Transitions!
FMW has had the pleasure of interviewing many of our industry leaders to get their thoughts on the industry’s shift towards electrification and how this revolution aligns with their company’s sustainability goals.
Thus, we are delighted to feature Ed Pierce's interview with Emily Graham, Director of Sustainability at Holman Enterprises, and Kevin Kushman, CEO of Electrada, to learn about their new electric mobility partnership to help fleets seamlessly transition from ICE vehicles to EVs. It's an excellent and timely read.
Just today we learn from NPR’s Morning Edition that the SEC is proposing new rules for companies to disclose data on their greenhouse gas emissions along with details on how climate change is affecting their business. There is no time to waste, our planet is in crisis.
Business travel is back! We saw evidence of that in the piece Work Truck Show 2022 Was Positively Electrifying! This news bodes well for NAFA I&E – Columbus, OH – April 11-13. See you there!
We Stand with Ukraine,
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
Madison Converts Fleet to Biodiesel with Optimus, Renewable Energy Group
March 10, 2022 - The City of Madison, Wisconsin will soon be seeing emissions reductions after converting 17 of its fleet vehicles to operate on 100% biodiesel as part of the Wisconsin city’s partnership with Optimus Technologies and Renewable Energy Group.
The City of Madison has set the goal of reaching 100% renewable energy and zero net carbon emissions for all city operations by 2030 and has achieved LEED GOLD status for environmental sustainability with their fleet garage.
How a Handful of Metals Could Determine the Future of the Electric Car Industry
March 13, 2022 - Companies are betting hundreds of billions of dollars on electric cars and trucks. To make them, they'll need a lot of batteries. And that means they need a lot of minerals, like lithium, cobalt and nickel, to be dug up out of the earth.
These minerals aren't particularly rare, but production needs to scale up massively to meet the auto industry's ambitions. There's another big challenge: The existing supply chain is dominated by a single country: China. "China pretty much controls almost all the metals required," says Kwasi Ampofo, the head of metals and mining at the research company BloombergNEF.
Beijing controls about three-quarters of the market for the minerals that are essential for batteries. China set out intentionally to dominate the processing of these minerals, as part of a plan to become a major player in electric vehicles. Beijing had the authoritarian power, the money, the massive market and the will to make that happen - much to the anxiety of the West
EV Charging Needs a Rethink: Add Chargers to Highway Rest Areas
March 9, 2022 - Electric fast chargers need to be in a greater variety of places, especially those that are easily accessed from highways like gas stations are. High-speed chargers need to be installed in significant numbers at highway rest areas.
These are quickly accessed, as opposed to be ensconced within a labyrinthian shopping center parking lot. They also provide bathrooms, water, areas to stretch your legs and let your dog pee. That takes care of two of three reasons you typically stop during a road trip: refueling and calls of nature.
Another idea is to allow and encourage restaurants, coffee shops/stands and other service businesses to open locations at rest areas.
Gas Theft is on the Rise—How to Protect Your Car
March 14, 2022 - The damage thieves cause can be expensive to repair. A few simple steps can keep your car safe. Watch out for gas thieves.
Thankfully, the steps you can take to protect yourself are mostly free and simple — and mirror the steps needed to protect your vehicle from a wave of catalytic converter thefts that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Park indoors or if you can’t park indoors, park in a well-lit area. Avoid parking anywhere for an extended period. If you’re going on a trip, for instance, get a ride to the airport rather than leaving your car unattended in the long-term lot for days at a time. Position your car so the fuel door faces the road. Consider investing in a locking gas cap.
