We need a general tweet of the day thread

Nothing says supply chain disruption like a $300,000 semi-tractor rig which will need massive infrastructure to charge millions of trucks at the same time. With a 200 mile range, drive for three hours at 65 mph and then charge for three hours (fast charge and hope you don't catch on fire) then back to it. It's like these morons never took a physics and math class and don't understand the free market and capitalism.


Ore., N.J. pushing for electric big rigs, but it will take infrastructure

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Oregon and New Jersey are following California's lead with regulations that seek to ramp up the number of electric vans, trucks and big rigs on the road while reducing pollution from diesel engines.

The federal Clean Air Act allows California to adopt its own motor vehicle emission standards, which can be adopted by other states.

Oregon became the first state to do so last week, when a regulatory commission approved its "Advanced Clean Truck" rule that requires manufacturers of pickup trucks, buses and tractor-trailer cabs to sell a certain percentage of electric vehicles beginning with their 2025 models. The panel adopted an accompanying rule requiring new diesel trucks to emit significantly less nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter.

Both rules are expected to reduce the environmental impacts of trucking. Trucks are one of the fastest-rising sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon, where transportation makes up about 40% of emissions. Diesel emissions cause as many as 460 premature deaths a year [Never saw a death certificate say "Diesel Emissions"]annually and cost $3.5 billion, according to a department estimate.

The infrastructure bill, recently signed by President Joe Biden, includes $7.5 billion in grants to help build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations. Other legislation working its way through Congress would create specific tax credits and funding for more electric medium and heavy duty trucks.

One bill would specifically create a rebate program to help spur the adoption of electric medium and heavy duty trucks. Build Back Better, the expansive social spending bill, would create a new tax credit and $5 billion Environmental Protection Program intended to electrify the vehicles.

While serving on an advisory committee that crafted the regulation, Wilson pointed out that California earlier laid the groundwork for the rules by directing utilities to prepare for the electrification of transportation and offering incentives, including up to $120,000 to buy an electric heavy-duty truck.

Wilson told UPI in an email that an electric heavy-duty truck costs over $300,000 on top of having to build a charging station. With federal and state grants, his company has ordered six electric heavy-duty trucks that he expects to be delivered in 2023. Without the assistance, Oregon-based carriers won't be competitive, he said.