Thought provoking EV situations

Issue #207, June 12, 2023

The electric vehicle (EV) industry and its broader automotive parent industry continue to see interesting situations. Who should get carbon credits for EVs and associated products like chargers is a question - the manufacturer or end user? EV maker Rivian has applied for carbon credits for its products. Tesla has made a shrewd move by opening up its charging networks with the Magic Dock adapter and retrofitting existing stations. The Indian government is rolling out a master app for charging stations. The challenge is to integrate and thoroughly test each charging station operator into the app. Ammonia could be a potential fuel for EVs, when it is split into hydrogen and nitrogen and using the hydrogen in fuel cells. ADAS can become a standard feature in vehicles, for safety purposes. As part of EV sales strategies, nonnegotiable pricing and over-the-air updates can make the process less stressful. Below are some thought provoking and not-so-straightforward situations in the EV world.

Who gets the carbon credit?

EV manufacturer Rivian has applied for earn carbon credits for the chargers that power its vehicles. The move raises new questions about who deserves credit for the environmental contributions associated with green products like electric vehicles: the person who buys a $75,000 electric pickup or an $800 charger, or the company that manufactures and sells those products? Carbon market experts questioned whether the “charging network” project meets one of the fundamental criteria for reliable carbon credits and offsets. - MIT Tech Review

Tesla's shrewdest product

Tesla is making its ubiquitous superchargers available to other EVs through new corporate partnerships and its Magic Dock. This Tesla Magic Dock adapter allows non-Tesla electric vehicles to charge at its expansive supercharger network. These superchargers are all existing locations that have been retrofitted with the new adapter that makes it possible for non-Tesla EVs with a CCS DC fast-charging port to plug in. - Bloomberg and other sources

Master app for charging stations

The Indian government is developing a new master app to ease the country's current charging situation and promote the uptake of EVs. The Asian Development Bank-funded app will aid drivers in finding available EV charging stations nearby, enabling them to book a slot in advance and make a payment. The current challenge is to integrate and thoroughly test each charging station operator into the app. - ET Auto

Ammonia to run vehicles

Ammonia is typically used for fertilizers, but a New York–based startup is developing technology to help it power vehicles. It’s relatively convenient, packing a lot of energy into a small space without weighing too much. The basic goal is to pull apart ammonia into its constituent parts: hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen can then be used in a fuel cell to generate electricity. The nitrogen gas by-product is safely released into the atmosphere. This is called ammonia cracking, and one of the company’s key inventions is a chemical catalyst that helps that reaction run efficiently at a lower temperature. - MIT Tech Review

ADAS as a basic feature

ADAS offers features across different levels to let the vehicle drive itself autonomously. Several auto makers are are offering standard ADAS features in their new vehicles. However, a recent Mckinsey report notes that steep up-front costs for developing L3 and L4 driving systems suggest that auto companies’ efforts to commercialize more advanced autonomous driving systems may first be limited to premium-vehicle segments. - ET Auto

EV sales strategies

EVs could make buying a car less stressful. They could also prolong the sales hustle well after you leave the dealership. Car manufacturers’ new selling strategies, including nonnegotiable pricing and over-the-air updates, promise a better experience for the consumer, but at a cost. - WSJ