EDITOR'S CHOICE

Americans opt to lease electric cars to tap Biden tax credits

17 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

About 52 per cent of EVs were leased in November, compared to 8 per cent in November 2022, according to data from Edmunds...The lease rate for cars with traditional engines in November was 22 per cent...Leasing allows car shoppers to apply the full $7,500 tax credit included in the Inflation Reduction Act to an electric vehicle, regardless of whether the car meets [federal] benchmarks for parts produced in North America that apply if the vehicle is purchased."

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Big Shift Coming To EV Industry

17 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"...the two newest standards for electric cars, both approved this month by standards committees of SAE International...should bring EV drivers great joy...Drivers will gain access to more charging stations and lower-cost charging. They will have new options for using their EV to help fight climate change and even make money when plugged in...One key missing piece has been a complete standard for controlling and managing V2G, which now exists within SAE J3068."

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Atlantans Could Soon Be Paid To Ride Electric Bikes

17 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"A proposal making its way through City Council would establish a repayment program for travelers who opt out of driving on the city's congested highways and switch to riding battery-assisted bikes.

"The rebate program - overseen by the Atlanta Regional Commission and PropelATL - Any Atlanta resident [18 or older] would be eligible for a $500 to $1,000 rebate on e-bikes while low-income buyers could see anywhere from a $1,500 to $2,000 rebate.

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I Considered A Super-Cheap Hydrogen Toyota Mirai. Here's Why I Said No

17 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"Used hydrogen fuel-cell cars are weirdly cheap and, in some ways, more convenient than battery-powered EVs...after chatting with Mike and doing some digging of my own, I'm pretty sure a Mirai isn't for me...seeing shiny Mirais from 2017 or 2019 asking something like $7,500 or $10,000. That's for a car that costs something like $60,000 new...Upon even closer inspection, a whole bunch of the stations in California were out of service due to due to technical issues or having run out of fuel."

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The Shared Micromobility Fleet To Reach 38.2 Million Vehicles By 2027

17 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"At the end of 2022, the number of shared stand-up scooters reached an estimated 1.5 million vehicles...The total number of shared bikes worldwide reached an estimated 23.7 million vehicles at the end of 2022, of which a large majority are free floating bikes in China...At the end of 2022, the number of shared sit-down scooters in shared mobility schemes reached an estimated 120,000 vehicles....

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Nine Breakthroughs For Climate And Nature In 2023 You May Have Missed

16 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"...positive milestones for the climate and nature might well have gone under your radar...nine quiet wins of the year, plus one much louder one...'negativity bias' affects the information we are most drawn to

"Some breakthroughs also don't get shouted about because they are being led by grassroots communities or indigenous groups...the IRA's acceleration of green energy has the potential to reduce emissions across the US economy by 43-48% compared with 2005 levels."

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"It's Finished!": IEA Boss Says COP28 Bid Farewell To Fossil Fuels

16 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"Birol welcomed the landmark agreement struck at the negotiations in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates...the next challenge would be to drive investment in emerging economies, particularly to reach for COP28's goal of tripling global renewables capacity and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

"The most important thing for me from this COP meeting is that the direction of travel for the global energy system now has been signed off by 200 countries around the world."

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This German Start-Up Can Convert Your Petrol Car Into An EV In As Little As 8 Hours

16 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"With a novel workflow and battery design, a start-up based in Germany now believes it can cut customer waiting times down to as little as eight hours...it can convert up to 42 different models from major car manufacturers...Costing between €12,000 and €15,000 to complete the job...The current battery life gives cars converted by e-Revolt an estimated range of 250 to 300 km on a single charge..."

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Electric vs. Gas Cars: Which Is More Cost Effective in the Long Run?

16 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"EVs are, without a doubt, the future of the automotive industry...Is it cheaper to own a gas-powered vehicle, or is an electric vehicle the way to go?

"In the long run, it is cheaper to own an electric vehicle - which is why so many Americans are ditching gas-powered cars...Given the current state of gas-powered and electric vehicles, electric vehicles are the most cost-efficient way to drive."

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The Hydrogen Hubs Are Here. What Do Communities Think About Them?

16 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"Launched under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the [$12 billion] Hydrogen Hubs program aims to create networks of hydrogen producers, consumers and infrastructure...all Hub developers are required to engage and negotiate a Community Benefits Plan with communities

"Survey results suggest that communities lack awareness around the Hubs and still have little information about what a Hydrogen Hub is."

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