EDITOR'S PICK

How US Taxpayers Helped Elon Musk Become the Richest Man on Earth

19 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

Now it's time to tax it back to where much of it came from.

"...just-published Politico analysis, 'the single biggest beneficiary of U.S. government contracts.'

"Tesla, a shaky electric vehicle company when Musk bought it, only 'took off after receiving $465 million in subsidies from the Obama administration in 2010...America's wealthiest 400 billionaire families, between 2010 and 2018, 'paid an average of just 8.2 percent of their income...'"

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Plug-In Hybrids May Not Be The Small First Step Towards EV Adoption After All

19 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Consumers aren't too happy with their plug-in hybrids despite the fact they're billed as a bridge between gas-powered cars and electric vehicles."

"Right now, there are 41 PHEVs for sale in the U.S...the cars can go between 25 and 40 miles on a full charge and can be juiced up at home...Overall satisfaction on a 1,000-point scale with PHEVs is 669 while mass-market satisfaction with BEVs is 716..."

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Electric Motors Are About to Get a Major Upgrade Thanks to Benjamin Franklin

19 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Franklin's 'electrostatic motor' uses alternating positive and negative charges...to spin an axle, and doesn't rely on a flow of current like conventional electric motors...Electrostatic motors have several potentially huge advantages over regular motors. They are up to 80% more efficient than conventional motors...

"Electrostatic tech isn't suitable for fast-spinning motors like those in the powertrains of electric vehicles..."

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Electric Vehicles May Be Struggling. G.M.'s Leader Is Still a Believer

19 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Mary T. Barra...says the company is still committed to doing away with combustion engine cars in the United States by 2035 - and she may have good reason for her optimism.

"Sales of G.M.'s electric vehicles are starting to take off...Ms. Barra rebuffed the notion that the transition from internal combustion has run out of juice...Without G.M., the largest U.S. carmaker, it is unlikely that the country can move away from internal combustion engines and the greenhouse gases they emit."

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This Neo-Rugged Electric Bicycle Is Made For Urban Commutes And Dirt-Trails

16 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Electric bicycles are a sustainable and energy-efficient way of navigating congested cites, reason enough established brands and startups are adding this option to their lineup.

"This concept e-bike is tailored for city life on weekdays and a confident drive to the mountains on weekends. Dubbed E-THUNDER, the electric bike is a performance two-wheeler destined for second looks. (No information published on pricing, performance or availability)

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Survey Makes Incredible Discovery About Homes With Solar Panels - Here's What 9 In 10 Homeowners Said

16 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"University of Texas at Austin...research shows that solar-powered households aren't just helping themselves. They're bringing widespread benefits to entire communities...team discovered that investing in energy-saving tools such as rooftop solar, community solar, and battery storage could slash a neighborhood's annual electricity costs by a whopping 40%. That's a potential savings of $3 million on utility bills for a single community."

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Magnet-Free Induction Motor Aims To Nearly Halve Carbon Emissions

16 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Mahle and Valeo have teamed up to introduce what they call the Inner Brushless Electrical Excitation (iBEE) system, a form of e-machine that eliminates the need for sensitive rare earths, promises powerful performance and sends lifecycle carbon emissions right off a tall, steep cliff.

"The two companies aim to cut overall carbon footprint by more than 40% as compared to a permanent-magnet e-motor with equivalent power."

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EVs - What Are They Good For?

16 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars...U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars...Only on climate-damaging carbon emissions from driving do electrics triumph decisively over gasoline cars

"What's keeping EVs from slam-dunk superiority over GVs? In a word, batteries."

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How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

15 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"In the UK...the transportation consultants at EA Maven have been pushing the case for regional air mobility (RAM), with hybrid-electric STOL aircraft serving longer routes...a potential for a UK RAM network with an average sector length of 143 miles.

"...a potential longer-term RAM network across the British Isles covering 63 airports and 684 routes, carrying just over 430 million passengers each year..."

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Cape Station Geothermal: Putting Petroleum Drilling Technology To Work For Carbon-Free 24/7 Electricity

15 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"$2 billion geothermal project...is not drilling for gas. It's drilling for underground heat that ... [promises] to hold the key to generating carbon-free power...Just these three well pads alone will produce 100 megawatts of electricity...around-the-clock, 24/7 electricity

"..a well that curves like a hockey stick as it reaches more than 13,000 feet underground...the water squeezes through cracks in 400-degree rock."

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Is DC Fast Charging Really That Bad For Your EV's Battery? We Asked The Experts

15 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"... faster charging can come with some trade-offs. The fact is that DC fast charging generates more heat...can accelerate the degradation of the cells in the battery pack...That, however, seems to be largely theoretical.

" a study by Recurrent that was conducted on over 6,500 Tesla Model 3s, frequent DC fast charging doesn't have quite as much of an impact as some have previously assumed...The battery is happiest between 60° and 90° F..."

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World's First Ammonia-Powered Vessel Embarks On Maiden Voyage: "It's Just The Beginning"

14 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"...ammonia-fueled tugboat, the Kraken, completed its maiden voyage in a tributary of New York's Hudson River...uses green ammonia...It does this by 'cracking' the gas into hydrogen and nitrogen and then funneling said hydrogen into fuel cells to power the craft.

"Amogy's work is not just maritime-based; the company has tested drones, farm equipment, and semitrucks, all powered by ammonia..."

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