U.S. EPA Memo Offers Direction on Lithium Battery Recycling—Essential to the Future Supply Chain for Battery Electric Vehicles
Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in a wide variety of applications, from medical devices to laptops — and now, increasingly, in electric vehicles (EVs). With the market for personal and commercial EVs growing, it is essential for U.S. manufacturers to have a secure, reliable supply chain of the critical minerals needed to produce EV batteries, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Indeed, a recent study highlights the growing demand for these minerals — and the challenges the U.S. faces to meet this demand from mined sources.
U.S. Transportation Department Moves to Revive States’ Authority to Regulate Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions
On April 22, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a proposed rule that revokes the agency’s portion of the September 2019 rule, known as SAFE-1 Rule, which sought to preempt states, including California, from issuing their own tailpipe greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates. (more…)
California “GO-Biz” Unveils Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Strategy
On Wednesday, February 17, the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) hosted a live streaming event to unveil its Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Market Development Strategy rolled out earlier this month. The 100-page strategy is one of the state’s first steps in implementing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-79-20, signed on September 23, 2020, and discussed in a prior blog post, which sets ambitious targets phasing out new sales of internal combustion engine vehicles.
California Air Resources Board Releases 2020 Mobile Source Strategy
On October 2, 2020, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unveiled a discussion draft of its 2020 Mobile Source Strategy. The strategy incorporates the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals set forth in the recent Executive Order issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom and sets out steps for achieving those goals, such as requiring manufacturers to support and promote advanced technologies and in-use requirements for advanced technologies. (more…)
California Governor Directs State to Develop Near-Future Zero-Emission Vehicle Sales and Operation Mandates
On September 23, 2020 California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-79-20, expressing the goals that:
- by 2035, 100% of all in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks will be zero-emission vehicles (“ZEV”);
- by 2045, 100% of all medium-and heavy-duty vehicles in the state be zero-emission for all operations where feasible (and the same goal for drayage trucks by 2035); and
- by 2035, the State will transition to 100% zero-emission off-road vehicles and equipment (where feasible).
