Pennsylvania Readies to Send Out $62 Million for EV Charging Stations

Written by Anthony Hennen, The Center Square
Published March 15, 2023

As Pennsylvania officials discuss an electric vehicle fee to replace the gas tax, federal funds are available to build out the EV charging infrastructure in the commonwealth.

On March 13, PennDOT announced its first round of funding will open March 27 and close May 5 for EV stations across Pennsylvania. The money will flow through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure grant program, with $25 million available for fiscal year 2022 and $37 million for fiscal year 2023, according to a news release.

In total, Pennsylvania will receive almost $172 million over five

Ford Confirms F-150 Lightning Production Resumes Following Battery Fire

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 14, 2023

Fordconfirmed March 13 that production of the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup restarted that morning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) following a ...

Maryland Commits to 2035 Ban on New Gas Vehicle Sales

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 14, 2023

The State of Maryland followed in the footsteps of California on March 13 by banning all new gas vehicle sales by the model year 2035.

Maryland’s Air Quality Control Advisory Council unanimously voted to approve a regulation to implement California’s vehicle emissions standards, which have specific goals for a certain percentage of new vehicle sales be emission-free.

Maryland laws already exist that require the state to match California’s vehicle emissions programs. Maryland aligned with the California Air Resource Board (CARB) vehicle standards in 2011, one of 17 states in the U.S. to

Tesla Confirms Switch to 48 Volt System

Written by Mark Kane, InsideEVs
Published March 14, 2023

Teslais moving forward with applying improvements to the low-voltage system of its electric vehicles, which was operating at roughly 12 volts, the same as in the vast majority of other cars.

During the recent 2023 Investor Day, Tesla representatives confirmed the intention to introduce a 48V system, still a rare solution in the automotive industry.

The first step for Tesla was the switch from 12V lead-acid auxiliary batteries to 12V lithium-ion auxiliary batteries, announced in February 2021, and initially launched in the refreshed Tesla Model S/Model X and later in the Model 3/Model

NC Democrats Push New Home Construction Building Code to Accommodate EVs

Written by Victor Skinner, The Center Square
Published March 13, 2023

North Carolina’s forced transition to electric vehicles helped boost registrations by 54% in 2022, and even still, the transportation mode is still less than 1% of total registrations.

The Old North State has a long road ahead to meet Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s goal of 1.25 million EVs by 2030. House Democrats nonetheless want to require new homes to accommodate the trend.

For context, North Carolina would need to add more than 170,000 electric vehicle registrations per year over the next seven years to meet the 1.25 million registration goal.

Tesla Fremont Factory Continues to Receive Refinements and Upgrades

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 13, 2023

Tesla’s Fremont, CA, Factory continues to receive refinements and upgrades to help with the production of electric vehicles, filings show.

Tesla continuously upgrades its factories, and through the daily operation of machinery, things continue to be fixed, replaced and refined to keep manufacturing lines moving.

However, Tesla is doing more than just routine production line maintenance at the Fremont Factory.

Over the past year, the automaker has started preparing for a new Model 3 design and potential refresh with the Model Y and even started

Increase in EVs Leads to First Customer Service Satisfaction Decline in Nearly 30 Years

PublishedMarch 10, 2023

The increasing volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being serviced at dealerships is contributing to a negative effect on overall customer service satisfaction, resulting in a year-over-year decline in score for the first time in 28 years.

According to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, released March 9, satisfaction with the service experience declines 2 points to 846 (on a 1,000-point scale) in this year’s study.

Customer service satisfaction among owners of BEVs is 42 points lower than among owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. A leading

Proposed EV Fee Falls Short of Solving PA's Infrastructure Woes

By Anthony Hennen, The Center Square
Published March 10, 2023

As electric vehicles overtake Pennsylvania’s roads, lawmakers still have to sort out two things---how to tax them to fund roads and bridges, and how to build out reliable charging stations.

While neither issue has a quick and easy solution, a pilot tax project will grow revenue, and federal cash will expand an electric charging corridor across the state.

Except, some analysts say, it won't be enough to meaningfully fund road and bridge repair.

In 2019, Pennsylvania had almost 10,000 electric vehicles. Today, that count has more than sextupled, with more than 63,000 EVs

Tesla’s Autopilot Involvement Suspected in CA Fire Truck Crash

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published March 9, 2023

A 2014 TeslaModel S is suspected to have been operating in Autopilot during a fatal crash in February in California, according to investigators. 

The collision occurred when the all-electric sedan struck a fire truck, resulting in the driver’s death and critical injuries to a passenger.

On March 8, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it dispatched a specialized crash investigation team to probe the Feb. 18 crash, after which emergency responders had to cut open the Tesla to extricate a passenger. The crash also resulted in minor injuries to

As vehicle manufacturers announce plans to go all-electric by 2030, repairers and insurers are keeping a close eye on the changes taking place and adapting as necessary. 

Mitchell International, Inc., an Enlytecompany, recently released its inaugural quarterly trends report: “Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights,” which provides insight into the electric vehicle (EV) claims and market data and analyzes industry trends. EV sales in 2022 represented 5.6% of the market, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance at Mitchell, said the report will help carriers and collision repairers prepare as EV market growth continues and more EVs enter auto body shops. 

“For the repair industry,

VW Confirms ID.Buzz will Debut in U.S. This Summer

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published March 8, 2023

The VolkswagenID.Buzz has captivated car buyers with its retro styling and electric drivetrain, and customers won’t have to wait much longer, as VW confirmed the upcoming electric van will be available here this summer, according to Motor1.

The VW ID.Buzz announcement came from the German

NHTSA Probing 120,000 Model Y for Potential Steering Wheel Detachment

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published March 8, 2023

Recently, it was reported a Teslaowner's steering wheel came off into their hands while driving. It wasn't the only case, and now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into the issue, related to 120,000 Model Y electric crossovers.

Tesla has had its fair share of recalls, especially of late. Some fans, owners and investors continue to point out most of Tesla's issues aren't really recalls since they can be fixed with a free over-the-air software update, which doesn't require a service visit.

That said, they are still

Florida Senator Aims to Ban EVs from Evacuating State Amid Hurricanes

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published March 8, 2023

Republican Florida State Sen. Jonathon Martin believes the state should not allow electric cars to evacuate during a hurricane. His reasoning is based in part on misinformation already debunked when others have made similar suggestions in the past.

According to a recent article published by Electrek, Martin, of Fort Myers, serves on the Florida Senate's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Select Committee on Resiliency. He reportedly asked the state's Department of Transportation to consider banning EV evacuations, since the cars could run

With the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), collision repair facilities need to prepare for the changes now and in the future, according to Benito Cid, collision business development manager for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA).

“In different parts of the world, different markets are going to react differently,” said Cid. “You have some countries where they've adopted EVs and they have a very high percentage of vehicles sold already, and then you have others that EVs still have some ramping up to do. EVs are coming and we have to be ready.”

During a recent Guild 21 webinar, sponsored by OECand hosted by George Avery, Holly Switzer-Pittsand Micki Woods, Cid shared information about

Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros.   

Written by Ed Attanasio, Autobody News
Published March 7, 2023

On Feb. 19, Bistagne Bros. Body Shop in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so Tesla owners could witness a certified shop in action. 

Members came to Glendale for two hours on a Sunday morning for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a shop. They were able to mix and mingle with other club members, grab snacks and drinks, and find

Lordstown Working Through Early Production Issues 

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 7, 2023

Lordstown Motors remains resilient as it continues to face trying times, low cash flow and miscues in early production, the latest revelation in automotive startups attempting to enter the competitive field of electric vehicles. Lordstown is hanging on after it reported its Q4 2022 earnings March 6.

Lordstown has $221.7 million in cash and short-term investments, a roughly $18 million increase from the end of Q3 2022. Its true challenges lie within production and deliveries; Lordstown said it ended the year with only three deliveries.

It has not improved much either, as through

Tesla Cybertruck Pre-Production Beta Shows New Interior Features

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
PublishedMarch 3, 2023

The TeslaCybertruck pre-production beta was at Gigafactory Texas ahead of Investor Day on March 1, where patrons shared images of the all-electric pickup and its interior, looking as sharp as ever.

While several Cybertruck units have been spotted over the past few months, many of the

Scout Motors to Build Electric Trucks, SUVs in South Carolina

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published March 3, 2023

Volkswagen Group-backed Scout Motors has picked Columbia, SC, as the site of its first manufacturing plant.

The company will invest $2 billion and create 4,000 or more permanent jobs at the future factory, where it will build next-generation electric trucks and rugged SUVs inspired by the iconic Scout vehicles made from 1960 to 1980.

At full capacity, the facility will produce more than 200,000 Scout vehicles per year, the automaker said in a press release. Groundbreaking is planned for mid-2023 and production is projected to begin by the end of 2026.

The

Ford to Supply USPS with E-Transit Mail Delivery Vehicles

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 3, 2023

FordE-Transit vehicles will be used by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for future sustainable mail delivery, the agency announced.

The USPS awarded contracts for 9,250 new left-hand drive EVs and more than 14,000 charging stations to be built and installed at facilities across the U.S.

The USPS considered a variety of different EVs, but it ultimately awarded the contract to purchase all 9,250 mail delivery EVs from Ford, opting for its E-Transit van, one of the dominant small commercial vehicles in the sector.

Ford’s E-Transit will join the USPS fleet in December,

Mississippi Bill Aiming to Restrict EV Direct Sales Passes Senate

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published March 3, 2023

Electric vehicle makers may find it harder to open new company-owned stores in Mississippi in the future.

Following a nearly two-hour debate among lawmakers, House Bill 401 passed through the Senate by a vote of 38-14. The bill is now on its way to Gov. Tate Reeves’ desk.

House Bill 401 is controversial. If it does get signed into law, electric vehicle makers like Tesla, Rivianand Lucidwould be mandated to sell their vehicles through a franchised dealership. EV makers today typically sell their cars through company-owned

Tesla Gets $330M Tax Break for Giga Nevada Expansion Plan

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published March 3, 2023

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board on March 2 approved a $330.3 million tax break, considering Tesla’s plans to invest $3.6 billion to expand Gigafactory Nevada in Storey County.

The GOED Board calculated Tesla’s investment in Giga Nevada could generate an estimated $685 million in net state and local revenues in the next 20 years. Listed below are the taxes Tesla could generate, assuming it invests all $3.6 billion in land, buildings and equipment for Giga Nevada.

• Up to $21.8 million in gross

Ford to Restart F-150 Lightning Production on March 13

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 2, 2023

Fordsaid it will restart production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center on March 13 after a multi-week manufacturing stoppage.

On Feb. 14, Ford announced a stop build and in-transit stop ship for the F-150 Lightning after finding potential battery issues in a vehicle that underwent a pre-delivery quality inspection.

At least one vehicle displayed a battery issue. Ford found the root cause of the problem one day after announcing the production stoppage, it said.

It was unknown how long the production stoppage would last, but Ford finally

New Jersey Moves to Ban New Gasoline-Powered Car Sales After 2035

Written by Sean Tucker, Kelley Blue Book
Published March 2, 2023

New Jersey will become the sixth U.S. state to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars after 2035. The state joins California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington in taking the step.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a series of executive orders intended to help the state shift to “100% clean energy by 2035.” One of the measures “initiates the process” of adopting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II mandate, which will require all cars and light trucks to be emissions-free by 2035.

...

Wake Tech Gears Up for More Electric Vehicles on the Road

Written by Dan Barkin, Business North Carolina
Published March 1, 2023

Recently, I was in North Raleigh, NC, in what looked like the service area of a big car dealership, but was actually a big community college lab, the Capital Automotive Group laboratory.

It has been nearly a year since Wake Tech dedicated the new $42 million Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence. The center is located at the college’s Scott Northern Wake Campus, right off Interstate 540, aka the Outer Loop. Its opening allowed Wake Tech to triple the number of students in its automotive systems technology program and add a new degree program in collision

Rivian, MINI Top J.D. Power EV Ownership Satisfaction Survey

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 28, 2023

The RivianR1T and MINICooper Electric led in J.D. Power’s EV ownership satisfaction survey, beating out Tesla, Ford, Hyundai/Kia and more.

While specifications and professional reviews often play a significant role when car buyers are looking to buy their next vehicle, the thoughts and experiences of other recent customers can also be a considerable help. 

According to J.D. Power’s survey, which compiles a series of data points from a customer survey into a score on a 1,000-point scale, the Rivian R1T

LG Energy Solution, Honda Break Ground on Ohio EV Battery Plant

PublishedFeb. 28, 2023

Hondaand LG Energy Solution on Feb. 28 held the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new joint venture EV battery plant more than 2 million square feet in size, to be located in Fayette County, near Jeffersonville, OH.

The two companies have committed to invest $3.5 billion in the new joint venture (JV) facility, with their overall investment projected to reach $4.4 billion. The facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, with plans to create 2,200 jobs, and the aim for approximately 40GWh of annual production capacity.

The JV company will deliver lithium-ion batteries with cutting-edge

Stellantis Announces $155 Million Investment in 3 Indiana Plants

PublishedFeb. 28, 2023

Stellantisannounced Feb. 28 it will invest a total of $155 million in three Kokomo, IN, plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and to support the goal of 50% battery-electric sales in the U.S. by 2030.

With more than 25 battery-electric vehicle (BEV) launches planned in the U.S. between now and 2030, the Kokomo-built EDM will be integrated into vehicles designed on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.

Offering an all-in-one solution for electric-vehicle powertrains, the EDM consists of three main components---the electric

Average MI-Based BlueOval Factory Wage Anticipated at $45,136

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Feb. 28, 2023

Should Michigan taxpayers foot $700,000 per job created for 2,500 jobs at the new Fordfactory that will pay an average wage of $45,136?

That’s the question Michigan lawmakers will soon decide for the BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall.

The $3.5 billion factory aims to drop the cost of electric vehicles via lithium iron phosphate batteries and pump out 2 million vehicles globally by 2026. The factory will be funded by at

Tesla Cybertruck's Ultra-Hard Cold-Rolled Steel Confirmed

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Feb. 28, 2023

The TeslaCybertruck will be unlike any other vehicle on the road today, not only thanks to its crazy design, but also the material it's made of and how its structure works.

The Cybertruck will wear a body that's actually an exoskeleton made of ultra-hard cold-rolled stainless steel. Tesla just applied for a patent for the material, and CEO Elon Muskconfirmed it.

It has been known from the beginning the Cybertruck was to be made of cold-rolled stainless steel, one of the reasons it's to be so unique. It also won't be painted. The Tesla electric pickup truck

Honda EV Production Getting Closer with Battery Recycling Deal

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 28, 2023

Hondahas partnered with Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements to recycle lithium-ion batteries and recuperate the elements into new cells.

As Honda works towards selling its first electric vehicle, the Honda Prologue, in 2024, its production and manufacturing chops for EVs are finally taking form. This includes everything from battery and drivetrain