Science and Technology:
¶ “In The Fast Lane With Formula E” • Since the first race in Beijing in 2014, Formula E has been invigorating fans across the globe. Born in part from a desire to attract sponsors who are increasingly eco-conscious back to motorsport, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is a natural showcase for electric vehicle technology. [CleanTechnica]
Racing EV (Formula E image)
¶ “Airspeeder Shows Off Mk3 Flying Car Design, Plans Manned Racing In 2022” • Australian flying-car company Alauda recently showed off the third version of their highly anticipated eVTOL, Airspeeder Mk3. That alone would be newsworthy, but they also announced that the company plans to have manned Airspeeder racing in 2022. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “£182 Million In London Congestion Charges And Fines In One Year” • Data obtained from Transport for London shows UK motorists were fined £130 million in fines for failing to pay the London Congestion Charge after they went into the city in non-electric cars over a 12 month period, and another £52 million in fees. One takeaway: Get an EV! [CleanTechnica]
Citroën e-C4 (Courtesy of © Citroën)
¶ “Fossil Fuel Air Pollution Causes Almost One In Five Deaths Globally Each Year” • Environmental Research published a study by researchers from Harvard University, in collaboration with three British Universities, that found exposure to particulate matter from fossil fuel emissions accounted for 18% of all worldwide deaths in 2018. [CNN]
¶ “Mercedes-Benz EQA Is A Slick, Compelling Addition To UK Auto Market” • We might compare the Mercedes-Benz EQA with Tesla EVs. The EQA’s base price is very similar to the Tesla Model 3’s in the UK, and that is very similar to expected Model Y’s base price. Tesla offers more advanced tech, but Mercedes offers a more luxurious auto build. [CleanTechnica]
Mercedes-Benz EQA (Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)
¶ “China Plans To Raise Minimum Renewable Power Purchase To 40% By 2030” • China will require regional grid firms to buy at least 40% of power from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 to meet national climate targets, according to a new government document seen by Reuters. In 2020, 28.2% of China’s electricity was from non-fossils. [The Business Times]
¶ “Vattenfall Granted Horns Rev 3 Certification” • DNV GL has issued Vattenfall with a project certificate for its 412-MW Horns Rev 3 offshore wind farm. The certificate proves a safe and cost-efficient operation of the largest offshore wind farm in Denmark. Horns Rev 3 is the third phase of offshore wind development at the Horns Rev site. [reNEWS]
Horns 3 offshore wind farm (Vattenfall image)
¶ “UNSW Sydney Leads Group To Power New South Wales Infrastructure With Renewables” • A research consortium led by UNSW Sydney will investigate the potential to grow a new industry that will use cheap excess renewable energy to make fuel, chemicals, and feedstocks to power a range of New South Wales infrastructure. [UNSW Newsroom]
¶ “The City Of Sustainable Skyscrapers” • Hong Kong’s 42,000 buildings – including about 8,000 high-rises, of which more than 1,500 are skyscrapers exceeding 100 m (328 ft) in height – consume up to 90% of the city’s electricity and contribute to 60% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. Now Hong Kong is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. [BBC News]
Green building (New World Development Company)
¶ “Catholic Bishops Of Japan, Korea Criticize Fukushima Radioactivity Clean-Up Plans” • The Catholic bishops of Japan and Korea criticized the Japanese government’s plans to release into the sea millions of gallons of radioactive water from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi, where three nuclear reactors melted down in 2011. [Catholic News Agency]
¶ “Storage Player Highview Closes $70 Million Funding Round” • Highview Power has closed its growth capital round of funding with over $70 million, bringing the total amount of funding and grants the company has secured to date to over $145 million. Highview Power’s technology stores energy by liquefying air and using it to power turbines. [reNEWS]
Highview Power plant (Highview Power image)
US:
¶ “Proposed E-BIKE Act Legislation Would Offer 30% Tax Credit For E-Bike Purchases In US” • Finally! We have the legitimizing move that e-bikes deserve along with micromobility in general. US Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sponsored the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment Act. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Brooklyn Getting USA’s 1st EV Fast Charging “Superhub” • An e-mobility company in New York, Revel, is putting 30 EV fast chargers into a “Superhub” in Brooklyn. It is a record-breaking facility, in fact. “The site will be the largest universal fast charging depot in North America, with 30 chargers open to the public on a 24/7 basis … [CleanTechnica]
Tritium RTM75 with Revel branding (Revel image)
¶ “UA Wins Funding To Support Renewable Energy Innovation” • The University of Arizona Center for Innovation received an award of up to $300,000 from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to support the US technology innovators competing in the Department of Energy’s American-Made Challenges program. [Tucson Local Media]
¶ “Experimental ‘Blowhole’ Renewable Energy Could Be On Its Way To The US” • The use of wind and water as sources of renewable energy is well-documented. But an innovative project, taking place off the coast of a remote Tasmanian island, aims to showcase a new approach in other parts of the world, including in US waters. [Digital Trends]
Have a thoroughly entertaining day.
geoharvey 