EDITOR'S CHOICE

An EV Mechanic Shortage Is Looming, But Nobody Knows When It's Coming

14 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"Some time soon, EV owners may also find themselves struggling just to find a qualified mechanic - but the evidence leaves it unclear when the problem could arise, or how bad it might be.

"Only about 229,000...are reported to be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE, and of those, only around 3,100 are certified to service EVs. That's just 1.4 percent."

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BMW, Ford, and Honda Create ChargeScape To Help Balance The Electrical Grid Using V2G

13 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"...the new company will "create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers, and interested electric vehicle customers" in the U.S. and Canada...Electric utilities will get data on demand from customers charging EVs, while EV owners will be able to enroll in programs that allow utilities to tap into the energy stored in battery packs during periods of peak demand...the three automakers can reach a large number of

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Biden-Harris Administration Making $100 Million Available to Improve EV Charger Reliability

13 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"...up to $100 million in Federal funding to repair and replace existing but non-operational, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure...Based on initial estimates of non-operational chargers, FHWA anticipates that the available $100 million in funding will likely cover the repair or replacement costs of all eligible projects...This includes both publicly and privately owned chargers - so long as they are available to the public without restriction."

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Bristow, Volocopter Partner On eVTOL Services

13 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"...the partnership will include cooperating on building a UAM ecosystem with the development agreement covering 'the exploration of commercial, operational, and eVTOL aircraft maintenance services'

Bristow has placed a firm order for two Volocopter VoloCity eVTOLs with an option to purchase 78 additional aircraft...expects to receive EASA certification for its eVTOL design in 2024 with FAA certification to follow shortly..."

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Electric Freight Cars And The End Of The Two-Mile Train

13 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"Parallel Systems' electric [freight cars] can operate solo or as units in a platoon, capable of attaching and detaching themselves as the need arises...aims for its electric vehicles to compete with diesel trucks for a share of the nation’s freight hauling business.

"...individually powered electric vehicles appear to have the advantage over long strings of deadweight freight cars...less than 3% of the 143,000 miles of track in the US are currently occupied by a train at any time."

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This Incredible Cargo Ship Can Traverse The Oceans With Its Massive, 123-foot Sails - And It Just Took Its Maiden Voyage

13 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"The Pyxis Ocean from the Mitsubishi Corporation has been retrofitted with two “WindWings”... 123 feet (37.5 meters) high, the sails have been estimated to allow for up to 30% fuel savings...one-and-a-half tonnes [about 1.65 tons] of fuel per day...four wings on a vessel, that's six tonnes [about 6.6 tons] of fuel saved, that's 20 tonnes [about 22 tons] of CO2 saved - per day." [In sail-assist mode, speed increased to 16 knots.]

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America's Love-Hate Relationship With Electric Cars Intensifies

12 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"...the automotive industry's future is likely electric, not all US states seem to be heading in that direction...The broader picture is that while some states remain very EV-positive, there seems to be a broadening gap between states that favor EVs and those that don't.

"Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Wyoming, Louisiana, South Dakota, West Virginia, and North Dakota are the states showing the biggest slowdown in EV adoption."

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Electric Bikes, Scooters and Mopeds Save More Oil Than All Other EVs - Combined

12 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"2- and 3-wheelers also made up nearly half of all EV sales in 2022, according to a new report"

"Two- and three-wheelers represented the majority of avoided oil use, clocking in at 997,230 barrels per day; for comparison, electric passenger cars only avoided the use of 264,382 barrels per day and electric buses saved 207,482 each day...there hasn't been much improvement since 2021..."

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Lucid Air Dethroned As World's Most Aerodynamic Car In Production..

12 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"Reports from the People's Republic suggest the newcomer will edge out the Lucid Air by the slimmest of margins, alleging the YangWang U6 has a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.195. The Lucid's Cd is only a hair behind that at 0.197...YangWang is the luxury arm of BYD...Beyond the drag coefficient, there aren't any technical specifications...reports from China stipulated that the U6 could have a four-motor powertrain good for 1,180 horsepower."

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Hydrogen Combustion Engines: The Dirty Secrets That Cost Them The Spotlight

12 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"Though hydrogen combustion engines are praised for their ability to produce energy without emitting carbon dioxide, they are still emitting nitrogen oxides. These compounds still harm the environment and negatively affect vegetation and crop yields

"...hydrogen costs around $16 per gallon, making it four times more expensive...It looks like electric vehicles will remain in the spotlight for now, at least until we can figure out how to produce hydrogen less expensively."

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