EDITOR'S CHOICE

Electric Vehicle Taxes by State, 2025

24 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

As EV adoption grows, states face declining gas tax revenue and are responding with varied policies. Forty states now impose higher annual registration fees on EVs - ranging from $50 to $260 - to offset lost fuel taxes. Seventeen states offer purchase incentives, while some also tax EV charging. A few states have launched per-mile VMT programs to better link road use to funding. The landscape reflects tension between promoting EVs and maintaining infrastructure budgets

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How to Use Your EV as a Home Backup Power Source

23 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

EVs can serve as emergency power sources during outages. While the 12V auxiliary battery offers limited backup for small devices, bidirectional EVs (like the F-150 Lightning or Kia EV9) can power homes for hours or days. Non-bidirectional models require complex retrofits. Home batteries remain the most reliable option. Choosing the right setup depends on your energy needs and vehicle capabilities.

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China EV Crossroads: Investor Optimism vs. Industry Fragility

23 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Chinese EV makers like Nio and XPeng face a paradox. Stocks are rising as investors bet on innovation, yet fundamentals look fragile. Reports show unsold inventory piling up, delayed supplier payments exceeding 200 days, and dependence on subsidies and debt. Optimism reflects faith in long-term growth, but sustainability hinges on converting production into real demand.

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Cadillac's Elevated Velocity Concept Signals GM's Electric Ambitions

22 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Cadillac's Elevated Velocity concept EV showcases GM's bold push into electric luxury and performance. With off-road capability, immersive wellness tech, and autonomous features, it signals GM’s intent to electrify beyond sedans - targeting aspirational, versatile segments. As Cadillac eyes a 2030 all-electric goal, this concept underscores GM's commitment to redefining EV identity through innovation and design.

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Carbon Dioxide Isn’t What You Think It Is

22 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Science journalist Peter Brannen reframes carbon dioxide not as a villain but as an essential molecule that has shaped life and Earth's history through the global carbon cycle. His book highlights how CO₂ has modulated climate, driven evolution, and enabled civilization. Yet current fossil-fuel–driven CO₂ emissions are unprecedented in speed, potentially threatening stability built over deep time.

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We Could Get Most Metals For Clean Energy Without Opening New Mines

21 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Recycling existing materials - such as mine waste, used electronics, and batteries - can supply most of the metals needed for clean-energy technologies, potentially avoiding new mining operations and reducing environmental and social impacts. Leveraging innovations in circular economy strategies and policy shifts toward reuse offers a sustainable alternative to traditional mining.

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Africa: The Green Transition's Surprising New Home

21 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Africa emerges as unexpected renewable energy leader, "leapfrogging" fossil fuels with 60% of world's best solar resources. Kenya targets 100% renewables by 2030, Ethiopia builds largest hydro project. Chinese clean tech exports up 153%. By 2030, renewables will account for 80%+ of new capacity. Economic necessity drives energy independence through domestic clean sources.

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Cybertruck Insurance Dilemma: Tesla's Challenge Ahead

21 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Tesla's Cybertruck faces an insurance crisis as major providers like GEICO and Hanover rescind coverage due to high repair costs, limited production data, and underwriting challenges. Owners report cancellations and steep premiums, while Tesla's own insurance offers partial relief in select states. The issue threatens future sales and highlights the gap between bold design and real-world support, leaving buyers uncertain and Tesla under pressure to respond.

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The Lithium Wars: EnergyX, Tesla, and the Race to Reinvent Battery Supply

20 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

EnergyX and Tesla are racing to reshape lithium supply chains. Energyx's modular LiTAS™'s system extracts lithium from brine with high efficiency, while Tesla builds a $1B acid-free refinery in Texas. Smackover, AR is EnergyX's likely launch site, offering infrastructure and proximity to EV markets. Meanwhile, sodium-ion batteries emerge as a low-cost alternative, potentially disrupting lithium demand but not replacing it. The future of batteries is diversified, fast, and fiercely competitive.

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China's 600 Wh/kg Lithium-Metal Battery Breakthrough: Hype or Real Progress?

19 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Chinese researchers report lithium-metal pouch cells reaching 600 Wh/kg - nearly double today's EV batteries. Published in Nature, the work uses a novel electrolyte and shows promising density but only ~100 cycles, far short of EV needs. Scaling, safety, and cost remain unproven. While credible science, it's early-stage. Current leaders like CATL, BYD, Amprius, and SES offer lower but durable densities; no one is yet close to 600 Wh/kg for real EVs.

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2026 Nissan LEAF: Performance Meets Value in America's Most Affordable EV

19 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

2026 Nissan LEAF redesign: 303-mile range, Tesla Supercharger access, starts $29,990 - America's cheapest new EV. 75kWh battery, 35-min fast charging, crossover styling vs old hatch. SV+ trim $34,230, undercuts 2025 by $1,960 despite more features. Available fall 2025. Targets affordable EV market vs premium competitors. Google built-in, panoramic roof, flush door handles. Could revive pioneering nameplate.

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The Infinite - and Insatiable - Growth of Highways

19 Aug 2025 | Synopsis

Erick Guerra challenges the myth that more highways ease congestion or improve safety. He shows how induced demand, entrenched financial interests, and flawed planning standards drive endless road expansion. Instead, he calls for congestion pricing, downsizing overbuilt roads, and shifting focus from mobility to accessibility - steps he argues are vital for creating a safer, fairer, and more sustainable transportation future.

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