EDITOR'S PICK

Are Electric Cars Too Heavy For British Roads, Bridges And Car Parks?

25 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Academics at the University of Edinburgh...found that any extra [road] wear is 'overwhelmingly caused by large vehicles - buses, heavy goods vehicles'. Road wear from cars and motorcycles is 'so low that this immaterial'

"National Highways, which runs the UK's motorways and A roads, is not concerned. Our bridges are designed to support 44-tonne heavy goods vehicles, so we have no concerns over the increased weight of much lighter EV cars"

Read Full Story

GM Believes 'Production Hell' Is Behind It With Plans To Build 20X More Ultium EVs In 2024

24 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"The automaker encountered freight delays, software glitches, and other issues that delayed timelines....To make matters worse, GM ended production of its best-selling Chevy Bolt EV at the end of 2023, which accounted for 62,045 or over 81% of EV sales last year...CEO Mary Barra said 2024 is the 'year of execution' as GM looks to get back on track.

"GM sold fewer than 14,000 Ultium-based EVs in 2023, including the Cadillac Lyriq (9,154) and GMC Hummer (3,244)."

Read Full Story

Scooters Are The Most Efficient Way To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Colorado Study Finds

24 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"Battery-powered e-scooters are the most effective at limiting emissions over the life cycle of all commuting options"

"Electric scooters take relatively few resources to produce and carry residents efficiently over short distances, sharply limiting their greenhouse gas contributions as they get the job done...a commuting journey on a diesel-powered bus one of the least efficient per-passenger-mile methods when greenhouse gases are accounted for..."

Read Full Story

What Investors Should Know About The U.S. Easing Vehicle Emissions Rules

24 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"The Biden administration's decision to ease its timeline for all-electric vehicle adoption and give automakers more ways to meet new tailpipe emissions standards is expected to be a win for legacy automakers

"The EPA’s new strategy for cutting tailpipe emissions doesn’t focus only on EVs. It took into account more efficient gasoline engines, hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles."

Read Full Story

Edinburgh's Walking, Wheeling And Cycling Trends Revealed

24 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"The biannual Walking and Cycling Index, delivered in partnership between Sustrans and the City of Edinburgh Council, draws on independent survey...Among the findings, the report shows that 50 per cent would like to see more spent on cycling while 57 per cent want investment in walking and wheeling and more than two-thirds (68 per cent) support an increase in spend on public transport."

Read Full Story

DoorDash Begins Baconator Deliveries By Drone

24 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"If you're lucky enough to live near the Wendy's at 2355 N. Franklin Street in Christianburg, Virginia, you can have your square beef sandwiches delivered by drone...drone delivery area covers 'most homes within about 2.5 miles' of the Christianburg Wendy's...Deliveries should arrive between 10 to 30 minutes, carried by drones that travel at around 65mph."

Read Full Story

Renault CEO Calls For 'Marshall Plan' To Advance Europe's EV Adoption Amid Increasing Chinese Competition

22 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"...Renault chief executive suggests a comprehensive strategy to expedite the turnover of vehicle fleets, thereby curbing CO2 emissions.

Luca de Meo "advocates for Europe's EV adoption through ten initiatives: promoting affordable European cars, revolutionizing last-mile deliveries, accelerating parc renewal, developing charging infrastructure and V2G technology."

Read Full Story

Your Morning Cup Of Coffee Could Supercharge Fuel Cell Cars

22 Mar 2024 | Synopsis

"...researchers at Chiba University in Japan and published in Nature: Communications Chemistry, found that adding tiny amounts of caffeine to a specific part of fuel cells can dramatically boost their efficiency

"...researchers discovered that when they applied caffeine to the surface of platinum, a precious metal commonly used in fuel cells, it increased the ORR activity by a whopping 11 times compared to plain platinum."

Read Full Story

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..."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story