EDITOR'S CHOICE

Electric Cars Are Suddenly Becoming Affordable

07 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"Regarded by conservative politicians and other critics as playthings of the liberal elite, EVs are fast becoming more accessible. Prices are falling because of increased competition, lower raw-material costs and more efficient manufacturing...

"Even if Republicans gain control of the White House and Congress and follow through on promises to dismantle EV subsidies, they may not be able to undo the market forces pushing down prices."

Read Full Story

Green Investments Hit $2 Trillion Worldwide

07 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"According to the IEA's new study, 'Investment in clean energy this year is set to be twice the amount going to fossil fuels...Clean energy technologies and infrastructure should reach $2 trillion this year. The total investment in energy will be $3 trillion, so investment in fossil fuels will be modest. China will be the growth engine, with investments totaling $675 million.

"Much of the Chinese investment is due to government financial support."

Read Full Story

UN Leader Denounces Fossil Fuel Advertising

07 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

"UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called out advertising agencies, governments and media organizations for allowing the fossil fuel industry to "shamelessly greenwash" and "delay climate action."

"I urge news media and tech companies to stop taking fossil fuel advertising"

"Guterres also issued a full-throated endorsement of carbon removal technologies as a necessary piece of taking action to limit the pace and extent of global warming."

Read Full Story

Are Electric Cars Better For The Environment Than Fuel-Powered Cars? Here's The Verdict..From Down Under

05 Jun 2024 | Synopsis

Electric cars are key to the world reducing emissions, with transport accounting for almost 20 per cent and rising...Some examples of a medium SUV are the electric Tesla Model Y, Toyota's RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5 on the petrol side..the average Australian car drives about 12,600 kilometres a year, or 189,000 over its lifetime...petrol SUV produces almost 46 tonnes of carbon over its lifetime on the road."

Read Full Story

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.

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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..."

Read Full Story

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."

Read Full Story

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..."

Read Full Story