Trucks | FoT: AV truck ban veto, Joby, Harbinger

FoT is the intelligence arm of Trucks Venture Capital 

Notable:

California Governor Newsom vetoed the full AV trucking ban in the state (link). 'The veto maintains the status quo. Autonomous trucks over 10,001 pounds still must have human safety drivers. Had Newsom signed the bill, safety monitors would have become permanent.' This is another massive win for AVs in California in 2023, although -- like the CPUC robotaxi win earlier this year -- this feels like the beginning of an even more complex regulatory fight and not the end of one.

Students at TUM in Germany break a new distance world record on a single charge (for a non-solar EV): 1,599 miles, with less battery capacity than many plug-in hybrids -- just 15.5 kWh (link). Via Weans. 'At 103 miles/kWh, the car is 25 times more efficient than any EV on sale.' Congratulations to our friends and Jonas Bauer and Aida Streuber.

Can Europe decarbonize without Chinese rare earths? Probably not (link). 'Last year, China accounted for 70% of rare earth mining production — up from 58% in 2021.'

Turning an old car into a powerful generator (link). 'Most of the cost of a generator is from the engine, and alternator or dynamo with inverter. In this case, the engine is in a Toyota Sienna minivan. The vehicle isn’t worth keeping on the road, but the engine still runs well. And that engine has plenty of power for a generator.'

Volvo redesigns its shop uniforms to make service jobs more women-friendly (link).

Hydrogen-powered aircraft: Fundamental concepts, key technologies, and environmental impacts (link).

Comparing costs of charging an EV at home and on the road (link). 'The price of a full charge can vary considerably. For a Tesla Model Y, currently the bestselling EV, it could cost as little as $9 or as much as $40, depending on whether you're charging at home or at a far more expensive Level 3 fast-charger.'

Once ski hills, now mountain biking playgrounds: ski resorts giving up on snow (link).

Aptiv's presentation on how its Wind River over-the-air service works (link to PDF).

Increased efficacy and use of ADAS systems not yet indicative of increased alcohol consumption (link). 'Trade-offs between alcohol levels and ADAS do exist, but they are (more) relevant in those subject that already perceive higher risks from drink and drive and therefore more likely to behave within the limits of the regulation. Thus, the negative side-effects of ADAS (i.e. incentivating higher alcohol intakes) may be less relevant than expected.'

How a 'NV' license plate pulled in over 100 parking tickets when it was mistaken for a generic 'not visible' designation (link).

Uber warns on looming EU gig driver laws (link). 'If Brussels forces Uber to reclassify drivers and couriers across the EU, we could expect to see a 50-70% reduction in the number of work opportunities...This would cause Uber to cease operating in hundreds of the 3,000 cities across the EU that it serves today.'

Peak-hour automobile travel is spreading in the post-lockdown period (link). Via Amber T. 'As the peaks spread, some highway construction project may prove unnecessary; possible to reallocate road space to other uses w/fewer tradeoffs in terms of traffic congestion.'

Video: Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt in conversation with Techcrunch's Kirsten Korosec (link). Video: jumping a truck over an entire town (link). Video: MKBHD's review of the Rivian Amazon van (link). Video: Cruise AV traffic jam in Austin, TX (link).

For South Korea's senior subway riders, the joy is in the journey (link). Via Diego. 'The fare is free for those older than 65, and so some retired people spend their days riding the trains to the end of the line.'

M&A / Deals / Changes:

German trucking AV startup Fernride raises $50M (link). Led by Germany’s DeepTech and Climate Funds.

EV trucking startups Harbinger raises $60M (link). Led by Thor Industries and TechNexus.

Battery recycling startup Redux Recyling acquired by Redwood Materials for undisclosed amount (link).

Swiss LED startup Exalos acquired by Indie Semiconductor for $65M (link).

Brazilian corporate transportation management startup Fretadão raises $19M (link). Led by EXT Capital.

Brazilian motorcycle startup Mottu raises $50M (link). Led by QED Investors and Bicycle Capital.

US Dept of Transportation approves $100M to fix broken EV chargers (link).

Drift Capital launches fractional collector vehicle fund (link). Via Felix S.

Bird acquires Spin scooters from Tier for $19M (link).

Faraday Future names insider Matthias Aydt as CEO (link).

New Stuff:

May Mobility launches its first California deployment, with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (link).

On-demand legal roadside assistance startup Turnsignl announces nationwide coverage (link).

Joby picks Dayton, Ohio for its first manufacturing facility (link).

Chinese OEM Nio launches its own smartphone (link).

Auto workers expand their strike to 38 locations in 20 states (link).

Presto launches as an easy all-in-one charging app (link).

Jaguar Land Rover announces Tesla Supercharger network partnership (link).

NYC Council approves e-bike trade-in program (link).

Millennial-era paparazzi sun shield (link). Via Pri.

BMW 7-series 'protection' model (link). 'Special armouring designed to offer maximum protection against explosives in particular has been used for both the roof and underbody of the two protection sedans. This means the occupants are also protected from drone attacks with explosive charges, for example, and from fragments dispersed by hand grenades on detonation.'

Patents & Patent Applications:

Ford's patent application shows configurable truck bed with tailgate seating area (link).

Featured Jobs:

Material and Process Engineer at Joby Aviation in San Carlos, CA, USA (link).

Field Applications Engineer at Zitara in San Francisco, CA USA or remote (link).

MobilityJobs is the No.1 job board for auto & transportation companies (link).

Statistics / Projections:

Wholesale used-vehicle prices increased 1.5% from August in the first 15 days of September (link). Via Cox Automotive.

Indian EV sales top 1 million units in 2023 (link). Via Business Standard / India Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. 'The two-wheeler segment accounted for 56% of the EVs sold in 2023, followed by three-wheelers and passenger vehicles.'

The length of motorways in Europe grew 60% between 1995 and 2020 while railways shrank 6.5%; for every €1 governments spent building railways, they spent €1.6 building roads (link). Via Weans / Guardian UK / Wuppertal Institute and T3 Transportation.

63% of surveyed US consumers say a hybrid is a better fit for their needs than a fully electric vehicle (link). Via Morningstar / Dow Jones.

The average annual cost of car ownership in the US is up more than 13% from last year to more than $12,000, or just over $1,000 a month (link). Via NYT / AAA.

Thank you:

Thank you to Matthew Mulvey (link) and Maximilian Odendahl (link) for offers of introductions to new founders, investors and friends over the last week.

Trucks portfolio companies mentioned in this issue:

Joby Aviation (link), May Mobility (link), Turnsignl (link), Zitara (link). View the full portfolio of Trucks companies (link).

See you next week,

Reilly Brennan