We heard from several of you regarding our office phones being down for a few days at the office. We have fixed the issue and if you were trying to reach us there, you should be able to now. As a reminder, the staff is still largely working from home and can all be reached via cell and email:
Member Services: Nick De Palma, Nick@njgca.org, 201-841-7079
Government Affairs: Eric Blomgren, Eric@njgca.org, 201-704-3857
Executive Director: Sal Risalvato, Sal@njgca.org, 201-745-1914
ETEP REPLACEMENT
Be on the lookout for an official announcement we're planning for those of you with ERT licenses expiring in June. We are working on a class to help you get the necessary ASE certifications that the state now requires. As you know, New Jersey eliminated the ETEP path certification that we previously instructed and certified for more than 15 years. We are in the final stages of preparing to announce class dates, likely within the next week. Your technicians will be required to have A6, A8, and L1 certifications in order to receive their ERT license. Be on the lookout for our announcements.
STATE INCOME TAX EXTENDED
Last week we brought to your attention that the IRS had announced an extension to the federal income tax deadline to May 17th due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after, Governor Murphy announced the State Income tax filing would be extended to the same date, May 17th, 2021. The extension should be used if needed, but I want to remind you that taxpayers who file electronically can generally expect to receive any refund within 21 days (i.e. the sooner you file, the sooner you will see a refund). Be sure to talk to your accountant for more information.
PPE ACCESS PROGRAM DEADLINE EXTENDED
Back in November, the NJEDA established the New Jersey Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program to provide a discount on PPE items from designated vendors who have purchased the PPE in bulk. This week, the NJEDA announced an extension of the program through May 28th, 2021, or until program funds are exhausted. New Jersey businesses with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) will continue to be able to receive discounts of nearly 70 percent off purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE) through the establishment of this program. Read more about the program and apply here.
EV MARKETPLACE WEBINAR
Yesterday we hosted a successful webinar with our newest MBP FreeWire on EV charging and the marketplace. We continue to bring you news and information on EV charging as momentum builds around increasing vehicles on the road and charging infrastructure (as well as incentives to add charging infrastructure to gasoline and c-store businesses). Special thanks to FreeWire, our newest MBP for addressing these topics with our members. You can access the slides HERE and a recording of the webinar HERE. I can't stress enough how important it is not just for those that sell gasoline to look at the future. Repair shops are being encouraged to install fast charging systems too. Why? Because a customer that comes to your location to charge up will be likely to have his EV repaired at your shop too. EVs still need tires, suspension, and LOTS, or computer and electrical repairs. Don't lose these customers to someone else!
MICROCHIPS
For those of you in repair shops, I have been reading increasing news regarding the global shortage in computer chips and will it affect anything having to do with the various computer systems on cars. At this point it would seem that the shortage is only affecting car manufacturers, though has a potential to trickle down to the repair end. Replacing parts in vehicles nowadays often requires computer parts, including microchips. We will continue to seek information regarding this shortage, and be sure to reach out to michelle@njgca.org if this situation is affecting your shop at all.
DRIVERLESS VEHICLE
If you have been following the Disruptions section of our On the Road newsletter, then you are likely familiar that driverless vehicle technology, development, and legislation is something we are closely following as these become more prevalent. It recently came to our attention that an incident occured in Red Bank where a woman and her child were almost hit by an autonomous vehicle out for a delivery. Safety concerns continue to be an issue in this industry, and it's clear more work is needed around the safety of vehicles operating completely on their own in New Jersey. The most recent legislation in the state around these vehicles established a task force to provide recommendations and laws around the coming boom in this industry, highlighting the fact that technology development often outpaces policy and the slow-moving legislation process.
The average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey is hovering around $3, up from the week before. . . New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store, Automotive Association Executive Director Sal Risalvato puts the blame on winter storms in Texas, saying crude oil, gas and diesel were shut down as a result, creating a bit of panic. He says the presidential election and New Jersey's infamous gas tax are not to blame, saying the result would be the same had Donald Trump won re-election and that the state allows tax adjustments to make up the difference.
Consumers are facing price rises and shortages of products from TVs and mobile phones to cars and games consoles as a global shortage in semiconductors grows. The shortage in chips, the "brain" within every electronic device in the world, has been steadily worsening since last year. . .Ford recently cancelled shifts at two car plants and said profits could be hit by up to $2.5bn this year due to chip shortages, while Nissan is idling output at plants in Mexico and the US. General Motors said it could face a $2bn profit hit.
Demand for gasoline might never return to pre-pandemic levels, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast, the Wall Street Journal reports. Driving the change is a worldwide shift toward electric vehicles and greater fuel efficiency, the IEA said in its five-year forecast. The agency predicted 60 million EVs will be on the streets globally by 2026, up sharply from 7.2 million in 2019. Accelerating the trend are the recent commitments of some automobile makers, including General Motors and Volvo Cars of Sweden, to stop making gasoline-powered vehicles in the near future.
Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.
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