19 Apr 2024 00:05:57 UTC

 EDITOR'S CHOICE

'Colossal Global Dysfunction': UN Chief Says International Community Not 'Willing' To Tackle Major Threats

21 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"The General Assembly comes at a 'time of great peril' while the world is 'blighted by war, battered by climate chaos, scarred by hate, and shamed by poverty' and hunger..."

The world 'has a duty to act,' and yet 'we are gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction,' Guterres told more than 100 world leaders."

"Progress on these issues and more is being held hostage by geopolitical tensions. Our world is in peril and paralyzed..."

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WSJ Paywall: Can You Actually Ditch Your Car for an E-Bike? Maybe

21 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"...According to the Light Electric Vehicle Association..880,000 e-bikes came into the [USA] in 2021, up from about 450,000 in 2020...E-bikes outsold electric cars in the U.S. and in Europe in 2021...and U.S. e-bike sales are expected to reach at least three million annually by 2025, according to LEVA.

"Some Americans say cargo e-bikes..offer all the core functionalities of their SUVs and trucks."

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Oil Companies Still Misleading the Public to Keep Polluting, Document Dump Reveals

21 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

:...new internal documents...reveal how the fossil fuel industry has updated its misinformation playbook for the 21st century by publicly touting net-zero plans and renewable technologies it dismisses behind closed doors.

"...internal communications from major oil companies BP, Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron...reveal the companies are not willing to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to reducing emissions..."

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Changan Automobile Unveils Tesla 'Clone', and It Starts at Just $26,000

21 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"Tesla has had some issues with Chinese companies getting “inspired” by its designs in the past...China's Xpeng copying Tesla's vehicle user interface and even its website at one point.

The "base version comes with a range of 515 km (320 miles) based on the Chinese standard. A bigger battery pack is also available with a longer 705 km (438 miles) range.

"The company took over 15,000 reservations for the new electric car only hours..."

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Hertz Rental Fleet to Add 175,000 GM Electric Vehicles

21 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"The rental-car giant is planning to "create the largest rental fleet of EVs in North America" by planting so many EVs across 500 locations in 38 states.

"Once moribund and filing for bankruptcy, Hertz is now betting on EVs as the way forward. The company has already revitalized its lineup with the choice last fall to buy 100,000 Teslas and to supply Uber with Tesla Model 3 EVs."

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Can California's Grid Handle More EVs?

20 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

Yes...with updated infrastructure and customer discipline

"Ironically, EVs are arriving in the midst of an energy transition. Solar and wind are rising in prominence as reliance on fossil fuels wanes... energy usage peaks between 4 and 9 p.m. The utility wants EV charging to happen during the day - or overnight

"EVs could become a huge reservoir of stored energy, but that technology might not be ready yet."

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Time to Resurrect the 'Steamer' Automobile?

20 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"While getting around in steam-powered vehicles might make the air cleaner in the drivers' own communities, switching to steam-powered engines that continue to burn gasoline and diesel wouldn't reduce CO2 emissions.

"The reduction in carbon emissions will be far greater if vehicles run on electricity generated by wind turbines, solar panels or other energy sources that don't emit carbon dioxide."

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Degrowth Is Not Austerity - It Is Actually Just the Opposite

20 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"...degrowth policies focus on democratising production, curbing the wealth...overconsumption of the rich, expanding public services... increasing equality within and between societies.

"A key part would be to guarantee access to 'universal basic services' like housing, food, healthcare, mobility...A degrowth economy would be the inversion of austerity. For the majority, it would mean a more abundant, more convivial, more fulfilling life."

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Survey: Half of Californians Might Choose An EV As Their Next Vehicle

20 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"..the very uplifting takeaway from a survey released last week and commissioned by the electric vehicle advocacy group Veloz...[but] in more nuanced questions, the survey reveals lots of room for improvement..

"Seven in ten Californians support the idea of replacing the current EV rebate incentives with a point-of-sale voucher..."

"The Veloz study..found that information goes a long way toward selling potential EV adopters on EVs..."

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How Do Manufacturers Recycle EV Batteries?

20 Sep 2022 | Synopsis

"Most electric cars use a lithium-ion battery pack, and the good news is that there has been technology in place for recycling these types of batteries for years...

"...before the battery is dismantled for recycling some companies can find new uses for these batteries..."Under idealized conditions, retired batteries could supply 60% of cobalt, 53% of lithium, 57% of manganese, and 53% of nickel globally in 2040."

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