COVID Local Road Changes

  • July 9, 2020

How are cities changing the use and purpose of local roads in a COVID state?

  • closing streets for more pedestrians
  • closing streets/parking lots so restaurants can expand outdoor dining

Examples of local programs:

Governing | Cities Open Streets and Redefine Their Purpose and Focus

1st U.S. Electric Trucking Regulations

  • July 9, 2020

Where: California

The regulatory entity:  California Air Resources Control Board 

When do the new rules being? Phase in begins in 2024, with full implementation in 2035 which will require most new trucks in California to be zero-emission

Which trucking vehicles fall under the new rules?

  • big rigs
  • delivery vans
  • large pickups over 8,500 pounds

States in line to adopt similar rules:

  • Connecticut
  • New Jersey
  • New York 

The numbers:

  • 59,000 ton reduction in smog-forming nitrogen oxide by 2040
  • $9 billion in health benefits
  • 17 million tons of carbon dioxide eliminated by 2040
  • $6 billion in savings for users of zero emission trucks

San Francisco Chronicle via Governing | California Enacts Nation’s First Electric Truck Requirements

1st U.S. EV Dealership Network

  • June 25, 2020

What’s the name of the new, and only, U.S. based EV dealership network? Jolta

What types of EVs will be in the dealership umbrella?  e-cars, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motorcycles

What other features will Jolta dealerships include?

  • curation of EVs
  • onsite charging stations
  • charging solutions
  • charging installation services

Why did Jolta form? To offer proper retail representation for EVs

Jolta LLC | Jolta, The World’s First EV Dealership Network, Will Launch In Miami This Fall

New Industry Partnership: Global EV Technology Competition

  • June 25, 2020

Who is involved with the Global EV Technology Competition? Kia, Hyundai, LG Chem, & New Energy Nexus

What is the Competition looking to reward? 10 startups creating electric-vehicle and battery technologies like battery construction and management, charging, business models, and EV components

Deadline to apply for the competition: August 28

Car & Driver | Kia, Hyundai, and LG Chem Launch Global EV Technology Competition

EV Charger Mapping

  • June 25, 2020

Who is adding EV chargers to its map feature? Apple

Will the mapping feature take into account range anxiety? Yes, by taking into account your current charge, elevation, and whether to automatically add charging stops along their route

Tech Crunch | Apple Maps gets electric vehicle routing to find EV chargers

Local, State & Federal Autonomous Vehicle Initiative

  • June 25, 2020

The stakeholders: NHTSA, Beep, Cruise, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Local Motors, Navya, Nuro, Toyota, Uber & Waymo.

The goal of the initiative: Create a formal platform for federal, state and local government to coordinate and share standardized information

Transport Topics | Democratic Senators Raise Cybersecurity Concerns About Autonomous Vehicles

U.S. Department of Transportation | Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies

NHTSA | (AV TEST) Initiative

COVID Status of California High Speed Rail

  • June 25, 2020

We know the cost estimates continue to rise, besides COVID, what else happened this year to impact California’s high speed rail project? The California Assembly adopted a resolution to delay the contract.

What happened this week? The Board of the High Speed Rail Authority, for the first time, did not approve the 2020 business plan

The cost estimate for the California High Speed Rail system? $80 billion

What did the Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee say?

  • “I have personally lost all confidence in this group to develop and deliver what they promise,”
  • “From inconsistent cost estimates to impossible program schedules, they provide fictional ridership expectations and exaggerated benefits.”

Los Angeles Times | California high-speed rail board delays key finance plan after lawmakers push back

COVID+ Privately Funded High Speed Rail + COVID Funding

  • June 25, 2020

Which COVID funds is Texas Central Rail seeking? Infrastructure stimulus funding via the Department of Transportation

What does the financing of this high speed rail look like post-COVID?

  • Private equity
  • Funding from Japan
  • Stimulus Funding

Total estimated cost: $30 billion

PJ Media | Texas’ ‘Privately Funded’ Bullet Train Project Seeks Taxpayer Dollars

KTRH | Losing Steam: Texas Bullet Train Project Seeks Federal Help

Dallas Business Journal | Texas Central’s high-speed rail project ‘could require some stimulus money,’ CEO says

COVID Leading to Incentives for E-Bikes

  • June 18, 2020

The State: Connecticut

What incentives is Connecticut considering for e-bikes?

  • e-bike rebate from $200 to $500

What other state has e-bike incentives? Vermont

How does Vermont’s e-bike incentives work?

  • $200 rebate to customers
  • if they purchase e-bikes from local bike shops

Have other e-bike incentives opened up in Vermont? Yes, Green Mountain Energy offers a $300 incentive for e-bike purchasing

Do other e-bike incentive program exist? yes, at Austin Energy in Austin, TX & a program in California

Energy News | In New England, declining car sales prompt call for electric bike rebates

Local COVID TREND. Hazard Pay for Delivery Drivers

  • June 18, 2020

Where: Seattle, Washington

How will hazard pay work?

  • DRIVERS get an extra $2.50 per order
  • FOR THE DURATION of the Covid-19 civil emergency as declared by Seattle’s mayor

What are the reasons for hazard pay?

  • Covers the risks of working during a pandemic
  • Helps cover the cost of preventative safety measures and equipment

Quartz | Hazard pay for gig workers is a choice—but in Seattle it’s about to become law

Ride Share Company Vows 100% EV

  • June 18, 2020

Which ride share company? Lyft

When will Lyft hit 100% Electric Vehicles? 2030

Who is Lyft partnering with to make 100% EV happen?

  • automakers
  • rental car companies
  • millions of independent contractors

What is the Lyft President and Co-Founder saying?

  • “Now more than ever, we need to work together to create cleaner, healthier, and more equitable communities. Success breeds success, and if we do this right, it creates a path for others.”

What are watchers saying? The move comes at a time when research data shows ride share rides have a greater impact on the environment than other forms of transportation

The Verge | Lyft vows ‘100 percent’ of its vehicles will be electric by 2030

State’s Port to Support Largest OffShore Wind Energy

  • June 18, 2020

The State: New Jersey

What is a Turbine Port?  New Jersey’s turbine port will be the 1st U.S. port dedicated to constructing the colossal turbines

What are the economic numbers behind the turbine port?

  • $300-400 Million Green Infrastructure Project
  • Create Up to 1,500 jobs
  • $500 Million in Economic Activity
  • New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) development
  • Financing options will be public, private, and public-private partnership (P3)

Coastal News Today | NJ – New Jersey aims to lead nation in offshore wind. So it’s building the biggest turbine port in the country

EV Charging + Essential State Infrastructure Bill

  • June 18, 2020

The State: Florida

How did Florida Legislature build EV Charging Infrastructure into its Essential State Infrastructure bill?

  • Establishing a timeline for the EV Infrastructure Plan
    • Dec. 1, 2020 status report due
    •  July 1, 2021 final plan must be submitted
    • Developed by State Transportation & Energy Agency Officials
  • Requires EV Charging staging areas in rural communities along Florida’s turnpikes 
  • Supported by need for EV charging along hurricane evacuation routes

Fresh take Florida via Governing | New Law Would Develop EV Charging Network in Florida

Texas Attorney General Opinion. Are over the road buses subject to Texas’ axle limitations?

  • June 12, 2020

The question answered by the Texas Attorney General Opinion: Whether over-the-road buses traveling on interstate highways in Texas are subject to the tandem axle weight limitations established in Transportation Code ?

The answer: Yes they are subject to the tandem axle weight limitations . We don’t care if there is a federal exemption & the feds aren’t stopping us.

KP-0313 (2020)

COVID adaptation by a Gig Economy Company

  • June 11, 2020

Which company: Alto

What is Alto? A Dallas based personalized ride share company that manages its own fleet of 65 vehicles

How did Alto adapt more quickly? By owning its own fleet, it quickly installed plexiglass shields, ensures sanitizing of its vehicles, and installs a security camera in each vehicle. + Alto did a quick conversion into a delivery service out of pure necessity. 

How is Alto adapting to an economy that exalts companies that do right by their employees? Alto provides a salary, benefits, and sick leave to its approximately 130 drivers. Alto also provides masks, gloves, sanitation training, & temperature checks before each shift.

When will Alto expand? By August/September 2020 expansion to Houston & expansion to California by end of 2020.

Dallas Morning News | Unlike Lyft and Uber, Dallas-based Alto was built for a global pandemic

Port of Houston Adds EV. the numbers.

  • June 11, 2020

  • 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions reduced per year
  • 100% asset-based renewable electricity contract
  • 0 emissions from the EVs with on-site charging from renewable sources
  • $400/ year savings per car
  • $72,438 grant from Houston-Galveston Area Council for emissions reduction incentives

Port Technology | Port Houston purchases electric vehicles in eco-friendly initiative

TX Attorney General Opinion. County Bond Election to Improve City Roads?

  • June 11, 2020

Yes, Sterling County may call a bond election to cover the cost of improvement of Sterling municipal roads if:

  • Sterling’s municipal government gives consent
  • the city streets are an integral part of or a connecting link to a county road or a state highway

This question has been subject of court opinions for decades, so what statutory authority is relied upon? Texas Constitution article III, section 52(b) or (c)

KP-0311 (2020)

COVID Meets Public Transportation in Philadelphia

  • June 11, 2020

How will public transportation in Philadelphia be different after COVID?

  • imposing rider limits
  • marking off seats for social distancing
  • requiring passengers to wear facial coverings
  • leaving its roof hatches aboard buses open for better airflow
  • replacing cloth seats for easier cleaning

What other options may be forth coming:

  • three-day passes geared toward workers without a standard 9-to-5 schedule
  • unlimited free transfers to encourage alternate routes
  • make Regional Rail more accessible

Philadelphia Inquirer via Governing | Philadelphia Transit Will Look Different Post-Coronavirus

+1 State Miles Driven Fee in Lieu of Gas Tax

  • June 4, 2020

Where: Wyoming

What tweaks to a miles driven vehicle fee are being considered?

  • Lower fees for miles driven on highways because that causes less wear

Landline | Wyoming transportation panel looks at road use charge

Business TREND. Automatic Vehicles Move to Software Subscription Model.

  • June 4, 2020

Who: Tesla

What: Tesla’s last earnings call included information about its move to subscription pricing for its full self-driving package

What are financial analysts saying? Tesla is the only company that is ” fully monetizing its autonomous driving assets at scale

The concern for financial analysts: REGULATION of the transportation subscription service

Electric | Tesla going into software subscription service could become big business

Statewide Ride Share Tax Reform

  • June 4, 2020

Where: Georgia

What does Georgia want to replace the sales tax on ride share with? A flat 50 cent per ride fee

The legislation: HB 105 (2020 | GA) (Article 8)

How did ride share start paying sales tax in Georgia? Via a market place facilitator bill. Making the 8.9% tax on ride shares in Atlanta, Georgia one of the highest in the U.S.

Would ride share fee revenue be dedicated? Yes, the fee revenue would be dedicated to public transportation funding

Atlanta Journal Constitution | Uber fee, freight bill top Georgia lawmakers’ transportation priorities

Lege TREND. Tort Reform for Auto Insurance.

  • June 4, 2020

Where: Lousiana

What: SB 418 (2020 | LA)

How does Lousiana’s SB 418 offer tort reform and lower auto insurance rates?

  • caps damages
  • limits when insurance companies can be sued directly

The reduction in insurance rates that is estimated after 1 year? 10%

Insurance Journal | Louisiana Legislature Passes Auto Accident ‘Tort Reform’ Bill

Cost Comparison. EVs v. Gas Vehicle

  • June 4, 2020

Car & Driver compared EV and gas models of 2 vehicles.

The annual gasoline cost:

  • Mini Hardtop: $3744
  • Hyundai Kona: $3861

The annual EV charging cost:

  • Mini Electric: $1939.00
  • Kona Electric: $1722.63

Based on these 2 car models, annual cost is lower for gas models before tax credits are considered.

Car & Driver | EV vs. Gas: Which Cars Are Cheaper to Own?

COVID Relief Funds for Rail

  • May 28, 2020

How can rail benefit from COVID Relief funding?

  • investment tax credit to encourage railcar orders
  • funds for capital projects addressing signal crossings and track and grade maintenance
  • grants to state and localities for rail-related capital projects
  • maintaining the capital investment program for passenger rail projects under the purview of the Federal Transit Administration
  • funds to modernize its information technology capabilities
  • ensuring freight railroad workers get priority for access to testing, personal protective equipment

Freight Waves | Rail industry groups eye pandemic relief/capital investment funding

6 State Investments in Electrification

  • May 28, 2020

Where: New Jersey

Who is behind the electrification push? New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition

What are 6 examples of New Jersey’s investments into electrification:

  • NJ joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which provides funding based on a carbon dioxide allowance auction
  • Invest $80 million each year in “programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions for:
    • clean energy projects
    • clean energy jobs
    • electrification of the state fleet by 2050
  • NJ joined a cap-and-trade program with 9 other Eastern states
  • Point of sale rebates for light-duty EVs
  • State agencies coordination of efforts to electrify the transportation sector
  • $4 million in rebates to offset the cost of installation of EV charging stations

ACT News | New Jersey Makes Significant Commitments to Transportation Electrification

Local TREND. Tax Trade Off to Fund Public Transportation. COVID Angle

  • May 28, 2020

Where: Cincinnati

How will its public transportation system get a funding boost?

  • voter approved .8% sales tax increase
  • .3% rollback of the city’s 2.1% earnings tax

What public transportation gaps does Cincinnati look to fill?

  • Public transportation options for health care workers
  • Public transportation options for manufacturing workers

The COVID Angle: Need to connect frontline and essential workers to accessible and reliable public transportation

Smart Cities | Cincinnati voters raise sales tax to fund public transit

COVID. 6 Reasons to Anticipate a Resurgence of E-Bikes & Scooters

  • May 28, 2020

  • Positioned to capitalize on the need for social distancing 
  • Cities want traffic levels to be lower & need to makeup for lower public transportation numbers due to social distancing
  • Companies have rigorous disinfecting routines
  • Cities like Seattle, Oakland, & Austin are shutting down roads to traffic which bolsters the use of scooters & e-bikes
  • Cities like Montreal, Paris, & Milan have built temporary bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of their coronavirus response
  • Pandemic data shows riders are taking longer trips on e-bikes and scooters

Washington Post | Bike-share and e-scooter companies, hit hard by the pandemic, may come back stronger

Community Impact | MAP: Austin closes certain streets to vehicle traffic to promote socially distanced outdoor exercise

Car Manufacturers + EV Charging = Manufacturer Offered Insurance Coverage for Charging

  • May 28, 2020

Who: Mercedes Benz

What will be covered under the insurance policy:

  • Home-charging equipment, cables, and batteries
  • Up to € 10,000 ($10,900) risk coverage related to theft, vandalism, “overvoltage damage,” short circuits, and even bites from animals and rodents
  • Towing to the nearest charging station if the battery is unintentionally discharged
  • Theft and vandalism of the Wallbox & the charging cable up to € 2,500

Electrek | Mercedes-Benz introduces EV insurance coverage to include charging stations

New Local COVID Rules for Food Delivery

  • May 15, 2020

Where: Chicago

What are the new rules for food delivery in Chicago?

  • new transparency requirements to disclose fees
  • including any commission or service fee paid by the restaurant to the third-party delivery company
  • daily fine of $500 to $10,000 for violations

Why? Consumers want to maximize how much goes to the local restaurant over the delivery service

Other considerations by Chicago Council? Capping delivery fees like San Francisco did by Emergency Order

Crain’s Chicago Business | City has new rules on food delivery apps

Proposed AV Delivery Rules

  • May 14, 2020

Where: California

What stage is California in for AV delivery? Pilot Program + California Public Utility Commission Order for Comments

Which issues are percolating?

  • pooling services
  • environmental- are the AVs also EVs?
  • Geographic equality for all neighborhoods in a city
  • Safety requirements
  • Fee structures
  • Data Sharing

Who is submitting comments?

  • Companies: AAA; Aurora Innovation; Cruise; Lyft, Inc.; Uber Advanced Technologies Center, LLC.; Waymo; and Zoox.
  • Trade associations: Bay Area Council; California Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, San Francisco; San Francisco Council of District Merchants Association; San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance; Silicon Valley Leadership Group; and TechNet.
  • Advocacy groups: California Council of the Blind; Greenlining Institute; Sierra Club; and Mothers Against Drunk Driving
  • Researchers: UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy (Policy Institute)
  • Local Governmental Entities: Los Angeles Department of Transportation; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; and San Francisco County Transportation Authority

CPUC | ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S RULING ORDERING PARTIES TO COMMENT ON QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COMMISSION’S REGULATION OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

StreetsBlogCAL | California Readying Rules for Automated Vehicle Ride-Hailing

5 COVID changes coming to an airport near you

  • May 14, 2020

What changes are coming to airports in the new, COVID normal?

  • thermal temperature screenings
  • sanitation stations
  • touchless kiosks
  • UV light/sanitation spray stations to disinfect passengers
  • autonomous cleaning robots equipped with virus-killing ultraviolet light, applying antimicrobial coatings
  • touch-free health screening kiosk that take passenger respiration and pulse rates & can deny boarding

Los Angeles Times via Governing | Airport Tech Will Now Screen for Coronavirus Symptoms

Scooter Rider Growth in a COVID World

  • May 14, 2020

2Ways scooter companies are seeing growth in the new, COVID world:

  • Gotcha Mobility,  Charleston, S.C. Pilot Program for scooter delivery of groceries and take away. 25% increase
  • Spin, Portland, OR, local incentives, $0.20-$0.25 fee cut, in exchange for 1/2 ride fee cut by Spin to increase ridership

San Antonio Express News via Governing | Scooter Companies Lose Momentum During Coronavirus

COVID & Scooter Rides By the Numbers.

  • May 14, 2020

Where: San Antonio, Texas

How did scooter ride numbers differ after COVID?

  • March 2019 240,000 scooter rides
  • March 2020 50,000 scooter rides

COVID opportunities for scooters?

  • “and the companies left standing will have a technology that the cities actually want. “
  • When we come out of this, people will be leery of just loading into buses, trains and planes, and we will still want something other than cars.”
  • Sanitation requirements on the horizon- either by companies or by local governments
  • Local Government Official: “focus should be on providing support and reducing their expenses”

San Antonio Express News via Governing | Scooter Companies Lose Momentum During Coronavirus

COVID: Local Governments Closing Streets

  • May 14, 2020

Where: Seattle

How many miles of street are being closed to public traffic? 20 miles

What’s the name of the project? Stay Healthy Streets

Why is Seattle closing streets in response to COVID?

  • more space for people to walk and bike at a safe distance apart
  • in collaboration with automating street lights, limit the the need to touch traffic lights to cross streets safely
  • aligns with how residents use the streets

Who can continue to use the “closed” streets?

  • residents
  • delivery drivers
  • garbage & recycling workers
  • emergency response vehicles

Seattle Times | Seattle Will Keep Some Streets Closed Even After Coronavirus

CNN | Seattle to permanently close 20 miles of streets to traffic so residents can exercise and bike on them

COVID Impact: Smart City Contract

  • May 14, 2020

What smart city project? Toronto’s proposed sustainable community, Quayside project, a bid won by Sidewalk Labs, an Alphabet Company

What smart city transportation features would the project include?

  • sensor-based traffic signals
  • dynamic curbs
  • underground delivery routes for trucks
  • self-financing light rail transit
  • heated pavement
  • pneumatic waste collection

The laundry list of contract issues:

  • Project is controversial from land acquisition to data privacy
  • COVID-19’s toll on global economies and real estate markets
  • The local development organization will continue with the project

Government Technology | Alphabet Calls It Quits on Toronto’s Smart Future

Wired | Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs Scraps Its Ambitious Toronto Project

Limit Airline Funding to Service Away from High Speed Rail

  • May 7, 2020

Where: France

What: France has added conditions to AirFrance’s COVID relief funds

What limits are being placed on AirFrance’s COVID funds?

  • If high speed rail services the area within 2 hours 30 minutes, AirFrance has to stop flights

Why?

  • To make AirFrance profitable
  • To benefit from the lower cost of CO2 by train
  • To encourage the airline to reach a target of using 2% of its fuel from sustainable sources by 2025

What’s the big picture: Other jurisdictions have COVID relief funds to allocate and conditionally allocate

International Railway Journal | Air France ordered to curb competition with rail in France

Bonjour MOOVIT. Data + Transportation.

  • May 7, 2020

Who is Moovit? a startup applying AI + big data analytics to track traffic and offer transit recommendations

Who is buying Moovit? Intel “at a price believed to be in the region of $1 billion.”

What are the implications for autonomous vehicles? reliable, real-time traffic data and intelligent routing is a challenging & crucial element of AVs

What’s the big picture? This is building on Intel’s autonomous vehicle work

Tech Crunch | Intel to buy smart urban transit startup Moovit for $1B to boost its autonomous car division

Ride Share Business TREND. Requiring Masks + More

  • May 7, 2020

Who: Uber

Who will be required to use masks/face coverings: Riders and Drivers

How will it be implemented?  Technology will detect if drivers are wearing masks/face coverings before the driver goes online & starts accepting trips

How are masks currently being provided to drivers? By the company when drivers are providing rides to essential workers

What are other ride share companies, and Uber, also considering?

  • that drivers should disinfect vehicles after each rider is dropped off
  • plastic barriers or divisions in vehicles to protect both drivers and passengers

CNN | Uber will soon require drivers and riders to wear face coverings in the US

EV TREND, Charging While Driving

  • May 7, 2020

Who: Kuka Robotics, an Apple patent, and others

What: peer-to-peer EV charging while driving via telescopic charging booms

The data from testing:

  • 65% reduction in EV halts
  • up to 24.4% reduction in required battery capacity

Electrek | Peer-to-peer highway EV charging would use telescoping cables between moving cars

COVID + EV Batteries

  • April 30, 2020

5 Ways COVID has impacted EV battery manufacturing:

  • Production Delays
  • Delayed Opening of a Tesla battery manufacturing facility in Berlin
  • Automakers are forming partnerships with battery suppliers
  • Automakers are making large investments in battery manufacturing
  • Automakers are expanding in-house research

Electrek | Pandemic threatens EV battery supply, giving power to South Korean battery-makers

Business TREND. Pharmaceutical Transportation.

  • April 30, 2020

Who: SkyCell 

What does SkyCell  do? builds hardware and operates a logistics network designed to transport pharmaceuticals

How does this transportation differ?

  • utilizes “smart containers”
  • powered by software to maintain constant conditions for drugs
  • regulates strict temperatures & humidity levels
  • controls levels of vibration
  • greater monitoring of location

TechCrunch | SkyCell raises $62M for smart containers and analytics to transport pharmaceuticals

State Electrification Funding.

  • April 30, 2020

The State: New Jersey

Which agencies came together to fund state electrification?

  • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Funding Source: VW Settlement Funds

How will funding be allocated?

  •  $37 million to projects that convert dilapidated diesel trucks, buses, port equipment, marine vessels, and trains to electric power
  • The remaining monies to be used for EV charging equipment throughout the State.

Cole Schotz | New Jersey Firms Up Funding For Electrification Of Transportation Sector

Local TREND. COVID testing for all ride share and taxi drivers

  • April 30, 2020

Where: Los Angeles

Who is getting free COVID testing in LA? Essential Workers

How has LA defined essential/critical workers?

  • First responders
  • Critical government personnel
  • Health care professionals
  • Grocery workers
  • Commercial, rideshare, and public transit drivers

Last | LA Expands Free Coronavirus Testing To Taxi, Public Transit And Rideshare Drivers

Regulatory Impact to Ride Share post-COVID

  • April 23, 2020

What new regulatory requirements are coming up for ride share? Sanitizing

What businesses are trending: sanitization methods for shared autos technologies are varied from UV light cleaning to utilizing the car’s HVAC system

Just Auto | COVID-10 will force rethink of shared vehicle hygiene

How COVID is impacting Transportation Funding

  • April 23, 2020

Where: Wisconsin

What transportation funding mechanism has been hit hardest? The gas tax with revenue estimated decline of $100 million

Add COVID to this list of limitations on a gas tax for a reliable revenue source:

  • fuel efficiency decreases gas tax revenues
  • EVs use no gas and pay no gas tax

Bridge Tower Media Newswire | Highway funding, which relies on gas tax, will be hard hit as fuel sales decline

Anatomy of an EV Recycling Program + Waste Management Partnership

  • April 23, 2020

Where: EU

Who: Honda Europe

How does Honda Europe propose to recycle EV batteries?

  • partnership with waste management company Société Nouvelle d’Affinage des Métaux 
  • assess the traceability of end-of-life batteries 
  • analyze batteries for what are known as “second-life” uses
  • will take in lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride batteries from Honda dealers and authorized treatment facilities

Other companies that have announced EV reuse and recycling programs? Volkswagen and Nissan

Auto Blog | Honda Europe reveals how it will recycle EV and hybrid batteries

Blockchain bolsters EV Supply Chain

  • April 23, 2020

Who is using blockchain to support the EV supply chain? BMW & Tesla

How does blockchain support the EV supply chain?

  • BMW’s Partchain utilizes blockchain technology in its logistics operations
    • In its front light supply, BMW achieves end-to-end transparency and traceability, from the mine to the factory
  • Tesla blockchain pilot focuses on improved sea waybill information
    • Tesla auto parts were able to be released faster
    • Tesla accelerated the cargo pick up with the one-stop, zero-latency and zero-touch blockchain 

Forbes | How Tesla And BMW Are Leading A Supply Chain Renaissance With Blockchain

COVID Response. Increased Daytime Transportation Construction.

  • April 23, 2020

Where: California

Who: Contra Costa, Calif., Transportation Authority

What: Moved nighttime construction to daytime as traffic decreased during COVID isolation

What are the benefits to daytime construction:

  • accelerates construction timelines
  • contractors closer to the finish line so they can accept more work, especially stimulus funded transportation projects

Governing | Special Districts Adjust to New Realities During the Crisis

COVID Regulatory Response: Cut Car Insurance Rates

  • April 16, 2020

Which state regulator: California  Insurance Commissioner

The California Insurance Commissioner Order: Bulletin 2020-3

Why cut car insurance rates?

  • projected loss exposures of many insurance policies have become overstated or misclassified.
  • rates are calculated on miles driven, and miles are not being driven

Are other insurance lines also having rates cut in the order? Yes:

  • Private passenger automobile insurance
  • Commercial automobile insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance
  • Commercial multiple peril insurance
  • Commercial liability insurance
  • Medical malpractice insurance
  • Any other line of coverage where the measures of risk have become substantiallyoverstated as a result of the pandemic

What information will carriers need to report to the regulator?

  • Percentage of refund applied
  • Aggregate premium prior to, and subject to, application of refund
  • Aggregate premium refund
  • Average premium before and after refund
  • Average percentage of refund, applied to each policyholder
  • Number of in-force policies
  • Number of policyholders receiving refund

Sacramento Bee | California orders car insurance rebates due to coronavirus. Many carriers already cut rates

COVID + Texas High Speed Rail = Reasons to Deny Project

  • April 16, 2020

What: Dozens to Texas lawmakers wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation asking that Texas Central Rail stop moving forward

What reasons did the lawmakers give?

  • COVID: Texas Central Rail slayed off staff
  • LAND: Texas Central Rail has not acquired the necessary land
  • PROJECT FUNDING: Texas Central Rail does not have secured funding for the project
  • GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY. It would be an inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars and jeopardize the integrity of the rules making process at the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed

Bryan College Station Eagle | State lawmakers ask Department of Transportation to drop high-speed rail project

3 Ways Local Governments are adding EVs to Right of Ways. Partnership OPPORTUNITIES!

  • April 16, 2020

Sacramento, CA:

  • EV chargers at parking spaces at local parks
  • EV chargers near busy freeways
  • EV chargers at a popular weekend farmers market
  • Partnership with EVGo for a 10-year license to own and operate the infrastructure

Los Angeles, CA:

  • attach EV charging ports to streetlights and utility poles
  • Bureau of Street Lighting has installed 340 + 80 to be installed on streetlights
  •  Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has installed 45 on power poles
  • The City operates BlueLA, a low-income EV car-share program, 180 charge points at 35 stations for 100 cars

Berkeley, CA:

  • Curbside Residential Pilot Charging Program to assist homeowners without a driveway or garage

Why use public right of way?

  • the land is owned by the local government already
  • send a clear message of support for EV
  • shows that the infrastructure is available

Government Technology | California Cities Install EV Chargers as Symbol of Future

COVID: Street Cameras used to measure social distancing

  • April 16, 2020

Where are cameras being used to measure social distancing:

  • Times Square in New York
  • Miami Beach
  • Abbey Road in London
  • Ruthven Museums Building at University of Michigan
  • Jersey Shore at Seaside Heights
  • + more

Who made this pivot? A Michigan based startup, Voxel51

How is this possible? Street cams are public, which allows the data to be pulled

Are people being identified? NO

The future regulatory/legislative issue: Will public street cameras permit the data to be used for other purposes? Will governments use that data? Could governments ticket if social distancing isn’t followed?

Governing | Company Uses Public Street Cams to Measure Social Distancing

Public Transportation + COVID = Ride Share Opportuities

  • April 9, 2020

Where: Miami Dade

How is Miami paying ride share when it stopped overnight public transportation?

  • bus passengers to obtain vouchers
  • value up to $45 for personal rides
  • limited number of routes running overnight

Miami Herald | A transit system in crisis, Miami-Dade buying Uber, Lyft rides on overnight bus routes

Lege TREND. Out of state boating fee increases

  • April 9, 2020

Where: Utah

How did Utah increase out of state boating fees? a $20 fee for non-Utah resident boaters who launch watercraft in any of the state’s bodies of water

What does the fee increase support? eradication of aquatic invasive species

Is there an economic cost of aquatic invasive species? Yes, Idaho in 2009 estimated:

  • zebra mussels cost power companies $3.1 billion between 1993 and 1999 in the Great Lakes region alone
  • total economic costs exceeded $5 billion

HB 255 (2020 | UT)

KSL | New out-of-state boating fees and 10 other signed bills related to Utah’s outdoors

Business TREND: Portable EV Charging

  • April 9, 2020

Who: BLINK

What is the charging capacity of the mobile charger?

  •  supports 240-volt AC charging
  • up to 9.6kW of charge
  • 1 mile range per 1 minute of charging

Yahoo Finance | Blink Charging Unveils First to Market Portable Emergency Electric Vehicle Charger

COVID impact on airline industry. The numbers:

  • April 9, 2020

Pre-COVID daily passenger average: 2.2 million

Passenger averages after COVID: 108, 310

TSA | TSA checkpoint travel numbers for 2020 and 2019

COVID + Ballot Measure for Gig Economy

  • April 2, 2020

In California, signatures are being submitted for a ballot measure to defeat AB 5 that defined gig economy workers as employees and not independent contractors.

Supporters of the Ballot initiative: Protect App-Based Drivers & Services, funded by Uber, Lyft and DoorDash

Supporter messaging with COVID:

“The recent pandemic has highlighted just how important app-based services and drivers are – delivering food, medicine and supplies to those who are stuck at home, driving seniors and others to medical appointments, and helping workers who perform essential services get to their jobs,”

Sacramento Bee | ANTI-AB 5 BALLOT MEASURE SIGNATURES GET TURNED IN

Scooter Rental Companies become Scooter Sellers post-COVID?

  • April 2, 2020

A potential Post-COVID market for scooter rental companies is scooter sales as consumers may seek to avoid germs by buying scooters in lieu of renting scooters.

Tech | Coronavirus Threatens Shared E-Scooter Companies

COVID pivots by e-bike & scooter companies

  • April 2, 2020

Bird & Lime: Layoffs, cost cutting

Wheels: Launched self cleaning handle bars & brake levers on their e-bikes

How does an e-bike self clean?  By utilizing light that uses mineral nano-crystals to create an oxidation reaction that is stronger than bleach

Revel: Free rentals for healthcare workers in New York

Tech Crunch | The Station: Bird and Lime layoffs, pivots in a COVID-19 era and a $2.2 trillion deal

COVID Business TREND. Auto Manufacturers Pivot.

  • April 1, 2020

The pivot for auto manufacturers: manufacturing ventilators

How are auto manufacturers pivoting?

  • GM is partnering with Ventec Life Systems to help increase production of respiratory care products such as ventilators
  • Ford says it is working with the US and UK governments
  • Tesla is in talks with Medtronic

Tech Crunch | Ford, GM, Tesla given the ‘go ahead’ to produce ventilators, Trump says

Anatomy of Hyperloop Legislation

  • March 26, 2020

Where: Missouri

How far as the legislation moved? Through the Missouri House

What will HB 1963 (2020 | MO) do?

  • Define Hyperloops so that they receive P3 funding
  • This puts hyper loops on the same funding plane as light rail and ports

The catalyst for the HB 1963? Missouri is in the top 10 of Virgin Hyperloop’s list of places it’s looking to build a 15-mile hyper loop test track

Missourinet | Missouri House passes bill aimed at transporting people in tubes

New Way to Expand EV Use: Local Try Before You Buy Programs

  • March 26, 2020

Who: Drive Electric

What is the Try Before You Buy program for EVs? In the UK, it allows businesses and public sector organisations to try an EV car or Truck for 30 days

Is the program limited to 1 manufacturer? No, it includes Hyundai Kona, the Kia E-Niro, Renault Kangoo and Nissan e-NV200.

Electrive | DriveElectric tests ‘try before you buy’ EV scheme

New Delivery Partnership.

  • March 26, 2020

Who: The City of New York’s Taxi & Limousine Commission & out of work delivery drivers

What are they delivering? Meals as food pantries shutter

Additional State funding eyed? yes, an additional $25 million in emergency funding for food

Politico | As food pantries shutter, city partners with out-of-work drivers for home-delivered meals

Moving Public Transit Funding to Ride Share

  • March 26, 2020

Who: Congress

What: House Administration took action to move toward funding commuting costs, including for staff to take Uber and Lyft rides to and from work, citing risks associated with the spread of coronavirus.

Roll Call | House funds allowed for Uber and Lyft as virus spurs transit cuts

Are rental car taxes appropriate for peer-to-peer car sharing?

  • March 26, 2020

Who is taking an opinion on this? The Tax Foundation

What does the Tax Foundation think about applying rental car tax structures to peer to peer car sharing platforms? Nope, not the way to go

What tax structure should be applied to peer to peer car sharing? ” policymakers should consider ways for localities to replace the revenue they rely on from rental car excise taxes.” (the rental car tax unfairly burdens out of state visitors)

What did the Georgia State Legislature do to tax peer to peer car sharing? HB 378 (2020 | GA) applies the municipal rental car excise tax to peer to peer car sharing apps

Tax Foundation | Georgia’s Proposal to Extend the Local Rental Car Excise Tax onto Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing is the Wrong Approach

Gig Economy Drivers: An Exception to Shelter in Place

  • March 19, 2020

Where: San Francisco

What’s the exception for gig economy workers ? Groceries and pharmacies are still open and delivering goods is within the exception to the shelter in place order

Is this triggering another policy issue? Yes, the enforcement and full enactment of AB 5 which classifies gig economy workers as employees

Gig Workers Rising | California Policymakers Must Protect Gig Workers During Coronavirus Health Crisis

Tech Crunch | San Francisco’s shelter-in-place order does not apply to gig workers

Ride Share Companies Suspend Shared Rides During COVID19

  • March 19, 2020

What COVID 19 measures has Uber taken?

  • Suspended Uber pool rides in US & Canada
  • Added an in app message “Flatten the Curve” reminding riders to “travel only if necessary,” and to “exercise caution for your safety and the safety of our community.”
  • Ubereats has suspended delivery fees
  • Ubereats has added an option to have food left at the doorstep
  • Offering financial assistance to drivers

Tech Crunch | Uber and Lyft suspend shared ride options to limit coronavirus spread

TX Attorney General Opinion. Registration for 3 Wheel Vehicles?

  • March 18, 2020

Who is asking for the TX Attorney General to answer a question? State Representative Tracy King

What is the question to be answered? Does TX DMV have authority to register and title three-wheeled, low speed, electric vehicles are eligible for registration and titling by DMV, so that businesses, consumers and tourism interests may utilize these vehicles?

What’s been happening in other states? Other states have relied on Federal Register definition of motorcycle to register and title 3 wheel vehicles as motorcycles.

RQ-0337-KP

EV Owners. Who are they? The Data is Changing.

  • March 18, 2020

Who is the stereotypical EV owner out there in the ethos?

  • Gen X
  • married
  • college educated
  • driving Teslas

What the numbers are saying:

  • Yes, Gen X leads followed by Millenials
  • Boomers are not driving the economics
  • There is a shift from leasing to buying EVs
  • Tesla still has the highest number of vehicles on the road, but the numbers only began rising in 2018, the market is young

Electrek | Auto-registrations portray EV owners as Tesla-driving Gen Xers in California, but that’s changing

Fintech & the Auto Industry. Areas of regulation, legislation and legal quandries.

  • March 18, 2020

2 Ways fintech and the auto industry intersect:

  • in car payments
    • Shell mobile payment service, Fill Up& Go mobile payment system, in the UK involves partnerships with major Fintech players like Apple Pay, Android Pay, and PayPal
    • Mastercard and General Motors partnership
    • IBM, Jaguar and Shell partnership
    • Chevrolet and Shell partnership
  • online car purchases
    • auto and fintech partner to lower costs and speed up transactions

Fismes | Fintech-Powered Innovation In The Automotive Industry- The Latest Trends

Coalition of a Gas Tax Increase

  • March 12, 2020

Where? Kentucky

Who is in the coalition supporting a gas tax increase? The Kentucky Infrastructure Coalition

  • manufacturers
  • farmers
  • engineers
  • local leaders
  • 40,000+ transportation workers

The legislation: HB 580 (2020 | KY)

The tax increase:

  •  9-cent-per-gallon
  • + higher fees on license plates & vehicle registrations

WDRB | Industry group rallies for higher Kentucky gas tax

New Kid on the Block: EV Battery Recycling

  • March 12, 2020

Where are we seeing EV battery recycling ? Finland

Which minerals will be extracted for recycling?  chiefly nickel and cobalt

How did the EV recycling begin? A letter of intent from 3 businesses

Automotive Logistics | EV battery recycling base planned for Finland

TREND study results: Ride Share pollutes more.

  • March 12, 2020

What’s the rational for ride share contributing more to pollution?

  • 70% more polluting than average trip it replaces
  • deadheading- when drivers travel to pick up a passenger or cruising the streets while waiting for a ride request
  • 40% of the miles logged by Uber and Lyft vehicles in California are deadheading miles
  • For every 1 mile of ride share, you add .7 miles of driving around
  • Union of Concerned Scientists study says that people take ride share when they otherwise would have used lower emission options like walking, public transit or biking

Solutions:

  • California Air Resources Board will promulgate rules for ride share and emissions
  • Companies could offer incentives to drivers to buy EVs
  • Legislation to impose rules to reduce ride share’s greenhouse gas emissions
  •  Taxing trips to urban centers to encourage pooled rides and public transit (see Chicago)
  • Capping ride share driver licenses (see New York)

Los Angeles Times via Governing | California Says Ride-Hailing Pollutes More than Regular Trip

Business TREND. EV Chauffeurs.

  • March 12, 2020

Who: Go360

What: Go360 provides a subscription based new EV ride-share service 

Cost: $250 a month for family & friends can take up to 124 rides/month, up to four rides per day

Sacramento Bee via Governing | Sacramentans Can Soon Have EV Chauffeurs for $250 a Month

Taxing Ride Share. Tax on Services.

  • March 4, 2020

Georgia’s HB 105 (2020 | GA) an omnibus tax bill, includes applying the state sales tax, 7% , to ride share.

Why? Equal and Uniform taxation. Taxis and limousines and long been paying sales tax for their services.

The revenue estimate from the sales tax on ride share in year 1? $24 million to $45 million

Fox 5 Atlanta | Georgia Senate panel eyes 50-cent tax on ride hailing, taxis

Lege TREND. Reigning In Personalized License Plates.

  • March 4, 2020

Where: Utah

What’s happening with personalized license plates in Utah? A brouhaha over a license plate that read: Deport Them.

How will the bill regulate personalized license plates? Prohibit license plates that disparage anyone based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status or a physical or mental disability.

SB 97 (2020 | UT)

AP | Utah Legislature passes bill to tighten license plate rules

EV Direct Sale. The Auto Dealer Amendment required in Colorado.

  • March 4, 2020

Excepting auto manufacturers with existing franchised dealers.

The legislation: SB20-167 (2020 | CO)

Automotive News | Auto Dealers Win Pivotal Change to COLO EV Bill

Anatomy of Robot Delivery Legislation.

  • March 4, 2020

Where: Missouri

What? HB 2290(2020 | MO)

What regulatory parameters does Missouri want for delivery robots?

  • limit the robots’ weight to 200 pounds
  • require that the robot be capable of navigating a sidewalk
  • maximum speed would be 10 mph
  • permitted use on roadways as long as it does not impede traffic (bike lanes)
  • operators must maintain insurance policies of at least $100,000

Other states that have adopted robot delivery legislation: Washington, Idaho, & Wisconsin

St. Louis Dispatch via Governing | Missouri Bill Would Regulate but Allow Delivery Robots

New Autonomous Vehicle Data

  • February 27, 2020

Which state has disclosed autonomous vehicle data? California

Where can I find the data? California DMV

Big Picture for the 2019 data:

  • 40% increase in miles driven
  • 2.87 million miles driven
  • 60 companies have testing permits (looking for clients?)
  • Companies testing on public roads fell to 58%

Tech Crunch | California’s Self Driving Car Reports are Public

New Regulatory Issue. Auto pilot data for motor vehicles.

  • February 27, 2020

Consumer groups are pushing for data from autonomous vehicles be stored to the vehicle’s black box, and not sent separately to the manufacturer.

Why the push for auto pilot data on a car’s black box? So that causes of accidents can be more readily be known.

What other regulatory push for more autopilot information? Require accident reports to include information concerning auto pilot or autonomous features

Los Angeles Times via Governing | The Case for Black Boxes for Computerized Cars that Crash

2 Manufacturers. 1 Direct Sales Bill.

  • February 26, 2020

Where: Colorado

The auto manufacturers: Tesla and Rivian

Their coalition: Alliance for Automotive Innovation

The legislation: SB20-167 (2020 | CO) Electric Motor Vehicle Manufacturer And Dealer Concerning increasing consumer access to electric motor vehicles by allowing manufacturers to sell their own electric motor vehicles directly to consumers.

What did Senate floor amendments focus on? Securing existing franchise agreements

WJR | EV Direct Sales Fight Mounting

Automotive News | Colorado EV bill sparks rift among alliance members

2 years later. EV Charging Roads Discussed in the US.

  • February 26, 2020

What does the Electric Interstate Highway Standards Association say are reasons to support EV charing roadways?

  • By 2023 the cost of EVs will be on par with standard motor vehicles
  • EV operational costs are lower than standard cars
  • Fuel tax revenue will have to be addressed by policymakers

How far in the future are fully wired roads in the US?

20 years down the road.

Courthouse News | Planners Envision an Electric Highway Future

Refreshing our recollection:

EV Charging Roads. The future of transportation procurement. Just the Facts:

  • April 27, 2018

Where have EV Charging roads been installed? Stockholm Sweden

What does the partnership look like to develop the road?

  • eRoad Arlanda is the development partnership
  • eRoad Arlanda partnered with  PostNord, the first company to use the new electrified roads

How long of a stretch of road has EV charging? 2 kilometers

How does it work? 

  • A track is laid into the roadway to allow for charging while driving
  • The track is only active when the vehicle is over it and charging
  • The vehicle communicates with the road system
  •  Drivers or fleet managers can be billed for energy consumption

Clean Technica | 2 Kilometers of Electrified Road in Sweden — A Pilot for EV-Charging Roads

EV Bill = Direct Sale Bill?

  • February 20, 2020

Where: Colorado

The bipartisan legislation, SB 167 (2020 | CO) , would:

  • Allow any manufacturer to sell electric vehicles directly to consumers
  • Applies to automakers that already have franchised dealers

What are autodealers saying?

  • solutions in search of a problem

What are supporters saying?

  • levels the playing field
  • ensures a level playing field for future EV companies too
    • Such as Rivian, a Michigan start up

Automotive News | EV bill stirs direct-sales fear for dealers

The Colorado Sun | Electric-vehicle makers want to sell directly to Coloradans. Dealers say that’s a “solution in search of a problem.”

4 Fiscal Constraints from Autonomous Vehicles

  • February 20, 2020

  • AVs will reduce revenue from vehicle-related taxes and fees on sales, licensing, registration, and fuel
  • AVs will reduce revenue from car rentals, auto repairs, vehicle financing, parking, ride-sharing and gas stations
  • The impact to Texas: Vehicle revenues drop by 1/3
    • Over a 15-year period revenue drops from 18.4%of total state revenue in 2025 to 12.7% in 2040
  • The revenue impact to Vermont would be a 3.3% reduction in vehicle related tax revenue

Pew Charitable Trust recommendation to lessen the revenue hit from AV: Shift new taxes or fees to road use or vehicle miles traveled

Pew Charitable Trusts via Governing | States and the Fiscal Constraints Autonomous Vehicles May Bring

+1 State Allows Tesla Leasing

  • February 20, 2020

The State: Connecticut

What is the background?

  • Tesla operated a service center for 6 years in CT
  • CT Department of Motor Vehicles denied a permit for Tesla to lease
  • CT Department of Motor Vehicles reversed its decision and is permitting leasing

Why the 180 by CT Motor Vehicles? the dealer license law does not prevent Tesla from operating a leasing facility

Government Technology | Tesla Drops Vehicles Sales Lawsuit Against Connecticut

New Haven Register | Connecticut Concedes, Allows Tesla to Lease in State

2020 Cost Estimates for California High Speed Rail +$3Billion

  • February 20, 2020

2020 numbers for the Los Angeles to San Francisco High Speed Rail:

  • $80.3 billion Total Cost in 2020
  • $3 billion going to “bookend” projects in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay
  • $64 Billion cost estimate in 2016
  • 2031 estimated completion of Silicon Valley to Central Valley portion
  • 2033 estimated completion of Los Angeles to San Francisco
  • 2025 testing trains
  • 2028-29 putting tested trains into service

What are legislators trying to do to the project? Move funds to local commuter projects

Los Angeles Times | California Train Price ‘Bullets’ Up Another $1.3 Billion

1st EV Fire Truck

  • February 20, 2020

Where: Los Angeles

What are the specifications for the EV fire truck?

  • EV use for 2 hours
  • 2 batteries with a 100-kilowatt capacity
  • Back up diesel engine

The cost:  Same as an aerial ladder fire truck for the $1.2 million on the Rosenbauer Concept Fire Truck, or CFT

LA Times via Governing | L.A. Invests in Electric Hybrid Fire Engine, First in Nation

Lege TREND. Prohibiting Local Airport Fees on Ride Share.

  • February 13, 2020

Where: Arizona

What: HB 2817 (2020 | AZ)

Are there other limits on local fees on ride share in Arizona? Yes, a constitutional prohibition that AZ Attorney General says presents Phoenix from imposing a airport surcharge on ride share

AP via NPR | Lawmaker Wants New Uber And Lyft Fees Banned At Sky Harbor

How Texas shifted from P3 Toll

  • February 13, 2020

What 3 elements moved Texas away from being a P3 tolling trailblazer?

  • motorist opposition
  • voter opposition
  • lack of legislative support

Where did P3 investments move? to social infrastructure like buildings and university projects

Transport Topics | Texas No Longer a Trailblazer for P3 Tolling

New Study. EV Adoption is an Economic Driver.

  • February 13, 2020

The study: Next 10 | Clean Transportation: An Economic Assessment of More Inclusive Vehicle Electrification in California

The state: California

The economic benefits by 2030 to California for EV adoption:

  • $142 Billion increase its Gross State Product 
  • $300 Billion + increase real income 
  • 394,000 new jobs

Governing | Will EV Adoption Become California’s Next Economic Engine?

Business TREND. Green Light. Self Driving Delivery Vehicles in Houston.

  • February 13, 2020

What entity approved self driving delivery vehicles? National Transportation Safety Board

What company received the first approval for a self-driving vehicle exemption? Nuro Inc., a robotics company based in Mountain View, Calif.

How many autonomous delivery trucks were approved? 5000

What do I need to know about the autonomous vehicles?

  • will operate on city streets
  • cannot go over 25 mph
  • the deliveries: “last-mile delivery of consumer products, groceries and hot food from local stores and restaurants.”

The Detroit News | Governing | Self-Driving Delivery Vehicle Receives OK for U.S. Streets

Proposed Environmental Fee for Ride Share Rides

  • February 6, 2020

Who is proposing an environmental fee for ride share? The Transportation and Climate Initiative, a 12-state pact of New England and Mid-Atlantic states

What is the fee proposal? 17 cents per gallon of gas to fund public transportation

Would the fee hit all drivers and not just ride share? Yes.

What are opposition arguments?

  • Ride share and delivery drivers would be hit the hardest
  • The fee increase would drive up the cost of all goods including fresh fruits & vegetables at farmers markets

New Boston Post | Climate-Change Carbon-Emissions Fuel ‘Fee’ Would Whack Uber and Lyft Drivers

Model Act. Peer to Peer Car Sharing.

  • February 6, 2020

Who developed a model act for peer to peer car sharing? National Conference of Insurance Legislators 

What does the model act cover?

  • The intersection of state insurance regulation & peer to peer car sharing
  • Requires coverage for the shared vehicle owner & the shared vehicle driver under a motor vehicle liability insurance policy
  • Require a peer-to-peer car sharing program assume liability for bodily injury or property damage to third parties or uninsured and underinsured motorist or personal injury protection losses during the car sharing
  • Require the peer-to-peer car sharing program to notify the shared vehicle owner if the shared vehicle has a lien against it
  • Provides exclusions in motor vehicle liability insurance policies to exclude any and all coverage & the duty to defend or indemnify for any claim
  • Consumer protection disclosure requirements
  • Driver’s license verification and data retention requirements
  • Require sole responsibility of the peer-to-peer car sharing program for any equipment, such as a GPS system or other special equipment put in or on the vehicle to monitor or facilitate the car sharing transaction

What is NOT covered in the model act?

  •  motor vehicle regulation
  • airport regulation
  • taxation

Model Act

Insurance News Net | National Conference of Insurance Legislators Adopts Peer-To-Peer Car Sharing Program Model Act

Business TREND. Competing Roll Outs of 10,000 EV Delivery Trucks

  • February 5, 2020

Who: UPS

What:

  • UPS is adding 10,000 EV delivery vans from UK-based Arrival Ltd
  • Adding autonomous delivery in cooperation with WAYMO

Is there competition out there? Yes, 4 months ago Amazon added 100,000 electric vans from Rivian, a Michigan startup

Reuters | UPS buying 10,000 electric delivery vans, will test Waymo self-driving vehicles next month

Future EV Charging Needs. The Numbers

  • February 5, 2020

Who is behind the studies about future EV charging station needs?

  • International Council for Clean Transportation
  • Boston University’s Initiative on Cities
  • New York State Department of Public Service

What do the numbers look like?

  • 3 to 5 times the cost to install chargers, than the cost of the charger ( Rocky Mountain Institute )
  • 75% cost reduction if building codes change ( Pacific Gas and Electric)
  • 10,000 more fast chargers are required along metro corridors (International Council for Clean Transportation)
  • 9,000 and 5,000 fast chargers will be essential in California alone ( California Energy Commission)
  • 80 mpg equals the average EV in comparison to traditional cars (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Governing | Lack of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations a Growing Concern

Red State + Scooter Legislation = 100% Local Control

  • February 5, 2020

Where: Georgia

What: SB 159 (2020 | GA)

How:

  • The bill will give exclusive regulatory control over scooters to local governments
  • Adds a definition of scooter to the State Transportation Code

What did Republican supporters say?

  • “We didn’t want to overregulate the industry”
  • “We want to encourage more development of this kind of technology.”

Was it a surprise? yes, the bill that moved last session was a bill that preempted local regulation of scooters.

Route Fifty | Leaving Scooter Regulation to Local Government

WABE | Georgia Senators Are Moving Toward A Hands-Off Approach On Scooter Rules

1st of its kind. Legislation for Emojis on License Plates.

  • January 30, 2020

Where: Vermont

What: HB 866 (2020 | VT)

Is there anywhere on the globe that allows emoji license plates? Yes, a state in Australia

How would this work? The emoji(s) is/are in addition to whatever combination of letters and numbers the state’s Commissioner of Motor Vehicles assigns to a car or a driver picks for themselves

Engadget | A Vermont bill would bring emoji license plates to the US

Lege TREND. Ride Share Fees to Support Sustainable Transportation.

  • January 30, 2020

Where: Massachusetts

What: A 20 cent fee split between the state and cities is used to support sustainable projects like:

  • sidewalk repair
  • crosswalk safety upgrades
  • curb protected bike lanes
  • bumped-out bus stops
  • expanding the Blue Bikes network
  • safety improvements

Current legislation proposes to increase the 20 cent fee to $1.

Streets Blog | Fees On Uber and Lyft Accelerate Local Sustainable Transport Projects

Anatomy of a Corporate Electric Vehicle (EV) Alliance

  • January 30, 2020

The partnership: Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance

Who is participating? Amazon, AT&T, Ikea, DHL, Siemens, Lime & the nonprofit Ceres

Why join forces?

  • together they have the purchasing power to drive broader EV adoption in the global auto market
  • + it helps auto manufacturers attain price parity between EVs and fossil fuel vehicles

Win-Win.

Morning Brew | Amazon, Ikea, and More Form Corporate EV Alliance

Lege TREND. New frontier in ride share legislation: advertising

  • January 30, 2020

Where: Florida

What: SB 1352 (2020 | FL)

How does Florida’s SB 1352 regulate advertising in ride share?

  • Regulates sign size, that it must be digital, and illuminated
  • Revenues must be shared 3 ways with the ride share driver, the company, and 10% to nonprofits
  • Signs can only operate when the vehicle is running

Who is behind the legisaltion? Firefly, a company that makes and sells the advertising billboards for vehicles

Flapol | Digital advertising could be coming to an Uber near you