Cars Clips: January 16, 2025
Trump Administration |
Energy Experts Urge Incoming Trump Administration To Stop EPA Abuse — “The recommendations include freezing all EPA activities pending further review, prohibiting EPA staff from communicating with outside groups about agency activities, terminating all external science advisors, revising air quality and emissions standards, ending President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, ending policies based on climate alarmism, reforming EPA risk assessment procedures, eliminating the Office of Environmental Justice, and settling litigation.” [Daily Wire, 1/16/25 (-)]
What to Know About the E.V. Tax Credit That Trump Might Repeal — “Sales of electric vehicles have been rising steadily over the past few years, in part because of a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 that makes buying such cars and trucks more affordable. But understanding which cars it applies to and under what circumstances can be confusing. And all of those rules could change drastically under the incoming Trump administration; President-elect Donald J. Trump and Republicans have promised to repeal or scale back the incentives. The tax credit was designed to bring the cost of buying or leasing electric vehicles closer to the cost of comparable gasoline models, helping to address climate change.” [New York Times, 1/16/25 (=)]
Auto lobbying group CEO expects Trump will reevaluate EV battery manufacturing credits — “The CEO of the nation's top automotive lobbying group said Wednesday he expects the Trump administration will reevaluate the circumstances that led to the creation of a tax credit for manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries, an incentive that automakers say is critical for U.S. EV investment.” [Detroit News, 1/15/25 (=)]
Transportation pick Duffy soars through confirmation hearing — “The former Wisconsin lawmaker and Fox News co-host faced little resistance to his confirmation at a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and her counterpart, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, each lauded Duffy’s ability to work across the aisle as Duffy spoke about his plan to help Trump be a ‘builder.’” [Roll Call, 1/15/25 (=)]
Trump’s DOT pick pledges evenhanded approach to job — “President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Transportation secretary vowed Wednesday to speed up permitting for oil and gas exports but also said he wouldn't interfere with approved funding for Democratic priorities. Sean Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman and Fox Business host, handled a string of mostly friendly questions during a three-hour hearing in front of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. While he didn’t offer specifics, Duffy committed to Republican priorities such as speeding up the Maritime Administration’s approval of oil and gas export projects, reforming environmental permitting more generally and providing more information on California’s high-speed rail project.” [E&E News, 1/16/25 (=)]
Easy nomination hearing for DOT pick Duffy — “Sean Duffy breezed through his confirmation hearing for DOT secretary Wednesday in a friendly affair where he told senators that he is intent on revamping Boeing’s reputation and making sure electric vehicles pay into the Highway Trust Fund, among other priorities. Appearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, Duffy, flanked by his wife Rachel and eight of his nine children, took pains to emphasize his intent to focus on safety and pledged to reduce regulatory red tape that slows infrastructure projects. He also promised to uphold the law when it comes to ensuring funding from the 2021 infrastructure law, which some Republicans in Congress want to try to claw back, goes out the door efficiently.” [Politico, 1/15/25 (=)]
Courts & Legal |
Biden's EV Fuel Efficiency Model Scrutinized by Appeals Court — “The Department of Energy’s updated methodology for calculating electric vehicle efficiency met a skeptical federal appeals court during oral arguments Wednesday. The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit seemed to doubt if the agency properly considered energy costs for the growing electric grid and questioned if oil scarcity was an accurate factor when formulating the models behind the latest fuel efficiency standards. The rule in question, finalized last year, will gradually decrease the wattage-per-gallon-of-gas calculation applied to electric vehicles until model year 2030 and later. The Environmental Protection Agency uses this formula to compare EV efficiency to gas-powered ...” [Bloomberg Law, 1/15/25 (=)]
Vehicle & Engine Manufacturers |
GM inks multibillion-dollar deal for synthetic battery materials that would bypass China — “General Motors has inked a multimillion-dollar deal with a Norwegian battery supplier for its synthetic graphite anode materials starting in 2027. The companies said Wednesday that once Vianode launches production in North America, the deal will run through 2033.” [Detroit Free Press, 1/15/25 (=)]
Renault low-cost brand will add more electric vehicles in the future — “Renault's (RENA.PA), opens new tab low-cost brand Dacia will add more electric vehicles in the future, starting with the next Sandero around the end of 2027, brand CEO Denis Le Vot said on Thursday. Dacia currently offers only one all-electric model, the Spring, and the company hopes the brand's affordable price positioning makes it a good competitor in the face of the looming Chinese offensive on the European market.” [Reuters, 1/16/25 (=)]
US Finalizing Billions for Rivian, Plug Power Before Trump Retakes Office — “The Biden administration is poised to finalize billions of dollars in financing for electric-vehicle maker Rivian Automotive Inc. and hydrogen company Plug Power Inc. before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to people familiar with the matter. The funding, expected to be announced by the Energy Department as soon as Thursday, includes a loan guarantee of almost $1.7 billion for Latham, New York-based Plug to construct hydrogen plants that are key to the company’s growth plans.” [Bloomberg, 1/16/25 (=)]
Electric Vehicles |
California Fire Cleanup: EV Batteries add Complexity — “Emergency teams face challenges removing EV batteries from fire-damaged areas, exposing critical gaps in disaster response & environmental safety protocols The devastating fires that recently swept through Los Angeles have left a trail of destruction, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to mobilise debris removal teams. However, the presence of EV batteries in the wreckage poses unique challenges to the clean-up efforts, adding a layer of complexity to an already daunting task.” [EV Magazine, 1/15/25 (-)]
Biden, Newsom’s EV Push Added Another Wrinkle To Californians’ Wildfire Evacuation Plans — “A gasoline car ‘can evacuate in any direction on any road and still get fuel when needed,’ Matthew Butterick, a Los Angeles attorney who lives near Griffith Park, told the Times. ‘The EV stations on evacuation routes would have massive lines and delays, gasoline stations less so. And the electric grid may not be available. Power companies turn off power to avoid sparking a fire and also to avoid legal liability. This is probably the future of all the hillside neighborhoods.’” [Tampa Free Press, 1/15/25 (-)]
States & Local |
Michigan governor warns Trump tariffs on Mexico, Canada could harm US auto sector — “Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer warned on Wednesday that potential 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada suggested by President-elect Donald Trump could harm the U.S. auto sector, increase vehicle prices and benefit China. The Democratic governor said in a speech in Detroit that imposing tariffs would damage supply chains and slow production lines and would cut ‘jobs on both sides of the border.” [Reuters, 1/15/25 (=)]
Exciting news for electric vehicle owners in Kansas City — “The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Kansas City $11.8 million dollars for expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Titled ‘Project Charging Kansas City Communities,’ city officials say the plan will create 256 new electric car points across 57 sites, include 114 chargers and generate 1,300 new green jobs. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the charging ports will be spread across urban and suburban areas throughout the city within the next three years.” [Spectrum News, 1/15/25 (+)]
Electric vehicles, charge ports become commonplace across Long Island — “Commuters have grown familiar with the sound of a melodic hum while driving through parking lots or stopped at a red light as electric vehicles become commonplace on Long Island’s roads. In Suffolk County, more than 33,000 electric vehicles had been registered with the DMV as of Dec. 2, 2024. Across Long Island, there are more than 69,000 electric vehicles on the road, according to EvaluateNY and Atlas Public Policy. A majority of the electric vehicles across Long Island are Tesla, 58%; Jeep, 15%; Toyota, 14%; Ford, 7%; or BMW, 6% models.” [Riverhead News-Review, 1/15/25 (=)]
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