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NetZero Insider’s transportation coverage rolled on this week with reporting by K Kaufmann on plummeting sales in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) market. A new report by an auto industry research firm found that sales declined by over 80% relative to the first half of 2023, reaching their lowest level since 2016.


The market is quite small to begin with ― just 322 FCVs were sold across the U.S. in the first half of the year, largely concentrated in California. The decline of FCV sales is a stark contrast to the growth of electric vehicle sales, which had a record second quarter. 


EV sales are up year-over-year by about 11%, the report found. Increased competition and federal support for the industry are helping to drive lower consumer costs, the firm said. 


K also had a story on a pair of reports highlighting the potential of EV batteries to serve as grid resources by charging during off-peak periods and providing power back to the grid during emergencies. 


One of the reports, authored by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, emphasized that EV drivers must be compensated for providing grid services, and said utilities should adopt time-of-use charging rates and allow EVs to participate in demand response programs. 


In other EV news, General Motors and Stellantis are on track to receive over $1 billion in federal funding for EV production facilities in the U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressed hope that the money will help domestic EV production compete with foreign companies. 


But despite significant federal support, the CEO of GM said the company is not on track to meet its goal of producing a million EVs by the end of next year.  


Continued federal support for the EV industry may depend on the outcome of the November election; newly picked Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has been an outspoken critic of the Inflation Reduction Act, and has expressed skepticism of the scientific consensus that fossil fuel emissions are causing climate change. 


In maritime news, the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell passenger ferry is providing free trips in the San Francisco Bay. The ferry is part of a six-month demonstration project looking at the feasibility of fuel cells for marine transit.  


Also in California, startup Joby Aviation completed a record-setting 523-mile trip with a hydrogen fuel cell aircraft. The company is hoping to eventually scale up the technology for commercial flights. 


Read on for this week’s Intelligence Report:


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Aircraft
Electric Vehicles
Fuel Cells
Shipping

 
 

Aircraft

California

Joby's hydrogen-fueled eVTOL sets record 523-mile emissions-free trip

Joby's hydrogen-electric demonstrator, based on their battery-electric aircraft, holds 88 lbs of liquid hydrogen and fewer batteries, sharing the same airframe. Interesting Engineering


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Electric Vehicles

Alaska

Alaska now has 3,492 electric vehicles on the road, but future gowth is uncertain

The quest to fundamentally transform the automotive industry by pushing electric vehicles into the market through regulations and billions in federal spending appears to be floundering. Alaska Watchman


California

California needs a million EV charging stations -- but that's 'unlikely' and 'unrealistic'

California will have to build public charging stations at an unprecedented -- and some experts say unrealistic -- pace to meet the needs of the 7 million electric cars expected on its roads in less than seven years. CalMatters


Florida

OPINION: Florida sits on federal EV money that could provide more chargers

It's not that Florida state government is battling the Evil Biden Green Agenda. It's that the DeSantis administration is genuflecting toward Juno Beach, home of the almighty FPL. If they hand out those millions from the feds, Wawa might become a competitor to the utilities, writes award-winning native Floridian reporter Craig Pittman. Florida Phoenix


International

More EVs = more mining = more equipment, but not necessarily more miners

This podcast episode explores the historic dive in global diesel demand and how the proliferation of EVs large and small is driving growth in the global mining industry -- which, in turn, is driving growth in both the electric & autonomous mining equipment markets. Electrek


International

More Gas Cars and Trucks, Fewer E.V.s as Automakers Change Plans

Ford, General Motors and other automakers are slowing investments in electric vehicles and doubling down on more profitable gasoline cars and trucks. The New York Times


Maryland

Maryland to install 130 new electric vehicle charging stations

Maryland will receive $12 million in federal funding to build 130 electric car chargers across 23 counties. The money comes from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program will provide funding for 41 fast, public EV chargers across Maryland, even as demand for EVs continues to slump. Nottingham MD


North Carolina

EV Maker VinFast to Delay Opening of US Factory by Three Years

VinFast Auto said it will delay the opening of its electric vehicle factory in North Carolina by three years to 2028, adding to the Vietnamese company's challenges of becoming a global brand. Bloomberg


Pennsylvania

Pa. electric vehicle owners soon will have to pay fees of $200+ per year

A bill that would establish a new annual fee for owners of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to offset the loss of gas tax revenue on those vehicles is headed to Gov. Josh Shapiro's desk. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star


U.S.

Charging limits could help fix a big EV headache

EV knowledge gaps have befuddled new owners trying to figure out proper etiquette at public charging stations. Axios


U.S.

Could EVs Of The Future Really Balance Grid Flow Fluctuation?

EVs are not just transportation tools, but also resources of energy. Using V2G technology to balance power load fluctuations is gaining attention from governments and commercial enterprises. EVs with bidirectional chargers can be used to power a home, power another EV, or even feed the utility grid. CleanTechnica


U.S.

EV Rentals Failed Due To Crashes, Parts Delays And Poor Charging

A report from the New York Times revealed that everything from sky-high repair costs to an increased likelihood of crashes led to the issues rental companies faced electrifying their fleets. Jalopnik


U.S.

EVs Are Still Selling, Reach 8% Market Share In The U.S.

A lot of doom and gloom has been painted around the state of the EV market, but sales figures through the second quarter reveals that demand continues to rise, now accounting for 8% of new vehicle sales across the country. Carscoops


U.S.

EVs offer significant long-term savings across most US states: Study

According to a new study conducted by JD Power, the expensive price of electric vehicles is far outweighed by the cost of running them and so they happen to be more economical in 48 states over a 5-year ownership cycle in the U.S. WION


U.S.

GM and Stellantis to receive over $1B from Biden admin for EV projects

General Motors and Stellantis are poised to receive over $1 billion from the Biden administration to support the automakers' electric vehicle projects. These include $500 million for GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan, $334.8 million for Stellantis' Belvidere Assembly facility in Illinois, and $250 million for Stellantis' planned EV drive module plant in Indiana. Teslarati


U.S.

GM CEO Barra Backs Away From One Million EV Production Goal

General Motors CEO Mary Barra walked back expectations for her company's electric vehicle program, the latest such move by a legacy automaker as momentum slows for plug-in models. Bloomberg


U.S.

NTSB calls for changes after electric vehicles fail guardrail tests

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, commented for the first time about electric vehicles and guardrails at a roundtable with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln about potential solutions when it comes to electric vehicles, their safety risks and their impact on infrastructure. WTSP


U.S.

Owners report more problems with EVs than gas vehicles: JD Power

New technology in cars is driving an increase in owner complaints, a June study found. Utility Dive


U.S.

The $1.7 billion bet on American-made EVs, explained by the Secretary of Energy

Jennifer Granholm tells Grist why the Biden administration is paying to convert auto plants into ones that can churn out EVs. Grist


U.S.

The Problematic Chemicals Fueling America's EV Revolution

The same companies that spewed "forever chemicals" linked with cancer and other diseases in neighborhoods around the world are now key players in the development of EV batteries. Often those companies keep their chemical formulas and emissions hidden from the public, Mother Jones


U.S.

Trump's VP pick is the EV industry's worst nightmare

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), former President Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, is known to be a flip-flopper on one critical cluster: climate change and electric vehicles. TheStreet


U.S.

US Public EV Chargers Set to Surpass Gas Stations in Eight Years

The U.S. added about 700 new public fast-charging stations for electric cars in the second quarter, bringing the nationwide total to nearly 9,000. Bloomberg


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Fuel Cells

California

Toyota Mirai Owners Sue the Automaker for a Range of Hydrogen Fueling-Related Issues

The owner group, which includes lessees, claims that Toyota's marketing was misleading, making them believe that their cars are much more usable than they really are. The Truth About Cars


U.S.

EVs Aren't the Future, Hydrogen Is

In the three years since Congress approved a $7.5-billion plan to build thousands of new electric vehicle charging stations around the country, fewer than 10 have been built. Where do we go from here? The solution may have been in front of us the whole time: hydrogen. Motor1


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Shipping

California

World's First Fully Hydrogen-Powered Ferry Launched In San Francisco Bay

The vessel emits only water vapour, some of which is remineralized and reused in the onboard water fountain, making it the only vessel with drinkable emissions. Marine Insight


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