Why Are EVs So Quick?
February 1, 2022 - EVs are quick. Multiple mainstream EVs—including various sedans and SUVs that make no claim of being high-performance vehicles—can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds.
It's down to the basic differences between electric motors and internal-combustion engines. When it comes to delivering their peak output, gasoline engines are surprisingly finicky things, and they tend to have far narrower horsepower and torque peaks than do electric motors.
Electric motors' inherent advantage in their ability to quickly deliver maximum torque from rest is the major reason so many EVs are quick. A secondary reason many mainstream EVs can leap away from stoplights as if being chased by a pack of coyotes is that they have front and rear motors working through all four tires.
Snitches Get Riches: NYC’s Anti-Idling Bounty Hunters Are Cashing In
April 15, 2022 - Ordinary New Yorkers are effectively deputized to report idling commercial vehicles under a law called the Citizens Air Complaint Program - and those who successfully prove an offense occurred get a cut of the fines levied on the offenders.
The fines start at $250, and the citizen reporting the violation gets a quarter of the fine—at least $87.50. That's not chump change, but the real eye opener is how some intrepid New Yorkers are making these bounties add up. $125,000 for a single guy.
You may be surprised to hear about who's NOT paying the fines. Namely, Amazon - which has $250,000 in unpaid violations - is the biggest culprit. There are $8 million in other unpaid fines, including from UPS and FedEx. The city is apparently working on getting better about collecting unpaid fines, even floating the idea of impounding vehicles until payment is made.
Inspiration: A One-Stop EV Solution
By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor
Making the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) can be daunting for many fleet operators.
In order to electrify your fleet, you need to procure the right EVs, ensure a consistent and reliable charging infrastructure that supports your business and drivers, and learn how to operate a new class of vehicle with its own distinct rules.
While many companies offer solutions for one or some of these challenges, no company has worked with light and medium-fleet businesses to comprehensively tackle all of the requirements for electrification—until Inspiration, says Inspiration Mobility CEO Josh Green.
Washington State to Spend $450,000 Studying ‘Gasoline Superusers’
April 16, 2022 - Washington state wants to study the so-called superusers to find out who these drivers are, where they live, what they drive, how much they spend on gasoline and what might induce them to switch from a gasoline vehicle to a battery-electric vehicle.
The Seattle Times investigated superusers in the city and the state, finding 7% of Washington state drivers consume roughly 25% of the state's gasoline, and they are most commonly behind the wheel of a Ford F-150.
For these superusers, there really is no substitute for driving for most of them. Either they’re tradespeople who are driving long distances in a pickup, or they live in exurbia where there’s no transit. They don’t have other options.
Ford Has Bad News For Tesla, Rivian and GM
April 13, 2022 - The automaker is set to disrupt the electric vehicle market. Jim Farley, the automaker's chief executive officer, has just announced that April 26 will be the launch date for the highly anticipated F-150 Lightning, the electric version of the F-150 pickup.
It is the best-selling vehicle in the country, a record it has held for several years now. It's the king of all cars in rural areas, the countryside, and overall, in the heart of America. The question is whether consumers will fall as in love with the electric version as they do with the gas version.
Ford's rivals are no doubt hoping to gauge the penetration of electric vehicles by the success of the F-150 Lightning. Without saying so, Ford is banking its strategy of producing 2 million electric vehicles per year by 2026 on the acceptance of the F-150 Lightning.
