Discussions you need to be part of at MOVE next week

Discussions you need to be part of at MOVE next week

We can finally say it – only 1 week ‘till MOVE! We’re gearing up for an incredible two days of talks, networking, experience and much more. MOVE has become the critical meeting place for buyers and sellers across the mobility value chain. OEMs, transport operators, tech companies, energy companies, fast growing startups and policymakers gather every year to discover the next generation technologies being brought into the market place. This is where we partner…where we launch…where we connect…where we create…

 

Check out some last bits of important info, like who’s joining our tracks. With 24 tracks across 2 days, there is much to look forward to. Our tracks include:

Electric Vehicles – Smart Cities and Infrastructure – Autonomous Vehicles –  Energy and Charging – Last Mile Delivery – Regulation – Liability & ESG, Fleet Management – Bus Trans – Truck Tech – Business Models – Autonomous Vehicles – Micromobility & Ability – Mapping, Navigation & Routes – MaaS – Ticketing, Revenue & Payments – Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels – Connectivity & 5G – V-Commerce & Dealerships – Tech, Data & Innovation – Battery Tech – Air/Drones.

Here is just a taster of what is to come…

 

Panel: The car-as-a-device: how OEMs are becoming the new software companies 

Moderator – Steve Tengler, Senior Contributor, Forbes

Sachin Raviram, Senior Group Manager, Software Defined Vehicle, General Motors

Jana Breikopft, CEO, Mercedes Pay

Frank McCleary, Partner, Porsche Consulting

 

Panel: Is non-ownership the vehicle model of the future? 

Moderator – Grayson Brulte, Founder and CEO, Road to Autonomy

Jesal Trivedi, Product Lead, New Mobility Platforms, Ford

Charlie Guo, Product Manager, Nissan

Curtis Scott, Global Future Mobility Leader, AON

Matthew Kovisnky, Head of OEM and Mobility Partnerships, TURO

 

Panel: Building out American charging and what it means for all players 

Moderator – Ben Prochazka, Executive Director, Electrification Coalition

Britta Gross, Director of Transportation, EPRI

Sean Ackley, Head of Charging and Energy, VinFast US

Lauren Skiver, COO, Transdev

Daniel Keh, Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Partners

 

Panel: Autonomous now 

Moderator – Grayson Brulte, Founder and CEO, Road to Autonomy

Suman Kharbanda, Vice President Advanced Technology & Innovation, FedEx

Sarah Searcy, Deputy Director of Innovation, NCDOT

Srinivas Gowda, VP of Autonomous, Navistar

 

Panel: Driving innovation across the mobility ecosystem 

Moderator – Steve Tengler, Senior Contributor, Forbes

Steve Greenfield, CEO, Automotive Ventures

Andrew Glass Hastings, Executive Director, Open Mobility Foundation

Neil Brooker, COO, BMW Designworks

 

Panel: The strategic supply chain 

ModeratorPete Bigelow, Editor, Automotive News

Amir Torish, CBO, StoreDot

Genevieve Cullen, President, Electric Drive Transportation Association

Ryan Castilloux, Managing Director, ADAMAS Intelligence

 

Panel: Connectivity and integration: how we move and how we groove 

Moderator – John Kwant, Executive Director, Americas, 5GAA

Jason JonMichael, Transportation Specialist (OSC), USDOT Research and Technology

Michele Mueler, Senior Project Manager, Connected and Automated Vehicles, Michigan Department of Transportation

Sylvano Carrasco, VP of Connected Cars, GetAround

 

Panel: The latest in MaaS subscription models  

ModeratorRoger Lanctot, Director, TechInsights

Charlie Guo, Product Manager, Nissan

Jayesh Patel, SVP, Corporate Strategy Hertz

Matthew Iommi, CEO, Fetii

 

Panel: Circular batteries: how recycling programs are driving a sustainable battery ecosystem 

ModeratorEmily Dreibelis, Reporter, PCMag (Moderator)

Steve Christensen, Executive Director, Responsible Battery Coalition

Megan O’Connor, CEO, Nth Cycle

Ganesh Iyer, CEO, NIO US

Albert Lipson, Principal Materials Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory

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Automotive companies condemn Sunak’s U-turn on net zero policies

Automotive companies condemn Sunak’s U-turn on net zero policies

Yesterday Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak announced a major U-turn on the government’s green policies, including a push-back on the ban of new petrol and diesel car sales in the UK from 2030 to 2035.

Since the announcement multiple automotive companies have responded declaring their disapproval of the U-turn, disappointed by the potential risk of delaying the UK’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Ford, AutoTrader, Everrati, DriveElectric, Equipmake, and VEV all responded to the announcement expressing disapproval on the PM’s watering down of green policies and issued warnings of the negative effects it will have on the automotive industry.

Chair of Ford, Lisa Brankin, said:

“Our business needs three things from the UK government: Ambition, committment, and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would underpin all three.

 

We need the policy focus trained on bolstering the EV market in consumers while headwinds are strong: Infrastructure remains immature, tariffs loom and the cost of living is high.” 

Everrati’s founder and CEO, Justin Lunny, also said:

“The scaling back of the commitment to the 2030 ban on new ICE cars in the UK is the opposite of what the automotive industry and consumers need right now.  

 

Ever since the deadline was set in 2020, awareness and desire to go electric has increased rapidly across all sectors…But by rowing back, the UK Government has not only pushed our net zero plan a further five years down the road, but risked fostering procrastination in a burgeoning market.”

AutoTrader’s commercial director, Ian Plummer, said: “The PM has left the industry and drivers high and dry by sacrificing the 2030 target on the altar of political advantage…this announcement has only served to remove trust and confidence in the UK market.”

Audi made an announcement with no comment on the PM’s speech and simply stated that they will continue on course for increasing growth in producing fully electric vehicle models.

Rishi Sunak’s watering down of policies is likely to decrease the UK’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The PM claimed that this delay is green policies will help the government to “adopt a more pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach to meeting net zero.”

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Volvo announces scrappage of all diesel models by 2024

Volvo announces scrappage of all diesel models by 2024

Photo: Adam Cai

Volvo have announced that they will end all production of diesel-powered models by early 2024, at Climate Week NYC today.

This makes the car manufacturer the first legacy automaker to take this step. The measure was taken as part of their pledge to sell only fully-electric cars by 2030 and to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.

Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars, said:

“Electric powertrains are our future, and superior to combustion engines: they generate less noise, less vibration, less servicing costs for our customers and zero tailpipe emissions.

 

“We’re fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo – and are a key part of our response to climate change.”

This milestone follows the carmaker’s decision last year to exit the development of new combustion engines. In November 2022, Volvo also sold their stake in Aurobay, the joint venture company that harboured all of their remaining combustion engine assets.

The company also said “We’re all-in on electrification because it’s the right thing to do” in a press release covering the announcement.

The recent Global Climate Stocktake report issued by the United Nations underlined the urgency of the climate emergency faced by humanity, as well as the need for action.

Jim Rowan added:

“What the world needs now, at this critical time for our planet and humanity, is leadership. It is high time for industry and political leaders to be strong and decisive, and deliver meaningful policies and actions to fight climate change. We’re committed to doing our part and encourage our peers as well as political leaders around the globe to do theirs.”

Chief Sustainability Officer of Volvo, Anders Kärrberg, will attend an event organised by the Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) Coalition at this year’s Climate Week NYC. Launched at the COP27 climate summit, the A2Z Coalition provides a multi-stakeholder platform for signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Vehicles, of which Volvo are one.

The A2Z platform allows them to collaborate and coordinate actions with others towards the coalition’s collective target of ‘making 100 per cent of global new car and van sales free of tailpipe emissions by 2040, and no later than 2035 in leading markets’.

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ON THE MOVE Podcast: Official trailer

ON THE MOVE Podcast: Official trailer

Out now is the official trailer for the MOVE Podcast: ON THE MOVE!

Tune in for discussions between our editor, Grace Dawes, and some of the top disruptors in the tech-mobility industry.

Episodes will be uploaded here on MOVEMNT, Spotify, and Youtube.

Get ready for our first episode which is due to pilot in October. Can you guess what we’ll be discussing?

And more importantly, who with?

To find out more, watch the trailer below…

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Volkswagen is offering up to £4,500 to people affected by latest ULEZ expansion

Volkswagen is offering up to £4,500 to people affected by latest ULEZ expansion

Photo: Volkswagen

Volkswagen has announced that they will be offering up to £4,500 to people affected by the recent expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across London.

The announcement comes as part of the Mayor of London’s £160 million scrappage scheme which provides financial assistance to help eligible London residents scrap vehicles that don’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards.

The offer aims to also help ease the cost-of-living crisis for drivers with older vehicles who are facing daily charges when driving in London from 29 August due to the latest ULEZ expansion.

The daily charge for drivers who are using a vehicle above minimum emissions standards in the zone is £12.50.

The amount on offer from Volkswagen ranges from £1,750 to £4,500 – depending on the model chosen to replace an old car.

Popular and multi-award-winning electric, petrol and diesel cars qualify, including all current Volkswagen ID. models, the highly popular Polo model, and three small SUVs.

Customers can receive £4,500 through the scheme for Volkswagen ID.5 models and £2,000 for Taigo models. See the full list of how much you could get for your VW model and details of the scrappage scheme here.

The minimum emission standards for ULEZ-compliant cars are:

  • Petrol – Euro 4 or newer (generally built after 2005)
  • Diesel – Euro 6 or newer (generally built after 2015)

The standards also apply to some commercial vehicles.

The cash discounts from Volkswagen are available to anyone in London’s 32 boroughs who qualifies for the Mayor of London’s scrappage scheme. Financial assistance is available to Londoners who drive non-compliant cars, motorcycles, and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The scheme offers up to £2,000 or a combination of cash and public transport passes.

The discounts can be used at any Volkswagen Retailer in the UK, but customers must be able to prove their eligibility for the ULEZ scrappage scheme.

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ON THE MOVE Podcast: Official trailer

MOVE 2023: An unparalleled platform for the mobility industry

Photo: Jennifer Moyes

Originally published with Intelligent Transport and written by Grace Dawes

Ever been to MOVE? If you haven’t, it’s quite an eye opener. Autonomous vehicles crawling round the expo floor as investors thrash it out with tech bros to find the next biggest thing. On stage, energy and payments giants implore the audience to step into the future with them. And, as you reach for a business card, another e-scooter whizzes past. Seems an eclectic mix, right? Well, that seems to be the point of MOVE, an event designed to connect the dots on all things mobility.

The brochure of the event and coverage leading up to it detailed what to expect; a vibrant gathering of thousands of attendees, speakers and start-ups from across the mobility spectrum. And that’s what you get!

As soon as you walk through the doors of the event, you’re met with a red lit and wooden floored stand from AON, with an attendee trying out their race driver simulation that is whirring away with excitement. To the right is a huge Level 4 autonomous shuttle bus from ZF in all its glory, boasting a sleek shiny-grey exterior and absolutely no driver seat – which felt a bit weird at first.

Walking down through the conference, every stand exhibited its own respective aesthetic met with an impressive array of the latest mobility products. The floor was saturated with EV charging stations, electric mini car racetracks, test tracks, screen displays and so much more. A HGV, micro-car, electric motorcycle, e-scooter and e-bike are among the many real vehicle displays that were dotted all around the event.

MOVE boasts itself as the premier mobility event to meet all of the industry’s best experts. In light of this, there were some pretty impressive names that stood out in the crowd of booths: WAE, Mastercard, Hogan Lovells, AON and Dassault Systémes.

MOVE 2023

Photo: Jennifer Moyes

With an impressive 17 stages, the event claimed to host a total of 700 talks, all presented by industry experts who respectively delved into their own unique mobility-related discussions on trending topics like smart cities, battery tech, electric vehicles, fleet management and even mining. The engaging talks and panel discussions allowed speakers to share their insights and expertise on concerns, issues, excitements and anticipations for the mobility world. Angela Strand gave some insightful opinions on the state of the world’s clean energy transition, as well as providing a fascinating conversation on the Inflation Reduction Act.

Other inspiring talks made me question my pre-determined perceptions of urban mobility, including Dott’s discussion on the 15-minute city concept, Rod King’s 20s Plenty Campaign and Ryd’s conversation with Mastercard about the acceleration of frictionless payments in urban mobility.

But it was not all just a parade of mobility companies talking about their products and success, there was a poignant message that rose above all the brightly lit branding and buzzing ambience. The event stayed true to its word on keeping the issue of sustainability key to the heart of the event. There was not a single attendee that I encountered who didn’t demonstrate their love and appreciation for using mobility to keep the planet green. The event provided an invaluable platform for attendees to grasp and elaborate on the evolution of the mobility ecosystem. MOVE provided a space for learning as well as teaching, and helped its attendees to acknowledge all of the collective efforts of the industry in combatting the climate emergency.

Another touching moment occurred on Day Two of the event, when Nicoletta Gennaro, Group Head of Marketing at Ascendal Group, was awarded the Women in Mobility Award 2023. Her heartfelt acceptance speech emphasised her love for the positive impact of her work in the mobility industry. Gennaro secured victory with a narrow 25-vote margin over the runner-up, highlighting her significant contributions and inspiring influence. The award ceremony was a powerful tribute to the hard-working women in mobility and their major contributions to the industry’s acceleration.

In the later hours of Day Two at MOVE, Cormac Cronin Martin, the Project Director of the event, expressed the exhilaration that he experienced from the two-day conference, stating: “MOVE 2023 was the best MOVE yet – more attendees, speakers, start-ups and exhibitors than ever before. And the feedback we’re getting is that this is a unique and valuable community that’s only going to grow.”

MOVE sponsors and speakers were also interviewed at the interview booth, offering additional insights and perspectives on the event’s innovations and advancements. I spoke to John Wall, who kindly explained to me how exactly BlackBerry QNX fit into the space of mobility. Using the analogy of a plumber, he elaborated that their software helps to provide the foundation for software-defined vehicles, which automakers can then build the car on top of. As someone who is not quite yet an expert in mobility terminology, I valued his passionate yet patient nature in explaining his product.

Every interviewee willingly highlighted their MOVE pledges for the upcoming year and gave a personal or company-governed pledge towards creating increased sustainability in the mobility industry through their products, services and daily lifestyle choices. But only time will tell if they can live up to their promises.

In conclusion, MOVE 2023 proved to be an unparalleled platform for the mobility industry to converge, collaborate and innovate. With its focus on sustainability and specialised platform for businesses to showcase their products, the event served as a catalyst for driving positive change in the world of mobility. As the event continues to grow and evolve, it promises to remain at the forefront of shaping the future of transportation and mobility worldwide.

As the world continues to grapple with environmental challenges and the need for more efficient and eco-friendly transportation solutions, my expectations for MOVE 2024 remain high, as the future event will likely play a big role in showcasing cutting-edge technologies and strategies that address these pressing issues.

 

MOVE will return in 2024, from 19 June 2024 to 20 June 2024 at ExCel London. To find out more, click here.

Biden-Harris Administration announce $30m to build domestic supply chain for clean energy minerals

Biden-Harris Administration announce $30m to build domestic supply chain for clean energy minerals

Photo: Manny Becerra

In support of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $30 million to help lower the costs of the onshore production of rare earths and other critical minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources.

The funding will help meet the growing demand for critical minerals in the United States, whilst aiming to reduce reliance on offshore supplies. Rare earths and other critical minerals are key to U.S. manufacturing of clean energy technologies—such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells—to advance President Biden’s historic climate agenda.

U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, said:

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is helping rebuild America’s manufacturing sector by enhancing our ability to produce the critical minerals necessary to develop clean energy technologies.

 

“Thanks to these transformative investments, we are reducing our reliance on foreign supply chains while delivering high-quality jobs throughout the communities that have helped power the nation for generations.” 

The program contributes to President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which works to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are underserved and overburdened by pollution.

Since January 2021, DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has announced an estimated $41 million in projects that support critical minerals and materials exploration, resource identification, production, and processing in traditional mining and fossil fuel-producing communities across the country. This total includes $16 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for detailed engineering and cost studies toward a first-of-a-kind domestic facility that will extract and separate rare earth elements and critical minerals from unconventional sources like mining waste. This funding will create new opportunities to remediate land and water while generating rare earth elements necessary for a clean energy economy.

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CATL launches super fast charging battery with 400km driving range

CATL launches super fast charging battery with 400km driving range

Photo: CATL

CATL have launched a new 4C super fast charging lithium-ion battery called Shenxing. The battery is claimed to be capable of delivering 400 km of driving range with a 10-minute charge as well as a range of over 700 km on a single full charge.

The Chinese battery manufacturer have said that the product is expected to considerably alleviate fast charging anxiety for electric vehicle (EV) users, and to potentially open up an era of EV super fast charging.

Dr. Wu Kai, chief scientist of CATL, spoke about the product at its launch event. He said:

 “The future of the EV battery technology must remain steadfastly anchored at the global technology frontier as well as the economic benefits.

 

“As EV consumers shift from pioneering users to ordinary users, we should make advanced technology accessible for all and enable everyone to saviour the fruits of innovation.”

Focusing on electrochemistry, CATL claims to have achieved fast charging, high energy density and high level of safety with its new product. The Tesla supplier has also claimed that Shenxing is the world’s first 4C superfast charging LFP battery and pushes beyond the boundaries of the performance of LFP chemistry, leading innovation in the battery industry.

Shenxing leveraged the electronic network cathode technology and fully nano-crystallised LFP cathode material to create a super electronic network, to help facilitate the extraction of lithium ions and the rapid responses to charging signals.

CATL have also developed a new superconducting electrolyte formula, which effectively reduces the viscosity of the electrolyte, resulting in improved conductivity. In addition, CATL added improvements to the ultra-thin SEI film to reduce resistance of lithium-ion movement.

The new product can also reportedly charge to 80% SOC in 10 minutes. The company also made us of cell temperature control technology on system platforms to ensure that cells heat up to the optimal operating temperature range rapidly, allowing a 0-80% charge in 30 minutes in temperature as low as -10°C, and uncompromised 0-100 kph acceleration performance at low temperatures.

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GM invests $60m in Silicon Valley-based AI and battery materials manufacturer

GM invests $60m in Silicon Valley-based AI and battery materials manufacturer

Photo: General Motors

General Motors (GM) has announced that they will be investing $60 million in a Silicon Valley-based, AI-enabled battery materials innovator Mitra Chem.

The company’s AI-powered platform and development facility in Mountain View, California, will help to accelerate GM’s commercialisation of affordable electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

GM and Mitra Chem will develop advanced iron-based cathode active materials (CAM), like lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), to power affordable EV batteries that are compatible with GM’s EV propulsion architecture, the Ultium Platform.

GM’s funding will help Mitra Chem to scale its current operations and to expedite their novel battery materials formulation to market.

Gil Golan, GM VP Technology Acceleration and Commercialisation, said:

“GM is accelerating larger investments in critical subdomains of battery technology, like cell chemistry, components and advanced cell production processes. Mitra Chem’s labs, methods and talent will fit well with our own R&D team’s work.”

An “atoms-to-tons acceleration platform” powers Mitra Chem’s lab, using simulations and physics-informed machine learning models to accommodate formulation discovery, cathode synthesis optimisation, cell-lifetime evaluation and process scale-up.

The in-house cloud platform automates data ingestion across diverse synthesis, material characterisation, cell prototyping, and standardised analyses and visualisations.

Mitra Chem CEO and Co-Founder, Vivas Kumar, said:

“GM’s investment in Mitra Chem will not only help us develop affordable battery chemistries for use in GM vehicles, but also will fuel our mission to develop, deploy and commercialize U.S. made, iron-based cathode materials that can power EVs, grid-scale electrified energy storage and beyond.”

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Vote for your MOVE C-Suite Champion in Mobility 2023!

Vote for your MOVE C-Suite Champion in Mobility 2023!

Photo: Mohamed Hassan

Voting is now open for the C-Suite Champion in Mobility Award 2023!

This award aims to grant one lucky winner as the C-Suite Champion in Mobility of MOVE AMERICA 2023!

Whether they are the CEO, COO, CFO, CTO, CMO, we don’t mind! We just want to shed light on the senior executives who are doing the best they can for their business in mobility and are constantly pushing the industry forward.

The award will be announced and awarded at MOVE AMERICA 2023 in Austin, TX, so make sure you are there to see it! Buy your tickets here.

Voting for the award closes on Friday 1st September 2023.

So…what are you waiting for? Get voting and share the form to increase you or your company’s chances of winning!

Fill out the form below…

For any enquiries or questions about the award, please email our editor grace.dawes@terrapinn.com

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ElectraMeccanica and Tevva announce merger to expand UK and US e-truck markets

ElectraMeccanica and Tevva announce merger to expand UK and US e-truck markets

Photo: Tevva

London electric truck manufacturer ElectraMeccanica and electric lorry start-up Tevva have announced plans to merge by way of a British Columbia statutory plan of arrangement.

The proposed transaction is intended to accelerate their combined ability to capture the growing opportunity in commercial electric trucks. The proposed combined company aims to manufacture their zero-emission vehicles in the UK, and in the US.

Tevva’s existing 110,000-square-foot EV manufacturing facility in Tilbury, United Kingdom, and ElectraMeccanica’s 235,000-square-foot facility in Arizona, are expected to respectively enable the combined company to scale its production to serve the U.K., European, and U.S. markets.

At closing of the proposed transaction, the combined company will operate as Tevva, Inc., and is expected to be located in Delaware.

Susan Docherty, CEO of ElectraMeccanica, said:

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Tevva given their unique engineering expertise in an essential segment of a large and growing market.

 

“The complementary operations of the two companies and our similar values and mission give me complete confidence we can jointly create significant shareholder value. Tevva is extremely well positioned in the U.K. and European market and our world-class manufacturing facilities, combined experienced senior executive team and balance sheet will help take our combined company to the next level.”

Upon the closing of the proposed transaction, ElectraMeccanica shareholders will own 23.5% of the combined company and Tevva shareholders will own 76.5% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis. The combined company expects to have a cash balance of approximately $70 – 80 million.

Steven Sanders, Chairman of the ElectraMeccanica Board of Directors, also said:

“By partnering with Tevva, we are providing our shareholders with a unique opportunity to participate in the accelerated and technology-driven growth prospects of the combined company in ways that also logically extend and leverage ElectraMeccanica’s existing assets and strengths.”

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Nikola announce production of 500-mile hydrogen trucks and new California refuelling stations

Nikola announce production of 500-mile hydrogen trucks and new California refuelling stations

Nikola Motor announced on their X (formerly Twitter) page yesterday that they have officially begun manufacturing hydrogen-electric trucks that can reach up to 500 miles of range without needing to re-charge.

The post was accompanied by a picture of the latest model in production:

The American manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles have also announced that they will be receiving a $16.3 million grant to support the production of seven open-network hydrogen refuelling stations, totalling $58.2 million in awards granted to support the refuelling stations project.

The stations will be located along California freight corridors within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, and Mojave Desert AQMD.

Carey Mendes, president of Nikola Energy, said:

“The California grant awards and government funding demonstrate the strong support for the Nikola hydrogen infrastructure brand HYLA’s mission of establishing a comprehensive zero-emission transportation solution to help fleets achieve climate goals and improve air quality in the most impacted communities. We continue to be grateful for the leadership demonstrated by California agencies in supporting the buildout of a zero-emissions ecosystem.

 

“Building an integrated, hydrogen ecosystem to support hydrogen fuel cell electric truck deployment and creating a scalable energy business, is a top priority for us.”

At MOVE AMERICA 2023 there will be a whole conference theatre dedicated to truck technology and a separate one for hydrogen and alternative fuels. To see the full agenda for the event click here.

Alternatively, to buy your tickets to the event click here.

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Michigan-based fire department receives new equipment to fight stronger EV fires

Michigan-based fire department receives new equipment to fight stronger EV fires

Photo: YONHAP/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The Farmington Hills Fire Department in Michigan has received new fire safety equipment to help tackle electric vehicle (EV) fires, which are stronger and last longer compared to gas-powered vehicles fires.

The crew received six EV fire blankets, traffic safety vests, and an EV plug to shut off an EV involved in an accident. The acquisition of the new equipment comes as the sale of EVs becomes increasingly popular and EV fires may become more common.

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that battery powered EVs suffer only 25 fires per 100,000 sold but far more dangerous and take significantly longer to put out, leaving them to be more devastating than petrol- or diesel-powered car fires. For example, a Tesla vehicle caught fire in April 2021 and took seven hours and 28,000 gallons of water to put out.

Farmington Hills fire Chief, Jon Unruh, said:

“Our fire department is continuing to adapt our response plans to meet the hazards associated with emerging electric vehicle technology.

 

“As sales of electric and hybrid vehicles increase, the Fire Department will encounter more electric vehicles on our roadways, and we will be prepared to respond to these emergency scenes.”

The UK government has also recently took greater measures to help decrease the risk of EV-related fires. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) have released interim guidance about the parking and/or charging of electric vehicles (EVs) in covered car parks. The guidance provides solutions that are aimed at car park operators, designers, risk assessors and owners.

Some of the safety suggestions in the source include providing a manual isolation switch to cut power supply of EVCP. This is because if an EV is on fire and charging, the continued supply of energy may increase the internal battery temperature and intensify reactions within the battery cell.

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Ready to meet the key players in the mobility ecosystem?

Ready to meet the key players in the mobility ecosystem?

We’re 10 weeks away from the MOVE America and we noticed you still haven’t secured your ticket. Don’t miss this opportunity to join +4,000 of your peers at America’s #1 tech mobility and start-up show.

BOOK NOW — our early bird tickets expire this Friday.

Use code FREETSHIRT to grab yourself a free t-shirt when you buy a ticket to our event! Be quick, only the next 100 bought tickets get one…

 

Here’s what to expect 👇

The Conference
Hear from 500 expert speakers across 26 themed tracks, who will discuss topics such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, hydrogen and alternative fuels.
The Exhibition
Uncover innovation and inspiration on our buzzing exhibition floor, featuring top names in transport and mobility. Discover limitless possibilities, new tech, and game-changing ideas.
The Start-up Village
Experience the essence of innovation at the Start-up Village. Witness the brilliance of 300 visionary young companies as they shape the future of mobility.
The Networking
MOVE America puts you shoulder to shoulder with C-, VP- and Director- level delegates from across the mobility ecosystem. Download our MOVE App, come to evening drinks, exclusive site visits and more.
The MOVE GROOVE and Bar Crawl
Drinks are on the house! The party kicks off in the exhibition hall the evening of the 26th! The fun doesn’t stop there! The fun keeps going! As the summer sun sets, get ready for networking magic on our exciting bar crawl.
We exist to change the world. Want to be part of something special? Our floorplan is filling up fast. E-mail james.whitlock@terrapinn.com today to bring your business into the future.
See you this fall,

The MOVE America Team

Introducing the C-suite Champion Award – Nominate your most influential C-suite executive…

Introducing the C-suite Champion Award – Nominate your most influential C-suite executive…

MOVE is proud to launch the C-suite Champion Award — recognising the top-performing and most influential C-suite executives in the mobility industry.
Whether you are nominating a CEO, COO, CFOs, CIO, CTO, CMO or any other C-level executives from across the industry, we don’t mind! The award aims to recognise any senior executives from across the globe who are pushing their businesses forward towards safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility.
We just want to shed light on those who are doing the best they can for their business in mobility…
The deadline for all nominations is Friday the 11th August 2023 and the shortlist will be released in August, when the public will vote for their winner. The winning C-level executive will be announced at MOVE America in Austin, Texas on September 26th-27th 2023.
Fill out the nomination form below.


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MOVE 2023 Testimonials

MOVE 2023 Testimonials

 

Want to hear what our attendees had to say about MOVE 2023? Well… you’re in luck!
Here is a video of our vibrant sponsors, start-ups, and attendees telling-all about their personal experiences at the flagship event. 
We have even included some of the highlight vehicles, stands and demos from the expo floor, all showcasing the best of mobility!
But, don’t take it from us…have a watch for yourself!

 

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Californian regulator partners with global leading truck manufacturers to uphold 2045 zero-emission pledge

Californian regulator partners with global leading truck manufacturers to uphold 2045 zero-emission pledge

Ford, General Motors, Navistar, and several other global leading truck manufacturers have joined the Clean Truck Partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The collaboration marks a commitment from the companies to meet California’s vehicle standards that will require the sale and adoption of zero-emissions technology in the state, regardless of whether any other entity challenges California’s authority to set more stringent emissions standards under the federal Clean Air Act.

The Clean Truck Partnership has been joined some of the world’s leading manufacturers: Cummins, Daimler Truck North America, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Hino Motors Limited, Isuzu Technical Center of America, Navistar, PACCAR, Stellantis, Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, and Volvo Group North America.

The partnership was also joined by the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association that advances the development of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for the commercial trucking industry.

In turn, CARB has agreed to work collaboratively with manufacturers to provide reasonable lead time to meet CARB’s requirements and before imposing new regulations and to support the development of necessary ZEV infrastructure.

CARB chair, Liane Randolph, said:

“The unprecedented collaboration between California regulators and truck manufacturers marks a new era in our zero-emission future, where we work together to address the needs of both the trucking industry and the Californians who deserve to breathe clean air,”

 

“This agreement makes it clear that we have shared goals to tackle pollution and climate change and to ensure the success of the truck owners and operators who provide critical services to California’s economy.”

The terms of the Clean Truck Partnership include the promise of truck manufacturers to meet CARB’s zero-emission and criteria pollutant regulations in the state. Read the full agreement here.

The Clean Truck Partnership comes as California prepares for implementation of its landmark rules that put in place a phased-in transition toward 100% sale and use of zero-emissions technology for medium- and-heavy duty vehicles under CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Fleets rule by 2045.

John Rich, Chief Technology Officer for PACCAR, said:

“PACCAR is committed to supporting the environmental goals of California and the nation as a whole and welcome the harmonization of future emissions regulation. This agreement provides regulatory certainty and supports a balanced transition to zero emissions by ensuring continued supply of product into California and opt-in states.”

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Here’s how to see the highlights of MOVE 2023

Here’s how to see the highlights of MOVE 2023

Did you miss out on MOVE 2023? Or just want to re-live the best moments? Don’t fret…we’ve got you covered!

 

Watch all of the best talks from AON, Mastercard, Europcar, Stellantis, Dott, Hyundai, Archer Aviation, and many more!

You can also watch Nicoletta Gennaro receive the Women in Mobility Award and CityQ win the Start Me Up Competition. 

Want to relive these moments? Check out the official pictures from the event (use code 7145 to download) or watch all of the Keynote talks, panels, and announcements all on MOVEMNT now!

SAVE THE DATE! MOVE will be BACK at the ExCeL, London on 19-20 June 2024 — and our ultra-early-bird tickets have just gone live!

Book your ticket now for the lowest-ever price of just £195.

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Safe, sustainable, and easy to ride: Bolt introduces its sixth-generation scooter

Safe, sustainable, and easy to ride: Bolt introduces its sixth-generation scooter

Bolt, leading scooter operator in Europe, introduces its newest in-house scooter model: Bolt 6. The new model has been provided with improvements in safety, sustainability, and the quality of user experience and will be made available by the end of July.

Bolt 6 is designed to keep riders and pedestrians safe as well as to help customers maintain a comfortable posture while riding.

The model features one of the widest floorboards in the industry and swept handlebars. An underfloor battery, which keeps a low centre of gravity, is included in the model to increase stability and better weight distribution. Additionally, Bolt 6 is equipped with suspension and a bigger 12 inch front wheel.

Dmitri Pivovarov, VP for Rentals at Bolt, said:

“Our new Bolt 6 scooter was created by our team of engineers to address the needs of cities and riders. Designing a scooter in-house gives us full control of software and hardware, enabling us to continuously upgrade the safety features that we provide to riders and pedestrians.

 

“Owning the full process of scooter development and production also means stricter quality control and higher safety standards.

 

“At the same time, we don’t overpay for supplier and manufacturer margins. This allows us to forward the cost savings to our customers through more affordable scooter rides.”

Bolt’s sixth-generation scooter model is fully compatible with all the Bolt SafeRide System features. Therefore, Bolt 6 is capable of detecting tandem riding, skidding, and abrupt braking, while also identifying collisions in real time.

The scooter is claimed to efficiently communicate with customers through the in-built LED display, providing information about the speed and battery level of the scooter.

The maximum speed of the scooter is 25 km/h and can be further limited if required by city or country regulations.

Bolt 6 is also equipped with the Smart Parking 360 solutions package that allows Bolt and riders to fully tackle parking issues, with an AI parking system.

Thanks to the Advanced Mobility Intelligence System, Bolt 6 accommodates a cutting-edge smart module with enhanced IoT and an in-built processor and camera. This technology will enable the scooter to analyze surroundings in real-time and detect pedestrians, pavement riding. The IoT features and enhanced GPS accuracy will allow Bolt’s staff to locate vehicles more precisely.

The scooter also sets a new standard of sustainability. Bolt doubled the amount of recycled materials used in its new model production in comparison to its 2019 model. 70% of the aluminum used in the production of every Bolt 6 is recycled.

The first 1,000 units of Bolt 6 will be deployed in Lisbon, Riga and Tallinn by the end of July 2023 with plans to scale up the fleet further throughout the year.

 

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FlixBus launches new international services and extended UK with partners

FlixBus launches new international services and extended UK with partners

FlixBus has announced plans to launch the first ever direct services to Amsterdam from Leeds and Bristol alongside a new summer extension of its route between London and Penzance.

From 13 July, FlixBus will offer travel between Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Cambridge, Stratford, North Greenwich, Antwerp, Utrecht and Amsterdam. The service will be operated by long-term partner Whippet Coaches. Then, launching on 21 July, services from Bristol to Bruges, Rotterdam and Amsterdam via London will begin operating five days a week through FlixBus partner, Turners coaches, based in Bristol.

Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK, said:

“Summer travel just became more affordable and sustainable than ever thanks to our new international and domestic routes. We’re building the largest coach network in the country and as part of our unique offering, we’ll become first coach provider offering regular scheduled services from cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol into Amsterdam, as one of the most popular destinations in Europe,”

The sustainable coach travel company offers more than 50 UK destinations on its network, alongside regular services into the continent.

The company is also extending its services from London to Plymouth into the South West, now covering Newquay, Hayle and Penzance for the summer season. This route will operate twice daily from 20 July, operated by Berrys Coaches.

The coach company is part of the wider Flix group, which offers 5,500 destinations in 42 countries on its global travel network through its FlixBus, FlixTrain, Greyhound and Kamil Koc brands.

“Three of our long-term coach operator partners will be expanding their footprint on our network based on the successes we’ve shared over the part two years. Our phenomenal growth is thanks to the strong relationships we have with operators as we cement FlixBus’s position as a key player in the coach industry.” added Schorling.

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