Category: Electric Vehicles

Huntington Beach Launches Circuit Car Pilot Program

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—The City of Huntington Beach launched a new pilot program July 13 that offers free rides to popular downtown destinations. The five-month program, which will runs through December, features five low-speed electric shuttles designed by Circuit. Downtown Huntington Beach goers can hitch a lift through the Ride Circuit smartphone app, or by flagging down a ride. Popular stops include the Huntington…


With China Producing Half the World’s New Energy Vehicles, Retired Batteries May Bring ‘Explosive Pollution’

As China’s new energy vehicle production grows rapidly, with half of global production now coming from China, the huge amount of retired batteries could bring “disastrous” environmental problems  and “explosive pollution,” says state-owned media Xinhua. According to Xinhua, the cumulative retired batteries in China will had reached 200,000 tons (about 25 GWh) in 2020 and…


With Its Power Grid Under Pressure, California Asks Residents to Avoid Charging Electric Vehicles

Amid a West Coast heat wave that includes triple-digit temperatures, California’s power grid operators have called on residents to not use as much electricity so as to put less strain on the state’s beleaguered grid. In the past week, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) told residents several times to voluntarily conserve energy, including asking them…


Deadly Child Labor Could Be Huge Obstacle for Biden’s Goal of an Electrified American Road

A class-action lawsuit on behalf of a group of mothers and children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) against five U.S.-based Big Tech giants may short-circuit President Joe Biden’s plans to electrify American transportation. Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes $15 billion to build “a national network of 500,000 charging stations” for the Electric…


Labor Promises Tax Exemption for Electric Vehicles

Australia’s federal opposition Labor Party announced on March 31 an election pledge that imported electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be subject to import tariffs and the fringe benefits tax (FBT). During Labor’s national conference, the opposition promised that, if elected, non-luxury EVs—that is, those costing less than around $77,565 (US$59,178)—will be exempt from a 5…


Newport Beach’s Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Will Fuel Fines for Parking Offenders

Parking officers are pulling the figural plug on electric vehicle owners who abuse Newport Beach’s public charging stations. The city will begin issuing overstay fees for electric vehicles left plugged in at public charging stations April 22. Owners whose vehicles are parked at the stalls unnecessarily will be fined $0.10 for every minute their vehicles are left plugged into a charging…


New Round of Funding Drives Anaheim Transportation Network’s Electric Vehicle Goals

Anaheim’s plan to operate California’s first all-electric bus fleet are being fueled with a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission. The grant—provided by the California Energy Commission—will be used by the Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) to acquire charging stations, batteries, and other solar infrastructure. It will also finance the purchase of a large solar…