Electric vehicles Archives

How JD Vance’s VP selection could influence American energy policy

July 16, 2024

The upcoming presidential election is poised to significantly influence how Americans receive their electricity. With former President Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate, the specifics of a potential Trump energy policy are coming into sharper focus.

Vance has expressed a desire to do away with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a cornerstone of President Biden’s climate policy. However, both Vance’s state of Ohio and several companies in which he has investments have financially benefited from the clean energy funding provided by the IRA.

The senator has consistently criticized carbon-free power infrastructure, such as wind and solar energy. He argues that the Biden administration has unfairly subsidized these renewable energy sources while undermining what he considers the nation’s most reliable energy sources: oil and gas.

“The Biden administration is doing everything it can to subsidize alternative energy sources and demonize our nation’s most reliable sources of power,” Vance wrote in a 2023 op-ed for Ohio’s Marietta Times. “The Biden years have thus far been defined by his administration’s wanton harassment of fossil fuel companies, to the detriment of the American people. A war on traditional American energy is a war on the American standard of living.”

In the 2022 election cycle, Vance received around $300,000 from the oil industry, making him the 19th highest recipient among the 91 members of Congress who accepted contributions from this sector. A spokesperson for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association anticipates that Vance will continue advocating for the industry’s interests if Trump is reelected, citing his congressional voting record as a strong indicator.

Vance co-sponsored the Power Act in 2023, which aims to require presidential approval from Congress before delaying leasing or permitting for oil, gas, and mining activities on federal lands. He also co-sponsored the STOVE Act, which was designed to prevent federal agencies from issuing regulations that would ban gas stoves and other appliances, a reaction to the Energy Department’s recent efficiency standards.

“Many of our elected leaders are telling Americans that we need to make do with less, that the days of cheap and reliable power are over. I vehemently disagree,” Vance wrote. “Our government should reverse these dangerous trends and unleash our energy industry by investing the type of infrastructure projects that have kept America’s lights on for decades.”

Additionally, Vance introduced the Drive American Act last year, proposing the repeal of the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax credits for American-made electric vehicles. Instead, this bill suggests offering similar credits exclusively to U.S.-made vehicles powered by gas and diesel.

“Right now, the official policy of the Biden administration is to spend billions of dollars on subsidies for electric vehicles made overseas,” Vance said in a statement. “We can secure a bright future for American autoworkers by passing this legislation and reversing the misguided policies of the Biden administration.”

Oil industry pushes back against Biden’s EV policies with new ad in swing states

July 16, 2024

The oil industry voiced its opposition to the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles (EVs) with a new advertisement from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). The trade group, which includes prominent members such as ExxonMobil, Chevron and Phillips 66, invested millions to air this ad in key swing states ahead of the 2024 election.

“President Biden is banning most new gas cars, putting our freedom to choose what to drive in the rearview mirror,” the ad tells voters. “With the challenges ahead, we can’t leave our choices, our economic strength and our national security in the rearview mirror.”

The AFPM’s campaign aims to sway public opinion against President Biden’s vehicle emissions regulations, which the Biden administration described as the “strongest-ever pollution standards for cars.” Although the new standards do not constitute an outright ban on gas-powered cars, as the ad suggests, they do outline a path towards increased adoption of electric vehicles.

Under these rules, automakers are given a transition period until 2032. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects that by enforcing these regulations, EVs could account for up to 56% of new passenger cars and trucks between 2030 and 2032.

The finalized regulations are actually less stringent than earlier proposals, reflecting successful lobbying efforts by automakers, car dealers and the United Auto Workers union. These groups advocated for a more gradual transition to an all-electric fleet to allow more compliance flexibility.

Despite these concessions, key players in the oil industry argue that the regulations still go too far. AFPM is warning voters of potential negative consequences the trade group believes will arise from this shift towards electric vehicles.

“EPA’s now-final light-duty vehicle regulation is designed to ban most new gas cars simply because the Biden administration thinks consumers aren’t adopting EV’s fast enough,” Chet Thompson, AFPM president and CEO, said in a statement. “This regulation is bad for consumers and their pocketbooks; it’s bad for our energy and national security, and it will have costly and irresponsible repercussions across the U.S. economy.”

Biden admin slates $1.7B for automakers transitioning to EV production

July 11, 2024

The Biden administration announced a $1.7 billion federal assistance package aimed at helping automakers retool their factories to produce electric vehicles (EVs). The funding, unveiled by the Department of Energy, targets 11 auto factories that have either shut down or were at risk of closure without government intervention.

“There is nothing harder to a manufacturing community than to lose jobs to foreign competition and a changing industry,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “Even as our competitors invest heavily in electric vehicles, these grants ensure that our automotive industry stays competitive — and does it in the communities and with the workforce that have supported the auto industry for generations.”

The recipients of this funding include major automakers such as General Motors (GM), Hyundai, Fiat Chrysler and Volvo, among others. However, the funds will not be awarded until negotiations with these companies are successfully completed. Once finalized, the administration expects the plan to create nearly 3,000 new jobs and help retain approximately 15,000 workers across the 11 facilities.

GM is set to receive the largest portion of the funds, with an expected $500 million allocated to convert a Michigan plant from producing internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. This significant investment underscores the administration’s commitment to accelerating the transition to EVs.

Since President Joe Biden took office, there has been $177 billion invested in private sector EV manufacturing. This new wave of grants aims to complement those investments and is part of the administration’s broader push to promote electric vehicle adoption.

Germany has become increasingly reliant on Chinese renewable energy tech

July 10, 2024

Following the disruption of its natural gas supplies from Russia due to geopolitical tensions, Germany is increasingly relying on China to meet its power needs. This partnership has quickly made China one of the most important markets for keeping the German economy running.

For years, Germany heavily depended on Russian natural gas imports to sustain its energy infrastructure. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the ensuing trade sanctions imposed by Western nations have forced Germany to seek an alternative from Chinese-made energy infrastructure.

One of the most notable examples of this shift is in solar energy. Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, solar power accounted for about 8% of Germany’s electricity. In the years since, this figure has surged, at times providing two-thirds of the nation’s power. This rapid increase has been largely facilitated by solar products imported from China, which account for around 90% of Germany’s solar energy infrastructure.

Beijing is now also making inroads into the European nation’s wind energy sector. For the first time, Chinese-made turbines are set to be installed in a German offshore wind farm. The project is expected to power nearly half a million homes.

Meanwhile, German automobile manufacturers — including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen — have invested in production plants in China, capitalizing on the country’s dominance in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain to reduce manufacturing costs.

However, the recent increase in European Union tariffs on Chinese EVs has sparked concern among these automakers. The German government has expressed support for its automotive sector. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz labelled the new tariffs as “illegal customs barriers” and warned of their far-reaching consequences.

NASCAR unveils new electric race car prototype amid its net-zero commitment

July 8, 2024

When NASCAR fans attend a race, they are accustomed to the thunderous roar of combustion engines. However, future events might feature a quieter sound on the track. NASCAR introduced its new electric vehicle (EV) race car prototype on Saturday, July 6, at the Chicago Street Race.

This $1.5 million vehicle is the result of a partnership between NASCAR and technology company ABB. Ralph Donati, the executive vice president at ABB, said the objective of this collaboration with NASCAR is to “push the boundaries of electrification technology.”

Professional driver David Ragan tested the car and it was only about two-tenths of a second slower than a typical race car. The EV car is slightly slower despite having nearly double the acceleration power of an average race car. The primary challenge lies in the weight of the heavy EV batteries, which Ragan said he particularly noticed during turns on the track.

However, speed is not the only consideration for NASCAR here. The organization pledged to achieve net-zero operating emissions over the next decade, a goal it aims to reach through its partnership with ABB.

“ABB is an industry leader and will help in efforts to decarbonize our operations as we pursue achieving net-zero operating emissions over the next decade,” Eric Nyquist, NASCAR’s senior vice president and chief impact officer, said.

Although NASCAR has no immediate plans to phase out combustion engine vehicles from the sport, it could explore the possibility of adding an all-electric race to its lineup. Without the traditional roar of engine noise, NASCAR’s senior vice president suggested alternative options, such as introducing a DJ to provide a soundtrack for the event.

China’s BYD to build $1B plant in Turkey as increased EU tariffs kick in

July 5, 2024

As the European Union (EU) prepares to officially implement increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Beijing-backed automaker BYD is making moves that may mitigate the impact of these new duty rates. BYD reportedly has plans to build a new $1 billion EV plant in Turkey, a candidate country for EU membership.

The official announcement of this deal is expected on Monday, July 8, from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the news has already led to speculation that establishing a manufacturing presence in Turkey could help BYD soften the financial blow from the EU’s heightened tariffs.

Turkey’s customs union agreement with the EU might allow BYD to reduce the financial impact of the new tariffs, facilitating the entry of their vehicles into the European market at more competitive prices. Ankara, Turkey’s capital, further incentivized BYD by dropping a recently imposed 50% tariff on Chinese EVs, a figure higher than the EU’s newly raised duty rate, in a move aimed at securing BYD’s investment.

This development comes just a day after the automaker continued its global expansion elsewhere in the world. Earlier this week, BYD opened its first EV factory in Thailand, where it already commands nearly 50% of the EV market.

J.D. Power study finds EVs experience more issues than traditional cars

July 2, 2024

J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study has found electric vehicle drivers are experiencing higher levels of dissatisfaction with their cars. Feedback from nearly 100,000 consumers revealed that EVs are running into more issues on average than traditional gas-powered cars.

The findings show that for every 100 gas-powered vehicles, there were an average of 180 problems reported. In contrast, EVs had an average of 266 problems per 100 vehicles, 86 points higher than their combustion-engine counterparts.

Officials at J.D. Power said the study also discovered that EVs and hybrids necessitate trips to the dealership for repairs at a rate three times higher than their combustion engine counterparts.

Historically, Tesla has maintained a lead over legacy automakers in terms of quality in previous J.D. Power studies. However, this year, Tesla’s score fell and aligned with the average rating of other EV brands.

The decline in consumer satisfaction with Tesla was largely attributed to the removal of traditional feature controls in its latest models. Modifications to basic functions such as turn signals and windshield wipers were not well-received by drivers, contributing to the drop in Tesla’s ratings.

The J.D. Power study aligns with observations from other research firms regarding growing concerns over EV quality. A recent McKinsey consumer pulse survey reported that 46% of American EV owners are now contemplating a return to traditional gas vehicles, highlighting a trend of rising dissatisfaction with electric vehicles.

Tesla’s problems continue with latest recall of thousands of Cybertrucks

June 25, 2024

In another setback for Elon Musk and his company Tesla, the company announced a pair of recalls for thousands of Cybertrucks on Tuesday, June 25. The problems involve windshield wipers and a trim piece.

The first recall is to address issues with windshield wiper blades that reportedly stopped working on 11,688 vehicles. Tesla said it was notified by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the problem. The blades’ motor reportedly stops because of too much electrical current flowing to it. Tesla said that it will fix the problem at no cost to the owner and that they will be notified by Aug. 18.

The other recall is to address a problem with a trim piece along the truck’s bed that could possibly come loose and fly off the vehicle and into the road, creating a hazard for other drivers. This problem impacts 11,383 vehicles. Tesla said that the trim was improperly installed at its factory, and it will fix the issue free of charge to the owner of the vehicle. Impacted owners can also expect a notification to be sent to them by Aug. 18.

This is the fourth round of recalls for Tesla since its release of the Cybertruck on Nov. 13. The latest issues come on the heels of a recent recall of nearly 4,000 vehicles to address a problem with the truck’s acceleration pedal potentially becoming stuck.

Analysts have noted that this is the first time the public has learned how many Cybertrucks have been sold since Nov. 13 — something the company has been secretive about in the past.

The data shows that the numbers are a far cry from the reported 2 million orders Tesla has received to date for the hyped pickup.

Hawaii youth-led climate change case reaches historic settlement

June 21, 2024

The state of Hawaii settled a landmark case with a group of youth alleging the state was violating their rights with pollution-causing infrastructure. The group called on the state to commit to a transportation system with zero emissions by 2045.

The case, Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, is the world’s first youth-led constitutional challenge to address transportation climate pollution.

Gov. Josh Green announced the settlement Thursday, June 20, praising the young people who he said had been “suing the crap out of me for the better part of the last couple years.”

“The passion demonstrated by these young people in advocating for a healthy, sustainable future for their generation and those to come, is laudable,” Green said.

Thirteen youth from Hawaii brought the case forward in the summer of 2022, and the Hawaii government has spent around $3 million arguing against it. The settlement came just a couple days before the expected June 24 trial.

As part of the settlement, the Hawaii Department of Transportation will create a plan to reach zero emissions for all transportation systems in the islands, land, air, and sea, by 2045. The state already had a pre-existing goal of becoming carbon neutral by that year.

“Climate change is indisputable,” Hawaii Director of Transportation Ed Sniffen said. “Burying our heads in the sand and making it the next generation’s problem is not pono.”

In Hawaii, the word pono means to be righteous and upstanding.

The department will also set aside at least $40 million to build additional public electric vehicle charging stations by 2030. These efforts will be advised by a volunteer youth council that will be established in the coming years.

“We’re the most isolated land mass on the planet.” Green said. “We’re too dependent on fossil fuels. We’re vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events as we saw in Maui, coral bleaching – which is devastating to the fauna that are in the ocean – so it’s very important that they stand up for the future.”

The nonprofit law firm Our Children’s Trust, one of the parties representing the youth, is also supporting several other groups of young people in suing their state governments for accelerating climate change through both their policies and inaction. This is the first of its kind to reach a resolution.

Rylee Brook, one of the plaintiffs, called out to other youth to be active in their climate advocacy.

“Today is a testament to what can be achieved when we stand together with purpose and conviction to hold our governments to their promises for our planet,” Brook said.

What do EVs have to do with the price of pork in China? Actually, a lot.

June 19, 2024

Earlier in June, the European Union (EU) announced a tariff hike on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), prompting Beijing to warn of potential retaliatory measures. Now, in what has been seen as part of that response, Chinese officials launched an investigation into the prices of pork imported from Europe.

The investigation is a move that could have significant economic repercussions for the EU, given China’s immense demand for pork.

China is the world’s largest consumer of pork. The country expects to account for more than half of global consumption this year. In some Chinese provinces, the average person consumes a quarter pound of pork daily, contributing to the nearly 2 million pigs consumed nationwide each day.

Last year, China spent approximately $6 billion on pork imports. More than 50% of that pork came from the EU.

The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, stated it will closely monitor China’s investigation and intervene if necessary, downplaying concerns about significant impacts on European farmers. However, China might not be done hitting back at Europe and other nations that have similarly increased electric vehicle tariffs against them.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Washington, D.C., is bracing for retaliation over the Biden administration’s own duty hike on Chinese EVs. Meanwhile, market analysts suggested Beijing could also impose tariffs on other European exports, such as wines and brandy, which have been lucrative markets for Europe.

Last year, nearly 70% of Chinese wine imports came from the EU, and China is the second-largest importer of brandy after the United States.