TRANSPORT EVOLVED NEWS PANEL TALK SHOW 220: THE POLITICAL PLAYBOOK

EV Channels Review

This episode of Transport Evolved News Panel delves into the complex world of alternative fuels and automotive policy. The discussion highlights the Toyota Mirai's driving characteristics, noting it behaves like a quieter Prius with polarizing styling, and emphasizes that its success hinges on fueling infrastructure, suggesting it's a government-backed Japanese project. A significant portion is dedicated to John Voelcker's extensive Q&A with automakers regarding hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, revealing Hyundai's more aggressive stance against battery electric vehicles and detailing the renewable energy mix required for hydrogen production in California. The panel also touches on the controversial fan boost in Formula E, the challenges of women in motorsport and engineering, and the critical issue of automakers potentially gaming emissions tests, exemplified by the Fiat 500's power loss and the BMW i3 REx's hill-climbing issues. Finally, the segment explores Renault's shift to offering battery purchases for its EVs, the ongoing competition between battery electric and hydrogen, and the potential for BMW-Tesla partnerships, concluding with an exposé on the oil and gas lobby's astroturfing tactics to derail California's green transport policies.