EDITOR'S CHOICE

LA Times Column: Who Elected Elon Musk Our Arbiter Of Social Norms?

19 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"...Musk's corporate activities point to what is often described as a 'whim of iron.' He defends his policies and politics as derived from painstaking consideration based on immutable laws of human behavior...instead, they point to the social dangers of endowing self-interested personalities with the money to buy unaccountable influence in conflict with the public interest.

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Gen Z Doesn't Want Cars

17 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Polls, studies and surveys show younger generations are less likely to drive, less likely to have a driver's license, have less access to vehicles, and when they do get behind the wheel, are driving fewer miles...Gen Z is more environmentally conscious than generations past, and many don't want to exacerbate the climate crisis by driving...Young people seem to crave more good-for-the-planet transportation methods..."

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British AA Finds Electric Vehicle Breakdowns From Running Out Of Power At Record Low

17 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"The percentage of electric vehicle (EV) breakdowns caused by running out of power reached a record low last month, figures suggest. Just 1.4% of the EV callouts the AA received in June were due to their batteries having limited or no charge...Just 1.4% of the EV callouts the AA received in June were due to their batteries having limited or no charge...The company expects the annual figure to ultimately drop to 1%, which would be equivalent to the proportion of petrol or diesel car breakdowns due to running out of fuel."

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'Thousands' Of Electric Heli-Pods Ordered For Upcoming World Expo In Riyadh

17 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Saudi Arabia...[l]ocked in a neck-and neck battle with Dubai for the title of ultimate early adopter of bleeding-edge technologies

"...relatively low-cost, single- and double-seat heli-pods promise a battery range up to 50 km (31 miles), which will be plenty for a relatively small site...The whole thing weighs just 210 kg (463 lb) without anyone on board in a single-seat format, and its relatively short rotors promise a noise signature under 55 dB at 150 m (490 ft) altitude..."

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The $1.7 Billion Bet On American-Made EVs, Explained By The Secretary of Energy

17 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"...the Department of Energy announced $1.7 billion to fund the conversion of 11 auto manufacturing facilities, which had either been shut down or were at risk of shutting down, to make EVs and supplies for the burgeoning industry... will create 2,900 new jobs and ensure that more than 15,000 union workers keep theirs.

"...it would be political malpractice for any leader of that state or that political party to go in the opposite direction..."

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Here Are The Chinese Carmakers Who Want To Conquer The World

17 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"There are currently 140 different brands in China, around 50 in Europe and 14 in the US and Japan.

"Between 2020 and 2023, Jato reminds us that sales of Chinese-branded cars outside the domestic market increased fivefold...Between 2022 and 2023, the market share of Chinese brands in the Middle East rose from 12.9% to 16.8%, and in Eurasia - where cars are now most popular - their market share rose from 12.4% to 33.3%. South-East Asia and Africa also recorded growth of 1.9 and 2.3 percentage points."

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Car-Free Living Can Significantly Boost Your Health And Well-Being, Study Finds

15 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Participating in a three-week car-free challenge has significantly boosted the health and well-being of Oxford residents...The study revealed that 10 out of the 12 participants who gave up their cars for three weeks plan to continue reducing their car use...By embracing alternative modes of transport, individuals can experience numerous benefits, from personal health to community engagement..."

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Dutch Study Reveals Disturbing Discover: Children Living Near Major Airports Suffer Substantially More Respiratory Symptoms

15 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Dutch researchers installed air pollution equipment in three different grade schools, each less than a mile from the airport border... days with higher aviation-related ultrafine particles (UFPs) resulted in more respiratory distress. Symptoms included coughing, wheezing, and phlegm..Each cubic centimeter of air breathed near a large airport contains tens of thousands of UFPs...The National Cancer Institute has linked UFP to lung cancer."

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Why The Slowest EV Chargers May Be The Fastest Way To Get People Into EVs

15 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Apartments need EV charging. Supporters of trickle-slow 'Level 1' chargers argue that access is more important than speed.

"Peninsula Clean Energy, or PCE, aimed at getting apartment building owners to adopt a commonly dismissed method of EV fueling: Level 1 charging...uses a 120-volt outlet, like a TV would, and batteries fill at a rate of about five miles every hour. But it’s also relatively cheap and simple."

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What Project 2025 Would Mean For The Fight Against Climate Change

15 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Policies promoted under the plan would place political personnel in positions to oversee science at major federal agencies and reduce such agencies' limitations on polluting industries...The plan would also eliminate offices within the Energy Department that focus on renewable energy, climate technology and energy technology research.

"...They're coming in with sledgehammers and scalpels to try and dismantle any barriers to the fossil fuel industries."

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