Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google NewsProposed legislation to ensure responsible recycling of batteries once electric vehicles retire in California was approved today by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.Senate Bill 615 would require automotive manufacturers to make certain that their electric vehicle (EV) batteries are ultimately recycled. The bill now moves forward to the entire Assembly and Senate for a vote later this month.The following statement is by Dr. Jessica Dunn, a senior analyst specializing in lithium-ion battery sustainability in the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists:“I commend California legislators for recognizing the need to plan for the safe recycling of EV batteries so that key materials can be recovered and reused, thereby reducing the amount of mining for critical minerals like lithium needed to fully electrify our transportation system over the next several decades.“Californians are buying more EVs than ever and we must start planning now for their retirements. A strong recycling policy means batteries will not end up in landfills, but instead provide an excellent domestic source of minerals for the next generation of vehicles.“Even with diminished capacity, the usefulness of batteries continues. They can be reused or repurposed and then eventually recycled so the materials recovered can be used to manufacture new batteries

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google NewsIt was a bitter cold day on January 5, 2018, and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker had no choice. An Arctic air mass had descended on New England, causing temperatures in Boston to remain below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for a week. Outside, the windchill was negative 15 degrees, and the regional grid operator was warning that the situation was dire. Demand for electricity was high, but there was not enough gas available to keep all the gas-fired power plants running. Meanwhile, the power plants that burned oil had only a few days’ worth of fuel left in their tanks.To make matters worse, the oil truck drivers, who had been working overtime to make deliveries to power plants as well as homes and businesses, had now reached state-mandated shift limits

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google NewsTo avoid the worst impacts of climate change we need to switch from gasoline and diesel to electric vehicles powered by clean electricity as soon as possible. While driving an electric vehicle (EV) can save drivers on fuel and maintenance, the upfront cost of electric cars and trucks can be a barrier to choosing an EV. The federal tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are important tools to accelerate the transition and make EVs accessible to more car buyers by reducing the initial cost of both new and used EVs. The Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently finalized rules on these credits, including on the transfer of the new and used EV credits and mineral and battery component sourcing requirements applicable to the credit for new EVs. These rules provide greater clarity for automakers, dealers and consumers.Success of point-of-sale incentivesOne of the major changes for the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit this year was the new ability to transfer the credit at the time of sale to a dealer, reducing the upfront cost of the EV