News on several fronts in electrified vehicles and autonomous cars this week. Some of it in varied areas of transport such as shipping and batteries.
Seaspan has launched a natural gas-electric hybrid ferry to Canada. This is the first LNG-fueled hybrid-electric ferry to operate on the west coast of Canada and, what’s more, its refuel is fast thanks to no transfer of gas being required. Instead, a tanker truck of fuel merely pulls on and leaves the trailer on board.
Nikola Fuel Cell Truck to replace Caterpillar at Thompson Machinery. Thompson, a truck dealer in Nashville, Tennessee, needed a work truck replacement for its Caterpillar trucks and chose the hydrogen fuel-cell Nikola for that.
Pacific Gas and Electric has launched a new clean fuel rebate, offering up to $500 for residential customers with EV plug-ins. The rebate is part of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Initiative.
California’s Air Resources Board has proposed a new plan to cut 2030 greenhouse gas emissions. The plan calls for a 40 percent reduction in GHGs versus their 1990 levels and CARB plans to leverage zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) and the state’s cap-and-trade program to accomplish the goal.
Ford is running a year-long trial in London to est plug-in hybrid Transit Custom vans. The project is part of a larger overall project featuring low- and no-emissions vehicles. 20 new plug-in hybrid Transit Custom vans will take part.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced vehicle-to-infrastructure guidance. The guidelines are part of an overall DOT initiative to fast-track safety-focused autonomous systems to market.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.