A Flurry of Regulations, Innovations, and Research Affect the Landscape of EVs
Welcome to the August issue!
This month, we take a closer look at EVs, Hybrids, and Charging infrastructure, and there’s few topics that that merge the political, industrial, and technological realms quite like this one.
And while the political mudslinging rages on, and the cancellation of the EV tax credit has caused a gargantuan dip in U.S. EV sales, this topic is much like the rest of the political sphere – liable to change based on prevailing winds (and who’s in power).
Our focus is far more rational and technological than partisan and dogmatic, and thank goodness for that. That said, politics directly impact policy, and that has a fundamental, trickle-down effect on the entire industry.
For example, California recently closed a legal loophole by more directly specifying autonomous vehicle liability. Or at the very least, by empowering law enforcement to “cite AV companies for moving violations committed by their vehicles, requiring AV companies to respond to first responder calls within 30 seconds and authorizing local emergency officials to issue electronic geofencing directives to clear AVs from active emergency zones,” they’ve set the stage for some massive court cases that could lay out some fundamental legal precedents.
And speaking of California, they, along with Michigan, have recently partnered with PG&E and GM to introduce 52,000 bi-directional-ready vehicles to the utility’s operating area by 2030, and according to all parties, the accumulated energy could allegedly power every home in San Francisco for half a day.
Across the pond, the UK is set to pump the brakes on what was potentially an over-ambitious zero-emissions vehicle target. Previously shooting for 80% by 2030, the UK might shift to a more modest 50%. It’s worth pointing out that, unlike the U.S., the UK hasn’t seen an EV sales slump, but as Sharon Graham, General Secretary of the Unite union, recently claimed, the ZEV mandate is “significantly contributing to the loss of automotive jobs in Britain.”
But is the lower target better for Britain in the long run? For the most part, the tech – and how it compares to older technologies – is no longer in dispute. My European colleague, Ally Winning, points to recent research from MIT proving that, yes, “EVs are considerably greener than ICE powered vehicles in all scenarios.”
Almost since their inception, EVs have been subject to a slew of competing interests (and occasional misinformation), but the MIT research makes it clear that, while EVs might be “dirtier” at inception, they’re much cleaner over their lifetime than gas-powered vehicles.
Along with this month’s slate of EV, Hybrid, and Infrastructure articles, we also have our usual selection of general-purpose Technical Features.
Enjoy the August issue!
Best Regards,
Jason Lomberg
North American Editor, PSD
