EDITOR'S CHOICE

Lithium Mine Investments Aren't Keeping Up with the EV Supply Chain

27 May 2022 | Synopsis

"...battery materials consultancy Benchmark Minerals calculates that the downstream of EV supply chain is growing at twice the pace of upstream mining and processing. 'Something drastic needs to happen to close this gap if one of the key pillars of the [energy transition] is to exist at scale...'

"Though the US has one of the world's richest lithium resources, it only has one lithium mine in operation accounting for under 2% of global production."

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Joby Aviation Secures Certificate to Operate Commercial Air Taxis

26 May 2022 | Synopsis

"...certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to begin on-demand commercial air taxi operations....

"While it's a significant milestone that puts Joby closer to its stated goal of launching its electric aerial ridesharing service commercially in 2024, the startup still has a ways to go until it can ferry passengers in its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles."

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If Europe and Japan Can Have Small, Cheap EVs, Why Can't America?

26 May 2022 | Synopsis

"(US) automakers will argue that small cars are not profitable in the US...the last time we were offered an electric kei car in the form of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, it wasn't all that appealing to US car buyers.

"More affordable EVs designed with US tastes in mind are in the works at General Motors and Honda, although those vehicles are still five years away from market. In the meantime, it seems like our best hope for getting smaller, cheaper EVs on our streets might be by bombarding the companies with calls to do so."

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25% of New York's Streets Could Be Converted as Squares and Cycle Paths

26 May 2022 | Synopsis

"NYC 25x25 plan...acts to transform a quarter of the current urban space available to cars: an area equivalent to thirteen Central Parks to be taken away from traffic."

"Called NYC 25x25, the plan specifically calls for the creation of 500 miles of protected bike lanes, another 500 miles of dedicated bus lanes, new secure waste receptacles, and an area equivalent to 13 Central Parks removed from urban traffic."

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"A Resounding Victory": Court Rules Exxon Must Stand Trial for Lying to the Public About Climate Change

26 May 2022 | Synopsis

"The lawsuit filed in 2019 by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey accuses Exxon of violating the state's consumer protection laws through a decades-long effort to conceal what it knew about the negative environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels...

"In particular, the complaint says, Exxon deceived investors about the risks that global warming poses to its business and misled consumers by downplaying the dangerous effects of its products and overstating what the company is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

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Making the Case for E-Bikes: A New White Paper Lays the Groundwork for Better E-Bike Incentive Programs

26 May 2022 | Synopsis

"In a new white paper from Portland State University, researchers looked at more than 70 current, former, and upcoming efforts to subsidize the use of electric bicycles in the U.S. and Canada, and how those local programs might have an even bigger impact in the future - and eventually, win more funding at the local, state, and federal level."

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Harley-Davidson Selling Out Its Newest Electric Motorcycle In 18 Minutes Highlights Pent-Up Demand

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"The first limited-edition run of Del Mar electric motorcycles sold out in just 18 minutes.

"Granted, it was a small and exclusive block of just 100 Launch Edition bikes. But the bikes were also priced nearly $2,700 above the base model?s $15,000 price. And that extra few Gs mostly got you a unique numbered plate and colorway, but not a whole lot else."

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Busting the Myths and Fears of Buying an Electric Car

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"The bottom line here is that electric cars are different than gasoline-powered cars. Like all kinds of consumer goods and electronics, the farther you go from the proven mainstream brands, the more of a risk you’re taking with long-term performance and reliability.

"But electric cars will only grow in number, and most EVs are pretty good. If the average American were to drive an electric vehicle, they'd enjoy it. At the very least, an electric car is worth a test drive."

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Finn Raises $110M to Expand Car Subscription Platform in U.S., Germany

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"One third of Finn’s fleet is currently fully electric, but the company says that share is quickly growing.

"Like its competitors, Finn offers a selection of new cars for rent, which can be delivered to the customer’s home, with no hidden fees or down payments. The company says the price listed online includes insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance."

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Buckle Up for Some Juicy EV Stats, Courtesy of the International Energy Agency

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"Public spending on subsidies and incentives for EVs nearly doubled in 2021 to nearly $US30 billion. A growing number of countries have pledged to phase out internal combustion engines or have ambitious vehicle electrification targets for the coming decades. Meanwhile, many carmakers have plans to electrify their fleets that go further than policy targets"

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Saudi EV Plant Likely to Be One of Three in Kingdom, Says Investment Minister

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"United States-based EV maker Lucid Motors, which is more than 60% owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, plans to build its first overseas production factory in Saudi Arabia later this year. The plant is expected eventually to produce up to 150,000 vehicles a year."

Speaking at Davos, Falih did not reveal who the other plants might be built for.

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Britain's Smallest Electric Car Has a Surprisingly Big Price Tag and Short Range

24 May 2022 | Synopsis

"Citroen's new electric Ami has two seats, a top speed of 28mph and a range of 46 miles - and it will cost £7,695 from this summer...

"The 2.4-metre-long EV qualifies as a 'light quadricycle.'

"All versions are powered by a 6kW electric motor and a 5.5kW battery, which can be charged via a cable built into the passenger door frame."

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