EDITOR'S CHOICE

Decades-Old Biology Technique Reveals Key to Prolonging Electric Aircraft Battery Life

22 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"...it turns out that omics, a field that helped scientists unravel the secrets of the human genome, could also soon play a key role in making carbon-free air travel a reality...Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory...used omics techniques to study the intricate interactions within the anode, cathode, and electrolyte of electric aircraft batteries...the discovery that certain salts mixed into the battery electrolyte formed a protective coating on cathode particles..."

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This US Election Is An EV Referendum

19 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

The GOP Presidential nominee and convicted felon Donald John Trump "capped the tirade off in his speech Thursday, promising to 'end the electric vehicle mandate on day one.'

"EV sales by most automakers are rising, up 36% in the second quarter..A Pew poll last month found that just 29% of Americans would consider an EV for their next vehicle purchase, down from 38% last year.

"Musk’s perspective, slamming the brakes on government support for EVs makes perfect business sense: His competitors need it more than he does."

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Will In-Wheel Motor Tech Go Big In Electric Pickups?

19 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Lordstown Motors opted for hub motors licensed from Slovenian firm...it had put about 20,000 development miles on its electric pickup before its release and about 200,000 development miles on the motors

"...in 2023, Ford filed a patent for a system that uses a combination of in-wheel motors and solid axles...Ferrari, McLaren, and others are reportedly considering in-wheel motors for future performance EVs."

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This One Delivery Switch Could Save UPS & Co. Billions - No, Really

19 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

"Household names including UPS and FedEx already include electric cargo bikes as a permanent part of their delivery fleets in cities such as Hamburg, Paris, London, and New York.

"...mixed electric fleets can already bring down costs today, by a range of 1–8 cents per package depending on the bike-van ratio and city layout. That adds up to big potential savings for UPS, up to $445 million per year - in 2024"

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Autonomous Shuttles Debut At This US Airport

19 Jul 2024 | Synopsis

The SAE Level 4 shuttles are able to carry eight passengers, and will serve a route with 15 stops around JFK...the shuttles will feature safety attendants on board who regularly work as bus drivers at the same airport. So the use of these shuttles will not be a job-cutting program, at least not at this particular stage.

"Other potential uses of self-driving shuttle platoons include moving passengers for first-mile/last-mile trips such journeys between an AirTrain station and a distant airport facility such as car rental offices."

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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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