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What is happening? A solar powered RV is here. It has a backup charging port just in case.
Why is this important? The Stella Vita, is the first entirely self-sufficient camping car.
How will this be important? Stella Vita is promotes cleaner travel and demonstrate the potential of green living.
What is happening? San Francisco leaders are pushing ordinances that will prohibit e-scooters on sidewalks, and if scooters are on sidewalks- no more scooters for you, all of you!
Why is this important? San Francisco wants all e-scooters to have anti-sidewalk devices installed. Like geofencing that inhibits use of the scooter on a sidewalk.
How will this be important? San Diego already did this. It’s moving toward becoming a standard rule.
Route Fifty | One City’s Proposed E-Scooter Ultimatum: No Sidewalks or No Scooting
What is happening? Minneapolis joined Los Angeles and Long Beach in the Ship It to Zero resolution that calls for a carbon neutrality goal for shipping. Because there is limited carbon neutral cargo ships currently, the resolutions looks to create an accelerated timeline for fossil fuel-free shipping, thereby allowing policymakers to “spur research, generate demand, and increase pressure on major corporations.”
Why is this important? The resolution targets corporate maritime importers like Walmart, Amazon, and Ikea and asks them to consider carbon neutral shippers. The corporate importers will need to commit to docking only 100 percent zero-emissions ships by 2030 and to disclose all maritime greenhouse gas emissions in public, annual reports.
How will this be important? International shipping industry emits more emissions than all of U.S. coal plants combined.
Route Fifty | Minneapolis is the Latest US City to Demand Emissions-Free Shipping
What is happening? The federal Infrastructure law of 2021 included $500 million in grants under the SMART Program, Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation. Entities that can apply include: States, local governments, tribes, toll authorities, transit agencies, and metropolitan planning organizations.
Why is this important? The program will include $100 million in grants annually for 5 years & is tech forward. The goal is to fund projects “that show how technology like autonomous vehicles, roadside sensors and aerial drones.”
How will this be important? The tech projects are designed to reduce traffic congestion, crashes and commute times to jobs.
Route Fifty | Feds Prepare to Open New $500M Program for Transportation Tech
What is happening? The federal government has approved EV charger plans for 35 states, including D.C. and Puerto Rico. This means that federal funding can start flowing to get their EV charger plans under way.
Why is this important? Texas did not make the cut. Texas and the other 16 jurisdictions have until the end of September for approval.
How will this be important? The Federal Highway Administration and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will continue to offer assistance to states to have their plans approved.
Route Fifty | Electric Vehicle Charger Plans in 35 States Approved by White House
What is happening? Cruise robotaxi service will launch in Austin and Phoenix before the end of 2022.
Why is this important? Cruise has been operating in San Francisco in certain areas of the city between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., allowing for quicker expansion into new cities more quickly.
How will this be important? 2023 will see thousands of new autonomous vehicles launching.
Tech Crunch | Cruise to launch robotaxi services in Austin, Phoenix before end of 2022
What is happening? State transportation officials are hesitant about rural EV Chargers.
Why is this important? Many stretches of rural highways have no gas stations, homes, or electricity for hundreds of miles. States are asking for alternatives like chargers at national parks, state parks, and longer distances between chargers in rural areas.
How will this be important? Rural EV chargers are a key part of the puzzle to quell range anxiety.
Route Fifty | The Growing Debate Over Where to Put EV Chargers in Rural America
What is happening? The Pennsylvania Turnpike is opting for solar energy to power its maintenance and office buildings, but the big goal is to use solar-generated power to electrify portions of the toll road so electric vehicles can charge as they travel.
Why is this important? Charging without stopping is an EV owner’s dream.
How will this be important? There will no need for property acquisition as solar panels will be installed on land already owned by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Governing | The Pennsylvania Turnpike Goes Solar for Future EV Charging
What is happening? California has adopted a policy that all cars should be electric or hydrogen powered by 2035. California’s emission standards have been adopted by 17 states.
Why is this important? What do the 17 states do now? Do they follow California?
How will this be important? California has long be the defect standard, effectively taking the responsibility of emission standards off the plates of federal regulators because of the large consumer market for vehicles.
AP | 17 states weigh adopting California’s electric car mandate
What is happening? 38 state attorneys general, from R and D states but not from TX states, signed a letter asking for state regulatory authority over airline travel complaints.
Why is this important? A shallow labor market and many new, untrained hires, has made flying the friendly skies an oasis of lost bags and scheduling Tetris.
How will this be important? This would welcome in an era of the influence of state lawmakers in airline policy.
NAAG | Attorneys General Urge Congress to Hold Airline Industry Accountable