, accounting for 44% of our greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, according to city data. But drivers ultimately won't switch to an EV until it's cheaper and easier than driving a gasoline vehicle, Axios' Joann Muller writes. By the numbers: In California, the average EV travels 8% more miles than the average gas-powered vehicle, according to BloombergNEF research.” [Axios, 9/16/24 (=)]
Georgia set out to be an EV hub. It now is, despite some speed bumps — “Gov. Brian Kemp set out about five years ago to make Georgia the ‘e-mobility capital of the world.’ In that time, Georgia has emerged as not only an e-mobility hub, but a clean technology giant. The state has recruited a pair of multibillion-dollar electric vehicle plants, dozens of parts suppliers to support those factories and several facilities across the battery supply chain.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/16/24 (=)]
Michigan eyeing major semiconductor development for Genesee Co. site — “Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration is pursuing a major semiconductor manufacturing project that could bring thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment to Genesee County, according to five sources with knowledge of an effort that has been unfolding behind the scenes in recent months.
San Jose-based chipmaker Western Digital Technologies Inc. is one company in talks with the state about bringing a microchip production facility to a mega development site in Mundy Township southwest of Flint, according to two sources briefed on the project.” [Detroit News, 9/16/24 (=)]
New Jersey EV drivers discovering $250 bill in the mail. Here's why — “EV drivers who experienced sticker shock when they got their New Jersey vehicle registration renewal are not along. Drivers in New Jersey who use an electric vehicle now have to pay an annual electric vehicle fee in addition to the existing registration fee, said the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The state law that went into effect July 1 of this year will charge zero emission vehicles an annual fee of $250. The annual fee increases $10 per year for four years after the initial payment.” [North Jersey Media Group, 9/16/24 (=)]
International |
Why Detroit's 'Isolationism' Won't Stop China's EV Industry — “Stop me if you've heard this one before. A bunch of established car companies with advanced technology are seeking access to a new (for them, anyway) country that's extremely important because it means potentially millions of buyers. But first, that country's domestic automakers say they want something out of that too. A deal is struck: to allow an expansion into this car market, the new players have to team up with the old ones and teach them how to dance. Am I talking about how China demanded that Western and other Asian automakers enter into joint ventures with the locals in the 2000s and 2010s until they too learned the art of car manufacturing, or am I talking about what could be next for America's auto industry as it seeks to deal with a rising China? Because more and more, there's a case to be made for that, and on today's Critical Materials news roundup, we're going to explore why.” [Inside EVs, 9/16/24 (=)]
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