Category Archives: environment

Climate Change Car Wars – GM to Reach 100% Renewable Energy in 2025

It’s the latest p.r. shot in the car marketing wars by automakers that no longer can deny the real life and planet threatening damages incurred by fossil fuel use. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EVs – Ford to Spend $11.4B Creating a Tennessee Campus, Twin Battery Plants in Kentucky

Both states are “right to work” (for less?) states, which means workers don’t have to be unionized. Tennessee sent $500 million in incentives from its taxpayers. Kentucky donated $300 million and what appears to be about 1,500 acres of free land. Thus Ford is the latest automaker attempting to lay off some or more of the huge capital costs needed to build EVs as global warming make their increasing use inevitable. SK Innovation will split off its battery business on October 1 as a wholly owned subsidiary.Thus Ford is the latest automaker attempting to lay off some or more of the huge capital costs needed to build EVs as global warming make their increasing use inevitable. SK Innovation will split off its battery business on October 1 as a wholly owned subsidiary. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Climate Change – EPA Targets Hydrofluorocarbons Again

A global phasedown of HFCs is expected to avoid up to 0.5 °C of global warming by 2100. This final rule will phase down the U.S. production and consumption of HFCs by 85% during the next 15 years, as mandated by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act that was enacted in December 2020 after the environmental hater “global warming is a Chinese hoax” was evicted by voters the month before from occupying the Whitehouse. Continue reading

Posted in economy, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lithium-Sulfur – Better than Lithium-Ion Battery?

Whether this is a genuine breakthrough or just another silly-CON (Do you know the ways of San Jose? Privately held until the IPO?) remains to be validated by vehicle use on the road and ultimately adoption by major automakers. Lyten expects full production and market availability for ‘25-‘26 model year vehicles. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, energy, engineering, global warming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

European Light Vehicle Production Tanking

The most recent setback has been the forced closure of semiconductor facilities in Malaysia to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak, the LMC Automotive consultancy notes. This disaster comes from raw material price increases, semiconductor shortages and bottlenecks in the production of intermediate products. Continue reading

Posted in environment, manufacturing, prices | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

De-Carbonize the Police. Ford Submits EV to Michigan

Ford said it will use the pilot program testing as a benchmark while it continues to explore purpose-built electric police vehicles in the future. Law enforcement demand for all-electric vehicles is growing globally because of the dire climate change crisis and increasing regulations banning fossil fuel vehicles. Last week, Ford introduced a new Mustang Mach-E police concept car in the United Kingdom. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, global warming, news analysis | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz Brazil Shows Electric Bus

If there is equivalent customer interest, “use outside of Latin America is also conceivable. “The eO500U is a model from the O-500 series, which is also the basis for the Mercedes-Benz Super Padron city bus. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is China Now Clearly in the EV Affordability Lead?

This of course is not good news for occidental auto conglomerates or their customers, which through a forced combination of government regulation, shareholder pressure and consumer sentiment are investing billions in EVs to solve the very real and deadly problem of fossil fuel use, which has increasingly visible negative health and climate effects. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, global warming, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nissan, Waseda U. Testing EV Motor Recycling

Nissan Motor and Waseda University today announced the start of testing in Japan of a jointly developed recycling process that recovers high-purity rare-earth compounds from electrified vehicle motor magnets. The testing is aimed at enabling practical application of the new … Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Genesis Electrification Follows Hyundai Motor Group Ideas

Along with a dual electrification strategy, Genesis announced its goal to pursue a carbon neutral brand by 2035. This is first time for a member of the Hyundai Motor Group to announce the transition, an area where it has lagged. Genesis plans to make the transition to innovate its entire value chain, beginning with raw materials, vehicles, and parts and extending to all work sites and production plants. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, energy, environment, global warming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kia Tweaks Niro Plug-in Hybrid

With an all-electric range of 26 miles because of a minuscule 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer hybrid battery, it’s contribution to limiting fossil fuel use that is negatively affecting the planet is laughable. This is hardly a threat to the oil industry. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, global warming | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota to Assemble Fuel Cell Modules at Kentucky Plant

“We’re bringing our proven electric technology to a whole new class of production vehicles,” said Tetsuo Ogawa, president and chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America. “Heavy-duty truck manufacturers will be able to buy a fully integrated and validated fuel cell electric drive system, allowing them to offer their customers an emissions-free option in the Class 8 heavy-duty segment.” Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spin E-bikes and E-scooters Linked to Google Maps

Google Maps users can see, in real-time, the nearest available Spin e-bike or e-scooter, including how long it will take to walk to the vehicle, as well as the estimated battery range and expected arrival time. Users will then be directed to the Spin app to pay for the vehicle, unlock it and take their ride. Spin claims integration will bring wider public awareness to Spin’s vehicle availability and point people towards a more sustainable option for short journeys in urban areas. Continue reading

Posted in environment, mobility company, people | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Global Warming – EPA Raising Data Centers Energy Star Specs

Data centers are one of the most energy-intensive building types, consuming 10 to 50 times more energy per square foot than a typical office building. In 2014, data centers in the U.S. consumed an estimated 70 billion kWh, representing about 1.8% of total U.S. electricity consumption. Based on estimates in 2016, U.S. data centers were projected to consume approximately 73 billion kWh in 2020. Continue reading

Posted in environment, global warming | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment