#last mile delivery company

[immensetruckingsolutionsltd]

Navigating the Evolving Trucking Landscape in the USA: Insights from Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd

1. The Impact of Technology

Furthermore, we are exploring the potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance predictive analytics and decision-making processes.

2. Driver Shortages and Workforce Development

One of the most pressing challenges in the trucking industry is the ongoing driver shortage. Factors such as an aging workforce, the demanding nature of long-haul trucking, and a lack of new entrants contribute to this issue. At Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd, we recognize that our drivers are the backbone of our operations.

It includes offering competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and training programs that empower our drivers with the skills they need to succeed. Additionally, we are actively working to improve driver retention by fostering a positive work environment that prioritizes work-life balance.

3. Environmental Sustainability

As concerns about climate change intensify, the trucking industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices. Companies are to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in greener technologies. At Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd, we are committed to environmental sustainability.

We have implemented a comprehensive sustainability strategy that includes investing in fuel-efficient vehicles, optimizing routes to minimize fuel consumption, and encouraging eco-friendly driving practices among our drivers. Additionally, we are exploring alternative fuel options, such as electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, to reduce emissions further. By prioritizing sustainability, we contribute to a healthier planet and help our clients meet their sustainability goals.

4. Regulatory Changes

The trucking industry is subject to a complex web of regulations at both the federal and state levels. Keeping up with these changes is essential for maintaining compliance and avoiding penalties. Recent regulations focused on safety, emissions, and driver service have made compliance even more challenging.

Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd is a dedicated compliance team that monitors regulatory changes and ensures our operations all legal requirements. By prioritizing compliance, we minimize risks and ensure our clients can operate smoothly in an increasingly regulated environment.

5. E-Commerce Growth and Last-Mile Delivery

The rise of e-commerce has dramatically changed consumer expectations regarding shipping and delivery. Customers now demand faster, more flexible delivery options, and trucking companies to adapt. Last-mile delivery has become a critical focus area for many logistics providers.

At Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd, we are expanding our services to include last-mile delivery solutions that meet the needs of e-commerce businesses. By optimizing our logistics processes and utilizing advanced routing technologies, we can ensure timely and efficient deliveries to end customers. Our goal is to help meet the demands of the e-commerce landscape while enhancing customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

The trucking landscape in the USA is evolving rapidly, presenting challenges and opportunities for logistics providers. At Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd, we are committed to navigating these changes by leveraging technology, investing in our workforce, prioritizing sustainability, ensuring regulatory compliance, and adapting to the demands of the e-commerce market.

As we continue to evolve with the industry, our focus remains on delivering exceptional trucking solutions that drive success for our clients. With Immense Trucking Solutions Ltd to experience innovative logistics services tailored to the ever-changing trucking landscape. Together, we can navigate and pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable future.

[dahnaylogistics]

Choosing the Best Provider for Air Freight Services | DahNAY Logistics

Air Freight Services are highly time-sensitive, with every second counting, and often involve the transport of valuable goods. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise extreme caution when selecting an air freight service provider. Opt for a provider that offers a comprehensive range of services, including door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, warehousing, and real-time tracking.

Explore our blog: Visibility and traceability in logistics and supply chain Explore DahNAY’s Logistics Services: https://dahnay.com/services/

[unitedravens]

Last Mile Delivery - How to Make It Super Easy

Customers seek to track their shipments in real time and want to know when their cargo will arrive. Due to this, effective last-mile delivery has become more important and challenging. Let’s see what it is and how you can overcome it. Read more.https://unitedravens.com/how-to-make-last-mile-delivery-super-easy/ 

[shreeazadgroup]

Shree Azad provides innovative logistics solutions serving as reputable Logistics Company in Bihar, merging technology and efficiency. With tech advanced tracking systems, real-time updates, and streamlined processes, we ensure swift and secure delivery. Our commitment to innovation pushes seamless supply chain management, empowering businesses across Bihar to thrive in the digital age.

[fidhamohammad]

Elevate your business with our insightful guide on 'Elevating Customer Experience: The Importance of Last Mile Delivery Services in Dubai.' Explore the dynamic landscape of last mile delivery and discover how a leading logistics company in Dubai can revolutionize your operations. Uncover strategic insights, best practices, and the transformative impact of efficient last mile delivery solutions on customer satisfaction. Stay ahead in the competitive market with our comprehensive analysis tailored for success in last mile delivery Dubai.

[preetiken]

Last Mile LEVs in KSA to hold an attractive Future Potential with lucrative government initiatives.

Domestic express courier dominates the market and is expected to register revenue growth at a CAGR of 4.4%. Most e-commerce retailers in KSA struggle with last-mile delivery as delays, reduced success rate & difficulty cash on delivery (COD) handling. Inconsistent demand, with spikes during festive seasons such as Ramadan, put additional pressure on the supply-side ecosystem for e-commerce logistics and hyperlocal logistic service providers. E-com Retailers need to come up with solutions such as Tech-Enabled E-com Logistics Platforms/Automated Shipping Software, B2B SAAS Platforms, and Digital Freight Brokers/ Load Discovery Aggregator Platform to solve the LMD problem in an efficient way to meet the growing customer demands.  

Other Challenges in Future Potential Market Of LEVs in Last Mile Delivery Industry in KSA.

Cities such as NEOM and SPARK are incorporating smart mobility into their urban planning.  

Some cities in the GCC are already incorporating smart mobility into their urban planning. Saudi Arabia and the UAE will invest nearly $50 bn in smart city projects through 2025 and most of the smart city projects in the GCC have a distinct focus on mobility for residents.  SPARK will be a fully integrated city with master plans to seamlessly intertwine industrial areas, such as factories, workshops, yards, and the Logistics Zone, with vibrant residential, educational, and commercial areas. Moreover, NEOM City consists of a city of a million residents with a length of 170 kilometers (105 miles) that preserves 95% of nature with zero car emission, zero streets and zero carbon emissions. Moreover, ABB, a global automation giant and a leader in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure sector has supplied its market-leading EV chargers to a premier residential compound ‘Safa 28’ located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All these government initiatives, makes a greater space of the EV sector to flourish which will help the Last mile LEVs sector to grow.

New types of vehicles and new logistic structures are emerging to address the new paradigm in E-Commerce Industry.  

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The rising competition to deliver faster has led to ecommerce and hyperlocal delivery players to partner with mobility players to expand their fleet while still staying lean on resources. E-commerce players like Noon and Amazon witnessing a large volume of orders and requiring larger delivery fleets will slowly move towards LEVs by partnering with e-mobility startups and suppliers to convert their fleet into an e-fleet. The lower total cost of ownership and operating costs have made EVs more attractive for the intra-city cargo segment which comprise ~40% of total E-commerce shipments in KSA. However, LEVs need to be as efficient as an ICE vehicles carrying a similar payload and covering more trips and at lesser costs. This has led to the growth of new types of vehicles and new logistic structures that are emerging to address the new paradigm in E-Commerce Industry. 

Government policies play a huge role in Adoption of Electric Vehicles in a country.   

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In November 2019, the Kingdom announced that 5% of its parking spaces are to be designated solely for the use of EVs. Also, and even more importantly, the Saudi government has mandated that there will be EV charging stations at all municipal car parks. National Industrial Development & Logistics Program (NIDLP) considered by CEDA to be one of the highly critical VRPs, will most likely develop initiatives geared towards EVs in the coming years. Furthermore, it focuses on developing ICE along with EV as it allows KSA to optimize short term gains while making calculated bets on EV over the medium term. Developing this sector will create jobs while contributing to the GDP. 

High penetration acceptance of the use EVs could radically reduce the high rate for demand of oil. 

Fossil CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia are 526.8 million tones of CO2 in 2019. An EV has zero exhaust emissions. They are 100% eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered engines. The desire to reduce their carbon footprint is a motivator for environmentally conscious consumers to buy EVs. The cost of purchasing an EV is more than ICE. However, the operational costs requiring fuel and maintenance in ICE vehicle is more than that of an EV. The mass production of batteries and available tax incentives will further bring down the cost, thus, making it much more cost-effective. 

Key Segments Covered in KSA LEV Market

Business Side Potential for LEVs in KSA CEP Industry

CEP Market Size

Total Number of Courier Shipments

KSA E-Commerce Landscape

E-Commerce Market Major Categories

Total Number of E-Commerce Orders

Total Number of Vehicles Deployed

Competition Scenario in KSA CEP Market

Future Projections Towards Penetration of LEVs in Courier Segment

Business Side Potential for LEVs in KSA Grocery Delivery Market

KSA Online Grocery Ecosystem

KSA Online Grocery Market Size

KSA Online Grocery Market Concentration

KSA Online Grocery Market Segmentations

Total Number of Orders

Total Number of Vehicles Deployed

Competition Scenario in KSA Grocery Delivery Market

Future Projections Towards Penetration of LEVs in Grocery Delivery Segment

Business Side Potential for LEVs in KSA Food Delivery Market

Landscape of Food Delivery Companies in Saudi Arabia

KSA Online Food Delivery Market Size

Total Number of Orders

Total Number of Vehicles Deployed

Competition Scenario in KSA Food Delivery Market

Future Projections Towards Penetration of LEVs in Food Delivery Segment

Key Target Audience

LEV Manufacturers

LEV Dealers/Distributors

Courier and Parcel Companies

E-Commerce Companies

Grocery Delivery Companies

Food Delivery Companies

Time Period Captured in the Report:

Historical Period: 2015-2020

Forecast Period: 2020–2030

Key Topics Covered in the Report

Overview of Global EV Market

Genesis and Overview of KSA LEV Market

Ecosystem of Major Entities in Saudi Arabia LEV market

Charging Infrastructure for LEV Market in Saudi Arabia

Overview of KSA Last-Mile Delivery Market

Number of Orders/Shipments in KSA Last-Mile Delivery Market

Number of Fleets Deployed for Last Mile Delivery

Business Side Potential for LEVs in KSA CEP Industry including E-commerce Landscape in KSA

Business Side Potential for LEVs in KSA Grocery Delivery Market

Business Side Potential for LEVs in KSA Food Delivery Market

Regulatory Scenario and Framework in Saudi Arabia LEV Market

Opinions of Industry Experts regarding adoption of LEVs

Difference in EV costs compared to ICE vehicles- Cost Benefit Analysis

Viable Supply Chain Model for Adoption and Supplying LEVs in KSA

Current Landscape of LEV Offering in KSA

Major Deals/Transactions for LEVs in KSA

Impact of COVID 19 on EV sales

Future Analysis and Projections for LEVs in Saudi Arabia

Opportunity Analysis of an LEV in Last Mile Delivery

Case Studies for LEV Last-Mile Delivery

Recommendations / Success Factors

Research Methodology

Appendix

Companies Covered:

EV Manufacturers

Tesla

BMW

Chevrolet

Renault

Hyundai

Nissan

CEP Industry

Saudi Post

Naquel Express

SMSA Express

DHL

Aramex

UPS

FedEx/TNT

Grocery Delivery Companies

Nana Direct

Zadfresh

Danube

Carrefour

Qareeb

Food Delivery Companies

Hungerstation

Careem

Jahez

Talabat

Mrsool

Contact us:

Ankur Gupta, Head of Marketing and Communications

support@kenresearch.com

+91-9015378249

[lisadiazo121]

Get Your Packages Delivered On Demand with Jeebly in UAE

Jeebly is a reliable on-demand delivery service provider operating in UAE. With them, you can get your packages delivered quickly and conveniently without any hassle. Whether you need to send important documents, fragile items, or large packages, they have got you covered. Their user-friendly mobile app allows you to track your package in real-time and stay informed about the delivery status.

[fleetroot-blog]

Why Should FMCG Companies Use A Unified System For Fleet & Delivery Management?

What demanding situations do you face within the distribution and transport of FMCG items? Okay, let me guess.

Is it ever-growing patron desires or the growing cost of shipping?

Is it mismanagement within the transport of items?

All of those occasions have to have driven your enterprise to make tough choices.

The hassle would possibly appear tough, but now it is no longer impossible to clean up. To clear up the hassle, we endorse the use of a transport control gadget that may doubtlessly strengthen your distribution system and decrease the danger related to cost.

Being a fleet supervisor means having lots of responsibilities. The maximum full-size challenge is the optimization of running costs (to be at their lowest). Other factors encompass car acquisition, gasoline costs, car protection, insurance, education of drivers, and adherence to the government’s duty concerning cars.

However, the first-class transport control gadget can simplify your everyday transport operations and remove the pressure of ever-growing costs.

How can corporations efficiently control the transport of FMCG items?

There are super methods via which transport may be managed.

a. Allotting the first-class routes and proper-sized deliveries to the transport team.

Choosing the proper car applicable to the kind and length of transport is vital. For example, deciding on a gasoline-green medium-sized truck for FMCG item transport may be a superb choice.

Try to disregard long-distance, one-way, multi-day delivery visits. As such, choices can cost you more, and in much less time, they can make a huge hole in your wallet.

b.Use an Online Delivery control gadget that allows for retaining data of every shipment at a click.

Start with a minimal function monitoring software program gadget that may upload functions into the future regarding your requirements. Owners most effectively ought to pay a small month-to-month amount (the greater investment) to avail offerings without demanding approximately full-size expenditures.

Importance and Benefits of Delivery Management Systems for the FMCG Industry

focusing on the FMCG industry, we can discuss how transport control structures can show an assist hand in automating patron item deliveries.

c.Improve The Driver And Vehicle’s Safety:

The important part of the transport system is the drivers, who’re immediately worried about the system of FMCG transportation. Keeping an eye on their protection and velocity practices is crucial.

Moreover, velocity is a problem for plenty of FMCG corporations because of developing avenue injuries due to over-speeding.

Befriending a real-time transport control gadget can manage the challenge of tracking the motive force's overall performance and behavior.

giving well-timed updates on the motive force’s sports.

Real-time Updates And Insights:

The discovery of GPS technology in cell telephones and different gadgets has enabled transport control software programs to smarten the transport system. Problem Solved!

It will solve all of your worries, like: where did the car stop? What is the modern-day area of the transport team? What is the reputation of transport? How much time is taken to supply FMCG products? Is the order completed? Where did the put-off happen?

It offers you real-time updates on various sports with the aid of sitting in your chair. Also, it permits you to make instant choices primarily based on modern-day conditions if needed. It saves hours that you would possibly waste in calling every motive force to get updates.

Through an on-call transport control gadget, you may additionally adjust the motive force’s sports and make clients happier with well-timed transport.

e.Custom Reports to Increase Productivity:

When you’re in the FMCG business, retaining accurate information is fundamental to assessing overall performance. This information offers insights into-

1. How nicely did you carry out this month/year?

2. What have been the principal drawbacks?

3. What are the regions of improvement?

4. What steps do we want to take to boost predicted ROI?….. and plenty greater

The delivery control app offers you easy-to-apprehend reviews of your preceding deliveries. It makes use of graphs, pie charts, tables, and different media to provide actionable information for decision-making.

Auto provider reminders for vehicle maintenance:

The property you own is of extreme value. To shield them from environmental degradation, organizing a protection agenda is necessary. With the use of a fee-powerful transport control gadget, you may set reminders for providers for every car.

You can remove the guesswork and may get entry to correct information about deliveries.

Keep you knowledgeable about car recurring check-ups, which contributes to a powerful transport system.

Fleet managers get an automated notification(electronic mail approximately the repair and provider of cars, as soon as the date and time of the provider have been updated).

It saves a group of time and removes the complications of information access in spreadsheets. Fleet managers can get entry to custom-designed reviews without losing tons of time in developing reviews.

g.Improve purchaser pleasure:

The supervisor who makes critical fleet choices can effortlessly deal with increasing the purchaser's pleasure rate.

How can equal-day transport control structures assist in accomplishing customer pleasure?

Fleet managers can quickly get hold of reminders of upcoming bookings and appointment data with the aid of logging into the software program.

Delivery managers can get notifications about delays in deliveries and purchaser escalations.

and may even view the reputation of assigned jobs to the subordinates as to whether or not they're accomplished or overdue.

It can use real-time monitoring functions to correct the mistakes that might be escalating purchaser worries.

Get affirmation reminders of appointments to save unintentional delays and combat the forgetful nature of the human brain.

h.Effective Route-Making Plans for Fee-Powerful Transport

Being in the FMCG industry, you understand how complicated it’s to determine a course plan.

The delivery reserving gadget assists managers in making plans for transport dates and routes to move the inventory to the stop purchaser efficiently. In conditions like this, where quick word calls for the aid of using clients, arranging cars and making plans turns into a challenge.

What a fleet control gadget can do is automate the challenge, of course, making plans whilst saving massive transportation costs. By transportation fees, we mean- gasoline fees, parking fees, toll tax, cleaning fees, etc.

Are you impressed with the advantages of the transport control gadget? We count on your help! So, let’s clear up your hassle.

Read More about Why Should FMCG Companies Use A Unified System For Fleet & Delivery Management?

Get 14 days FREE Trial of delivery software

[seat-safety-switch]

Cars are not the best way to deliver things to you. Radical concept, I know. Even so, our roads are now clogged with a ton of folks just trying to eke out a living by running their personal vehicles into the ground in order to deliver Barbie® clothes, hot dog bun warmers, and last-minute orders of snake penis wine. This constant traffic volume has not gone unnoticed by our plutocratic tormentors: now they must look to the sky to make that quick 5000% margin on a delivery they didn't make.

Drones are the future of last-mile delivery, they tell us. There's a lot more room in the 3D sky than the 2D road, ignoring the fact that a lot of that 3D sky is currently occupied by passenger aircraft that don't want to suck in a buzzing R/C airplane stuffed full of Grandma's prescriptions on its way back from the Kroger-Anne. Those sound like laws, they say, and happily ignore them. The result is that my house is inundated with wasplike shrieking overhead at all hours of the day. Their tiny gerotors and multi-props efficiently slice the wind into the glorious miracle of lift, annoying the shit out of me in the process.

What is an average schlub like myself to do? I'll tell you what the fat cats sending these drones don't want me to do. They don't want me to erect a giant, four-storey-tall net which catches those drones, dropping them helplessly to my lawn where I hit them with a baseball bat until they stop moving. I used to steal the deliveries, too, but you can only drink so much last-minute-ordered snake penis wine before the cops get there. Now I just leave it on the lawn and make it look like an accident.

Of course, the delivery companies are starting to notice a pattern. They probably have hired a particularly bright intern who has plotted all the crashes onto Google Maps, a giant blinking red arrow at my house. That's why I do the catching over my neighbour's house, while he's at work, and also why, in the last couple of weeks, I've been helping myself to more and more of the drone parts.

Sure, there's no law against launching a sixty-ton drone mashed up of thousands of its fallen brethren. There might be a law against flying it slowly over the industrial complex, blotting out the sun on their rooftop solar arrays, and ramming any lesser drone that tries to take off out of the sky, but there probably should be.

[exitrowiron]

Kickr Run Treadmill Review

Our True treadmill was 20 years old and though still functional was starting to show its age after thousands of miles. I did some research on the new Wahoo Kickr Run treadmill and was intrigued. We have two Kickr bike trainers and I've ridden thousands of miles on mine. When it started to malfunction 3 years after purchase, they replaced it quickly for free. That's the kind of company that deserves more of my business.

The treadmill has received universally positive reviews, especially from DC Rainmaker. I like running on a treadmill and I envisioned doing run workouts similar to those I can do on the Kickr bike trainer. I can program very detailed (I.e. exact watts) bike workouts in Zwift and Training Peaks and expected to do the same on their treadmill. The treadmill also has a unique innovation called RunFree in which a sensor monitors your position on the belt and automatically speeds up or slows down as you move forward or back on the belt. Just start running faster and the belt speed will instantly adjust.

The Kickr treadmill is a 400 lb beast. Wahoo requires that it be professionally delivered and setup and it must have a dedicated 15 amp circuit. The treadmill is very well made and sturdy and I'm confident it will last for many years. It is one the few treadmills that can be used to run a 4 minute mile (not that I will ever experience this). Wahoo correctly assumes that most people have their own TV so instead of attaching a crappy one they provide a deck for tablet or laptop with an integrated USB C charging port. That's the perfect solution for using the treadmill in a virtual environment like Zwift.

I ran 20 miles on the treadmill this afternoon and while I can't say the time flew by, it was a good experience. The treadmill works well in Zwift and automatically adjusted the incline (including a 3% decline) as I ran a Zwift course. The incline and speed paddles are intuitive and responsive. Unfortunately you cannot program a run workout in Zwift like you can for the Kickr bike trainer and according to a Zwift help desk rep, it isn't on the roadmap. Wahoo has its own app that includes some preprogrammed training workouts though. It is possible to create a running workout in Training Peaks, but with limited specificity - for example you can't program 400 meters at an 8:00 pace, you have to choose a Zone or percentage of threshold.

The other disappointment was the RunFree function. It is too dynamic, constantly changing the speed of the belt. I've run thousands of miles on a treadmill and wasn't able to stay in the 2 cm zone of the belt which would ensure a consistent speed.

Our last treadmill cost $3,800 in 2005 and lasted 20 years. The Kickr cost - $5,500 (including delivery) and I expect it will last as long. Although I'm a little disappointed in some of the features, I'm still happy with it.

[immensetruckingsolutionsltd]

Driving Innovation: Exploring the Latest Trends Revolutionizing the Trucking Industry

The trucking industry is experiencing a wave of transformative trends driven by technological advancements, changing market dynamics, and sustainability initiatives. Staying ahead of these trends is crucial for trucking companies to remain competitive and deliver exceptional service to their clients.

Smart Logistics: Embracing Technology for Efficiency Smart logistics is revolutionizing the trucking industry with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and real-time data analytics. Embracing smart logistics enables companies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and meet the evolving needs of their clients.

Autonomous Trucking: Towards a Driverless Future Autonomous trucking is a game-changer that promises to transform the industry. While fully autonomous trucks are still developing, trucking companies can explore semi-autonomous features such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and platooning. These technologies improve safety, reduce driver fatigue, and increase fuel efficiency. By embracing autonomous trucking, companies can position themselves as innovators and prepare for the driverless future.

Sustainable Practices: Greening the Supply Chain Sustainability is a growing concern in the trucking industry, with clients and consumers increasingly demanding greener transportation solutions. Trucking companies can adopt sustainable practices by investing in electric or hybrid vehicles, utilizing alternative fuels, and implementing eco-friendly logistics strategies. By prioritizing sustainability, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, attract environmentally-conscious clients, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Last-Mile Delivery Innovations: Meeting Consumer Expectations With the rise of e-commerce, last-mile delivery has become a critical aspect of the trucking industry. Trucking companies are embracing innovative solutions such as autonomous delivery robots, drones, and lockers to facilitate the last-mile process. These technologies improve delivery speed and enhance customer satisfaction.

Data-driven Decision Making: Unlocking Insights for Success Data analytics play a role in the trucking industry. By harnessing the power of big data, trucking companies can gain valuable insights into their operations, optimize routes, predict maintenance needs, and improve resource allocation. Data-driven decision-making enables companies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver exceptional service.

By embracing trends such as smart logistics, autonomous trucking, sustainable practices, last-mile delivery innovations, and data-driven decision-making, trucking companies can position themselves as leaders in the industry. These trends not only improve operational efficiency but also enable companies to meet the evolving needs of their clients and drive innovation. Embrace these trends to stay ahead of the curve and revolutionize the trucking industry.

[dahnaylogistics]

Why choose an End to End Logistics Company? - DahNAY Logistics

An End to End Logistics Company typically known as a 5PL provider is a key partner to your business especially if you are running a manufacturing company. Right from sourcing raw materials, coordinating with production managers and all the way up to last mile delivery and reverse logistics, an end to end logistics company can handle it all. 

Explore our blog: Why an End-to-End Supply Chain Partner is Essential for Your B2C Fashion Brand?

Explore DahNAY’s Logistics Services: https://dahnay.com/services/ 

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Nation of Change:

China’s largest automaker, BYD, is selling its Dolphin hatchback EV for a low-low $15,000, complete with a 13-inch rotating screen, ventilated front seats, and a 260-mile range. Here in the U.S., you have to pay more than twice that price for the Tesla Model 3 EV ($39,000) with lower tech and only 10 more miles of driving range. In case $15K beats your budget, the Dolphin has a plug-in hybrid version with an industry-leading 74-mile range on a single charge for only $11,000 and an upgrade with an unbeatable combined gas-electric range of 1,300 miles. Not surprisingly, EVs surged to 52% of all auto sales in China last year. And with such a strong domestic springboard into the world market, Chinese companies accounted for more than 70% of global EV sales.

It’s time to face reality in the world of cars and light trucks. Let’s admit it, China’s visionary industrial policy is the source of its growing dominance over global EV production. Back in 2009-2010, three years before Elon Musk sold his first mass-production Tesla, Beijing decided to accelerate the growth of its domestic auto industry, including cheap, all-electric vehicles with short ranges for its city drivers. Realizing that an EV is just a steel box with a battery, and battery quality determines car quality, Beijing set about systematically creating a vertical monopoly for those batteries — from raw materials like lithium and cobalt from the Congo all the way to cutting-edge factories for the final product. With its chokehold on refining all the essential raw materials for EV batteries (cobalt, graphite, lithium, and nickel), by 2023-2024 China accounted for well over 80% of global sales of battery components and nearly two-thirds of all finished EV batteries.

Clearly, new technology is driving our automotive future, and it’s increasingly clear that China is in the driver’s seat, ready to run over the auto industries of the U.S. and the European Union like so much roadkill. Indeed, Beijing switched to the export of autos, particularly EVs, to kick-start its slumbering economy in the aftermath of the Covid lockdown.

Given that it was already the world’s industrial powerhouse, China’s auto industry was more than ready for the challenge. After robotic factories there assemble complete cars, hands-free, from metal stamping to spray painting for less than the cost of a top-end refrigerator in the U.S., Chinese companies pop in their low-cost batteries and head to one of the country’s fully automated shipping ports. There, instead of relying on commercial carriers, leading automaker BYD cut costs to the bone by launching its own fleet of eight enormous ocean-going freighters. It started in January 2024 with the BYD Explorer No. 1, capable of carrying 7,000 vehicles anywhere in the world, custom-designed for speedy drive-on, drive-off delivery. That same month, another major Chinese company you’ve undoubtedly never heard of, SAIC Motor, launched an even larger freighter, which regularly transports 7,600 cars to global markets.

Those cars are already heading for Europe, where BYD’s Dolphin has won a “5-Star Euro Safety Rating” and its dealerships are popping up like mushrooms in a mine shaft. In a matter of months, Chinese cars had captured 11% of the European market. Last year, BYD began planning its first factory in Mexico as an “export hub” for the American market and is already building billion-dollar factories in Turkey, Thailand, and Indonesia. Realizing that “20% to 30%” of his company’s revenue is at risk, Ford CEO Jim Farley says his plants are switching to low-cost EVs to keep up. After the looming competition led GM to bring back its low-cost Chevy Bolt EV, company Vice President Kurt Kelty said that GM will “drive the cost of E.V.s to lower than internal combustion engine vehicles.”

So, what does all this mean for America? In the past four years, the Biden administration made real strides in protecting the future of the country’s auto industry, which is headed toward ensuring that American motorists will be driving $10,000 EVs with a 1,000-mile range, a 10-year warranty, a running cost of 10 cents a mile, and 0 (yes zero!) climate-killing carbon emissions.

Not only did President Biden extend the critical $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of an American-made EV, but his 2021 Infrastructure Act helped raise the number of public-charging ports to a reasonable 192,000, with 1,000 more still being added weekly, reducing the range anxiety that troubles half of all American car owners. To cut the cost of the electricity needed to drive those car chargers, his 2022 Inflation Reduction Act allocated $370 billion to accelerate the transition to low-cost green energy. With such support, U.S. EV sales jumped 7% to a record 1.3 million units in 2024.

Most important of all, that funding stimulated research for a next-generation solid-state battery that could break China’s present stranglehold over most of the components needed to produce the current lithium-ion EV batteries. The solution: a blindingly simple bit of all-American innovation — don’t use any of those made-in-China components. With investment help from Volkswagen, the U.S. firm QuantumScape has recently developed a prototype for a solid-state battery that can reach “80% state of charge in less than 15 minutes,” while ensuring “improved safety,” extended battery life, and a driving range of 500 miles. Already, investment advisors are touting the company as the next Nvidia.

But wait a grim moment! If we take President Donald Trump at his word, his policies will slam the brakes on any such gains for the next four years — just long enough to potentially send the Detroit auto industry into a death spiral. On the campaign trail last year, Trump asked oil industry executives for a billion dollars in “campaign cash,” and told the Republican convention that he would “end the electrical vehicle mandate on day one” and thereby save “the U.S. auto industry from complete obliteration.” And in his victory speech last November, he celebrated the country’s oil reserves, saying, “We have more liquid gold than anyone else in the world.”

[sharpsuite]

MUNDANE MOMENTS DRABBLE PROMPTS Topic: The very human experience of a poorly shared umbrella For: @cartelheir

i hope you and Pat can enjoy this drabble! ✨

Chishiya cannot fathom why anyone needs as many coats as Pat owns - and that's only from what she had brought with her and what she's subsequently acquired since being here. HE FEARS HOW MANY SHE ONCE OWNED. ( He's thankful for the fact there's limited storage in his place that restricts the amount she can bring in too. ) He doesn't think he's ever seen this one before either now that he stares at it a bit longer. The cut of it is a bit different even thought it seems similar to one she wore last week. HE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO SAY THAT. He'd made that mistake exactly one time and the painful crash course on fashion lecture had made work seem like an optimal escape for once.

He watches Pat close the umbrella as they reach the safety of the lobby of his apartment complex and he doesn't say anything when she complains about the sudden rain ruining some plans. Frankly HE is the one with every right to complain. She might have made an effort to share the umbrella, but the angle had been entirely wrong to help Chishiya. So while she's stayed dry except for a few droplets still clinging to the high-end fabric or the wispy ends of some stray pieces of hair, his hoodie is a substantially worse off victim of the weather.

It feels so NORMAL. Two people trying to share an umbrella and it going horribly wrong whether known or not. Something friends, and siblings, and so many others experienced daily across the world. There was likely someone else experiencing something like this less than a mile away.

Chiaki's waiting upstairs, probably lazily cuddled in the blankets on the couch with the gentle pitter-patter of rain against the glass windows. There's coffee waiting and he's SURE Pat is going to march right into the kitchen to make some if she doesn't decide to order a delivery of a specialty one FOR THE TROUBLE OF BEING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN. And he'll just give an amused sort of snort and scratch Chiaki's ear when she lifts her head to mew and greet them. He'll change and maybe have a drink or just burrow in the blankets and stare out the window at the rain for a bit; offer a solution for the rainy fiasco or a makeup day - check the weather app as she considers it and -

Chishiya almost wants to turn and bolt out into the steadily increasing rainfall outside. If there isn't fire, a storm will do.

It should be a comfort to have something normal. But sometimes... SOMETIMES CHISHIYA'S AFRAID. Sometimes he still doesn't know how to handle these moments to understand that he gets this. To have ordinary moments with someone who wants to be around him. Company around that understands him, ugly selfishness and flaws known and accepted. Sometimes he can enjoy the realization and take comfort in it because they're both flawed in their own ways. He can relax; sometimes they talk and sometimes they don't. He likes that new understanding. That he can feel SAFE. But there are still times when it makes him bristle and act defensive and feel like he doesn't want to be seen even though he DOES. Like it's still The Borderlands and being known is still a death sentence and he doesn't know how to handle it other than protecting himself PREEMPTIVELY.

Sometimes he wonders if he made the wrong choice when he came back. Except he'd been bleeding out on asphalt and he definitely would have died if he'd stayed, so OBVIOUSLY HE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

Sometimes he wonders why Pat stays. He doesn't want her to go. ( Another alarming thought. ) But he doesn't understand it and he doesn't dare ask. Even with the potential threats, Pat has ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES and she still stays here with their silly movie night tradition that he's come to love. ( Even if there's been some HORRIBLE movies he's endured that felt like some kind of inhumane torture. ) His lip trembles slightly and it's just the cold. ( Except is it the cold from the rain, or his own iciness? ) Where she insists on celebrating despite his rolled eyes and even though he doesn't care much for celebrations, he still goes out of his way to try to celebrate for her sake or festive days for her culture despite never hearing them. ( And trying to FIND authentic foods or spices or items is both tedious and expensive but he has the time and money. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HER. Even if he doesn't understand why, even if he can't relate, he understands that much. )

Maybe Chishiya's not really afraid of the normalcy. Maybe it's not even actually being known. MAYBE HE'S AFRAID OF HOW MUCH HE WANTS THIS. How much he's come to gradually become used to this life they've built and enjoy it. It's not perfect; he's still by and by the same - but these small changes have changed a lot about his life. It's terrifying...and it's nice. It's the same way he sometimes feels after he's buried himself against her side and let her comb her fingers in his hair (and vise versa). MAYBE HE'S SCARED TO LOSE THIS.

Chishiya hates losing in general as a concept. He's too proud. But losing this, everything he has now with Pat, in a way feels like it'd be more painful than being shot. If she's one day decides her happiness is elsewhere he won't grovel or beg; he cares about her enough to care about her happiness. He'll support her in whatever way he can. But the thought feels like glass shards stabbing deep into the thin skin on his palms.

" What's that look for? "

He offers a slow blink at Pat seems to finally have succeeded in closing and wrapping the umbrella without making a huge mess of water all over the lobby.

" I don't think I've ever seen anyone struggle with that compactible umbrella as much as you. " Chishiya teases as he offers a smug smirk - the kind that always tended to PISS OFF PEOPLE in the Borderlands, but he's just teasing her. " Maybe you've set a record. " He bites back a laugh as he quickly starts towards the elevators before she potentially THOWS the umbrella at him.

" Also your hair is fine the rain didn't ruin it. " He adds with a roll of his eyes. And then promptly jabs the CLOSE DOORS button on the elevator door with a cheshire cat snicker as he tries to see if the elevator doors will close first or if she'll make it inside the elevator.

[tzigone]

Headcanon reboot - super tech for the masses

So one of the aspects of my headcanon reboot is that it kinds ends - people age and retire, we don't have to keep villains in play (the reformed ones stay reformed) and so on. And one thing I started playing with is that this world doesn't have to stay like our world. I completely understand why it does in the comics, and I do think it a good business decision, but this is just for fun, not money, so I can make characters do logical things.

So, when someone invents a potentially world-changing and fortune-making technology, it can actually be mass-produced, used by ordinary people, and change the world. Instead of being confined to heroes and villains with no proper reason given (because it would make the world our heroes operate in unrecognizable and be a barrier to entry for new readers).

Please do forgive me if I've misremembered the details on how these techs work. Or if they've been given multiple explanations, chime in with others.

Chronologically, the first one I have on my list is Ray Palmer/The Atom's tech (shrinking things or people and with the ability to alter mass while in shrunken state). This would be circa 2001. Originally he was thinking about how, with everything shrunk, farmers could grow more and freight trains transport more. But the tech only worked on him, so he wasn't ready to publish. But later, he did manage to get it work on others...and still never published or put it out in the world. At least, he unshrunk the Hawks. It's been a long time since I read it. Hope I'm not misremembering the details and that wasn't another "it only works this one time" sort of thing.

In this universe, he will. He's still a graduate student, so I guess we know what his thesis is. I'm undecided on whether to make the lens still made from white dwarf star (which makes no sense) or make it regular lens inspired by the idea of a white dwarf star (which also makes no sense, but lends itself to the mass use he was thinking about, since material for the lens would be available). A lens (that he crafted himself, so the precision shouldn't be an issue), a control panel, and an ultraviolet light - doesn't like it should be too expensive to manufacture (though end-user price may still be very high at first depending on supply and demand). I was modeling IP treatment after Yale's for compensation, but I don't really know how universities deal with tech patents like that - sell or license the patent and would licenses be exclusive? Anyway, he'll have a hell of thesis. But the rest of the comments on him are only relevant if the tech goes mainstream. Then he started traveling through phone lines. That has even more massive implications for goods transport (I haven't really put any thought into the agriculture, I admit - just transport). But it's not going to happen overnight. I would expect massive regulatory hurdles. Safety tests (both on goods shrunk and people). And if they use phone travel, there's other safety issues to be addressed. Do they use the same phone network? What about infrastructure improvement? Obviously some countries will move more quickly than others and some will be more likely to respect the patent than others. The mid and long-term effects as the tech actually goes mainstream - takes time for factories to be built or modified but it will happen. I could still see lots of loading and unloading jobs, of course. Eventually expect your Walmart's to have their own and get things shipped to them that way. Businesses like gas stations may still be getting last mile delivery of chips, but the number of truckers should go down a lot, so there's unemployment in that field. Not mention trains and shipping companies and ports. Recession time? Some countries even heavily hit. Job rearrangement from things it's more profitable to outsource now that shipping is so quick and cheap. This could really impact commuting. Many people love cities for the entertainment, etc. But then you have the folks with hour and half commutes from the suburbs. It may not be affordable to the average person to own their own for a long time (so they can dial a phone, shrink, then their desk phone auto-answers and they unshrink and thus have a 30-second commute), but bus-depot like places could allow someone in Lawrence, KS to park their car (pay a parking fee), shrink and transport the location a 5-minute walk from their work in Manhattan instead of having a more expensive home closer by. I find decoupling employment location from living location interesting (and often discussed in regards to remote work), but I'm not sure how much it'd happen. More useful for long trips than short ones, of course. We have to think about security implications (especially if used internationally). Gotta check passports, go through customs, etc. Could someone send a bomb via phone line? This is pretty fantastical tech to start with, but with the ability to not decrease mass, would it still have full explosive power - I really don't know how various bombs work.

Next up is Karen Beecher/Bumblebee in 2003. I am not using her shrinking, as I think it makes to much like Wasp. But from one of the guides, it was said the antennae of her costume were solar panels and that's what allowed her to user her mechanical wings and fly. That kind of solar panel and battery would make massive, massive impacts (I'm assuming it's easy to scale up/down). And quite likely move though regulation way more quickly than Ray's tech. Solar panels and batteries already exist. Now, like so many comic heroes (and villains), she's a genius, but she's still just a teenager (and not a wealthy one) when she builds it, so it should be very affordable to produce (possibly only a couple thousand dollars retail for car-size setup once competition is in place). She was on the Teen Titans with Roy, and Ollie is all for the environment, so Queen will be the first company introduced to her tech, and the first to license it. Non-exclusive licenses all the way (which Ollie is happy with and spreading the news himself, as it suits his personality). The solar panels are great for houses and cars and factories, but the batteries should end up all over the place - cell phones, children's toys, remote controls, etc. It'll take to time to get production chains in place, but she's going to be a billionaire very quickly. Geolpolitical consequnces are again rampant - based on who produces oil, who refines oil, who has the contracts for mining the material, where production factories are, etc.

Flash has some genuisy rogues who reformed (fora while) and they come later. As this universe doesn't have to keep them in play, I'm not flip-flopping them - if they reform, they reform. So I may have Captain Cold and The Trickster in play. The Trickster has anti-grav tech. I'm not sure how much planes are still in play, but it's a thought. Might be moving furniture around. Finally have flying cars (with regulations/mechanical restrictions that people will try to get around)? Now, Cold had freeze gun. A nice safe one that has no negative consequences. Good for home protection, since it doesn't really matter if you accidentally shoot your kid. And could you just have the ambulance arrive, freeze the patient and transport them to a hospital? That would effect EMT jobs. I'm not going to have the gun do some the wackier stuff (like de-aging someone - wow what a tech to to introduce).