While commentators on earlier articles have accused me of putting words in Ford CEO Mark Fields’ mouth with regard to his stance on market demand for electric vehicles (EVs), I don’t think that there’s any doubt at this point that he isn’t pro-EVs, and isn’t too concerned with his company’s effect on the wider environment. For that matter, it seems hard to argue that he isn’t prone to stretching the truth quite a bit.
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump fast approaching, the Obama Administration has been “barreling ahead” with a number of planned auto industry regulation changes, according to recent reports.
In an “interesting” move, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has postponed a congressionally mandated increase in fines for auto manufacturers not in compliance with fuel economy standards until the 2019 model year. Previous to this decision, the fine increase was slated to go into effect for the 2015 model year (retroactively) and every year following.
In December, 1996, General Motors began leasing its innovative EV1 to customers in California. The EV1 generated a great deal of interest in electric cars but there was a reason why it was only available in California. The California Air Resources Board had promulgated regulations requiring manufacturers to sell zero emission cars if they want to continue doing business in the state.
If the fuel-economy standards set by many regulators around the world are to be achieved, then electric vehicle market share will need to rise to 16% by the year 2020, according to a new report from the UN-accredited global energy body known as the World Energy Council. As it stands … [continued]
Have you ever thought that the health benefits of reducing emitted carbon might pay for the costs associated with implementing clean air policies? A new study, published online Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change, has found that savings from health benefits dwarf the estimated $14 billion cost of a cap-and-trade … [continued]
Navigant Research forecasts electric vehicles will reach 6.6 million in annual sales and 7% of the global light-duty vehicle market by 2020 on the strength of lower prices, consumer demand, and more vehicle options.
A new report has found that up to 570,000 jobs will be created in the U.S. by 2030 as a direct result of the vehicle fuel economy standards that have recently been proposed by the Obama administration. The study found that 50,000 new jobs in light-duty vehicle manufacturing and … [continued]
The cost of fuel is something on a lot of people’s mind these days. And in these times, I think it’s worth looking back and noticing who pushed for great fuel economy standards in cars, efficient and useful mass transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities that you can actually use, and the rapid development of electric vehicles. Do you know who’s on your side.
