EDITOR'S CHOICE

EVs Are Cleaner And Have Brighter Futures Than Traditional Cars

05 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"The 2024 national elections will pit fossil-fueled interests against the clean energy economy...Undoubtedly, voters will be hit with misinformation. EVs have many selling points, but one of the most critical is that they are cleaner than traditional cars.

"the lifecycle CO2 emissions of a medium-sized battery-electric vehicle manufactured today and driven 155,000 miles would be 27%- 71% less than those of an equivalent car with an internal combustion engine. Drivers in the United States hit the ''breakeven point'' at 25,500 miles.

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Net Zero Is Not Just Good Science - It's Also A Good Deal For Ordinary People

05 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"..misinformed debate over the country's climate transition and legally binding net zero targets risks further dividing people...a new study, we show that achieving net zero and economic well-being are not mutually exclusive goals. In fact, the additional annual cost of pursuing net zero is somewhere between 0.7% and 1% of GDP...the cost of inaction, in the form of more severe climate impacts, has previously been estimated at 1.1% of GDP."

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Volvo's New EX90 Electric SUV Will Launch With "World's First" EV Battery Passport

05 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"The solution was developed by Volvo and UK startup Circulor over the past five years. Using blockchain technology, it will show buyers information about the vehicle's battery, such as its composition, where its materials are from, its recycled content, and its carbon footprint...To view key battery info, owners can simply scan a QR code on the inside of the driver's side door.

"Battery passports will be mandatory for new electric cars sold in Europe starting in February 2027."

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Here's Why The Federal EV Charging Network Is Rolling Out So Slowly

05 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"The first station built with NEVI funding was up and running in Ohio in December 2023...As of May 28, 2024, 23 states have begun releasing NEVI funding...Ohio, New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania are among the fastest-moving states when it comes to using NEVI, funding, according to Automotive News, while Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming are the slowest."

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Here Are All The EVs With 800V Charging Available In 2024

01 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"...with more voltage, you get more wattage (power, aka charge rate) from the same amperage (current)...800V architecture is also more efficient, with less electrical resistance, so it can use thinner cables and smaller, lighter components while needing less cooling...The tradeoff is that it is more costly, and guess who that cost gets passed on to.

"Currently, there are only a handful of EVs available with 800V charging."

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Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Get A Reality Check In New Report

01 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

Findings of new report titled, "Small Modular Reactors: Still Too Expensive, Too Slow, and Too Risky" don't look so good for this particular form of energy production...Small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) are generally defined as nuclear plants that have capacity that tops out at about 300 megawatts, enough to run about 30,000 US homes...the report asks if continuing to pursue these smaller nuclear power plants is a worthwhile endeavor..."

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Biden's Tariffs Are..."Gulp"... a Good Idea

01 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"National security, technological innovation, and economic development depend on them

"Contrary to the declamations from some of Biden's ostensible allies, this is almost certainly good news for both the climate and the global economy.

"China hasn’t achieved this technological ascendancy through sheer grit and derring-do. Its government deliberately suppresses domestic consumption by keeping wages low, forcing its manufacturers to pursue profits through exports, which the government supports with subsidies as it restricts green tech imports."

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Can Electric Cars Escape Identity Politics?

01 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"If you care about decarbonization, Trump's EV comedy routine is actually quite concerning

"...The mini-rant about EVs that follows is now as much a feature of Trump speeches as complaints about immigration or the injustice...EVs were already a means of expressing identity long before Trump started talking about them...Republicans delight in mocking the slow progress on building a nationwide network of charging stations..."

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Donald Trump Vows To Stop [Made-In Mexico Chinese?] All Electric Car Sales, But He Definitely Can't

01 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"With billions of investment on the books from automakers, charging companies, dealership networks, and advertising, it seems unlikely that Donald Trump can stop the rolling bolder that is the EV market. Republican strongholds Texas and Florida are increasingly adopting electric vehicles as their chosen mode of transport, trailing only California in terms of EV registrations."

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Lithium-Ion Batteries From Drones Might Find Second Lives In Less 'Stressful' Devices

27 May 2024 | Synopsis

"Research...shows the potential to improve batteries in aerial electric vehicles that take off and land vertically. The [ORNL] team developed a new electrolyte to address these challenges and said the 'stressed out' batteries could also have second lives in less strenuous applications.

"...results indicate that the LiBs typically used in drones might not have the characteristics necessary for long-term, high-stress usages, but they could be retired and meet more typical power demands..."

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