The NetZero Insider team’s transportation coverage this week includes progress made on electrification, but also a warning of the limitations of such strategies.
Ayla Burnett reports on the joint effort by the
California Energy Commission and Caltrans to solicit feedback on their grant program to replace or repair EV chargers statewide. The $58.4 million available will be used to repair or replace NEVI-compliant chargers along alternative fuel corridors, with at least 40% of targeted chargers in marginalized communities.
In Washington, K Kaufmann writes about mixed news regarding EVs. EPA released its final rule on heavy truck emissions.
Private-sector and government climate experts at the U.S. Tech for Climate Action conference agreed, though, that EV adoption alone would not address transportation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Rules like EPA’s emissions standards, they said, as well as greater transit development nationwide, are necessary.
Electric vehicles aren’t going anywhere, though. In South Carolina, The State reports, battery manufacturer AESC is spending $1.5 billion to expand its planned facility, on top of $1.6 billion already committed. AESC manufactures batteries primarily for BMW EVs.
Gasoline giant Shell is also betting on EVs, Bloomberg reports, and planning to divest itself of 1,000 (roughly 8%) of its gas stations over the next two years in order to expand its charging station network. However, Shell CEO Wael Sawan said, “oil and gas will continue to have an important role in stabilizing that system for a long, long, long time to come.”
Electrek covered a planned 280-mile EV trucking corridor planned from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The Greenlane-backed project would begin with a 60-charger station in Colton, Calif., by the end of 2024.
This week’s curation also includes:
Bridge Michigan’s report on a DOE pilot program for training EV battery manufacturers. Although several auto manufacturers are headquartered in Michigan, it’s unclear if any of the training locations will be in the state.
Bloomberg’s analysis on EV ownership worldwide, which reports that ownership rates have passed 5% in 31 countries — up from 19 countries in 2022. Bloomberg says 5% is the “tipping point,” signaling an acceleration of
adoption.
A report from the Bangor Daily News on the failure of Maine’s much-maligned EV sales mandates.
All that and more in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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International
A shift is underway with electric vehicles, according to a Bloomberg Green analysis of adoption rates around the world. By the end of last year, 31 countries had surpassed what's become a pivotal EV tipping point: when 5% of new car sales are purely electric. This threshold signals the start of mass adoption, after which technological preferences rapidly flip. Bloomberg
International
Energy storage continues to make waves across the energy industry. With the surge in renewable generation projects being unveiled globally, energy storage facilities offer a means to capture and store energy for peak usage periods. Fundamentally, bolstering energy storage capacity helps increase grid resiliency and is expected to become a vital component of the energy system of tomorrow. The Solar Power Portal
International
Shell Plc plans to divest 500 retail sites annually over the next two years, responding to a growing demand for electric vehicle chargers. "We are upgrading our retail network, with expanded electric vehicle charging and convenience offers, in response to changing customer needs," Shell said in its latest energy transition strategy. "In total, we plan to divest around 500 Shell-owned sites (including joint ventures) a year in 2024 and 2025." Bloomberg
Maine
Last fall, the road looked pretty clear for Maine environmentalists seeking to require electric vehicles to make up 82% of new car sales by 2032. But after a positive October straw poll, the EV decision ran into months of delays following a severe December wind and rain storm that caused mass power outages in Maine and forced the board to push its decision to March. After hours of discussion March 21, the vote came quickly. It was 4-2 to defeat the EV rule. Bangor Daily News
Michigan
A federal pilot program aims to train workers for battery manufacturing jobs, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in Michigan. The announcement comes as automakers and Michigan officials ramp up investments in electric vehicle production. Granholm was touring Michigan and other Midwest states to promote Biden administration energy policies. Bridge Michigan
Michigan
A move by regulators to extend the time for automakers to comply with emissions rules reflects the electric vehicle sales slowdown. While EV sales are expected to grow, the slow pace holds many implications for Michigan's signature industry. EV charging networks, pricing, job growth and international competition all loom as issues for the state. Bridge Michigan
North Carolina
North Carolina has surpassed initial electric vehicle registration goals two years early, according to Gov. Roy Cooper. In 2018, Cooper signed Executive Order 80, calling on state agencies to evaluate their operations and set specific, firm and ambitious goals to decrease emissions across the economy -- including increasing the number of total zero-emission vehicles registered in North Carolina. The order set an initial goal of 80,000 zero emission vehicles by 2025, and North Carolina surpassed this goal in November 2023. WWAY-TV
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has seen dramatic growth in electric vehicle ownership, with a 45% rise compared to a year ago as state and federal funds drive the buildout of public charging stations on its main highways. Data released by PennDOT show that more than 63,000 EVs are registered in the state. Additionally, hybrid EVs number 274,800 statewide, a 24% increase. The Center Square
South Carolina
A company that is building electric vehicle batteries for BMW is pouring an additional $1.5 billion into it planned Florence County operations. AESC announced March 26 that it will expand its planned Florence County operations and bring an additional 1,080 jobs to the facility. The State
U.S.
New electric car prices dropped $2,000 in the U.S. last month, bringing EVs close to price parity with gas-powered cars. The Washington Post
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California
Greenlane has announced its plans for a new commercial charging corridor along I-15, with initial charging locations in Colton, Calif., additional stops in Barstow and Baker following soon after and the corridor extending beyond Southern Nevada and on to San Pedro, Calif., the following year. Electrek
International
Two Volvo Truck & Bus dealers say they have found an innovative solution to overcome one of the biggest barriers the UK faces with the shift to zero emission transport. Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland planned to install high-powered charge points at two of its service workshops for battery-powered HGVs and buses. However, they found that neither site had a high enough import capacity from the grid to power the chargers. Envirotec
International
Norway is leading the world when it comes to making the transition to electric passenger cars. In February, over 92% of new passenger car sales in Norway were battery electric (90%) or plug-in hybrids (2%). But according to Enova, an agency formed by Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment, only 2% of trucks on the road in the country are electric, although electric trucks are now about 10% of new truck sales. CleanTechnica
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