Should he sign It?

My son and I had an electric showdown this past weekend. He was in his electric Jeep and I was on my e-bike. I don’t mean to brag, but he stood no chance. I won every race. Hope you did something electric.

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“I am not designed to come second or third. I am designed to win.”

-Ayrton Senna

Should he sign It?

Mississippi's House Bill 401, which would require car manufacturers to work with franchisees rather than operate their own dealerships, has passed the Mississippi Senate and is awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. The bill, which could prevent electric car companies such as Tesla and Rivian from expanding in the state, has divided lawmakers, with supporters saying it is necessary to ensure manufacturers play by the same rules as legacy car companies, and opponents calling it protectionism that could deprive Mississippians of new technologies. The bill would not restrict individuals from purchasing electric cars online, but if it becomes law, some EV manufacturers will essentially be barred from opening a dealership in Mississippi.  If the Governor signs the legislation, the bill would take effect July 1, 2023.

In Other EV News

  • Tesla has reduced the prices of its Model S and Model X vehicles by between 4% and 9% with the Model S now costing $89,990 and the Model X now costing $99,990. The Plaid version of each also saw a price decrease with both coming in at $109,990.
  • Rivian has another addition to its expanding collection of eco-friendly pickup trucks and SUVs. This new version, called the R1S Dual-Motor Max Pack, boasts an impressive 390 miles of driving range, better than the current R1S Large Pack which gets an EPA estimates 321 miles.
  • Chinese automaker Lynk & Co plans to enter the US market with its upcoming all-electric car, which is due to go on sale in 2024. The new EV model will replace the 01 plug-in hybrid compact SUV and will use the same subscription sales strategy it has used in Europe.
  • Aston Martin aims to have its first BEV in 2025 and a fully electric sports and SUV portfolio by 2030.  This includes the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its manufacturing facilities and a 30% reduction in overall supply chain emissions by 2030. 
  • Scout Motors has made headlines by announcing its plans to establish its first manufacturing plant near Columbia, South Carolina. The move is estimated to cost $2 billion and has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs while producing over 200,000 Scout vehicles annually.
  • The sandwich giant, Subway has partnered with GenZ EV Solutions to pilot smaller-format fast EV charging stations at select locations across the US, with a view to rolling out larger Subway Oasis charging parks in the future. The Oasis parks will feature multiple ports, picnic tables, restrooms, green space, and playgrounds. 
  • Spotted!  Tesla has started deploying its new Supercharger V4, which is much larger than the previous generation, with a station spotted under construction in the Netherlands. The new charger is expected to have a higher charge rate and allow CCS charging for non-Tesla electric vehicles, with a solution called the Magic Dock.
  • Tesla has received approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Malaysia to import battery electric vehicles (BEV) into the country and will establish a head office, experience centers, service centers, and Supercharger Network in Malaysia.
  • The R1T scored the highest in J.D. Power's latest Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, scoring 794 out of 1,000, beating Tesla's Model 3.

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