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☆ Tesla slashed its Supercharger team. What does that mean for America’s EV network?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The news this week that Elon Musk laid off Tesla’s entire Supercharger team sent shockwaves of uncertainty through the industry tasked with building America’s new network of EV chargers. A fast and reliable charging network is an essential ingredient in getting more people to switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric, and some early types of chargers proved less than dependable. Tesla had a superior charging network long before President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to install half a million stations around the US by the end of the decade. “There are many, many charging companies out there,” an EV industry source told CNN. “Charging is a difficult business, there’s no doubt about that,” the EV industry source said.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Joe Biden, NEVI, “ It’s, ”, it’s, ” Daniel Sperling, University of California Davis, Loren McDonald, ” McDonald Organizations: CNN, EV, Joint Office of Energy, Transportation, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, NEVI, Infrastructure Law, ”, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Locations: EVAdoption, New York

More than two years later, only four states — Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Hawaii — have opened stations funded by the program. The Biden administration says the federal charging program is on track. The grants will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 charging ports. But even some of the government’s own experts say 500,000 public chargers won’t be enough to meet Biden’s ambitious climate goals. The availability of charging stations is key to persuading Americans to buy EVs.

Persons: Liam Sawyer, Sawyer, ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Shailen Bhatt, “, ” Bhatt, “ We’re, ″, Gabe Klein, Bhatt, Tesla, Mike DeWine, DeWine, Preeti Choudhary, Loren McDonald, you’re, ” ___ Daly, John Organizations: —, Ford, Allegheny National Forest, Pilot Travel, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Democrat, Transportation, Walmart, Joint Office of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Alternative Fuels Data, Energy Department, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Energy, Institute, University of Chicago ., Republican Gov, Ohio, Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission, “ Locations: Ohio, Indianapolis, Pennsylvania, Columbus , Ohio, London , Ohio, — Ohio, New York , Pennsylvania, Hawaii, U.S, Maine , Vermont, Colorado, Puerto Rico, America, California, Washington, St, Detroit, AP.org

☆ Thailand approves new, scaled down EV subsidy package - industry official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An electric car is seen while being charged during the opening of a PTT Pcl energy firm's commercial EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 15, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Thailand on Wednesday approved a new subsidy package for electric vehicles, an industry official said, in a move to support EV sales in a top regional auto hub where battery-powered cars are steadily gaining traction. The new package approved by the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee includes a lower subsidy than the current scheme ending this year, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Kriengkrai Theinnukul, told reporters. EVs have enjoyed strong sales in Thailand this year, accounting for about half of all EV sales in Southeast Asia in the second quarter. Thailand currently offers a government subsidy of up to 150,000 baht ($4,100) per vehicle, but the amount could be brought down to 100,000 baht, a government official said last month.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Kriengkrai Theinnukul, EVs, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Orathai Sriring, Martin Petty Organizations: PTT, REUTERS, Rights, National Electric Vehicle, Federation of Thai Industries, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia, BYD

☆ EV charger maker Tritium wins order from Hawaii under federal funding program
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Abhirup Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, July 11 (Reuters) - Tritium DCFC (DCFC.O) said on Tuesday it had won an order from Hawaii to make high-speed electric vehicle chargers - the first funds to roll out in a federal program meant to blanket the country with charging infrastructure and boost EV adoption. Hawaii, which was granted access to $2.6 million in September as part of the first round of funding, is buying 32 150-kilowatt Tritium chargers and 16 power units, the company said. "These fast chargers are expected to be among the first funded and installed under the NEVI program," Brisbane, Australia-based Tritium said in a statement. While several states, including Ohio and Texas, are in various stages of seeking proposals from companies, Tritium said Hawaii was using an existing contract with Sustainability Partners, an infrastructure-focused public benefit company to place the order. The federal funding - seen critical to President Joe Biden's plans to tackle climate change and create local jobs - requires companies to offer the U.S. standard Combined Charging System (CCS) in the chargers.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Abhirup Roy, Nivedita Organizations: FRANCISCO, National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Sustainability Partners, U.S, CCS, American, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hawaii, U.S, Brisbane, Australia, Ohio, Texas, Washington, San Francisco

☆ Kentucky mandates Tesla's charging plug for state-backed charging stations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

San Francisco, July 3 (Reuters) - Kentucky is requiring that electric vehicle charging companies include Tesla's plug if they want to be part of a state program to electrify highways using federal dollars, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. Kentucky's plan went into effect on Friday, making it the first state to mandate Tesla's charging technology, although Texas and Washington states previously shared such plans with Reuters. In addition to federal requirements for the rival Combined Charging System (CCS), Kentucky mandates Tesla's plug, called the North American Charging Standard (NACS), at charging stations, according to Kentucky's request for proposal (RFP) for the state's EV charging program on Friday. Each port shall also be capable of connecting to and charging vehicles equipped with charging ports compliant with the North American Charging Standard (NACS)," the documents say. It added that the rule allows charging stations to have other connectors, as long as they support CCS, a national standard.

Persons: Kentucky's, Tesla, Hyunjoo Jin, Mark Porter, Leslie Adler, Conor Humphries Organizations: Reuters, American, EV, SAE CCS, Ford, Texas Transportation Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, CCS, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, Kentucky, Texas, Washington, United States

☆ Australia unveils roadmap to boost uptake of electric vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, April 19 (Reuters) - Australia on Wednesday released its first national electric vehicle strategy, aimed at ensuring the country has a better choice of electric vehicles and improved affordability in a bid to boost the uptake of cleaner vehicles. Apart from Russia, Australia was the only developed country to either not have or be developing fuel efficiency standards, which encourage manufacturers to supply more electric and no-emission vehicles. Transport is the third largest source of carbon emissions in Australia - one of the world's biggest emitters on a per capita basis. Australia's centre-left Labor government last year flagged it had plans to introduce new regulations targeting vehicle carbon emissions to increase sales of electric cars, as it looks to catch up with other developed economies. "Fuel-efficient and electric vehicles are cleaner and cheaper to run - today's announcement is a win-win for motorists," Bowen said in a statement.

SYDNEY, April 19 (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would introduce new standards targeting vehicle emissions to boost the uptake of electric cars, as it looks to catch up with other developed economies. "Fuel-efficient and electric vehicles are cleaner and cheaper to run - today's announcement is a win-win for motorists," Bowen said in a statement. "Fuel efficiency standards would require more affordable electric vehicles to be sent to Australia," he said. Transport is the third largest source of carbon emissions in Australia - one of the world's biggest emitters on a per capita basis. Australia's centre-left Labor government last year flagged it had plans to introduce new regulations targeting vehicle carbon emissions to increase sales of electric cars.

☆ Factbox: Potential winners and losers from the new U.S. EV charging standards
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

EV CHARGING COMPANIES: Many, including Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Electrify America, ChargePoint(CHPT.N) and EVGo (EVGO.O), will accelerate the rollout of chargers due to the federal funding. U.S. EV AUTO SECTOR: The rollout of more charging stations will encourage EV adoption in the United States. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY REST STOPS: They could see an influx of investment as companies establish charging stations along heavily traveled routes. TESLA: Under the new charging standards, the White House said EV market leader Tesla (TSLA.O) has agreed to open part of its U.S. charging network to EVs made by rivals. EV CHARGING COMPANIES: While the charging companies get financial support in their expansion efforts, only a handful of the dozen who commented to the Biden administration ahead of Wednesday's announcement said that they could meet the "Buy American" standards under the proposed timelines.

☆ Instant View: New Biden EV charger rules stress Made In America, force Tesla changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The White House seeks to give consumers unfettered access to a growing coast-to-coast network of EV charging stations, including Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) SuperChargers. KEVIN DEMPSEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE"The domestic steel industry is prepared to play a strong role in the expansion of our national EV charging infrastructure. "It was a surprise to us that they would require assembly immediately given that domestic manufacturing for high-power charging infrastructure is starting basically from scratch. BRENDAN JONES, PRESIDENT AT CHARGING STATION OPERATOR BLINK CHARGING"These rules are absolutely in line with Blink's expectations. EV MAKER FISKER"Fisker supports a strategy that allows all charging providers to expand the charging network across the US as fast as possible.

It seeks to give consumers unfettered access to a growing coast-to-coast network of EV charging stations, including Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) SuperChargers. Tesla, the nation's largest EV maker and charging company, plans to adopt the CCS standard and expand beyond its proprietary connectors, the administration said. The United States and its allies Mexico and the European Union (EU) have clashed over protectionist policies implemented by Biden. The United States and the EU set up a task force last year to look at American laws that Europeans fear will discriminate against foreign electric car makers. EV chargers require iron and steel for some of their most crucial parts, including the internal structural frame, heating and cooling fans and the power transformer.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) will open part of its U.S. charging network to electric vehicles (EVs) made by rivals as part of a $7.5 billion federal program to electrify the nation's highways to cut carbon emissions, the Biden administration said on Wednesday. There are also nearly 10,000 "destination" chargers with Tesla plugs that can recharge a vehicle overnight. Opening up access to Tesla's network would be a quick win for an ambitious federal program to build 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, up from 130,000 currently. Administration officials did not say whether a contract has been signed, but federal officials will control disbursement of about a third of the $7.5 billion federal program. Chris Harto, a senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports, said, "There is no doubt the $7.5 billion in federal charging investment threatens Tesla's competitive advantage.

[1/3] A Tesla is charged at an electric car supercharger station in Los Angeles, California, U.S. August 2, 2018. A dearth of chargers on U.S. roads has slowed the growth of EV sales and the positive environmental impact, advocates say. In January of last year, Tesla wrote the Federal Highway Administration, offering the Biden administration suggestions on how to shape the charging program. In Ohio, the company responded to a recent request that companies submit charging proposals, state officials told Reuters. The Department of Transportation next week will detail final requirements that all electric vehicle chargers must meet to be eligible for funding under the $7.5 billion effort to electrify highways and interstates across the nation.

WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Albert Gore III, a former Tesla public policy employee, has been named executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), the Washington-based group said on Wednesday. Congress in 2021 approved $5 billion for EV charging stations and in August passed new electric vehicle tax credits. "Lots of work ahead, starting with implementation of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program and new industrial policies in the Inflation Reduction Act," said Gore in a LinkedIn post. Gore worked for Tesla for nearly seven years in public policy and business development. The IRA lifts the 200,000-vehicle per manufacturer cap that had made Tesla and General Motors (GM.N) ineligible for EV tax credits.

Elon Musk's Twitter profile is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2022. Taibbi has an exclusive podcast deal with Musk's friend and Twitter investor David Sacks via his podcasting platform, Callin. Taibbi and Weiss both write newsletters on Substack, which is partly funded by Andreessen Horowitz, a co-investor in Twitter with Musk. Musk has even gone so far as to say that Twitter, which he now owns and leads, interfered with U.S. elections. During a Twitter Spaces discussion, Musk suggested more files would be released regarding how Twitter handled the 2020 presidential election, the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and the Covid-19 pandemic.

☆ Tesla stock has dropped more than 35% since Elon Musk first said he'd buy Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Gotham/Getty Images)Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced his bid to buy social network Twitter , shares in his electric vehicle maker have dipped by more than 35%, and closed down just 3.6% for the day on Friday, amid a market rally that followed a volatile week. Musk first announced he had agreed to buy Twitter on April 25, 2022. Tesla shares closed that day at $332.67, and closed today at $207.47 capping his first full week of Twitter ownership. He has not said who, if anyone, may replace him as Twitter CEO, although he has told followers on Twitter that his position as sole director and CEO of the social network is temporary. Musk's ownership of the social network has caused some automakers, including GM and Audi, to pause ad spending there.

☆ All 50 states get green light to build EV charging stations covering 75,000 miles of highways
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday said it approved electric vehicle charging station plans for all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico covering roughly 75,000 miles of highways. Under the plan, entitled the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, states provided their EV infrastructure deployment plans to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. States are now approved to build a network of EV charging stations along designated alternative fuel corridors on the national highway system and have access to more than $1.5 billion to help build the chargers. It's unclear how many charging stations the funds will support, and states have not yet shared specific charger locations. Transportation Department officials have said that states should install stations every 50 miles and ensure each station is located within one mile of an interstate highway.

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