Chevrolet Bolt EV to Be Discontinued by End of 2023

Written by Mark Kane, InsideEVs
Published April 25, 2023

Production of the ChevroletBolt EV and Bolt EUV electric cars at the plant in Orion Township, MI, will come to an end in late 2023, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced during the company's first-quarter earnings call.

According to the plan, through an investment of around $4 billion, the site will be prepared for all-new Ultiummodels---specifically the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMCSierra, all-electric pickups. Those new models are expected to enter production at the plant in 2024.

The good news for the plant is the overall EV production will increase. Employment is promised to triple next year. With another plant engaged in the Ultium platform, GM would like to increase its manufacturing output to 600,000 units annually---all BEV models.

On the other hand, in the short-term, consumers might lose access to a really affordable all-electric car. The starting price for the Bolt EV was just $26,500, and effectively less than $20,000 when deducting the federal tax credit.

This year, Chevrolet will launch two new Ultium-based electric cars, the Blazer EV this summer and the Equinox EV this fall, which will be the new entry-level BEVs from the brand. Those next-generation electric models are expected to be better in every way---bigger, with more range, power and features as well as faster charging---but probably also a slightly higher price point of around $30,000 for the base version.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV, later joined by the Bolt EUV version, was introduced in the U.S. in 2016. Since then, more than 161,000 have been sold. The Bolt EV/EUV achieved a huge sales record of 19,700 units in the first quarter of 2023. The target production and sales rate is 70,000 units per year globally, mostly in the U.S.

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Chevrolet Releases Silverado EV’s Towing Capacity Test Results

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Jan. 23, 2023

General Motors said the ChevroletSilverado EV RST---expected to hit the market by 2024--will offer up to 10,000 pounds of max towing on some variants.

Chevrolet aims to push the Silverado EV WT (Work Truck) model's towing capacity up to 20,000 pounds.

In a recent validation test, Chevrolet’s engineering team hitched a 7,700-pound RV to a 2024 Silverado EV WT. The test was conducted with the Silverado EV running at low and high speeds. The all-electric pickup truck reportedly drove smoothly and responded well to driver feedback.

“It’s so important for full-size truck customers to be able to tow, haul and do everything that they can do in a traditional pickup truck. And I think we’ve really set the bar and really made an incredible product,” said Nichole Kraatz, a vehicle chief engineer.

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is estimated to have 400 miles of range on a full charge, and produce 664 horsepower with more than 780 lb-ft of torque while in Wide Open Watts Mode. As for charging, the electric Silverado is expected to charge up to 350kW with DC charging.

The Silverado EV RST First Edition will be the first version to hit the market, and will come with features like four-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension and Super Cruise. It also features a 17-inch infotainment screen and GM’s semi-autonomous driving software.

Silverado EV RST First Edition production is scheduled to start this fall. Chevrolet plans to debut the RST First Edition with an MSRP of more than $105,000.

Chevrolet plans to unveil the Silverado EV WT model this spring.

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Chevy Bolt EV That Missed Battery Recall Spontaneously Combusts in MA Driveway

Written by Chris Chilton, CarScoops
Published Aug. 9, 2023

A 2021 ChevyBolt caught fire outside its owner's house in Massachusetts---a blaze that might not have happened at all if the Bolt had been repaired as part of a recall announced by GMin 2021 when it discovered some EVs were catching fire due to faulty batteries. 

The owner of the Bolt told reporters the car had not been updated. “They had no batteries to give us, so we were waiting,” she said in an interview with WCVB Channel 5 Boston. 

GM originally announced it would replace the entire battery pack of every Bolt EV built between 2017 and 2022, but changed its stance this year, saying dealers would now only install software to monitor the battery’s condition.

The fact the car was parked outside gave emergency services good access to it when they were called out around 4:15 a.m. to the house in Great Hill Estates in Wareham. But extinguishing the blaze still turned into a mammoth job. Fire crews managed to put out the initial fire and continued to wet the car down, but the car’s lithium-ion battery ignited again 30 minutes later.

In total, the Wareham Fire Department spent three hours on the scene and used 11,000 gallons of water to ensure the Bolt was no longer a fire risk. The team used a special hose attachment that slides along the ground under an EV’s floor and cools the battery from below. The car apparently had already been charged and the owner confirmed the Bolt was not plugged in at the time, so the fire seems to have started spontaneously.

Fortunately, there were no injuries, though that’s partly thanks to the Chevy being parked out on the driveway. 

“If this vehicle had been parked in a garage the results could have been disastrous,” Incident Commander Chief John Kelley said.

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Chevy Silverado EV Won't Get Tesla’s NACS Port Until 2025 Model Year

Written by Iulian Dnistran, Inside EVs
Published June 28, 2023

General Motors doesn’t expect to equip the all-new ChevroletSilverado EV pickup with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector until the 2025 model year, according to Reuters.

The first units of the 2024 Silverado all-electric pickup are rolling off the assembly line at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant, with deliveries expected to reach fleet customers in a few weeks.

As the first all-new GM vehicle to go into production after the deal with Tesla was announced in early June, maybe some customers were expecting to see the NACS inlet already fitted to the Silverado, but this will not be the case.

The collaboration between General Motors and Tesla, which will allow drivers of GM-made EVs to charge at the 12,000+ Supercharger stations across the U.S. and Canada, means compatible vehicles will gain access to Tesla’s network from early 2024 with the help of an adapter, and starting in 2025, GM will fit the NACS inlet to its vehicles at the factory.

The Silverado is no exception here, a fact underlined by GM Energy executive Derek Sequeira, who said at the model’s launch the company will only have charging adapters available for the new pickup in early 2024.

In other words, buyers of the 2024 Chevy Silverado will be no different from FordF-150 Lightning owners or RivianR1T drivers, all of whom will need an adapter to hook into one of Tesla’s Superchargers until 2025. That’s because both Ford and Rivian have announced identical deals, gaining access to the vast DC fast charging network constantly ranked as the most reliable EV charging network in the country, with almost-perfect uptime year after year.

In related news, the entry-level, $40,000 Chevy Silverado EV is officially dead, meaning the most affordable electric Silverado now starts at $74,800 for the 3WT trim, which will soon go into production as a fleet model.

Currently, the Silverado EV 4WT fleet version, already being manufactured, starts at $79,800, while the top-spec Silverado EV RST, which will be available in the fall for retail customers, has an MSRP of $106,895.

To make things a bit sweeter, Chevrolet officials promised lower-trim “competitively priced” variants of the electric truck will become available next year, stopping short of offering hard numbers, at least for now.

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CIC Speakers Focus on Collision Industry Preparedness for EVs

Written by John Yoswick, Autobody News
Published July 5, 2023

Back in 2019, when Jeff Peevy was chairman of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), he started placing an empty chair on the stage as a reminder to attendees of an important industry constituent not generally represented at the meetings: the consumer.

“Those families who ride in the cars that our industry repairs should be at the forefront of our thoughts,” Peevy said at one CIC meeting that year.

Now the vice president of technical products, programs and services for I-CAR, Peevy said the lack of interest he sees in getting technicians trained to work on electric vehicles (EVs) has him concerned for more than just consumers.

“I see our industry standing on the tracks looking at a freight train coming full speed at us, and we’re just staring at the light,” Peevy said from the floor of CIC this spring. “When we look at the number of those in the industry---regardless of whether it’s repairers or insurers---who have expressed any interest in educating themselves on EVs, it’s shameful, to be honest with you. I think we’re going to need to put another chair up there [on the CIC stage] to represent those who are involved in the repair of electric vehicles, because I’m not sure the technicians and those laying hands on the vehicles have any idea of the danger they are being put in.

"My question is: How many shops are going to turn an EV away when they see it as a job they can do? Yet they may have no idea what they are getting into. I think as an industry we need to search our soul, and become honest about getting educated.”

One MSO's EV Approach

Employee safety was cited as a key reason that even the country’s largest multi-shop operation is taking a conservative approach to gearing up for EV repair. Jeff Brewer, director of EV strategies and OEM certifications for Caliber Collision, said as of this spring, just 21 of the company’s more than 1,700 locations were specifically trained and equipped for EV repair.

“Of those, there’s a few that that’s all they work on,” Brewer said at CIC. “We’re still drinking from the fire hose. We started two years ago and there’s still much we don’t know. It’s really evolving. We have a lot of strategic partners---fleet accounts, insurance accounts or OEM accounts---that would like to see us tool up quicker. We just can’t. We’re taking a very conservative slow approach to it, first and foremost focused on employee safety.”

Space is another consideration, he said. Go to your shop’s back lot, he suggested, and map out the 50 feet of space you’ll need around an EV towed in with significant damage that needs to be quarantined.

“But at the end of the day, it is manageable, it is doable,” Brewer said. “And we don’t really have a choice. I will tell you, when you get to the point---and I imagine a lot of you are already there---that you hang a sign up that says you’re EV-ready, get ready, because you will be swamped. It’s less than 20% of the industry that’s really proactively going after this, creating the solutions.”

He said with past vehicle technologies, the industry had the luxury of a slow roll-out, a tendency to “fake it until you make it.” He pointed to vehicle scanning as an example of a technology the industry was able to adapt to over time. EV repair is not like that, he said.

“This is not a technology that we can slow roll,” he said. “Our company has decided this is not a situation where we can just teach the average collision repair technician another trick.”

Like it or not, he said, EV repair requires a collision repair business “to very quickly be in the mechanical business.” He said this is particularly true for those working with new EV entrant automakers, such as Rivianand Lucid, which require certified body shops to be “full service” in terms of both body and mechanical repair.

“Eighty percent of the industry still doesn’t get that,” Brewer said.

Careful Diagnosis Needed

That need for expansion beyond traditional body and paint work was echoed by another speaker at CIC, Mark Quarto of Quarto Technical Services. Earlier in his career, Quarto spent 28 years with General Motorsdeveloping propulsion and battery pack systems. He said particularly with electric vehicles, collision repair businesses will need a thorough intake system that includes looking at more than basic scans and diagnostic trouble codes.

“That data is good, but there are some situations which there won’t be a trouble code but there’s going to be something that’s nearing failure,” Quarto said at CIC. “Sometimes knitting some of the data together helps someone to know how close something is to a failure. So knowing what data to look at, how to look at it, and how to knit some of that together can be helpful. I know in the collision industry, the high voltage electrical stuff especially has not been in the DNA. But it’s going to have to be. You’re going to have to evolve into it.”

Dalan Zartman of the Energy Security Agency said a single thermal image scan of an EV is often insufficient to determine if the battery pack is experiencing thermal runaway. There is often too much between the outer layer of the battery pack enclosure being scanned and the actual battery cells, he said.

CIC Speakers Focus on Collision Industry Preparedness for EVs (article continued)

A thermal imaging camera with a scope can be used to detect lithium-ion battery off-gassing that cannot be seen with the naked eye in addition to ongoing temperature scans to determine if there is an upward trend. A four-gas meter should also be used within 4 feet of the EV to detect carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Zartman said fire codes “are never going to catch up with how fast this industry is evolving,” so shops may not be able to get a lot of helpful guidance from fire marshals about how to set up space for EV repair or storage. Insurance underwriters may be a better resource, he suggested.

“I would encourage you to look at the spaces where you are operating on the vehicles and have really strong protocols for rapid removal of vehicles,” he said. “If a vehicle starts going through a thermal runaway, have a practiced, planned process in place about how you protect your personnel, and how to remove the fuel source from the building.”

He also recommended making wherever EV batteries are stored “very fire resistant” and isolated from the rest of a shop's structures.

“Because the reality of every sprinkler system on the planet is it’s going to be designed to protect the building but it is not going to put out a battery fire if you have one and have multiple battery packs in a space,” Zartman said. “You will lose all the contents of that room.”

Importance of Billing Consistently

As at every CIC, the agenda included a variety of topics. During one panel discussion for example, a shop owner discussed seeing differences in what some insurance companies will pay for versus other companies. Ohio attorney Erica Eversman offered a caution about billing consistently no matter who is paying for the vehicle repairs.

“If you have a good company, so to speak, that pays, you want to keep that good company paying well,” Eversman said. “They need to see that you are always demanding the same thing no matter who the carrier is. Because they’re going to be looking at documents in subrogation,” and you don’t want them to see, “Oh, well, you charged us for this but you didn’t charge that other insurance carrier for that.”

Apply the same business and billing practices across all customers, irrespective of whether the job is self-paid or paid for by any insurer, Eversman suggested.

CIECA Forms Electric Vehicle (EV) & Battery Committee

PublishedFeb. 20, 2023

CIECAhas announced the formation of a new Standards Development Committee focused on electric vehicles (EVs) and electric batteries. The committee will be chaired by Frank Phillips, senior manager of Certified Collision North America for Rivian; Jake Rodenroth, North American body repair program operations manager for Lucid Motors; and Ginny Whelan, senior consultant for the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA).

The first meeting is March 1. All industry stakeholders, including CIECA and non-CIECA members, are invited to join.

In 2022, CIECA’s Recycled Parts and Inventory Committee, chaired by Whelan, was discussing recycled EV parts and found questions kept arising about how an EV’s lifecycle and batteries would impact recycled parts. As a result, the EV Committee was formed.

The committee will bring together companies and individuals from all industry segments to discuss how EVs will change the current business workflows and data. Committee members will identify new data sources, access and sharing requirements, connectivity methodologies, workflows and terminology.

“The goal is to create new workflows that will show the lifecycle of an EV and its battery,” said Paulette Reed, CIECA’s technical project manager. “The workflows will then be used to generate new messages and data elements so the industry will be able to continue sharing data electronically.”

Whelan foresees the committee will address the safe handling of an EV, the impact of parts and materials on the collision repair process, and the availability of charging stations. She said the committee will also likely discuss EV battery issues, such as mining, manufacturing and battery strength.

“I think the safety component is definitely something worth spotlighting and ensuring that the industry has a good understanding of,” said Phillips. “We want the industry to have the proper knowledge and understand what it takes to repair these vehicles.”

“I think the message is market readiness,” said Rodenroth. “We want to ensure all entities of the industry are ready and understand the lifecycle of the EV, what they are working on and how to work on it.”

To join the committee, click here.

CIECA has 27 product and project standards development committees focusing on creating standards to address industry needs. For more information about joining a committee, visit www.cieca.com/About/committees or contact Paulette Reed at paulette@cieca.com.

Source: CIECA

Colorado EV Plan Will Not Ban ICE Engines

Written by SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
Published Dec. 28, 2022

Despite being a CARB state, the current draft of Colorado's 2023 EV Plan will not follow California by banning the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles.

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are currently drafting the state’s 2023 EV Plan.

SEMAbelieves Coloradans, not the government, should be allowed to choose the type of vehicle technology that best serves them and their families, and encourages its members and enthusiasts to submit comments to the Colorado Energy Office by the Dec. 31 deadline. The state aims to issue its final plan in late January or early February.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

Source: SEMA

Colorado Hikes EV Tax Credit to $5,000 On Top of $7,500 Federal Credit

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published June 1, 2023

Colorado will soon become the state with the most generous EV tax credits in the U.S., offering electric vehicle buyers a $5,000 credit that can be stacked with up to $7,500 in federal incentives.

The Colorado legislature passed several bills in May designed to help accelerate the adoption of cleaner transportation, complementing the Inflation Reduction Act and American Recovery Act to incentivize consumers to buy new electric vehicles and home appliances.

Gov. Jared Polis signed HB23-1272, which not only increases and extends the state EV tax credit for passenger cars, but also for electric medium and heavy-duty trucks. The bill also sets up a new statewide point-of-sale incentive for e-bikes and expands tax credits for in-home heat pumps.

Starting July 1, the Colorado EV tax credit increases from the current $2,000 to $5,000 for vehicles with a starting MSRP up to $80,000. This is a significant rise that translates into total potential tax credits---state plus federal---of $12,500, assuming the consumer qualifies for both.

But wait, it gets even more interesting. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, the new bill also establishes an additional tax credit of $2,500 for EVs with an MSRP under $35,000. This means Colorado residents who buy an EV that costs under $35,000 will get both the $5,000 state EV tax credit and the $2,500 additional incentive---on top of the $7,500 federal tax credit. 

Under this best-case scenario, Colorado residents could get a total of $15,000 in state and federal incentives by stacking all three tax credits. This means Tesla's rumored $25,000 compact car would effectively cost eligible Colorado residents just $10,000.

The Colorado state EV tax credit steps down annually through 2029. It's worth noting Colorado's EV tax credit used to be $5,000 but was reduced to $2,000 in 2021.

Moving on to electric trucks, the bill increases the state tax credit to $12,000 for medium and heavy-duty (MHDV) electric trucks through 2032. This is designed to help fleets in Colorado comply with the recently adopted Advanced Clean Truck and Low NOX rules. The tax credits can be layered with federal tax credit for maximum savings up to $40,000 per truck.

Finally, the bill establishes a new statewide incentive of $450 for e-bikes beginning April 2024. The credit is taken at point-of-sale, which means the customer experiences it as a direct discount when paying for the bike.

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Colorado Proposes Generous EV Incentives for New Buyers

Written by Suvrat Kothari, InsideEVs
Published Aug. 11, 2023

Colorado could soon compete with California for maximum incentives offered on electric vehicle purchases. A new report indicates that Colorado EV buyers can save thousands of dollars on new and used EV purchases.

Gov. Jared Polis’ administration aims to add nearly 1 million light-duty EVs on Colorado’s streets by the end of the decade, a significant increase from the current 86,000 EVs now on its roads, reported Colorado Public Radio News.

To meet this ambitious target, buyers would need to begin adopting zero-emissions vehicles in the coming years, something the government plans to encourage with generous rebates.

Some of those incentives include a $5,000 state tax credit for vehicles purchased or leased after July 1, 2023. Then you have an additional $2,500 low-cost EV tax credit available from January 2024 onwards.

Buyers can also exchange their vehicles for up to $6,000, and gain $5,500 in rebates from the electric utility and natural gas company Xcel Energy. And of course, the $7,500 federal tax credit is available nationwide.

A previous version of this article stated Colorado residents could combine all of the aforementioned incentives for a total of $26,500 in savings, but that's not the case. The Colorado Energy Office told InsideEVs that "given the various requirements and limitations of each of these incentives, one individual would not currently be able to take advantage of all these incentives at once."

The low-cost EV tax credit is applicable to cars priced under $35,000---and only a handful of options are available currently, including the soon-to-be-discontinued ChevroletBolt EV (although its successor is in the works), NissanLeaf, HyundaiKona Electric and the MiniCooper SE, among others. However, most of these do not qualify for the federal tax credit due to the critical minerals requirement.

The state is also offering credits of up to $12,000 for hybrid and pure electric trucks. To qualify, the commercial vehicles must be new, registered in Colorado, have a battery capacity of at least four kilowatt-hours, and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds. Even the likes of the Hummer EV could qualify for this credit, given its GVWR of more than 9,000 pounds.

The $5,000 state tax credit isn’t new and has been around since 2018, but the additional incentives appear relatively new, which EV buyers can combine to obtain substantial savings.

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Colorado Trying to Boost EVs Tenfold by 2030 with Thousands in Rebates, Credits

Written by Shirleen Guerra, The Center Square
Published Sept. 22, 2023

By handing out thousands in rebates and credits, the state of Colorado has an ambitious plan to get more electric vehicles on the road.

There are up to $26,000 in state and federal subsidies available to Colorado motorists looking to buy electric vehicles as part of the state's plan to increase the number of EVs on roads by 2030 by more than tenfold.

The state's goal is to have 940,000 EVs in the light-duty sector on the road within seven years. As of January, there were 72,840 EVs on the road in Colorado, according to Drive Electric Colorado.

The Colorado Energy Office said while $26,000 in different incentives are available, motorists wouldn't be eligible for all $26,000 at the same time.

"For example, the Xcel Energy EV rebates are not stackable with the state EV tax credits, so Coloradans who qualify for the Xcel rebate would need to choose between using the Xcel rebate or using the state tax credits," Ari Rosenblum, public information officer for the Colorado Energy Office, told The Center Square in an email. "Additionally, the federal tax credit has vehicle requirements that exclude many of the EV models currently on the market. Until more vehicle manufacturers come into compliance with these requirements, Coloradans may not be able to use the federal tax credit for a discount on the vehicle they would like to purchase.

"The federal tax credit is also non-refundable, which means that lower-income individuals may not owe enough in federal taxes to take advantage of the full $7,500 federal tax credit," Rosenblum added.

The Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit was increased to $5,000 on July 1 for the purchase or lease of a qualifying electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It doesn't apply to electric, plug-in or hybrid trucks.

From 2016 to 2020 the number of credits given out has increased by 66%, going from 3,058 to 5,086, according to the state. The state gave out $20.1 million in Innovative Motor Vehicle Credits in 2020.

The state started the Vehicle Exchange Colorado program at the end of August. It helps people under a specified income replace their high-emitting vehicles with EVs and partially cover the upfront cost. A three-person household must have a household income of $85,200 or below to be eligible for a rebate.

EVs eligible for the Vehicle Exchange Colorado program must have a sticker price of $50,000 or less.

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Connected Vehicle Technology Becoming Key Selling Point for EV Adoption

PublishedAug. 15, 2023

New-car buyer appetites for electric vehicles (EVs) are evolving and connected vehicle technology is becoming a key selling point for EV adoption, according to new study findings from Escalent, a data analytics and advisory firm.

Connected vehicle technology is becoming more of an expected EV benefit, rising from 26% in 2022 to 33% in 2023 for "EV intenders," consumers who are more than 15 times more likely to purchase an EV than the average new-car buyer, according to Escalent’s research.

“There has been a notable shift in what new-car buyers want in an EV, and state-of-the-art technology is rising in importance,” said Ben Lundin, insights director with Escalent’s Automotive & Mobility practice. “We’ve seen this trend blossom since launching our EVForward study in 2020, and as a result, we’ve updated our EVForward algorithms to reflect technological appetite, instead of environmentalism, as a key driver of EV intention for future EV buyers.”

Those are the latest findings from Escalent’s EVForward™ research program, the largest, most comprehensive study of the next generation of EV buyers that provides insight into the minds of today’s and tomorrow’s EV shoppers.

The study also found 60% of EV intenders and 54% of EV owners spend more than three hours per week in their vehicle, compared with approximately 48% of all new-car buyers. This is important because consumers who spend more time in their vehicle are more likely to be familiar with vehicle connectivity, connect their phone to their vehicle every time they drive, use existing connected car features and use OEM-provided apps.

Additionally, approximately two-thirds of all EV owners, EV intenders and luxury car owners say they will not consider an EV unless it has connected car technology.

“Nowadays, consumers expect EVs to fit seamlessly into their preexisting tech ecosystem, which is largely driven by smartphones and their home technology preferences and attitudes,” said Rich Clarke, vice president at Escalent and vehicle connectivity expert who leads the company’s new study on future adopters of connected vehicle services, Connectivity Forward™. “If an EV doesn’t interact seamlessly with future EV buyers’ connected life, it may become a barrier to purchase. On the other hand, given the growing tech orientation of future EV buyers, there is greater opportunity for connected vehicle services among EV buyers than among the general new-car buyer population.”

Additionally, connected car technology can help shoppers overcome some key EV purchase barriers. The EVForward study found features such as range alerts, range estimators, battery level status updates, battery diagnostics and charging finders/routing tools can help alleviate consumer concerns about range, battery life, access to public charging and more. Beyond addressing EV barriers, 44% of shoppers believe connected vehicle services would make EV ownership more convenient.

As automakers ramp up production of new EV models and EVs make up a higher percentage of new-car sales than ever, the findings also revealed EV intenders make up a larger portion of the new-car buyer marketplace, now sitting at 25%, up from 21% in 2022. Meanwhile, the share of "EV open" has fallen from 40% in 2022 to 35% in 2023, reflecting how new-car buyers who are receptive to purchasing an EV may be climbing up the EV adoption ladder, with EV owners increasing from 1% in 2022 to 3% in 2023.

This trend is likely to continue as more consumers are becoming familiar with and more likely to consider EVs:

• 37% of new-car shoppers report they’ve either driven an EV or know the powertrain well in 2023, compared with 32% in 2022.
• 40% report knowing at least a few friends or family who own an EV, compared with 34% in 2022.
• 43% perceive EVs to be a practical option, compared with 39% in 2022.
• EV consideration rose to 38%, up from 35% in 2022.

“We’re seeing new-car buyers increasingly recognize how an EV can fit into their life. This is likely tied to increased awareness of public charging, the national EV infrastructure buildout, and the release of new and compelling EV models,” said K.C. Boyce, vice president with the Automotive & Mobility and Energy practices at Escalent. “Consumers not only expect a certain level of innovation in EVs, but there’s a growing number who consider connected car technology to be a key element for making EV ownership more reassuring and rewarding. The takeaway for industry players is that delivering EVs to the early majority goes hand in hand with integrating cutting-edge connected vehicle services that address specific EV barriers and enhance the overall EV driving experience.”

To learn more about the study, visit escalent.co.

Source: Escalent

Court Rules Rivian, Lucid May Sell Vehicles Direct to Consumers in Illinois

Written by Seyfarth Shaw, JD Supra
Published Jan. 20, 2023

On Dec. 19, an Illinois state trial court issued an order dismissing, with prejudice, a complaint filed by the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association (IADA) and numerous individual franchised dealers against Rivian, Lucidand the Illinois Secretary of State.

Rivian and Lucid are EV manufacturers that sell their vehicles direct to consumers rather than through franchised dealers. In 2021, the Secretary of State granted Rivian and Lucid motor vehicle dealer licenses allowing them to sell their vehicles directly in Illinois.

In their complaint, plaintiffs sought a declaration that Illinois law requires Rivian and Lucid to sell new motor vehicles only through franchised dealers, an injunction prohibiting them from selling vehicles directly to consumers in Illinois, and an order directing the Secretary of State to revoke the licenses that had been issued to them.

Several years earlier, the IADA had challenged the issuance of a dealer license to Tesla---another EV manufacturer that uses a direct-to-consumer model---but ultimately joined an administrative consent decree allowing Tesla to continue operating 13 dealerships in Illinois.

While the parties spent “significant argument on the policy merits of their respective positions,” the court framed the dispute as whether relevant Illinois law prohibited the direct-to-consumer business model proposed by Rivian and Lucid.

Under Illinois law, all persons must be licensed to sell new motor vehicles and no person can obtain such a license unless it has a written contract with a manufacturer to sell vehicles and an established place of business.

Plaintiffs argued the only persons who may be licensed under this provision are franchisees, because a manufacturer cannot contract with itself to sell new motor vehicles. The court disagreed, holding the mandatory contract provision does not apply to manufacturers seeking to sell their own products and no other statutory language specifically prohibits manufacturers from being licensed motor vehicle dealers.

The court noted the act defined “motor vehicle dealer” and “franchisee” separately, and those definitions contemplated that not all motor vehicle dealers would be franchisees.

The court found the Illinois legislature could have excluded manufacturers from selling vehicles or obtaining a dealer license but did not do so, and held “the court declines to nevertheless read such an exclusion into the law via a tortured application of inapplicable requirements.”

The court also noted the Illinois legislature, in 2017, rejected an amendment the IADA proposed that would have explicitly prohibited manufacturers from selling vehicles similar to what other states---such as Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan and South Carolina---have enacted. The court appeared to chide IADA for seeking to prevent Rivian and Lucid from obtaining dealer licenses, when it had previously agreed Tesla could sell direct to consumers.

The court also rejected plaintiffs’ claim that allowing Rivian and Lucid to sell direct violates their due process rights by creating a “bypass system” that harms the “established franchise system,” holding that these terms have no basis in law and “there is no statutory requirement to participate in that ‘[established franchise] system.’”

The court also commented it is unclear how unfair competition concerns between manufacturers with their own franchisees would apply to manufacturers, like Rivian and Lucid, that sell their own vehicles.

While the court held Illinois law does not prohibit a newly-established manufacturer from obtaining a dealer’s license and Rivian and Lucid may continue to sell direct to consumers in Illinois, it did not specifically address whether unfair competition concerns would prohibit traditional OEMs, with existing franchisees, from selling vehicles directly to consumers in Illinois.

In that regard, the court did not confront whether permitting a manufacturer to act as a dealer of its own products would undercut the act’s prohibition on a manufacturer owning or operating a place of business as a motor vehicle franchisee or the act’s limitation on manufacturers granting an additional franchise in the relevant market area of an existing franchisee.

Those prohibitions are not implicated in the case of a newly-established manufacturer which does not intend to establish franchised dealers, but franchisees will likely argue they prohibit a traditional OEM with an established franchise network from attempting to act as a dealer of its own products.

Stay tuned, as the plaintiffs are sure to appeal this decision.

We thank JD Supra for reprint permission.

Court Upholds Minnesota’s ‘Clean Car Rule’ Tied to California

Written by Steve Karnowski, Associated Press
Published Feb. 1, 2023

The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Jan. 30 upheld the state’s “Clean Car Rule,” which ties the state’s vehicle emission standards to California regulations, as judges accepted assurances that California’s planned phase-out of gasoline-powered cars won’t automatically apply in Minnesota.

A three-judge panel rejected the arguments of Minnesota’s auto dealers, who argued state pollution regulators exceeded their authority and unconstitutionally delegated their rulemaking authority to California.

The appeals court concluded that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency acted within its statutory authority and that the state’s rule is therefore valid.

To read more, see Transport Topics.

Cox Automotive Pilots New Mobile EV Battery Health Tool

PublishedJan. 24, 2023

Trust matters when it comes to car buying in both wholesale and retail. To drive confidence and transparency in the new and used EV market and help optimize battery first life, Cox Automotive on Jan. 24 announced the next phase of its pioneering approach to EV Battery Health scoring and diagnostics.

The company will set the foundation for the industry standard in EV battery inspection and valuation with its VIN-specific battery grading system unlike any other solution available today. The pilot of Cox Automotive's EV Battery Health mobile app and Bluetooth® dongle will launch at 10 Manheimlocations across the U.S.---Pennsylvania, Southern California, San Francisco, Riverside, Nevada, Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, Nashville and Portland.

"We take pride in our EV battery diagnostic tool and grading system, and the benefits it brings the secondary vehicle market as an independent third-party standard for EV battery health are unmatched in the industry," said Lea Malloy, AVP of EV battery solutions, Cox Automotive Mobility. "The battery pack is the single most expensive part of an EV, accounting for 30% to 40% of the total cost of the vehicle. With the anticipated influx of used EVs entering the market, our battery health score will help create confidence and transparency at the point of sale."

Providing transparent and accurate vehicle valuations is nothing new for Cox Automotive. Kelley Blue Book has equipped owners and buyers with trusted new car pricing and used retail values for nearly 100 years, and the Manheim Market Report, fueled by millions of transactions in the world's largest wholesale automotive marketplace each year, continues to be the premier indicator of wholesale values.

With more than 28 million used battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles scheduled to infiltrate the U.S. car parc by 2030, Cox Automotive's leadership will power this electric marketplace.

VIN-Specific EV Battery Health Score---More than a Number

Unlike the grading systems of other EV battery diagnostic tools, which provide a general battery estimate based on make and model, Cox Automotive's mobile Battery Health tool directly evaluates each car and provides VIN-specific information, vital in capturing accurate information around the health of the battery.

The easy-to-use tool measures current battery condition, historical battery data (times, temperatures and types of charges) and performance, which the company's patented health algorithm then uses to produce a VIN-specific battery score ranging from one to five. That score, along with information on the battery's current estimated range will be included in the EV Battery Health Report.

"To meet the future growth of EVs at our Manheim locations, we have been investing in an infrastructure to service and support our clients' future EV battery needs," said Grace Huang, president of Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions. "Creating a trusted battery health score supports our efforts to build an industry standard for battery health, while delivering the type of vehicle information clients require."

Cox Automotive's Battery Health score addresses three of the top five barriers to EV adoption among non-considerers, including consumers' concerns about low mileage range (40%), the cost of battery replacements (35%) and batteries not holding their charge (30%). Furthermore, most EV considerers (81%) would consider a used EV at 90%---or 10% degradation---capacity with a battery health certificate.

The battery pack is the single most expensive part of an EV, accounting for 30% to 40% of the total cost of the vehicle. This makes providing a VIN-specific battery health score a vital component to providing accurate used vehicle valuations. Cox Automotive's current data sample of battery health metrics collected from Manheim, which includes more than 1,200 vehicle tests, confirmed the following:

• Most, but not all, EV batteries are built to last. The average used battery health score reported was high, with an average score of 4.6. However, as batteries age, the number of outliers increase, highlighting the importance of evaluating each individual vehicle.
• The higher the battery health score, the higher the transaction price. The average vehicle sales price increased by 1% to 4% (or 2.4% on average) when earning a higher battery health score.
• Mileage is less relevant with EVs. There was an inconsistent correlation between a battery health score and mileage on the vehicle's odometer.

Cox Automotive EV Battery Solutions

Cox Automotive is committed to being the world's best battery health innovator and end-to-end EV battery lifecycle services provider, offering efficient and sustainable solutions that enable the extension of battery first lives and end-of-life reuse and pre-treatment recycling.

Source: Cox Automotive

Critics Claim EPA New Emission Standards Will End Gas Vehicles

Written by Tom Gantert, The Center Square
PublishedApril 13, 2023

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 12 announced new proposed federal vehicle emissions standards critics claim will “effectively ban gasoline and diesel vehicles” while making the U.S. dependent on China.

The EPA proposal of light and heavy-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards is for model years 2027-2032. The EPA projects its proposal could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 56% by 2032 and help increase electric vehicle light-duty sales by 67% by 2032.

“By proposing the most ambitious pollution standards ever for cars and trucks, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris administration’s promise to protect people and the planet, securing critical reductions in dangerous air and climate pollution and ensuring significant economic benefits like lower fuel and maintenance costs for families,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a media release.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers said the EPA decision to "fixate on tailpipe emissions rather than full fuel and vehicle lifecycle is a huge error that will stymie investment and artificially cap the potential of carbon abatement for liquid fuels and vehicles on the road today."

“EPA’s proposal to effectively ban gasoline and diesel vehicles is bad for consumers, the environment, our freedom of mobility and U.S. national security," American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers' President and CEO Chet Thompson said in a press release.

Henry Payne, auto columnist for The Detroit News, said the Biden administration is trying to radically transform the auto energy sector.

"A century after the alcohol prohibition era, a second temperance movement has formed to ban carbon-emitting products as immoral," Payne said in an email to The Center Square. "Popular consumer items like incandescent light bulbs, gas stoves and gas cars are targeted. The effects are already being felt as Dodgehas discontinued its successful Challenger and Daytona cars, and taxpayers are transferring $7,500 to wealthier Americans to buy expensive EVs [electric vehicles]."

Payne continued: "The Biden administration is radically transforming auto/energy sectors in a comprehensive effort to eliminate fossil fuel use. The effort appears blind to the fact that China is championing global EV adoption because they are the Saudis of battery minerals. The U.S. spent 50 years becoming energy independent and is now poised to become dependent on China for its energy sector production."

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers also raised concerns about being dependent on China for EVs.

"It’s unconscionable that the administration would propose this knowing full well that China controls 80% of global battery production capacity," Thompson said. "... and even with robust U.S. investment to fortify our own electric grid and grow our battery supply chains by a magnitude of 10, we will not come close to overtaking China’s dominant position and will be left more dependent and financially beholden to them as a result."

Tim Carroll, EPA spokesperson, responded to the criticism.

“These proposals do not mandate or ban specific technologies; they are performance-based standards for emissions, allowing each automaker to choose what set of emissions control technologies is best suited for their vehicle fleet to meet the standards," Carroll said in an email to The Center Square. 

"EPA’s analysis indicates that one pathway the industry could take is to meet the standards by increasing the percentage of electric vehicles," Carroll said. "The proposed standards are complementary with the direction the auto industry and consumers are already headed, given manufacturers’ public announcements of plans to transition their fleets to zero emission vehicles, which are supported by the historic financial incentives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.”

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters applauded the EPA's stance.

“Addressing the climate crisis will require a swift reduction in transportation pollution and the EPA’s proposed auto emissions standards are a strong step in the right direction,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters in a media release. “The EPA must now strengthen the proposed rules to reduce harmful fossil fuel emissions, something that we know is critical for the health of front line communities disproportionately impacted by pollution sources like heavy-duty diesel trucks in neighborhoods along shipping routes. These stronger rules---combined with federal clean energy investments---will help Michigan’s automakers go further and faster toward a zero emissions future while growing jobs and opportunity in the transportation sector.”

We thank The Center Square for reprint permission.

The company halted testing in all U.S. cities last year after an accident involving a pedestrian in San Francisco.

Cybertruck Production Beta Gets Seal of Approval from Musk

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 1, 2023

Teslaappears to be making steady progress in the development and upcoming production of the Cybertruck, as CEO Elon Musk said he recently reviewed the all-electric pickup truck’s production beta.

Musk’s comment was a response to a Twitterpost from a user who said the truck will be his personal vehicle once it’s released. Musk replied the Cybertruck is indeed worth the wait. 

“I was just reviewing the production beta Cybertruck. It is incredible,” Musk posted. 

Musk's comment about a production beta Cybertruck bodes well for the upcoming EV. So far, most of the sightings were of either the initial prototype unveiled in 2019 or an alpha prototype with no door handles, different wheels and a large windshield wiper.

Generally, alpha prototypes are designed to validate the fundamental technologies a product is based on. Beta prototypes are more mature, as they are mostly representative of the final product that’s going to enter production. It would seem Tesla has all but finalized the Cybertruck and is now just preparing to start of production. 

It would not be surprising if sightings of production beta Cybertrucks and, later, release candidate units are reported in the coming weeks and months. This happened when Tesla was building up to the release of the Model Y, whose release candidates were spotted multiple times by EV enthusiasts before deliveries started. 

Musk set expectations for Cybertruck production during the Q4 and FY 2022 earnings call, saying the pickup would only be in initial production this year, with its ramp happening in 2024 instead. 

“We do expect (Cybertruck) production to start maybe sometime this summer. But I always try to downplay the start of production because the start of production is always very slow. It increases exponentially, but it’s always very slow at first. So I wouldn’t put too much thought in start of production. It’s kind of when does volume production actually happen, and that’s next year,” Musk said. 

We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.

Dark Side of Tesla Autopilot: NHTSA Data Reveals 736 Crashes, 17 Deaths

Written by Suvrat Kothari, InsideEVs
Published June 13, 2023

Tesla's Autopilot, which lets the vehicle drive under supervised autonomy under certain conditions, may have been responsible for way more road accidents than previous estimates. New data reveals disturbing numbers---Autopilot was involved in 736 crashes in the U.S. since 2019, 17 of which were fatal. Eleven of those deaths have occurred since May 2022.

The shocking results were revealed in the Washington Post's analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. While the data doesn't indicate the number of accidents Tesla’s driver assistance features may have averted, the new crash figures reveal possible pitfalls of autonomous driving, at least at the current development stage.

The report also reveals the uptick in accidents could be due to the removal of radar---radio detection and ranging---from Teslas. In 2021, the brand announced it will rely solely on camera-based vision processing. Every Tesla has eight external cameras to map the surroundings.

Due to the recent spike in crashes, there are multiple ongoing investigations involving the technology, according to NHTSA. Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized the benefits of Autopilot.

The NHTSA data doesn’t capture the exact crash details. In some incidents, it is unknown whether users had the Autopilot or FSD on. There are reportedly 800,000 Teslas on U.S. roads that have Autopilot, and Tesla is pushing ahead with further development and wider implementation.

Every Tesla gets standard Autopilot features such as adaptive cruise control, which allows the vehicle to match the speed of the traffic in front of it, and accelerate or brake depending on the conditions. Standard equipment also includes auto steer, wherein the vehicle assists in steering on clearly marked lanes.

On top of that, Teslas can be equipped with Enhanced Autopilot capability, which allows the vehicle to navigate roads autonomously, and also changes lanes on its own, among other functions. Buyers can also purchase the Full-Self Driving (FSD) suite, wherein the vehicle can make active decisions based on traffic sign recognition.

Tesla clearly mentions on its website the aforementioned features do not make its vehicles completely autonomous: "The currently enabled Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous. Full autonomy will be dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience," the website says.

In February, NHTSA announced Tesla would recall 360,000 vehicles equipped with FSD beta due to the increased risk of crashes. However, there are conflicting reports of the Autopilot’s effectiveness. Tesla’s Vehicle Safety report for Q4 2022 said 35% of all Autopilot crashes occur when the vehicle is rear-ended by another vehicle. Moreover, there’s one autopilot accident every 4.8 million miles driven, per Tesla.

However, until Tesla releases the data it possesses, it would be impossible to verify its claims. For now, the NHTSA data signals the vast majority of 807 autopilot-related accidents since 2021 involved Tesla cars.

We thank InsideEVs for reprint permission.

DCR Systems’ Ohio Location Becoming Rivian Certified

PublishedJune 19, 2023

DCR Systems announced its Mentor, OH, location is becoming a RivianCertified Collision Center.

“It’s really important for our company to stay on the cutting edge of new technology and developments and be prepared to repair electric vehicles (EVs) properly in the future,” said Michael Giarrizzo, president and CEO of DCR Systems. “Having OEM certifications such as Rivian’s will help us do that.”

“We are proud to be working with this forward-thinking EV company,” said Cheryl Boswell, DCR Systems’ corporate CFO and managing partner. “Rivian, like DCR, is focused on using technology to launch this industry forward and to improve the life of our mutual consumers.”

“Working with DCR Systems has been a pleasure since the moment we walked into their shop,” said Joey Amodei, Northeast regional manager for the Rivian Certified Collision Network. “Their industry-leading processes and culture made them a no-brainer when considering them for Rivian’s Certified Collision Network. We look forward to the continued partnership with DCR Systems as we continue to grow in the Ohio market.”

DCR Systems is a dealer-based turnkey collision repair model. In addition to opening its own calibration center, Calibration Connection, the company operates nine production cells in four states---Ohio, Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina.

“Part of our business model is ensuring that vehicles are repaired according to the way the auto manufacturer intended following their procedures,” said Mandy Wynn, national training and support manager at DCR Systems. “We are very driven and part of that is keeping up with the vehicles OEMs are going to be releasing and the technology inside.”

DCR Systems approached Rivian in 2022 to discuss the certification process. After the auto manufacturer visited DCR Systems’ facility, they went through the application process together. Throughout the process, DCR Systems staff has worked closely with the Rivian team to ensure they have the required equipment and are properly trained. In addition to in-person education, Rivian has a dedicated portal with vehicle-specific training videos.

“Rivian has been extremely supportive with the onboarding process and more importantly, open to feedback provided to make the process smoother for certifying shops in the future,” said Wynn. “DCR is ready to repair Rivian’s fleet of EVs.”

In May, Wynn and DCR Systems’ team members Carrie Hehr, production lead, and Bill Raikes, master tech, attended the first Rivian Summit in Bloomington, IL, which included a tour of the OEM’s manufacturing facility.

“It’s exciting to be part of the next generation of luxury EVs,” said Wynn. “This is going to be in the history books one day.”

Wynn said the team is focused on properly repairing all EVs by following OEM procedures.

“There is nothing more important than repairing customers’ vehicles correctly,” she said.

For more information about the DCR System’s Licensing Model, visit www.dcrsystems.com/dcr-systems-business-model/in-house-model/ or email Michael Giarrizzo at mgiarrizzo@dcrsystems.net.

Source: DCR Systems

Dealerships to Invest $5.5 Billion in EV Chargers, Other Upgrades

Written by Iulian Dnistran, InsideEVs
Published June 2, 2023

The nearly 17,000 franchise dealerships in the U.S. will invest an estimated $5.5 billion in new infrastructure to sell electric vehicles, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), a car dealer trade group.

NADA didn’t elaborate on this estimate, leaving out details such as a timeline for the spend, according to Green Car Reports, but it did mention some automakers have asked dealerships to invest anywhere between $100,000 and $1 million for chargers and other upgrades to sell EVs.

NADA said these costs “do not necessarily include the specialized equipment purchases needed to service EVs or the additional costs from local utilities for extending new power lines or adding transformers" to support EV charging.

According to NADA, there are 16,733 franchise dealerships across the country today, employing nearly 2.3 million people and paying an average yearly wage of almost $89,000.

With increasing competition from automakers that rely on direct sales, like Tesla, Rivianand Lucid, traditional franchise dealers are under pressure from legacy automakers to step up their EV game. However, a recent report from Sierra Club showed 65% of car dealers don’t have any EVs on sale and 45% of dealers say they’re unwilling to sell them.

That’s despite the fact franchised dealerships in California alone lost an estimated $910 million in unrealized profit in 2022 because of competitors’ direct-to-consumer sales, according to J.D. Power.

With EV sales expected to soar in the next decade, thanks to lower starting prices, tax credits and a massive investment in public charging infrastructure, traditional dealers will need to work out if they want to stay in business or not, which is no easy task.

Recently, Ford announced dealerships will no longer be able to mark up EVs or haggle over pricing starting next year, while General Motors has looked to its dealer network to install destination chargers in communities while supporting a part of the associated costs.

We thank InsideEVs for reprint permission.

Delaware Has Given 4,207 EV Rebates for $9.7M Since 2015

The state's rebate program was launched in 2015 to accelerate EV adoption, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Oct. 17, 2023

Delaware has given 4,207 electric vehicle rebates for $9.7 million since 2015, state data says.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Program provides incentives for Delawareans and their businesses to buy or lease new battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles through the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program.

The program offers $2,500 for battery electric vehicles with a base manufacturer's suggested retail price of $50,000 or less and $1,000 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with a base manufacturer's suggested retail price of $50,000 or less.

“Electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, with many manufacturers committing to transition their fleets to zero emission vehicles,” Natural Resources Secretary Shawn M. Garvinsaid in an April statement. “Additionally, electric vehicle adoption is a key strategy for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in our state, our country and the world.”

The rebate program was launched in 2015 to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program has provided more than $9 million in rebates to more than 4,000 EV purchasers. Since January 2023, the program has issued 391 rebates for a combined $923,500.

Delaware’s climate plan set a goal to reach 17,000 electric vehicle sales per year by 2030. State data says there are the following vehicles registered:

• 814,842 gas vehicles
• 35,367 diesel vehicles
• 23,395 electric and gas (hybrids)
• 7,597 electric vehicles
• 300 propane vehicles

Rebate data says 4,052 people received the rebate and, on average, were 49 years old. The program also subsidized the purchase of one electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle and two electric utility vehicles.

The vehicles purchased using rebates include 1,971 Teslas, 698 Fords, 436 Chevrolets, 226 Toyotasand 107 Hyundais.

The program subsidized the purchase of luxury cars, including 83 BMWs, 14 Audis, seven JaguarsI-Paces, six Mercedes-Benzes and three Porsches.

A portal allows car shoppers to redeem the rebate at the dealership or up to 90 days after purchase. The rebate program is in addition to a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control offers rebates for Level 2 charging stations through the Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Rebate program for public access, workplaces and fleets. Enhanced rebate amounts are available to incentivize installing charging stations at multi-family dwellings.

The vehicle rebate program is a cash return for vehicles purchased or leased after May 1.

As of May 1, there's a limit of two rebates per individual and six rebates for businesses, nonprofit organizations, governments, educational institutions and other eligible entities.

We thank The Center Square for reprint permission.

Delaware State Supreme Court Reverses Ban on Tesla Store Sales

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published May 16, 2023

The Delaware Supreme Court officially reversed an earlier decision that made it illegal for Teslato have a store in the state to sell its electric cars. Now, Tesla can own its own "dealership" and move forward with its direct-to-consumer sales strategy in the state.

Tesla still can't sell its EVs in several U.S. states since it relies on direct sales. Essentially, lawmakers in the states that oppose Tesla sales believe the company would be breaking the law by owning its own dealerships and selling its own cars without a middle man. In such states, Tesla would have to agree to use a franchised dealership model to sell its electric vehicles.

In Delaware, a Superior Court decision denied Tesla the right to own its own dealership. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles used the law to reject Tesla's application to open a store in the state. The Delaware DMV rejected the application on the basis the law prohibits automakers from owning their own dealerships in the state. Tesla appealed the decision, which went to the Delaware Supreme Court, resulting in another win for the EV maker.

Like some other states, Delaware did, at one time, let Tesla have a gallery store where it could show off its EVs. However, even though people could see them, they weren't allowed to buy them. Nonetheless, Tesla moved forward with opening a service center in the state as well. People in Delaware who wanted to buy a Tesla, or who visited the gallery and voiced interest, could complete their purchase in a neighboring state or online.

Now that Delaware has a Tesla service center and Supercharger stations, the cars are becoming popular in the state. This came despite the workarounds necessary for completing a Tesla purchase.

As far as the Supreme Court case is concerned, the ruling pointed attention to similar rulings in other states that now allow Tesla sales via the direct sales model. It pushed back against car dealership associations and multiple arguments from the Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles.

The justices in the case ruled as follows, according to Delaware Business Now: “The General Assembly enacted the Franchise Act to address the disparity in bargaining power, which permitted new motor vehicle manufacturers to exert economic pressure over their franchises. Its definitions exclude Tesla and its direct sales model, where new electric cars are not sold through franchised dealers in Delaware."

We thank InsideEVs for reprint permission.

Despite Incentives to Manufacturers, Georgia Cities Rank Poorly for EV Owners

Written by T.A. DeFeo, The Center Square
Published Sept. 26, 2023

While Georgia officials dole out billions in taxpayer-backed incentives for manufacturers of electric vehicles and related components, the state's cities don't rank particularly high in a nationwide analysis of the best cities to own an electric car.

Roof Gnome's new ranking of 2023's Best Cities to Own an Electric Car found Macon was the seventh worst city for electric vehicle owners---and 194th overall. Atlanta ranked 112th out of the 200 cities on the list and fared the best of any Georgia city.

Augusta ranked 178th, Columbus came in at No. 162, and Savannah was 149th.

A spokesperson for the study told The Center Square its sample includes the 200 largest cities across the country. Georgia cities on the list all ranked 158th for the metric weighing EV Laws and incentives, the spokesperson said.

"It looks like the incentives offered in Georgia are newer than those in most other states and haven't all been fully implemented," the spokesperson said. "This is likely a reason why the Georgia cities are ranking where they are, and I suspect they should rank higher next year."

However, there are a few bright spots for the Georgia cities.

Atlanta ranks third for the number of EV charging stations per 100,000 residents. Savannah ranks ninth for the number of hybrid car repair shops per 100,000 residents, while Macon topped the list for the fewest motor vehicle thefts per 10,000 residents.

Earlier this year, Georgia ranked 32nd for its progress on transportation electrification in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard, which assesses states' policies to promote electric vehicle adoption.

Last year, the Federal Highway Administration signed off on Georgia's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan. With the approval, the Georgia Department of Transportation could start planning how the state will spend roughly $130 million to pay for electric vehicle charging infrastructure over the next five years.

We thank The Center Square for reprint permission.

Detroit Unveils Parking Department's 100% EV Fleet

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published March 22, 2023

The City of Detroit unveiled its first department fleet to be comprised of only electric vehicles.

America’s Motor City purchased 48 ChevyBolts to be used by the Municipal Parking Department's parking enforcement workers. According to the city, each driver drives an average of 150 miles every day, making the Bolt's 259-mile range perfectly adequate. Furthermore, thanks to the low upfront cost of the Bolt compared to other EVs, its fuel savings will become evident quickly following the purchase.

The city also installed a massive 25-stall charging station.

“This is our first major step toward converting city vehicles to more environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, and I’m proud of our Municipal Parking Department and Director Keith Hutchings for leading the way,” Mayor Mike Duggan said. “Electric vehicles are going to become the new standard everywhere, and we are going to support this transition in many ways.”

The city aims to convert all of its 3,000 vehicles to electric in the coming years, though a specific electrification plan has not been announced.

Municipalities around the country, much like Detroit, are looking to implement EVs, primarily within their fleet of police vehicles, which are often the best use case for electrification. Officers often drive a set duration and distance daily, are equipped with electronic equipment that needs to stay charged, and often sit for long sections of the day.

We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.

Domino’s Launches 800 Chevrolet Bolt EVs for Pizza Delivery

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Nov. 22, 2022

Domino’s Pizza is rolling out a fleet of 800 ChevroletBolt EVs for sustainable pizza deliveries.

More than 100 custom-branded Domino’s Chevy Bolt EVs will begin delivering pizzas in November throughout the U.S., the company said. In addition, 700 more units are being prepared and will be added to the fleet in the coming months. It will be the U.S.’s largest electric pizza delivery fleet.

Domino’s has been delivering pizzas for 62 years, with the first vehicle ever used being a Volkswagen Beetle. After testing autonomous vehicles for deliveries in 2015, which is still under development, Domino’s is pushing to “lead the charge in the future of pizza delivery,” CEO Russel Weinersaid.

“Domino’s has always been on the cutting edge of pizza delivery and electric delivery cars make sense as vehicle technology continues to evolve,” he added. “We’ve made a commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and this is one way we can begin reducing our environmental impact, one delivery at a time.”

Domino’s primary motivation for switching to a partial EV fleet is maintenance and fuel costs. The company said EVs will provide zero emissions while also keeping drivers safer due to ADAS features. However, keeping maintenance costs low and keeping deliveries moving “without the financial impact of high gas prices” is explicitly mentioned in the company’s release.

“We’re excited that Domino’s has chosen the Chevrolet Bolt EV to build their electric pizza delivery fleet in the U.S.," said General Motors VP of GM Fleet Ed Peper. "Both companies are committed to bettering our environment. GM plans to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new U.S. light-duty vehicles by 2035. With an affordable price, fun driving characteristics and a 259-mile range, the Chevy Bolt EV is the future of Domino’s electrified deliveries.”

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Edmunds Announces 2023 Top Rated Awards

PublishedJan. 18, 2023

The car shopping experts at Edmundson Jan. 18 announced the winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2023.

The awards are determined by a combination of proprietary data and insights from Edmunds' extensive new vehicle testing and rating process, and the winners represent the finest vehicles on sale in 2023.

The winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2023 are:

• Top Rated Car: HondaCivic
• Top Rated Electric Car: ChevroletBolt EV
• Top Rated SUV: KiaSportage Hybrid
• Top Rated Electric SUV: HyundaiIoniq 5
• Top Rated Truck: FordF-150
• Top Rated Electric Truck: Ford F-150 Lightning

This year's collection of awards takes a fresh approach, including categories organized by powertrain---electric and internal combustion engined---rather than price---mainstream and luxury---to better reflect the shifting market and consumers' growing consideration of green vehicles.

"Consumers planning on re-entering the car market in 2023 might be surprised by how much has changed since the last time they purchased a vehicle," said Edmunds' Editor in Chief Alistair Weaver. "Navigating the influx of new vehicles and technology amid challenging economic conditions can make car shopping even more overwhelming than usual. That's why we've done the hard work, narrowing down the options to give consumers an easy place to start their search. By including EVs and gas-powered models across a range of body styles and prices, the Edmunds Top Rated 2023 list highlights the best vehicles on sale this year for almost every consumer."

The changes in Edmunds Top Rated categories for 2023 are an acknowledgment of EVs' heightened relevance for consumers due to a combination of an expanding selection, better range and efficiency, and more affordable entrants to the market. Edmunds analysts report battery electric vehicles made up 5.17% of new vehicle purchases in 2022---up from 2.5% in 2021.

Additionally, research into EVs on Edmunds.com is running well ahead of the market: EV Rankings was the most visited editorial page in 2022.

Edmunds Top Rated 2023 marks first-time wins for all of the EV category award recipients: the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford F-150 Lightning.

In the internal combustion categories, the Honda Civic is back among this year's winners after notching the Edmunds Top Rated Sedan award in 2022, and the Ford F-150 returns to the Edmunds Top Rated stage with its third consecutive Top Rated Truck award.

"Edmunds' test team sets the industry standard with rigorous instrumented testing on road and track, providing the empirical data that underpins our vehicle reviews. We drive each vehicle like it is, providing car shoppers with our unvarnished opinion," said Weaver. "It's these qualities and our unwavering commitment to unbiased, third-party balance that underscores our confidence in delivering the best car shopping guidance in the industry."

Also new for 2023 is the Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best award, recognizing the standout vehicle among Edmunds Top Rated 2023 winners, with consideration given to the vehicle's impact, innovation and relevance to car shoppers. That award will be announced Jan. 25.

For more information about the Edmunds Top Rated Awards, visit edmunds.com/toprated.

Source: Edmunds

A Ford spokesperson declined to comment on why the automaker is pushing back production on EV versions of the popular models.

With seven states taking steps to require all new passenger vehicles sold to be zero emissions by 2035, experts are looking closely at the cost and environmental impact of these cars, including their production, operation and disposal. The states include California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington.

Dr. Robert Freerks, a consultant in fuels and lubricants at RLF Enterprises, shared information during a webinar hosted by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) about whether the current infrastructure can support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

“Everyone thinks of them as zero-emissions vehicles but… they have emissions from all of the energy that went into producing them, as well as the energy required to make the electricity that drives them,” said Freerks, who has a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry and a history of studying fuels and lubricants to understand energy issues.

One of the main challenges, according to Freerks, is the electric grid is not set up to deliver the huge amounts of power needed to keep an EV fleet moving.
 
“It’s going to be an incredibly expensive increase in our electrical demand and supply to make an electric vehicle market work,” he said. “We’re not going to get there. There’s no way we are going to have zero emissions by 2050 in any realistic sense.”

However, Electrify America points to studies showing grid generation capacity is more than capable of meeting charging needs even with high EV market growth.

“There are innovative ways to support the electricity needs of the fast-growing EV industry---particularly through battery energy storage,” said Robert Barossa, president and CEO of Electrify America.

As of 2022, Electrify America installed on-site, behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BESS) at more than 160 DC-fast charging stations around the country, including more than 90 installations in California. 

“These systems store power when electricity costs are low and supplement power during high points of consumption, helping to stabilize costs and help maximize renewable energy use,” explained Barrosa.

Raw Materials Used to Produce EVs

Compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, Freerks said the raw materials needed to produce an EV are massive. While conventional cars use aluminum and iron as the primary source of their metals, EVs and their batteries rely on huge amounts of precious metals, such as copper and lithium.

“Copper is becoming in short supply and an EV has four times as much copper in it than an ICE vehicle,” he noted. “We are going to be short of a lot of raw materials that are going to make these EVs producible.”

Although there is a relatively low volume of lithium in an EV, Freerks said the price has quadrupled over the last several months. The annual average U.S. lithium carbonate price in 2021 was more than double the previous year, according to research from a U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, in January 2022.

“Metal costs are going up quickly and are going to increase the cost of batteries, and therefore, the vehicles that use them,” he said.

This is partly due to the reliance on these raw materials from other countries, such as Russia and China. 

“We’re going to end up relying on other countries… for a lot of the raw materials that make our transportation system work,” observed Freerks. 

Along with the seven states, Great Britain aims to go all-electric by 2035. 

“If they did, they would need 7.2 million battery EVs, or about 1% of the total vehicle fleet,” said Freerks. “I can’t see that happening. It would take almost all the raw materials in the world today to make one country all electric.”

Environmental Impact of EVs and Battery Production

In addition to raw material shortages and rising costs, Freerks said EV lithium-ion batteries have a massive environmental impact.

Production of the metals used in EV batteries requires mining 90,000 pounds of ore and moving 200,000 to 1.5 million pounds of earth, he calculates, which is an average of 50,000 pounds earth moved per battery.  

“To make a ton battery, which goes into a vehicle like a Tesla, you need to move between 700,000 and 1.3 million tons of earth,” he explained. “That is an incredible impact on the environment to move that much earth to get the raw materials to make a single battery.”

When evaluating the environmental impact of an EV, Freerks stressed the importance of taking a life cycle assessment, which includes looking at all energy sources and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the total lifecycle of a product.

In California, for example, Freerks said, EVs have about a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to an ICE vehicle. However, if that same car is operating in a state like Colorado, where there is a lot of coal used to make electricity, greenhouse gases are higher than a gasoline vehicle.

“There are always greenhouse gas emissions for any energy source that is produced,” explained Freerks. Even a wind farm or solar field, for example, emits greenhouse gas emissions.

“There are ways that we can get that down to zero or even negative, but it takes a lot of effort and essentially a lot of costs to get there,” he added.

Evaluating Alternative Sources of Energy  

There are a number of renewable fuels currently being used and/or evaluated. These include ethanol made from corn and cereal grains, biodiesel from fats, oils and greases, renewable diesel, and algae. In addition, Freerks said alcohol, which can be converted to hydrocarbons, is expected to become more readily available due to decreasing gasoline consumption.

Freerks said the quality and performance of these alternative sources of energy significantly depend on the process and technology used.

He foresees the potential use of waste wood products and municipal solid waste to produce renewable fuels in the future and estimates it could equate to about 4 million barrels a day of fuel---or 20% of U.S. consumption. 

“In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, we could make some pretty impressive impacts on CO2 reduction by using waste and then carbon capture and storage to further reduce carbon intensities,” he said.

Freerks believes a more stable energy source, such as nuclear, will be needed to replace some of the renewable energy. “Nuclear is a non-carbon-emitting source of energy that I think will provide us a lot of our energy in the future,” he explained. 

However, even with these renewable energy options, Freerks said it won’t be enough to displace what is currently used in terms of crude oil. 

The U.S. is the top producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world and will still be the major source of energy, he said, citing research from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

“We consume about 20 million barrels a day of oil and can only make 100,000 barrels a day of biodiesel, so it’s never going to replace crude oil,” noted Freerks. “Producing fuels from food is not a viable option… We’re never going to get the feedstocks needed to totally replace crude oil with renewable fuels from fats, oils and greases.”

However, he said, there are ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep crude oil sourcing.

If the goal is to get to net zero, Freerks said vast increases in wind and solar energy will be needed while being backed up by fossil fuel energy. He estimates 3% of U.S. total energy consumption currently comes from wind and solar. To get to net zero by 2050, Freerks said, we are going to have to grossly increase that production.

“Only in certain locations, such as California, does an EV make sense,” according to Freerks. “The reason is because California gets a lot of its power from the Pacific Northwest hydroelectric dams and also has a lot of wind and solar.”

Additional EV Battery Considerations

With the expected growth of EVs in market share, Freerks predicts industry experts will continue to research and address the outstanding issues associated with lithium-ion batteries.

Although reports show battery costs are declining and expected to dip below $100 per cell, and advances in battery types and chemistries occur almost daily, Freerks contends the opposite.

He forecasts battery costs to continue to rise and be a significant cost of EVs moving forward due to the major shortage and cost for materials.

At the same time, battery risks remain high. As a result, vehicle owners and manufacturers will have to contend with EV batteries catching on fire if they aren’t handled properly. According to Battery University, they must be put out with a foam extinguisher, CO2, ABC dry chemical, powder graphite, copper powder or sodium carbonate. If the fire can’t be extinguished, they need to burn in a controlled way. 

“There have been no major advances in design and material content to reduce metal content in the last few years,” said Freerks. “They are reaching the limit of what the chemistry of the battery can do.”

There are also outstanding questions regarding battery recycling and disposal. 

“The number of spent batteries that are going to be generated by these EVs is skyrocketing now and it’s going to get worse in 2040 if mandates for EVs become more prevalent,” said Freerks.

Infrastructure changes will need to be made to accommodate EV growth. This includes the availability of convenient charging stations. Electrify America is taking steps to meet this challenge by investing more than $2 billion in EV charging infrastructure and education. 

Barossa said Electrify America and Electrify Canada expect to double the number of chargers on the combined networks by 2026. He estimates approximately 90% of Californians live within 15 miles of an Electrify America fast charger, with 96% located within 25 miles.

“When evaluating alternative energy sources and uses, one has to consider all aspects of the problem, not just the localized issues such as direct emissions from a vehicle,” noted Freerks. “EVs may not directly emit greenhouse gas emissions as they are battery-powered, but all the other aspects of battery electric vehicles have associated emissions that are a part of the global environment even if not directly part of the local environment." 

Although there are challenges to address while transitioning to EVs, many organizations are proponents of moving forward with the widespread adoption to protect air quality and deal with the impacts of climate change.

“Transportation is a major driver of harmful emissions entering the air,” said Barossa. He estimates that before the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 55% of total nitrogen oxide emissions were caused by the transportation sector.

“Research shows that an EV is typically responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than the average new gasoline car,” he said. “Through more widespread EV adoption, a more sustainable world with cleaner air is possible.”

To watch the SEMA webinar, visit the website.

Electrify America Launches Its 1st EV Fast Charging Station in Hawaii

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published March 16, 2023

Electrify America opened its first fast charging station in Hawaii, which means the network is now present in 47 states plus the District of Columbia.

The new charging station is in Pearl City on the island of Oahu and features four 150-kilowatt chargers. Because it is an island, there was no need to install the 350-kW chargers.

A map on Electrify America's website indicates there are two more charging stations planned on Oahu, one in Kapolei and one in Honolulu. There is no info about the other islands.

According to the company, its network is the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., and currently includes 800 stations and another 112 coming soon, with 4,379 individual chargers and 116 Level 2 AC charging points.

In the following year, Electrify America and Electrify Canada expect to expand the network significantly. By 2026, the number of stations in the U.S. and Canada should exceed 1,800, while the number of individual chargers should exceed 10,000.

It means the average number of DC fast charging stalls is expected to remain the same---around 5.5 stalls per station.

The other large DC fast charging networks in the U.S. are EVgoand ChargePoint. Electrify America will likely also have to compete soon with the TeslaSupercharging network, which will be opened to non-Tesla EVs and equipped with CCS1-compatible plugs.

We thank InsideEVs for reprint permission.

Electrify America to Add NACS Connector by 2025

PublishedJune 29, 2023

Electrify America announced June 29 it will add the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector to Electrify America and Electrify Canada's fast charging networks as part of the company's commitment to broaden charging solutions for EV drivers today and in the future.

Electrify America will continue to provide the Combined Charging System (CCS-1) connector throughout its network as it transitions to also support automakers adding NACS charging ports. The company will work to offer a NACS connector option at existing and future charging stations by 2025 to make charging as convenient as possible for EV owners.

"Since our founding, we have focused on building an inclusive and open hyper-fast charging network to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles," said Robert Barrosa, president and CEO of Electrify America. "We look forward to continuing to support industry-wide standards that increase vehicle interoperability and streamline public charging."

In addition to working with The Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) and SAE International, Electrify America is participating in the newly created National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX), which will focus on strengthening the national charging infrastructure and improving the EV ownership experience.

As e-mobility accelerates, Electrify America will continue to deliver what the customers need. The addition of the NACS connector continues Electrify America's commitment to drive EV adoption forward and its focus on providing ultra-fast charging for all EVs. The fast-charging network has more than 850 charging stations with about 4,000 individual chargers in the U.S. and Canada. Electrify America and Electrify Canada stations feature chargers at 150 kilowatts (kW) and 350kW, some of the fastest charging speeds available today.

By opening up Electrify America's fast charging network to the hundreds of thousands of current and future EV drivers, it will support the EV industry growth by providing more charging options. As the company's inclusion of the NACS connector continues to evolve, Electrify America will share further updates on its progress, along with current and future station update plans over the coming months.

Source: Electrify America