Latest news with #ScottCase
CNN
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
The quest to get REAL IDs before this week's deadline ends in frustration for many drivers
Camden, New Jersey CNN — When Scott Case realized the REAL ID deadline was coming up this week, he decided to head to his local department of motor vehicles Monday morning. 'I've known about it and I've been putting it off, so some of it's on me,' the frequent business traveler from Collingswood, New Jersey, acknowledged to CNN. But during the frenzied final weeks before the federal government starts enforcing REAL ID regulations this Wednesday, Case and others are learning that getting one at the last minute is a big challenge. 'I feel bad for anybody who doesn't have a passport,' said Case as he left without securing an ID. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 as a way to enhance security for identification, requiring new minimum standards for state-issued driver's licenses and IDs. While people without REAL IDs will still be able to drive using current non-compliant licenses and use that identification in other scenarios, REAL IDs will be required for domestic air travel for those without a valid passport or other approved identification. After years of pushing the deadline for Americans to get a REAL ID, the Department of Homeland Security says it will finally start enforcement May 7. From Illinois and Washington to Florida and Alabama, Americans across the country are encountering long lines as they scramble to get their REAL IDs before Wednesday. 'It's not gonna happen,' said driver Toe Cooper, from Burlington Township, New Jersey. At the Motor Vehicle Commission – New Jersey's version of the Department of Motor Vehicles – in Camden, customers packed the small building trying to get a REAL ID. Cooper tried to walk in to get his Monday because he couldn't get an appointment online. 'I've been on there every night looking. There's nothing on there,' explained Cooper. 'You can get an appointment for anything else, but for REAL ID it said nothing is available,' he added. In a statement, the state's Motor Vehicle Commission said it has been 'working non-stop to help as many eligible New Jerseyans as possible' obtain a REAL ID. 'Demand is very high right now,' acknowledged commission spokesperson William Connolly. 'And our challenges are not unique to New Jersey – every state in the nation is facing similar pressures as enforcement approaches,' Connolly noted. The commission said the state is issuing roughly 25,000 REAL IDs per week with 'thousands of new appointments for REAL IDs opening up on our scheduler each morning on a rolling basis.' New Jersey also has 'dedicated REAL ID days' offering thousands of additional appointments and an expanded mobile unit program for driver services, including the new IDs, he said. Cooper couldn't get a REAL ID without an appointment, but even for those with appointments, frustration was not always avoidable. Bruce Beegal, from Brigantine, New Jersey, came to the office with his daughter to get her REAL ID on Monday. But at their appointment they were told they were missing one extra form of identification, and they couldn't complete the process. 'This is a joke,' said Beegal. 'What's going on here, it's terrible.' Beegal's daughter has a passport, so he's not worried about her boarding a plane, but he said he couldn't believe he might have to do this process again after the REAL ID enforcement deadline passes. 'It sucks,' he said.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stanford study makes surprising discovery about electric vehicle batteries — here's what it means for EV owners
Scientists out of Stanford University's SLAC-Stanford Battery Center have found that electric vehicle batteries may last much longer than previously thought. In their new study, published this December in the journal Nature Energy, researchers found that the common way EV batteries have been tested — by quickly repeating a cycle of steady battery drain, followed by immediate recharging — may underestimate these batteries' lifespans. For this study, the researchers tested a number of batteries under real-world driving conditions, such as heavy traffic, freeway driving, and long stretches of being parked. They found that the more a test mimicked real-world situations, the longer a battery lasted. In fact, these tests showed some batteries "could last about a third longer than researchers have generally forecast," according to the Stanford Report. "We've not been testing EV batteries the right way," Stanford professor and study author Simona Onori told the Stanford Report. "To our surprise, real driving with frequent acceleration, braking that charges the batteries a bit, stopping to pop into a store, and letting the batteries rest for hours at a time, helps batteries last longer than we had thought based on industry standard lab tests." This is encouraging news for the growing number of drivers who use EVs for daily commuting. EV use has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2023, for the first time, more than 1 million battery EVs were sold in the United States. Globally, according to a report from the International Energy Agency, about 18% of all cars sold in 2023 were electric. The longer an EV battery lasts, the more benefits drivers can enjoy. For some, additional battery life means they will be able to own and drive the car for several more years. For others, it means they'll likely see higher resale values when they decide to move on from their current EV. Selling an EV involves some steps that are a little bit different from selling a gas-powered car. Common maintenance records for things like oil changes aren't relevant, but battery life absolutely is. A service like Recurrent can make that process easier and more lucrative for sellers. Not only does Recurrent connect sellers with dealers across the country, but it also monitors an EV's battery life, providing valuable information when selling your car. In fact, those who use Recurrent sell their EVs for an average of $1,400 more than those who don't. You can even compare your battery life to that of similar cars, which could give you another leg up when selling."It's not a competition — it's more like seeing, how's your battery doing compared to what it should be?" Recurrent CEO Scott Case told The Cool Down. "And if there are big problems, we can alert you and say, something's up with your battery." If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Selling your used EV just got more profitable — this startup can boost your sale price by $1,400
Whether you're a buyer or a seller, making sense of the used vehicle market can be a chore. However, one startup is helping electric vehicle owners get the best returns. Founded in 2020, Recurrent identified a key factor preventing EV owners from getting the best offers on their used vehicles: People know where to go to determine whether a used gas-powered vehicle is worth their money, as Carfax, Kelley Blue Book, and J.D. Power ratings are among the trusted ratings destinations. No such service existed for EVs, however, even though the demand for used EVs is booming because of perks such as reduced fueling and maintenance costs and zero tailpipe pollution associated with respiratory problems. According to Cox Automotive, November saw a 10.2% month-over-month increase in used EV sales. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Now, Recurrent's free service is helping EV drivers get $1,400 more for their vehicles on average, thanks to its monthly battery-health insights collected after owners register their car with the company — using their license plate or vehicle identification number. "We don't collect your location information or driving behavior. It's just battery data," Recurrent CEO Scott Case told The Cool Down, comparing the report to an oil change with a mechanic. "The great thing about EVs is they don't require a lot of service. The downside is, you don't get a lot of feedback on, 'Is this normal?' 'Is everything OK?' So our Recurrent Monthly Report is like a wellness check," he added, noting how the insights help buyers trust they aren't getting a lemon. When you're ready to sell your EV, Recurrent has what it needs for a transparent and streamlined process, and it will do the work for you. After pitching your EV to reputable dealerships in a 24-hour "mini auction," it will return to you with the best offer — no "feeding frenzy" from dealers and scammers weighing you down or incorrectly grading your EV's value based on standards formulated for gas-guzzlers. "Selling an electric car is not normally an enjoyable experience — at least it's not how I like to spend my weekends. … I got a better price and found a dealer I wouldn't have found otherwise," YouTuber Ryan Shaw (@RyanShawtech) shared in a clip about his experience with Recurrent. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This startup's free service could help you make $1,400 more when you sell your used EV: 'You're actually getting paid for having taken good care of your battery'
When it comes to buying or selling an electric vehicle, the process you're used to with a gas vehicle goes out the window. Without regular oil changes or maintenance records, how do you know whether a used EV will be a good buy? That's where Recurrent comes in, a free service to help make it easier — and more lucrative — to sell an EV. EV owners register their vehicles for free on Recurrent to nerd out on information about their car — and when it comes time to sell, that data provides transparency and confidence to potential buyers that can increase the value of the vehicle by $1,400 on average, according to an independent study by ADESA, the second largest North American vehicle wholesaler. They also make it easy for you to sell your EV by soliciting offers from their network of dozens of local and national dealerships to find you the best price. The Cool Down spoke to Recurrent's CEO, Scott Case, about how the company is creating the Carfax for EVs with a win-win-win solution that benefits EV owners, car dealers, and buyers looking to score a good quality used EV. "We realized five years ago when we started the company that no one is good at being an electric vehicle owner," Case told The Cool Down. "We grew up learning how to buy and sell and take care of combustion engine cars from our parents and grandparents," he explained. Things like changing the oil every six months, keeping maintenance records, and checking Carfax for accidents if you're buying a used car are second nature when you have a gas-powered car. "But basically none of this is relevant for EV owners." How do you know whether the EV has a good battery, or how long it typically takes to charge? That's where Recurrent comes in. Once you register your car with Recurrent for free using your license plate or VIN, the vehicle identification number, Recurrent reads data from your EV battery a few times a day for daily Vehicle Insights on range and vehicle performance, along with tips on how to maintain your EV and its battery. "It's not creepy data," Case explains. "We don't collect your location information or driving behavior. It's just battery data." Once a month, you get a report on your car that gives you a sense of your battery's health, how the range compares to when it was new, and what seasonal impacts might be affecting your vehicle. With over 30,000 drivers and 60-plus makes and models in 50 states on the platform, they use machine learning to aggregate that data to compare your car to thousands of others like it from battery and make, model, year perspectives. "It's not a competition — it's more like seeing, how's your battery doing compared to what it should be? And if there are big problems, we can alert you and say, something's up with your battery." The monthly report is the equivalent to your oil change visit with the mechanic. "The great thing about EVs is they don't require a lot of service," Case said. "The downside is, you don't get a lot of feedback on, is this normal? Is everything OK? So our Recurrent Monthly Report is like a wellness check" on your EV. Just like Carfax, Kelley Blue Book, and J.D. Power ratings can each help dealers value a gas-powered car, Recurrent helps do the same for EVs. "It turns out that the EV seller can get thousands of dollars more when they go to sell their car because they're providing that confidence to the next buyer … that comes with knowing the car you're getting isn't a lemon, and it's in good shape," Case explained. "When we put in Recurrent data on EV listings that were going to wholesale, they were, on average, selling for $1,400 more and at a higher sell-through rate, which also lines up on the retail side of things." "What we're trying to do is provide transparent information to the seller and the buyer of each car, and that builds confidence and makes the used EV market function better," he said. If you're thinking about buying an EV, which of these factors is most likely to convince you that it's a smart decision? Seeing friends and family buy EVs Seeing first responders use EVs Seeing businesses use EVs Seeing celebrities drive EVs Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If you want help selling your EV, Recurrent can also handle that — helping you get the best price without what Case calls the "absolute feeding frenzy" that can come when you try to sell a car online. You know the experience: "you immediately get texts from 25 dealers and scammers, and it's a nightmare." They'll work behind the scenes to run a 24-hour "mini auction," pitching your EV to hundreds of reputable dealerships in their network to bid on your car. Once the offers come in, the Recurrent team sorts them and presents the best offer to you and hands it off with no spammy follow-up from multiple dealers. "We did all of this work, found you the best number, and we just make the introduction to the dealer, and you take it from there," Case said. "Aside from reducing the grossness of the transaction on the sell side, it means that you're actually getting paid for having taken good care of your battery, and that's, like, a pretty attractive thing." Similarly, buyers looking for a used EV can browse used EVs for free on Recurrent's site, or on Edmunds, or lots of other dealership sites — but as Case explains it, sellers and buyers should both want to gravitate toward Recurrent for that additional peace of mind about the battery's health. Case has worked in the clean tech industry for the past 15 years, and when his previous company was acquired, he asked himself, "What's the best way for me to chip away at the emissions problem?" In 2019 he had a lightbulb moment realizing that there were "batteries everywhere on the roads — what are their opportunities in the EV space to accelerate the transition to reduce emissions from transportation?" Transportation emissions make up over 20% of overall US carbon emissions, according to the EPA, so keeping more of those EV batteries at work was a problem he wanted to solve. Part of the solution for Recurrent was making it easier and more affordable to get a used EV. "The used car market is more than twice the size of the new car market," he said. "Every car can be sold new once, but gets sold used typically two more times, and so in a lot of ways, it's a more important market than the new EV market." "I'm very, very, very excited — we leased a 2025 he told us. "It's so fun to drive … and it draws crowds in every parking lot," he said, from "the battery nerds" to "the aging hippies that come over and they want to talk about the time in the 1960s where they got baked and drove halfway across the country for some Grateful Dead show. "It's really fun." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
