EDITOR'S PICK

Elon Musk and Donald Trump: A Modern-Day Teapot Dome Scandal Waiting To Happen

11 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"One hundred years ago, a massive scandal over energy issues exposed the corrupt presidency of Warren G. Harding, discrediting his Republican administration...A similar but potentially even more profound energy scandal is now unfolding under the President-elect...Elon Musk, the world's richest man, got that way in part due to federal government help...the richest man in the world, who helped bankroll Trump's presidential campaign and who benefits from billions of dollars in federal contracts for SpaceX, is using that influence to undercut U.S. competitiveness in the key emerging manufacturing sector of electric vehicles."

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EV Battery Lifetime Is Longer In The Real World, Not The Lab

09 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"Manufacturers can't spend 10 years confirming that a new model will last for 10 years, so battery lifetime is normally tested by charging and discharging rapidly through hundreds or thousands of cycles.

"We've not been testing EV batteries the right way...

"...real driving with frequent acceleration, braking that charges the batteries a bit, stopping to pop into a store, and letting the batteries rest for hours at a time, helps batteries last longer than we had thought based on industry standard lab tests."

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Nuclear Power Twice As Expensive For Australia As Renewables: Report

09 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"GenCost found that a nuclear SMR over a 60-year timeframe would cost up to 222 Australian dollars ($141.9) per megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity produced...By comparison, it said that a 60-year solar project would generate electricity at a maximum cost of 68 AUD ($43.4) per MWh, including the cost of a complete rebuild after 30 years. A 50-year wind farm, including a rebuild after 25 years, would cost up to 108 AUD ($69) per MWh."

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5 Ways AI Is Helping Spur The EV Era

09 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"Whether through preventative maintenance alerts or vehicle personalization, artificial intelligence is making electrical vehicles more attractive.

"AI can optimize battery management and energy efficiency, ensuring that EV batteries operate at peak performance while maintaining long-term health.

"...perhaps the biggest advantage...the ability to monitor driving conditions and adjust battery usage accordingly can help improve battery range, thus alleviating 'range anxiety' for drivers..."

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BYD On Track to Surpass Honda And Ford In Cars Sold This Year

09 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

BYD, China's leading EV maker, is projected to exceed global sales of Ford and Honda in 2024. With over 3.76 million vehicles sold from January to November, BYD's sales outpace Ford's 2.04 million and Honda's 3.93 million. Despite economic challenges, BYD's success highlights the growth of the EV market and Chinese automakers' increasing dominance in this space. Sales numbers are updated by AI. Fortune subscription required.

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EVs And Hybrids Hit A Record High In US Sales In Q3 2024

08 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"In Q3, the combined sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) made up 19.6% of all new light-duty vehicle sales...The growth in Q3 was primarily driven by hybrids... hybrids now account for 10.8% of the market – a record high.

"Most of the BEVs sold in the US are now produced close to home. In Q3, 78.9% of BEVs sold in the US were made in North America..."

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ConnectDER Will Expand Distributed Energy Products Business

08 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

ConnectDER now has two products available that can save home and business owners thousands of dollars. Both are meter socket adapters

"IslandDER provides that critical islanding capability needed to allow those with rooftop solar systems to use their self-generated electricity during outages.

"ConnectDER also makes a meter socket adapter that allows EV owners to charge their vehicles without the need for an expensive electrical panel upgrade."

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New Electric Vehicle Financing Grows More Than 30% Year-Over-Year, According to Experian Report

08 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"Following several quarters of incremental growth, consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) re-emerged in the third quarter of 2024. EVs accounted for 10.06% of new vehicle financing during the quarter - growing more than 30% compared to the previous year.

"Nearly 66% of prime borrowers chose to finance a used vehicle in Q3 2024, up from 65.47% the previous year...the average loan amount for a used vehicle was $26,091 in Q3 2024, down $1,195 from the previous year."

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The Micromobility Revolution: Reinforcing the Wheel

08 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"...key to the micromobility industry's success is not chasing after 'revolutionary' technologies but perfecting the ones we already have...

"Through a series of incremental advancements, our existing technologies are becoming more efficient, more user-friendly, and more impactful than ever before...The integration of AI in micromobility solutions is not entirely new, but it's being refined to deliver more value."

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Stanford Researchers Warn Against Charging Electric Vehicles At Home Overnight

07 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"By 2040, an estimated 300 million charging connectors will be required globally to meet EV demand... If current trends persist, with the majority of charging occurring at home overnight, peak electricity demand could surge by up to 25%...shifting charging to daytime hours, particularly during periods of abundant solar energy, could alleviate grid stress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

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What China's Critical Mineral Ban Means For The US

06 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"This week, China banned exports of several critical minerals to the US, marking the latest move in an escalating series of tit-for-tat trade restrictions...immediately banned exports of gallium, germanium, antimony, and so called “superhard materials” used heavily in manufacturing...may also further restrict sales of graphite

"US Geological Survey study found that outright bans on gallium and germanium by China could cut US gross domestic product by $3.4 billion."

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Big Oil Told 70 Years Ago That Fossil Fuel Emissions Could Impact 'Civilization'

06 Dec 2024 | Synopsis

"Since the 1950s, oil and gas companies have repeatedly used front groups to influence public opinion, block clean air regulation, and stall climate action.

"...strategy, designed to protect oil and gas producers from local air pollution controls, led to WSPA members being informed in 1954 of a far greater potential danger resulting from their operations: global climate change."

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