Nutson's Auto News Weekly Wrap-up June 25-July 1, 2023
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Here are Larry's picks among the past week's important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive universe news nuggets.Nutson's Auto News Weekly Wrap-up June 25-July 1, 2023.
* More than 50 million Americans are expected to travel for the July 4 holiday weekend, the most travelers to ever hit the road for the holiday. In total, 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the holiday period from Friday, June 30, to Tuesday, July 4, according to AAA. That’s more than the previous July 4 record of 49 million travelers set in 2019, and 2.1 million more travelers than 2022. Most travelers will hit the road with 43.2 million travelers expected to drive to their destinations.
* Despite growing interest, a gap exists between consumer enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) and their actual purchasing decisions, according to new research released by Cox Automotive. The 2023 Path to EV Adoption: Consumer and Dealer Perspectives study also reveals a lack of EV readiness among U.S. automotive dealers regarding sales and service. As EV inventories continue to climb, dealers must bridge this gap. The study highlights key findings, such as: 51% of consumers are now considering either a new or used EV, up from 38% in 2021. Yet, while interest in EVs rapidly increases, the gap between consideration and sales remains wide; 53% of consumers feel EVs are the future and will largely replace gas engines over time, compared to only 31% of dealers; Despite concerns, dealers see electric vehicles as important to the growth of their dealerships, both in selling (55%) and servicing (57%) EVs. However, the study reveals that dealerships need more support and guidance from automakers. https://www.coxautoinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Path-to-EV-Adoption-Study-Summary-June-2023.pdf
* Reuters reports ruptures in what once looked like a Washington-Auto industry consensus on EV policy broke open this week. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the trade group representing the Detroit Three and most other major automakers in the United States, called the Biden Administration’s proposals to push EVs to two-thirds of the U.S. market by 2032 “neither reasonable nor achievable.” To understand what’s behind the Alliance message, look at the $3 billion Ford says it will lose on EVs this year alone. Less than a week before, United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain blasted the Biden administration for giving Ford and its battery partners $9.2 billion in low-cost, federally-subsidized loans to build three U.S. battery factories. The Alliance proposed returning to a 50% EV goal with more flexibility to allow for plug-in hybrids and account for obstacles such as inadequate charging or lack of domestic battery minerals.
* We read from SAE International, by the end of 2023 there will be 10 Chinese electric passenger vehicles using advanced semi-solid-state batteries (ASSB) — an industry-first application for EVs and a milestone for vehicle electrification, according to Paul Haelterman, North American VP at Autodatas, a vehicle benchmarking and research firm. The EV models coming in China will have an estimaged driving range of 1000 km (621 miles) and a battery recharge time of 10 minutes to achieve 80% state of charge, Haelterman said. We note, EVs will improve over time with the second and third generation of a model offering imporved customer satisfaction.
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* We read in USA Today governments on both coasts of the U.S. want to persuade the small percentage of drivers who use the most gas to switch to electric vehicles – and some leaders are taking the first steps toward incentives to make it happen. Research shows the top 10% of drivers in the U.S. use almost one-third of the nation's gas. These noncommercial drivers log long miles, sometimes in inefficient vehicles like SUVs and trucks, guzzling serious amounts of gas and producing a lot of carbon dioxide. Research findings spelled it out: Gasoline accounts for one-sixth of U.S. carbon emissions, and U.S. drivers burn 35% of all the gasoline in the world. 10% of U.S. drivers burn 32% of all gasoline. These "superusers" burn on average 1,500 gallons of gas a year compared with regular users' 409 gallons. Ed Note: Plug-in Vehicles (PHEV) Using Flex-Fuel Instead Of Polluting Gasoline Create Less Emissions Than An Electric Vehicle Without The Stupidity Of Battery Power
* Lordstown Motors shares plummeted after the electric-vehicle maker filed for bankruptcy. The move to seek Chapter 11 protection from creditors follows a protracted dispute with iPhone maker Foxconn Technology over a deal to make pickup trucks for Lordstown at an assembly plant in Ohio. The Taiwanese manufacturer had said it was prepared to pull out of their production partnership, prompting the EV startup to warn it could fail if it was unable to resolve the conflict. The troubled EV manufacturer also sued Foxconn for breach of contract. In its complaint, Lordstown alleged Foxconn consistently failed to honor its agreements and forced it into bankruptcy.
* SAE International confirmed today that it will standardize the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connector for EVs. The global engineering organization that engages nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers said in a press release that it will work to help with deployment of the NACS connector, an alternative to the longstanding SAE J1772 Combined Charging System (CCS) connector, after Ford, General Motors and a number of EV public-charging equipment suppliers recently indicated they intend to adopt the NACS connector design.
* And this: Electric Volvo car drivers will get access to 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the United States, Canada and Mexico as Volvo Cars adopts North American Charging Standard.
* Joe White for Reuters brought to our attention that J.D. Power in a study says “when it comes to reliability, no other provider is even close to Tesla. Through the first quarter of this year, 21.6% of EV drivers visiting non-Telsa public charging stations were unable to charge their vehicle. Among Tesla drivers using the Tesla Supercharger network, that number falls to just 3.9%.”
* And finally, Electrify America announced today it will add the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector to Electrify America and Electrify Canada’s fast charging networks as part of the company’s commitment to broaden charging solutions for electric vehicle (EV) drivers today and in the future. Electrify America will continue to provide the Combined Charging System (CCS-1) connector throughout its network as it transitions to also support automakers adding NACS charging ports. The company will work to offer a NACS connector option at existing and future charging stations by 2025 to make charging as convenient as possible for EV owners.
* Drivers in New York City will be charged extra in tolls to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street as part of a long-stalled congestion pricing plan. Congestion pricing in New York City has cleared its final federal hurdle, officials said, all but ensuring that the first such program in the nation will begin next year with the aim of reducing traffic and pollution in Manhattan and funding improvements to mass transit.
* The Detroit News reports former Audi boss Rupert Stadler was convicted of fraud in connection with the automaker's diesel emissions scandal, making him the highest-ranking executive found guilty over cars that cheated on emissions tests with the help of illegal software. A German court handed Stadler a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and ordered him to pay a fine of 1.1 million euros ($1.2 million), some of which will go to charitable groups. The sentence resulted from an agreement between his lawyers, the judge and prosecutors after he pleaded guilty last month. Three other Audi engineers have been found guilty and received sentences. It is the first criminal trial to conclude in Germany in connection with the diesel emissions scandal.
* On June 30, 1953, the first Chevrolet Corvette was built. Just six months after its General Motors “Motorama” debut at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the popular Corvette concept became a production car. The first Corvettes were largely hand-built at GM’s plant in Flint, Michigan. Just 300 examples were produced, all of which were Polo White with a red interior. Happy 70th Birthday! Corvette Museum 70th Birthday Celebration
* The 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the 101st running of the Race to the Clouds, has concluded. In the Unlimited class, Robin Schute set the fastest time of the event in his 2018 Wolf TSC-FS with a time of 8:40.080.
* Gerald C. Meyers, who went from top product engineer to CEO at American Motors Corp. during an era that produced the AMC Pacer and Gremlin vehicles, died on June 19. Meyers, 94, died of natural causes at his home in West Bloomfield, Michigan according to family.
* We wish all a safe and happy Independence Day weekend!
Stay safe. Be Well.
