EDITOR'S CHOICE

The Big Miss on Electric Cars Is Remaking Europe's Auto Industry

21 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis are thinking the unthinkable, exploring tie-ups with sworn competitors to make cheaper electric vehicles and fend off existential threats...As pressure builds on European carmakers to sell more EVs, China's state-supported manufacturers are entering the cooling market with models that are often better and cheaper...Failure for Europe’s carmakers to come up with a working Plan B risks upheaval in an industry that employs some 13 million people and accounts for 7% of the EU economy."

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China And EVs: GM, Ford, And Stellantis Prepare A Defense Plan

21 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

US manufacturers are scrambling to keep up with the radically lower cost of the Chinese cars, even taking into account the steep import tariffs that they face...BYD got to top spot because they have a completely different strategy to most US and European manufacturers.

"Ford and GM have both made decisions to simplify offerings, cut costs, and lower prices. There are lots of reasons to believe that these firms will outlive Chinese competitors."

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Hydrogen Mining: The New Energy Transition Challenge

21 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"French researchers reported the largest flow of natural hydrogen in a mine in Albania."

"Most hydrogen is likely inaccessible, but a few per cent recovery would still supply all projected demand - 500mn tonnes a year - for hundreds of years...The deposit they discovered leaked hydrogen at a rate of 11 tons per year..this is a tiny amount compared to what transition planners envisage and even compared to what the world consumes in terms of hydrogen currently."

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Is Saudi Arabia Taking Over Electric Motorsports?

20 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"In January, Saudi Arabia PIF sovereign wealth fund...announced a three-way partnership with the leading electric motorsports series, Formula E, Extreme and E1 powerboat racing.

"People have asked if it's a paradox that a country of oil is sponsoring electric. But it's exactly what they're looking for because they want to diversify...We are doing exactly the opposite of greenwashing..We are advancing the innovation of transportation that makes a real difference."

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Ross Gelbspan, Author Who Probed Roots Of Climate Change Denial, Dies at 84

20 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"Mr. Gelbspan, a longtime journalist, criticized the profession for giving a forum to those who sow doubts about global warming

"Mr. Gelbspan's 2004 book, 'Boiling Point,' delivered a harsh assessment of general coverage of climate issues, criticizing journalists for repeating the "manufactured denial" of the energy companies and paid representatives...the news media are reflecting the cowardice of the larger society in not looking reality in the eye and reporting the truth of our situation."

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Biden Could Delay EV Switch As Auto Industry Pressure Mounts

20 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"According to a new report from the New York Times, the Biden administration is considering amending its emissions regulations, which would currently require 67 percent of new cars and light-duty trucks sold in America to be all-electric by 2032...

"...administration officials are tweaking the plan [so] electric vehicle sales would increase more gradually through 2030 but then would have to sharply rise.

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Honda's Hydrogen-Powered SUV Is Coming, Even if There's Nowhere to Fill It

20 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"Honda has also fitted the CR-V with a plug, meaning that drivers can charge their car up at normal EV charging stations across America.

"...there are currently more than 130,000 charging points for EVs across America. In contrast, there's just 59 retail hydrogen filling stations, and all of them are located in California...oil giant Shell announced that it was closing it's [7] publicly accessible hydrogen filling stations."

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Ukraine Strives to Kickstart Electric Car Industry

20 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"These are huge prospects for Ukraine - not just to be an exporter of lithium - but to establish full-cycle production here and create products with high added value for domestic and foreign markets.

"Ukraine's lithium reserves are enough to provide batteries for almost 20 million electric cars...there are four known lithium deposits in Ukraine, but one is in occupied parts of the Donetsk region, while another one sits close to the front in the Zaporizhzhia region."

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As Demand Grows for Electric Cars, So Does the Market for Green Jobs in the EV Industry

17 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"As battery plants from Ohio to Nevada start operations, and automakers ramp up EV production, the number of new EV jobs and facilities announced in the U.S. auto supply chain has exploded...The transition to clean and electric vehicles and a cleaner economy is a huge opportunity to remedy injustices that underpin our current economy.

"EV jobs can typically be found in three sectors: design and development; battery manufacturing; and charging network development and maintenance."

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Hertz Electric Fleet Sell-Off Does Not Spell Doom For Future Of EVs

17 Feb 2024 | Synopsis

"Make no mistake, [Hertz] is developing a clear understanding of the key levers needed to deliver a more profitable EV rental fleet in a world that is moving toward electrification...the company had not prepared for in its EV adoption projections...EVs came with significantly higher repair costs...

"Hertz's snail's pace is not indicative of the wider market. By 2026, battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will account for 42% of European new passenger vehicle sales and 52% of sales in China."

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