Fees on electric vehicles proposed

January 31, 2017 at 7:23 pm | By SAM WILSON Daily Inter Lake

The Montana House of Representatives on Tuesday endorsed a bill creating an additional $90 fee to register a hybrid vehicle in the state. Electric vehicles would be subject to a $180 fee.

The charges for fuel-efficient vehicles are part of House Bill 205, which also creates a system under which the state will recoup gas-tax money lost as diesel trucks convert to liquid natural gas.

Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, endorsed the measure as one that would help pay for state infrastructure projects amid declining revenues from the state's 27-cent gas tax.

He cited a recent report by road transportation research organization Trip, which ranked Montana as having the third-highest rate of traffic fatalities per miles traveled by vehicles in the state.

"What's important for us to recognize here is we've given this kind of exception for a long time," he said. "The reduction in the amount that is being paid toward our roads, because of fuel efficiency, has really impacted us negatively. ... This is a time for us to say, 'Everybody's in it together.'"

Rep. Laurie Bishop, D-Livingston, argued the fee wasn't a fair way to recover declining gas-tax fuels. She used the example of a constituent who drives a hybrid Toyota Highlander, an SUV that she said gets about 24 miles per gallon.

"If we're using 'hybrid' as a definition of how we equitably think about how we really need to reinforce the resources that are coming to support our highways and roads, the hybrid is not our best vehicle to determine that in an equitable way that's going to make sense for most Montanans," Bishop said.

The bill's sponsor, Alan Redfield, R-Livingston, said the measure was a forward-looking proposal focused on taxing natural gas used for transportation, as commercial trucks nationwide are increasingly switching to the currently un-taxed fuel source.

"This is a step to get ahead of that move, because they're not taxed the same," he said. "In the category of fairness, this is user-based."

The state departments of Transportation and Justice estimated the bill would generate an average of about $1 million per year over the next four years.

The fuel-efficiency fees would also increase $6 for every cent the state's gas tax is increased. Garner has said he plans to sponsor a bill to raise the gas tax, but hasn't specified how large the hike would be. The Montana Infrastructure Coalition has advocated for a 10-cent increase to fund infrastructure projects.

The bill passed the House's second-reading vote by 67-33, but was then referred to the House Appropriations Committee, which must consider the measure before it heads back to the House for a final vote.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.

Source: Fees on electric vehicles proposed

High insurance is key barrier to electric cars

Higher insurance premiums is the biggest factor stopping drivers from making the switch from diesel to electric and hybrid cars, according to new research.

A survey carried out for the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) shows two in five Britons have grave concerns about air pollution and see ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEV) as a solution.

However, the findings reveal most are unwilling or unable to pay the increased insurance premiums currently levied on these cars. As a result they would not consider buying or leasing a ULEV any time soon.

Insurers charge up to 50 per cent more to cover electric and hybrid cars because of their bigger price tag and a current lack of skilled technicians able to maintain them.

Only one in 100 mechanics in the UK is qualified to carry out work on the high-voltage systems of ULEVs, and these specialists are almost exclusively employed within franchised dealerships.

Only 17 per cent of respondents said high insurance was a price worth paying for the environmental benefits.

The youngest drivers were most willing to accept higher charges for cleaner air, with one in five of those aged 18 to 24 willing to shell out extra on insurance compared to just one in ten of over-55s.

There were also regional variations. More than a fifth of residents in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff believe additional costs are worth paying, whereas only half as many in Leeds and Newcastle agreed.

Respondents were also concerned over a lack of charging points for green machines.

IMI chief executive Steve Nash said: "It's not rocket science. Small businesses are uncertain about future demand for work on electrified cars and won't risk investing in the skills they need without help from the government.

"This means insurance and servicing costs will stay out of the reach of many drivers and car buyers will still be attracted to diesel cars as the most fuel-efficient alternative, keeping them on our roads in significant numbers for decades to come."

Source: High insurance is key barrier to electric cars

AUT to get NZ’s first 100% electric bus in public transport test

The viability of large electric vehicles (EVs) as replacements for current diesel buses is to be tested with a project that will see New Zealand's first 100 percent electric bus on the country's roads.

Through the jointly funded project with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Tranzit Group, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) will add the 38-seat, plus standing, passenger bus to its fleet of shuttles operating between AUT's three Auckland campuses.

An existing AUT bus for commuting between the inner city campus in Auckland and AUT North (Akoranga) and AUT South (Manukau). Image: AUT

Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack told AUT News that 2016 being the hottest year on record brought into focus the need to find more ways to address the human contribution to climate change.

"Putting a single electric bus on the road might be a humble step, but it signals AUT's willingness to embrace technology, and work in partnership to help find solutions to the challenges faced by our city and beyond," he said.

Discussions about building the bus are underway and it is hoped to have it in service in the first half of this year. It is likely that the chassis and EV components will be built in China and the body will be built in New Zealand.

The project was announced recently by Minister of Energy and Resources Judith Collins as part of EECA's Low Emissions Vehicle Contestable Fund which aims to help accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles, helping to transform our fleet and reduce carbon emissions from road transport.

The trial will make it possible for AUT and Tranzit to study the battery technology and determine what infrastructure and expertise is required to run a large EV urban bus fleet in New Zealand.

"With significant investment in NZ urban bus fleets occurring, AUT and Tranzit findings will be shared with the transport industry in the hope that the uptake of large EVs in New Zealand is seen as a viable replacement to current diesel buses," said Tranzit Group's managing director Paul Snelgrove.

Building and operating the electric-powered bus is in line with several of AUT's sustainability goals including those that cover demonstrating leadership, research and partnership, and operations.

Auckland City Harbour News reported that two electric buses were set to hit Auckland's roads in a trial part-funded by the government.

Auckland Transport has been awarded up to $500,000 for the trial and about $300,000 for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Funding has also been provided to install 60 electric vehicle charging stations at parking facilities around Auckland.

Source: AUT to get NZ's first 100% electric bus in public transport test

AUT to get NZ’s first 100% electric bus in transport test

The viability of large electric vehicles (EVs) as replacements for current diesel buses is to be tested with a project that will see New Zealand's first 100 percent electric bus on the country's roads.

Through the jointly funded project with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Tranzit Group, AUT will add the 38 seat, plus standing, passenger bus to its fleet of shuttles operating between the university's three Auckland campuses.

AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack told AUT News that 2016 being the hottest year on record brought into focus the need to find more ways to address the human contribution to climate change.

"Putting a single electric bus on the road might be a humble step, but it signals AUT's willingness to embrace technology, and work in partnership to help find solutions to the challenges faced by our city and beyond," he said.

Discussions about building the bus are underway and it is hoped to have it in service in the first half of this year. It is likely that the chassis and EV components will be built in China and the body will be built in New Zealand.

The project was announced recently by Minister of Energy and Resources Judith Collins as part of EECA's Low Emissions Vehicle Contestable Fund which aims to help accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles, helping to transform our fleet and reduce carbon emissions from road transport.

The trial will make it possible for AUT and Tranzit to study the battery technology and determine what infrastructure and expertise is required to run a large EV urban bus fleet in New Zealand.

"With significant investment in NZ urban bus fleets occurring, AUT and Tranzit findings will be shared with the transport industry in the hope that the uptake of large EVs in New Zealand is seen as a viable replacement to current diesel buses," said Tranzit Group's managing director Paul Snelgrove.

Building and operating the electric-powered bus is in line with several of AUT's sustainability goals including those that cover demonstrating leadership, research and partnership, and operations.

Auckland City Harbour News reported that two electric buses were set to hit Auckland's roads in a trial part-funded by the government.

Auckland Transport has been awarded up to $500,000 for the trial and about $300,000 for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Funding has also been provided to install 60 electric vehicle charging stations at parking facilities around Auckland.

Source: AUT to get NZ's first 100% electric bus in transport test

State eyes lofty electric car goal; Bedford dealership sees increased sales

Gerry Tuoti Wicked Local Newsbank Editor

Over the next eight years, Massachusetts energy officials hope to see the number of electric vehicles on Bay State roads swell from 8,000 to 300,000, a goal that is supported by various programs and initiatives.

"We expect to see rapid year-over-year growth," said Judith Judson, commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources. "You can compare it to the solar industry. You can expect electric vehicles will see that same type of growth."

Weeks after Gov. Charlie Baker's administration committed $12 million in new funding to an electric vehicle rebate program, Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill to help lay the infrastructure groundwork to support future widespread adoption of zero-emissions cars.

The bill, which was passed late Jan. 3, the last day of the 2016 legislative session, prohibits vehicle charging stations from imposing subscription fees on drivers and allows for an update to the state building code that would require new homes and businesses to be pre-wired for electric vehicle charging. The bill also gives communities the authority to establish electric-vehicle-only parking spaces and authorizes electric utilities to submit proposals to build publicly accessible charging stations.

There are currently more than 450 public or semi-public electric vehicle charging stations in Massachusetts.

"By making electric vehicle charging and parking more convenient for Massachusetts residents, this bill is a key stop on the roadmap to clean transportation," said Emily Norton, Massachusetts director for the Sierra Club. "With oil from the transportation sector responsible for nearly 40 percent of the commonwealth's climate-disrupting pollution, it is imperative that we speed up the transition to clean electric vehicles."

Steady increase in sales

Bedford is home to only one public charging station, located at Minuteman Volkswagen. Minuteman Volkswagen has had the charging station since the release of the Volkswagen E-Golf in 2012 and has seen a small but steady increase in sales.

"In this area the electric vehicles are becoming more popular," Tim Pullo, sales manager at Minuteman Volkswagen said. "We actually sold more electric vehicles last year than any other Volkswagen dealership in New England."

Judson declined to comment on specific provisions of the bill, which is awaiting action by Baker.

"Currently, the bill is still under consideration by the governor, but clearly this administration is working on many initiatives to grow the use of electric vehicles," she said. "Stay tuned."

Rebates, tax credits help

Massachusetts runs a rebate program, MOR-EV, which provides rebates of up to $2,500 to people who purchase or lease an electric vehicle. That's in addition to federal tax rebates of up to $7,500. Prices on electric vehicles vary widely depending on the model, with many available for between $30,000 and $35,000. Luxury electric vehicles may cost more than $80,000.

Since its launch in June 2014, MOR-EV has provided a combined $6.6 million in rebates to more than 3,100 customers. The rebates are financed by carbon allowance auction proceeds from the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

In 2015, Massachusetts launched Mass Drive Clean, a pilot program that offers electric vehicle test drives at employer-sponsored and public events. The goal of the program is to increase people's exposure to electric vehicles. To date, it's reached more than 1,000 Massachusetts drivers. More than 80 percent of participating drivers said their opinions of electric vehicles improved after a test drive, and 68 percent said they were more likely to purchase an electric vehicle after getting to drive one.

While the rebates offer an economic incentive to consumers, Pullo believes that patrons are usually either in the electric car market or they are not.

"The rebates are marketed through Volkswagen and online, but you tend to find people who come in and are interested in getting an electric car," Pullo said. "People will do searches online for electric cars and come to us to buy them, to sell them the customer has to be in the market."

Transportation sector part of climate change battle

Environmental advocates say electric cars represent a way to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

"We must be mindful of our greenhouse gas emissions, especially those emitted by our transportation sector," said state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, a co-sponsor of the recent electric vehicle bill. "We need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and make it easier for owners of electric cars to use their vehicles while incentivizing the transition to zero-emission transportation."

Much of the energy in New England is produced at power plants that burn natural gas, but Massachusetts policymakers are embracing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. High-emissions sources such as coal have largely been phased out in the region.

Widespread electric vehicle adoption would create new demands on the power grid, since the vehicles would need to be plugged in to charge. But Judson said she's confident the system will be able to handle emerging technologies.

Electric vehicles, she added, also hold the potential to expand energy storage capabilities.

As part of a five-year pilot program announced in May, Cambridge, Concord, Acton-Boxboro and Amherst will test electric school buses. When not in use, the buses could be plugged in to not only charge, but also provide a source of backup power, Judson said. In November, Concord became the first school district in New England to acquire a full-size electric bus.

"Our goal and our mission at DOER is to create a clean, resilient energy future in the commonwealth," Judson said. "We're planning for a future and ensuring the grid can handle new additions to our system, such as the installation of more solar projects and an increase in the number of electric vehicles."

 Jesse Collings contributed to this article.

Source: State eyes lofty electric car goal; Bedford dealership sees increased sales

Washington Auto Show: Where hybrid cars go to die?

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President Trump and General Motors CEO Mary Barra.(Photo: SAUL LOEB, AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON—Automakers often show off environmentally conscious vehicles aimed at impressing government officials at the Washington Auto Show, but this year it may be a fruitless endeavor.

With gas prices remaining low and the Trump administration possibly set to loosen federal fuel-economy standards, there's no longer momentum behind hybrids, electric and other hyper-efficient vehicles.

Sales of hybrid vehicles alone fell 9.7% to 347,029 in 2016, according to figures compiled by HybridCars.com and market-research firm Baum & Associates. Although sales of electric vehicles rose, they still represent less than 1% of the market.

Evercore ISI analyst George Galliers estimated that electric vehicles and plug-ins will represent only 3.5% of global auto sales in 2020, though he projected that would increase to 10% by 2025. "The sad truth is: customers don't pay more money  for electric cars and they certainly don't pay for better fuel economy," Galliers said in a note to investors.

As Americans pile into thirstier crossovers, pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles in record numbers, auto companies are still plugging away with new, small-volume "green" models.

At press conferences Thursday at the show, Toyota showed off the recently released Prius Prime plug-in. Fiat Chrysler highlighted the plug-in version of its Chrysler Pacifica minivan. And Hyundai held a press conference to boast about the electric, hybrid and plug-in versions of its new Ioniq sedan.

"It's always been these kinds of vehicles at the auto show" in D.C., Autotrader analyst Michelle Krebs said. "But they aren't selling well, they're being heavily discounted and they're just a very tiny share of the overall market."

Trump vowed to pare back environmental standards during a meeting Tuesday with the CEOs of General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency asserted in the final days of the Obama administration that current fuel-economy standards are important and achievable, automakers are pressing the Trump administration for a review. The agency estimated the regulations will lead to average fuel economy of 36 miles per gallon in 2025, up from about 25 mpg today.

"What we want is an honest … review" of the standards, Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz said in an interview earlier this month.

But supporters of the fuel-economy regulations reject the premise that they need to be rolled back to aid the auto industry. They say better gas mileage is good for Americans' pocketbooks and for the viability of the manufacturers.

"We know gas prices will eventually go back up, and if they don't focus on fuel efficiency, the U.S. car makers will be in the same position as they were years ago when their lots were filled with unsold SUVs and pickups," said Jack Gillis, director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America.

Nonetheless, there are multiple reasons why hybrids, electrics and plug-ins aren't going away altogether:

•Range is improving. Electric vehicle batteries are getting better and cheaper, as exemplified by the 238-mile-range in the Chevrolet Bolt.

"The Bolt EV is an important part of a full-line strategy for Chevrolet — for us it is about offering consumers choice," says Chevrolet spokesperson Afaf Farah. "And for Chevrolet, innovation is at the heart of everything we do ."

•The driving experience is improving. Hyundai Vice President Mike O'Brien acknowledged that hybrids and electrics are "not really exciting cars to drive." But he argued that the Ioniq's driving experience measures up to conventional engine vehicles. "We're trying to overcome the objections customers have to electric vehicles," he said.

•It's a global business. Environmentalism is flourishing in other parts of the world, where fighting climate change is a virtue and carbon emission standards are getting tighter.

"These are all global players and they've got to play in all the markets. In that regard they've got to continue with their plans," Autotrader's Krebs said.

•California remains a catalyst for environmentally conscious cars. The state's fuel-economy requirements have caused automakers to introduce special electric and hydrogen models to earn emissions credits to qualify with regulations. German automaker Volkswagen even agreed to deliver new zero-emission vehicles in California as part of its settlement with the state's regulators and the U.S. government over its diesel emissions scandal.

"California has dug in its heels," Krebs said.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2jCdC3f

Source: Washington Auto Show: Where hybrid cars go to die?

China Electric Car Sales — BYD Wins 2016, Geely Emgrand EV Wins December

 

Also published on CleanTechnica and our Electric Car Sales page.

The Chinese market had 44,874 new electric cars in December, far from the 60,000 expected by analysts, but still up 27% year over year (YoY) and far more than the electric car sales in the US and Europe. Overall, China's plug-in market share rose to a record 1.45%, above the USA (0.8%) and Europe (1.3%).

Despite the "disappointing" plateauing in December, which is a bit like what happens when you expect that Usain Bolt will break the 0–100 meter world record every time he goes on the track, looking at the big picture, the 351,861 electric car sales registered in China during 2016 represent approximately 46% of ALL plug-ins sold worldwide this year, with Chinese carmakers responsible for 43% of all EV production in 2016.

To confirm the rise of the Big Red Giant, in 2013, China had only 6% of worldwide plug-in production. Since then, it has increased its share at an 11–12% yearly pace. …

In December, there were a number of fresh models shining, with the BAIC EC180 being the most impressive, reaching 2nd place right on its landing month.

Here are last month's top 5 best-selling models:

#1 – Geely Emgrand EV: Geely, one of the largest carmakers in China, owner of Volvo and LTI (the iconic black cab from London), joined the EV bandwagon this year by bringing the Emgrand EV to market. The Emgrand EV is an electric conversion of its successful middle-of-the-road sedan. Last month, it was the most successful it or any other electric car has been to date, with a massive 6,023 registrations, a new all-time record for a single model in China. That gave the model its first "best seller" title.

With okay looks and good-but-not-outstanding specs (127 hp, 0–100 km/h in 9.9 seconds, 253 kms range from a 45 kWh lithium battery), Geely is betting on making a good first entry into the market and stealing sales from BYD and BAIC sedans while the more export-oriented Lynk & Co plug-ins do not arrive.

#2 – BAIC EC180: After being shown in November, the BAIC EC180 landed on the market in December with a bang, earning 4,128 registrations, a new record for a debut month. This city car has the advantage of offering a rather appealing crossover-like look, good equipment features, okay interiors, and a usable driving range (180 kms). Is this enough to sustain the record figures registered in December? No one really knows, but BAIC has great ambitions for this platform, with more models coming and input from a certain LeEco. …

#3 – Chery Arrizo 7 PHEV: Another newcomer willing to stir the established players, the Arrizo 7 PHEV is Chery's newest product. Having arrived just in October, it is already reaching the podium thanks to 2,922 registrations last month. Sitting at the heart of the plug-in hybrid sedan market, with a starting price of 150,000 Yuan (€20,500), a 9.3 kWh battery, and 50 kilometers of electric range, this model wants to give the BYD Qin and SAIC's e550 a run for the money and hopefully repeat this podium position in coming months.

#4 – BYD e6: Below all these newcomers we have the longest running plug-in in China. Zooming the streets since 2010, the BYD e6 experienced a record year in 2016. This is thanks in part to some new impressive range specs that shame everyone bar Tesla — 400 kilometers of range coming from an 80 kWh battery. Popular among taxi fleets, this model ended the year with 2,528 registrations in December.

#5 – BYD e5: This regular-looking sedan is on the rise, having beaten its monthly record in December with 2,420 registrations. The e5 is starting to become a regular in this top 5 ranking. Unlike the more show-stopping Qin EV300, the e5 feels more taxi-friendly regular, but with basically the same specs as the all-electric Qin, 305 kilometers of range included, this is a BYD (230,000 Yuan / €30,000) for cost-conscious customers.

Year-to-Date Ranking – 100% BYD Podium

With over 70(!) models on sale, three of them landing last month, the Chinese electric car market is by far the most dynamic on earth, with plenty of surprises and changes.

Proof of this balance is the fact the BYD Tang, China's best-selling plug-in car in 2016 ended the year with 31,000 units, or just 9% of the plug-in market, the lowest share of any winner in the world. Also, it hasn't won a monthly best seller trophy since July. … Despite this, it was a record year for the Chinese SUV, scoring 31,405 registrations, slightly below the 31,898 all-time record set by its BYD Qin relative in 2015, but enough to leave the same BYD Qin, in 2nd place this year, some 10,000 units behind.

But the real surprise this year was the 3rd place finish of the veteran BYD e6. Thanks to a strong Q4 (7,715 registrations), it climbed to 3rd place for the first time since 2013, with a record 20,605 registrations, making that three BYDs on the podium, a first.

Below those three BYD models, we find two BAIC models, the E-Series EV and the EU260. Both of these models had disappointing performances in December and were surpassed by the old fox BYD e6.

The Geely Emgrand EV jumped to #6 in December on the back of its amazing sales month, leaving strong credentials for 2017. Will we see it run for the leadership?

Top Companies

Looking at the manufacturer ranking, leader BYD lost 3% market share, falling to 28%, but it was enough to win the manufacturer title (third in a row). It achieved this by putting three models on the podium (gold, silver, and bronze), another in #9, and other in #14. Not bad, eh?

BAIC (12%) ended in 2nd place and Zotye (11%) secured the 3rd spot, ahead of SAIC, Chery, and Zhidou (each with 6% share).

An always popular debate is Tesla's performance in China, so here is a small tip on its performance: There were only 108 Model S sedans delivered in December because it was the first month with mass deliveries of the Model X, which saw more than 1,000 units being delivered in December.

As a result, Tesla ended the year with 3% market share, being the best-selling foreign manufacturer, ahead of Porsche (1%) by far.

Finally, looking at the breakdown between BEVs and PHEVs, unlike other markets where plug-in hybrids have the upper hand, all-electric cars just keep on improving share, ending the year at 76%, up 1% regarding November 2016 and 7% more than the result achieved in 2015.

Model December YTD 1 BAIC E-Series EV 227 18,814 2 BAIC EU260 / D50 EV 309 18,805 3 BYD e5 2,420 15,639 4 BYD e6 2,528 20,605 5 BYD Qin 821 21,868 6 BYD Qin EV300 519 10,656 7 BYD Tang 1,510 31,405 8 Changan Eado EV 504 4,839 9 Chery eQ 1,927 16,017 10 Geely Emgrand / Dorsett EV 6,023 17,181 11 JAC i EV 4 1,407 10,453 12 JAC i EV 5 1,088 4,971 13 JMC E100 921 10,823 14 Kandi K17 Cyclone 758 6,862 15 SAIC Roewe 550 PHEV / e550 620 15,145 16 Tesla Model S 108 7,548 17 Zhidou D1 EV 491 11,201 18 Zhidou D2 EV 1,347 9,091 19 Zotye Cloud EV 1,615 16,417 20 Zotye E200 2,213 13,154 Others 17,518 70,367 TOTAL 44,874 351,861  

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Tags: BAIC, BAIC D50 EV, BAIC E-Series EV, BAIC EC180, BAIC EU260, BYD, bYD e5, BYD e6, BYD Qin, BYD Qin EV300, BYD Tang, Changan, Changan Eado EV, Chery, Chery Arrizo 7, Chery Arrizo 7 PHEV, Chery eQ, china, China EV Sales, Geely, Geely Dorsett EV, Geely Emgrand EV, JAC, JAC i EV 4, JAC i EV 5, JMC, JMC E100, Kandi, Kandi K17 Cyclone, SAIC, SAIC Roewe e550, Tesla Model S, Tesla motors, Zhidou, Zhidou D1 EV, Zhidou D2 EV, Zotye, Zotye Cloud EV, Zotye E200

About the Author

Jose Pontes Always interested in the auto industry, particularly in electric cars, Jose has been overviewing the sales evolution of plug-ins through the EV Sales blogsince 2012, allowing him to gain an expert view on where EVs are right now, and where they are headed in the future. The EV Sales blog has become a go-to source for people interested in electric car sales around the world. Extending that work and expertise, Jose is now a partner in EV-Volumes.

Source: China Electric Car Sales — BYD Wins 2016, Geely Emgrand EV Wins December

California utilities propose a $1-billion electric vehicle push

Three of California's largest utilities, including Southern California Edison, have put together proposals totaling more than $1 billion to try to electrify the state's transportation sector.

The costs of the requests by Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and SDG&E will be passed on to ratepayers and still need to be approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. The utilities say the projects will go a long way to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Southern California Edison's proposal is expected to cost $570 million, which will pay for electric vehicle incentives, rebates for residential charging stations and electrification projects for medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

Pacific Gas & Electric has requested $253 million, the bulk going to electric infrastructure aimed at larger vehicles such as buses that currently use diesel fuel. The PG&E proposal also wants to offer "a significant rebate" program for fast-chargers that can power electric vehicles in 20 or 30 minutes.

SDG&E wants to spend $244.1 million to install tens of thousands of charging stations in its service area to boost the transition to zero-emission vehicles, trucks, shuttles and delivery fleets.

Southern California Edison said the average residential customer could see a monthly bill increase of 53 cents a month — but about 29 cents for customers who meet income qualifications. PG&E customers would see a monthly bill increase of less than 28 cents. Typical residential SDG&E customers would see an increase of about 71 cents a month to their bills in 2020.  

Officials at the Utility Reform Network, a consumer advocacy group that monitors the state's utilities and the PUC, said the proposals represent "laudable goals" but the group doesn't like the prospect of customers getting billed for projects that may not necessarily lead to "clear and direct benefits" to all ratepayers, especially in low-income communities.

Under provis ions of SB350, utilities are required to detail how they plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ramp up deployment of clean energy resources. Utilities are also authorized to "undertake transportation electrification activities."

"The benefits of electric vehicles are growing," said Ron Nichols, president of SCE, "but barriers to their adoption still exist — and utilities and other market participants have a clear role to play in overcoming those barriers."

There are more than 265,000 vehicles classified by California government agencies as zero-emissions vehicles, by far the most of any state in the nation.

But sales for EVs and hybrids have remained flat across the state, largely because of the low price of oil, which has resulted in average gasoline prices in California dropping from more than $4 a gallon as late as July 2014 to $2.78 this week for a gallon of regular.  

"You can't just slap a green label on something and ther eby make it effective," said Utility Reform Network spokeswoman Mindy Spatt. "What we want to see are effective programs that do provide benefits to customers, both environmental and financial. We can't just throw money at the problem, especially when it's customers' money."

Each of the utilities' proposals will get vetted through the PUC's regulatory process. The first round of decisions, focusing on the smaller aspects of the proposals, are not expected until later this year. 

rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

Source: California utilities propose a $1-billion electric vehicle push

DS E-Tense trademarked: Electric sports car edges closer to production – report

The all-electric DS E-Tense sports car could be one step closer to production, after parent company PSA Groupe (formerly PSA Peugeot Citroen) filed an application to trademark its name this week.

Britain's Autocar reports that PSA's luxury arm filed the application this week, in preparation for its halo model to arrive around the turn of the decade – likely between 2018 and 2021.

The company even took to the streets of Paris in the bright green concept last year to gauge the public's reception to the boldly-styled coupe.

First revealed at last year's Geneva motor show, the DS E-Tense is an all-electric sports concept, powered by an electric drive system developing 300kW of power and 516Nm of torque.

It can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 250km/h. Meanwhile, DS claims the E-Tense can achieve an all-electric driving range of around 310km between charges.

Do you think Citroen/DS should produce the E-Tense? Let us know in the comments below

MORE: DS E-Tense concept spied on the streets of ParisMORE: DS E-Tense newsMORE: DS news and reviews

Source: DS E-Tense trademarked: Electric sports car edges closer to production – report

Grant will drive 1,500 miles of electric vehicle charging stations

SALT LAKE CITY — A project to power up 1,500 miles of interstate in Utah and three other states with a network of electric vehicle charging stations beat out competitors like Denver, Seattle and Portland and is being touted as a model for the rest of the country.

The WestSmart EV Project was jump-started with $4 million in seed money from the U.S. Department of Energy, secured by Rocky Mountain Power, to help ease range anxiety for electric vehicle owners and provide would-be purchasers with an incentive to make the transition.

"It's truly a phenomenal achievement," said James Campbell, legislative policy adviser with Rocky Mountain Power, noting that a major transformation is playing out in car ownership, such as alternative fuels vehicles, zero-emissions vehicles and self-driving cars.

Campbell was among several speakers Wednesday at a press conference at the state Capitol, where details of the electric vehicle project were outlined as part of an overarching initiative to cut air pollution and boost transportation options.

"We can't really move economic development forward in our state like we want to without addressing air quality," said Rep. Lowry Snow, R-Santa Clara.

Snow and Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, co-sponsored expansive legislation called the Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan during the 2016 session, which enabled the utility company to have the flexibility to invest in initiatives like boosting electric vehicle infrastructure.

The project will roll out over several years and includes the Governor's Office of Energy Development, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Utah State University Center for Sustainable Electrified Transportation, the University of Utah and Utah Clean Cities Coalition.

Grant money will pay for direct current "fast chargers" every 100 miles along I-15, I-80, I-70 and I-84 corridors in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, and alternating current level two chargers in every major community in the region, according to Rocky Mountain Power officials.

"The battle to improve air quality has to be fought on multiple fronts," said Alan Matheson, executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Beyond the 30 new rules passed by the state Air Quality Board and additional investments by industry, Matheson said a key component to tackling pollution starts at the tail pipe.

"This is a great opportunity," to address vehicles' contributions to fine particulate pollution, he said.

Laura Nelson, Gov. Gary Herbert's energy policy adviser and head of the Utah Office of Energy Development, said the state over the last couple of years has been aggressively pursuing avenues to cut tailpipe emissions.

"We have an energy policy that emphasizes alternative transportation," she said, a policy that she noted is backed by the innovation of multiple collaborative partners.

Nelson said Utah State University's Center for Sustainable Electrified Transportation is piloting a project involving roadways that "charge" vehicles via sparks as they travel,

Utah, she added, is No. 1 in the country per capita for compressed natural gas charging stations and ranks sixth per capita for the adoption of electric vehicles.

Clean air advocates, however, feel the move to electric vehicles in Utah may hit a U-turn with the scheduled expiration of a $1,500 state tax credit for electric vehicle purchases.

After the press conference, Adams said he knows his colleagues have the political will to extend the credit with legislation this upcoming session.

"We definitely have the political will," he said. "It is a question of if we have the money. It's simply a budgetary issue."

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Source: Grant will drive 1,500 miles of electric vehicle charging stations

Iran President Test Drives Domestic Electric Car

57872

Sunday, January 22, 2017

There seems to be a strong policy decision to promote and prioritize plans to develop electric vehicles with public-private partnerships

An updated version of an electric car and two electric motorbikes were unveiled in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani earlier this week at the courtyard of the presidential complex in Tehran. The vehicles are manufactured by domestic knowledge-based firms. A new version of the two-seater micro-electric vehicle 'Yooz' was test-driven by the president on the occasion marking National Clean Air Day, YJC reported. The Yooz quadricycle was designed and developed by engineers at Parax Company, affiliated to Islamic Azad University's Qazvin branch. The company specializes in designing small electric cars.The two-seat battery-powered EV is 120 centimeters wide and two meters long. Its small size can help reduce parking problems in the major urban areas.It weighs 400 kilograms and charged for three hours can cruise for 200 kilometers at 80 k/h. The car's maximum speed is 100 k/h and as far as looks go, Yooz closely resembles Renault's zero-emission quadricycle Twizy.For comparison sakes, the Twizy weighs 474 kilograms and has a maximum driving range of 100 kilometers, according to the French company.Financial Tribune contacted Renault's Iran office to see if they had any role in developing the Twizy-like vehicle. They did not respond.      The Yooz, does not seem to be for sale currently. Online search for the vehicle gives no clue as to whether the small car will be commercially available. At the same event an electric motorcycle 'Avita' was also unveiled. The motorbike was built at the Shahid Rezaei Research Center affiliated to Sharif University of Technology.  An electric motorcycle manufactured by the knowledge-based company Bana Sharif was also displayed at the event. Bana Sharif is a joint venture set up by Sharif University of technology and Jahanro Company which manufactures motor bikes. The company manufactures electric cars, hybrid cars and electric motorcycles.While stressing the need for improving the quality and safety of such products, th e president lauded the efforts of local manufacturers in the green auto sector.On the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, the EV was also taken for a spin by Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi-Tabar. Also present were first Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri, Vice President for science and technology Sorena Sattari and the head of the Department of Environment, Massoumeh Ebtekar.  IncentivesThe Rouhani administration has been promoting the use of hybrids and EVs. But the declared policy, however, has been criticized by experts and observers on the grounds that the infrastructure for the shift to eco-friendly is not in place.In an interview with the Financial Tribune in September 2016, Ebtekar addressed this issue saying that research and development is underway in the auto industries and extensive research is being done in universities. She asserted that some of the infrastructure is in place, referring to the large industry producing lithium batteries—one of the key components of ele ctric cars and motorcycles.Other measures taken by the administration include the removal of import tariffs on hybrid cars as a way to incentivize local carmakers to shift gears and produce alternative fuel production vehicles.Furthermore owners of petrol/electric hybrid vehicles were recently exempted from paying extra for entering restricted traffic zones in the big cities. However, they must register their car a hybrid and this excludes CNG/gasoline hybrid vehicles.The government is also taking some belated action to encourage taxi owners to change their dilapidated cars with new electric-gasoline hybrids. Aware of the serious dangers of air pollution that grips the capital fo almost the entire year, Tehran Municipality is taking measures to replace the buses with dual-fuel and electric-only buses. Late last year the Belarussian carriage builder Belkommunmash said it had signed an agreement with Tehran Bus Company to sell more than a dozen all-electric buses. 

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Source: Iran President Test Drives Domestic Electric Car

Navigant: 37 Million Plug-In Electric Vehicles To Be In Use By 2025

Navigant: 37 Million Plug-In Electric Vehicles To Be In Use By 2025

9 hours ago by Mark Kane

Tesla Model 3

Navigant Research in its latest report Market Data: Electric Vehicle Market Forecasts states that by 2025 it expects there will be more than 37 million of plug-in electric cars in use.

Chevy Bolt EV

The reason for a such forecast is the expected price competitiveness of the upcoming long-range electric cars against conventional models, even without subsidies.

Some 400,000 Tesla Model 3 pre-orders were mentioned as a sign of the necessity for more affordable 200+ mile range BEVs.

Navigant said that the total number of plug-ins and hybrids to be more than 68 million. Simple math shows that taking HEVs alone would account for only 31 million, which therefore means that market the perspective for conventional hybrids going forward is less attractive than plug-ins.

"The market for LDVs is poised for change due to advances in battery energy density and cost, as well as coming innovations in connected and autonomous vehicle systems.

Around 2025, fundamental technology and industry trends are expected to enable BEVs to be cost competitive against conventional vehicles without subsides, underlining the likelihood that LDVs will eventually be electric rather than any other alternative.

According to a new report from @NavigantRSRCH, by 2025, more than 68 million light duty HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs are expected to be in use globally, with over half being plug-in vehicles."

"According to the report, long-range BEVs appear positioned for success as prices become competitive with economy brands after subsidies. This marks a milestone that could move BEVs from niche to mainstream, especially as the over 400,000 preorders of Tesla's Model 3 indicate that the affordable 200-plus mile BEV could have a big impact on the vehicle market."

Scott Shepard, senior research analyst with Navigant Research said:

"Battery cost reductions are having dramatic impacts on BEV cost and range, portending significant market growth in the years ahead. Further battery innovations alongside vehicle automation promise to significantly disrupt the nature and business of transportation, although this process will take decades to come to full fruition."

Tags: EV sales forecast, forecast, global sales forecast, navigant research, sales, Tesla Model 3, worldwide ev sales

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Source: Navigant: 37 Million Plug-In Electric Vehicles To Be In Use By 2025

A-to-Z Review Finds California’s Clean Cars Program Is Working

Cars

Published on January 19th, 2017 | by NRDC

January 19th, 2017 by NRDC 

Originally published on NRDC.By Simon Mui

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released a soup-to-nuts review of its Advanced Clean Car (ACC) program today. The 658-page report confirms that the popular program, which establishes smog-forming and carbon pollution limits for new cars and trucks, can be met on time, with known technologies, and at reasonable cost. Agency-experts recommend that the Board stay the course on the standards, pointing to a large body of evidence showing the auto industry is already exceeding standards and are on-track to meet 2025 targets.

What It Means

Should the Board agree with staff's recommendations at the hearing in March and redouble its commitment to current standards, it would mean that the new fleet of cars and trucks would get cleaner over time. By 2025, new vehicles would emit 75% less smog-forming pollutants and nearly 50% less greenhouse gas emissions versus those produced just five years ago. California, home to six of the ten most polluted cities in the country, would continue to see improvements to public health with the program helping avoid thousands of asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and premature deaths attributed to vehicle emissions.

According to the staff, the standards have also brought a bevy of more fuel-efficient cars and trucks to showrooms. In fact, in just six years automakers have introduced over 25 new electric-drive models with those numbers expected to grow to 70 models over the next five years. Consumers are also benefiting from significant fuel savings. On average, a household with a vehicle meeting the 2025 standards would save on average $4000 compared to a new vehicle today, with fuel savings exceeding the additional cost of the technology. Many households that finance or lease vehicles these days would start seeing net savings in the first month of ownership.

ARB's findings are consistent with EPA's recent determination that their national version of California's standards should remain strong [see my colleague Luke Tonachel's blog here]. Both technical reviews come on the heels of last summer's draft "Technical Assessment Report" conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Air Resources Board. Together with a recent National Research Council report showing standards can be met at reasonable costs, the preponderance of technical evidence supports maintaining standards.

On the Menu: Strengthening of the Zero Emission Vehicle Program, Albeit Delayed

ARB's report also pointed to strengthening the Zero Emission Vehicle program  while also tuning-up its overly generous crediting system, but not within the 2022 to 2025 time-frame and instead, as part of future standards starting in 2026. This past July, NRDC released a consultant report that found automakers could readily meet the "Zero Emission Vehicle" requirements with much lower sales volume of electric vehicles than originally anticipated. Similarly, ARB's new analysis—using updated technical assumptions—found automakers would only need about 8% sales by 2025 of ZEVs and plug-in hybrids rather the 15% sales originally anticipated, resulting in about 1.1 to 1.2 million vehicles rather than the 1.5 million state target. Agency staff has flagged potentially modifying the compliance credit system—albeit in 2026 rather than 2022 as we had recommended—to better align ZEV requirements to actual vehicle sales.

California Reaffirms Continued Support of the National Program, but Warns Against Weakening

California—as part of the National Program Agreement between the state, EPA, and automakers—allowed automakers to comply with California standards by meeting federal standards. With an eye towards anti-regulatory forces in D.C. seeking to potentially weaken federal standards, California signaled its right and obligation to revisit whether the state could still meet its unique air quality challenges and aggressive state greenhouse gas reduction goals under "substantially modified"—as in weakened—federal standards.

A collision course with states—obligated to protect public health and address carbon pollution—could begin if national clean car standards are weakened. But there's no need for a collision if agencies and automakers maintain the current course to meet existing standards. Ultimately, playing bumper cars with pollution standards gets everyone nowhere fast—and may leave the industry with a bad case of whiplash.

Reprinted with permission.

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Tags: Advanced Clean Car (ACC), California, California Air Resource Board, CARB

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NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists, and other professionals.

Source: A-to-Z Review Finds California's Clean Cars Program Is Working

Lidl rings up new electric car charging network

POD Point announces deal to deploy electric vehicle charge points at 20 Lidl stores

The UK's expanding electric vehicle charging network received a further boost yesterday with the news Lidl is to become the latest supermarket to install rapid charge points at some of its stores. Charging...

Source: Lidl rings up new electric car charging network

Racing Tesla Model S specifications revealed ahead of Electric GT season

That's about as fast as you'd want to go before you innards get rearranged, and about half a second quicker than the Tesla Model S production vehicle in "ludicrous" launch mode.

Specifications for the EGT racer, which is based on a Tesla Model S P100D but has been track-prepared by EGT Engineering, were revealed at the Autosport International show over the weekend, confirming that it produces 585bhp and 734lb ft of torque and can reach a top speed of 155mph. But while the organizing body seems to have solved the battery pack cooling issue that keeps normal electric cars off the racetrack, the 37-mile race distance indicates that range is still a limiting issue.

Then Faraday Future came to the CES 2017 show in Las Vegas and claimed its FF 91 with 1050 horsepower could scoot to 60 in 2.39 seconds. The production Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode recently unlocked an Easter Egg to trim its zero-to-60 time down to 2.465 seconds and even the automaker's CEO, Elon Musk, believed it could go as fast as 2.1 when stripped down.

It's clear the series still will still need time to come into its own, but it's cool to see a racing series built around the most widely recognized high-performance electric vehicle. That is some serious quickness. Drivers include Tesla supporter and environmental activist Leilani Münter will be one of two female drivers among the 20 pilots who have signed up to compete in the series. The season will contain seven rounds (plus three non-competition events ) with each including a 20-minute practice session, a 30-minute qualifying session, a day race and finally a dusk race. Others include former Formula One driver Karun Chandhok and former British Touring Car star Tom Onslow-Cole. Each round will showcase technology and innovation for sustainability in and around the racing circuit.

Source: Racing Tesla Model S specifications revealed ahead of Electric GT season

Watch The Bugatti Veyron Get Beaten By Its All-Electric Counterpart

by Martin Bigg11,799 reads

The Rimac Concept_One has claimed another victim.

While traditional internal combustion engine cars are usually seen as the benchmark for performance, EVs have been hitting the headlines lately for breaking speed records. Currently, the biggest talking point is of course the Faraday Future FF 91, which can hit 0–60 mph in a lightning fast 2.39 seconds, beating the previous record set by the Tesla Model S. Then there's the Rimac Concept_One, which has a reputation for being the Bugatti Veyron equivalent of electric cars after it made mincemeat out of the LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spider. But how does the all-electric supercar fare against its fuel-powered counterpart? It's not the first time the Rimac has been pitted against the Veyron, but now we get to see them battle it out in a gearhead-pleasing drag race held at Rimac's headquarters in Croatia. Watching the video, it's fair to say that the Rimac Concept_One has claimed another victim.

Such awe-inspiring speed is achieved thanks to the EV's phenomenal power. Four electric motors, each with their own gearbox, generate a pulse-pounding 1088 horsepower, 1,180 lb-ft of torque and a 0-62 mph time of just 2.6 seconds. And all of that happens the instant you tap the accelerator. No wonder the Veyron struggled to keep up. Of course, there are several factors to consider here. The instant acceleration of an electric car will always outpace its fuel-powered rivals in straight-line speed, so the result would probably have been quite different if the drag race went beyond the quarter mile finish line once the Veyron's turbos kick in.

The sub-zero temperatures also didn't agree with the traction control of both vehicles, and the reaction times of the Veyron driver seem slightly off. The original Veyron is over a decade old now too, so it's hardly a recent example – we reckon a rematch with the new 1500 hp Bugatti Chiron is in order. Still, it's an eye-opening reminder that the potential power of all-electric cars shouldn't be underestimated.
Source: Watch The Bugatti Veyron Get Beaten By Its All-Electric Counterpart

How Electric Vehicles Could End Car Ownership as We Know It

If I say "personal electric vehicle," you might think "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," or maybe "exploding hoverboards." You don't think global transportation revolution.

But in the past few years, with the convergence of better battery technology, lighter materials and smaller, more powerful electric motors, entirely new kinds of transportation have bloomed. The electric powertrain, unlike that of the internal combustion engine, scales...

Source: How Electric Vehicles Could End Car Ownership as We Know It

Can Faraday Future Build a Car? It Has a Year To Prove It

On a chilly night in Las Vegas this month, Faraday Future -- an electric vehicle company that pitches itself as a threat to Tesla -- attempted to show off its self-parking feature in front of an auditorium full of journalists, employees and perhaps a few "skeptics and naysayers," according to Executive VP Nick Sampson.

As instructed, YT Jia, the founder and CEO of LeEco -- which the company contends is merely a "strategic partner" but offers few details on the nature of the connection beyond that - pressed the button on the driver-side door that should have sent the car to the middle of the stage.

Except, nothing happened.

"It's feeling a little lazy," Sampson ad-libbed. "As a new baby, she's very timid."

Then Sampson tried again. This time, the company inexplicably dimmed the stage lights and someone got into the driver's seat. The car finally did what it was supposed to do: It moved a couple feet forward.

Demo failures happen. For any other company, a demo failure might be a slightly embarrassing setback.

For FF, which called its FF91 vehicle [seen here] "the first of its species" and spent the evening promising to reinvent the auto industry, it's an ominous start down an inherently difficult path of trying to build a self-driving electric car - or any car, for that matter.

That path, which companies like Google and Apple have reportedly steered away from after realizing building a car is not easy, is made more difficult by the lofty expectations and ambitions the company has set. Even Tesla has flailed quarter after quarter, missing production and delivery guidelines it set for itself.

At one point, the company even blamed its own "hubris" for missing its delivery guidelines.

As a new company that claims to be as much an automaker as a tech company, Faraday Future is still relatively inexperienced in both the software and hardware space. So it's not just a matter of if FF can build a car, it's also a question of the company's software development capabilities.

Still, during a live interview at CES a few days after the unveiling, the company's senior director of automation Jan Becker told me that the fledgling automaker is confident that it will get FF91 on the road in 2018.

That means FF plans to build its $1 billion factory that can ostensibly house not just vehicle production but also battery production in under a year. That's despite the fact the company broke ground in 2016 but halted work on the factory at the end of the year with plans to resume work in 2017.

For comparison, Tesla broke ground on its Gigafactory in 2014, planning to be at full capacity by 2018. By September of last year, the company had spent more than $608 million; battery production at Tesla's Gigafactory began just last week.

That said, the Gigafactory will be producing batteries or a mass-market car, while Faraday is building for the ultra-luxury market.

It won't be easy. Faraday has added $300 million in debt to its balance sheet because of overdue payments to suppliers and other vendors, according to BuzzFeed News. Those suppliers have also stopped work on the company's orders, consequently adding further delays to Faraday's vehicle production, BuzzFeed News reported.

Still, the company saw fit to show off footage of the location that will eventually be the home of the company's factory in Reno, Nev. The images showed tractors pushing dirt across an empty field.

Faraday executives said the FF91 would "change the game." Sampson added that the car was going to usher in a "new era of mobility."

As an electric vehicle, the FF91 is technologically impressive. The car beats out many of those currently on the market with a battery that has a range of 378 miles and is able to go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, on par with some of the most expensive high-performance sports cars on the planet.

Tesla -- which according to a recent report sold the most EVs in the U.S. in 2016 - has a slightly lower-capacity battery with a maximum EPA-estimated range of 315 miles and goes from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds.

The car also boasts a facial recognition feature on the car door that enables the vehicle to match a driver's profile and preferences. While the onstage demo may have failed, the company showed off footage of the car parking itself just outside the venue using what it calls its "valet" feature.

However, while the company expects to ship the car in 2018, Becker told me, it won't have many additional semi-autonomous features. Faraday will instead launch those capabilities incrementally in over-the-air updates.

By the end of the evening there were still many questions left unanswered. For one, though the company told people how to order and reserve their FF91 - they received more than 60,000 reservations after the event - they didn't say how much it would cost aside from a $5,000 refundable fee.

What is clear is that this particular model will be for the ultra-luxury market, according to Becker, who argued there is still consumer demand for a luxury EV. Eventually, though, the company plans to roll out mass-market vehicles as well.

It's also still unclear what the relationship between LeEco and Faraday Future is and whether Faraday has enough funding to meet its ambitious goal of building a factory, producing and then shipping a car by 2018.

The company may well find a way to get the FF91 into the hands of consumers by 2018, but on the first month of 2017 all we have are what sound like overzealous aspirations that few if any companies have been able to meet.

© 2017 Re/Code under contract with NewsEdge. All rights reserved.

Source: Can Faraday Future Build a Car? It Has a Year To Prove It

Electric Cars: Consumers get purchase power via Drive Green program

Stateline Nissan in East Providence is offering People's Power & Light-negotiated discounts of up to $8,000, in addition to a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 and a state rebate of up to $2,500.

Peter C.T. Elsworth Journal Staff Writer peterelsworth

Rhode Islanders interested in buying an electric car can save money through Drive Green, a group-purchasing program for electric vehicles offered by People's Power & Light.

Through the end of February, Stateline Nissan in East Providence is offering People's Power & Light-negotiated discounts of up to $8,000, in addition to a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 and a state rebate of up to $2,500. The program is also offering sharply discounted leases.

"With longer mileage ranges, lower prices, and the bonus of federal and state incentives, electric vehicles have come into their own and now is a great time to buy one," People's Power & Light's executive director, Larry Chretien, said in a news statement. "There are clear signs the market is growing — despite little advertising and low gasoline prices, with overall EV sales up over a third last year compared with 2015."

Providence-based People's Power & Light has offered affordable, sustainable energy programs to Rhode Island consumers since 2002. The nonprofit group is the sister organizaton to Boston-based Mass Energy Consumers Alliance, which is offering the same terms at 14 car dealerships in Massachusetts.

"A buyer program was very much needed in Rhode Island," said Wendy Lucht, the Ocean State Clean Cities Coordinator at the University of Rhode Island Transportation Center. Such initiatives, she said, often lead to increased consumer demand.

At the same time, Lucht noted that only one Rhode Island dealership was involved and that the lack of inventory of electric vehicles was an ongoing problem in the state. Many more dealers were contacted, she said, and "we continue to reach out."

"Perhaps the dealers in Massachusetts are feeling movement in the market and responded well," Chretien said. "Electric-vehicle sales are strong in some states, California and Oregon and Massachusetts and Maryland, and not so strong in other states."

Chretien said he hoped the program would appeal to potential buyers who "want to do something green" or "hate shopping for cars."

"We sent out a request for proposals to dealerships that had already sold electric vehicles or had them in stock," said Anna Vanderspek, program associate at Mass Energy Consumers Alliance. She said while the program was currently time-limited, it might be extended or a new one launched.

"We're adding dealers all the time," she said, noting that Lannan Chevrolet of Lowell, Massachusetts, had signed on a week ago. 

Drive Green dealerships are offering discounts on a variety of vehicles, including Chevrolet Volt, Ford C-Max Energi, Ford Fusion Energi, Kia e-Soul and Nissan Leaf. People's Power & Light also has set up a waiting list for the 238-mile-per-charge Chevrolet Bolt, which on Monday was named North American Car of the Year at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

To receive Drive Green discounts, consumers interested in buying or leasing one of the featured electric vehicles must sign up for test drives via the program's web page (www.ripower.org/drivegreen), which provides details on prices offered by participating dealers, information about EV technology and links to other helpful resources. 

Meanwhile, on Jan. 19, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza will team up with People's Power & Light for an Electric Vehicle Showcase at the Alex and Ani City Center in Providence. The event, featuring Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf vehicles, is part of the Elorza's SustainPVD initiative "to make Providence a greener, healthier, more livable city," including a commitment to make Providence carbon neutral by 2050.

In addition to Stateline Nissan, car dealerships in the Massachusetts communities of Arlington, Braintree, Holyoke, Lowell, Lynnfield, Marlborough, Milford, Needham, Norwell, Quincy and West Springfield, are participating through Mass Energy Consumers Alliance.

For more information, go to ripower.org/drivegreen.

— pelswort@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7403

On Twitter:@peterelsworth

Source: Electric Cars: Consumers get purchase power via Drive Green program

Faraday Future Explains Why Its First Electric Car Is Called FF 91

7 hours ago by Eric Loveday

Faraday Future's FF 91

When Faraday Future unveiled the FF 91, some wondered why the alphanumeric name?

Faraday Future's Jia Yeuting and Nick Sampson in front of upcoming ~378 mile Ff 91

Well, we finally have an explanation on the naming convention, via Faraday Future senior vice president of research and development, Nick Sampson.

According to Sampson, the naming is rather simple. FF stands for Faraday Future, as we all guessed. But the numbers tell a story.

Faraday Future will use the numbers 1 through 9 to indicate size and price, with 9 being at the top of the lineup. So, the 91 is the flagship vehicle in the automaker's lineup. The 1 that follows the 9 indicates that it's the first generation of the model. Therefore, it's successor would be called the 92.

Future, cheaper Faraday vehicles will be the FF 81, FF 71 and so on.

The only break is this naming convention will be what Sampson calls a halo vehicle. This special vehicle will get a "0" or "Zero" as the model designation, like the radical FF Zero 1 concept Faraday first showed us awhile back.

FF ZERO 1 Concept

Source: Motor1

Tags: faraday, Faraday Future FF 91, farady future, ff, ff 91

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Source: Faraday Future Explains Why Its First Electric Car Is Called FF 91

Indiana Lawmakers Propose $150 Annual Fee for Electric Cars

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The Indiana House Republicans wants electric vehicle owners to help pay for road repairs and have proposed a $150 annual fee for electric vehicles registered in Indiana. If implemented, Indiana will join 10 other states (Wyoming, Colorado, Virginia, Nebraska, Missouri, Washington, North Carolina, Idaho, Georgia, and Michigan) that already impose fees on electric vehicles.

The bill, submitted by Rep. Ed Soliday, would also impose a $15 annual fee for all registered vehicles in Indiana. That means electric vehicle owners would pay a total fee of $165 per year, reports ABC affiliate RTV6. The proposed electric vehicle fee would not apply to owners of hybrid vehicles. In addition to the increase in fees, the bill would increase the gas tax by 10 cents per gallon.

Your average Indiana driver driving a gasoline-powered car will pay about $63 more per year if this bill passes. The new legislation would cost electric car owners an extra $213 per year, however.

Since electric vehicles do not use gas, they do not contribute to the gas tax that helps in maintaining public roads and highways. Legislators believe that special fees on these types of vehicles will make up for this lost revenue.

Electric car advocates will argue that these new fees might dissuade some people from buying electric cars. Additionally, given the fact that there are local incentive programs and a $7,500 federal tax credit in place to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, these fees might seem counterproductive to that mission.

But fees like this don't have to be so hard to swallow, and can even be designed to benefit EV owners. According to Green Car Reports, Colorado legislators worked with electric-car advocates to create a system in which revenue from fees goes toward two separate funds, one for infrastructure and one for public charging stations.

Do you think such fees are necessary? Are they fair to EV drivers? Tell us in the comments below.

Source: RTV6, Green Car Reports

Source: Indiana Lawmakers Propose $150 Annual Fee for Electric Cars

Samsung shows off electric car battery that gives a 310 mile range on a 20 minute charge

Samsung has unveiled a battery that can give electric cars a driving range of up to 500 kilometers (310.7 miles) on a 20 minute charge, promoting technology that could be key to the future of autonomous driving.

The South Korean conglomerate's battery division known as Samsung SDI (Korea Stock Exchange: 640-KR), announced the cell on Monday, and said it can offer a complete driving range of up to 600 kilometers. A 20-minute charge will give the battery 80 percent capacity, allowing for a 500 km range.

"This means that only 20 minutes in the highway rest area will be enough for a battery to be charged, eliminating the range anxiety of electric vehicle drivers," Samsung SDI said in a press release, adding that mass production of the cell is slated for 2021.

One of the pain points for electric vehicles currently is the availability of charging stations and the frequency of charging. Samsung's battery technology could change that.

But it could also benefit driverless cars – also electric - with major automakers and technology firms talking about this new industry in the same timeframe which Samsung said it will begin mass production of the battery.

Samsung's claim of 310.7 miles on a 20-minute charge is ahead of what is currently on the market. For example, Tesla owners can use one of the company's superchargers to get a 170-mile range in 30 minutes.

But Tesla and Panasonic are currently working together on battery technology and have kicked off production of the 2,170 cell to be used in the carmakers Powerwall 2 and Powerpack 2 products, as well as the Model 3 car. Samsung is likely to face stiff competition from Tesla and Panasonic in the battery space

More From CNBC

Source: Samsung shows off electric car battery that gives a 310 mile range on a 20 minute charge

Chevrolet Bolt Captures Coveted North American Car Of The Year Award

14 hours ago by Eric Loveday

Chevrolet Bolt Is North American Car Of The Year

History has been made…

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Precisely as we predicted, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt has captured the coveted 2017 North American Car Of The Year award.

Chevrolet first posted the announcement on its Chevrolet Electric Facebook site:

"The Bolt EV has won yet another award this season. Congrats on driving home the 2017 North American COTY award!"

This marks the first time ever that an all-electric car has captured this coveted award and its adds to the Bolt's growing showcase, which includes Motor Trend Car of the Year, Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year, Car & Driver 10 Best and so on.

The other contenders for NACOTY in the Bolt's (car) category were the Genesis G90 and Volvo S90.

In the end, the Bolt won out largely because it's a game-changer by being the first 200-plus mile (238) electric car at a relatively affordable price point.

Additionally, the Chrysler Pacifica (including both the standard and PHEV version with 33 miles of all-electric range) took home the North America Utility Vehicle of the Year award, beating out the Jaguar F-Pace and the Mazda CX-9.

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Source: Chevrolet Bolt Captures Coveted North American Car Of The Year Award

VW reboots microbus as self-driving electric vehicle

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Source: VW reboots microbus as self-driving electric vehicle

Indiana Considering $150 Annual Fee For Electric Cars

Chevrolet Bolt

Indiana is on track to join ten other states (Wyoming, Colorado, Virginia, Nebraska, Missouri, Washington, North Carolina, Idaho, Georgia, Michigan) with special fees for electric cars, designed to include EVs in road maintenance expenses.

$150 fee if not uses those

Fees for conventional cars also are going up.

The new fee for electric vehicles (if passed) will be $150 annually, plus general registration fee of $15.

"In the Indiana House Republicans legislative plan released on Wednesday, one representative proposed a $150 annual fee for electric vehicles registered in Indiana.

Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) filed the bill. It would also implement a $15 annual fee on all vehicles registered in Indiana.  If you owned an electric vehicle, you'd pay a total fee of $165 per year."

While this is a subject that has often popped up in many states and many countries in the past, and is sure to continue to in the future, we tend to feel that is an unwise decision at the moment.

Should electric vehicles ultimately pay a fee?  Of course.  Is $150 the right number?  We can't say for sure.

However, given the fact there is over 50 different incentive programs currently running at the regional level to encourage EV adoption, and a $7,500 federal credit in place to help convince US citizens to give EVs a try, to run a 'nickel and dime' program at the state level (due to the very small amount of EVs actually on the road in Indiana – by our tally through November just 1,210 all-electric vehicles are registered in the state) we feel is counterproductive to the wider message the government is trying to spread about adopting plug-in vehicles.

source: theindychannel.com via Green Car Reports

Source: Indiana Considering $150 Annual Fee For Electric Cars

Electric vehicles are new amenity at this Manhattan apartment building

The Solaire, an LEED-certified, solar panel-covered apartment building on the southern tip of Manhattan in BatteryPark City, just burnished its green credentials by adding a new amenity. In partnership with BMW, the development will now offer four BMW i3 electric vehicles as part of a pilot car share program only accessible by tenants, the first in the nation. Designers hope the test will prove to be a potential model that can help other property owners help reduce congestion and pollution.

Launched on December 8, the trial is an extension of the automaker's ReachNow program. Residents of the Solaire and neighboring Verdesian, which contain a total of 700 units, can use the system. The system offers convenient and sustainable urban mobility while potentially cutting parking minimums for developers, according to Paul Lipson, president of urban policy consulting firm Barretto Bay Strategies, and Adam Lubinsky, managing principal of WXY Architecture + Urban Design, who both helped create the model and introduce it to this complex.

"We found it was an ideal place, considering the orientation of the developers towards green and renewable technology, and the profile of the tenants," says Lipson. "With zero-emission vehicles and less parking spots, you layer in a great policy incentive that helps mitigate carbon emissions while allocating more space for housing, and mitigate congestion in the streets, since you'll have less people circling for a parking spot."

The system mimics other car-share programs. Users book via an app and pay a flat-fee per-minute when using a car. There's also a $35, one-time registration fee. The program offers access that come with having the system only accessible by other tenants, and the reserved, high-speed chargers make it easy to refuel.

Lubinsky sees this type of system having applicability beyond Manhattan apartments. He's worked on other electric vehicle initiatives, including systems near train stations in parts of the Hudson Valley for weekend visitors, as well as programs for downtown commuters in cities such as New Rochelle, and believes car share systems can help with congestion and access, while catering to the rising desire among millennial to avoid or delay car ownership. After setting up its own system, New Rochelle planners removed two parking spaces for every car share spot.

ReachNow charging station BMW/Reach/Now

Resident Mark Tarlov, who has lived in the Solaire with his wife since 2004, has used the new car-share system twice since it went online in December. He normally rents car 15-20 times a year, and since he often arrives home after the local Hertz rental location closes, he has to park the rental in the building and pay late fees. ReachNow has been a much better option so far, he says, with easy access and no parking issues.

"It's like ZipCar but only for you," he says. "It's a perfect fit for the Manhattan lifestyle. When you think of it as part of the green and sharing economy, it really starts to strike home. It's part of a rich and full and convenient life, it's not a pain in the ass at all. We're renting a car and don't have to get gas."

Lubinsky sees the ReachNow pilot growing over time, with a smaller ratio of users to cars to optimize the balance, especially during busier weekend rushes. He feels this model of residential car-sharing can make a big difference, especially in a city a region that has wrestled with issues around car ownership.

"This works in affordable housing, it works in suburban housing developments where people need car to get everywhere," Lipson says. "We think this has great potential for metros around the northeast. There's a great opportunity to serve affordable housing developments, as well as places near the city that have commuter rail access but not great intra-city transport."

Source: Electric vehicles are new amenity at this Manhattan apartment building

Faraday Future takes on Tesla at CES with FF 91, the electric car that can learn

Faraday Future's FF91 electric car is unveiled during a news conference at CES International. Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Electric car company Faraday Future unveiled "a new species" of car in Las Vegas on Tuesday night: an electric sedan that will have the acceleration of a Formula One car and the ability to learn and adapt to the driver.

The FF 91, which the company says will go into production in 2018, would see Faraday Future compete with Tesla for the electric sports car market. The FF 91 has 1,050hp and can accelerate 0-60mph in 2.39 seconds, while the Tesla Model S P100D can reach 60mph in 2.5 seconds.

The launch came ahead of the annual Consumer Electronics Show, which starts on Thursday.

Nick Sampson, senior vice president at Faraday Future, said the car would feature a "driverless valet" system – where the driver can leave the car and order it to park itself – and two "aerodynamic antennas", which will enable the car to essentially act as a big wireless router. The FF 91 will unlock itself by recognising the driver's face, and will learn things about its driver and continually adapt to those preferences.

But despite all the promises, there is growing skepticism as to whether this sports car-come-sedan-come-artificial brain – which would be Faraday Future's first ever production vehicle – will ever be built.

In November last year Aecom, the company in charge of constructing the $1bn Faraday Future car factory, stopped work over unpaid invoices.

In December three key executives, including Ding Lei, Faraday Future's "acting global CEO", reportedly quit the company in the space of a week.

Sampson himself referenced the problems at the launch. "Despite all the naysayers and the skeptics we will persist," he said.

The car is a futuristic take on a four-door sedan, with wrap around tinted glass on the doors and roof, a check-pattern along the base, and lots of curves and clean lines. The FF 91 also features a circular glowing light on the hood – a little like the one on Iron Man's chest.

The audience were also treated to a live, indoor drag race which showcased the car's speed compared to a Bentley, a Ferrari and the Tesla S P100D. The FF 91 was the fastest, and if Faraday Future's claims that it can achieve 60mph in 2.39 seconds are accurate, it would be the second-fastest production car ever made.

Cars have become a big part of CES in recent years. This year vehicles capable of "emotion" are expected to take centre stage. Honda claims that its cars will be "artificially generate their own emotions", while other big brands are planning to unveil their own vehicles that are capable of interacting with the driver.

Faraday Future was keen to stress their car's intelligence as much as its speed. Hong Bae, director of advanced drive assistance systems and self-driving, showed off the car's "driverless valet" feature, where the driver can hop out of the car, run off to a meeting and the car will park itself.

The audience watched a live video of the FF 91 parking itself in a parking lot outside.

There were two spaces available in the lot and the FF 91 duly found a spot, reversing slowly into the space without hitting any of the other vehicles in the lot. Bae and Sampson also talked up the ability of the FF 91 to build a relationship with the driver by learning and adapting to an individual's in-car preferences.

Faraday Future did not respond to questions about how the factory delay and the departure of its executives – the company's chief brand and commercial officer and VP for product marketing and growth left along with Lei – would impact production.

On Tuesday the company opened a section on its website where people can register to take delivery of the FF 91 for a deposit of $5,000.

Source: Faraday Future takes on Tesla at CES with FF 91, the electric car that can learn