Fuel

A Nikola Corp. prototype of the electric vehicle startup’s planned Badger pickup truck was made partly of components from a Ford Motor Co. F-150 Raptor, the jury in the criminal trial of Nikola founder Trevor Milton was told.

LONDON — Shell CEO Ben van Beurden is stepping down at the end of 2022 after nine years in charge, the energy giant said Sept. 15, a change that comes as oil and natural gas companies are under pressure to shift away from fossil fuels .

Dozens of states from coast to coast will have early access to their share of $900 million in electric vehicle infrastructure funds thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy’s early approval of plans to locate chargers on more than 53,000 highway miles throughout the country.

A former Nikola Corp. contractor whose allegations of fraud at the electric truck company helped spur a criminal investigation told a federal jury he made $600,000 off a short seller’s report on Nikola.

DETROIT — President Joe Biden, a gearhead with his own vintage Corvette, is showcasing his administration’s efforts to promote electric vehicles during a visit Sept. 14 to the Detroit auto show.

The Biden administration on Sept. 14 issued oil and natural gas leases to companies that nabbed the Gulf of Mexico drilling rights in a government auction later invalidated by a federal court.

The U.S. may begin refilling its emergency oil reserve when crude prices dip below $80 a barrel, according to people familiar with the matter.

WASHINGTON — Sharply lower prices for gas and cheaper used cars slowed U.S. inflation in August for a second straight month, though many other items rose in price, indicating that inflation remains a heavy burden for American households.

The national average price of diesel slid 5.1 cents to $5.033 a gallon, according to Energy Information Administration data released Sept. 12.

Hyliion Holdings Corp. announced Jon Panzer joined the company as chief financial officer.