EDITOR'S CHOICE

Why The Transition To Electric Cars Looms Large In UAW Talks With Big 3 Automakers

14 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"...although EVs are not explicitly at the heart of the union negotiations, they are affecting them in all kinds of ways...The debate is not about whether automakers should transition to EVs...The United Auto Workers union is not trying to resist this transition.

"...the transition made it more crucial that both assembly line workers and battery workers...have pay benefits and guarantees as good as autoworkers used to have."

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Charging Ahead: New Electrolyte Goes Extra Mile For Faster EV Charging

14 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

A team of battery scientists [at Oak Ridge National Lab] recently developed a lithium-ion battery material that not only recharges 80% of its capacity in 10 minutes but keeps that ability for 1,500 charging cycles.

"... new formulations of lithium salts with carbonate solvents to form an electrolyte that maintains better ion flow over time and performs well when high current heats up the battery during extreme fast charging..."

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Stellantis Will Reduce EV Battery Weight By Half

14 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"...opening of the Stellantis Mirafiori battery technology center in Italy's Turin, the automaker announced that it intends to reduce electric vehicle battery weight by 50%...Stellantis will introduce new battery technologies and more efficient cell packaging to reduce weight by half before 2030...Part of its plan to reduce weight involves using lighter, cheaper lithium-sulfur batteries..."

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Humans Have Crossed 6 of 9 ‘Planetary Boundaries’

14 Sep 2023 | Synopsis

"Human activity is turning Earth into a world that may no longer adequately support the societies we've built...The new study marks the second update since the 2009 paper and the first time scientists have included numerical guideposts

"...Carbon dioxide levels are included in the framework...so are biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, changes in the use of land and fresh water and the presence of the crucial elements nitrogen and phosphorus."

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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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