Opinion:
¶ “Tesla’s Big Gross Margin Advantage” • It has been common for naysayers to write that Tesla “lost money on every car it sold.” But Tesla earns more money for every vehicle it sells than any of its rivals. A lot more. Reuters shows that Big T earns an average of $9,574 per vehicle sold. For second-place GM, it’s $2,150, and it’s $1,550 for plug-in powerhouse BYD. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model 3 (Taun Stewart, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Is Air Pollution Causing Us To Lose Our Sense Of Smell?” • Exposure to PM2.5 – small airborne pollution particles – has been linked with “olfactory dysfunction,” but typically only in occupational or industrial settings. New research is starting to show the true scale of the pollution we breathe in every day. The findings have relevance for us all. [BBC]
¶ “NASA Is Mapping Duststorms From Space With This New High-Tech Device” • Sand and dust storms happen in much of the world. According to the UN, dust storms are increasing due to climate change, land degradation, and drought. Now, climate scientists tracking the storms can work with NASA on a new instrument called EMIT. [CNN]
Dust storm in Texas (Jakeorin, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “World Risks ‘Doom Loop,’ IPPR Warns” • A report by the Institute For Public Policy Research, a progressive UK think tank, warns that the world risks creating a “doom loop” in which we spend so much time and energy responding to the ever-rising effects of climate change that we lose sight of the need to address their causes. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Chinese Provinces And Florida Among The Most Climate-Vulnerable Regions In The World, Analysis Finds” • China is home to 16 of the 20 regions of the world most vulnerable to climate change, a study shows, with some of the world’s most important manufacturing hubs at risk. Florida is most at risk of places outside China. [CNN]
Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (Z Ruikoto, Unsplash)
¶ “Tata Motors And Uber Sign MOU For 25,000 XPRES-T EVs” • Tata Motors has been revolutionizing the Indian automotive market with its pioneering efforts, and it leads the e-mobility wave in India. Now, Tata Motors says that it has signed an MOU with Uber in India. Some 25,000 XPRES-T EVs will go into Uber India’s Premium Category service. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Volvo CE Invests In Battery Pack Production” • Volvo CE has announced plans to invest millions into its excavator plant in Changwon, South Korea, to build battery packs like the one in the upcoming EC230 electric excavator. The factory is around 1.1 million square meters, (an almost unimaginable 11.84 million square feet). [CleanTechnica]
Volvo CE EC230 (Volvo CE image)
¶ “China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is Running Into Roadblocks” • The renewable energy industry in China faces hurdles, and it still needs policy support to overcome some issues, China’s National Energy Administration said. Large-scale solar and wind projects increasingly are competing with agriculture for land. [Oil Price]
¶ “Australia Must Ramp Up On Renewables To Avert Blackouts: Market Operator” • Australia’s eastern states could face blackout risks from the middle of this decade if renewable energy projects are not ramped up as the country moves rapidly away from its dependency on coal-fired power stations, the energy market operator warned. [Reuters]
Windy Hill wind farm (Lepidlizard, public domain)
¶ “EU Climate Diplomacy Deal On Hold As Nuclear Dispute Deepens” • The EU failed to adopt climate policies, owing to a deepening spat over the role of nuclear energy in the green transition. France and some other countries want policies to promote nuclear energy for cutting CO₂ emissions. Germany and its allies oppose nuclear power. [EURACTIV.com]
US:
¶ “Woke In The Streets: In-Road Wireless EV Charging Comes To Indiana” • The dream of an in-road, wireless EV charging system is not so dreamy any more. Indiana is among the states developing systems that will enable EVs to recharge while in motion. That sort of idea delights of some of the Indiana office holders, but not all. [CleanTechnica]
Interstate 80 in Indiana (Cassini83, public domain)
¶ “NYC Fire Boss Wants More E-Bike Battery Regulations” • New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh has called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to take action and help prevent what it calls “sub-standard” lithium-ion batteries from entering the US. Kavanagh made the appeal after hundreds of fires in NYC. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Idaho National Laboratory Is Developing Software To Help Farmers Manage Water Usage” • Idaho National Laboratory scientists explore water supply and extreme weather events through INL’s research efforts. Now, a team from the lab is working with Mickelsen Farms to develop software that can support farms in droughts. [CleanTechnica]
Supplying water (Courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory)
¶ “Renewable Energy Deployment Down 16% In 2022” • Last year, renewable energy deployment fell short of expectations, adding 16% less capacity in 2022 than in 2021. With increased costs of shipping and grid interconnection and emerging trade wars, supply chains struggled to keep up. A 30% growth rate had been expected. [pv magazine USA]
¶ “New York Transmission Upgrades Are To Make Room For Renewables” • The New York State Public Service Commission authorized utilities to develop 62 local transmission upgrades to reduce congestion in three upstate regions as called for New York’s Climate Act. New York aims to reach clean energy targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. [pv magazine USA]
Have an unpretentiously exemplary day.
geoharvey 