EDITOR'S PICK

After Trying Hydrogen, German Rail Operator Picks Batteries+Grid

05 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

LNVG "will no longer consider hydrogen trains for anything else. They’re just too expensive to operate, compared to trains with overhead line connections and batteries to bridge the tough spots.

"Like the Norwegian liquid hydrogen shipping fuel site that Equinor, Aire Liquide, and Eviny abandoned, these hydrogen as an energy carrier plays always fail once spreadsheet jockeys are allowed to enter realistic numbers..."

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Earth Overshoot Day. What Is It And Why Do We Need It?

04 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"Earth Overshoot Day officially marks the point when two factors run out of kilter: humanity's ecological footprint and our planet's biocapacity...We've not been living within Earth’s means since the early 1970

"Human consumption now requires the natural resources of 1.75 worlds instead of a single one, and half of this is just for food...In the wake of pandemic lockdowns and reduced economic movement, Earth Overshoot Day got pushed back to 22 August."

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Are Electric Vehicles Really More Expensive To Drive Than Gas?

04 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"Some electric car owners are now experiencing higher costs to power their vehicles than to fill up their gas-powered equivalents - if you calculate the costs a certain way.

"The Anderson study also factors in a dollar cost of the “time burden” of charging EVs based on charging times and typical hourly wages...Anderson’s study is also a snapshot of a time when electricity prices are soaring, and gasoline has fallen from a recent peak..."

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Subaru Doubles Its Plans For New EVs, Targeting 8 Models By 2028

04 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"It now aims to sell 600,000 EVs per year by 2030 - a milestone that would make up roughly half of the firm’s global sales. Most of these sales will come from the U.S., Subaru’s biggest market.

"In the mix is a three-row electric SUV, which Toyota will reportedly build for Subaru in Kentucky starting in 2025.

"Subaru added that it plans to back up these announcements by investing around $10.5 billion...toward its electrification..."

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Fisker Alaska Pickup, Ronin Super-GT, And Pear Unveiled At Mega-Reveal Ceremony

04 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"...the company has just come out with all guns blazing in Huntington Beach by revealing four new EVs. This diverse group of EVs will make up Fisker's lineup through 2026 and includes the highly anticipated Alaska pickup, the small Pear city EV, the Ronin four-door convertible, and an Ocean SUV equipped with a rugged Force-E off-road package."

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Pininfarina Goes Double-Donk With New E-LUV PURA Vision Concept

04 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"Pininfarina throwing caution to the wind and unwrapping the donk-u-licious PURA Vision e-LUV concept...a “donk” is any car that is jacked up and given monstrously oversized wheels.

"PURA Vision is the bridge from our present to an exciting new chapter in the history of Automobili Pininfarina...PURA Vision is the bridge from our present to an exciting new chapter in the history of Automobili Pininfarina.

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Satyajit Das On Energy Transition Pathways : Part 8

03 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"...penultimate post in his series on the prospects for success in moving to new energy sources..The world simultaneously faces two problems - dwindling fossil fuels and emissions...Political constraints around forced population control and expectation of perpetual improvements in living standards mean curtailing demand is not on the policy agenda...SUVs speak to vanities, insecurities and fears rather than practical need."

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Barbie's Electric Car And Ken's SUV -- Is There A Better Option To The Real World?

03 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"Most of the time, whether on the beach or in the neighborhood, Barbie prefers to walk or roller skate...Barbie and Ken’s ride-sharing to the real world is an exception in the US...One positive aspect of Barbie’s car evolution is her transition from driving fossil fuel-powered cars to an electric vehicle (EV)...Notably, Barbie drives a small EV... efforts in Barbie Land (and the real world) should focus on reducing car sizes while investing in solar and wind charging facilities."

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E-bikes Are A Climate Solution - Not A Menace

03 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"News stories that frame the rise of e-bikes as one big safety risk are not only short-sighted, they could lead to bad policy."

"Any serious news coverage that's going to touch on possible regulations should distinguish between these various classes of e-bikes, as should policymakers.

"An electric-assist bicycle that has to be pedaled to move and rarely goes above 15 mph is absolutely, 100% a bicycle..."

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Irish Startup GoPlugable is an Airbnb Model For Electric Vehicle Owners To Rent Their Home Charging Ports

03 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"GoPlugable seeks to address this issue by tapping into existing — and ever-growing - private charging infrastructure.

"The app will enable EV owners to book and pay for charging sessions while finding the closest available charging ports. Charging hosts will set their rates and hours in the app so they can adjust based on their wishes and as the competitive landscape shifts. The app will also cater to various EV charging hardware types..."

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The Real Reason Tesla Beat Its Rivals In The Charging Wars

03 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"...Tesla's NACS chargers have been more reliable than CCS, partly because Tesla could simplify processes...Tesla shrewdly invested in thousands of superchargers that “fill up” car batteries in only half an hour..Tesla continues to be seen as "cool,," and the traditional automakers hope to gain some of that coolness by joining the market leader rather than fighting it.

"My research team narrowed the main factors down to eight drivers..."

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Researchers Link Electric Cars With Better Air Quality & Improved Health

02 Aug 2023 | Synopsis

"...researchers from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California claim they have found evidence that electric cars lead to better air quality, and that in turn leads to better health outcomes

"...the idea that changes being made at the local level can improve the health of your own community could be a powerful message to the public and to policy makers

"It's weird that those who buy SUVs and trucks pretend their vehicles are assembled from moon beams and pixie dust."

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