This Week’s Top 10: More details released on the future of Fisker Automotive, Apple wants to test autonomous vehicles

by Jon LeSage, editor and publisher, Green Auto Market

Here’s my take on the 10 most significant and interesting occurrences during the past week…….

  1. Fisker Karma factoryThe future of Fisker: More details are being released on Fisker Automotive, which has been on the sidelines since 2012. The revived automaker, owned by Chinese auto parts giant Wanxiang, just signed an 11-year lease deal estimated to be worth about $30 million. Fisker will be opening a production plant in Moreno Valley, Calif., about 60 miles from its corporate office in Costa Mesa. The 556,000 square-foot industrial building is expected to create 150 new jobs, and will be the first Southern California vehicle manufacturing facility since General Motors shuttered its Van Nuys plant in 1992. The city of Morena Valley said that Fisker also plans to feature a showroom and guided tours at the facility. Fisker Karmas had been produced by Valmet Automotive in Finland; the luxury plug-in sports car was expected to be manufactured at a former General Motors plant in Delaware, but that plan fell apart with Fisker’s financial collapse and bankruptcy. Details haven’t come out yet on the 2016 relaunch of the Karma, which went on hold in 2012.
  2. Apple wants to test self-driving cars: Apple may be testing self-driving cars at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station in Concord, Calif., which is now called the GoMentum Station. That 2,100-acre facility northeast of San Francisco has more than 20 miles of paved roads, city streets, railroad crossing and tunnels; GoMentum has been utilized by both Honda and Mercedes-Benz to test out their autonomous vehicle projects. Apple engineers from the company’s Special Projects group have been in contact with representatives of GoMentum Station, according to a report in British newspaper The Guardian. Apple is continuing to show signs of taking autonomous vehicles seriously, and it may coincide with R&D on electric vehicles. It may be Project Titan, the code name for the company’s electric vehicle program.
  3. Fleet operators open to stricter fuel economy standards: A new study on truck fuel efficiency conducted by CALSTART and NAFA found that fleet operators believe they will benefit from cost savings from fuel efficient commercial trucks. The study found that 87% of fleet operators surveyed would support more aggressive regulations on truck fuel economy; and 89% are willing to pay a higher upfront cost for a more fuel-efficient commercial vehicle as long as they’ll see cost savings over the vehicle’s lifecycle. That higher cost could be paid off in as little as nine months, according to the study.
  4. Urban mobility solutions from Ford: Finding safe, clean, and mobile transportation opportunities in our fast-growing urban settings is the source of many studies and projects these days (with the Brookings Institution finding that urban truck traffic growth is happening faster than urban population growth). Ford’s President and CEO Mark Fields announced three new alternative transportation projects that the company is testing out: Peer-2-Peer Car-Sharing, a pilot program for select customers in six U.S. cities and in London; Multimodal Urban Mobility, an experiment focusing on the many types of transportation used in urban environments. One of these options that Ford is trying out is the new MoDe:Flex, a concept eBike design; and GoDrive, an on-demand carsharing pilot for one-way trips in London with a pay-as-you-go approach and guaranteed parking. What are the benefits of going these routes? Ford says that they will bring more cost-effective commutes, an uptick in multimodal transportation, less congestion and happier drivers.
  5. Tesla selling stock: Tesla Motors Inc. plans to raise about $642.5 million through selling more of its stock on the market – up from $500 million from its previous announcement days earlier. That will be about 2.1 million shares of the company. One analyst expects that this offering and its existing credit lines will offer enough cash for operations into 2016. The company burned through $359 million in cash during the second quarter as it expands its auto and energy storage businesses. The Gigafactory in Nevada is seeing a lot of that capital as Tesla prepares to make efficient batteries for its upcoming Model 3 electric car. The capital drain could go away for Tesla if an outrageous forecast by Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas turns out to be accurate. Jonas thinks that Tesla will go from around $280 (though its currently about $243) up to $465 in stock price. He’s basing this assumption of Tesla stock nearly doubling in price on a concept that the company may be rolling out called Tesla Mobility, an app-based on-demand mobility service utilizing semi-autonomous vehicles.
  6. Renewable diesel seeing big gains: Propel Fuels is now offering Diesel HPR (High Performance Renewable) at locations across Southern California. Utilizing Neste’s NEXBTL renewable diesel, Propel’s Diesel HPR is a low-carbon, renewable fuel that meets petroleum diesel specifications and can be used in any diesel engine. Fleets and consumers choosing Diesel HPR realize the benefits of better performance, significant reductions in greenhouse gases, and improved local air quality. Propel Fuels’ announcement comes not long after companies committed to the clean fuel: UPS will be purchasing 46 million gallons of renewable diesel (RD); FedEx will be buying three million gallons of RD per year; the City of San Francisco will be going to 100% RD by the end of the year; and Google is switching its bus fleet to RD.
  7. GM and Honda’s fuel cell project: Charlie Freese, GM’s head of global fuel cell engineering, has been very enthusiastic about GM’s hydrogen fuel cell partnership with Honda that started two years ago. The Next generation fuel cell stack is running in their laboratory now that is down almost a half in weight and size, and the cost is dropping down. He says that the two OEMs forged the alliance to standardize parts and get the volume up, which you can’t do alone very easily.
  8. Nissan working with Enterprise on college carsharing: Nissan has teamed up with car rental giant Enterprise on a new carsharing service. Enterprise CarShare will be going to 90 college campuses around the country for a rental fee of $5 an hour. For now, Nissan will be supplying 300 vehicles, with up to 25 going onto some of the campuses. Carsharing competitor Zipcar has been moving on campus in the past couple of years, and recently worked with Ford on bringing carsharing to six US cities and London; Ford has tested its own campus program.
  9. Natural gas incentives: The Natural Gas Vehicle Incentive Project, funded by California Energy Commission (CEC), started up earlier this month is being administered for CEC by the Institute of Transportation Studies, at UC Irvine. Incentives range from $1,000 for the lightest natural gas vehicles to $25,000 for NGVs with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 33,001 pounds; the project has $10,187,000 available in funding on a “first-come, first-served basis.” Eligible vehicles need to be new (model year 2014 or later), listed in CARB’s Certification Program, and must be registered and operated on natural gas in California (at least 90% of the time) for at least three years.
  10. Wireless charging could be here soon: Wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging could make it to the commercial level as early as 2017 with luxury EVs being first to adopt them, according to a study by Strategy Analytics. They’ll probably be an option available on for a fairly high price and limited to mainly luxury auto brands (Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac…..?) when launching in 2017, according to Strategy Analytics. The same issue is there for wireless as for plug-in – for them to be interoperable and able to work across different brands of EVs and charging networks.

    How to increase interest in used electric vehicles with car shoppers

    Chevy Volt at dealershipPlug-in electric vehicles are getting hit with depreciation of their resale values. Many of these electric vehicles (EVs) are coming off lease this year, which presents a real challenge for manufacturers’ finance arms and other financial institutions who wrote the leases. It’s also affecting consumers who purchased the EVs and might be trading them in at a dealership or selling them to private parties; it’s also tough for retailers (dealers) who own these cars, through trade ins or buying them at auctions, and want to sell them at a decent profit margin. NADA Used Car Guide and Black Book are seeing those trends and have reported on it last week. The Tesla Model S is holding its value on the market, but other EVs are vulnerable. For owners of used EVs looking at their options, market research and consulting firm Morpace has asked electric vehicle owners for tips on how to move the metal.

    NADA Used Car Guide’s Larry Dixon thinks that used vehicle buyers tend to lean more toward frugality than new vehicle shoppers. With that, concerns over upfront cost and long-term durability are more amplified. Black Book’s Anil Goyal sees gasoline prices as the key driver. “Smaller cars have experienced heavier depreciation over the last 12-18 months, but it’s clear that the small mainstream electric vehicles are experiencing even heavier valuation drops,” Goyal said in a Black Book commentary.

    Current electric vehicle (EV) owners interviewed by Morpace are passionate about their plug-in cars, but are not too interested in buying a used one according to an analysis piece by Eric Roach, research director at Morpace. Buying a new EV is more likely for them. Morpace presented questions to its MyDrivingPower community, which is comprised of more than 250 U.S.-based EV owners. They did have a lot to say in suggestions to automakers and dealers on what they can do to make used EVs stronger in the market:

    • Educate dealer staff with their own driving experience – One way to improve their credibility about EV knowledge suggested by respondents was that sales staff actually drive the vehicles themselves to become familiar with the product. Knowledge and some level of expertise on EVs is expected to come from the dealership and the people who are selling them.
    • Provide a warranty on the battery or replace it – To deal with concerns over expensive battery packs, replacement or a 5-6 year warranty on the battery was suggested. This warranty would be expected to cover replacement costs, repairs, and guarantee a minimum battery range per charge. It would work best if the dealer is seen to be transparent, proactive, and straight forward about the battery and range for consumers to consider buying a used EV.
    • Report charge cycles – EV owners want to know more about battery lifecycle, and they see the need for an indicator that provides the number of times a battery has been charged to date (equivalent to mileage on an internal combustion engine). Survey respondents think that more consumer confidence in used EVs would be supported by knowing the total number of cycles on the life of the battery and the number of cells still remaining.

      This Week’s Top 10: Highlights from CAR Management Briefing Seminars, Tesla guards against hackers

      by Jon LeSage, editor and publisher, Green Auto Market 

      Here’s my take on the 10 most significant and interesting occurrences during the past week…….

      1. Chris Grundler at CAR conference 2015CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City: While a huge storm postponed the start of CAR Management Briefing Seminars last week in Traverse City, Mich., things got underway later that day for the 50th annual thought leadership event. Here are some of the highlights from what’s considered to be the most important annual conference for automotive executives…….
      • The practicality of US and California fuel efficiency and emissions rules set off a heated debate in Traverse City. Automakers are struggling to meet California’s demand to see 15% of new vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2025, according to executives of two major automotive lobby groups. Diarmuid O’Connell, vice president of business development at Tesla Motors, made the opposite argument. California and the nine other states that have adopted the ZEV policy should make the rules tougher. Tesla profits from selling the ZEV credits to other automakers who aren’t hitting those targets.
      • Chris Grundler, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality (and featured in the photo above), said that the federal agency has not already set in stone the 4 mpg mandate for corporate average fuel economy. That will be determined by April 2018 after a review in 2017 and 2018. Issues such as fuel process and acceptance of new technologies will be reviewed; and the EPA administrator will make the final decision and will for the next president, Gundler said.
      • Ford Motor Co. was the winner of the 3rd annual Altair Enlighten Award for its use of various lightweighting materials in the 2015 Ford F-150. The award is given out by Altair and the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) and was created to acknowledge innovation in vehicle weight reduction. Ford was named the winner for taking 700 pounds off of the Ford F-150 while improving its performance, safety, and fuel efficiency.
      • China is seeing the manufacturing of a high volume of electric vehicles – 84,700 battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles last year; and up 83,100 units in the first six months of 2015, according to Yonghe Huang, director of policy research at the China Automotive Technology Center. Challenges prevail, including a lack of public charging stations, a limited number of garages for parking the cars, and not enough demand to sell all these electric vehicles. Air pollution in its major, developing cities and abundant government incentives are spurring the production volumes. Automakers are skeptical about whether all of this will work as sales have been soft; even Tesla Motors has been struggling to get the ball rolling, as indicated by its recent Chinese management turnover right after sales objectives were not met.
      • Using modular parts is dramatically reducing costs for batteries, motors, and other components in General Motors’ six electrified cars, said Pam Fletcher, GM’s executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles, during one of the management briefing seminars. All of these vehicles – the Chevrolet Bolt, Volt, Spark EV and Malibu Hybrid and the Cadillac ELR and CT6 PHEV – share powertrain components and technologies, Fletcher said. For example, the gasoline-electric powertrain in the upcoming Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is nearly identical to that of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. Editor’s Note: Ramping up to reach economies of scale and bring down production costs, leveraging its marketing muscle, and retailing through its dealer networks are other benefits that GM holds over small, startup electric vehicle manufacturers.
      1. Tesla guards against hackers: Cybersecurity researchers found they could take control of a Tesla Model S in a test project in one of six ways that need to be corrected. Tesla sent out a software patch to address the security flaws and protect Model S owners and the general public from hackers. Cybersecurity firm Lookout and technology company Cloudflare decided to hack a Tesla car because the company has a reputation for understanding software that is better than that of most automakers, they said. Tesla chief technology officer JB Straubel appeared at the Def Con annual hacker convention last week in Las Vegas to thank the researchers who uncovered vulnerabilities in Model S electric car software. Straubel also announced a hike in Tesla’s hacking bounty to $10,000.
      2. EV sales in July: Tesla Model S was the clear leader in plug-in sales during the month of July, while the Chevrolet Volt increased to the second position and the Nissan Leaf fell back to No. 3. The BMW i3 had a strong month with a 70% sales increase over June and about 157% higher than a year earlier. Overall, U.S. plug-in sales were down 13.5% from the previous month and 21.4% from a year ago. Editor’s Note: See this week’s feature, “Sales are soft, but OEMs aren’t giving up on zero emission vehicles” for analysis of what’s ahead for green car sales.
      3. Stop-start technologies seeing major growth: Chicago-based research firm Navigant Consulting predicts that 35% of new vehicles sold in North America will have stop-start systems, up from 10% this year. It’s part of automakers moving forward on hitting the federal government’s 54.5 mpg by 2025 target. The stop-start system shuts off the vehicle’s engine when it comes to a stop, and then restarts the engine when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake.
      4. Mike Calise leading Car Charging Group: Car Charging Group, Inc., a publicly traded supplier of electric vehicle charging services, has named Mike Calise as CEO; Michael Farkas will continue to service as board chairman and Chief Visionary Officer. Calise most recently served as Head of North America EV Solutions at Schneider Electric; prior to that, he was founder of EVadvise, a consulting firm focused on mass scale electric vehicle infrastructure, where he developed the EV Charging infrastructure technology plan for Marin Transportation Authority’s countywide charger deployment as well as others.
      5. Clean Power Plan increases goals: The Obama Administration has released the final version of the Clean Power Plan, which raised the bar on cutting carbon pollution from electric power plants to 32% from the initial 30% target. There has been some increased flexibility in the new plan – they must comply by 2022 instead of 2020 and the emissions reductions are phased in on a “gradual glide path” to 2030. The final Clean Power Plan also gives states more flexibility to meet the ambitious carbon standards: they must comply by 2022 instead of 2020 and the emission reductions are phased in on a “gradual glide path” to 2030. On Friday, 365 companies and investors including General Mills, Mars, Nestle, Staples, Unilever and VF Corporation sent letters voicing their support for the plan and encouraged states to release “timely finalization” of state implementation plans to meet the new standards. The National Association of Manufacturers said the rule will threaten manufacturers’ competitiveness and drive up electricity costs.
      6. What EV owners think: Ford Motor Co. recently surveyed 10,000 electric vehicle (EV) owners in the US to gain understanding of their perceptions. Overall, EV owners love their vehicles and smart phone applications; 83% will consider, or already have installed, solar power to charge their vehicles at home to reduce emissions and save money; 92% of battery electric and 94% of plug-in hybrid drivers plan to purchase another EV in the future; EV owners use smart phone apps regularly and want to see vehicle health alerts, public charging station locators, charging time indicators, and reserving and paying for charging functions. About half of plug-in hybrid drivers and more than a quarter of battery electric drivers are using conventional outlets (120/110 volt) to charge at home; 88% of EV drivers would like to have a fast charger installed at their home.
      7. Propane seeing a strong year: Sales of propane-powered fleet vehicles, and the propane needed to run them, are taking off this year. Propane prices are at a 13 year low and are 75% cheaper than diesel, along with bringing environmental gains of 12% less carbon dioxide than gasoline. The price differential is driven by a glut of propane coming from shale wells, with much of that coming out of the Marcellus field. ICF International Inc., a Fairfax, Virginia, consulting firm, expects U.S. sales of propane-powered vehicles to reach 20,000 units this year, a 35% jump over 2014, and slightly higher than what’s expected to be seen in fleet purchases of natural gas vehicles this year.
      8. Tesla quarterly earnings good or bad?: During its quarterly earnings call last week, Tesla Motors said that its energy storage products are taking off in customer orders while the company also downsized its prediction for electric car sales this year – from 55,000 to around 50,000. CEO Elon Musk thinks it will be “quite a challenging production ramp” to deliver a realistic number of soon-to-be launched Model X units at the quality level the company wants to meet. The company reported $1.2 billion in Q2 revenue, up from $857.5 million a year ago. Fortune analyst John Kell thinks it’s all much worse than Tesla reported. Kell wrote that Tesla is losing more than $4,000 on every Model S it sells. The analysis goes to Tesla burning through $359 million in cash last quarter. Tesla had just $1.15 billion on hand as of June 30, down from $2.67 billion a year earlier. Tesla reported that the $359 million was spent on expanding capacity at its Fremont, Calif., plant to make room for the Model X; and for construction costs at the Gigafactory in Nevada.
      9. Hyundai and Kia jumping into electrified sector: Hyundai will be expanding its green car offerings through its Hyundai and Kia brands. Along with the Tucson hydrogen model, Hyundai and Kia may be launching four hybrid models, two plug-in hybrids, and one battery electric car between the 2016 and 2018 model years, according to sources familiar with the company. The hybrids may be built on the compact-car platform that will be used in the next-generation Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. The hybrids would be powered by a direct-injected 1.6L gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. The Kia might end up being designed as a crossover, and the Hyundai as a liftback sedan similar to the Chevrolet Volt.

        Sales are soft, but OEMs aren’t giving up on zero emission vehicles

        EV sales through 2015As reported lately in Green Auto Market and several major media sources, it’s been a tough year for green car sales. Hybrid sales were down 18.5% in the first half of this year compared to last year. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles had it much worse – plunging 33.7% versus a year ago. Battery electric vehicles have bucked the trend, with the Tesla Model S, Mercedes B-Class Electric, and the BMW i3 doing well in July. Sales increases reported by Tesla haven’t been enough to lighten the mood.

        Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, especially the upcoming Toyota Mirai, are getting much attention this year and impressing some with California’s (and other states’) commitment to zero emission vehicles (ZEVS). The numbers aren’t there yet in hydrogen fueling stations or car sales. Hyundai has sold just 17 Tucson FCVs this year in the U.S. Toyota is investing a lot into its upcoming Mirai FCV. Pre-orders are being placed now for deliveries starting this fall.

        For electric vehicles, there’s been concern that federal and state incentives need to increase to gain more sales appeal. The July total, only one-third of last year’s sales, may reflect the June 30th end of Georgia’s generous income-tax credit for purchasing ZEVs in the state.

        Then there’s the overall economic climate. Sales started softening in June and continued into July, with low gasoline prices and cheap small cars and crossovers with strong fuel economy driving much of the interest.

        That being said, automakers don’t appear to be backing away from launching all-new or revamped versions of their plug-in electric vehicles or fuel-cell vehicles. For example, Nissan, BMW, General Motors, and Tesla don’t appear to be backing down under the current market dynamics.

        Sales have dropped quite a bit for the Nissan Leaf, with a seven-month total this year of 10,990, one-third less than the 15,755 Leafs sold in the first seven months of 2014. Some of this likely has to do with a refreshed Leaf coming out in the 2016 model year, with a battery range that could be 25% higher. There’s talk out there that Nissan may go the way of the 2012 Toyota Prius family, with more versions of the Leaf rolling out in 2016 or 2017. One of these might be a crossover Leaf along with the five-door hatchback that you see now out on the road.

        BMW CEO Harald Krueger has said that an electrified crossover will be coming out in the i Series. BMW may also add a big battery-electric SUV to its main brand in a direct challenge to the Tesla Model X sedan. BMW is also said to be looking into working with Apple on the new high-tech vehicle the technology giant wants to develop.

        The Chevrolet Volt appears to be very much affected by a new model coming to dealerships this fall. In July, Chevrolet reported a year-to-date sales figure of 6,935 for 2015, versus 10,635 for the same period during 2014. Sales did increase to over 1,000 during the past three months, right after seeing four months of sales at less than 1,000 units. General Motors and its Chevrolet dealers may have been aggressively attempting to sell off the 2015 models before the 2016 model gets closer to coming to market.

        The Volt may be going up to 53 miles on battery power with the revamped model – 40% more in battery range than the current model. It will also have a more power engine and, for some models, a fifth “seating position” to increase its appeal.

        Tesla Motors is counting on its Model X building up its global sales. During its second quarter earnings report, the company said that its full-year delivery forecast will be coming down from 55,000 to between 50,000 and 55,000. That may come from a delay in production of the Model X.

        Tesla will manufacture the Model X on the same general assembly line as its Model S sedan at the factory in Fremont, Calif. That could could slow down overall production if there are problems that come up during the ramp-up of the new product, according to CEO Elon Musk. Seeing strong sales increases in the Model S has encouraged Tesla to increase its production. The automaker reported producing a record 12,807 vehicles in Q2, which beat its goal of 12,500 units.

        One of the big hopes for plug-in sales is coming through more affordable cars with more miles between charges. Tesla is placing a lot of its strategic plan on rolling out its $35,000 Model 3 in 2017 (which will include advanced batteries being manufactured at the new Gigafactory in Nevada that will power the car for 200 miles on a single charge). General Motors has high hopes for the Chevrolet Bolt is expected to make it 200 miles on a charge and start at $30,000 when it rolls out in 2017. Tesla and GM are putting a lot of hope on these cars, which face the fundamental challenge all of these electrified vehicles must address:  getting more consumers to overcome concerns about investing in a new technology.

         

          This Week’s Top 10: Hackers could throw monkey wrench into autonomous vehicles, New developments in Washington

          by Jon LeSage, editor and publisher, Green Auto Market 

          Here’s my take on the 10 most significant and interesting occurrences during the past week…….

          1. FCA dealing with hackersFCA cyber security vehicle recall: When it comes to following autonomous vehicles/self-driving cars, concerns are typically raised about liability issues after accidents, personal privacy, and acceptance of the technologies by car owners. There is an even bigger issue that will have to be addressed by automakers, technology suppliers (especially Google), DMVs, and NHTSA: cyber security. FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) is going through a major recall now of 1.4 million vehicles that was spurred by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s concerns over a Uconnect radio system made by Harman International Industries – and which has also been placed in other vehicles by other automakers. Hackers are likely to find the challenge too big and exciting to set aside; that was the case with a Jeep Cherokee that ended up running into a ditch because of game playing by hackers. That was a safe and legal event recently organized by Wired.com to see if hackers could break through the security wall. Last week, a researcher warned of another potential security breach: hackers could exploit a security flaw in a mobile app for General Motors’ OnStar vehicle communications system. A new survey by Kelley Blue Book indicates consumers are very concerned about how vulnerable they are in today’s connected cars. Automakers are investing a lot of capital and resources into connected vehicles, which they believe is the transition channel over to semi-autonomous and fully automated vehicles in the next 10 years. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes have made a $2.8 billion bid to buy Nokia’s next-gen mapping business; and Apple may work with BMW to bring a customized, autonomous version of the electric BMW i3 to market. My suggestion to the industry would be to send your staff to hackathon competitions in Silicon Valley and offer high-paying jobs to the winners.
          2. New developments in Washington: Two legislative items moved ahead Thursday in the U.S. Senate. The Vehicle Innovation Act reauthorizes the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program (authorizing $313.6 million in funding for the next budget year, and a 4% increase annually through 2020), which promotes partnerships to conduct research and development to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles. The Act promotes investments in research and development of cleaner vehicle and advanced safety technologies that will create more fuel-efficient vehicles. It was included in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. On the House of Representative side, President Obama has signed into law H.R.3236, whose many highway funding provisions include a measure meant to ensure that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane autogas are taxed fairly relative to diesel and gasoline. Natural gas vehicle industry association NGVAmerica says the passage of H.R.3236 will permanently solidify the law’s alternative fuel measure; the association says that it will modify the federal highway excise taxes on LNG and autogas to be based on the fuels’ energy content, rather than on their volume.
          3. Uber enters auto finance: Ridesharing giant Uber has expanded its leasing program for drivers to have cars to transport passengers. It’s called Xchange Leasing and offers drivers more affordable leasing payments. It’s been impressive enough to bring in Cox Automotive and Westlake Financial Services and other companies into pilot programs. In other news, the Global Business Travel Association released results on a survey of business travelers and travel buyers, who say that one in four (24%) of travel buyers say their company does not allow their business travelers to use ride-sharing companies. Right now, 11% of business travelers are using ridesharing companies like Uber versus 36% using rental cars, 24% taking taxis, and 13% using chauffeured transportation. And in other Uber news, Uber just closed $1 billion in another round of funding from investors that include Microsoft; the company is valued at nearly $51 billion and is expected to go public.
          4. Major companies commit to reducing carbon: Thirteen large corporations (Alcoa, Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Cargill, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, PepsiCo, UPS, and Walmart) have signed the White House’s American Business Act on Climate Pledge. These companies have committed to using “greener” fleets to help meet carbon footprint goals. In related news, UPS said it will buy 46 million gallons of renewable diesel over three years, 15 times greater than prior contracts, as the company seeks to further reduce carbon emissions. The fuels will be supplied to UPS by Finland-based Neste, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group and San Francisco-based Solazym.
          5. PlugShare Guide launched: Recargo Inc. has introduced its PlugShare Guide, a new plug-in vehicle consulting service for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. PlugShare Guide will develop strategies, policies and plans for assessing, promoting, installing and managing EV infrastructure as well as strategies to accelerate EV adoption using the company’s rich market intelligence, proprietary research and analytical tools. PlugShare Guide’s initial project is with Pacific Gas & Electric to analyze and recommend a layout of fast charging infrastructure across the utility’s service area, in partnership with Energy + Environmental Economics (E3) and U.C. Davis.
          6. Work truck study: National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) and its Green Truck Association (GTA) affiliate division, recently released the 2015 Work Truck Electrification and Idle Management Study, showcasing directional industry trends on commercial vehicle efficiency, system electrification, and idle reduction. The report offers practical insights into the fleet manager’s perspective on new truck electrification technologies and idle management, NTEA said.
          7. Cuba opens door to new vehicles: A lot of change is taking place in Cuba, including placing an order for 719 new cars for tourist rentals from China-based BYD. In other news from Latin America, BYD also reported the sale of ten 12-meter K9 battery-electric buses by BYD do Brasil for Campinas, in the state of São Paulo. Campinas will be the first city in Brazil with a fleet of fully battery electric, zero emission buses.
          8. New Plug In America exec: Joel Levin, former vice president of business development at the Climate Action Reserve, has been named executive director of Plug In America. An expert on U.S. and global carbon markets and California climate policy, Levin oversaw development of the Climate Action Reserve, the state-chartered nonprofit that runs North America’s largest carbon offset registry. “This year, Plug In America marks the tenth anniversary of our efforts to electrify transportation, and we look forward to expanding our efforts with Joel at the helm,” said Plug In America board president Michael Thwaite.
          9. CalCharge adds partners: CalCharge has added six new partners, including major players Toyota and German mega-supplier Bosch. Overall, 18 automakers, parts suppliers, and energy companies have joined the initiative – which has also teamed up with a number of national research labs. CalCharge pairs companies with three Bay Area national labs: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The main goal of CalCharge is to find ways to boost power, drop costs, and extend battery life.
          10. Qualcomm makes deal for wireless charging: Qualcomm has a new deal with Swiss electric car parts maker Brusa, allowing the firm to develop, manufacture, and supply its Halo charging plates to other companies. Qualcomm has fitted its Halo system of wireless, inductive chargers to Formula E course cars and other test vehicles. Wireless charging may be a long way’s out, but Qualcomm imagines a future in which these plates are as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi hotspots; that may include highway charging lanes, where electric can top up their batteries as they drive.

            Event Planning: Clean transportation and advanced vehicle technologies conferences to consider attending

            Clean transportation eventsWhile summer vacation is in the air, it’s time to start planning for events and conferences. Here are significant events in clean transportation and advanced vehicle technologies over the next year that I look forward to attending (or at least covering). The challenge will be attending all of them in September and October – some of them are back-to-back in scheduling. I will be moderating a speaker panel at

            Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition’s 6th annual Fall stakeholder meeting on Oct. 15 where panelists will be discussing autonomous vehicles, intelligent highways, the Hyperloop, and carsharing services. I hope to see you there.

            Fleet Technology Expo
            August 24-26, 2015
            Long Beach Convention Center
            Long Beach, CA
            Green Fleet Conference & Expo has been expanded into Fleet Technology Expo. This conference and exposition will feature the latest information on maintaining and adopting alternative fuels, maximizing data for efficient fleet management and best practices for heavy duty fleets.
            http://www.fleettechnologyexpo.com/Default.aspx

            North American Natural Gas Vehicle Conference & Expo
            Sept. 15-17, 2015
            Denver
            The largest gathering of NGV industry professionals in North America is expected to feature more than 100 exhibitors, 1,000 attendees, and 70 speakers and panelists. Highlights include OEM technology, fuel cost savings, emissions reductions, fuel station infrastructure development plans, federal and state funding options as well as how natural gas is driving innovation and economic growth. Attendees can participate in a Ride & Drive and attend the 2015 NGV Achievement Awards celebrating innovation and leadership.
            http://www.ngvshow.com/

            AltCar Expo
            Sept. 18-19 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
            Santa Monica, Calif.
            The 10th anniversary conference will feature NAFA (Pacific Southwest Chapter) workshops and the first annual ”Best Sustainability Awards Recognition Program.” Other speaker events on Friday will focus on autonomous vehicle technologies, Multi-unit dwelling (MUD) and workplace charging; a presentation on Saturday showing of trailer from the documentary “My Lunch With Obama”, followed by a Panel Discussion with the director, Kelly R. Olsen, the subject of the film, Paul Scott and some of the people that appear in the file. The discussion will first focus on what led Paul to be willing to pay $32,400 to speak to the President for two minutes about EV policy and the events that unfolded after he was accepted to the luncheon with the President.
            http://altcarexpo.com/

            Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition’s 2015 Clean Technologies Forum
            Oct. 15, 2015
            California Automobile Museum, Sacramento, Calif.
            Details will be released soon on the sixth annual Fall stakeholder meeting for Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition. As mentioned, I’ll be moderating a panel of speakers for “The Future of Transportation Technology.” Experts on the topics will discuss autonomous vehicles, intelligent highways, the Hyperloop, carsharing services, and other advanced technology developments.
            http://www.cleancitiessacramento.org/

            Meeting of the Minds 2015
            Oct. 20-22, 2015
            Berkeley and Richmond, Calif.
            This leadership summit on smarter urban systems is being convened in the San Francisco Bay Area in October. Now in its 9th year, the annual summit brings together professionals for opportunities to think critically, ask questions, share tools, and build lasting partnerships — which make smarter and more sustainable cities possible. Meeting of the Minds 2015 is sponsored by Black & Veatch; Royal Bank of Canada; The Federal Reserve Bank of the US; Qualcomm; CBRE; Toyota; Cisco; Wells Fargo Bank; Microsoft; Itron; University of California, Berkeley; and others.
            http://cityminded.org/events/motm2015

            Telematics West Coast 2015
            Oct. 26-27, 2015
            San Diego, Calif.
            Telematics Detroit (now called TU-Automotive Detroit) has expanded to the west coast with this San Diego event. Topics will include cyber security, big data, car communication systems, and Renovo Motors, the maker of the first all-electric American supercar. Christopher Heiser, CEO of Renovo Motors, will be one of the speakers. Automotive Digest Publisher Chuck Parker and I will be attending and interviewing executives; for those interested in scheduling an appointment, please email me. Along with the name change, away from telematics and into TU, the focus of these events is expanding: “Telematics, Autonomy, Mobility,” is how the TU-Automotive Detroit site is labelled.
            http://www.tu-auto.com/west-coast/

            High Horsepower Summit
            Oct. 27-29, 2015
            Dallas, TX
            The HHP Summit presents natural gas as a solution to high horsepower equipment operators aiming to significantly reduce fuel costs, improve environmental performance, and comply with important air quality regulations. It’s managed by Gladstein Neandross & Associates, which organizes the annual ACT Expo conference.
            http://www.hhpsummit.com/

            Connected Car Expo
            Nov. 17-19, 2015
            Los Angeles
            Connected Car Expo (CCE) at the LA Auto Show has grown enough in attendance to transition from its Los Angeles Convention Center space and will occupy virtually the entire JW Marriott at the adjacent L.A. Live entertainment complex. More than 25 speakers will be there from Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm, Google, Volkswagen, Continental, Movimento, Redbend, J.D. Power, Pebble and other companies.  Selected by the CCE Advisory Board, this year’s conference topics focus on issues such as autonomous vehicles, car sharing, cybersecurity, 3D printing, over-the-air updates, and much more.
            www.ConnectedCarExpo.com

            Long Beach ePrix
            April 2, 2016
            Long Beach, Calif.
            The FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Motor Sport Council recently approved the calendar for the second season of the FIA Formula E Championship, with Long Beach scheduled as the sixth of 11 rounds in the Formula E series. Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: “We’re very pleased for Formula E to be returning to Long Beach in 2016. Our first Californian ePrix was a fantastic success and brought a new generation of race fans to the iconic streets of Long Beach. We’re looking forward to building on this, as well as continuing to promote the message of sustainability so that California remains the number one market for plug-in electric vehicles.”

            ACT Expo
            May 2-5, 2016
            Long Beach, CA
            The largest clean transportation industry event will be returning to the Long Beach Convention Center next year. Details on the event will be released later this year.
            http://www.actexpo.com/

              This Week’s Top 10: NAFTC releases alternative fuel vehicle training schedule, Mcity gaining investments from automakers

              by Jon LeSage, editor and publisher, Green Auto Market 

              Here’s my take on the 10 most significant and interesting occurrences during the past week…….

              1. NAFTC logoAFV training schedule: The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) has released its fall alternative fuel vehicle training schedule ideal for professionals serving the clean transportation space – including service technicians, fleet managers, municipalities, and consumers interested in learning about alternative fuel vehicles The schedule includes courses for automotive technicians, including Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Training, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Vehicle Fuel System Inspector Training, and Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Training. The schedule also includes the Hydrogen, Hydrogen Vehicle, and Hydrogen Fleet Awareness Workshop. All classes feature a combination of classroom and hands-on training and will be held at the NAFTC headquarters in Morgantown, WV. Continuing Education Units from West Virginia University are available for all training classes.
              2. Mcity seeing investors: Ford, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota are among the companies each investing $1 million over three years in the University of Michigan’s Mcity. This testing ground if considered to be the first controlled environment specifically designed to measure the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies that will lead the way to mass-market driverless cars. Thirty-three Affiliate Members are also contributing, and investing $150,000 over three years, to the University of Michigan’s Mobility Transformation Center. Current Leadership Circle companies are: Delphi Automotive, Denso, Econolite Group, Ford, GM, Honda, Iteris, Navistar, Nissan, Qualcomm Technologies, Robert Bosch, State Farm, Toyota, Verizon Communications, and Xerox.
              3. China following California: China has been learning lessons from government policies in California to encourage automakers and consumers to purchase plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles. China’s program will extend incentives for hybrids, which had been downplayed due to the strong presence of Japanese automakers like Toyota in that market segment. Chinese carmakers such as BYD Co and SAIC Motor Corp. will benefit, but so will global rivals on a more level playing field.
              4. GM investing $5B: General Motors will be spending $5 billion over the next decade on a new family of Chevrolet models aimed at emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico. Most will be small cars but may include crossovers. “This new vehicle family will feature advance technologies focused on connectivity, safety and fuel efficiency delivered at a compelling value,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president.
              5. EPA certification: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified Blossman Services’ propane-autogas-powered Ford Transit van. Blossman upfits the Transit with a Prins bi-fuel VSI 2 system with Ford’s 3.7-liter V-6 engine.The bi-fuel system is designed to cut installation time in half and ensure consistent performance, says Alliance AutoGas, which is managed by Blossman Gas.
              6. Prius Plug-In range extension: Editors at Green Car Reports have recently heard from an industry source that the next Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid will have “30 to 35 miles” of rated battery range. The fourth-generation 2016 Prius hybrid is expected to launch within the next few months. The company has said that the plug-in hybrid version will lag the conventional hybrid model by about a year.
              7. EVs vs. hydrogen: A recent Green Car Reports article dealt with hydrogen fuel cell car drivers being frustrated with the unreliability of current hydrogen fueling stations in Southern California. That story has accumulated more comments than any other article published in Green Car Reports, with about 2,000 coming in by the end of the day. Opinions expressed by electric vehicle (EV) advocates were similar to public comments made by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk; they disdain hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and think there’s been way too much attention on that technology and fuel this year. Drivers of hydrogen-powered cars tend to be just as, or more, passionate about the topic as EV drivers – but their numbers are so far much smaller.
              8. NGV refueling stations: Navigant Research expects to see huge growth in global natural gas vehicle (NGV) refueling stations – from 23,001 this year to 38,890 in 20205. A large drivers of this trend will be fleets making NGV acquisitions. “As fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards become increasingly stringent in world markets—particularly for medium and heavy duty vehicles (MHDVs), where electrification is less practical— (natural gas) is becoming an attractive alternative to diesel,” the study says.
              9. Apple buying technology from BMW?: German business magazine Manager has reported that Apple proposed to BMW that the i3 – or parts of it – could form the basis of Apple’s own electric-car project. Apple had no comments to make, and has been staying in secrecy about its plans to enter the automotive industry as a manufacturer.
              10. Coal-powered plants: The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that coal’s share of U.S. electricity generation will decline from 44% in 2011 to 32% in 2040. Most of these coal-powered plants are located in or near Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, which are accounting for 8GW of the expected retirements. The rest of the 13-GW total will include plants in Alabama and the Midwest.

                Aviation raises hopes for growth in advanced biofuels

                United biofuelsTimes continue to be unstable – and very interesting – for biofuels as an alternative transportation fuel. Corn ethanol producers are not happy with what the US Environmental Protection Agency is recommending for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements, and battles continue over whether E15 (15% ethanol blended into gasoline) should be allowed – or even if any ethanol blends should be allowed to continue. Advanced biofuels have hopeful signs, including 36 U.S. senators petitioning to have its volume increased in RFS. Biodiesel, like other advanced biofuels, have gone through quite a lot of instability in the past year over investor support and market demand for the fuels. The Biofuels Digest Index, an index of publicly traded biofuels stocks, just dropped 2.13% to a 6-year low of 58.91 as advanced biofuels tumbled sharply.

                With all being considered, aviation biofuel is raising hopes for more adoption of the alternative fuel in transportation sectors. Colorado-based Red Rock Biofuels has brought in another major client, this time FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. That company will produce about three million gallons of renewable jet fuel per year from 2017 through 2014 for FedEx Express. The announcement comes less than a year after Red Rock made an agreement with Southwest Airlines. That airline will procure another three million gallons of woody biomass-based fuel annually.

                Many people were inspired earlier this year by Solar Impulse successfully completing a five-day crossing of the Pacific from Japan to Hawaii. That was the first phase of its historic attempt to be the first solar-powered airplane to fly around the world. So far, biofuels is the alternative fuel that holds the most promise for commercial aviation.

                Other major airlines – including United Airlines, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic – are testing out their own biojet blends to hit financial and environmental targets. United Airlines recently announced buying a $30 million stake in Fulcrum Bioenergy, the biggest investment yet by a U.S. airline in alternative fuels. Fulcrum plans to build facilities that turn household trash into diesel and jet fuel.

                Volume is growing fast enough for Red Rock Biofuels to open its first commercial plant, which is scheduled to break ground this fall in Lakeview, Ore. That plant is expected to produce 15 million gallons of fuel per year of woody biomass converted into renewable jet, diesel, and naphtha fuels.

                Aviation executives are carefully watching a few trends in the market scalability of biofuel supply chains, regional variation in available feedstocks, and cost concerns. “We as an industry need to increase the supply, and we need to bring down the cost. It needs to be more affordable and available,” Jessica Kowal, Boeing’s head of environmental policy communications, told GreenBiz.

                Red Rock Biofuels Co-Founder and President Terry Kulesa, sees two major forces driving growth in aviation biofuels – volatility in oil prices and more nations tightening up their carbon regulations. Industry observers are seeing renewed interest in biofuels from Boeing, U.S. Dept. of Defense, FedEx, Southwest, and other airplane manufacturers and commercial airlines.

                  This Week’s Top 10: Nissan Leaf class-action suit settled, Tesla unveils “Ludicrous” mode offerings in Model S

                  by Jon LeSage, editor and publisher, Green Auto Market 

                  Here’s my take on the 10 most significant and interesting occurrences during the past week…….

                  1. Lithium battery in Nissan LeafNissan Leaf class-action suit settled: Nissan has reached a settlement agreement over the class-action lawsuit filed in 2012 claiming Nissan was not accurately reporting the real-world range of its Leaf lithium-ion batteries in its advertising. That class-action suit had started up in 2012 on behalf of all Leaf owners in Arizona and California; previous settlements had not closed the case, but now it appears all parties have agreed to the final settlement. Under the new terms, Nissan will have to replace battery packs with updated versions identical to those used in the 2015 Leaf, which use a newer and more heat-tolerant cell chemistry. The automaker will no longer have the option to repair a battery pack that shows less than nine “bars” of indicated capacity on the dashboard gauge. Nissan will also provide 90 days offree access to DC fast-charging through its EZ Charge card program, where users can access stations within the NRG eVgo, AeroVironment, and Car Charging Group networks.
                  2. From Insane to Ludicrous: Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the “Ludicrous” mode offerings in the Tesla Model S P85D and P90D variants; and it will be faster than the “Insane” mode introduced last fall – from the current 3.1 second zero to 60 mph down to 2.8 seconds. Maximum acceleration with be 1.1g, which Musk described as “faster than falling.” Tesla also upgraded the main battery contacts from steel to a more advanced metal; that increased maximum power delivery from 1300 amps to 1500 amps. In other news, Tesla Motors said that it expects to start selling its new Model X in China during the first half of next year, after being introduced in the U.S. in Q3. The company is also opening five to six new showrooms by the end of this year, bringing the total number in China to about 15. Tesla hopes the SUV model will increase interest and sales in a country where interest has been weak,
                  3. Renewable natural gas (RNG) continues to see more acceptance and adoption as a viable clean transportation option. The City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) announced that it has become one of the country’s first municipal transit authorities to convert its fleet to renewable natural gas (RNG), rated 90% cleaner than diesel and is considered the cleanest transportation fuel available. The transit agency is transitioning its buses using liquefied natural gas (LNG) over to RNG through Clean Energy Fuel Corp.’s Redeem renewable LNG, which is non-fracked methane harvested from organic waste in landfills. With that decision, BBB unveiled a new ad campaign called “Bigger, Bluer, Skies” to emphasize the lower emissions and sustainability of this type of fuel. The city council supported using a more sustainable product at an equal cost, said BBB’s Transit Director, Ed King.
                  4. Incentives not Fees: Automakers would prefer to see federal and state governments offer more incentives for electric vehicle (EV) purchases rather than higher vehicle registration fees. In a letter last month to Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said lawmakers should be offering incentives instead raising fees, since incentives encourage purchases and fees tend to discourage them. The alliance represents a dozen global automakers, including the Detroit 3. The alliance is lobbying against efforts to have extra fees, which go up to $100 for EVs, going toward a $1.5 billon road funding plan.
                  5. Argonne study on dual-fuel vehicles: Ford Motor Co. and FCA US have partnered up with the US Dept. of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory to study the benefits of dual-fuel vehicles such as natural gas and gasoline. The study aims to understand potential benefits and demonstrate targeted blending of gasoline and natural gas in an engine that uses half as much gasoline and shows a 10% increase in overall efficiency and a 10% improvement in power density.
                  6. Sierra Club site shows EV incentives: Interested in finding out about all the incentives available in your state to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers? Then visit the Go Electric campaign site operated by Sierra Club. The Sierra Club has launched the national campaign to promote EVs as a way to slash pollution, reduce our dependence on oil, create American jobs, and improve national security. “Pick a Plug-In” helps consumers look at EVs available on the market that will fit best with their specific driving needs.
                  7. Good news for used Leafs: While the Nissan Leaf has looked pretty bad in used car market studies, including ones released by NADA Used Car Guide, Consumer Reports offered a bright spot. The testing team has been impressed with how well it has held up since its launch in late 2010; staffers have been impressed by its quietness, smooth acceleration, and interior space. The Leaf received a “better than average” rating in the Consumer Reports testing – the second-highest ranking a car can attain. The 2011 Leaf gets a “much better than average rating,” 2012 and 2014 models get “better than average,” and 2013 models are rated just “average.”
                  8. Much better roads: A small company in the Netherlands offers PlasticRoad, which replaces conventional asphalt and concrete with prefabricated roads made out of recycled plastic. The city of Rotterdam has been impressed enough to consider using the material in a pilot “street lab” project to see whether it can hold up to daily urban driving. The PlasticRoad materials could last as much as three times longer than conventional pavement and withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
                  9. Biofuels Bonanza: More news and reports came out…… China and India could play increasingly important roles in the development of the biofuels market going forward, according to a Wall Street Journal DuPont will license its biofuel technology to China’s largest cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant. The licensing agreement will provide DuPont’s cellulosic ethanol technology and use DuPont Accellerase enzymes to produce renewable biofuel from the leftover biomass for the Chinese company. As for the U.S., only seven states–Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington – have mandates that require ethanol to be blended in their state fuel supply. But new research appears to show that pure gasoline – known as G100 or E0 – is more corrosive to various engine parts than is E10.
                  10. Boston works with Waze: Real-time traffic data company Waze has partnered with the city of Boston to learn more about an annoying source of traffic slowdowns – double-parked cars. A team from the city’s Transportation Dept., the Dept. of Information Technology and Boston’s New Urban Mechanics group analyzed three months’ worth of citizen-reported data from Waze to find streets most likely to have double-parked and illegally standing cars. When the worst parts of the city were identified, additional bike-riding parking enforcement officers were deployed to those areas to get the double-parked cars to move.

                    Snapshot of clean, smart transportation: We’re living in a very interesting time

                    Urban mobilityAre clean, advanced technology vehicles going away because of low gasoline prices and car shoppers turning their attention elsewhere? Do transportation alternatives like ridesharing, carsharing, and self-driving cars stand a chance of surviving and thriving? Read on for interesting market trends……….

                    Navigant Research expects global light-duty vehicle (LDV) sales growth to continue over the next 20 years – from 88.8 million vehicles this year to 122.6 million sold in 2035. Navigant Research sees changes driven primarily by the adoption of vehicles with various levels of drivetrain electrification and vehicles that run entirely on alternative fuels. New transportation business models for LDVs such as carsharing programs alongside increased urbanization is likely to put downward pressure on vehicle sales in the long term, Navigant Research says. As for the 20-year forecast, change is being driven by government-led initiatives to improve fuel economy and market demand for alternative transportation options and alternative fuel vehicles. “LDVs primarily fueled by gasoline are expected to fall as a percentage of the overall global fleet from 82% in 2015 to less than 71% in 2035, particularly as diesel, electricity, and other alternative fuels become more price competitive and their respective infrastructure becomes more available,” says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research.

                    While gasoline prices have been hurting hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) sales in the U.S., other countries are seeing growth in EV sales. The U.S. share of the market is expected to drop as sales stall out here but grow in other countries. Global EV sales in 2015 through May came in at more than 160,000 units, of which the U.S. saw only 39,000 deliveries. In Norway, a third of its new vehicle sales were EVs in the first quarter of this year, and the Netherlands saw it become 5.7% of its share during that time (compared to about 0.8% of new vehicles sales in the U.S.). For this year, U.S. sales are expected to stay flat, but are likely surge next year and in 2017 with higher production and new entries from several high-volume makers. The 2016 Chevrolet Volt and an all-new Nissan Leaf released in 2017 or 2018 are expected to make a difference. The Tesla Model X, which is expected to double Tesla’s annual sales, is slated to show up in China in the first half of next year after being introduced in the U.S. sometime this quarter.

                    Automotive media and market analysts have decided that green vehicle sales are being trashed by low gasoline prices and affordable fuel efficient cars. That being said, they can’t stop dwelling on (obsessing over?) the topic. LA Times’ veteran automotive reporter Jerry Hirsch wrote two features about it, published within a day of each other last week. Hirsch is up there with USA Today’s Chris Woodyard as an expert reporter on green vehicles for a major media source. In “Setting the record straight on five common green car misconceptions,” Hirsch educates readers on topics such as range anxiety, hybrid battery cost, and the myth that EVs cause just as much pollution as gasoline-engine vehicles. In “What kind of car is the most green, fuel efficient and budget friendly?”, Hirsch worked with the Union of Concerned Scientists to examine seven powertrain options, analyzing their greenhouse gas emissions — including the power plant pollution required to produce electricity — along with their relative fuel efficiency and cost of operation. They found that battery electric vehicles are the cleanest and least expensive to operate. Richard Truett of Automotive News cares enough about the topic to have written a detailed report on gas prices and automaker product planning last week. For the federal mandate on fuel efficient vehicles, Truett thinks that, “If automakers can’t make money or at least break even on electrified and fuel-efficient vehicles, all bets are off. There are already rumblings around Detroit of asking the government to push the 54.5 mpg requirement out past 2025.”

                    One of the largest airports in the U.S. has allowed ridesharing leaders Uber and Lyft to begin picking up passengers. Despite protests by taxi drivers, Los Angeles (LAX) airport officials agreed Thursday to permit ridesharing/ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to pick up, and not just drop off, their passengers. That could begin as early as late August, subject to final approvals by airport officials and the city attorney. For the 2,361 licensed taxis serving that airport, many of them see LAX as their last remaining stronghold as ride-hailing eats away at their fares. Orange County’s John Wayne Airport began allowing ride-hailing services to pick up at the airport earlier this year. Uber revenue is expected to skyrocket this year – from $400 million to $2 billion, as consumers (primarily members of the 18-35 year old Millennial generation) choose Uber over taxis and other transportation sources.

                    Google continues to test its self-driving cars, and has seen injuries from one of the collisions for the first time. During the 14th accident from one of these test vehicles, a Google autonomous vehicle was rear-ended on July 1 near the company’s corporate campus in Mountain View, Calif. Three Google employees were taken to a hospital to receive treatment for “minor” whiplash. The driver of the other vehicle who hit the Google test car also suffered some minor injuries. Google’s test program generated headlines earlier in 2015 when it was revealed that more than a dozen crashes have occurred and the other drivers have been blamed. With the latest crash, the Google vehicles have been rear-ended in 11 of the 14 incidents. The test program has been using Google’s own driverless cars, and initially used modified Toyota and Lexus vehicles; the test project so far has driven over 1.9 million miles.

                    U.S. consumers are still concerned about losing control of their vehicles to self-driving cars, according to a recent survey by University of Michigan’s Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the Transportation Research Institute. The survey polled 505 people and found that 43.8% didn’t want any form of autonomous technology in their vehicles while 40.6% were comfortable with some level of self-driving tech. There was a nearly unanimous response to one question that doesn’t bode well for Google and its vehicles: 96.2% of respondents want a steering wheel, brake and gas pedal in their vehicle no matter the level of autonomy. Perhaps they will need to remain semi-autonomous vehicles? Along with Transportation Research Institute’s study, the university announced last week that it will be opening a new testing site for connected and driverless cars. The 32-acre testing grounds, called Mcity, are designed to simulate urban and suburban roads with a network of controlled intersections, traffic signals, streetlights, sidewalks, construction obstacles, and more. The test track is operated by the university’s Mobility Transformation Center and is an extension of a federally funded pilot program to study connected vehicle technologies at the university. Three years ago, the Transportation Research Institute launched a safety pilot program; that test program includes the deployment of about 9,000 vehicles – cars, commercial vans, buses, and motorcycles equipped with transmitters and data-logging devices to track position, acceleration, and velocity of vehicles and infrastructure.

                    Carsharing continues to see much interest as a transportation alternative in cities like Paris, San Francisco and Boston. Automakers and car rental companies continue to acquire or partner with carsharing startups like Zipcar, Car2Go, Getaround, and City CarShare. More than 1.5 million people are already using these services in the Americas, according to new research from UC Berkeley. As automakers and car rental companies expand their offerings, the business model is based on efficiency and easing congestion in crowded urban environments where carsharing makes a lot of sense. “This allows flexibility for the operator to serve more people with a single car,” said Susan Shaheen, director of Innovative Mobility Research at the University of California, Berkeley’s Transportation Sustainability Research Center.