Spend 5 mins reading and sound smart the entire month
The average reading speed, according to Wikipedia, is 250 words per minute. So here goes a monthly roundup of in less than 1250 words. Promise, no more. And no, the links don’t count – that’s additional reading.
2024
First one of the year, covering these topics and more:
- Market update on U.S., China and Europe (light and heavy-duty)
- Regulatory developments – Euro 7 is near final !
- A recap of the SAE Government Industry meeting
- Renewable fuels are advancing – first heavy-duty truck fueled by ethanol commercialized
- Conferences coming up ..
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This is published late for a February (or early for a March update, depending on how you want to view it):
- New engine developments targeting MY2027 Low NOx regs
- A special section on autonomous trucking
- LCFS expands to New Mexico
- A new strategy document by the U.S. government for improving infrastructure for freight vehicles
- Lifecycle analyses
- Conferences coming up ..
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Topics covered:
- U.S. EPA MY 2027+ Heavy-Duty GHG Phase 3 Standards
- Europe published CO2 accounting methodology for batteries
- US DOE Billion-Ton Report
- Conferences coming up ..
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Slightly delayed – summer vacation time:
- Spotlight on heavy-duty decarbonization
- US Tariffs on Chinese EVs and related goods – and the retaliation
- NHTSA new fuel economy rule published
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2023
First one of the year, covering these topics and more:
- Market update on vehicles sales by pwoertrain (new)
- US national blueprint for transport decarbonization
- Reports on approaches for transport decarbonization
- Battery investments and red flags on potential lithium shortfall from multiple sources
- New engines, renewable fuels and an ammonia powered truck !
- Conferences coming up ..
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Several important new updates:
- Europe revised CO2 regulations for heavy-duty vehicles
- California aiming to pull 100% ZEV target date for heavy-duty trucks forward by 4 years
- The 2035 ICE ban in Europe being debated – maybe opening the door for e-fuels
- Summary of Tesla investor day
- More news on H2-ICEs
- Conferences coming up ..
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There has been a break in the 5-min monthlies the past two months, but for good reason – we have summarized the U.S. EPA light- and heavy-duty proposals instead. But here’s back to the monthly update. This one covers –
- Links to download the EPA rule summaries
- Market share of EVs (sensitive to incentives ..)
- Pushback against Euro 7
- Summary of growth in renewable energy – China accounted for almost half of all new renewable power worldwide .. !
- Ford making moves to establish leadership in EVs – but warns that TCO is a decade away
- ICCT analysis shows that HD ZEVs could be competitive with diesels in the 2030 – 35 timeframe even for long-hauls (but with a bunch of assumptions).
- And ICCT warns that real world range of HD trucks is ~ 30% lower than advertised (based on study in China)
- Summary of H2 production plans
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- What’s included:
CARB and trucking industry make a deal for alignment on low NOx - Euro 7’s new cost study is out
- Market update for electrification, both light and heavy-duty
- Heavy-duty CO2 reduction in Europe: numbers available and compared to 2025 target
- Renewable fuel standards in US
- China extends NEV credits
- MAN readying for electric trucks with megawatt charging
- Battery swapping for heavy-duty electric trucks gaining momentum in China
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- European heavy-duty trucks are not on track to meet CO2 targets – risk heavy fines ahead
- European light-duty on the other hand, are meeting CO2 targets, partly due to electrificaiton.
- Preview of Tesla Semi performance
- Engines increasingly certified to run on renewable fuels
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- Battery costs are at record low
- EU Parliament approves HD CO2
- New details on IRA
- CARB workshops on Tier 5 and Advanced Clean Cars 2.0
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2022
Revised fuel economy standards in the US, new electric variants in pickups and heavy-duty trucks – and even construction machinery, a new diesel engine smashing previous brake thermal efficiency records, and fully self-driving tractors. And you thought the year is off to a slow start ?
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The US DOE has published several white papers describing the supply chain for various decarbonization technologies and the mining and processing capabilities across the world for critical elements. It is perhaps a very timely reminder that geopolitics will play an important role in how we address clean air challenges, given the global unrest today.
Also covered – catalytic converter theft: Did you know that it is now so rampant that new legislative actions are being considered in the US?
Stellantis and Ford have made major announcements towards electrification.
And renewable fuels are progressing .. read on.
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We summarize two recent EV outlooks
Europe has outlined steps to reduce dependence on Russian fuel – implications for natural gas, hydrogen and renewables
European committee has approved phase out of ICEs by 2035 – Parliament vote coming up in a week
Biggest order for Class 8 electric tractors and one of the largest investment in renewable fuels
H2 ICE engine announced
More .. !
.. read on.
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To say that this is a historic month is an understatement. Europe has announced what is effectively a ban on the internal combustion engine after 2035. It is easier said than done, however, given the material constraints, geopolitical and socioeconomic issues associated with such a massive transition.
Still, the pursuit of all technical approaches for decarbonization is evident – new battery productions announced for heavy-duty trucks, megawatt (!) charging system demonstrated, liquid H2 truck demonstrated and continued investments in low carbon fuels.
Euro 7 is delayed yet again (!)
The US Supreme Court has given a landmark decision on power plant regulations.
In a world first, a commercial scale carbon capture plant is now using the CO2 for producing sodium bicarbonate.
And the perfect antidote to energy crisis deniers who bury their head in sand ? Warm up the sand itself for use as a battery (seriously, there is a thing called sand batteries and is being demonstrated in Finland ..)
.. read on.
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Summarized here is the Inflation Reduction Act and its implications for the transport and clean energy sectors. Also a spotlight on battery supply chain and H2 requirements for heavy-duty. And the best way to decarbonize heavy-duty may be fleet turnover, according to a new study.
.. read on.
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- California has unanimously passed Advanced Clean Cars II which promotes advanced after-treatment systems. Also included is the 2035 ICE ban à while other “California states” can in principle follow suit, they have to adopt on a case by case basis and get approval .. provided is a table of the current scenario
- Update on CARBs off-road low NOx rulemaking
- Lots of battery investments in the US, especially by Japanese automakers. Latest EV projections included, but with a note that raw material constraints need to be carefully considered in the 2030 timeframe.
- New ICE engine developments are happening despite headline news to the contrary – OEMs have to meet upcoming fuel economy & low NOx regs – a note on new engines introduced by Navistar, Stellantis, and a potential order for Cummins H2 ICE for HD trucks
- Announcement on the world’s largest solid oxide electrolyzer plant for generating H2 to be used in making synthetic fuels
.. read on.
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2021
What’s worse than Delhi’s outdoor pollution? Take a guess. Or read on to find out.
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Two topics addressed in this one :
(1) Major announcements with the backdrop of COP26 – the US infrastructure package, an analysis by the EU Environmental Agency on the efforts needed to meet GHG targets, and a major fuels study.
(2) CARB is busy – two new workshops, one on light-duty emission standards and another proposing up to 90% NOx reductions from off-road machinery.
And the DOE SuperTruck3 winners are announced !
Read on …
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This one is focused on heavy-duty trucking. California has held another workshop on the Advanced Clean Fleets rule with ambitious targets to advance zero-tailpipe emitting trucks. We take a look at various factors that can affect the rate of penetration of electric trucks.
Also, the WHO has revised the air quality guidelines calling for reduced particulate emissions, and the US will likely revise its own standards in response.
What about renewable fuels ? Ethanol may be even better than you thought.
Read on …
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August was a “hydrogen” month, and this newsletter covers some of the important announcements and papers on the use of green (or against the use of blue) H2.
We also cover other topics, notably India’s ambitious plans to get energy independent by 2047 and the steps for the automotive sector. And CARB’s focus on environmental justice and implications for Advanced Clean Cars 2.0.
Read on …
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This is a “special” bulletin, covering some of the important changes proposed by both EU and the US to the existing CO2 and fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles. The implications for powertrains, batteries and charging are discussed.
But, we also cover other topics .. read on.
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- European OEM announcements on ICE phase-out
- First significant reduction in European fleet averaged CO2
- US reopening the NAAQS
- Technical work started for Tier 5 non-road in the US
- GPFs found to work effectively under a broad range of test conditions
- EV sales projections
- And Ford-150 full Hybrid – 42 mpg at $20k ?!
- And more …
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- Update on projected significant transportation growth to 2050. And how do we then meet Climate Targets?
- California’s Clean Miles Standard
- EU heavy-duty CO2 emissions published
- Renewable fuels update
- And of course – Ford-150 Lightning !
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- Euro 7 / VII discussions at the EU Commission
- CARB Advanced Clean Cars workshop
- California waiver
- European car market update
- And more ..
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- Euro 7 / VII discussions at the EU Commission
- President Biden’s targets for GHG reductions – and implications for transportation
- Honda, VW, Volvo, others on their electrification strategies
- Cummins/Tula on cylinder deactivation results for ultra-low NOx
- And more ..
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- Nissan’s breakthrough on 50% BTE engine
- Updates on the latest Euro 7 discussions
- JLR, Ford, Volvo electrification announcements
- Daimler & Cummins strategic partnership
- And more …
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- Biden administrations first steps on climate change
- A look at 2019 real-world CO2 emissions
- China non-road stage IV published
- Ultra-low NOx : Opposed piston engines to the rescue ?
- GM announcement on all – electric by 2035
- And more ..
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This is a special bulletin, listing some thoughts on topics to watch in 2021.