Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final emission “Phase 3” standards for trucks and buses for the model year 2027 to 2032 on March 29th, building on the “Phase 2” greenhouse gas standards established in 2016. (link to EPA press release; link to Rule summary (link)
EPA also approved the 2027-2032 targets for cars and vans on March 20th. (link to EPA press release, the Rule summary (link)
National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy
A few weeks before the new EPA rules, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, in collaboration with the DOE, DOT and EPA, released the road map to “set an actionable vision and comprehensive approach to accelerating the deployment of a world-class, zero-emission freight network across the United States by 2040.” (link to press release | link to strategy 318-page pdf)
The strategy aims, in four phases:
Establish hubs, 2024-2027, based on freight volumes
Connect corridors, 2027-2030, connecting the hubs along important freight corridors
Expand network, 2030-2035, creating enough density to create a network
Complete network, 2035-2040, link all together for nationwide access.
Fleet News
Passenger EVs and Ride Hailing
EV Universe has now published a full and freely accessible EV Sales Report for 2023, tracking 10,311,976 battery-electric vehicle sales across 57 countries. There are 4,000 words of insights into each country, graphs, and lists of countries that doubled their sales or are leading the EV adoption. (link) Three general takeaways from the report:
EV sales grew 34.7% in 2023 compared to 2022, globally.
16 countries more than doubled their EV sales, with some countries growing >700%
10 countries recorded over 20% EV market share of all sales, with 6 countries >30%.
European Commission has now analysed the data from the onboard fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices which have been a requirement for new liquid-fuel cars and vans in EU since 2021. (link) One of the key finds for us was the confirmation of the general unsustainable real-life use of plug-in hybrids. Per T&E, “the plug-in hybrids perform shockingly badly, emitting an average of 3.5x their official and publicly reported CO2 emissions.”
This one, although true, is probably a bit against recent public opinion on PHEVs, especially in the US, so leaving a note here so you'd know to look if you want to include it or not.
Tesla will unveil its Robotaxi on the 8th of August this year. (link)
WeFlex, a ride-hailing operator in the UK, now has over 2,300 battery-electric vehicles in its fleet (link)
Also in the UK, Michelin Services and Solutions has received its first electric vans, as it begins to shift acquisitions toward having an all-electric fleet by 2026. (link)
Light Commercial Vehicles & Medium Duty
Volta Trucksresurrected: announces it will restart production of the 16- and 18-ton Volta Zero under its new owner Luxor Capital and will start deliveries in Europe by the end of the year (link). The company targets producing 500 trucks in Steyr this year and 2,000 in 2025. Around 150 employees of the ~600 before insolvency filing seems to have remained.
Meet Flexis: Renault and Volvo Group’s electric van joint venture now has a name – Flexis – and sees logistics company CMA CGM join as the third (though smaller) shareholder, as announced in October. (link) The auto groups plan to invest €300M each over the next three years and hold 45% of the venture each. CMA CGM will invest €120M.
RIZON trucks (Daimler Trucks brand) enters the Canadian market with its class 4-5 trucks, which will be eligible of up to $150,000 in combined federal and provincial incentives. (link)
Workhorse partners with Ziegler Truck Group for Midwest and now has 11 dealers nationwide. (link)
Volkswagen celebrates 40,000 ID. Buzz sales – around half of which has been for the cargo version.
Harbinger held the grand opening for its new HQ in Garden Grove, California, which also doubles as the production site for Harbinger’s medium-duty EV chassis. (link) The company recently delivered its first EV chassis to THOR industries. (link) In early March, Harbinger also made a key hire for VP, Supply Chain and Logistics: Steve Gawronski, who previously led supplier readiness in support of successful launches of the Rivian R1T, R1S, and Amazon delivery van, as well as the Model S, Model X and Model 3 at Tesla. (link)
India: Tresa Motors secured a pre-order for 1,000 of its 300kWh e-trucks on an axial flux motor platform from JFK Transporters. (link) (platform)
Heavy-Duty & Buses
Study: A recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) called “Assessing total cost of driving competitiveness of zero-emission trucks” explored how the total cost of driving for zero-emission and diesel MHDVs could evolve over time under different scenarios, from the present day to 2050. (link)
GreenPower Motor Company plans to deliver an additional 88 of its Type D BEAST and Type A Nano BEAST e-buses in West Virginia within a year. GreenPower received an $18,565,000 EPA grant for deployment including funding for charging infrastructure (link). The company expects to reach rate of 50-60 e-bus production per quarter by end of April next year. GreenPower delivered 41 e-buses within the previous year, along with 179 EV Star commercial vehicles.
Blue Bird receives its single largest order of electric school buses so far – 180 e-buses from Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). LAUSD already operates 26 Blue Bird electric school buses in its fleet. The first new buses, 30 of the “Vision” and 150 of the “All American” e-buses will be delivered in October 2024, with all 180 ordered fulfilled in early 2025. Both models have a range of up to 130 miles and also feature V2G capabilities. Blue Bird celebrated the milestone delivery of its 1500th electric school bus in October and plans to produce 5,000 electric school buses per year in the long term.
The City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, launched ‘the Cloud’ – a fleet of 9 e-buses to servethe city. (link)
Lion Electric has announced a strategic reduction of its workforce and the implementation of other cost-cutting initiatives. (link) 120 employees, primarily in overhead and product development roles in Canada, will be affected. CEO cites market delays, particularly with Canada’s Zero-Emission Transit Fund, as a major factor.
Long-life heavy-duty batteries: Yutong, the Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer also with European presence, and CATL, the world’s largest batterymaker, jointly presented a heavy-duty battery pack with a service life up to 15 years or 932,000 miles, maintaining full capacity within the first 1,000 cycles. (link)
Van Hool, the Belgian bus maker, declared bankruptcy in early April, and its trustees have now accepted the joint bid from VDL (it’s Dutch competitor) and Schmitz Cargobull. (link) 650 to 950 of the 2,500 employees will be able to keep their jobs
Metallicawill use Iveco electric and hydrogen trucks on its M72 World Tour in Europe from May to July 2024, the S-eWay heavy-duty truck for equipment and Iveco eDaily for shuttle vehicle for the crew. (link)
UK: A zero-emission bus financing platform called Rock Road is launched by the UK Infrastructure Bank, Rock Rail and Aviva, with an initial commitment of £100M to fund up to 250 zero-emission buses and associated infrastructure. (link)
UK: The route 306 in London is now served exclusively by electric buses (link).
Kenya: BasiGo, the Kenyan e-bus solutions startup, secures $3M in equity funding from a Toyota subsidiary CFAO, to scale up e-bus deliveries for Kenya and Rwanda. BasiGo assembles BYD e-buses and provides charging and maintenance services for bus operators. It has over 500 reservations in Nairobi and 100 in Kigali, Rwanda. (link)
Windrose Technology, an emerging electric heavy-duty truck developer, raised $110M in Series B funding round. (link)
Bluebus back to the roads: Two years after the two fire incidents of Bluebus e-buses in Paris, the 232 e-buses head back to the roads with implemented safety features. (link)
Europe: A Paris-based hydrogen joint venture HysetCo raises €200M to expand in Europe. The company specializes in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) offerings in and around Paris, delivering almost 30 tonnes of H2 to its customers every month and managing a fleet of over 500 hydrogen vehicles.
Estonia gets its first e-bus delivery outside temporary pilot projects – 15 Urbino e-buses from Solaris, along with 15 stationary chargers at the depot and two pantograph charging stations. (link)
Charging Infrastructure
Notable Updates
In Europe, European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) came into force, regulating, among other things, several requirements regarding payment options for newly deployed public charging points. (link) Here is a good overview of the regulation (link), and the official FAQ (link)
Tesla says it now takes just 4 days from delivery of their Prefabricated Supercharger Units (PSUs) to a charging site, to opening said charging site for the public (video). The chargers are pre-assembled on a concrete base at their Gigafactory NY, then shipped on trucks to sites across North America (up to 12 chargers per truck), craned into place, hooked up to the utility and after completing the site work, it’ll be open to the public. Tesla’s Drew Baglino commented that they will continue to integrate more pre-fab content, including lighting and canopies/solar. (link) We’ve noticed lighting included in Prefab Superchargers already: (link).
Tesla says 2,300 Pre-Assembled Superchargers are now installed in North America. That means about 8.24% of the 27,297 Superchargers in North America are prefab units (data per Alternative Fuels Data Center).
The ChargeX Consortium released a report to help EV charging stakeholders troubleshoot failures and establish reliable payment processing systems: “Best Practices for Payment Systems at Public EV Charging Stations.” (17-page pdf)
Google Maps rolls out new features for EV drivers (link), including
Optimized Route Planning: Google Maps will suggest the most efficient routes for EVs, considering the need for charging stops. Shows how much % is left when arriving etc.
Real-Time Charging Station Availability: EV drivers can now see real-time availability of charging ports in the US and the UK directly through Google Maps
Charging Station Details: Google Maps provides detailed information about charging stations, including the types of plugs available, the speed of charging, and nearby amenities like grocery stores or cafes.
Hotels with charging station with a new EV filter on google.com/travel make charging overnight easier for those on the go.
Ionity announces Jeroen van Tilburg will replace Michael Hajesch as CEO in mid-May. (link) Jeroen van Tilburg is the former Head of Charging EMEA at Tesla, one of the key people that built out the Supercharger network in Europe. Here’s my profile on Tilburg from when he left Tesla in the end of last year (link).
Porsche has built 7 Porsche Turbo Charging Trailers so far, with 2.1 MWh storage and 10x320kW chargers each. (video)
Tesla slows the pace of Supercharger network growth and laid off its entire ~500-person Supercharging team in North America, including the head Rebecca Tinucci. (link)
We haven’t yet seen the European teams impacted, just the US, Canada, and SE Asia teams so far.
Elon Musk says “Tesla still plans to grow the Supercharger network, just at a slower pace for new locations and more focus on 100% uptime and expansion of existing locations.”
Musk also added that “sites under construction will be completed and we will add additional Superchargers anywhere where there are gaps.”
In a letter to suppliers and contractors, Tesla asks for patience with their response time and explains the restructuring of the Supercharger organization. It calls for a “hold on breaking ground on any newly awarded construction projects and planned pre-construction walks”.
As of the end of Q1 2024, Tesla had 57,579 global Supercharger connectors at 6,249 locations.
FreeWire Technologies says it needs additional capital to further support growth and ensure continued success, in a statement issued after its plans for closing its Newark, CA facility and laying off the 113-person team became public. (link) Freewire says it is continuing operations and supporting customers, while making efforts to right-size the company.
New Products
Voltpost, an New York-based lamppost EV charging company, announced the commercial availability of its curbside EV charging solution utilizing lamp posts. (link) Voltpost retrofits lampposts into a modular and upgradable Level 2 EV charging platform powered by a mobile app, and says the installation only takes one to two hours.
Kempower integrates NACS connector to its North American product line. (link)
Kempower also started taking orders for its 1.2MW Megawatt Charging System in Europe. (link) Key details to note:
The power supply units can be placed a few meters away to maximize parking space, charging is done via the “Satellites”:
The Mega Satellite charger with the liquid-cooled MCS plug has a max power of 1.2 MW, at 1,500 A
The Mega Satellite with high-power CCS2 plug has a max power 560 kW, at 700 A
MCS and CCS outputs can be in the same system for maximal flexibility, and the unused power can be distributed among several outputs through dynamic power-sharing. This means that all standard e-truck models in Europe can charge there, even if they do not yet have an MCS connection.
Delta launched a 500kW DC charger called the UFC 500, can charge one heavy-duty EV at 460kW or two EVs at 250kW simultaneously. (link)
ZEVx launched its Mobile Charging Unit (MCU), which includes up to 480kWh battery capacity coupled with two or more DC plugs and the unit can be installed in a vehicle cargo area, trailer, or bed of a truck. (link)
Itselectric launches the first UL-certified EV charger featuring a detachable cable in North America. (link) CEO Nathan King says it “provides cities with an immediately deployable solution to meet their on-street charging needs.” (link)
EVgo has announced that more than 50 EV models are now eligible for its Autocharge+ feature. (link)
Noodoe has secured a GSA MAS contract, which grants Noodoe access to sell its EV charging solutions to various government agencies. (link)
Qmerit, the installer of home and business EV chargers in North America, introduces EV charging warranty support and preventative maintenance service, aimed initially at EVSE makers and CPOs (link).
Infrastructure Deployments and Plans
North America
Voltera has been awarded $9.6M in federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities program. This grant will support the development of Voltera’s owned sites built to service heavy-duty trucks operating out of the Ports of Savannah, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. (link)
Our CEO, Matt Horton, proudly represented Voltera at the White House Roundtable on Zero-Emission Freight Infrastructure. This historic gathering focused on transitioning to a zero-emission freight sector, with major stakeholders and announcements, including nearly $150 million in grants to help reduce truck air pollution near America's ports. (link)
Penske and Hitachi Energy are launching a high-capacity e-truck charging pilot in the Stockton, California area truck depot. In its current setting, Hitachi’s 10 chargers can charge up to 10 trucks with 100kW or five trucks with 200kW. (link)
Greenlane announced its first electric and fuel cell truck charging corridor plans for commercial trucks, covering over 280 miles on between Los Angeles and Las Vegas (link). Greenlane is a joint venture between Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), NextEra Energy Resources, and Blackrock.
NFI opens its charging facility in Ontario, California, with around 7 MW of charging capacity shared across 38 up-to-350kW chargers, all to support its 50 heavy-duty electric trucks for drayage tasks from the ports of LA and Long Beach. (link) Charging infra comes from Electrify America in collaboration with Southern California Edison.
California Energy Commission awarded Borgwarner, Fermata Energy and Lion Electric Company a $3M grant to create a V2G solution for Conejo Valley Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education school bus fleets. 21 BorgWarner 125kW CCS bidirectionally-enabled chargers, paired with a minimum of 20 LionD e-buses, will use Fermata’s V2X platform to optimize and manage the charging and discharging of the buses to maximize grid benefits and V2X revenue for the school districts. (link)
BP Pulse opened its first US Gigahub at its Houston headquarters, with 24x 150kW DC chargers from Tritium. (link)
Wallbox and Bidirectional Energy were awarded $2.2M in funding by CEC to deploy 120 bidirectional chargers in residential locations across California, managed by a virtual power plant (VPP) to provide home energy backup, utility bill reduction, and additional financial rewards. (link)
Tesla filed plans to build a massive new Supercharger charging lot in Yeehaw Junction, Florida, featuring around 200 charging stalls. (link) The preliminary plans show around 160 V3 chargers and 40 standalone stalls, including 8 pull-through stalls for trailers.
First NEVI-funded EV charging station opens in Maine (link).
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) will fund 643 new fast-charging points at 141 locations, awarding $25,152,259 across 20 applicants. The largest sum, $8.32M, goes to BP Products North America for DC chargers in 30 gas stations. Among others, Rivian is also receiving $920k for three shopping/retail locations. Through these grants, Illinois should more than double the number of fast charging ports in the state. All grantees, award sizes, and locations, are listed here: (link).
Invisible Urban Charging (IUC) partners with CBRE group to install and operate one million chargers for EVs in CBRE properties across the US over the next five years. (link).
Europe:
The EU Commission has announced €424M in funding for 42 new infrastructure projects with 4,200 charging points and 48 hydrogen refuelling stations through the fifth round of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) grants. (link) (link to all 42 project details and funding amounts.)
A new AFIF call for applications is currently open for which the first submission deadline is 24th of September 2024.
The EU has approved more than 1.3 billion euros for various projects through the AFIF since 2021, which have been used to install 26,396 EV charging stations, 202 hydrogen refuelling stations and to electrify ground operations at 63 airports.
Milence, the joint heavy-duty charging venture between Daimler, Traton and Volvo, expands to the Nordics and builds first heavy-duty charging hub in southwestern Sweden, starting with 8 chargers. Milence also just opened its 4x400kW charging hub in Heudebouville, France. (link) (opening video)
Bologna, Italy: 20 e-buses are now charged with five 130kW Kempower Satellite chargers and 20 up-to-300kW Kempower Pantographs. (link)
UK: More than one-in-10 UK supermarkets now offers EV charging, per Zap-Map study (link).
UK: Q1 of 2024 sees rate of charge point installation increase by 35% with 5,725 new public chargers, 1,436 of those high-powered and 832 of those 150kW+ (link)
Charging Partnerships
North America:
SolarEdge acquires Wevo. (link) Wevo is a software startup specializing in EV charging optimization and management for sites with large quantities of EV chargers such as apartment buildings, workplace carparks and public charging locations.
Flo's DC fast chargers across Canada now support GM's Plug and Charge (link) TurnOnGreen partners with Endliss Power Team (link)
GreenPoint Partners and EV Realty partner to build out $200M of powered properties to serve electric commercial fleets, across California and other strategic US markets. (link)
Europe:
Belgium: Autel partners with Efinance Belgium to distribute Autel's MaxiCharger solutions in the country. (link)
Spain:Eave starts using EVBox AC and DC chargers in its 10,000-charger rollout plan. (link)
Germany:Mer partners with IKEA to install and operate over 1,000 chargers for customers, employees and last-mile delivery vans in 54 of Ikea’s stores and elsewhere, with an average of 19 charging points per location. (link)
France:EVzen will deploy 300 EVBox chargers in 100 commercial sites across France, all 120-180kW from EVBox. (link)
UK: ev.energy and Flexitricity partner to utilize EV charging flexibility in National Grid ESO’s Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) service, Flexitricity enrols 500 ev.energy users into a Virtual Power Plant, generating value for drivers and enhancing energy response during peak demand periods. (link)
ChargePoint and Jumptech partner aiming to deliver a seamless home charger installation experience for drivers of fleet vehicles using ChargePoint solutions. (link)
Atlante partners with Shift4 to provide a card-present payment solution for Atlante’s EV charging stations across Southern Europe. (link)
Polestar partners with Plugsurfing to offer the roaming service and special discount to its drivers, under the name Polestar Charge (link). 30% discount available for those purchasing €13.99 subscription. Interestingly, Polestar also becomes the first OEM in Europe to integrate the Tesla Supercharger network in its own charging app.
Automakers & Policy
The US government has reimbursed auto dealerships for $580M in advance point-of-sale consumer EV tax credit payments since the start of 2024,with 90% qualifying EV buyers receive a $7,500 tax credit as an upfront payment.
Tesla plans to cut over 10% of its global workforce (around 14,000 employees) as part of a strategic move to streamline operations. Musk says: “about every 5 years, we need to reorganize and streamline the company for the next phase of growth.”
Tesla’s head of powertrain and energy engineering Drew Baglino resigned after 18 years with the company (link), and Rohan Patel, Tesla’s vice president of public policy and business development also left. Both, at least based on their posts on X, on good terms.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she would not rule out any measures, including potential tariffs, on China’s green energy exports. (link)
Mexico, facing US pressure, will halt incentives to Chinese EV makers. (link)
Europe: The EU Council has adopted the Euro 7 regulation, which defines rules on emission standards for on-road vehicles and the durability of batteries. (link) EU Parliament also approved stricter CO2 standards for trucks and buses, which would result all new buses being emission-free from 2035 and almost all new trucks from 2040. (link)
About The EV Universe
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