General Motors is fighting to retain the $7,500 federal tax credit for plug-in vehicle purchases, but the company’s recently announced layoffs and plant closings may make it a tough sell in Washington. As GM nears the 200,000-vehicle cutoff point after which the tax credit will be phased out, the incentive’s very existence is uncertain. One… Read more »
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New study: clusters of EV owners threaten to overload local electricity infrastructure
The growing energy demand created by EV charging could threaten the stability of electrical grids unless utilities take a proactive approach to planning their future networks, according to a joint study from management consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting and Australia-based charging infrastructure company Tritium. “Preparing the Grid for the Uptake of Electric Vehicles” highlights a clustering… Read more »
US senators propose national zero-emission vehicle mandate
Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have introduced a bill that would require auto manufacturers to make zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) 50% of new car sales by 2030, and 100% of sales by 2040. The Zero-Emissions Vehicle Act of 2018 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Few details… Read more »
VW heralds the last generation of ICE vehicles
Since its humiliation in the Dirty Diesel Debacle, the Volkswagen Group has been preaching the EV gospel with the zeal of the newly converted. Several automakers have forecast that substantial percentages of their sales would soon consist of plug-in vehicles, but as far as we know VW is the first to set a date for… Read more »
Ghosn scandal causes Nissan to postpone launch of next-gen LEAF
For the last couple of years, EV fans have been eagerly awaiting a new version of the LEAF with a 200-mile range to match that of the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3. Nissan did launch a redesigned 2018 LEAF, with a 40 kWh battery pack and 150 miles of range, early this year, but… Read more »
Rivian reveals impressive electric pickup truck and SUV
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, pickup trucks are popular – they made up 16% of US auto sales in 2017 (per Trucks.com). If EVs are to move into the mainstream, somebody needs to produce a mass-market pickup. Startups Workhorse, Havelaar and Bollinger have pickups in the pipeline; Tesla has been talking; and Ford finally feels… Read more »
Electric racing airplanes to compete in Air Race E
The University of Nottingham and Air Race E have announced a partnership to develop what they believe to be the world’s first electric racing airplane. Air Race E, which is set to run its inaugural race in 2020, will see electric airplanes racing directly against each other on a tight circuit just above the ground… Read more »
Tesla, GM and Nissan advocate for extending the federal EV tax credit
The federal EV tax credit is something of a blunt instrument, but there’s little doubt that it has encouraged a substantial number of EV purchases. The future of the $7,500 tax credit is uncertain. Recently, one Republican senator introduced a bill to expand the credit, and another introduced a bill to get rid of it… Read more »
Workhorse starts production of light-weight electric delivery vehicle
Workhorse has begun initial production of a light-weight electric delivery vehicle, the Workhorse NGEN-1000. At 4,000 pounds and with up to 1,000 cubic feet of storage, the van’s weight is less than half that of conventional diesel step-vans with similar storage capacity. The vehicle will boast a 100-mile range, according to Workhorse, and come in four… Read more »
Electrify America announces second $200-million EV infrastructure investment plan for California
Electrify America has a $2-billion pot of money from naughty Volkswagen to invest in EV infrastructure, education and access programs. $800 of that is to be spent in California. In order to future-proof the program, EA is wisely dividing its investment into four phases. Now the company has announced its second $200-million round of investment… Read more »