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What is happening? By 2030, Bentley anticipates a fully EV line.
Why is this important? By 2025, the first EV Bentley will be manufactured. Production of 3 gas models will cease in 2026.
How will this be important? Bentley announced its goal to be completely carbon neutral and to “become the world’s benchmark luxury car business, financially resilient and recession-proof.”
Forbes | Bentley To Spend $3.4 Billion To Become All-Electric By 2030
What is happening? Ford has a new EV program for Northern California’s wine region that will offer electric pickup trucks, cargo vans and software services in a bid to boost EV and technology adoption among farmers and other commercial customers.
Why is this important? For Ford the program is important because it includes Ford Pro Intelligence which is a digital service for fleet management. For the wineries, they will receive electric vehicles, charging stations and telematics services aimed at helping businesses maximize the uptime and productivity of their vehicle fleets.
How will this be important? The program fits with the Sonoma County Winegrowers that is working to move Sonoma to 100% environmentally sustainable.
Detroit News via Governing | Ford Pilot Program to Equip California Winegrowers With EVs
What’s happening? The constitutional amendment to establish that gig workers are not employees saw the state’s largest political contribution ever with a $14.4 M contribution by Lyft.
Why is this important? The ballot fight in California was that state’s most expensive. That initiative was declared unconstitutional by California lower courts.
How will this be important? The MA Attorney General is currently suing tech companies over the issue. Both CA and MA are showing the the issue to be complicated in terms of regulation, legislation, litigation, and campaigning.
What is happening? Swedish-Kenyan Startup OPIBUS is beginning service for its EV mass transit bus.
Why is this important? By 2023 their mass transit will operate throughout Africa.
How will this be important? OPIBUS is pivoting to the building of EVs and supportive infrastructure
What’s happening? Shell is rolling out converted some UK gas stations that now offer EV charging.
Why is this important? Chargers at the station can charge most EVs from 0% to 80% state of charge in 10 minutes
How will this be important? Shell has announced it will be net zero carbon by 2050. It is calling these converted stations the future. California is considered the first location for EV gas station conversions.
AutoWeek | Shell Station Converted to EV Charging Is a Glimpse of the Future
What is happening? PA is considering toll payment options from Venmo, PayPal and others as an instant form of payment.
Why is this important? The new instant forms of toll payment would not replace other payment options but would be in addition to the other payment options.
How will this be important? The automatic payment options are also seen as a means to reduce unpaid tolls which increased during the pandemic to $104 million in uncollected tolls.
Route Fifty | Are Venmo and PayPal the Future of Turnpike Tolling?
What’s happening? Michigan has a EV partnership with IL, IN and WI.
Why is this important? Part of the partnership includes installing EV chargers around Lake Michigan to reduce range anxiety, and as we talked about to support the tourism on the Lake Michigan circuit. Bonjour! ecotourism.
How will this be important? Michigan is all in with more than $1 billion in EV incentives. It’s competing with EV manufacturing in TN and NC.
Government Technology | Multi-State Partnership to Bring EV Circuit to Lake Michigan
What is happening? Norway is being touted as the leader in EV policies. Let’s note that Norway is also oil rich with its North Sea oil. In 2021, 8% of the cars sold in Norway ran only on oil. In 2015 20% of the cars sold in Norway were EV.
Why is this important? Incentives in Norway include generous tax incentives and free tolls and parking. Some say a key in Norway was there was no range anxiety.
How will this be important? The two can coexist- pro EV and Pro oil.
What is happening? Oregon and Washington State have joined forces to promote EV adoption.
Why is this important? The states are promoting EV adoption by adopting two pieces of legislation:
How will this be important? By targeting large and medium size trucks the emission reductions helps at warehouses and roadways where emissions may disproportionally impact Black, LatinX and communities of people of color.
How will this be important? These policy pieces require truck manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles in Washington and Oregon, 55% of new Class 2b-3 trucks, 75 percent of new Class 4-8 trucks, and 40% of new Class 7-8 tractors by 2035. The ZEV program requires manufacturers to sell an increasing number of electric passenger vehicles.
GreenBiz | Two states build one of the world’s largest EV markets
What’s happening? The US has its 1st EV fire trucks in Los Angeles and Rancho Cucamonga. The trucks arrived from Austria.
Why is this important? There are only 3 fully EV drive train fire trucks in existence: Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai.
How will this be important? The adaptable trucks are anticipated to have less maintenance costs and with the addition of on truck back up diesel power can extend the truck’s range.