InfoHive – Transportation

What is happening? Alta says it has better hailing capabilities, works by owning the vehicles and employing drivers.

Why is this important? By owning the assets, Alto is able to keep vehicles on the road almost continuously, which increases the profit margin per vehicle.

How will this be important? News clips are filled with the political strategies employed by Uber that were revealed as a result of an EU investigation. It’s basically a roadmap.

Wall Street Journal | Meet the Startup Aiming to Take On Uber and Lyft

What is happening? Automakers must add sounds to hybrid and electric vehicles to prevent injuries among pedestrians, cyclists and the blind when EVs travel below 18.6mph.

Why is this important? Regulators in 2019 indicated that automakers could select their own sounds. That plan has been scrapped.

How will this be important? It is estimated that the sound protection can save $250 million to $320 million annually in reduced injuries.

Reuters | U.S. auto agency will not allow EV owners to pick alert sounds

What is happening? Pennsylvania legislature was considering adding tolls to 9 bridges to fund replacement of those bridges.

How is this important? The state’s Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board had authorized PennDOT to consider charging tolls and the Legislature has been adamantly anti-tolling. Communities sued the state saying Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board didn’t follow proper procedures. The Legislature then started work to amend the Board’s powers.

How will this be important? The community lawsuits, the Legislature opposition to the Public Transportation Partnership led to chaos that killed tolling.

Governing | Pennsylvania Bridge-Tolling Proposal Dies

What is happening? Consumers Reports on electric vehicles shows that 71% of consumers have an interest in EVs and 14% are likely to buy an EV.

Why is this important? In 2020 4% said they would buy an EV.

How will this be important? The information was gathered when gas prices were rising but before their peak.

Governing | American Interest in Buying, Leasing Electric Vehicles Grows

What is happening? Colorado is funding a switch to Electric Vehicles for all drivers- the personal driver and the fleet with a delivery and ride share tax

Why is this important? The funding is rooted in Colorado’s landmark $5.4 billion transportation legislation, 2021’s Senate Bill 260

How will this be important? Revenue for delivery tax is estimated to be $3.8 billion, and additional funding will be from state budget transfers and stimulus dollars

Governing | Colorado’s New Amazon, DoorDash, Ride-Share Tax Starts July 1

What is happening? To prepare for new vehicles on the roads like robots, and new car -bike hybrids that will use sidewalks and roads, the National Safety Council urges new roadway regulations.

Why is this important? The National Safety Council new report notes the new vehicles could make roadways safer but that states and local governments should not be blindsided by new technologies.

How will this be important? “The safety council also criticized the growing trend of states preempting local regulations of new transportation technology. “

Route Fifty | Safety Group Offers Warnings on Emerging Transportation Tech

What is happening? Los Angeles may ban the construction of new gas stations.

Why is this important? In March 2021 Petaluma, California became the 1st city int he US to ban the construction of new gas stations in support of its 2019 climate policy.

How will this be important? Other small towns in Sonoma County are following suit. Los Angeles would be the first major city to pass the gas station construction ban. Supporters say the ban does not hinder access to gas stations as the US has “one gas station for every 2,500 people — more than twice the number of gas stations per person than the European Union.”

Route Fifty | The Push to Ban New Gas Stations is Coming to Los Angeles

What is happening? Texas announced its EV charger plan which includes an EV charger every 50 miles long most interstates

Why is this important? Rural areas not as lucky, as non interstate areas will see a charger every 70 miles.

How will this be important? The plan is open to public comment.

Texas EV Infrastructure Plan

What is happening? Welcome FEDEX who is sifting from testing EV delivery trucks to adopting EV delivery trucks.

Why is this important? In Los Angeles, Fedex is using 150 BrightDrop zero-emissions delivery trucks. BrightDrop is a subsidiary of GM.  

How will this be important? “Heavy- and medium-duty trucks that do everything from hauling freight to delivering e-commerce purchases account for less than 5% of the vehicles on the road but produce over 20% of sector emissions, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).”

Reuters | FedEx shifts from EV delivery truck testing to adoption

What is happening? HB 2398 (2022 | PA) would permit testing and use of autonomous vehicles in Pennsylvania.

Why is this important? PA joins 18 other states that welcome autonomous vehicle industry.

How will this be important? The author says opening the state to autonomous vehicles will ”  help address the current and continuing supply chain issues. And I do believe it will save lives and improve safety.”

Landline | Pennsylvania House panel moves forward autonomous vehicle bill