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Your weekly intelligence on EVs and Transportation Decarbonization
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This week’s decarbonized transportation news was again dominated by stories about how Donald Trump’s second term could affect the electric vehicle industry, with Reuters reporting that members of his transition team are planning to kill the $7,500 EV consumer tax credit.


The fossil fuel industry is strongly in favor of killing the incentive, while Tesla representatives have also expressed support for ending the credit. CEO Elon Musk has said the move would likely hurt the company less than its competitors, as Tesla has struggled with a declining EV market share in recent years. 


United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has been highly critical of a potential move to kill the Biden administration’s EV incentives, saying it would threaten “hundreds of thousands of jobs” at factories throughout the country. 


The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major car manufacturers including Ford, GM, Stellantis, Honda and Toyota, is also lobbying to keep the incentives in place, arguing that the tax credits are “critical to cementing the U.S. as a global leader in the future of automotive technology and manufacturing.” 


Reuters’ reporting indicates that Trump would likely leave in place or strengthen the Biden administration’s steep tariffs on Chinese EVs and EV components. 


Despite the challenging near-term landscape, a top executive for Kia speaking at an event in Taiwan reiterated the company’s goals to sell 1.6 million EVs annually by 2030. However, the executive said it is “too early to discuss” potential issues stemming from the U.S. election. 


In state news, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) announced that he will not pursue a ban on new internal-combustion vehicles by 2035, despite a state law tying his state’s emission rules to California’s standards. Lamont said he expects the Trump administration to undermine both federal vehicle emissions rules and those set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 


Meanwhile, CARB boosted the targets for its low-carbon fuel standard, voting to increase the 2030 target to a 30% reduction in fuel emissions and to add 90% reduction target for 2045. One economist estimated that the changes could increase gas prices by up to 85 cents/gallon by 2030, although CARB Chair Liane Randolph said it is “difficult, if not impossible, to calculate exactly how a program like this affects retail gas prices.” 


The board projects the changes will reduce emissions by about 558 million metric tons between 2025 and 2045. 


In shipping news, the CEO of a major green H2 developer told a conference in London that recent European Union incentives are not enough to scale up the fuel, and that additional support is needed “to change the behavior of a shipowner.” 


All that and more in this week’s Intelligence Report: 


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Aviation
Electric Vehicles
Heavy-duty Vehicles
Medium-duty Vehicles
Shipping
Transportation Decarbonization

 
 

Aviation

U.S.

Biden benchmark for green jet fuel faces major hurdles

Cost is one challenge. The availability of farmland for a biofuel is another. Climatewire


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Electric Vehicles

California

How California's New Fuel Standards Could Affect Drivers

Regulators say the changes are essential to reducing carbon emissions. But political leaders in both parties are worried that gas prices could further increase. The New York Times


Connecticut

Lamont announces he won't pursue EV mandate in state

Republicans argued electric vehicles are unaffordable for most residents and would be hard to implement because the state power grid needs major upgrades. FOX61


International

A new generation of cheaper batteries is sweeping the EV industry

A form of lithium-ion battery called LFP is becoming increasingly popular among automakers due to its advantages on cost, safety and materials. Canary Media


International

Automakers Are Hot for Extended-Range EVs. They Hope Buyers Like Them Too.

The hot new acronym in the automotive world is EREV. It's not quite an EV. It's not quite an ICE. It's a kind of PHEV -- plug-in hybrid electric vehicle -- but that collection of letters doesn't quite describe it either. WIRED


International

Brits Can't Buy New Jaguars for Over a Year as Brand Goes Electric

The storied British brand is going dormant until 2026, when it will reemerge selling only higher-end electric vehicles. BNN Bloomberg


International

China's 'iPhone city' reborn as EV production hub

Zhengzhou has seen Foxconn cut production while BYD builds new factories. Nikkei Asia


International

Donald Trump's shake-up of EV rules would be 'huge positive' for Tesla

Donald Trump's criticism of electric vehicles looks likely to lead to the end of government subsidies for consumers who buy them, boosting Elon Musk's Tesla by hitting its rivals with greater losses. The Financial Times


International

EU Sees Little Chance of Quick China Deal to Avoid EV Tariffs

The EU sees very limited progress in negotiations with China aimed at finding an alternative to tariffs on electric vehicles and the bloc currently sees little prospect of a quick deal, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg


International

Global EV sales heading for record 16.7 million sales in 2024, despite reports of slowdown

These numbers include both battery EV and plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) models, which reflects one of the stories being told this year, with numerous companies ditching purely EV targets and refocusing, in the near term, on PHEVs. The Driven


International

Kia sees near-term market challenges but sticks to 1.6M annual EV sales target by 2030

South Korean car maker Kia expects challenging market conditions in the near term due in part to governments' policies but will stick to its target of selling 1.6 million electric vehicles annually by 2030, a senior executive said. Reuters


International

Study: 57% EV in 10 years requires "strategic reset" from automakers

Automakers stand to substantially grow global EV sales over the next 10 years, but only if they refocus from tech-savvy early adopters to mainstream buyers, argues a new study from consulting firm Accenture. Green Car Reports


International

Volkswagen and Rivian Form Joint Venture, Deepening Alliance

Volkswagen and Rivian, a California-based maker of electric pickups and SUVs, said they would form a joint venture to develop software and electronics, extending a partnership they announced in June. The New York Times


Massachusetts

If you drive for a living, Mass. wants you to buy an electric vehicle

The state says the program aims to support the purchase or lease of 1,000 to 2,000 electric vehicles by the end of next year. WBUR


Michigan

DOE Announces $481.5M Loan to Expand Manufacturing of EV Semiconductor Materials

SK Siltron CSS sells directly to device manufacturers which make power electronics used across many industries, not just EVs and high-speed EV charging. U.S. Department of Energy


U.S.

Auto trade group to GOP tax writers: Keep Biden's EV credits

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation argued that incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act are key to maintaining a "globally competitive American auto industry" amid China's growing dominance of the market. E&E News


U.S.

Drivers are being 'ill-served by underwhelming EVs,' says boss of Tesla rival Lucid

He said Chinese EV firms were ahead of their US rivals in some areas, but added they benefit from an "uneven playing field." Business Insider


U.S.

Elon Musk's appointment by Trump may be a bad omen for Tesla

President-elect Trump announced that he is formally nominating Musk and former Republican Presidential nominee Vivek Ramaswamy as the leaders of a newly created Department of Government Efficiency. TheStreet


U.S.

EV registrations see a 1.3% rise as market growth slows

New battery-electric vehicle registrations saw a modest increase of 1.3% in September, with 110,339 vehicles registered, slightly outperforming the overall light-vehicle market's growth of 0.7%. CBT News


U.S.

Expert Predicts EV Market In The United States Likely To Stall For The Next Decade

Don't let the EV doomers get you down, the market for electric cars in the United States isn't shrinking. It's just not growing very fast. The Autopian


U.S.

Hertz sees mounting losses from failed bet on EVs

Repair costs for the electric vehicles were higher than expected, and rental car customers leased them at lower rates compared to conventional vehicles. Energywire


U.S.

Musk gains vast new EV power -- and scrutiny

The Tesla CEO's "government efficiency" role under Trump is raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Energywire


U.S.

Toyota Executive Lashes Out at US Regulations Promoting EV Sales

Noting government support for EVs has been a hotly debated issue in the US presidential election, Toyota North America COO Jack Hollis said sales of all-electric vehicle should grow organically, without rules penalizing gas-powered car sales. BNN Bloomberg


U.S.

Toyota Is Digging Its Own Grave

Toyota would do well to focus its efforts on developing competitive, affordable electric cars while it still has a tiny door open into this market. Wasting its time fighting progressive regulations and pretending the future isn't just around the corner anyway is beyond dumb, it's an existential threat to the company. CleanTechnica


U.S.

Trump could oversee an EV 'battery boom' -- or bust

The incoming administration is expected to make key decisions that could mold the electric vehicle supply chain. Climatewire


U.S.

Trump's transition team aims to kill Biden EV tax credit

Ending the tax credit could have grave implications for an already stalling U.S. EV transition. Reuters


U.S.

US Gets High-Volume Synthetic Graphite For EV Supply Chain

After outgoing President Joe Biden cleans out his desk in January, he will leave behind quite a mess for fossil energy stakeholders to untangle, including a new synthetic graphite factory funded partly by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that has attracted domestic EV attention. CleanTechnica


U.S.

Will Musk Influence Trump on Climate Change and Electric Vehicles?

The Tesla billionaire is a key figure in the president-elect's orbit. One question is whether his views on climate and clean energy will have any sway. The New York Times


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Heavy-duty Vehicles

U.S.

This climate startup is challenging Tesla in the race to electrify big rigs

Unlike its rivals, California-based Range Energy is focused on electrifying trailers, not tractors. CNBC


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Medium-duty Vehicles

Maryland

OPINION: Don't pump the brakes on electric school buses

With our country facing unprecedented budgetary and environmental crises, we should look at upgrading our vehicles the same way that we look at strengthening our military. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this one will yield us lower costs, cleaner communities and healthier kids, writes Michael Steele, the seventh lieutenant governor of Maryland and the former chair of the Republican National Committee, and the first African-American in either role. Maryland Matters


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Shipping

International

$33M Port Colborne biofuel facility to help make Great Lakes shipping more environmentally friendly

At full capacity, it will distribute up to 70 million litres of biodiesel annually -- enough to fuel more than 100 vessels per year. Niagara Economic Development


International

Battleships to cargo ships: How nuclear power is shaping the future of shipping

While adopting nuclear power in commercial shipping offers promising environmental benefits, it also presents significant technical and regulatory hurdles. Interesting Engineering


International

Hapag-Lloyd orders 24 new dual-fuel container ships

The ships will feature liquefied gas dual-fuel propulsion and be ammonia-ready Hapag-Lloyd


International

Shipowners unlikely to commit to long-term offtake of green hydrogen-based fuel without extra support

Green ammonia and methanol producers will need Contracts for Difference schemes to attract buyers and nail down bank finance, CEO of methanol developer C2X tells conference. Hydrogen Insight


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Transportation Decarbonization

U.S.

New Federal Funds Aim to Cut Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution From US Ports

Port authorities will receive hundreds of millions of dollars to replace diesel equipment with cleaner technologies like solar power and electric vehicles. Inside Climate News


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