Category Archives: 2019 issue

Lege TREND. Anatomy of statewide scooter regulation bill.

Tennessee is considering statewide regulation of scooters that would:

  • treat scooters like bikes
  • reduce confusion about the rules of riding e-scooters
  • promote sustainable forms of transportation
  • No scooter can be used by more people that it was designed for.
  • Scooters should be ridden as close as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the road, unless passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction, making a left-hand turn or when needing to avoid an object, vehicle or…

Regulatory TREND. Autonomous Vehicle Task Force. 4 Goals in Texas.

Goal of Texas Department of Transportation Autonomous Vehicle Task Force:

  • one-stop resource for information & coordination
  • oversee all ongoing CAV projects, investments and initiatives in Texas
  • document public & private entity efforts
  • facilitate partnerships

Task Force Membership details being worked out.

Refreshing our recollection: the Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership is a collaboration among:

  • the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)
  • The University of Texas at Austin’s Center…

State Funded EV programs. 3 Agencies. $2.46 Billion.

Multiple state agencies in California have committed, in total, $2.46 billion* in public funds to EV programs including:

  • California Utility Commission
    •  $1.048 billion
    • Focus on constructing charging stations
    • Funding from ratepayer fees collected by the three investor-owned utilities CPUC oversees
    •  2015’s Senate Bill 350
  • California air resources board
    • $1.087 billion
    • More than half goes to the EV rebate program
    •  $423 million to zero-emission trucks, buses and other vehicles
  • Calif…

Read the Bills. 6 State Approaches to Direct Sales.

The freemarket argument in support:  franchise laws are a “well-intended regulation is used by a group of people [auto dealers] to maintain an artificial monopoly”

 

Electrek | Tesla launches new multi state effort against direct sales ban 

Lege Trend. Anatomy of Direct Sales Auto Bill in the East. + Response from Auto Dealers that would make Emily Post Flinch

Connecticut Legislature is again considering H5285 (CT | 2019) to allow direct sales of automobiles by Tesla.

Connecticut is 1 of 16 states taht do not permit direct sales.

The response from autodealer association:

  • Tesla is laying off employees
  • Tesla is having problems with producing its $35,000 auto

Tesla’s message:

  • Tesla does not want any tax break
  • Tesla wants no handouts
  • Tesla wants to invest in stores and in job

Hartford Business | New governor and legislature, same Tesla bill

Regulatory TREND. Anatomy of a Newly Approved EV Program.

As part of a $58 million rate increase by a Sonsumers Energy, Michigan Public Service Commission approved Consumers Energy’s PowerMiDrive EV.

The EV initiative will:

  •  $10 million
  • 3 year plan to incentivize the deployment of EV chargers
  • Focused on EV chargers at homes, apartments, schools, workplaces and other public charging sites
  • Chargers will also be deployed at highway locations
  • includes 2 off peak plans:
    • low off-peak electricity rates between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
    • super off-peak period…