Issues
Pennsylvania State Transportation Secretary Yasmin Gramian and State Senator Wayne Langerholc, along with 9 cosponsors, introduced SB 965, a bill intended to allow testing of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on PA roads without a driver. Companies such as Argo AI and Locomotion have been developing AV technology in Pennsylvania, and this legislation would allow them to…
The Biden Administration released a final rule on tailpipe standards today, reversing some Trump-era regulations and taking another step in the administration’s ambitious climate policy. The final rule, Reg. 2060-AV13, applies to vehicles model year 2023 through 2026 and requires that automakers make a 10.3 percent improvement in tailpipe emissions by 2026. This final rule…
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing today on the nomination of Dr. Steven Scott Cliff, who has been tapped to be the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Dr. Cliff most recently served as the deputy executive officer of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and is currently serving as…
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published guidance this week regarding electric vehicle charging stations within the interstate right-of-way. Federal law prohibits commercial services, including electric vehicle charging stations, within the interstate right-of-way, including rest stops. This serves to enhance the businesses of off-highway communities and towns. NATSO, which represents truckstops and travel plazas, and SIGMA:…
This week, the Biden-Harris Administration released an Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan that outlines steps federal agencies are taking to support developing and deploying a national network of electric vehicle chargers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed earlier this year, allocated $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging. The legislation also establishes a joint office of the…
The European Commission sent a letter to U.S. Senate leadership this week urging them to reconsider the electric vehicle tax credits currently included in the Build Back Better budget reconciliation plan. The letter, sent by Vladis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, is supportive of EV tax credits and the goals of the Biden…
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) posted a request for comments today in the Federal Register related to the new electric vehicle (EV) charging station program. This program, which was authorized by H.R. 3684, the bipartisan infrastructure plan, will distribute money through discretionary grants for electric vehicle charging stations throughout the United States. The bipartisan…
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from automaker Volkswagen related to their potential emissions cheating scandal. This means that the case will go back to lower courts to determine whether or not Volkswagen is liable, and to what extent they will be held responsible. Volkswagen made headlines earlier this year with…
A Louisiana federal appeals court has blocked the mandate issued by President Joe Biden that would require companies with 100 or more employees to either verify that their employees are vaccinated or require them to wear face masks and submit to weekly COVID-19 tests. The panel of judges stated that “because the petitions give cause…
A committee of the Massachusetts legislature held a hearing this week on H. 1151, a bill that would limit the amount of time insurance companies have to investigate the cause of a loss, and would require the insurer to make payments for the vehicle while the investigation is ongoing. This bill, which was filed…