EDITOR'S CHOICE

Magnet-Free Induction Motor Aims To Nearly Halve Carbon Emissions

16 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Mahle and Valeo have teamed up to introduce what they call the Inner Brushless Electrical Excitation (iBEE) system, a form of e-machine that eliminates the need for sensitive rare earths, promises powerful performance and sends lifecycle carbon emissions right off a tall, steep cliff.

"The two companies aim to cut overall carbon footprint by more than 40% as compared to a permanent-magnet e-motor with equivalent power."

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EVs - What Are They Good For?

16 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars...U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars...Only on climate-damaging carbon emissions from driving do electrics triumph decisively over gasoline cars

"What's keeping EVs from slam-dunk superiority over GVs? In a word, batteries."

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How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

15 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"In the UK...the transportation consultants at EA Maven have been pushing the case for regional air mobility (RAM), with hybrid-electric STOL aircraft serving longer routes...a potential for a UK RAM network with an average sector length of 143 miles.

"...a potential longer-term RAM network across the British Isles covering 63 airports and 684 routes, carrying just over 430 million passengers each year..."

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Cape Station Geothermal: Putting Petroleum Drilling Technology To Work For Carbon-Free 24/7 Electricity

15 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"$2 billion geothermal project...is not drilling for gas. It's drilling for underground heat that ... [promises] to hold the key to generating carbon-free power...Just these three well pads alone will produce 100 megawatts of electricity...around-the-clock, 24/7 electricity

"..a well that curves like a hockey stick as it reaches more than 13,000 feet underground...the water squeezes through cracks in 400-degree rock."

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Is DC Fast Charging Really That Bad For Your EV's Battery? We Asked The Experts

15 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"... faster charging can come with some trade-offs. The fact is that DC fast charging generates more heat...can accelerate the degradation of the cells in the battery pack...That, however, seems to be largely theoretical.

" a study by Recurrent that was conducted on over 6,500 Tesla Model 3s, frequent DC fast charging doesn't have quite as much of an impact as some have previously assumed...The battery is happiest between 60° and 90° F..."

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World's First Ammonia-Powered Vessel Embarks On Maiden Voyage: "It's Just The Beginning"

14 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"...ammonia-fueled tugboat, the Kraken, completed its maiden voyage in a tributary of New York's Hudson River...uses green ammonia...It does this by 'cracking' the gas into hydrogen and nitrogen and then funneling said hydrogen into fuel cells to power the craft.

"Amogy's work is not just maritime-based; the company has tested drones, farm equipment, and semitrucks, all powered by ammonia..."

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Banning Chinese Cars Is Dangerous And Self-Defeating

14 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"The Biden administration issued the new rule citing national security concerns without providing any evidence

"American leaders are identifying genuine problems that do require changes in U.S. laws, regulations, and even governing philosophy...exclusionary U.S. response reinforces a world of a zero-sum competition in which all sides lose.

"U.S. automakers are largely responsible for their own uncompetitive position..."

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Two California Police Chiefs Share Concerns About Teslas As Patrol Vehicles

13 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"Ukiah Police Department chief Cedric Crook and Menlo Park Police Department chief David Norris agree "the Model 3 or Model Y, have cramped interior spaces for police work, especially after being outfitted for the task....officers reported issues with 'autopilot interference,' plus a lot more problems with the vehicle being too smart and having its controls in one place...

"This isn't the first time that police departments have reported dissatisfaction with their Tesla police vehicles..."

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New Report Shows More EV Buyers Are Embracing Affordability

13 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"[Experian's] report found that non-luxury EVs are slowly making up more of the market, growing from 22.7% last year to 26.6% in Q2 2024. Nearly 60% of EV buyers cited affordability as a key factor in their decision-making...the percentage of exotic and luxury models declined from 77.3% to 73.4% year-over-year

"EVs continued to make significant gains...accounted for more than 3.5 million, an increase from approximately 2.7 million..."

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The Master Plan To End EV "Range Anxiety" Forever

13 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"...an estimated 33% of US drivers live in places that aren't conducive to home charging EVs...US now has nearly 72,000 public charging stations, the vast majority are in urban areas...36% of Americans live more than two miles away from a charging station, and a recent Pew survey found..US built 704 new fast charging stations in the second quarter of 2024 - an increase of 9% in just three months.

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Tesla Offers Little Information On Robotaxi, Here's The Deeper Scoop

12 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"In reality Tesla FSD is still in very primitive shape. It’s at about the safety level that Waymo was in 2016...the transit replacement vision of the robovan - it's a real message...Today's transit vehicles are too large to be efficient, as counter-intuitive as that seems. The most efficient vehicles in U.S. transit are vanpools...

"The robovan, combined with 1 or 2 seater last/first mile vehicle can provide a door-to-door transit experience...making transit people really want to use."

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I've Driven The New Renault 5 - And It's Finally The First Small, Fun EV For The Masses

12 Oct 2024 | Synopsis

"...the original Renault 5 went on to sell 5.5 million units across five continents from 1972 to 1985...the world was crying out for a more affordable electric vehicle...one that would sell in big numbers...It will arrive in Europe with the choice of two powertrains and battery capacities...The more potent motor comes with a 52kWh battery pack, meaning it is capable of traveling around 250 miles on a single charge.

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