EDITOR'S PICK

Ethiopia Shows Us Just How Fast The Transition To Electric Mobility Can Happen In Africa

13 May 2024 | Synopsis

"Ethiopia has a population of 126 million people, but the total number of vehicles registered in Ethiopia is around 1.2 million. Most of these vehicles are over 20 years old.

"...Ministry of Transport and Logistics recently said that this target of over 100,000 electric vehicle has already been met in just the first 2 years of this plan!

"...in just 2 years, locally assembled EVs and imported EVs have added almost 10% of Ethiopia's current total ICE vehicle registrations!"

Read Full Story

The Infrastructure Required To Support Flying Car Travel

13 May 2024 | Synopsis

Similar to airplanes, we will need an extensive network of air traffic management authorities in every country. There's also one important thing - the skies aren't empty. Air traffic control for such cars will require extensive communication with that of airplanes.

"As fun and futuristic as the newer eVTOLS may seem, companies making flying cars will also have to consider safety and noise regulations."

Read Full Story

Ramit Sethi Says Car Payments Are a 'Wealth Killer' - Here's Why

13 May 2024 | Synopsis

"...more than 100 million Americans have taken out auto loans...taking out auto loans also means the same Americans are now trapped in debt and paying high interest rates. The money spent on paying off an expensive car is no longer available to put towards building wealth.

"Instead of looking at the monthly payment, Sethi recommends using ratios instead...start by choosing a car you can afford and not the car you think you should have."

Read Full Story

BYD Provides First Look At Shark Pickup Truck Ahead Of Imminent Debut

11 May 2024 | Synopsis

"BYD hasn't revealed much information regarding the Shark but describes its off-roading abilities as 'robust' and notes that it will boast DMO technology. This Dual Mode Off-road Super Hybrid technology enables superior range and impressive performance... the Shark will adopt a hybrid setup (presumably plug-in) better suited to a workhorse...A combined range of around 745 miles is expected.

BYD has no plans to enter the American market."

Read Full Story

If Western Automakers Aren't Already Terrified Of Chinese EVs, They Probably Should Be

11 May 2024 | Synopsis

"A trip to China for the Beijing auto show demonstrates just how far Chinese EVs have come.

"...the auto show had more than 100 new model debuts and concepts. That's a far cry from the Detroit Auto Show last September...while Western automakers are still focused on things like range and charging speed when it comes to selling EVs, those issues have already been addressed in China..."

Read Full Story

Physicists Look To Power Batteries With Micro Black Holes

11 May 2024 | Synopsis

"While the concept is mind-bending, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility...However, manipulating these microscopic phenomena for energy storage remains purely hypothetical.

"The true value of this exploration lies in highlighting the vast potential for future battery technology...a single kilogram of a micro black hole battery could theoretically power a family for generations, offering 470 million times the energy of our most efficient 200-kilogram lithium batteries."

Read Full Story

How '15-minute Cities' Could Save Time, Reduce Emissions, And Build Community

11 May 2024 | Synopsis

"...average American lost nearly an hour a week to traffic congestion in 2022. Drivers lose an additional 17 hours per year hunting for parking...

"Instead of expecting residents to get in their cars and drive long distances to work, run errands, and take part in social activities, cities should instead be designed to provide those kinds of opportunities in close proximity to where people live, reducing overdependence on cars..."

Read Full Story

Their Batteries Hurt The Environment, But EVs Still Beat Gas Cars. Here's Why

11 May 2024 | Synopsis

"...building an electric vehicle does more damage to the climate than building a gas car does.

"If you look at the climate impact of building and using a vehicle - something called a "lifecycle analysis" - study after study has found a clear benefit to EVs.

"A traditional car needs mining every day, needs mining every time it's used. It needs the whole extraction complex of fossil fuels in order to power it..."

Read Full Story

Despite Charging And Range Anxiety, EV Owners Won't Give Up Their Cars

10 May 2024 | Synopsis

"...a new study found that range anxiety is a complicated, multi-faceted issue and that a new fear surrounding charging has emerged for most owners of electric vehicles...Only 9% of EV owners said that they experience range anxiety very often, while 29% of owners said that they sometimes felt range anxiety, and 44% said that they rarely felt range anxiety.

"A staggering 91% of current EV owners, including 95% of Tesla (TSLA) owners and 86% of other brands say that their next car will be an EV."

Read Full Story

AI-Powered EV Batteries: The Next Welcome Change

10 May 2024 | Synopsis

Chemix, an AI-powered EV battery developer, has completed a USD 20 million Series A funding round...Using AI, developers can cut down the time and expense of battery design by iterating faster and more efficiently...early-prediction model helped reduce the time it took to identify fast-charging techniques from over 500 days to 16 days...Chemix helped a client develop a novel electrolyte...that could extend the battery's cycle life by 400% within two months."

Read Full Story

This Genius 'Vampire Drone' Is Designed To Fly Forever

10 May 2024 | Synopsis

"Thanks to a docking mechanism, its sensors, and artificial intelligence system, the drone can recognize a power line every time it needs to recharge its batteries...To achieve complete autonomy, the drones needed to easily charge without human intervention.

"When the drone batteries are full, a circuit cuts the current, the magnet stops working, and the grip opens freeing up the drone to fly again."

Read Full Story

Will Better Superconductors Transform the World?

10 May 2024 | Synopsis

"When electrons travel through the metal, they fight their way through other electrons and other defects and so on, and lose energy as they move forward. And that loss is what we pay for.

"...the ramifications of superconductivity being available in ambient conditions are going to be transformative for all things around us...Here we are talking about energy efficiencies, which are going to transform how we travel, how we communicate."

Read Full Story