Hydrogen Stakeholders Team up to Advance Heavy-Duty Fueling

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Air Liquide, Hyundai, Nel, Nikola Motor, Shell and Toyota have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop and test hydrogen fueling hardware for heavy-duty (HD) vehicles.

Under the MOU, the vehicle and infrastructure companies plan to test pre-commercial 70MPa hydrogen heavy-duty vehicle high-flow (H70HF) fueling hardware for future Class 8 (40-ton) trucks. The industry group has created specifications for the fueling nozzle, vehicle receptacle, dispenser hose and breakaway device components for the purpose of developing a request for proposals for suppliers.

The group is requesting notification of suppliers’ intent to participate in a pre-commercial development and test program designed specifically for this fueling hardware. The hardware samples will undergo performance tests in accordance with the appropriate SAE/ISO/CSA industry standards.

Argonne Launches Online Tool for Alt-Fuel Decision-Making

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Argonne National Laboratory’s AFLEET Tool (Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation) is now available in an online version.

Argonne – which is managed by UChicago Argonne LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science – says the resource is a free, publicly available, spreadsheet-based tool that calculates and compares the costs and environmental benefits of a broad range of alternative fuels and vehicle technologies. It also accommodates all vehicle types, from passenger cars and pickup trucks to buses and freight trucks.

Workplace Retaliation: How to Protect Your Rights After Exercising Legal Protections

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Workplace retaliation can be an unsettling experience for employees who have exercised their legal rights. Whether you’ve reported discrimination, taken medical leave, or fulfilled civic duties like jury service, the law protects you from facing negative consequences at work due to these actions. Unfortunately, some employers may still retaliate in subtle or overt ways. Understanding your rights and knowing how to protect them is essential if you’re dealing with potential retaliation.

What is Workplace Retaliation?

Workplace retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee for engaging in legally protected activities. These actions can include demotions, pay cuts, changes in job responsibilities, or even termination. For example, if an employee faces a wrongful discharge after performing jury duty, this could constitute retaliation. Retaliation can be motivated by many reasons, including a supervisor’s desire to “punish” an employee for speaking up or to discourage others from doing the same.

Protected activities that may lead to retaliation include, but are not limited to:

  • Reporting discrimination or harassment
  • Filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or a similar state agency
  • Taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Participating in an investigation of workplace misconduct
  • Requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability
  • Serving on a jury

Recognizing the Signs of Retaliation

Retaliation can be obvious, but it often presents itself subtly. Here are some signs that you may be experiencing workplace retaliation:

  1. Sudden Negative Performance Reviews: If you have a history of positive evaluations and suddenly receive poor reviews after engaging in a protected activity, this could be a sign of retaliation.
  2. Changes in Job Responsibilities: Retaliation may involve stripping away key responsibilities, reassigning tasks, or making your job more difficult, often in an attempt to make you feel unwelcome or unsuccessful.
  3. Unjustified Demotion or Termination: Losing your position or being demoted without cause following a protected action can be a strong indicator of retaliation, especially if the timing aligns closely with your protected activity.
  4. Isolation or Exclusion: If you’re being left out of important meetings or communications after engaging in a protected activity, this could be a form of retaliatory behavior meant to sideline you.
  5. Pay Reduction or Reduced Hours: Reducing your pay or hours, especially without explanation, could indicate retaliation, particularly if it follows an incident where you exercised a legal right.

Legal Protections Against Retaliation

Federal and state laws protect employees from retaliation. The Civil Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and other laws make it illegal for employers to retaliate against employees for exercising their rights. Additionally, many states have their own protections against workplace retaliation, which can provide even more safeguards for employees.

For instance, being wrongfully discharged after performing jury duty is illegal in most states, as jury service is a civic duty that cannot lawfully lead to adverse employment actions. Employers are required to respect employees’ legal rights to serve on juries without fear of job loss or other penalties. If your employer terminates you for fulfilling your duty as a juror, you may have grounds to file a wrongful discharge claim.

Steps to Take if You Suspect Retaliation

If you believe you’re experiencing retaliation at work, there are steps you can take to protect your rights:

  1. Document Everything: Keep detailed records of incidents, including dates, times, and any witnesses. Save emails, memos, and notes from meetings that may indicate retaliation. Documentation is key in proving retaliation, as it provides evidence of the connection between the adverse action and the protected activity.
  2. Report the Retaliation to HR or Management: Report any suspected retaliation to Human Resources or your company’s management team. By formally notifying your employer, you create a record of your complaint and give them an opportunity to address the issue.
  3. Consult an Employment Lawyer: An experienced employment lawyer can help you understand your rights and advise you on the best course of action. They can also help you file a formal complaint with the EEOC or relevant state agency if needed.
  4. File a Complaint with the EEOC or State Agency: If internal measures do not resolve the issue, you may need to file a complaint with the EEOC or a similar state agency. These agencies are equipped to investigate retaliation claims and enforce your rights.
  5. Know Your Rights Under State Law: In addition to federal protections, many states offer additional protections for employees facing retaliation. Familiarize yourself with your state’s specific laws regarding wrongful termination and retaliation to ensure you fully understand your rights.

Preventing Future Retaliation

While you cannot control an employer’s actions, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of retaliation. When engaging in protected activities, maintain a professional demeanor, follow all workplace protocols, and document everything. This can strengthen your position if issues arise and demonstrate that you were acting within your rights responsibly and professionally.

Additionally, building supportive workplace relationships can provide allies who can vouch for you if you face retaliatory actions. This doesn’t guarantee protection but can help create a positive environment and establish your credibility.

Experiencing retaliation in the workplace can feel isolating and overwhelming, but remember that you have rights and protections under the law. Understanding the signs of retaliation and knowing how to respond can help you safeguard your career and well-being.

No one should face retaliation for standing up for their rights, reporting misconduct, or fulfilling civic duties. By being proactive, documenting incidents, and seeking appropriate support, you can take meaningful steps to protect your rights and hold employers accountable for unlawful behavior. Taking action not only protects you but also helps create a more just and respectful workplace for everyone.

Electric vehicle charging stations coming to Danville

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Danville will join a few select cities in the state to offer electric vehicle charging stations, allowing environmentally conscious drivers who opt to lessen their carbon footprint in the world to recharge.

Engineer Earl Coffey received the city commission’s approval recently to allow Kentucky Utilities’ installation of two “EV” charging stations, which will be located in the two southern-most parking stalls on Fifth Street, off of Main and on the edge of Centre College’s campus.

Coffey told the city commission KU has “been keen to some of the things going on in Danville” and taking an interest in local projects. He reminded commissioners the company dedicated some funding toward the new water plant park and, most recently, contributed money toward construction of the trail connector, from Corporate Drive over to Hughes Lane.

Refuse Sector’s Demand for RNG Increasing

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There is increased demand for renewable natural gas (RNG) from the refuse sector, especially in California, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced. With RNG, refuse trucks are fueled by the very solid waste they haul.

Clean Energy’s Redeem RNG vehicle fuel is derived from capturing biogenic methane that is naturally sourced by the decomposition of dairy and landfill waste. Redeem enables at least 70% reduction in carbon emissions when displacing diesel or gasoline, according to California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates.

The City of Fresno, Calif., signed a two-year agreement with Clean Energy for renewable liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to power approximately 140 refuse trucks for an anticipated annual total of 1.6 million LNG gallons, the equivalent of just over one million gasoline gallons equivalent (GGEs). The City of Long Beach, Calif., has entered into a new two-year contract to fuel 77 vehicles with an expected 225,000 GGEs of Redeem, including its 35 LNG refuse trucks.

First national lithium-ion battery recycling R&D center launched

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With lithium-ion battery technology expanding across the world, through electronics, Electric Vehicles and stationary storage, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have launched the  first lithium-ion battery recycling center, called the ReCell Center, at Argonne National Laboratory. DOE says the center will help the U.S. grow a globally competitive recycling industry and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign sources of battery materials.

As the demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to surge, ensuring the proper disposal and recycling of electronic devices becomes increasingly crucial. Alongside the efforts of the ReCell Center to establish a robust battery recycling industry, it’s important to address the secure disposal of data-storing devices as well.

Data destruction is a critical step in the electronic recycling process, ensuring that sensitive information is permanently erased before devices are recycled. Services like Computer Recycling USA play a vital role in this process, offering secure data destruction alongside environmentally responsible recycling solutions. These combined efforts not only support the growth of a competitive recycling industry but also safeguard personal and business information, making the recycling process both safe and sustainable.

According to DOE, recycled materials from lithium-ion batteries can be reused in new batteries, reducing production costs by 10 to 30 percent, which could help lower the overall cost of EV batteries to DOE’s goal of $80 per kilowatt-hour. 

The center will focus on four key research areas to enable profitable lithium-ion battery recycling for industry adoption: 

  • A direct cathode recycling focus will develop recycling processes that generate products that go directly back into new batteries without the need for costly reprocessing;
  • A focus to recover other materials will work to create technologies that cost effectively recycle other battery materials, providing additional revenue streams;
  • Design for recycling will develop new battery designs optimized to make future batteries easier to recycle; and
  • Modeling and analysis tools will be developed and utilized to help direct an efficient path of R&D and to validate the work performed within the center.

Amazon Leads $700M Investment in Electric Truck Maker

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As it builds out its delivery fleet, Amazon is moving toward using a battery-electric delivery vehicle produced by Rivian Automotive, a Plymouth, Mich., manufacturer that earned media praise when it showed its first two vehicles at the L.A. Auto Show in November. The company is leading a $700-million round of new investment in Rivian. In addition, Amazon can also benefit from situations like an indexing bubble when investing in Rivian, as increased interest in electric vehicles could enhance market valuation and strategic positioning within diversified investment portfolios, boosting Amazon’s overall market perception and value.

Rivian, which will produce the vehicles at its manufacturing plant in Normal, Ill., was also negotiating with General Motors, Bloomberg reported.

While Rivian showed its R1T pickup and R1S midsize SUV in Los Angeles, it could develop a delivery van on its skateboard platform, said Michelle Krebs, an executive analyst at Autotrader. The two vehicles can deliver more than 400 miles of range.

“The investment is a drop in the bucket for Amazon, but it is huge for Rivian in terms of the amount of money and in terms of raising the profile of Rivian,” Krebs said. “Amazon is exploring ways to reinvent its delivery fleet, and Rivian’s electric-powered skateboard concept, which could carry a variety of body styles, offers an interesting possibility. While Rivian has shown a concept pickup truck and SUV, it could just as easily be offered as a delivery van. Electric vehicles for fleets makes more sense than individual ownership as routes, with charging stations strategically located, can be planned to optimize charging and range.”

Electrify America Opens 105 EV Charging Stations

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Electrify America has opened 105 battery-electric vehicle charging stations to the public since opening its first DC fast charging site in 2018, and has plans to open 484 more locations by July 2019.

The available charging stations cumulatively offer 465 chargers, according to the company. The upcoming 484 charging stations will offer more than 2,000 ultra-fast chargers, and will be located in 17 metropolitan areas and along high-traffic corridors in 42 states.

An additional 42 charging sites with 189 chargers have been constructed and are waiting to be energized by utility companies; 85 other charging sites with 393 chargers are in active construction; an additional 73 charging sites and 341 chargers with approved permits are scheduled for construction; and 34 are currently begin designed and engineered.

Electrify America’s chargers have a range in power from 50kW up to 350kW, which is capable of charging a vehicle at speeds up to 20 miles per minute. At 305 charging sites either open or in the construction process, the Electrify America network represents almost a 300 megawatt capacity.

EIA increases 2020 ethanol production forecast in February STEO

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The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the February edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, maintaining its previous forecast for 2019 ethanol production, but slightly increasing the production forecast for 2020.

The EIA currently predicts ethanol production will average 1.04 million barrels per day this year, increasing to 1.05 million barrels per day next year. In January, the agency predicted ethanol production would average approximately 1.04 million barrels per day in both 2019 and 2020. Production averaged approximately 1.05 million barrels per day last year. 

On a quarterly basis, the EIA currently predicts ethanol production will average 1.03 million barrels per day during the first quarter of this year, increasing to 1.05 million barrels per day in the second quarter, and then falling to 1.04 million barrels per day during the third and fourth quarters. In 2020, the agency predicts ethanol will average 1.04 million barrels per day during the first quarter, increase to 1.06 million barrels per day during the second quarter, fall to 1.05 million barrels per day during the third quarter and return to 1.04 million barrels per day during the fourth quarter.

Futuristic 2019 Hyundai Nexo Showcases the Company’s Technological Prowess

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Hyundai’s Nexo stands out from the emerging wave of electric cars by being a limited-production fuel-cell vehicle—essentially an electric vehicle that produces its power onboard and has water as its only emission.

CR won’t be buying one for a formal test, given the Nexo’s limited availability (it’s sold in only California metro areas) and the sparse refueling infrastructure for hydrogen. Instead, we rented one from Hyundai.

We spent a couple of weeks driving the Nexo, and we’re impressed with its driving range, ride quality, and self-parking ability.