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The New York Times
Matthias Müller, the chief executive of Volkswagen, suggested that the German government should look at the subsidies that encourage Europeans to buy diesel cars, and begin phasing them out.
Until last year, more than half of all cars sold in Europe were diesels, which were marketed as being not only economical but also environmentally friendly until the widespread cheating on emissions tests drew attention to the health hazards of diesel exhaust.
“If diesel were taxed at the same rate as gasoline, Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen said, the German government would collect 8 billion euros, or $9.4 billion, more in revenue.”
Read more of the original article at The New York Times.
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First in a series on global fleet electric vehicle prospects
By Mark Boada, Senior Editor
As some industry observers predicted, the time for electric vehicles (call them “EVs”) to become a significant component of fleets is rushing toward us faster than anyone anticipated just a few years ago. This is particularly true in Europe, where a number of initiatives, both public and private, are bringing the future of the all-electric fleet closer to today.
There could be no better indication that fleets on the continent should be preparing now to dive into EVs than the announcement last month that LeasePlan N.V. has launched a pilot electric vehicle leasing program for large fleets in 10 countries. The program was slated to be available beginning this month in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the U.K., and to be expanded to include Italy, Spain and Sweden early next year.
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Fortune
The Tesla Semi could substantially reshape the trucking industry as witnessed by the 50 preorders from Sysco, in addition to preorders from other big players including Anheiser-Busch, Wal-Mart, and J.B. Hunt.
In its announcement, Sysco reiterates Tesla’s claims that the Semi will deliver a better experience for drivers while reducing maintenance and fuel costs, on top of environmental benefits.
As a food distributor, Sysco’s operation may be particularly friendly to incorporating the electric trucks, which will have a shorter range and longer refueling times than diesel-powered trucks.
Read the original article at Fortune.
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MOTORTREND
Phil Ting, a California state assembly member, and chair of the state’s budget committee, plans to introduce a bill when the 2018 legislative session starts up that, beginning in 2040, would only allow the DMV to register cars that don’t emit carbon dioxide.
If it passes, it would be a huge step forward as the state works to drastically cut emissions by 2050. Currently, the goal is to bring statewide emissions down 80 percent from the level they were in 1990.
While it would certainly be a controversial move, banning fossil fuel cars already has support from a number of lawmakers. “I’ve gotten messages from the governor asking, ‘Why haven’t we done something already?’” Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board, said back in September. “The governor has certainly indicated an interest in why China can do this and not California.
Read the original article at MOTORTREND.
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By Michele Cunningham, Senior Vice President, Products and Services, Element Fleet Management
Today’s fleet manager needs to be familiar with fuel costs and maintenance, policy strategies, and, increasingly, connected vehicles, electronic logging devices (ELDs) and the latest in-vehicle safety tech.
Modern transportation is changing rapidly and bringing fresh opportunities with it, especially for companies that manage fleets.
The companies who will succeed in this new era must move beyond acknowledging the changes in fleet management to embracing the new mindset of mobility management. Entire organizations can benefit from a smart, modern mobility strategy by getting ahead of competitors and solving the pain points that can come from antiquated practices.
As fleet management moves into a new era of mobility management, here are a few strategies companies should keep in mind to make the most of the change.
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The Washington Post
The U.S. auto repair industry employs about 750,000 workers and though they are increasingly skilled and tech-savvy, many experts say, they are not prepared for the end of gas-powered transportation.
The reason is simple: Unlike gas-powered engines, electric engines don’t require oil changes, have far fewer moving parts and rarely break down, eliminating much of the maintenance that repair shops rely on. The latest electric vehicles can be serviced using parts purchased online or fixed remotely through over-the-air updates.
“People are freaking out,” Craig Van Batenburg, a Massachusetts mechanic said, noting that some of the resistance to change is strongest in the Midwest and propelled by unfounded rumors of technicians being electrocuted by electric vehicles. “Ninety percent of our industry has done nothing — absolutely nothing to prepare. They just turn the hybrids and EVs away and say, ‘We don’t work on those cars, go back to Ford or Toyota.’ The fear factor is huge.”
Read the original article at The Washington Post.
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The Washington Post
The Global Business Travel Association, a travel industry trade group, predicts business in the corporate travel sector will have increased between six and seven percent by 2019 and 2020.
Using data compiled from Business Travel News’ Corporate Travel Index, Expert Market, a business-to-business office equipment marketer, has concluded that three American cities take the top spots.
The typical business traveler spends about $549 per day in New York, compared to $534 in San Francisco and $511 in Boston. Tokyo and Zurich round out the top five. Washington and Chicago are also in the top 10.
Read the original article at The Washington Post.
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