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Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! Currently, the biggest hurdle for electric vehicles, or EVs, is the development of advanced battery technology to extend driving range, safety and reliability. New research has shown how a novel lithium-based electrolyte material (Li9N2Cl3) can be used to develop solid-state batteries that charge faster and store more energy than conventional designs. Experiments revealed the solid-electrolyte was not only stable in normal air environments, but it also inhibited the growth of dendrites — dangerous, branchlike formations that cause batteries to catch fire. Oak Ridge National…
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! People from all corners of the United States experienced some form of extreme weather in 2023. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2023 has already set a record for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the United States. Tragic events like the deadly Maui firestorm, extreme flooding in California and New England, Hurricane Idalia’s category four winds battering the Gulf Coast, and devastating hailstorms and tornados throughout the central US underscore how a changing climate poses major challenges to the reliability our…
View of denver skyline. Original public domain image from Flickr Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission unanimously approved a new Colorado Clean Car rule, which essentially follows California’s “Advanced Clean Cars 2” rule but falls short of setting a 2035 target for 100% EV sales. Last year, California finalized a rule which would lead to 100% EV sales for new vehicles by 2035. The rule targets increasing percentages of new EV sales between now and 2035, culminating in 100% ZEV and PHEV sales by that date. At the time (and now) we noted that this timeline could have been sooner for…
As a fan of Mazda, I can’t help but be rather disappointed by how it’s meeting the current moment. While other automakers are building battery plants, announcing huge new electric vehicle lineups and even issuing end dates for internal combustion, the “Zoom-Zoom” brand offers exactly one plug-in hybrid in its U.S. lineup, and it starts around $50,000. Don’t get me wrong. I understand exactly why this is happening. Mazda’s a tiny, mostly independent automaker – one of the last, really – and it can only do so much on the powertrain front. But to date, any Mazda loyalists who also…
Chevrolet has released power and torque ratings for the 2024 Blazer EV’s 2LT and RS trims with dual motor all-wheel drive powertrains. Both AWD trims will have 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, the automaker has confirmed to Car and Driver. This is the first time Chevrolet has announced power and torque outputs for these versions of its electric SUV. We contacted GM and asked for confirmation on this; we’ll update the story when we hear back. Previously, Chevrolet only revealed the power rating of the Blazer EV SS performance model, which makes 557 hp and up to 648…
The Tesla Cybertruck recently appeared on the NHTSA’s 2024 Model Year VIN Decoder, revealing some interesting details. The 17-digit VIN number in 2024 includes the Cybertruck, marked as “C” for digit 4 (“T” would be the Tesla Semi, while cars can be identified by “3”, “S”, “X”, “Y”.) The major thing to look at is digit 8, which includes two options for the Tesla Cybertruck: “D” for the dual-motor version and “E” for the tri-motor version. In other words, the manufacturer prepared two main powertrain versions, both of which are all-wheel drive. There’s even more interesting info revealed by digit…
Given the way Tesla alone has dominated so many headlines in recent years, it almost feels like electric vehicles have been an integral part of the industry for a long time. The truth is that modern EVs are still largely in their infancy. But this technology is moving incredibly fast. Just look at what was available a mere four years ago compared to now. I call it “The Class of ‘19.” Back then, only 16 battery-electric vehicles were available for purchase in the U.S. market. Three were Teslas and the other 13 were from various legacy brands, including the Nissan…
European bike brand Bzen is known for its urban-focused electric bicycles. Its newest model, known as the Vienna, serves as the fifth e-bike in its roster, and is said to be inspired by the high quality of life in Vienna. As you probably know, Europe is embracing electric bicycles as a means of mobility around the city, and Austria is no different. That said, the Vienna is meant to bridge the gap between conventional bicycles and e-bikes. A lot of electric bikes in the market are designed to haul cargo or be super compact and easy to commute with. The…
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! The IRA’s methane charges are on the horizon, but first we need to clean up the data. Self-reported emission inventories by large oil and gas (O&G) operators in the United States are significantly underreported, inhibiting climate progress. Even when companies follow federal guidelines, emissions slip through the cracks because those guidelines follow simplistic assumptions of routine operations with minimal methane leakage. However, this reporting can miss “super-emitting” events, which are large enough to be seen by satellites and can contribute a substantial share of O&G emissions. Empirical…
Today, Tesla celebrates a major milestone in Europe, where the cumulative sales of its electric cars hit one million units. The company explains that it took 14 years since the first Tesla Roadsters were delivered to customers in Europe. After the original Roadster, Tesla has been selling the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y in Europe, after which the refreshed Model S and Model X were introduced. The Model 3 and Model Y represent the majority of the sales volume. If we combine the one million sales in Europe with the recently achieved manufacturing milestone of…