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.
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.
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.
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.
Two breakthrough techs will accelerate fossil fuel decline: Hyundai's solid-state battery with copper anodes (higher energy density, safer, cheaper) & Orbis HaloDrive axial flux motor (100 Nm/kg torque, 35% cheaper, 97% efficient). Despite fossil fuel industry's political control of Congress and the Trump regime, unstoppable tech progress will make them obsolete. Let's just make sure taxpayers won't be asked to bail them out.
BrightDrop Fades Out: What's Next for Retail EV Fleets?
21 Oct 2025 | GM has ended production of its BrightDrop electric vans, leaving retailers like Target and Walmart seeking alternatives. Fewer than 2,000 vans are in service, far below expectations. Ford's E-Transit, Rivian's RCV, and Mercedes' U.S.-built eSprinter are the most viable replacements. BrightDrop's failure highlights the challenges of scaling commercial EVs amid shifting incentives and slow fleet adoption.
Model Y Competitor? NIO's Onvo L60 Is Affordable EV for the Masses
21 Oct 2025 | The Onvo L60 is a mid-size electric SUV from NIO’s ONVO brand, designed for families and priced to undercut the Tesla Model Y. It offers up to 462 hp, 525 km range, and supports battery swapping via NIO’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), lowering upfront cost to ~$21,200. Full ownership with battery is ~$29,300. Exports to Europe begin in 2025. With smart tech, spacious design, and flexible pricing, it signals China's EV push into the global mainstream.
From Horses to Horsepower: Why EV Skeptics Sound Like 19th-Century Farriers
21 Oct 2025 | Alan Gelfand's anti-EV stance echoes 19th-century farriers resisting the automobile. His business depends on ICE vehicles, making his critique more nostalgic than neutral. EVs require less maintenance, offer long-term savings, and are backed by expanding service networks. Like carriage makers before him, mechanics must evolve or risk irrelevance. The transition is disruptive - but history favors adaptation over defiance.
EV Depreciation: A Temporary Dip, Not a Long-Term Trend
20 Oct 2025 | EV depreciation concerns are real but overstated. Fleet failures and battery uncertainty skew resale data, yet modern EVs show strong longevity and lower operating costs. Automakers now offer battery health reports, extended warranties, and OTA updates to boost confidence. Policy support and LFP chemistry further stabilize value. As transparency improves, EVs will redefine long-term worth - not just match it.
17 Oct 2025 | Horse Powertrain, a joint venture by Renault, Geely, and Aramco, offers compact hybrid engines like the C1 to retrofit EV platforms. Designed as range extenders, these engines run on multiple fuels and meet Euro 7 standards. Though marketed as green tech, their real-world impact is debated - especially as studies show PHEVs are rarely charged. Horse may be a transitional solution, but 500-mile EVs are poised to dominate long-term.
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