EDITOR'S CHOICE

EV Range: Why More Isn't Better

02 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

An EV with a modest range is perfect for my lifestyle, and I expect suitable for many other drivers, too.

"Canada reports that the average commuting distance for 93 per cent of car commuters is just 8 km each way. Even those few drivers with longer commutes travel an average distance of 40 km each way.

"...large batteries come with downsides. They cost more than smaller batteries. They weigh more, which drags down a vehicle’s efficiency..."

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New Flow Battery Electric Car To Be Made In The USA

02 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"Compared to lithium-ion batteries, the advantages of flow batteries for an electric car include non-toxicity, inflammability, longer range, and shorter fueling time. However, that's not as simple as it may sound.

"...improvements in energy density have created an opening for flow batteries in the long duration energy storage market for stationary applications. However, downsizing them for mobility has seemed far off in the future..."

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The Year America's EV Dreams Met Reality

02 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

"...new changes in tax credits in 2024 and dropping prices could help EV sentiment in the US

"...past year was supposed to be a big year for that transformation in the US. But a number of factors led to a sobering reality...A combination of factors like high prices for EVs, higher finance costs, and infrastructure issues dimmed prospects for an EV transformation"

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Western Anxiety About Chinese EVs Could Prove Self-Defeating

02 Jan 2024 | Synopsis

American "...national-security hawks...worried about replacing a reliance on Saudi oil with battery supply chains dominated by China...EV tax credits aren't the only evidence of how China hawks are prevailing in Washington...Excluding Chinese companies from Western EV handouts is something politicians on both sides of the Atlantic can agree on...The risk is that the West cuts off its nose to spite its face."

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How Well Did The U.S. Address The Climate Crisis In 2023? 8 Experts Graded Our Progress

31 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"Climate experts give the U.S. mixed grades on its efforts to mitigate climate change - but they all agree there's room for improvement."

"...we thought it would be a good time to ask climate experts to grade the United States' efforts to address the issue over the last year...The stakes, however, are much greater for the planet than for their students...Although the U.S. showed great effort as the Inflation Reduction Act started to roll out, it fell short of its potential..."

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Kevlar, Wood, and Resin Give Rise to the American-Born e-Woody: A Different Kind of E-Bike

31 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"the Woody Scorcher...frame design that has even stood up against testing in a 100-mile (161 km) MTB race where 12,000 vertical feet were covered and a top speed of 45 mph (72 kph) was hit on a particular descent...Connor throws on an SRAM e-Matic hub motor powered by a 7.7 Ah, 36 V battery...you can expect to find your ballpark somewhere between $6,000 (€5,500 at current exchange rates) and $12,000 (€10,900) or more..."

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Toyota, Nissan, 10 Others Join Forces To Form A New Research Group Powerhouse For Software

31 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"Advanced SoC Research for Automotive (ASRA)...was established to research and develop high-performance semiconductors (SoC) for vehicles. The group will pool their talents and vast industry experience to develop in-vehicle chips by 2028...With at least 1,000 semiconductors used in each car nowadays, the tech is becoming more and more critical.

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The Largest Wooden Wind Turbine In The World Has Been Switched On

31 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"The structure can be built on-site in seven sections with a total of 28 modules...The turbine tower's walls are made with 144 layers of 3-millimeter-thick laminated veneer lumber...wood came from about 200 spruces, the same species used for Christmas trees, all of which were sustainably farmed...By 2027, the company wants to create 100 wooden towers each year, perhaps on a much larger scale than present."

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Treasury's Proposed Clean Hydrogen PTC Rule Disappoints Power Industry

31 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"If finalized, the Treasury Department's proposed regulations...would essentially establish a tiered production tax credit (PTC) that is available for each kilogram of clean hydrogen produced during a taxable year...the rules define "qualified clean hydrogen" as hydrogen that is produced "through a process that results in a lifecycle [greenhouse gas (GHG)] emissions...The Section 45V credit equals $3...per kilogram of hydrogen produced."

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Electric Cars Are Already Upending America

30 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"In 2023, our battery-powered future became so much more real - a boom in sales and new models is finally starting to push us into the post-gas age. Americans are on track to buy a record 1.44 million of them in 2023...Nearly 40 new EVs have debuted since the start of 2022, and they are far more advanced than their ancestors.

"In the EV age, cars are no longer just cars. They are computers...It's the software that is really the heart of an EV."

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E-Bike & Electric Scooter Injuries Are Increasing By At Least 20% Every Year

30 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"Over the 2-year study period, U.S. emergency departments reported 13,557 injuries related to e-scooters within the pediatric population...a majority were white males, ages 16 to 18, with most injuries reported in the spring and summer."

""...part of that may be due to the simple fact that there are a lot more micromobility options in use now than there were just a few years ago...Wearing a helmet, choosing safer places to ride, avoiding distractions while riding, and increasing visibility on the road may all help prevent injuries, of which fractures, contusions, and abrasions were the most common injuries"

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Texas Company Lines Up Hundreds Electric-Hybrid Planes For Takeoff

30 Dec 2023 | Synopsis

"...Dallas-based air carrier [JSX] revealed...they'll add up to 332 small hybrid planes in 2028, allowing them to connect to smaller, underserved communities around the country...The new cutting-edge airplanes will come from manufacturers Electra, Aura Aero, and Heart Aerospace

"The favorable operating economics of the Aura Aero Era, Heart ES-30, and Electra eSTOL can create thousands of new and expanded air travel options across the [US]..."

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