Reading Global (2021.12.22)
The United States has launched an investigation into Tesla's allowing drivers to play video games
The Associated Press reported on the 22nd that the United States has launched a formal investigation into a report about Tesla vehicles allowing people to play video games on the central touch screen while driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) survey covered about 580,000 electric and SUV models from 2017 to 2022.
The agency said in a document published on its website on the 22nd that this function, known as the "Passenger Play", may distract the driver's attention and increase the risk of car accidents. The documents show that the game features are available as of December 2020. Until then, these games could only be played while Tesla was parked.
NHTSA conducted a preliminary assessment of Tesla's Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y models that have been on sale since 2017. Investigators "will evaluate various aspects of the feature, including the frequency and usage scenarios of Tesla's 'passenger games'". Investigations may result in recalls.
Distracted driving accounts for a large part of U.S. road deaths, with 3,142 people killed in 2019 alone.
Japan's helium import prices hit a new high, and Tokyo Disney stopped selling balloons
Japan Economic News reported on the 22nd that in Japan, the import price of helium used in semiconductor manufacturing and so on hovered at the highest point in more than 50 years. Due to the impact of stagnant maritime transportation, supply has not been able to keep up with the strong demand in Asia.
Helium is produced as a byproduct of the extraction of natural gas, and only natural gas fields in a few countries, such as the United States and Qatar, can produce at a profitable cost. Japan is entirely dependent on imports.
Japan's trade statistics show that the average import price in 2021 (January-October) is 8148 yen per kilogram. It is 2% higher than 2020, which hit the highest price in the past 50 years. Compared with the recent lows in 2017, the increase is close to 40%.
Demand is growing, mainly in Asia. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has led to a decrease in demand for semiconductors and optical fibers, but demand for things like China is recovering.
On the other hand, supply has not yet recovered. Helium is transported through special containers after liquefaction, and Japanese import company executives said that "due to the stagnation of global container ship transportation, the situation of goods in the production area but shortages in consumer countries is continuing."
Trade statistics show that imports from January to October 2021 were 1,090 tons, down 10% from the same period last year. Imports for all of 2021 are likely to be lower than in 2020, which hit a 30-year low.
What began to be affected was the entertainment industry. Junko Fujii, a representative of Japan's Rolly's Balloon Factory, which sells balloons, said, "If the supply of helium cannot be restored by mid-January and February, the inventory will run out and sales will have to be suspended." ”
The Oriental Park, which operates Disney, was also affected by the shortage of helium supply, and has stopped selling helium-filled balloons at Tokyo Disney Resort since December 1. The company said "the time to restart sales has not yet been determined." If the sale is suspended for more than one month, it will be the first time since the sale was suspended from November 2012 to January 2014 due to helium shortages.
During the peak demand season for balloons at Christmas, the lack of helium supply hit the consumer sector. The impact of the helium shortage is likely to spread to industries such as semiconductors, optical fibers, and medical devices, as well as consumer life.
U.S. electric vehicles will face tough choices in 2022 when it comes to metal mining
Reuters reported on the 22nd that the United States has lithium, copper and other metal reserves enough to manufacture millions of electric vehicles, but the growing opposition to the mining of new mines may force the United States to rely on imports of electric vehicle metals and delay the country's development process in the field of electric vehicles.
The U.S. move to import electric vehicle metals could increase transportation from overseas mines to domestic processing facilities, thereby increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
U.S. policymakers hope to see breakthroughs in a range of electric vehicle manufacturing facilities from automakers such as Ford and General Motors in 2022. In August, U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order aiming at electric vehicles accounting for half of all new cars sold by 2030.
A Reuters analysis found that the proposed U.S. mining project could produce enough copper for 6 million electric vehicles, lithium for 2 million electric vehicles and nickel for 60,000 electric vehicles.
However, these mining projects face opposition from Native American groups, ranchers and environmentalists, and miners face other resistance besides environmentalists and local residents.
Biden himself took steps in October to impose a 20-year mining ban on Minnesota's border waters, a move that would hamper twin metals projects in the state, a subsidiary of Chilean mining company Antofagasta. The proposed underground mine would have been the main source of supply for U.S. electric vehicle copper, which uses twice as much copper as internal combustion engines.
Still, the White House has struggled to highlight its support for certain electric vehicle metal mining projects, including Lithium Americas' proposed lithium mine project and a California geothermal lithium mine project, which is partially funded by GM. In addition to the White House, many mining projects have received strong support from unions.
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Image source: Visual China
UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed his attendance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics
CCTV news, on December 21, 2021, local time, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who was visiting Lebanon, held a press conference, and in response to a question from the reporter on "whether to confirm attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics", Guterres said that he received an invitation from the International Olympic Committee and accepted the invitation.
(This article is compiled from The Associated Press, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Reuters)
Economic Observation Network intern reporter Zhou Yuqing sorted out