1269: Lawmakers Approve $1tn Infrastructure Bill | 06 Nov 2021 - a podcast by EV News Daily

Show #1269

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Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Saturday Show 6th November. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.

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- In an interview with Auto Express, Alfa Romeo's CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato revealed a bunch of details about the future of the company and electric vehicles. But the most interesting is that, despite the world's insatiable appetite for SUVs, the Giulia sport sedan will get another generation, and one that's entirely electric.

- the car will be built on the STLA Large platform, one of several EV architectures Stellantis announced back July.

- the Large platform is said to accept 101-kWh to 118-kWh of battery capacity and up to 500 miles of range. It may also be sharing the platform and development with the future Stelvio, like the current one does with the Giorgio platform.

- Stellantis aims to have its 500-mile STLA Large platform cars, among the others, ready for 2024. Odds seem good that the electric Alfas will start showing up at that time, since the brand is planning to be fully electric in 2027. That will make it the first Stellantis brand to be entirely electric.

Original Source : https://www.autoblog.com/2021/11/05/alfa-romeo-giulia-next-generation-electric-ev/

- The US Congress has passed a landmark one trillion dollar (€865bn) infrastructure package, following the Senate’s earlier agreement. President Biden now only has to sign it into law, effectively freeing $15bn in funding for electric transportation, after he had to make concessions.

- Specifically, the trillion-dollar package includes $7.5 billion for expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide and $7.5 billion for electric buses. However, Biden had to make concessions. For example, for the national network with 500,000 EV charging stations, the compromise has been reached leaves $7.5Bn of the $15Bn Biden had initially envisioned.

- For the purchase of electric school and public transport buses, the bipartisan draft now also provides $7.5Bn, instead of the previously wanted $45Bn.

Original Source : https://www.electrive.com/2021/11/06/us-lawmakers-approve-1tn-infrastructure-bill/

- According to a Biden administration fact sheet released Saturday, the legislation will provide funding for long-distance-oriented EV chargers along highway corridors, and for long-distance travel, and for charging options within communities.

- The funding is of course just a start; as a candidate, Bernie Sanders proposed $85.6 billion on a national charging network “similar to the gas stations and rest stops we have today.”

- The infrastructure bill is potentially just the start of the federal government’s stronger support behind EVs. The second bill contains more of the Build Back Better plan and Biden’s EV vision, including an renewal of the EV tax credit—currently containing a controversial provision boosting union-built EVs—and other money potentially going toward equity, manufacturing, the supply chain, other incentives, and building out charging infrastructure.

- That bill faces challenges, although it’s worth noting that the EV tax credit itself, prior to the union riders, had bipartisan support. President Trump reportedly nixed the EV tax credit renewal the last time around.

Original Source : https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1134092_infrastructure-bill-7-5b-toward-nationwide-network-of-500-000-ev-chargers

- After two false starts, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fisker is finally ready to show the world its production version of the electric Ocean SUV. The EV was meant to debut back in 2020, but LA Auto Show organizers canceled the event. A redo of the show meant for May 2021 didn't happen either. Now, the show will go on this month, with the Ocean ready for the spotlight.

- As for power, it should come from an 80-kilowatt-hour battery, which Fisker said this week will be supplied by China's CATL. The company will make five gigawatt-hours of production available for the Ocean to churn out battery packs. Magna Steyr will handle final production of the Ocean in Austria, unless something changes.

Original Source : https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/fisker-ocean-electric-suv-production-debut-la-battery-deal-catl/

- Recent fuel shortages have made a third of UK motorists more likely to buy an electric vehicle (EV), according to new research out this week. A study of 2,000 UK drivers by Volkswagen Financial Services found 35 percent of those questioned said they would be more likely to go electric thanks to the fuel shortage.

- Volkswagen Financial Services survey shows the impact of the shortage on buyers’ intentions, with more than a third saying they are more likely to go electric when they come to change their car. Similarly, 32 percent of Brits say they are likely to buy a second-hand electric vehicle when the time comes to change their car.

Original Source : https://uk.motor1.com/news/545208/fuel-shortages-brits-go-electric/

- Tesla is not only topping the sale charts, but also lending term charts as well. A study done by online lender Lending Tree showed that Tesla buyers are willing to take on a loan of five and a half years to be able to drive one of the EVs.

- To get the data, Lending Tree looked at 29,000 auto loans from October 2018 to October 2021. Loans from 30 auto brands spanning everything from Tesla to Ram to Audi were examined. Tesla came out at number one with its buyers averaging 67.1 months on their loan terms. Ram was right behind at 66.3 months.

Original Source : https://jalopnik.com/tesla-buyers-take-out-the-longest-loan-terms-according-1847999682

- Myth 1: Electric vehicles in {name the country/state} are ‘dirty’, producing as many carbon dioxide emissions as a petrol or diesel vehicle

- Myth 2: The grid cannot support an increase in electric vehicle charging

- Myth 3: EV batteries can’t be recycled

- Myth 4: EV batteries don’t last

- Myth 5: EV batteries cost more than the car to replace

- Myth 6: EVs are made with polluting minerals mined by children

- Myth 7: There are not enough public charge points

- Myth 8: BEVs can’t tow

- Myth 9: EVs catch fire a lot

- Myth 10: Over the lifetime of an EV, manufacturing an electric car consumes more energy than internal combustion engine vehicles

Original Source : https://thedriven.io/2021/11/03/top-10-urban-myths-about-electric-vehicles-that-deserve-to-die/

- With the pivot to electric vehicles — driven by government policies, billions of dollars in automaker investments, and a growing appetite to go greener — comes a shift in how drivers fuel them. So gas station and travel center operators are strategizing how to cash in on the opportunities that come with drivers plugging in instead of filling up.

- They earn more from the food and necessities available at their convenience stores.

- Needing to install EV charging throughout these stops across the country is only one part of the equation. Evaluating shifts in consumer behavior that could change these stores' provisions is another. Depending on the type of charging infrastructure — fast charger versus the slower-charging Level 2 plug — it will likely take more time to charge an EV than it takes to fuel up a gas-powered car. Consumers could end up needing more accommodations, and spend more time and money there.

Original Source : https://www.businessinsider.com/how-gas-stations-are-evolving-to-serve-electric-car-drivers-2021-11

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