Incentives and Tax Credits for Purchasing Electric Vehicles

Sudeep Moniz is a Melville, New York-based financial services professional who works in the energy sector. In addition to staying up to date on the latest developments in alternative energy, Sudeep Moniz has an interest in autonomous driving and electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles represent less than 2 percent of all vehicles in the United States and only 2.2 percent of all vehicles worldwide. Norway, which is one of the biggest markets for electric vehicles with sales comprising around 30 percent of all new vehicles, has an abundance of perks and subsidies to entice consumers to make the switch to a plug-in car. The Canadian government, meanwhile, recently introduced a $5,000 purchasing incentive for vehicles under $45,000 with hydrogen fuel cells or electric batteries.

The new Canadian measure is similar to that of the US, where the Internal Revenue Service offers a tax credit between $2,500 and $7,500 for new electric vehicles, depending on the vehicle's size and battery capacity. However, the tax credit is only offered until a qualified manufacturer has sold at least 200,000 electric vehicles, at which point it begins to be phased out for that particular automaker.

The amount of credit offered for respective vehicles can be found at fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml. For example, the new 2019 Hyundai Kona has a full tax credit of $7,500, whereas its 2019 Ioniq plug-in hybrid carries a tax credit of $4,543.

The Last Three Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Recipients

Sudeep Moniz is a New York-based financial services professional with nearly a decade of experience. A passionate sports fan, Sudeep Moniz enjoys watching college basketball in his free time.

The Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award recognizes the best player in the NCAA. It was first awarded in 1969 to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and has since been won by well-known players such as Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Tim Duncan. Below are the three most recent recipients:

1. Jalen Brunson (2018) - A 22-year-old native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Brunson became the first Villanova player to win the award in 2018. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game through 40 games and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft.

2. Frank Mason (2017) - Mason became the second Kansas Jayhawk to win the award since Danny Manning did so in 1988. The Petersburg, Virginia native earned the award after averaging 20.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

3. Buddy Hield (2016) - Through 37 games, Hield averaged 25 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2 assists with the University of Oklahoma. He followed Blake Griffin (2009) as only the second Oklahoma player to ever win the award. Hield was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Common Issues with Driver-Assist Vehicles

Sudeep Moniz, who works with NIC Holding Corporation in New York, keeps up with trends in new technology. One of Sudeep Moniz's recent interests is self-driving capabilities for vehicles.

While self-driving technology has steadily improved since the first tests, driver-assist technology cannot yet drive vehicles safely on its own. Most systems still face a variety of issues, some of which are outlined below.

Lane-keeping in unusual circumstances presents challenges for self-driving vehicles. Hills and curves often lead to a vehicle moving over the center line or edge, touching the line, or disengaging the system. The Tesla Model 3 experiences these incidents less frequently than other models, such as the Volvo S90 or BMW 5 series.

Obstructions in front of signage can also presents difficulties for the algorithms that guide these vehicles. Even subtle graffiti or camouflage can cause the miscategorization of signs that would be completely legible to a human.

Other challenges self-driving vehicles face come from the natural world. Seagulls can stop vehicles by standing on the street, and inclement weather can change the vehicle's perception of the road, thereby confusing the system.

Volvo Launches End-To-End Autonomous Vehicle Mine Hauling

Sudeep Moniz is a New York based professional who stays apprised of the latest technological trends. A particular area of interest for Sudeep Moniz is automation and autonomous driving. One recent development in this area involved Volvo's announcement that it was setting in place a fleet of self-driving trucks that would handle all aspects of site-specific limestone hauling.

Unusual for a vehicle manufacturer, which would traditionally sell the vehicles and autonomous driving systems outright, this venture takes the form of a partnership. Centered on the Bronnoy Kalk mine in Norway, it involves transporting limestone three miles to a port facility. The mining company is paying Volvo a certain sum of money for each metric ton delivered, which provides Volvo with a strong interest in the arrangement's outcome.

The autonomous project is described as being valuable to Volvo in allowing the company to fine tune its self-driving vehicles currently under development, with a focus on future international markets. In addition, it hints at a new long term business model, one in which vehicle manufacturers offer end-to-end autonomous system solutions.

Tesla’s Air Filtration Capacities Highlighted in California Wildfires

Long Island, New York-based Sudeep Moniz works in the energy industry and is interested in technological developments. Areas in which Sudeep Moniz is especially interested include vehicle automation and companies developing electric cars such as Tesla.

Amidst the tragic wildfires that recently spread across Northern California, Tesla Models X and S were in the news for a feature that had previously drawn skepticism. CEO Elon Musk announced bioweapon defense mode as one that takes advantage of the vehicle’s HEPA filter, which is 10 times larger than those found in average cars.

This provides passengers with protection from airborne pollutants such as those from wildfires. The HEPA filter is described as being 100 times more effective than traditional automotive filters, with 99.97 percent of gaseous pollutants and fine particulate matter eliminated. In tests, the HEPA filtration system of the Model X was able to scrub air throughout the SUV interior within two minutes and even improve air quality outside the vehicle.

In addition to promoting Tesla’s air filtration capacities, Musk has been active in encouraging employees, many of whom have been impacted, to volunteer in relief efforts “without worrying about payment.” A key form of assistance might involve transporting people through areas of high pollution with Tesla's air filtration system at work.

Three Promising College Basketball Freshmen to Watch in 2018-19

Sudeep Moniz earned a bachelor's degree in operations research and engineering management systems from the Columbia University in 2010 and has worked in the financial services field ever since. When he isn't working, Sudeep Moniz enjoys following college basketball.

While some freshmen take time to adjust to playing at the college level, others excel from the start of the season. Below are three highly-regarded freshmen who could be game-changers in 2018-19.

1. Zion Williamson - Along with fellow Duke freshmen R.J. Barrett, Williamson is one of the most acclaimed freshman in all of college basketball and has a legitimate chance to earn ACC and National player of the year. As a senior with Spartanburg Day High School in South Carolina, Williamson averaged 36.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. 

2. Nassir Little - An incoming freshman with the University of North Carolina, Little could also compete for the ACC Player of the Year, especially if he develops chemistry with Luke Maye and the rest of the team's veteran core.

3. Prentiss Hubb - A freshman guard with the University of Notre Dame, Hubb was listed as the 87th-best freshman in 247 Composite rankings, but the combo guard has a strong chance to be in the Fighting Irish's starting lineup by the end of the season.

Toyota Makes Major Investment in Uber for Self-Driving Cars

Sudeep Moniz is a financial services professional who has been engaged in the energy sector after earning a bachelor's degree in operations research at Columbia University in 2010. In addition to his professional interests, Sudeep Moniz enjoys learning about automation and autonomous driving.

Automobile companies are steadily rolling out autonomous vehicle technology, but Toyota, in partnership with Uber, is hoping to bring autonomous ride sharing to market in the near future. The company recently announced it would invest $500 million in ride-sharing company Uber for the purpose of developing self-driving vehicle technologies.

The first self-driving fleet, known as Autono-MaaS (autonomous mobility as a service), is expected to be introduced in 2021 and will be based on technologies used for the Toyota Sienna minivan. Vehicles will also include light detection and ranging sensor systems and laser scanning as well as data collection and mapping capabilities. In addition to its investment in Uber, Toyota has allocated $2.8 billion for its own autonomous vehicle research and development programs.

Autonomous Electric Cars Poised to Make Transportation Inroads

Sudeep Moniz is a Melville, New York, financial professional. With an interest for electric cars and alternative energy, Sudeep Moniz has a particular interest in developments in the automation and autonomous driving spheres. 

A recent Quartz article brought focus to the increasingly relevant question as to how long it will take self-driving electric vehicles to render traditional combustion-engine cars outmoded. 

Estimates vary widely, with the Silicon Valley think tank RethinkX positing that autonomous electric cars could deliver as much as 95 percent of passenger miles traveled across the country by 2030. This reflects a combination of low fuel and maintenance costs, as well as ability to remain productive 24/7. 

Within a potential “transportation-as-a-service” (TaaS) mobility model revolution, TaaS could overtake privately owned vehicles as soon as 2025, as economics dictate the rapid adoption of new technologies.

Other analysts paint a much more gradual transition, with Deloitte forecasting that autonomous transport will not emerge as the dominant transportation mode until the mid-21st century. Bain & Company predicts that by 2025 partial or full automation will define only 10 percent of new vehicle systems.