23 Mar 2023 14:58:30 UTC

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Could Slow the Transition to Clean Energy

14 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"...the federal government has stepped in to enable investors and company founders to access their funds...Some worry it will lead to more investor caution in this sector dominated by cash-starved, pioneering start-ups, slowing clean energy innovation

"About half the start-ups working to develop and scale up the newest clean energy technologies were banking with the failed institution...

"The end of SVB likely means a lot more folks are going to revisit accepted wisdoms and defaults in [venture capital]...It's long overdue."

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Can Conventional Cars Be Converted Into Electric Vehicles?

14 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Converting gas vehicles to electricity is not yet common, however, it can be done...According to the guidelines, the best types of cars to retrofit with electricity are those that are relatively light and use a manual transmission...good candidates are the Nissan Sentra, the Ford Escort, and the Honda Civic.

...perhaps the best thing the world can do to create less environmentally harmful transportation is to move away from cars to begin with."

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Why Troubled-Fox News Wants You to Be Afraid of Electric Bikes

14 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"...the media network's latest misdirection campaign attempts to use fear to attack a surprising new target: electric bicycles...the media giant leaves little room for doubt about just how far they'll go with misdirection to try and scare people away from the fastest-growing form of low-cost, efficient, and effective transportation.

E-bikes are "outselling electric cars in the US...e-bikes are exactly the kind of change that Fox News would vilify - a low-cost technology that helps Americans of all socioeconomic levels get around without a clutching dependence on Big Oil and Big Auto."

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Europe Lurches Into Civil War of Words Over 2035 Combustion Engine Ban

14 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"It's Team Germany vs. Team France going toe-to-toe over the the EU’s automotive industry.

"...key ministers from a gang of car-loving countries said rules ending the sale of new combustion-engine cars and vans by 2035..needed changes. Or else.

"German government, alongside allies Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, is pressing for a loophole for cars to be able to run on e-fuels..

"The standoff aligns France with other countries backing the 2035 clean car target, such as Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands."

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ChatGMC? General Motors Planning ChatGPT-Based Virtual Assistant for Future EVs

14 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"People familiar with the product claim GM is developing a virtual personal assistant using the AI models behind the popular ChatGPT chatbot...confirmed the automaker is working on an AI assistant, saying it would be more capable than what's out today...you could ask the virtual assistant what it means and get a readout based on its own diagnostics to let you know if it needs immediate attention...General Motors has an advantage with the promising AI tech..."

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How To Correctly Charge Teslas And Electric Vehicles For Better Longevity

13 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"While DC fast charging is not a problem if used occasionally, if used regularly it can shorten your battery's life...if you want to extend the life of your EV, it's best to use slow charging, going for DC fast charging should be on a need-to basis only.

"Most carmakers tell you to avoid charging your battery to 100 percent regularly...many experts agree that even if you do charge your EV to 100 percent, it does not create a significant issue for battery health."

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NASA Names University Teams to Take On Aeronautics Research Challenges

13 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Three of the four teams will address topics related to ensuring the safe growth of Advanced Air Mobility, while the fourth will examine an option for generating electricity to propel a future airliner...

"Tennessee Technological University team aims to develop a preliminary design for an electrified 150-passenger aircraft that uses an ammonia-based integrated propulsion, power, and thermal management system."

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US Minerals Industries Are Booming. Here's Why.

13 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"...the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), enacted last year, restricts EV tax credits to vehicles with batteries that contain a significant portion of minerals extracted or refined within the US...Billions of dollars of investments in battery materials have been announced in North America since the IRA passed...The 'domestic content requirements' helped spark or accelerate those plans, observers say. But it's still not clear which nations will qualify for providing the processed materials..."

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How Cars "Waste" Two Thirds of Their Fuel

13 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"At most 50% of the power supplied is converted into mechanical energy, but the remainder is dissipated as heat. Moreover, not all the mechanical energy is delivered to the wheels, with almost 30% being lost due to friction...In the end, the actual energy used to move the vehicle amounts to approximately 30% of the total energy supplied by fuel.

"...we should not forget that cars are made to transport several passengers. When fuel consumption is divided by several passengers, carpooling can cut consumption by two, three, four times over and beyond."

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Study: Americans Growing More Afraid of Self-Driving Cars

13 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

AAA survey found "in 2022, 55% of Americans described themselves as "afraid" of self-driving cars. This year, it’s 68% - a jump of 13% in just one year.

"AAA surveyed a panel of 949 respondents selected 'to be representative of the U.S. household population overall... The study found that 'nearly one in ten drivers believe they can buy a vehicle that drives itself while they sleep...Studies show that Americans rely on the systems more than they should, even eating and texting behind the wheel while they?re engaged."

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