New challenges, new solutions

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As electric vehicle (EV) and overall automobile adoption gain traction globally, new challenges emerge and so do new solutions. A group of Caribbean scientists and environmentalists hope to turn the tide on the seaweed problem by transforming the troublesome algae into a lucrative biofuel. The lack of charging infra for example continues to be the biggest barrier to owning an EV in many urban areas, but with 'charge anxiety' replacing 'range anxiety.' New York City startups aim to install curbside solutions to address ‘charge anxiety.’ Almost overnight, phone companies have become major car-making players in China - maybe a lesson for companies like Apple. Congestion pricing is gaining traction in big Asian cities and New York City moving forward with plans to charge fees for cars driven in central districts. Automakers are attempting to lower costs amid economic concerns, billions of dollars spent on self-driving vehicles and a prolonged, if not uncertain, return on investment in EVs. New laws in Italy will force e-scooter riders to wear helmets and carry insurance?to ensure safety. Below are some steps taken in the auto industry to address challenges.

Alternate fuel from seaweeds

In 2018, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley declared the seaweed sargassum a national emergency. Now, a group of Caribbean scientists and environmentalists hope to turn the tide on the problem by transforming the algae into a lucrative biofuel. They recently launched one of the world’s first vehicles powered by bio-compressed natural gas. The innovative fuel source created at the University of the West Indies also uses wastewater from local rum distilleries, and dung from the island’s sheep which provides the vital anaerobic bacteria. The team says any car can be converted to run on the gas via a simple and affordable four-hour installation process, using an easily available kit, at a total cost of around $2,500. - BBC

Startups to address EV 'charge anxiety'

Americans aren’t adopting EVs very quickly. Blame the urban elite. The inhabitants of US cities are among those most likely to want EVs—and the most likely to be able to afford them. Their driving patterns are the best match as well. But many don’t have anywhere to charge them. The lack of charging infrastructure is the biggest barrier to owning an electric car in many urban areas. For urbanites, “charge anxiety” has replaced “range anxiety.” New York City startups aim to install curbside solutions to address ‘charge anxiety.’ - WSJ

From smart phones to EVs

Almost overnight, phone companies have become major car-making players in China, feeding into a booming industry.?In America, EVs have been in retreat all year. General Motors and Ford have scaled back expansion plans and cut jobs amid flagging demand for battery cars. Analyst expectations for Tesla’s fiscal 2024 net income are barely a third of what they were two years ago. Even Apple junked its 10-year, multi-billion secretive project to build a revolutionary EV. Apple could take a leaf out of Xiaomi’s book. - Bloomberg

Congestion pricing to curb traffic

Congestion pricing is gaining traction in big Asian cities, with the capitals of India, Thailand and Vietnam moving forward with plans to charge fees for cars driven in central districts. In addition to alleviating traffic congestion, the measures aim to lower CO2 emissions and keep air pollution in check. In the US, come January, most drivers will pay $9 to enter the heart of Manhattan, after New York City was granted federal approval for a tolling plan, decades in the making, that will be the first of its kind in the nation. - Nikkei Asia, New York Times

Cost cuts to recover from EV investments

Automakers from Detroit to Japan and Germany are attempting to lower costs and reduce expenses amid economic concerns, billions of dollars spent on self-driving vehicles and a prolonged, if not uncertain, return on investment in EVs amid slower-than-expected adoption. Those issues come in addition to weakening consumer demand and higher commodity costs. GM and Ford are cutting billions in fixed costs, including laying off thousands of workers, while other automakers such as Nissan, Volkswagen, and STellantis are taking even more drastic measures to reduce headcounts and trim spending. - CNBC

New rules for safe e-scooters in Italy

Italy will require electric scooter riders to wear helmets and carry insurance to clamp down on what the government describes as “reckless behaviour” that has turned streets into a “jungle”.?New laws will force riders to wear helmets and carry insurance?— restrictions that operators have said will depress demand. The good news is that e-scooter safety is improving, at least measured in relation to the number of trips taken. In Italy, e-scooter accidents per 100,000 rentals fell to 1.39 in 2023, down from 1.56 in 2022. The bad news, however, is that e-mobility clearly does have an image problem. - Financial Times

Source for banner image on top: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons