EDITOR'S CHOICE

Electric Vehicles Tantalizingly Close to Price Parity with Gas Burners

20 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"The main reason for the steadily shrinking cost of an EV can be found in its batteries...battery costs have been on a steady downward trajectory ever since the advent of modern EVs, thanks to improvements in the technology along with economies of scale resulting from higher production volumes.

"LFP, which is cheaper and more durable, is likely to become the technology of choice for lower-priced mass-market EVs."

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Insurers Press Carmakers for More Help with EV Batteries

20 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Insurers and industry experts say electric vehicle insurance premiums will keep rising as sales grow unless the car companies make it easier to access battery data and repair packs that are only slightly damaged in collisions...carmakers in turn say their EV battery packs are repairable, though few seem willing to share access to battery data...GM's...new Ultium batteries are designed to be repaired at the module level..."

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Gen Z Professionals Leading the Charge in Reframing the Daily Commute, Reveals Study

20 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"...young professionals, who are new to the workforce, are leading the charge in reframing how we approach the daily commute - with 42% of Gen Zs stating that they avoid jobs where majority office working is a requirement because they hate commuting into the city.

"Swytch's new research highlights that Gen Zs are eager to show that going into the office doesn't have to cost the earth...study found that 27% of Gen Zs now cycle or use an e-mode of transport to get to their job..."

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PC-Maker Acer Enters the E-Bike Arena with AI for Smart Commuting

20 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"...typically known for its PCs, laptops and accessories, Acer touts ebii as a bike designed for cities, with AI features used to learn riders' personal preferences and change gears depending on road conditions...weighing 35 lbs....maximum assist speed of 20 MPH and can go just under 70 miles on one charge...the power brick can also be used as a portable charger for your laptop or phone..Acer hasn't specified how much the ebii costs..."

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EV Etiquette Lesson: The Please and Thank You of Plugging In

19 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Our recent experiences at public chargers have us concerned that the EV-charging experience might soon devolve into violence and mayhem. Too many folks are trying to use too few stations, a situation exacerbated by out-of-order plugs.

"If you drive a Mini Cooper SE that can accept a mere 50-kW charge and are hooked to a 350-kW charger when slower ones are available, you're making the angels cry."

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The Worst New Cars for Humans and the Environment

19 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"...the most egregious gas guzzlers are lagging behind when it comes to fuel efficiency. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The least fuel-efficient vehicles average more than triple that...The least fuel-efficient vehicles...are muscle cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks...least fuel-efficient vehicles are not cheap to purchase or run."

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Ready to Rev An Electric Vehicle? Maine Buyers Are Running Into Roadblocks

19 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"In Maine, purchasing an electric vehicle can be an enormous challenge. Supply is limited, waitlists are long and some models aren’t even available here.

" In July 2019, the state had 2,926 registered battery and plug-in hybrid electric cars. By July 2022, that number had nearly tripled to 8,049." Federal tax "legislative changes cut the number of qualified models from about 75 to barely 20...Maine has its own rebate program..."

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Is Chevy Challenging Tesla for EV Supremacy? This $26,500 Electric Car Is Evidence That It Might Be

19 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Chevrolet now offers a few different models of EVs. The Chevrolet Bolt EV is one of the most popular models, and not just because it has a range of 259 miles on a single charge...you could get up to $7,500 back (as a tax credit) as part of the federal government's effort to promote clean transportation...

"Chevy is promising to also pay for the installation of a charging outlet...Motor Trend even gave Bolt EV a ranking of #1 in the 'Best Electric Cars' category."

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What's Up With Tesla's New Engineering Headquarters In California?

19 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Tesla's engineering headquarters is officially located in Palo Alto, California...Austin, Texas location will remain the company’s main headquarters

"It's not entirely clear what Tesla will specifically focus on in Palo Alto, though Musk previously said the company would build the upcoming Optimus robot at the location, and it only stands to reason that its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving beta programs will be hosted at the site."

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Combustion-Vehicle Sales Peaked In 2017, Peak Oil Due In 2027

18 Mar 2023 | Synopsis

"Combustion-vehicle sales in 2022 were down almost 20% from the 2017 peak...Sales of plug-in hybrids did increase to 10.4 million cars in 2022, but even counting them toward the internal-combustion total wouldn't change things much.

BNEF "predicts that oil demand for transportation will peak in 2027, thanks to shifts in commercial trucks sales toward zero-emission vehicles. Even oil giants like Shell have admitted that the global economy is past peak oil and are investing in renewables."

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