Fuel Efficiency Standards

 

Vehicle GHG Rule Spurs Queries On Pollution Spikes, NAAQS Attainment. According to Inside EPA, “EPA’s plan to freeze vehicle greenhouse gas limits is raising questions about whether the approach would increase ozone and other criteria pollutants, complicating states’ ability to determine if they meet federal air quality standards in part because EPA is not yet accounting for the rollback in its model that states use to project transportation emissions. While there is broad concern that the suite of Trump administration proposals to roll back Obama-era climate change rules will make it more difficult for many areas of the country to meet or attain national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), the vehicle issue is less certain because passenger cars’ criteria pollutants are regulated by a separate Clean Air Act program, known as Tier III, which governs fuels and engines. The proposal’s impact on NAAQS pollutants is the subject of growing debate, but states are already criticizing EPA for not updating its model used to determine whether areas meet air quality limits from their transportation sector, a process known as transportation conformity. One state source says the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model ‘bakes in’ the Obama rules’ assumptions for GHGs and criteria pollutants. The model was last revised in 2014 to incorporate GHG and fuel economy standards finalized in 2012 for model years 2017-2025 and it predicts impacts out to 2040. It is the only tool for states to use to model transportation emissions, even though it is predicated on standards that the administration is seeking to dramatically scale back.” [Inside EPA, 9/17/18 (=)]

 

 

An EV Up-And-Comer Makes Its Move.... According to Axios, “Let’s unpack yesterday’s news that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF) plans to pour over $1 billion into the electric vehicle startup Lucid Motors, a potential Tesla rival that hopes to launch commercial production of a luxury sedan in 2020. The PIF is, of course, the same fund that Tesla CEO Elon Musk famously said was on the cusp of funding his quickly-aborted, take-private plan. Lucid Motors’ CTO Peter Rawlinson, a Tesla alum, went on a PR offensive yesterday to talk up what it hopes to accomplish with the Saudi cash. The details: Lucid hopes to bring the car into commercial production at an Arizona factory in 2020. The initial models are expected to have a price range north of $100,000 and Lucid says they’ll have a 400-mile range, with the company eventually planning a base model for around half that cost with shorter range. Yes, but: The Saudi investment is big, but until Lucid gets into commercial production and all the challenges that entails, potential remains...potential.” [Axios, 9/18/18 (=)]

 

...And Highlights Tesla's Perilous Days Ahead. According to Axios, “Tesla is facing not only new possible competition from Lucid and others, but it’s still trying to repair damage from Musk’s self-inflicted wounds. Why it matters: Tesla is in one of the rockiest stretches of its 15-year history as it seeks to show consistent and well-executed Model 3 production increases and to make good on Musk’s promise of imminent profitability. Driving the news: Just hours after PIF announced its investment into Lucid, there was news that a British cave diver who played a role in rescuing the Thai boys soccer team is suing Musk over his baseless accusations of pedophilia. Threat level: The lawsuit underscores how Musk’s erratic behavior is a distraction at a critical time. And, this is compounded by the continued fallout from the take-private fiasco, which has brought an SEC inquiry over Musk’s claim that he had ‘funding secured.’ The intrigue: Via the Washington Post, ‘The lawsuit could amplify calls for Tesla to install a high-ranking executive or co-captain who could keep Musk’s more self-destructive instincts in check.’ The big picture: On the competitive side, don’t forget that Tesla is by far the biggest player in the U.S. EV market today and has lots of European growth potential. Nonetheless, the Lucid news shows how the EV field is getting more crowded as startups and legacy automakers — like Audi — plan new models at various price points.” [Axios, 9/18/18 (=)]

 

BMW Morphs Electric Flagship From Car To SUV Ahead Of Debut. According to E&E News, “BMW AG unveiled the latest iteration of its planned electric-car flagship, morphing what started out as low-slung cruiser into a sporty SUV, as the German luxury-car maker scrambles to keep pace with rivals. The iNext concept — revealed inside a cargo plane — is close to the production version, which is set to be released in 2021, according to development chief Klaus Froehlich. Design touches include a diamond-patterned front, replacing the iconic BMW grille. The stark changes from the original 2016 prototype, known as Vision Next 100, reflect the difficulties developing a model intended as a standard bearer for future design and technology. It also suggests BMW misread the market as rivals already roll out electric SUVs. Mercedes Benz will start production of the EQC crossover in the first half of next year, Audi is showing its e-tron crossover in San Francisco next week, and Jaguar’s battery-powered I-Pace is already hitting the streets. BMW counters that it beat peers with the battery-powered i3 in 2013, while the iNext will go beyond what competitors are offering with advanced self-driving capabilities and a driving range of about 600 kilometers (370 miles).” [E&E News, 9/18/18 (=)]

 

 

Op-Ed: As The Age Of The Electric Car Rolls In, Highways Need High-Tech Upgrade. According to an op-ed by Michael Bloomberg in Las Vegas Sun, “Now, the interstate highway system is an aging relic that is not keeping up with advances in driving. As vehicles increasingly rely on computers for navigation, our highways lack the technology, such as digital signs and road sensors, to guide them. But the most pressing technological void — and the one that can be filled most easily and inexpensively — is the absence of charging stations. The benefits of electric vehicles are clear. Lead particles in air pollution kill around 100,000 Americans annually, and gasoline-powered vehicles are the biggest contributor to that pollution. Electric vehicles save lives and can also help fight climate change by eliminating carbon emissions. And as their cost comes down, they can also save consumers money — while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and protecting us from spikes in fuel prices. Increasing the supply of charging plugs increases demand for EVs, and states like Nevada are leading the way. Nevada has almost completed a network of electric vehicle charging stations stretching from Las Vegas to Reno. Soon, there will be chargers along all of the state’s major highways. It’s a smart investment that will bring economic and health benefits to Nevadans, and it’s something the whole country needs.” [Las Vegas Sun, 9/16/18 (+)]