Today I Learned – March 2025

Insights from the NACFE Team

NACFE does most of its work in the field at industry events and staff members hear a lot of interesting things each month. Here are some things we learned recently. Contact us if you want to ask questions about where and how we learned what we share here

Around 20% of startups fail within their first year, 50% fail within their first five years, and by
the 10th year, about 65% of startups have shut down, according to Forbes. In the
transportation and utilities sector, one estimate is that 55% of vehicle startups fail by the fourth
year.

—    Rick Mihelic, Director of Emerging Technologies

Electric Autonomy Canada reports: In 2023, Canada exported $51 billion worth of vehicles to
the United States, which accounted for 93% of the country’s total vehicle exports.

—   Ken North, Emerging Technologies Consultant

The Georgia Senate voted to allow seat belt evidence in accident lawsuits as part of a wider tort
reform to rein in lawsuits and insurance costs. Jurors could be told whether a plaintiff injured in
an auto accident was wearing a seat belt.

—    Dean Bushey, Director of Programs

Systems are under development that carry hydrogen by binding it to a Liquid Organic Hydrogen
Carrier (LOHC) and “unbinding” the hydrogen on-board a truck to use it as a fuel. Note that this
addresses only H 2 transport; H 2 production and use issues remain. 

—    Rob Graff, Senior Technical Advisor

There’s a global cannonball run happening between electric fleets. In China, Decathlon ran a
fully loaded electric truck 1,400 miles in just over two days.

—    Ari Kahn, Manager, Carbon Free Transportation, RMI

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