Weekly-ish News - Episode 11 (April 11, 2021)

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Headlines from this episode:

Electric Vehicles:

Nissan is using old EV batteries for autonomous robots in factories.

More details were released about the Nissan Ariya.

Ford Mustang Mach-E sales are as good as expected and they don't stay on dealership lots for long.

2024 Hummer announced. 300mi range and $110k price tag.

Mercedes EQS, article has 12 points of comparison with the Model S.

Rivian released details on the battery warranty.

Surprise to no one: Tesla crushed Q1 sales records, 110% of Q1 2020.

Tesla is expected to deliver 15 of its Semis to PepsiCo this year!

All new VW EVs will have bidirectional charging starting in 2022.

California's Public Utility Commission is expected issue a decision regarding V2G feasibility soon.

VW Voltsgate 2021. They intentional "leaked" the Voltswagen silliness to get press.

A coalition of manufacturers including Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki all agreed on a swappable battery standard for electric motorcycles.

ChargePoint is working with truck stop chains to install electric vehicle chargers through a partnership with NATSO (a truckstop association).

I am an idiot, NATSO stands for National Association of Truck Stop Operators, it is on their website and I somehow missed this.

Two BYD electric refuse trucks were deployed in Idaho!

DHL deploys 100 Lightning Electric delivery trucks!

Electricity Grid:

Recent data suggests that clean energy jobs pay less than fossil fuel industry jobs.

• Solar workers make (median) $24.48/hr vs natural gas industry workers $30.33
• Some counterarguments here are that even $24.48/hr is relatively high compared to the U.S. average of $19.14/hr

A proposed pump hydro project brings up issues with native land and impacts on places of cultural significance.

A Renewable Natural Gas project got the go-ahead from North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality.

NREL performed a study for the city of L.A. to figure out how they can reach 100% renewable electricity.

Texas Senate unanimously agrees to harden their electric grid following the big freeze.

Policy:

SK Innovation settles with LG Chem, paying $1.8b USD.

More strict EPA emissions standards to be announced in July.

Biden's infrastructure plan has a lot of EV focus with a $174b investment.

Massachusetts just passed a very aggressive climate bill.

• 85% carbon reduction by 2050
• Remaining 15% through direct-capture, tree planting, and such solutions.
• Lots of offshore wind is going to play a role.

A terrible "report" was released by New York Renews, an environmental coalition (amongst other things) that railed against renewable fuels.