Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group Meeting
California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
On May 16, 2025, the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group will be holding a public meeting. The Advisory Group advises the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission on the effectiveness of proposed programs related to the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015 (also known as Senate Bill 350) in disadvantaged communities.
ONO Hits Global Milestone with First Australian Fleet Joining the Platform
ONO, the driver-first incident management platform founded by former fleet operator Renee Rogers, has announced its first Australian fleet user, signaling strong international demand for its digital approach to accident reporting and risk management.
ONO announced a significant milestone in May, just two months after officially launching in March 2025. With thousands of drivers in the UK already using the platform and a recent expansion into the US, this development underscores ONO’s growing popularity in global fleet markets.
Designed specifically to address the inefficiencies of traditional incident reporting, ONO provides drivers with a calm, guided process for capturing essential details at the roadside through a mobile app. All data is instantly shared with fleet managers via the ONO dashboard, offering real-time insights that can help reduce downtime, cut costs, and improve driver safety.
‘This is a proud moment,’ said ONO founder and CEO Renee Rogers. ‘When I started ONO, I knew that these challenges weren’t limited to the UK. Fleets around the world face similar frustrations with incident management. Signing our first Australian fleet shows that what we’re doing is relevant, necessary, and scalable.’
The platform has been well received by operators in the private hire, logistics, construction, and last-mile delivery sectors, where speed, clarity, and operational control are essential.
U Power Partners with Sumitomo Mitsui to Deliver Southeast Asia’s First Battery-Swapping Taxi Fleet in Phuket
U Power Limited, a global leader in green smart energy grid innovation, announced that its Thai subsidiary, USWAP Co., Ltd., has successfully delivered 21 battery-swapping-enabled MG EP vehicles to Auto Drive EV Public Company Limited, a leading mobility service provider in Thailand, through a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Leasing & Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
The vehicles will be deployed to enhance sustainable taxi operations across the island of Phuket. This landmark transaction marks the deployment of Southeast Asia’s first fleet of battery-swapping taxis, setting a new benchmark for sustainable transportation in the region.
The vehicles are equipped with U Power’s proprietary UOTTA fully automated battery-swapping technology, showcased at the 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show. This advanced system enables a full battery replacement in just 3 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime for taxis and maximizing operational efficiency. By streamlining the battery-swapping process, uninterrupted service for passengers can be maintained, enhancing the overall user experience.
This deployment of battery-swapping taxis aligns with Thailand’s EV 3.5 Policy, which aims to subsidize electric vehicle adoption and establish a nationwide charging and swapping network by 2027. The initiative signifies a progressive step toward a more sustainable transportation ecosystem in the region, reflecting growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
Majority Owner Geely Proposes Delisting ZEEKR in the US and Taking It Private
Just one year after ZEEKR went public on the US stock market, its majority shareholder, Geely, is offering the Chinese EV automaker an opportunity to go private once again. Geely currently owns approximately 65.7% of ZEEKR and is now hoping to make that investment whole, as it has proposed that the automaker delist in the US and become a private company. In May 2024, ZEEKR went public in the U.S. on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ZK. In November 2024, Geely increased its stake in ZEEKR after a musical chairs restructuring in which the latter acquired 21% of Lynk & Co from the former and its 30% stake in Volvo Cars. As a result, Geely owns about 65% of ZEEKR.
Waymo to Convert More Than 2,000 Units of Jaguar I-Pace to Autonomous Taxis at Arizona Factory
Waymo is set to convert over 2,000 units of the Jaguar I-Pace for fully autonomous operation in its ride-hailing fleet, the autonomous vehicle firm has announced. This will be carried out at the Waymo Driver integration plant in Mesa, Arizona in the United States, in partnership with contract manufacturer Magna. This will add to Waymo’s current fleet of 1,500 vehicles, and the aforementioned 2,000 units of the I-Pace is a final delivery from Jaguar, before the model was discontinued following the British marque’s rebranding. Once the facility is running at full capacity, it will be capable of converting “tens of thousands” of vehicles to become autonomous vehicles per year, Waymo stated.
Congress, Don’t Kill Automotive Innovation in Michigan
Detroit has long been the heart of the global automotive industry — a hub of mobility innovation that has powered American jobs and economic growth for generations. But that leadership is increasingly under threat, as countries like China, now home to more than half of the world’s electric vehicle production and sales, invest tens of billions of dollars annually to drive the global transition to new energy vehicles. The U.S. faces a clear choice: build on the Motor City’s legacy by accelerating the shift to next-generation vehicle technologies or risk losing ground to foreign competitors for good. Global leadership in mobility isn’t guaranteed; it must be earned through innovation, agility and investment.
Montreal Has Set an Ambitious EV Charging Station Target. Is It Realistic?
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante’s administration is aiming to install 11,000 more electric vehicle charging stations across the island by 2030. That’s well ahead of the federal and provincial governments’ goal of eliminating the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. The goal of 11,000 more stations is raising eyebrows after it took years to install 3,000. The announcement came as Plante hosted the Montreal Climate Summit, which included hundreds of attendees from business, philanthropy, labour, politics, community organizations and environmental groups at the event’s fourth edition on Tuesday in the Old Port.
Will Canadians Buy EVs without Rebates?
Ottawa’s iZEV rebate program was scheduled to end on March 31, but it ended suddenly in January. The program offered up to $5,000 rebates for BEVs, PHEVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. When the rebates stalled, several car companies, including Nissan, Kia, Hyundai and Volkswagen, stepped in with their own temporary up-to $5,000 rebates. While some of those automaker rebates have since ended, Nissan said it will decide whether to keep it on “a month by month basis.” Without Nissan’s rebate, Canadian EV sales are expected to drop. Although EVs are cheaper to run, their sticker price is still too high for many buyers.
Proposed Ontario Bill Would Strip Away Key Environmental Protections
Proposed Ontario legislation that would give cabinet power to create “special economic zones” and allow the government to exempt itself from following laws on certain projects is little more than a power grab, First Nations, civil liberty groups and environmentalists say. Critics say the bill, known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, is designed to ensure projects such as Premier Doug Ford’s proposed tunnel under Highway 401 and critical mineral mining in northern Ontario get done with little resistance. Ford pointed to both projects as examples of regions that could be designated as special economic zones once the law is passed.
Uber Finds Another AI Robotaxi Partner in Momenta, Driverless Rides to Begin in Europe
Shortly after announcing a strategic partnership with May Mobility to offer robotaxi rides to customers in the U.S., Uber has secured a second driverless tech company amid plans to scale the technology to new regions. Following a new partnership with Momenta, Uber will also expand robotaxi rides to Europe. It has signed several strategic partnerships with robotaxi and driverless delivery companies like Motional and Serve Robotics. The initial rollout of Momenta’s robotaxi technology will occur in Europe in early 2026. The companies stated that initial rides will have safety operators onboard before the service evolves into actual driverless rides.
Slovakia Scraps Decade of Free Airport Transportation
For years, Slovakia stood apart in European rail policy. A wide array of eligible groups – students under 26, pensioners over 62, and people living on welfare – could ride state-operated trains anywhere in the country entirely free of charge. The zero-fare scheme, introduced in 2014, applied nationwide across the state carrier ZSSK’s regional and intercity services, covering both short urban hops and long-distance journeys. Barely any other country in Europe offered such a comprehensive exemption from ticket costs to such large segments of the population. Starting in May, a new rule now requires nearly all passengers to pay at least 1 euro per ticket.
Strikes Could Disrupt France’s Rail Traffic throughout the Week
Dozens of meetings between the management of France’s national railroad company SNCF and unions failed to defuse the social conflict. There will be multiple strikes, as two of the company’s four major unions have initiated separate actions. SUD-Rail is urging ticket inspectors (or ASCTs in the company’s jargon) to strike on May 9, 10, and 11, and drivers to strike on May 7. In early April, SUD-Rail was the first to file a strike notice.
Punjab Approves E-Taxi Project, Pilot to Launch with 1,100 Electric Cabs
The Punjab government has advanced its much-anticipated e-taxi project, approving a pilot phase of 1,100 electric taxis and solar-powered charging stations set to launch soon. A special meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was held to review mass transit projects. During the session, participants were briefed on the province’s eco-friendly e-taxi initiative. The meeting granted in-principle approval to the project’s financial model and agreed to launch a pilot program involving 1,100 electric taxis. It was also decided to install solar-powered systems for e-charging stations.
Incant Launches the World’s Largest Fully Electric Ship
After launching its new vessel on Friday in Tasmania, Australian shipbuilder Incat stated that the historic moment “represents a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping…[and] for the future of maritime transport.” The Incat Hull 096 is 130 meters long. Incat built the vessel for South American ferry operator Buquebus. The ship can carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles and will run from Buenos Aires to Uruguay. The 100% electric-powered vessel is equipped with over 250 tons of batteries and over 40 MWh of storage capacity.
Benue Makes History with Nigeria’s First Commercial Solar Taxi Fleet
The Benue State Government has unveiled a fleet of solar-powered electric vehicles, marking a bold step towards eco-friendly, affordable transportation and significant job creation across the state. The initiative, a collaboration with Esse Mobility, introduced Nigeria’s first commercial solar taxi system, with operations commencing in Makurdi, the state capital. Cities such as Otukpo and Vandeikya are set to join the project in the coming months.
Waymo Is Reducing Serious Crashes and Making Streets Safer for Those Most at Risk
The path to Vision Zero requires reducing severe crashes and improving the safety of those most at risk. A new research paper shows that the Waymo Driver is making significant strides in both areas. By reducing the most dangerous crashes and providing better protection for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, Waymo is making streets safer in cities where it operates.
The paper, accepted to be published in the Traffic Injury Prevention Journal, expands on our Safety Impact Hub research, providing a deeper analysis of Waymo’s performance across 11 different crash types compared to human drivers. It also offers new insights into Waymo’s positive impact on serious injury crash rates.
Compared to human benchmarks over 56.7 million miles and regardless of who was at fault, the Waymo Driver had safer interactions with vulnerable road users (VRUs), 96% fewer injury-involving intersection crashes, and 85% fewer crashes with suspected serious or worse injuries.
These findings add to the growing body of data that the Waymo Driver is reducing the most dangerous crash types, contributing to safer roadways, and pushing forward a vision of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
