All posts tagged: cars

Electric Cars Are Made by Republicans and Driven by Democrats

Electric Cars Are Made by Republicans and Driven by Democrats

Published by skeptic

Dozens of used electric-vehicle batteries were stacked like cordwood on pallets in a warehouse-style building about 30 miles east of Reno, Nevada, when I visited the site last week. The batteries were bound for an assembly line that would begin the chemical process of recycling up to 95 percent of the lithium, cobalt, and nickel they contain. Eventually, after treatment in two more buildings on the site, the metals will become a high-value, fine black powder called cathode active material that is shipped in vacuum-sealed containers to Toyota and Panasonic for the manufacture of new EV batteries. This cutting-edge recycling process has been developed by a company named Redwood Materials. Founded by J. B. Straubel, a former chief technology officer at Tesla, Redwood has invested about $2 billion in this 300-acre facility located in an industrial park in rural Storey County, not far from where Tesla has built a massive “Gigafactory” manufacturing complex. With about 900 employees now on-site, and a workforce of 1,500 expected when the plant is operating at capacity, Redwood’s Nevada facility …

EV batteries hurt the environment. Gas cars are still worse

EV batteries hurt the environment. Gas cars are still worse

Published by skeptic

Tenke Fungurume Mine, one of the largest copper and cobalt mines in the world, is owned by Chinese company CMOC, in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Minerals like cobalt are important components of electric vehicle batteries, but mines that produce them can hurt the environment and people nearby. Emmet Livingstone/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Emmet Livingstone/AFP via Getty Images Tenke Fungurume Mine, one of the largest copper and cobalt mines in the world, is owned by Chinese company CMOC, in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Minerals like cobalt are important components of electric vehicle batteries, but mines that produce them can hurt the environment and people nearby. Emmet Livingstone/AFP via Getty Images Earlier this year, NPR’s podcast The Sunday Story reached out for listener questions about electric vehicles. You can hear the resulting podcast here. We’re also taking some of the most-asked questions and answering them here on NPR.org. Electric vehicles are sometimes called “zero-emission vehicles.” But the batteries that go into them are not zero-emission at all. In fact, making those …

Best new cars for family road trips: SUVs, hatchbacks and estates

Best new cars for family road trips: SUVs, hatchbacks and estates

Published by skeptic

Is there anything better than packing up the car and heading off on an adventure with all the family? Whether it’s a trip to the beach, a visit to an attraction, or a camping expedition, there’s no shortage of amazing places to go. But it isn’t just the destination and stop-offs that make a good road trip, the car you choose is really important too. Comfort is a necessity, so the more space the better. Decent performance, economy and the latest in-car technology are also essential.  Here we take a look at some of the many new car options available to suit a whole range of buyers. © SkodaThe 2024 Skoda Kodiaq seven-seater is better than ever Skoda Kodiaq – from £36,645 New for 2024, the second generation of Skoda’s popular seven-seater SUV is better than ever. Offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, plus a new plug-in hybrid option capable of 62 miles of electric-only driving, the latest Kodiaq boasts more space and more tech. For the record, luggage space in the …

Ford Europe backtracks on BEVs, may sell ICE cars past 2030

Ford Europe backtracks on BEVs, may sell ICE cars past 2030

Published by skeptic

Ford Europe is reportedly flirting with the idea of adjusting its electrification strategy in the region as BEV sales have been slow to take off. Originally, the European arm of Ford Motor Company said it would only sell battery-electric models by 2030, but that commitment could soon change. Ford Europe has followed the lead of its American counterpart in making public commitments to electrification while simultaneously investing big bucks into the transition toward BEV production overseas. The automaker has already completed a $2 billion investment to convert its Cologne, Germany, facility into a BEV production hub. That location will be home to the production of the all-electric Ford Explorer this summer, as well as a second all-electric model based on Volkswagen’s MEB architecture. In addition to the Explorer, Ford currently sells the Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit van in Europe—a mere start in transitioning into a BEV-only brand by 2030. Ford made that promise in 2021 as an ambitious goal, nixing combustion vehicle sales five years before the European Union voted to ban them. With limited …

We Tried the World’s Most Expensive Racing Simulator

We Tried the World’s Most Expensive Racing Simulator

Published by skeptic

But to convince F1 teams to abandon their own super-expensive bespoke in-house simulators and also persuade car manufacturers to use Dynisma’s tech to hone potential road cars, Warne and his team had to develop a sophisticated driving simulator that could drastically reduce latency to a point where the brain cannot distinguish any lag at all. The Dynisma sim’s secret is a super-low latency of 3 milliseconds so it feels like you’re really racing. Photograph: DYNISMA Using, among other developments, super low-friction struts and motors, Dynisma’s has pushed its simulator latency down from the usual 50 milliseconds to as low as 3 milliseconds. The effect is that your brain feels things as they actually happen. Such speed also means that the sensation of road hits, such as kerb strikes, are provided faster than even 240Hz projectors are able to keep pace with. Bandwidth is the other major improvement for Dynisma. Aeroplane sims don’t require very high frequency inputs (unless the flight is going very wrong indeed), but cars encounter speed bumps, rumble strips, sawtooth kerbs, cat’s eyes, and so on. This …

Georgia’s Attorney General Says Savannah Overstepped in Outlawing Guns in Unlocked Cars

Georgia’s Attorney General Says Savannah Overstepped in Outlawing Guns in Unlocked Cars

Published by skeptic

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Georgia’s attorney general says city officials in Savannah overstepped their authority by making it illegal to leave firearms in unlocked cars. Savannah’s mayor and city council in April enacted the new city ordinance aimed at making it harder for criminals to steal guns, citing local police statistics showing more than 200 guns reported stolen last year from vehicles that weren’t locked. The law carries maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail. State Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, said in a letter to Savannah officials Friday that the gun ordinance runs afoul of a state law that prohibits local governments from regulating “the possession, ownership, transport, (or) carrying” of firearms. “Because the General Assembly has expressly designated the regulation of firearms as an issue of general, state-wide concern, no local ordinance can regulate firearms,” Carr wrote. Carr’s letter foreshadows a likely court battle over whether city governments like Savannah’s can impose gun safety measures that have received little support in a state legislature dominated by Republicans. A …

Macron urges Xi to offer ‘fair rules for all’ amid brewing trade spat – POLITICO

Macron urges Xi to offer ‘fair rules for all’ amid brewing trade spat – POLITICO

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China has retaliated with its own anti-dumping investigation into European wine-based liquors, largely targeting France’s cognac producers. Xi, however, gave no indication whether he was going to offer any concessions to European demands upon his arrival at the Elysée Palace. He called on China and the EU to “remain partners” and “deepen their strategic communication” during his opening remarks ahead of the talks. Von der Leyen was more specific in her criticism of Beijing’s trade practices, saying that China’s “overcapacity” in certain economic areas, such as steel production and electric vehicles, led to “unsustainable unbalances.” The EU Commission president also threatened to “make full use of [the bloc’s] trade defense instruments” if necessary. “Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economies and security,” she said. In a break with the usual protocol of state visits, Xi’s official car stopped at the entrance of the Elysée Palace, compelling the French president to cross the courtyard to greet the Chinese president. Together they climbed the steps of the presidential palace, before briefly …

Two emperors on the edge of two wars  – POLITICO

Two emperors on the edge of two wars  – POLITICO

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Xi has repeatedly called Putin his best friend. He has also repeatedly refused to do anything to stop Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and supplied dual-use military technologies, weapon-building components and satellite imagery, warns the U.S., to Russia.  In a recent interview with POLITICO, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith highlighted Beijing’s support for Moscow, saying that China could not proclaim to be neutral in the conflict any more. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also described Chinese assistance as “[helping] Moscow to inflict more death and destruction on Ukraine.” Talking, not talking In Paris, Macron will provide Xi with his “analysis of developments in the conflict, and [will] convey Ukrainian positions,” the same Elysée official said. The French president “will also raise concerns about the activities of certain Chinese companies that could be directly involved in or contribute significantly to the Russian war effort.” There’s plenty of room for the two leaders to talk past each other.  “It’s going to be a mismatch of expectations,” said Abigaël Vasselier, head of foreign relations at MERICS, a …

Teenager turns himself in for assault on German lawmaker – POLITICO

Teenager turns himself in for assault on German lawmaker – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

The teenager reported to police in Dresden early Sunday morning and said he was “the perpetrator who had knocked down the SPD politician,” the police said in a statement. The 17-year-old did not provide any detailed information, according to the media outlet Der Spiegel. The SPD has blamed supporters of the far-right party Alliance for Germany (AfD) for the attack on Ecke. “Their supporters are now completely disinhibited and apparently see us democrats as fair game,” the statement on Saturday said. Saxony is one of the AfD’s political strongholds. On Saturday, the police had spoken of four suspects estimated to be between the ages of 17 and 20. The investigation into the other suspects is ongoing. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTION POLL OF POLLS For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls. Anti-far-right protests have been called for Sunday in Berlin and Dresden. “Democracy is threatened by this kind of act,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also a member of the SPD, said Saturday, speaking a congress of European socialist parties in Berlin. He …

As Elon Musk Abandons the K Tesla, This EV Costs Just ,400

As Elon Musk Abandons the $25K Tesla, This EV Costs Just $4,400

Published by skeptic

As Elon Musk steps away, yet again, from the idea of a $25,000 Tesla, let’s take this opportunity to zoom out and appreciate what a truly affordable EV can be. For this we need to ignore the Nissan Leaf—currently the cheapest EV in the US at $29,280—and skip over Europe, home to the adorable but flawed $10,000 Citroen Ami, and head to China. Here you’ll find the equally cheap BYD Seagull, a small electric hatchback styled by ex-Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger and with a 200-mile range—four times that of the Ami. But what if even that is too expensive? Then allow us to present the Zhidou Rainbow. This is a compact city EV priced from 31,900 yuan before subsidies—that’s just $4,400. For a new electric car. WIRED literally recommends ebikes that cost more that this. The Rainbow has three doors and four seats, and an interior with a 5-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. There’s even a connected smartphone app, charge scheduling, and the promise of over-the-air (OTA) software …