In case you missed it

Here are some recent developments related to markets we cover in EA.

Emerging markets - Creative charging

While battery companies develop more e cient, longer range, less expensive, lighter products for EV’s (and the average price is reaching an a ordable tipping point, per a BloombergNEF survey), other visionaries are expanding the nature of charging opportunities. This summer Giant Food Stores installed

free Volta charging stations in its parking lots, and Lordstown Motors is teaming up with

— Volta photo

Marcus Lemonis’ Camping World to create a net-

work of charging locations, service bays, a call center, and a parts distributorship for owners of new electric RVs.

Aftermarket - Energetic expansion

Despite mixed messages for the overall economy, heightened acquisition activity suggests that the electrical parts and repair sector is going strong. Over the past few months, two companies have greatly expanded their reach. Industrial Power Services (IPS) had a productive fall, with the acquisition of Industrial Electric Motor Works in

Miss., and Tesco Industries in Canada, as well as a new strategic partnership with ABB Canada. City Electric Supply now has 517 branches in 30 states, having opened around 20 new locations since the start of the pandemic.

According to the think tank Energy Innovation, it’s time for the Southeast US to integrate its energy markets to transmit electricity across state boundaries. Creating a regional transmission organization (RTO) with independent system operators (ISOs) would increase e ciency for utilities like Duke Energy, Southern Company and

the TVA, and would save consumers money by 2040.

Manufacturing - Going for 5G

A report from the Progressive Policy Institute and the National Spectrum Consortium projects that ap-

plications of the latest 5th Generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks will create more than 300K U.S. manufacturing jobs by 2035. One early adapter, John Deere, recently obtained licenses in fi ve Illinois and Iowa counties. Companies could reap especially big benefi ts by dumping hard wires for virtual PLC’s, based in the cloud.

Facilities - Need to know?

A troubling coronavirus-related challenge facing facility managers has been the need to address the presence of illness on the managed property. Even the U. S. General Services Administration failed to follow its own policies, resulting in a citation from the GSA’s Inspector General. In the absence of state and federal guidelines, managers’ best option may be to create their own systems and follow them consistently, keeping in mind the obligation not only to notify occupants of potential danger, but also to protect the privacy of ill individuals. EA By the Electrical Apparatus sta