Despite gloomy headlines, 2025 saw climate progress with cleaner grids, falling cement demand, rising EV adoption, solar industry shifts, and batteries stabilizing electricity markets. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/12/29/world/positive-climate-news-you-this-year/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #climatechange #2025 #evs #solar #carbonemissions #cement #fossilfuels
Retreating from EVs could be hazardous for Western carmakers
#HackerNews #Retreating #from #EVs #hazardous #Western #carmakers #electric #vehicles #automotive #industry #sustainability
The global transition to electric vehicles is beginning to unravel the way major changeovers often do: slowly at first, then all at once. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/17/tech/electric-car-transition-unravels/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #evs #carmakers #europe #us
mekka okereke :verified:
boosted
Xiaomi aren't here yet, but we get lots of other Chinese #EVs. Every year they improve, & are already better featured than legacy brands at the same prices, most have a performance model, & they typically have long warranties (my MG4 has 10yrs).
BYD's new Atto 1/Seagull (4 seat "city" car) starts at ~AUD26.5k (USD17.6k) - your magic 18k number! AND it's well kitted.
I think all legacy manufacturers are in trouble, & will need to change fast to survive.
🤣Timely!
MKBHD just reviewed a Xiaomi SU7.
Don't hear it from me. Take it from a known Tesla fan.
And in the question 'Are "we" cooked?' who is "we?" More than 99% of US citizens would benefit from cheaper EVs. And the whole planet would be less "cooked" if we accelerate phasing out fossil fuels.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb6H7trzMfI
And in terms of "Doesn't have mind blowing features that US cars don't have..." That's true for the Xiaomi.
But BYD has a car that lets you press a button on the screen that will launch an integrated drone while you are driving. The drone will follow your car.
You're basically an aircraft carrier.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AK7VwXGjGWo
Do you need a drone that will follow your car? Do you need 1,500 horsepower? Do you need 25 speakers in your car?
I'm not sure that the answer to any of these questions is yes.
But if you take these features out, you can sell EVs for under $18K. That's the magic price point for mass adoption.
Xiaomi aren't here yet, but we get lots of other Chinese #EVs. Every year they improve, & are already better featured than legacy brands at the same prices, most have a performance model, & they typically have long warranties (my MG4 has 10yrs).
BYD's new Atto 1/Seagull (4 seat "city" car) starts at ~AUD26.5k (USD17.6k) - your magic 18k number! AND it's well kitted.
I think all legacy manufacturers are in trouble, & will need to change fast to survive.
BMW PHEV: When EU engineering becomes a synonym for "unrepairable" (EV Clinic)
#HackerNews #BMW #PHEV #EU #engineering #unrepairable #sustainability #EVs
Chinese companies are building on the rapid pace of drone and EV tech to get a real flying car market off the ground. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/11/30/tech/china-flying-car-focus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #china #carmakers #evs #tech
I've just written to my MP expressing my horror at the increased tax on EVs in yesterday's budget.
Not the only bad thing in the budget (though TBF, there were some good things as well), but it's the one that stands out for me as being particularly harmful.
A rare GM EV1 saved from the crusher is going to be driveable again
https://electrek.co/2025/11/19/gm-ev1-saved-from-crusher-going-driveable-again/
#HackerNews #GM #EV1 #EVs #saved #automotive #history #electric #vehicles
Eliot B
boosted
This is a good article on NZ EVs in general and the fear mongering in our media, as well as the lack of knowledge/training by FENZ. Near the end a golden nugget:
"There's been no EV fire that's been caused by an EV in New Zealand as yet."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/579729/mediawatch-angst-about-evs-blows-up-in-the-headlines
#EVs #FUD
Lithium ion batteries can be a fire risk, yes. But cheap ones in household devices (phones, charging packs, *toys*) are much riskier than the ones in EVs, according to Colin Peacock;
https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/mediawatch?share=0fc8e854-476a-4b94-a849-ecfac17b8e35
Lithium ion EV batteries are probably no riskier than a tank of extremely explosive fuel. Certainly not risky enough to justify a regressive crusade against EVs in general, which these days may have nonexplosive sodium ion batteries.
This is a good article on NZ EVs in general and the fear mongering in our media, as well as the lack of knowledge/training by FENZ. Near the end a golden nugget:
"There's been no EV fire that's been caused by an EV in New Zealand as yet."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/579729/mediawatch-angst-about-evs-blows-up-in-the-headlines
#EVs #FUD
on the laughable #LNP rhetoric re #NetZero and #Renewables 😬
" #China’s overseas investments in clean #energy have exceeded $225 billion since 2011, more than the Marshall Plan, adjusted for inflation. In Pakistan, a standalone panel costs farmers $125, and they never have to worry about buying #diesel again. In Nepal, #electricvehicles now make up 76% of new car sales because Chinese Mini #EVs only cost $10,000. These aren’t moral decisions. They’re economic ones."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/climate/cop30-belem-climate-energy-technology-china.html
Thinking about the suggestion of raising #tax on #EVs. There's certainly justification for pay-per-mile charges, but I can't for the life of me think of a way of charging that is fair and not open to abuse.
You can't ask people to meter their home charging.
You can't trust the odometer reading on the car.
You can't trust EV owners to report mileage truthfully.
You can't trust mileage data supplied by the car itself (even if all cars magically provided it).
Am I missing something?
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, man uses his electric vehicle for the most important thing in a power outage: making coffee?!
RNZ: Picton man uses electric car to cook hot breakfast amid power outages
Chinese battery giant CATL has announced a new Sodium Ion battery pack for EV that is game-changing. It features:
⦁ 10,000 charge cycle lifetime to 85% capacity
⦁ 90% power capability at -40℃
⦁ 175 Wh/kg energy density, behind Li-Ion at 300 Wh/kg
⦁ no thermal runaway danger
⦁ cost $19/kWh, compared to $50/kWh for Li-Ion
This will be ideal for mid-range, low cost EVs, and for grid batteries. They start mass production in 2026.
#Energy #EVs #Batteries
https://carnewschina.com/2025/09/18/catl-says-next-gen-sodium-ion-battery-supports-500-km-range-readies-for-2026-mass-production/
Europe should seek common ground with China on clean trade and investment instead of pursuing defensive industrial policy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/07/world/china-europe-climate-connection/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #europe #eu #catl #evs #byd #climatechange #carbonemissions #pollution#cop30
BBC: South Koreans detained in ICE raid at Hyundai electric vehicle site in Georgia
"...US immigration authorities have raided a massive Hyundai manufacturing site in Georgia, leading to the arrest of over 450 people, according to one of the agencies involved in the operation...."
Fuck every EV charger that requires an app to use. Just give me a goddamned credit card reader.
This is the second station we've stopped at today that required yet another app install and registration—only to have the fucking thing not work.
(Alice is ticked off)
Aral Balkan
boosted
Norway, the most environmentally superior country on Earth.