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Your weekly intelligence on EVs and Transportation Decarbonization
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This week’s EV & Transportation Intelligence Report from NetZero Insider is full of news, thanks to a spate of year-end government actions.


K Kaufmann has two stories out of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, which is rolling out federal clean energy investments quickly in the final days of the Biden administration:

  • A $1.25 billion loan will go to EVgo to install 7,500 public fast chargers in the next five years, and a $2.5 billion loan will go to the Wisconsin Electric Power Co. to replace retiring coal plants with emissions-free generation. 

  • A $9.63 billion loan will go to Blue Oval SK, a joint venture of Ford Motor Co. and South Korean battery maker SK that is building three mammoth EV battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee; a $7.54 billion loan is going to StarPlus Energy, a joint venture of Stellantis and Samsung that is building one battery factory and planning another. 

Elaine Goodman has two clean-vehicle stories out of California:

  • EPA approved a waiver for that state’s Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which set a gradually rising mandate for zero-emission vehicles, and a waiver for its heavy-duty omnibus regulation, which sets emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. 

  • The California Energy Commission approved a funding plan to expand zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure — $78 million for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure, $15 million for hydrogen equipment and $2 million for workforce development. 

And Hugh Morley reports that New Jersey legislators are backing a two-year delay of that state’s electric truck mandate. Industry groups have complained that the state has neither the vehicle demand nor the electric infrastructure to support the requirement. 


Turning to other media outlets, we have gathered a wide range of news about other transportation decarbonization efforts:

  • Canary Media looks at utility efforts to manage EV charging so that owners of these vehicles do not overwhelm the local grid — which they could, if EV adoption expands as sharply in the next decade as some projections suggest. 

  • And Charged EVs has details on a new electrification center commissioned in North Carolina by Duke Energy and Electrada that allows commercial EV fleets to test microgrid technology. 

All this and much more is gathered in this week’s Intelligence Report. We’ll be back after the holidays with the next edition on Jan. 13. Thanks for reading! 


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

 
 

Electric Vehicles

California

California will require EV charging for all new residential units in 2026

California building codes already required a lesser percentage of units to be "EV ready," depending on the size of the development. The new rules require at least one charger per unit, in most cases. Electrek


Colorado

A $0 Fiat EV deal in Colorado skips cash for valuable credits

A Fiat dealership in Colorado is offering a 27-month lease on a 2024 Fiat 500e for $0 per month and no down payment. Axios


Florida

FPL Debuts New EV Fast Chargers as Electric Vehicle Registrations Surge in Florida

New data from EV research group IHS Markit shows EV registrations in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties increased about 30% compared to a year ago. The Boca Raton Tribune


International

A different animal': inside Huawei's nascent EV business

Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms group and one of the biggest smartphone producers, believes it can capture lucrative segments of the car industry as it is transformed by automation and electrification. The Financial Times


International

German giant Volkswagen bets on upstart Rivian to save its flailing EV software strategy

German auto giant Volkswagen, Europe's biggest automaker, faces tough competition, falling profits and a wave of labor strikes at home but last month sealed a partnership with California-based electric vehicle maker Rivian. Fortune


International

Honda may merge with Nissan. Why the two Japanese automakers are in talks on a deal.

Japanese automobile makers Honda and Nissan are exploring the possibility of a merger, according to reports, in a bid to better compete against foreign electric-vehicle makers like Tesla and BYD. MarketWatch


International

Hyundai Is Becoming the New Tesla

Even in a Trump presidency, America's EV future may not run through Elon Musk. The Atlantic


International

Lamborghini delays first EV launch to 2029 as market not ready, CEO says

Italy's Lamborghini plans to launch its first electric model in 2029 as the time is not ripe for full electrification in the sports car market segment, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said. Reuters


International

OPINION: Honda and Nissan need off-road thinking to solve EV challenge

Rather than trying to build electric-vehicle manufacturing scale, traditional carmakers should seek out a different route, writes Camilla Palladino. The Financial Times


International

Ram delays electric truck launch to 2026, bets on extended range Ramcharger

Stellantis is tapping the brakes on the all-electric Ram 1500 REV truck and will push its launch into 2026, the company said, citing slowing industry demand for half-ton battery electric pickups. The automaker had originally planned to begin selling the electric truck to customers in the first half of 2025. TechCrunch


International

US Graphite Firms Seek 920% Duty to Thwart China on EV Material

U.S. producers of a crucial material used in electric vehicle batteries have initiated a trade action seeking sharp tariff increases on Chinese graphite, arguing that Beijing's massive state subsidies are artificially lowering prices and making it impossible for their companies to compete. Bloomberg


U.S.

Biden administration fails to meet government fleet EV targets -- report

In the 2023 budget year, agencies bought 25,300 gas-powered vehicles and a total of 5,500 EVs and plug-in hybrids -- 60% of 11 agencies' combined target of 9,500, the report said. Reuters


U.S.

Biden makes a last big push to keep Trump from killing the electric car

His agencies are leveraging California's vast market power to prod the auto industry to ramp up production of battery-powered vehicles -- regardless of what the incoming president wants. E&E News


U.S.

ChargePoint Inks Pact With GM, Eyes Ultra-fast Charging Ports At Key Locations

The collaboration aims to have these locations open and available to the public by the end of 2025. Yahoo


U.S.

EPA may soon green-light California's clean car rule, setting up Trump fight

The president-elect has pledged to block California's bid to phase out gas cars -- and he'll likely have backing from many automakers. Climatewire


U.S.

EV rebates have saved PA and NJ drivers up to $7,500 on cars. Trump wants to end them, but may face headwinds.

Federal electric-vehicle rebates could end soon under the second Trump administration, but auto industry groups are pushing back, and some analysts question whether they'll actually be canceled. The Philadelphia Inquirer


U.S.

GM is recalling the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV over an interesting safety concern: It's too quiet

GM's new 2025 Chevy Equinox EV recall is over the noise system failing to make enough noise. The recall, issued Dec. 5, states the pedestrian alert system may have the wrong software. Electrek


U.S.

GM partners with ChargePoint to expand ultrafast EV charging network

General Motors is collaborating with ChargePoint to install up to 500 ultrafast charging stations across the United States to broaden the nation's charging infrastructure and encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles. Detroit Free Press


U.S.

How to make EVs get along with the grid

Electric vehicles could overwhelm local grids. Managed charging offers a solution, and utilities are eager to get their EV-driving customers signed up. Canary MEdia


U.S.

The EPA has EV battery range all wrong, new Stanford study says

While the EPA will use dynamic testing variables, the same consideration is not given to EVs. TheStreet


U.S.

The EV transition is taking time. That's expected.

If all new car sales right now were EVs -- a target for more than a dozen states by 2035 -- it would still take at least a decade and likely far longer to fully transition to electric vehicles. Utility Dive


U.S.

Trump Team Eyes EV Subsidy Cuts in Plan to Reshape Auto Industry

Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump are recommending a two-pronged approach to reshape the U.S. auto industry: Cut federal subsidies to boost electric-vehicle sales while still fostering a domestic supply chain to produce them. Bloomberg


U.S.

US backs graphite factory to loosen China's EV supply chain grip

The U.S. Energy Department has offered Novonix a conditional $755 million loan to underwrite construction of a facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., which will be the first large-scale synthetic graphite facility in North America when complete. The Financial Times


U.S.

What's ahead for autos in 2025, according to a Ford executive

The "tipping point" for the electric vehicle transition won't come from pro-environment regulators or from anti-EV politicians. Instead it will come from consumers learning about -- and loving -- better, cheaper EVs, according to Ford's vice president overseeing electric vehicle programs. Quartz


Vermont

Is Vermont's EV charging program stuck in park?

Lawmakers want to know what they can do to jumpstart the buildout of both home charging and public EV stations statewide. Vermont Public


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Heavy-duty Vehicles

International

Mercedes launches production of all-electric truck rivaling Tesla Semi

The eActros 600 is the long-haul version of the brand's already popular eActros 300 and 400 models, which handle short- and mid-range duties. MSN


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Medium-duty Vehicles

North Carolina

Duke Energy's new electrification center allows commercial EV fleets to test microgrid technology

The Duke Energy + Electrada Fleet Mobility Microgrid project is intended to serve a dual purpose as a model for utility-grade, reliable fleet electrification, and as an active charging site for light-, medium- and heavy-duty electric fleet vehicles. Charged EVs


Pennsylvania

This Pennsylvania school is saving big with solar and EV school buses

Solar panels and electric buses can boost school budgets while cutting emissions. Here's how Steelton-Highspire School District put both to use. Canary Media


U.S.

Avangrid buys 130 hybrid bucket trucks for its utilities

These hybrid vehicles will be procured from two different manufacturers. They use a diesel engine while driving but only need electricity to operate the bucket lift. Daily Energy Insider


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Shipping

International

H2 Ocean: Major stakeholders champion hydrogen to cut the maritime sector's carbon footprint

A global paradigm shift seeks improved efficiency not just for economic reasons but for mitigating the industry's environmental impact. Maritime Executive


International

Tanker Ships Set Sail for Greener Future with Wind-Powered Technology

The shipping industry is facing regulatory pressure to reduce emissions, and the adoption of wind technologies like rotor sails may increase as shippers transition to cleaner fuels. OilPrice.com


U.S.

US DOE Releases Request for Information on Defining Sustainable Maritime Fuels in the US

The Action Plan calls for the Federal government to define "Sustainable Maritime Fuel," which is critical to evaluating and determining future SMF production volume goals in the Action Plan and alternative fuels that align with the U.S. 2050 net emission goals. Renewable Energy Magazine


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Transportation Decarbonization

International

Quebec to ban sale of most new gas-powered vehicles by 2035

The Quebec government has adopted regulations banning the sale of most new gasoline-powered vehicles as of 2035. The rules apply to all "light-duty" vehicles, which the province describes as cars, light trucks, pickups and most SUVs. The Canadian Press


International

Why Not Put Solar Panels on EVs?

What if solar panels embedded in the roof generated juice to recharge the battery as the car flies down the highway or sits in the middle of a parking lot, blasted by the summertime sun? It's an idea that's starting to get more traction. It's about time. Heatmap


U.S.

DOE, Partners Plan for Energy and Emissions Innovation Across Transportation Sectors

Modal plans specific to the freight sector lay out practical solutions that expand technologies, accelerate progress, improve efficiencies, and increase affordable, accessible vehicle and fueling options. U.S. Department of Energy


U.S.

EPA grants California authority to ban sales of new gas cars by 2035. Action faces reversal by Trump

The U.S. EPA has granted two requests from California to enforce strict standards for vehicle emissions, including a rule aimed at banning sales of new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2035. The incoming Trump administration is likely to try to reverse the action. The Associated Press


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