Millions of new public EV chargers needed to meet 2030 demand
Good morning! It’s Friday the 13th. 👻 While some may consider the day to be unlucky, electric vehicles are charging ahead with good fortune. No spooky gas emissions in sight!
But there may be some other issues…
It cannot be dismissed as a pointless argument. While most electric vehicles can be charged overnight at home, this is not a convenience that can be adopted by all… or even many. Many individuals who do not own a garage are already facing the problem of finding and having regular access to reliable public charges. S&P Global Mobility is suggesting that a minimum of 2.13 million “level 2” chargers will need to be added to the current public charging infrastructure alongside 172,000 “level 3” chargers in order to meet the demand for electric vehicles.
Check out today’s featured article from ARS Technical to read about some of the most glaring skepticism of the electrification goals on a federal level. Will the charging problem be completely solved by 2030? ☕️
Featured Article:
How many electric car chargers is enough? | Ars Technica
“We'll need 2.13 million level 2 and 172,000 level 3 chargers by 2030, S&P says.”
Shipping & Company Culture 🎉
Logistics provider Flexport laying off 20% of company workforce
Blame the waning shipping demand. The freight forwarder company that was ripe with capital from large tech-focused venture capital firms has announced that approximately 700 individuals in their workforce are on the brink of being without a job. Based in San Francisco, Flexport is one of many companies involved in the tech industry in some capacity that is partaking in company-wide layoffs this quarter. Co-CEOs Dave Clark and Ryan Petersen posted a memo on the Flexport website explaining the difficult decision and citing reduced shipping volumes and more automated systems available as reasons for the layoffs. In the end, Flexport has far too many employees than it currently needs to operate successfully.
There are several reasons why tech companies may be partaking in company-wide layoffs, including financial reasons, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, changes in the industry, advancements in automation and AI, and shift to remote work. Salesforce, Amazon, and C.H. Robinson have all announced similar decisions.
Driver Issues & Safety 🚛
Driving safety in the storms: truckers beware of icy roads
While we’re still in the dead of winter, some places are starting to see the snow melt after it dumped inches over the holidays. However, once the sun sets… that melted snow can turn into black ice. A truck driver’s safety is pertinent and effective equipment paired with a vigilant individual behind the wheel can make all the difference.
When traveling down icy roads, truck drivers should take heed to the following nuggets of advice:
Slow down: Icy roads can make it more difficult to control a vehicle, so it is important to slow down and drive at a safe speed for the conditions.
Increase following distance: Following distance should be increased when driving on icy roads, as it takes longer to stop on slippery surfaces.
Use low gears: When going downhill, use low gear to help maintain control of the vehicle.
Avoid sudden movements: Sudden movements such as sudden braking, accelerating, or turning can cause the truck to lose control on icy roads.
Use lights: Turn on headlights and tail lights to increase visibility for other drivers on the road.
Check the weather forecast: Before starting the trip, check the weather forecast and plan for potential delays or detours if necessary.
Use winter tires or chains: Make sure that the truck is equipped with winter tires or chains, which will provide better traction on icy roads.
Be mindful of the load: Be aware of the weight and distribution of the load in the truck, as this can affect the truck's handling on icy roads.
Watch out for black ice: Black ice is a thin layer of ice that is often invisible, so be alert and watch out for any signs of it, such as shiny or glossy pavement.
Follow the traffic: Follow the traffic and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, as this will give you more room to react in case of sudden braking.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Awkward The Office GIF via GIPHY
🇹🇼 If China invades Taiwan, what will happen to the semiconductor industry? John Ferguson, chief executive officer of TBM Consulting Group, spoke with Supply Chain Brain about the hot topic. While the long-term impact of a Chinese invasion on the small island country is harder to quantify, the semiconductor supply chain would likely face a massive disruption in the short term. Taiwan is home to two manufacturers of semiconductors with both companies making up about 65% of the world’s supply and approximately 90% of the advanced versions of those chips. If China were to assert its control over Taiwan and those semiconductor companies, there is a possibility that those countries.
😷 Covid surges through China, again. Supply chain managers globally are likely thinking that it’s the “same old song and dance”. The world’s largest manufacturing economy is under siege as some of the tightest Covid restrictions are lifted in China. It’s predicted that up to 800 million Chinese people could become infected with Covid in Q1. It’s also suspected that the Chinese government is underreporting hospital admissions and deaths from the disease, so some speculate that those numbers are much higher. Could the new wave of Covid infections send the supply chain back spiraling, again?
🏆 EVs were the big winners at the 2023 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. With fifty judges from the United States and Canada’s auto journalism sector, the finalists were chosen due to innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, user experience, and value. The winners included two electric vehicles for the very first time. Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric pickup and Kia’s EV6 battery-powered EV won in their categories.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🛌 Bed Bath & Beyond the point of no return… maybe. The company that is famous for displaying items you used to buy via telephone during late-night infomercials has reported a year-over-year decline in net sales of 33%. While the third quarter ended November 26th, the company also reported a stark decrease in customer traffic in-store and a 70% dip in stock position. Bed Bath & Beyond President and CEO Sue Gove noted that the company did not achieve its quarterly goals due to inventory constraints, attributing this to the notable executive turnover at the company and financial results. Gove became permeant CEO in 2022 after serving as interim.
✈️ Blame NOTAM for your mid-week delayed flight. Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, is a vital tool used by pilots and air traffic controllers to ensure safe and efficient flights in the United States. NOTAMs provide important information about changes to the airspace or airport facilities, including temporary flight restrictions, runway closures, and navigation aid outages. This information is critical for pilots to have in order to plan safe and efficient flight routes, and for air traffic controllers to manage traffic flow. However, on Wednesday morning all domestic flights were grounded due to a computer system failure in the NOTAM system.
👩💻 2023 workers want more control over their schedules. According to recent Gartner research, employees are tired of being forced back into in-person workplaces after 2-3 years of being able to have more control over their work lives at home. A hybrid work schedule for frontline workers can have several benefits, such as increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, cost savings, improved employee morale, better work-life balance, a larger pool of talent, and a better response to customer needs.
💸 Crippling inflation seems to be losing steam. For the sixth consecutive month, the rate of inflation dipped slightly. Reaching a peak of 9% over the summer, the December reports came in at 6.5%. Joe Brusuelas, the chief economist at tax consultants RSM, is signaling that this could be the nearing of the end of one of the worst bouts of inflation rearing ever seen in the American economy.
GET SMART 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
😬 Look out, Mayor Pete! USA Today opinion contributor Jon Gabriel penned a scathing piece questioning the leadership of Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his commitment to finding solutions to the country’s transportation problems. With the Southwest Airlines scandal splashing headlines across the nation during the holiday season, Gabriel also points to broken supply chains and growing threats of labor strikes in the railroad and maritime sectors as points of concern.
🛩️ Wheels up for FedEx-branded Cessna 408 SkyCouriers! The parcel delivery giant has launched a first-of-its-kind cargo operation with the feeder aircraft under Mountain Air Cargo. This smaller airplane boasts a large cargo door and can carry 6,000 pounds maximum. FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam advised investors in a late December earnings call that the company is aiming to optimize its global air cargo network. This program could help FedEx generate $400M in savings by relying on third parties.
🚢 December U.S. container import volumes dipped slightly. Reporting just 1.3% lower than in November, the Global Shipping Report had some interesting takeaways. December 2022’s tally of TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) imports was 1.3% ahead of what was reported pre-pandemic in December 2019. While Chinese imports are declining, it’s at a slower pace than what was expected.
🤝 Looking to combat supply chain issues? Improve your fulfillment system using interconnected technology. Integrating data systems across all aspects of the supply chain, such as inventory management, transportation, and logistics, can provide a comprehensive view of the supply chain and help identify potential issues before they occur. Automating processes such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and transportation can increase efficiency and reduce the chances of errors, and implementing real-time tracking of inventory, shipments, and other supply chain assets can help companies quickly identify and address any issues that arise.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.