EDITOR'S CHOICE

Biden Could Get An Electric "Beast." It Would Be Pricey...and Technologically Daunting

08 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"Transitioning from gas-powered vehicles to electric is a central component of the president’s climate policy agenda...Electrifying Biden's own ride is complicated.

"The Beast is a specialty Cadillac limousine... estimated to weigh more than 15,000 pounds and cost more than $1.5 million...The vehicle could be reconfigured to run on a battery or as a hybrid...the battery needs for a roughly 15,000-pound vehicle would be "extraordinary"...

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The Scarcity of Car-Carrying Ships Is Causing A Surge In Shipping Costs To Unprecedented Levels, Disrupting The Export Flow Of Electric Vehicles From China To Europe

08 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

Despite a 17% anticipated increase in cars shipped globally to a record 23.4 million in 2023, the industry is grappling with a 10% reduction in ship availability compared to pre-Covid-19 levels. European car imports experienced a remarkable 40% rise, with China projected to ship 4.3 million vehicles in 2023, significantly surpassing the 1 million shipped in 2020.

"Approximately one in four EVs sold in Europe originates from mainland China, emphasizing the critical role of sea freight in the supply chain."

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How China's BYD Overtook Tesla To Become The World's Biggest EV Maker

07 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"Critical to BYD's success has been vertical integration. Instead of relying on other companies for parts, BYD managed to crack the code of producing EVs cheaply in part by making most of its own components...BYD has had a lot of help from the Chinese government and even Warren Buffett..BYD is building factories in Europe, Latin America and across Asia...its cars and buses are popping up in cities all over the world."

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VW Solid-State Battery Prototype Shows Real Promise

07 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"A solid-state prototype from VW’s US partner QuantumScape 'significantly exceeded' industry targets in recent tests...the cell saw only 5% storage capacity loss after more than 1,000 charging cycles, the equivalent of 500,000 kilometers on the road...industry targets for this development phase are 700 charging cycles and a maximum loss of 20% capacity

"This innovation, if proven to work beyond the lab and reproduced flawlessly hundreds

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New Graphene-Based 18650 Battery Cells Promise To "End E-Bike Fires"

07 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"...hundreds of announcements about revolutionary battery breakthroughs, but so far, the vast majority of them have been vaporware.

"Nanotech Energy says graphene is the world’s first 2-dimensional material...the company claims its graphene based lithium batteries can charge 18 times faster than conventional lithium-ion batteries...plans to release a non-flammable, environmentally friendly lithium battery that can charge "18 times faster than a conventional lithium ion battery."

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Nissan's Bonkers New All-Electric Concept Car Could Actually Make It to the Road

07 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"...the company is interested in putting the Hyper Force concept into production. And the futuristic speed machine - which many have viewed as a preview of a battery-powered GT-R -0 could be here as soon as 2030.

"...the designer didn't go into any mechanical or technical detail...EV will have e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive, suggesting there will be at least one motor on each axle. It will also get its juice from a solid-state battery..."

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Micromobility's Turbulent 2023

07 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"Ridership grew and more cities committed to bike-share programs and infrastructure, yet micromobility providers face an uncertain financial future."

"It was the best of times and the worst of times in 2023 for bike- and scooter-share providers...(NACTO) highlighted in a November report the competing forces shaping shared micromobility: growing ridership, increasing costs for users and financial challenges for operators."

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The Tesla Singularity Is Near: The Company Will Be Run By Bots and AI Far More Than Humans

06 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"The technological singularity, as described by Ray Kurzweil, is when technology reaches a point that it is beyond what humans can predict...most of Tesla's employees won't be working in factories in the way they are now - they will be training AI and making sure the robots are functioning instead of doing the work themselves.

"The big question is, will Tesla have to fire most of its work force when AI and robotics take over, or will there be new jobs for these staff to take on."

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The Climate Lawsuit Three Presidents Tried To Kill Is Finally Going to Court​

06 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"Juliana, on the other hand, is going through the federal court system, and could eventually end up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. At issue, in the simplest terms, is whether the U.S. government has a duty to protect the climate for public use, and whether its friendliness towards fossil fuels violates that duty

"...in 2024, the Juliana plaintiffs will have their long-awaited trial and the federal government's fossil fuel energy system...

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Now Is A Terrible Time For A Nanny Tax On Electric Vehicles

06 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"...the Biden White House is exploring the possibility of raising the prices Americans pay for Chinese-made electric vehicles. Included in this new policy would be shipments from Tesla's Shanghai plant and vehicles produced in Chinese-owned plants located in Mexico.

"If the Biden team wants to make EV production cleaner, why not give some leeway to trusted trading partners Japan, where per capita CO2 emissions were 8.6 metric tons."

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