InfoHive – Transportation

Who: TuSimple

Tell me about TuSimple:

• Offices in San Diego and Beijing
• Building a nationwide freight network of driverless trucks
• Building a hub at Fort Worth’s AllianceTexas development

What do TuSimple self driving trucks offer?

• software knows what’s happening up to 3,000 feet up the road
• ability to react to emergencies 10X faster than average human
• already running self-driving trucks from Arizona to West Texas
• Ft Worth hub extends the reach to Austin, Houston and San Antonio
• By 2023 goal is to operate nationwide

Ft. Worth Star Telegram via Governing | Driverless Trucks Continue Their Momentum in Texas

Where: San Agelo, Texas, the South Plains Lamesa Railroad will create a multi-commodity railroad transloading facility between central Texas and Mexico

The name for the new rail port: San Angelo Rail Port

How will the route run? South Plains Lamesa Railroad will connect to branch of the South Orient Rail Line Texas Pacifico Transportation to cross the border at Presidio.

Freight Waves | New rail port to connect Texas and Mexico

Meet Turo Seed Initiative.

Turo is a car-sharing marketplace.

Who is Turo partnering with for the Seed Initiative? Kiva to offer interest-free loans to Black people and folks from traditionally underserved communities to buy cars and then share them on Turo.

Why is Turo employing this financing model? To address systemic racism in lending and wealth inequality in the United States

Tech Crunch | Turo puts $1 million toward helping Black people make money sharing cars

The legislation: HB 427 (2021 | TX)

What new fees are included in the proposal?

• EVs would pay $200 additional for registration and an additional renewal fee
• Hybrid additional fees would be $100
• An identical bill from 2019 had a fiscal note of $55 million in revenue generated over the next two years for the state’s highway fund

How do Texas gas taxes compare to other states?

• Texas gas tax is 20cents
• Texas has the 44th lowest gas tax in the nation
• Texas has seen gas tax collection decrease by 7% in 2020

Electrek | Texas, home of Tesla Gigafactory, pitches higher EV fees

Landline | Texas bill pursues more revenue from electric vehicles and hybrids

Does this new EV lobby coalition have a name? Yes, Zero Emission Transportation Association

Who is in  Zero Emission Transportation Association ?

• major U.S. utilities: ConEdison, Duke Energy, PG&E
• Tesla
• Uber
• EV charging companies: Chargepoint and EVgo,
• Automakers: Lordstown Motors, Rivian and Lucid Motors
• Battery makers: Albemarle Corp, Piedmont Lithium and Siemens

What are its policy goals?

• boost consumer electric vehicle incentives
• encourage the retirement of gasoline-powered vehicles
• support tougher emissions and performance standards
• enable full electrification by 2030

CNBC | U.S. utilities, Tesla, Uber create lobby group for electric vehicle industry to boost sales

Houston Chronicle | Utilities, Tesla form lobbying group to push electric vehicles

Government Technology | EV Stakeholders Advocate for 100 Percent EV Adoption by 2030

Adieu to the days of Concrete Blonde. It’s 2020 and concrete is intelligent.

Who is developing intelligent concrete? Lyles School of Civil Engineering at Perdue University’s Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technology (SMART) Lab.

What’s the goal of smart concrete?

• concrete that can self-monitor condition
• concrete that could repair itself
• monitoring concrete condition in real time translates to earlier fixes and cost savings
• solar and energy-harvesting roads
• charging lanes for electric vehicles
• smart streetlights 
• reduce carbon-related emissions from construction materials

Route Fifty | Smart Concrete Could Pave the Way for High-Tech, Cost-Effective Roads

Where: Florida

What:  Tavistock Development Corp. is developing a  aviation facility for industry’s only five-passenger “electric vertical takeoff and landing” aircraft

What is the travel time in these flying cars? Orlando to Tampa in 30 minutes

AP | Central Florida lands hub for Jetsons-like ‘flying cars’

• Has the highest density of EV chargers, so you can easily recharge your EV
• By 2025 all public buses will be zero emissions
• By 2030 all cars sold will be zero emissions
• Creating zero emission zones in city centers, including for freight
• Investing in bio fuels
• Working with employers to Create alternative transportation modes for employees

@Worldeconomicforum

Who: Mobile22

How does Mobile22 work? It is a ride hailing platform that is licensed to taxis

Why did the start up enter this industry segment? Sustainability and seeing an opportunity for connection between taxis operating more like ride shares and zero-emission vehicles, and how combining the two might generate more positive impact.

How are the taxi cabs working toward zero emissions? The fleet of Green Cabs are zero emission vehicles

WisconsinInno | Madison startup Mobile22 delivers ‘Uber-like’ experience for traditional taxicab companies

Where: Brooklyn

What: City Council is considering local self driving car ordinances to require local special licenses before companies like Uber & Lyft can act on long-anticipated efforts to replace drivers with autonomous vehicles

Which local entity would control licenses?  Taxi & Limousine Commission

Ny Daily News | Brooklyn pol wants regulations for self-driving cars