InfoHive – Transportation

What’s happening? Uber and Lyft are partnering to create a database of abusive drivers. That would allow the companies to share information about drivers that have had sexual assault complaints, and other complaints related to customer safety.

Why is this important? Companies taking action to root out the bad actors before legislative action is taken is model corporate behavior.

How will this be important? This database partnership can be helpful for other companies to model.

AP | Uber, Lyft tram up on database to expose abusive drivers

What’s happening? Pennsylvania is open for legalized autonomous delivery robots.

Why is this important? The opposition is an interesting mix. Democrats and unions call it a job killer. Pedestrian and accessibility advocates are concerned about sidewalk safety.

How will this be important? last mile delivery methods are going to get more sustainable, and adaptable. Virginia, Idaho, Florida, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. have all passed legislation for robotic last mile legislation.

Pittsburgh City Paper | Pennsylvania legalizes autonomous delivery robots, classifies them as pedestrians

What’s happening? President Biden announced a transitioning of the federal fleets to EV. In that, the USPS entered into a  $482 million contract that will include EV and traditional vehicles. Making the fleet 10% electric. To reach 90% EV fleet, the USPS would spend  $3 billion to $4 billion.

Why is this important? Fleets are adopting EV from law enforcement to local government fleets. When not in use, some local governments are utilizing the EV fleets to power lights or act as back up power for facilities.

How will this be important? With BP’s announcement that it was transitioning away from fossil fuels to continued adoption of clean air objectives, EV adoption is viewed as a way to gain reliable transportation.

NPR | When It Comes To Clean Energy, USPS Delivery Trucks Don’t Yet Answer The Mail

What’s happening? Oklahoma Legislature is considering HB 1674 (2021 | OK) that would make it a misdemeanor to protest and block a roadway and also provide liability protection if your car hits a protestor and you were exercising due care while trying to remove your car from the area.

Why is this important? Legislative bodies across the country are trying to legislate their way through the protests and riots of 2020.

How will this be important? Even if politeness returned to political discourse, there will always be cycles fo protests and riots.

Esquire | The Conservative Commitment to Government ‘Closest to the People’ Is a Texas-Sized Scam

What’s happening? Charging Point went public this week. Its been in the EV charging game for 14 years.

Why is this important? Wall Street is paying attention to charging companies. There’s a major federal infrastructure bill forthcoming with an EV charging angle. EVgo is anticipated as the next publicly traded charging company.

How will this be important? More attention will be paid to home charging. EV owners do the vast majority of their charging at home using Level 2 chargers, which are slow (several hours) to use and pretty inexpensive to install. EV owners are fueling up their EVs as they charge their cell phones. A lot of home charging is overnight topping off batteries. 

Green Biz | EV charging infrastructure hits the big time

What’s happening? After Texas record setting blackouts, the proposition of rail that requires electricity to function, gets caught in the mix.

Why is this important? Opponents to high speed rail are saying “We don’t want to see more homes and lives be put at risk, increased frequency or duration of brown outs and black outs, in order to run a train.”

How will this be important? This argument of whether adequate electricity exists in Texas will continue. Just this week, InfoHive has how it impacts economic development and high speed rail and this is just the beginning.

KTRH | Proposed High-Speed Train May Be Less Likely After Statewide Power Outages

What’s happening? Luxury ride-hailing firm Blacklane is introducing an on-demand chauffeur service in 20 cities worldwide. 

Why is this important? It’s old school meets new school. Blacklane customers want the amenities and service of a chauffeured car along with the practicality of a ride-hailing app.

How will this be important? Competition to Uber Black & Lyft Lux.

Business Insider | A high-end car service backed by Daimler is launching in 8 US cities as it attempts to compete with Uber and Lyft

What’s happening? Montgomery County, Md., Public Schools Board of Education has ordered 326 new EV buses. The largest single order.

Why is this important? Funding was a package deal with the Maryland Energy Administration awarding an $817,000 grant to help offset the costs of electrification.  

How will this be important?The school is looking to offset the costs, as the buses will be used as vehicle-to-grid energy storage when not ferrying children around.

Ars Technica | Maryland school district places largest-ever order for electric buses

What’s happening? Virginia passed California’s emissions standards, creating more aggressive fuel-efficiency targets for vehicles sold in the state.

Why is this important?  Virginia Auto Dealers Association supports this legislation that did not include California’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

How will this be important? New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Colorado have adopted California’s standards. Nevada is considering it.

Green Car reports | Virginia adopts EV-boosting California clean car standards, with support of dealers

AutoNews | Va. dealers pivot on emissions rules

What’s happening? Congress is considering Sami’s Law HR 1082 (117th Congress) that would require a digital access system to allow passengers to verify the ride-sharing car in advance.

Why is this important? Several states have passed safety bills after a series of assaults and homicides.

How will this be important? Safety is and always will be a legislative and regulatory opening.

NJ.com | Ride-sharing bill named for N.J. woman killed by fake Uber driver gets new chance to pass