EDITOR'S PICK

China To Launch World's First Thorium Molten Salt Nuclear Power Station In 2025

27 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"The innovative facility, which China claims will start operating by 2025, intends to reshape global energy with its high-end technology and prospects for a safer and greener nuclear power industry...Its reactor does not need water for cooling because it utilizes liquid salt or carbon dioxide to transfer heat and make electricity...thorium reactors generating less toxic and short-lived radioactive waste than uranium-fueled ones..."

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Over 50 Rivian EVs Damaged In Factory Parking Lot Fire. Here’s What Happened

27 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"A fire that broke out in the parking lot of Rivian's electric vehicle factory in Normal, Illinois damaged over 50 R1S and R1T models that were reportedly waiting to be shipped out to customers...The cause is still unknown. NFD spokesperson Swaney said an investigation has been started to find out what started the blaze...

Editor's Note: Rivian experienced a fire that damaged three of its Amazon delivery vehicles in Houston, but noted it did not involve the vehicles high voltage traction battery."

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Tesla's 'Cortex' Supercomputer Is What Its Robotaxi Hopes Ride On

27 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"Tesla's solution for staying ahead in the future is to focus on autonomous vehicles...It involves gathering colossal amounts of video footage from millions of its electric cars worldwide...with the goal of making Teslas drive like humans.

"The system at this complex is called Cortex, a "supercomputer cluster"...for video training of the Optimus humanoid robots and the Full-Self Driving (FSD) system...the Texas supercomputer will apparently require 500 megawatts of power in the future."

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France's Arrest Of Telegram's CEO Feels Like A Warm-Up For A Much Bigger Target: Elon Musk

27 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"...France took the billionaire into custody in response to widespread criminality that was enabled via his encrypted messaging app..free speech advocates on the other side...have blasted [the] move as an attempt to enjoy some measure of control over a digital bastion of free speech...the First Amendment didn't create the freedom of speech; it simply promises that the government will stay out of your way"

EDITOR'S NOTE: "Observers have noted that due to the lack of a modern battlefield management system, Russian troops have come to rely heavily on Telegram to coordinate their activities."

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Why Some Car Companies Expected A Faster Switch To EVs

25 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"To a Super Bowl TV audience of over 100 million, the auto industry appeared to be saying: Electric vehicles are here

"Making exclusively electric vehicles, Tesla turned its first profit in 2020, and that profit margin shot up in 2021. Other automakers found themselves playing catch-up.

"...pandemic relief money in hand...government tax credits for EVs. All of that made the electric vehicle market's trajectory look bright..."

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Air Pollution Stripes: Making The Invisible Visible

25 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

A coalition [of UK and US universities] has devised a graphical representation of historic air quality for every capital city in the World. The illustrations…reveal the steady improvement of air quality across Europe and North America, in stark contrast with the obvious deterioration in parts of Africa and Central Asia

”…it’’s all about that lightbulb moment when someone understands it; that sudden 'oh yeah now I get it'.

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Can You Lose Weight With An E-bike? We Asked An Expert

25 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"A study published in the Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives...looked at over 10,000 participants in seven European countries and found that e-bike users would have significantly longer trips, compared to regular cyclists, resulting in more overall physical activity.

"While a traditional bike will burn more, according to the National Accident Help Line, a study has shown there’s only roughly a 20% difference between the two

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Perth, Australia's EPCA Plans To Convert 50-70 Mining Trucks To Electric Power Annually

25 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"EPCA became famous for its 'Green Machine,' a CAT 777 100-ton haul truck...Switching the CAT from diesel to battery electric power boosts the haul truck’s horsepower from 1,000 hp to 1,120 hp, and bumps torque from 4,700 Nm (3,400 lb ft) to 5,200 Nm (3,835 lb ft)...six 290 kWh Xerotech batteries running in parallel. The combined battery pack is good for some 1740 kWh of energy storage..."

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Can Hydrogen Help the Energy Transition? Panel Explores the Benefits and Challenges

25 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"...hydrogen is truly a climate-friendly alternative...making its benefits possible on a large scale will require adding significantly to the 10 million tons of hydrogen that the U.S. produces annually now...Hydrogen that comes from natural gas is referred to as gray hydrogen, which accounts for about 95 percent of hydrogen currently produced in the U.S. and globally

"While there are many challenges to wider development and use of green hydrogen, the greatest challenge is cost."

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Aptera Receives Bodies In Carbon Delivery, Multiple Production Intent Solar EV Builds To Follow

24 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"the BinCs (from Italy) will be cleaned up and soon become Aptera's next three production-intent solar EV builds.

"...it would end its crowdfunding campaigns, which garnered $135 million from over 17,000 investors, Aptera announced a partnership with financial group US Capital Global....$60 million will provide the startup with enough cash to build 10-12 validation prototypes, complete crash testing, and then manufacture 10-15 production intent vehicles that will be sold."

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What Climate Policies Work Best? A New Study Has Answers

24 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"Out of 1,500 policies in 41 countries, a small fraction had a big impact."

"...a new study out Thursday in the journal Science...the biggest cuts came from adopting a combination of policies...just 63 instances in which countries substantially slashed emissions...actually, we've made a fair amount of progress

"...Regulation is the most powerful policy for reducing emissions from transportation."

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How China Became The Leading Car Supplier To Mexico And What It Means For The U.S.

24 Aug 2024 | Synopsis

"Last year, China was the leading car supplier to Mexico, exporting $4.6 billion worth of vehicles to the country...Mexico is an attractive production platform... in part because of that free trade access that it has to the American market

"Experts say pressure from the U.S. leaves Mexico in a difficult position of maintaining its crucial relationship with America without being overly friendly to Chinese investment."

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