EDITOR'S CHOICE

The White House Wants To Know More About Tesla's Charging Standard

12 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"As more automakers switch to the EV maker's North American Charging Standard, regulators want to know how it will impact standards for public chargers.

"...the NEVI Formula Program, which grants money to states to install EV charging infrastructure, requires public charging stations to have at least one permanent CCS Type 1 connector...the NACS is rapidly gaining traction, potentially making the FHWA's rules...obsolete."

Read Full Story

Google-backed Gravity Claims Fastest EV Charging In America

12 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

The startup's chargers...can charge at a peak power rate of 500 kw and add 2,400 miles of range per hour of charging, equivalent to 200 miles in just five minutes

"The initial location, a parking garage on West 42nd Street in one of the densest parts of New York's Manhattan borough, includes 24 charging stalls. Charging is available seven days a week, with on-site attendants and a tap-and-pay interface, according to Gravity.

Read Full Story

"Trickle-Down Economics" Is A Scam That Ignores Decades Of Evidence

12 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"NEC Director Lael Brainard laid out the overwhelming evidence that 'trickle-down' economics - defined as 'cutting taxes for big businesses and those at the top' - has been a bust.

"The incomes of the rich grew much faster in countries where tax rates were lowered. Instead of trickling down to the middle class, tax cuts for the rich may not accomplish much more than help the rich keep more of their riches..."

Read Full Story

U.S. Department Of The Treasury, IRS Release Guidance To Build Out U.S. Clean Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

12 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"The credit may be claimed by individuals for home electric vehicle charging and other refueling equipment and by businesses. The credit with respect to any single item of property is limited to $100,000 for business property, and $1,000 for personal property.

"the IRA added a requirement that qualified property must be placed in service in an eligible census tract. An eligible census tract is any population census tract that is a low-income community or that is not an urban area."

Read Full Story

RAC: Do Electric Vehicles Produce More Tyre And Brake Pollution Than Their Petrol And Diesel Equivalents?

12 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Emissions Analytics suggested that particulate matter pollution from car tyre wear can be 1,000 times higher than car exhaust emissions...If a car did shed 9.28 grams of particulate matter per mile from the tyres, then the car tyres would physically disappear - and the car would be running on its alloys - in less than 4,000 miles."

Read Full Story

Air Pollution Can Hurt Students' Grades, But Electric Buses Could Help

11 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"A recent Yale Study of 2.8 million North Carolina students shows air pollution can hurt athletic performance...researchers looked at standardized test scores and pollution exposure for every public school student in North Carolina over 17 years - from 2001 to 2018.

"Children have an increased respiratory rate...They breathe more per minute than adults do, so they're breathing in more pollution when there is high air pollution."

Read Full Story

Resident Seeks Advice After HOA Frustratingly Bans Electric Transportation: 'This Is Becoming More Common Unfortunately'

11 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

As e-bikes become more popular, "...some condo associations and homeowner groups are putting on the brakes when unit owners try to make the switch.

"Most HOAs have a lack of understanding and if they really wanted to do it right, they would just say 'only UL certified charges allowed'....E-bike fires, though unusual, are a valid concern that require education on safety and prevention"

Read Full Story

'You're Being Ripped Off!': Behind The Insidious Rise Of Greenwashing - And How To Fight Back

11 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"If you buy from businesses with vague environmental claims 'you are being ripped off'...there are straightforward ways of verifying whether environmental claims stack up...

If oil companies "don't have a plan for what they're going to do to meet that [net zero] target it just becomes a vague goal for the future. That's a clear sign of greenwashing."

"...sites like Greenwash provide a quick guide to the big brands' records.."

Read Full Story

The Benefits of Sustainable and Powerful Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

11 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"A team of engineers at the University of California, San Diego, created a novel cathode material for solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries that is electrically conductive and structurally healable, overcoming the limits of these batteries' present cathodes.

"Sulfur is not only a poor electron conductor, but during charging and discharging, sulfur cathodes expand and contract significantly, causing structural damage."

Read Full Story

Humanoid Robots Are Becoming A Reality And Not Just For Tesla

11 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"[V]ideo shows Chinese carmaker NIO demonstrating tethered "artificial being" at work in the factory.

Tesla "Optimus should arrive on the market as early as 2025...[but] as with other Tesla initiatives (such as Full Self Driving), the timeframe could be longer.

"A month ago, BMW also announced its intention to employ humanoid robots in its factories...signed an agreement with the start-up Figure [pictured].

Read Full Story

EV Charging Stations Are Proving To Be A Profitable Business, After All

09 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Last year, the average utilization of a US fast-charging station not operated by Tesla Inc. doubled - from 9% in January to 18% in December...We're heading into 9% and 10% market penetration [for EVs]. Even if we stay at 8%, we're still not going to have enough charging...

"A charging station may not turn a profit until it’s in use about 15% of the time, but once utilization approaches 30%, the station is busy enough that drivers start to avoid it."

Read Full Story

2027 Rivian R3 First Look Review: Downsizing Done Right

09 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"...based on its youthful design alone and the fact that this could be Rivian's first sub-$40,000 model, it could end up being one of the most important vehicles in the electric carmaker's portfolio.

"Two battery sizes will be available for the R3, with Rivian promising over 300 miles of range on a single charge. The specific battery sizes haven't been specified. With the smaller battery, the range will probably be under 300 miles."

Read Full Story