EDITOR'S CHOICE

Why A Small China-Made EV Has Global Auto Execs And Politicians On Edge

22 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"The [pictured BYD] Seagull could be a 'clarion call for the rest of the auto industry...It's a significant event'

"The introduction of cheap Chinese autos - which are so inexpensive because they are backed with the power and funding of the Chinese government - to the American market could end up being an extinction-level event for the U.S. auto sector..Driving the Seagull is no different than driving the Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf or BMW i..."

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Prices Are Falling On Used EVs. Here's How To Get A Deal

22 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Used electric cars are now as cheap as gas-powered cars and hybrids, according to an analysis by research company iSeeCars...Why are used EVs so affordable? Battery prices have plummeted, falling nearly 90% between 2008 and 2022

"The average price of a used Chevy Bolt has fallen 30%, or $7,847, over the past year, to $17,981. The average used Nissan Leaf dropped $7,329, to $17,895."

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The Extraordinary Financial Costs Of Nuclear Power

22 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"US company NuScale...cancelled its first planned installation in Utah last November when the initial cost blew out to USD$9 billion, corresponding to USD$20 billion per GW.

"These high costs and long delivery durations for full-scale reactors are the reasons SMRs are proposed as a way forward in Australia. However, SMRs are a new technology. There are none in operation or construction in any OECD countries, thus it is not possible to estimate the costs or delivery schedules."

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EPA's New Rule Mandates Big Emissions Cuts, but Doesn't Eliminate Gas Cars

21 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"...the rule 'applies to passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond.' That essentially covers all the common models we all buy and drive.

"If the proposed regulations are allowed to bear out in the market, average passenger car green house gases will decrease from 139 grams of CO2 per mile in 2027 to just 73 over a matter of six years...rules comes down to what you're more nterested in: Trying to keep cars cheaper, or trying to make the air cleaner."

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Maker Of Jeep, Dodge And Ram Vehicles To Follow California's Strict Emissions Standards

21 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"...California's vehicle emissions standards that are the toughest in the nation and require zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles to make up 68% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2030...

" Stellantis now joins four big automakers -- Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW...Stellantis will avoid adding up to 12 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through 2026...The company also agreed to spend $4 million on installing electric vehicle chargers in parks and rural areas in California..."

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People Hate the Idea of Car-Free Cities - Until They Live in One

21 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

Removing cars from urban areas means lower carbon emissions, less air pollution, and fewer road traffic accidents. So why are residents so resistant?

"...the kind of short journeys taken when driving in the city are some of the most obviously wasteful, making cities an ideal place to start...a borough in south London...Lambeth now sees 25,000 fewer daily car journeys than before its LTN scheme was put in place in 2020..."

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DEJA VU (all over again): Ford Hopes Small Electric Cars Might Make Americans Buy EVs

21 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Ford Motor Co. is delaying planned three-row electric vehicles similar in size to the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator as it focuses on smaller, more affordable EVs

"The pivot to smaller electric models is all part of Ford's plan to remain competitive against Chinese electric car maker, which are seen as a big threat to American automakers. [EVWorld Editor's Note: In early 2000s, Ford introduced a small, affordable EV under the short-lived Th!nk brand: Th!nk City EV pictured]

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The Quadrillion Dollar Cost of Climate Inaction

21 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Putting a price on each year of delayed climate action is critical for the public and decision-makers to understand the scope and urgency of the climate crisis. Concrete figures and projections can urge policymakers to act more effectively than metaphors of burning homes...

"These needs are dwarfed by the increased social and economic costs that will be incurred under business-as-usual (BAU) warming scenarios (which CPI estimates to be at least USD 1,266 trillion) and will only worsen the longer action is delayed.

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CATL: New Skateboard Chassis Products Will Be Mass-Produced This Year

19 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"CATL announced its first B-class car with a skateboard chassis using ternary lithium batteries and a range exceeding 1000 kilometers...Unlike traditional car chassis designs, it focuses on the core components of batteries, motors, and electronic control units..can help car manufacturers launch new models within 18 months, significantly shortening the traditional development cycle of 36 to 48 months.

"In terms of safety, the skateboard chassis of CATL can absorb up to 85% of impact energy..."

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Why You Might Be Charging Your EV Wrong - And What To Do Instead

19 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Mental models guide electric vehicle charging (study)..monitor the battery charge gauge while driving, and when the gauge is low, head to an EV charging station to recharge...

"Users with the 'event-triggered' mental model respond to their selected event by plugging in without the need to make decisions on a daily basis... third model is used only when a driver needs to take a trip longer than their battery range.."

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Amazon's Zoox Robotaxis Will Start Driving Faster, Farther And At Night In Las Vegas

19 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Zoox...will free up its specially designed vehicles to drive at speeds up to 45 miles per hour (72 kph), from 35 mph. It also expanded the Las Vegas area in which the cars can travel to five miles from one mile.

"Amazon bought Zoox in 2020 for more than $1 billion, leading to speculation it could eventually use the cars as delivery vehicles, sparing it the cost of paying for drivers. Zoox has not made any announcements about its plans beyond

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How - and Why - To Start a Neighborhood E-Bike Library

19 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"The model provides a neighborly alternative to sometimes-costly traditional bike share rentals that only offer limited models, too-short test-rides at bike shops that can be alienating for some shoppers, and even to traditional libraries that allow patrons to check out bikes alongside books...They've had to navigate the challenges of guarding against bike theft - tracking tags, tutorials on how to safely lock up in public..."

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