President Biden's recent veto of legislation aimed at overturning his administration's waiver for "Buy America" requirements in EV charging stations has sparked major debates about domestic manufacturing and infrastructure.
⏮️ Veto on Reversal — Biden shut down a bill that sought to reverse the Federal Highway Administration's waiver of U.S. content requirements for materials in government-funded EV chargers (yikes, that’s a mouthful).
⚠️ Break it Down — Basically, some lawmakers are concerned about the waiver requirements for iron and steel in EV chargers, arguing that it harms the U.S. steel and iron industry by allowing these materials to be sourced from foreign countries, thereby undermining domestic investments. Plus, the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law mandates that federal EV chargers use at least 55% of U.S.-made materials, including iron and steel. However, U.S. states and companies have raised concerns about supply chain strains and question the feasibility of meeting these standards.
🇺🇸 Counter Arguments — On the other hand, the Biden administration contends that without the waiver, the chargers would fall under a broader Reagan-era exemption, leading to even less domestic manufacturing and potentially fewer American-made charging stations.
General Motors and Honda are charging ahead in the green energy race by launching a mass production of hydrogen fuel-cell modules in their joint-venture plant in Michigan.
🌱 Fuel-Cell Future Beginnings — The two automotive giants have been working together since 2017 to revolutionize hydrogen fuel-cell technology. Now, their vision (and $85M investment) is finally coming to life with the start of mass production at their facility south of Detroit this week, targeting an annual output of 2,000 modules by 2025.
👷♂️ Zero-Defects — Each module contains over 300 cells, and perfection is absolutely paramount due to the high sensitivity and safety requirements of those systems.
🔋 Hydrogen Power Unleashed — This power isn't limited to light vehicles but extends to heavy-duty construction gear and stationary applications too like data centers and backup utility power.
Lamborghini just set the bar in workforce agreements after striking a near-unanimous deal with its employees and quickly paving the way for expansion.
🏭 Innovative Work Hours and Job Growth — A radical revision of working hours and the promise of 500 permanent new jobs by 2026 are at the forefront of this groundbreaking agreement.
🤝 Unanimous Support — This contract is a true testament to Lamborghini's harmonious relationship with its workforce. Achieving near-unanimous support in an internal referendum, this agreement showcases a synergy between the automaker and its employees, steering clear of the union struggles that have been challenging some U.S. automakers.
⏱️ Pilot Project and Future Assessment — The changes are set to kick off between late 2024 and early 2025 in a pilot scheme to test their effectiveness and compatibility with company operations. After a year, a team of experts will dive into assessing the sustainability of the new workflow and adjust as necessary.
Kia and Hyundai are updating an old feature for the EV times with their Active Air Skirt Technology which aims to boost both range and performance.
💨 Aerodynamics Enhanced — The Active Air Skirt system, a brainchild of Hyundai Motor Group, is all about cutting down air resistance. Deployed in front of the leading tires, these skirts activate at high speeds to reduce turbulence and enhance the EV's aerodynamics. Testing with the Genesis GV60 showed a significant 2.8% reduction in drag.
🏎️ High-Speed Benefits — It’s not just about reducing drag, AAS also amps up downforce. Hyundai revealed that the technology keeps delivering even at blistering speeds above 124 mph (though we don’t recommend you test that out).