More EVs, Fewer Plugs: How Permit Delays Slow Down Charger Growth
If you drive an electric car, the chances of encountering a traffic jam at charging stations before finding a spot to plug in are higher today than ever. That's especially true in large, congested cities like New York or Chicago. This is because the pace of EV sales has far outpaced the installation of public chargers.
Many charging companies are now saying that one reason for this skewed ratio is the lengthy process involved in acquiring permits and getting utility companies on board. Collaboration with utility companies is required to route electricity to the site. This is followed by the design and construction of the charging station. The main roadblock arises during the permit acquisition process from local jurisdictions, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year.
U.S. Gas Prices are Falling; Demand at the Pump is ‘Kind of Shallow’ Despite Summer Travel
The national average for gas prices on Monday stood around $3.44, according to AAA. That's down about 9 cents from a week ago — marking the largest one-week drop recorded by the motor club so far in 2024. Monday's average was also more than 19 cents less than it was a month ago and over 14 cents below the level seen this time last year.
Beyond pandemic-specific impacts, experts note that high gas prices seen following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and persistent inflation may have led many Americans to modify their driving habits. Other contributing factors could be the increased number of fuel-efficient cars, as well as electric vehicles, on the road today, AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said.
Fleet Carbon Accounting Simplified
By Nada Jiddou, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Clarience Technologies
Fleets have never been under more pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than they are today.
With governments worldwide setting increasingly ambitious carbon reduction targets and investors prioritizing environmental sustainability, companies are being pushed to focus on decarbonizing their transportation and logistics operations.
Fleets must find ways to reconcile the many reporting requirements and collect and collate data from assets and systems. This includes leveraging digital technologies that streamline the data collection process to allow for better carbon accounting.
This approach will enable them to not only ensure compliance but also identify opportunities to reduce emissions and operating costs.
Auto Parts Giant Reinvents the Steering Wheel for a Next-Gen Drivers
image credit: ZF LIFETEC
German auto parts supplier ZF Group, whose parts are found in a wide variety of cars on the road, has devised a way to reinvent the wheel for today's tech-dependent drivers.
In a typical steering wheel installed on modern cars, the airbag is mounted front and center of the wheel, as the airbag is designed to inflate on top of the wheel in the event of a crash. With this design, ZF mounts the airbag in a different place, freeing up room for whatever manufacturers would like to incorporate with their new design. The wheel can also be used with what they call "hands-on" detection, which uses a capacitive sensor under the steering wheel leather that senses when the wheel is being held.
SEMA Supports Virginia’s Emancipation From California’s Gasoline Vehicle Ban
Virginia has opted out of a coalition of 17 states that have adopted California’s vehicle emission standards. This means that internal combustion vehicles will not be required to be phased out by the year 2035 as they will be in California.
“It defies common sense that in 2021 lawmakers decided that instead of writing our own electric vehicle laws, Virginia would simply do whatever California decided to do,” said Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin. “Because lawmakers outsourced their responsibilities and surrendered our values to California, Virginians face a mandate starting in 2024 that limits and eventually bans the buying of gas-powered cars or trucks. Unless we act, Virginia is hostage to the extreme policies of California.”
