Trump Fact-Check: Electric Planes Don't Need Sunshine To Fly, But Do Need Funding - Forbes

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During a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Virginia on Friday, former President Donald Trump criticized a push for development of electric aircraft development, remarking, “All they know is electric. They want electric army tanks. They want electric planes. What happens if the sun isn’t shining while you’re up in the air?”

While it’s always difficult to know when the bombastic speaker is being intentionally obtuse, or when he is simply uninformed, he may not be alone in misunderstanding how electric aircraft work and why anyone would want to develop such planes.

With one major player in the field of alternative fuels declaring bankruptcy in part because of investor concerns that Trump would reverse Biden’s support for sustainable aviation programs, perhaps it is timely to offer a simple guide on this technology.

Not all electric aircraft are solar aircraft, and solar aircraft don't need constant sunshine

First, let’s clarify that not all electric aircraft programs are considering solar power as an energy-source. Those that are looking at solar panels use batteries to store the power from the sun so they can operate in cloudy conditions, and at night.

One remarkable program—Solar Impulse—already proved that solar powered planes carrying people could circumnavigate the world. I visited the Monaco Control Center of Solar Impulse while the circumnavigation program was ongoing in 2016.

While it was a hopeful development, it is unlikely that solar power will fuel large passenger aircraft.

That’s because the main challenge for any type of electric aircraft is that it must have battery storage sufficient to power the plane during its mission. The power demand of larger aircraft would require batteries that are too large and too heavy to fly. Striking a balance between aerodynamic weight restrictions and sustainable power supply is a real challenge that many aerospace companies are working to overcome.

Solar cells could, however, power other important flying machines, like single or double-occupant planes, and drones for transport services, communications, and defense. Again, these aircraft would, like Solar Impulse did, use batteries to store solar energy, so they could still fly when the sun doesn’t shine.

Hydrogen Power Promise Squashed By Investor Concerns Over Change In Funding Under Trump

One sad bit of news for those monitoring sustainable aircraft development is the collapse this week of Universal Hydrogen after burning through $100 million in funding and failing to raise more. The innovative program was working on the most likely sustainable power source that could scale to larger aircraft: hydrogen power.

The company’s founder and CEO, Paul Eremenko, who previously worked as chief technology officer at Airbus, told The Seattle Times, “If [Donald] Trump were to win, investors saw a significant risk that the massive green hydrogen subsidy enacted as part of the Biden Inflation Reduction Act would disappear.”

But the promise of hydrogen-powered flight is compelling enough that many European and UK companies are working on further research and development. As Airbus, which is actively working on hydrogen propulsion, explains:

“Hydrogen is a high-potential technology with a specific energy-per-unit mass that is three times higher than traditional jet fuel. If generated from renewable energy through electrolysis, hydrogen emits no CO2 emissions, thereby enabling renewable energy to potentially power large aircraft over long distances but without the undesirable by-product of CO2 emissions.”

The aviation industry is considering a combination of hydrogen solutions including synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced using hydrogen power, hybrid hydrogen fuel-cells to operate aircraft, and hydrogen combustion engines.

Airbus is looking at a blended wing passenger plane with room for up to 200 people onboard and a range of 2,000 nautical miles which could be powered by hydrogen instead of fossil fuel.

There are many promising programs underway looking for alternative sustainable energy sources to power flight, but they do need funding to fuel their future.

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Critics Clown Trump's 'IDIOTIC' Electric Planes Remarks: 'Dumb As A Box Of Rocks' - Yahoo! Voices

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Donald Trump on Friday dropped some confusing remarks about electric planes while criticizing Democrats at a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia.

“All they know is electric. They want electric army tanks. They want electric planes. What happens if the sun isn’t shining while you’re up in the air?” asked the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, apparently referring to solar-powered aircraft.

The comments by the former president, who has previously ranted about possible electrocution from electric boats, inspired mockery from social media users like journalist James Fallows, who served as a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter.

“OK, we know he is an idiot. But every now and then you have to say, this is GODDAMN IDIOTIC,” Fallows wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Electric planes run ON BATTERIES. His question is like asking, ‘How can you use an iPhone if it’s dark outside.’”

OK, we know he is an idiot. But every now and then you have to say, this is GODDAMN IDIOTIC.

Electric planes run ON BATTERIES. His question is like asking, "How can you use an iPhone if it's dark outside."

Oh, I forgot. I he "aced" his dementia-screening test. https://t.co/0wnm7tICDC

— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) June 28, 2024

Others reacted by calling Trump — a frequentcriticof electric vehicles who has opposed Biden’s push for them — “Dumb as a box of rocks,” among other things.

See what else they had to say in the tweets below:

Trump clearly doesn’t understand how solar energy is stored. He’s unfit.

— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) June 28, 2024

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BMW M3 Electric: Everything We Know - Motor1

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BMW's push to electrify its lineup will take a huge step forward with the launch of the Neue Klasse platform. Set to underpin production vehicles in just two years, the electric-first architecture will make BMW's EVs more efficient, with faster recharge times and longer battery ranges. As expected, the company's electrification efforts will extend to the coveted M brand—and the iconic M3.

The high-performance electric sedan is still about three years out from reality, but BMW is already hyping it up with huge promises. We know some details, like its quad-motor setup and an 800-volt architecture, but the design, output, and performance specs will be well-guarded secrets until closer to its reveal.

Before we see the high-powered electric variant, BMW will introduce the standard i3 first. Until that happens, here's what we know about the upcoming electric BMW M3 sedan.

What Will It Be Called?

Late last year, a trademark filing surfaced for the name "BMW iM3," which many speculated could be for the performance variant. But BMW M CEO Frank van Meel was quick to refute the speculation, saying that the company would "never" use the letter "i" on an M car.

However, BMW recently announced it will drop the letter "i" from its gas-powered vehicles, which denotes fuel injection. Instead the letter "i" will be used for EVs, which means we should see models like i320, i330, and i340 preceding the electric M3.

What Will It Look Like?

BMW M3 Electric Rendering

BMW previewed the new platform with the Vision Neue Klasse concept. The sedan featured a fresh design language with a broad, illuminated kidney grille encompassing the headlights and slim taillight housings at the back.

Its long hood and short rear deck looked sporty enough for the sedan, but it’s unclear how much of the concept’s styling will carry over to production. The new platform certainly allows the company to reset its styling ethos. Either way, we expect BMW M to differentiate the M3 from the i3 with unique wheels, fascias, and interior trim.

This rendering imagines what the electric BMW M3 could look like, with a more aggressive "grille," larger diffusers front and rear, and additional sporty accents in line with the current gas M3.

What Platform Will It Ride On?

The electric BMW M3 will ride on the Neue Klasse platform, BMW’s latest vehicle architecture designed specifically for battery-electric vehicles. It integrates the batteries into the car’s structure, which features an 800-volt architecture and fast charging at up to 270 kilowatts. It can accommodate battery sizes from 75.0 to 150.0 kilowatt hours, which can add up to 30 miles of range per minute when charging.

The new underpinnings will also bring about the automaker’s sixth-generation electric drive technologies and new cylindrical batteries with up to 30 percent more range than today’s BMW EVs. They will also be up to 50 percent cheaper than the current fifth-generation batteries and should lower the charging times from 10 to 80 percent by around 30 percent.

What Will Power It?

The electric M3 will have four electric motors and all-wheel drive, one at each wheel. While the Neue Klasse platform can make up to one megawatt of power—or 1,341 horsepower—it’s unclear if the automaker will unlock all that potential for this particular M model.

The gas-powered BMW M3, which should remain on sale alongside its electrified sibling for a few more years, makes 473 horsepower in its most basic form. The latest rumors suggest that the electric M3 will make around 700 hp, with the company planning regular and Competition variants.

BMW is also considering developing a dual-motor, rear-wheel-drive variant that’ll deliver a different driving experience. It might also make an electric M3 wagon, but we’ll have to wait for the potent new lineup.

When Will It Debut?

BMW still has to reveal the Neue Klasse-based 3 Series sedan and the iX3 crossover, neither of which will arrive until 2026. The electric M3 will debut sometime after the standard sedan breaks cover, giving us our first look at what the battery-powered M3 could actually look like.

When Will It Go on Sale?

Performance fans will have to wait for this one to arrive. BMW’s first Neue Klasse model will be the iX3 crossover and the i3 sedan, which is supposed to begin production next year. Those should go on sale in the US sometime in 2026, which puts the electric M3 reaching dealers sometime in 2027.

How Much Will It Cost?

If the electric M3 will "beat everything" as BMW claims, it might have a price that reflects those aspirations. However, it’s too early to know for sure. The entry-level 2024 BMW M3, with the 473-hp, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, starts at $76,995 (all prices include the $995 destination charge). The 503-hp M3 Competition costs $81,195.

The possibility of the electric M3 making over 1,000 hp would put it on par with today’s gas-powered supercars and in competition with other EVs like the aging Tesla Model S Plaid, which currently costs $89,380 and makes 1,020 hp. But that seems like a stretch for the new M3 right out of the gate. BMW is likely reserving that amount of power for something even more special.

The most powerful EV in BMW’s lineup today is the 2024 i7 M70 sedan, which delivers up to 650 hp. It also costs $169,495 compared to the i5 M60, which starts at $85,095 and makes 593 hp. Those numbers can’t predict the future, but they do show how attainable horsepower can be in an EV, so there is the real possibility that the ultimate M3 with 700 hp could cost around $100,000 or less to start. We’ll have to wait and see.

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Electric car battery charges in under five minutes in track test - BBC.com

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The sports car powered by the quick-charging battery

An electric car battery developed by UK start-up Nyobolt has successfully charged from 10% to 80% in four minutes and 37 seconds in its first live demonstration.

It was achieved with a specially-built concept sports car on a test track in Bedford, and is part of industry-wide efforts to get electric vehicles (EVs) charging more quickly.

By comparison, an existing Tesla supercharger can charge a car battery to 80% in 15-20 minutes.

Experts say eliminating so-called "range anxiety" is key to increasing uptake of EVs - but also stress the importance of improving the charging infrastructure.

“Developing technology that enables people to charge more quickly, which chimes with the time it currently takes to re-fuel a car – is really important," Paul Shearing, Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Oxford University, told the BBC.

But he added there needed to be more chargers of all types.

“People are going to want fast-charging infrastructure, independent of what car they’re using – everyone wants to do this more quickly,” he said.

The sports car the Nyobolt battery was fitted to - which was tested over two days this week - achieved a range of 120 miles after four minutes

A Tesla charged to 80% would typically have a range of up to 200 miles.

Dr Sai Shivareddy, co-founder of Nyobolt, told the BBC he was pleased with the results but admitted that the tests had been “nerve-wracking”.

The demo was carried out live in front of an invited audience of industry professionals for the first time - with a few hitches along the way.

Challenges included the UK heatwave, a failure in the concept car’s cooling system, and a standard on-site charger that was not made by Nyobolt.

These factors prevented the firm from recreating laboratory results, in which it says the battery can charge from 0% to 100% in six minutes.

Nonetheless, Dr Shivareddy described the event as “a big milestone for electrification”, and joked that his own car was still charging, having plugged it in when he arrived earlier that day.

Dr Shivareddy says the public test of the technology was "nerve-wracking"

Nyobolt says it does not intend to manufacture its own vehicles, and plans to partner with existing car brands, with the battery potentially inside EVs “at small scale” within a year.

The powerful 350kW DC superfast chargers that it requires are publicly available in the UK but are not yet widespread.

The firm also claims it has minimised degradation - it says the battery still charges to 80% after 4,000 cycles.

A full cycle is a charge from 0-100%, but this does not have to come all at once. For example, two charges of 50% would count as one cycle.

Apple says the iPhone 15 battery will have 80% functionality after 1,000 cycles.

The internals of the Nyobolt

Power, weight and durability

There’s a global race to develop faster-charging batteries that are more powerful, lighter and durable.

Last year Toyota said a technical breakthrough would enable it to develop a solid state battery which could charge in ten minutes and last 1,200 km (754m).

And a compact charger developed by the US start-up Gravity can add 200 miles of range to an electric vehicle in under 13 minutes.

But Dr Edward Brightman, lecturer in chemical engineering at Strathclyde University, said that while rapid charging is useful for long journeys, the real barrier to electric vehicle take-up still lay in the supporting infrastructure.

“Electric cars really aren’t limited by the batteries anymore,” he said.

“We urgently need to upgrade the grid and deploy rapid chargers with the capability to deliver the charge to the battery.”

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Major electric vehicle dilemma solved by Aussie couple's simple idea - Yahoo News Australia

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An Aussie couple has found a solution to a frustrating EV charging problem simply by "monetising the power point", ultimately providing access to easy charging for everyone at home — including apartment dwellers.

Until now, most people living in apartments or strata blocks haven't had access to suitable charging infrastructure, due to costs or maintenance works — issues those living in houses don't have. It's even resulted in Aussies getting creative with how they charge their vehicles.

But the Alchemy Charge smart point, created by Yasemin and Merich Selvi, aims to solve the common dilemma of not being able to charge the vehicle while at home. The idea came to them not long after they each purchased a Tesla a few years back. They have a construction business which works “predominantly in the strata space".

It didn’t take them long to realise the various issues associated with charging EVs in strata buildings.

"The hardware or infrastructure is expensive and the installations are complex — they have to be done by a licensed specialist," she explained. "Also, infrastructure upgrades in older buildings. There’s also not enough power coming into the block to service the amount of charging needed, plus there’s maintenance."

Looking at international markets, which far surpass Australia on the EV transition front, the NSW couple found 95 per cent of EV charging was done at home in some European countries, not with superchargers on busy highways.

Although in Australia, where the number of people living in strata-managed apartment buildings is around 2.5 million nationally and growing, most don't have that option.

Alchemy charge is a simple power point that can be installed to individual paring bays allowing electric vehicles to charge. Source: Supplied

EV charging in individual lots helps with cost and power consumption

So how does it work? Yasemin said it's really simple. All EVs come with a portable charger cable suitable for level one charging, with one exception the Tesla Model Y where it's an add-on. Drivers simply plug that into their wall device which has been pre-installed for $250, and then they scan the QR code.

“Then you activate a charging session, then stop the session and you pay for your usage, either in time or kilowatt. And then once a month we reconcile and we pay the host, usually the strata committee," she said.

"The vision is that you have one in every parking spot as opposed to having dedicated EV parking spots, which kind of eliminates some of the heat as well," she continued. "What we’re mostly seeing is that the tenant or the owner, if they want a power point, then they pay for one of the smart points to be installed in their spot".

The power points are installed by an electrician and can be used via the portable charging cable. Source: Supplied

This means, the entire strata committee, including those who won’t be using it, won’t have to pay for it — it’s only those who choose to use it. There’s also a power limitation which means excessive charging won’t fry the system if all used at once — concerns apartment owner and EV convert Robert Till previously expressed to Yahoo.

"You’re not actually sharing the power across X amount of spots. Every spot has a dedicated amount of power,” Yasemin explained.

There’s a queuing system and when one gets unplugged another gets picked up. This means the power won’t get “dialled down” like regular fast chargers.

While a standard power point is enough to effectively charge a vehicle, it does have some setbacks, including the possibility of overheating. The portable charging cables all have heat sensors and can disconnect when they overheat, but not when attached to an extension lead which is often seen.

"The cable’s heat sensor loses its ability to function," she added. Resulting in the car, the wall or the power socket overheating. "It's an obvious hazard".

Public car parks, Airbnbs and strata properties can all benefit from the smart solution. Source: Supplied

Commercial car parks, Airbnbs benefit from EV charging solution

It’s not just strata buildings that can benefit though, it’s anywhere where there’s shared power. So commercial car parks, hotels and even Airbnb properties. “It’s a great way to stop power theft," Yasemin said.

So far, Alchemy Charge has been installed at roughly 200 sites nationwide, but demand is rapidly growing. Park on King, a car park at Sydney’s Domestic Terminal is currently taking part, but “we've also got Airbnb's dotted all over Australia”.

"It’s the power loss conversation, so the loss of revenue because of [other people's] power usage. Because the consumption obviously goes up with electric vehicles, “she said. “It also makes sense in caravan parks and self-storage units”.

NSW government make 'nation first' move towards EV ownership

In October, the NSW government recognised that "more than 90 per cent of EV drivers charge their vehicle at home". And so that "people living in apartments don't miss out," it announced a $10 million budget to retrofit 100 apartment buildings with EV charging stations throughout the state.

The grant is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to rolling out charging sufficient infrastructure by 2030. The grants are for buildings with 10 or more apartments and will co-fund up to 80 per cent, to a maximum of $80,000, of the necessary upgrades.

But for buildings that don't fit the criteria, Alchemy Charge might just be the solution.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Lack of affordable electric vehicles will limit widespread US adoption until at least 2028: BofA - Utility Dive

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The high cost to purchase an electric vehicle is slowing EVs’ uptake among U.S. consumers, setting back the anticipated adoption curve by a year or more, according to analysts at Bank of America.

“EV demand growth has slowed sharply in 2024, likely due in part to affordability,” according to a BofA Global Research report published Monday. Only 3% of EVs in the U.S. are priced at less than $37,000, according to the research, compared with more than half of gas-powered or hybrid vehicles.

BofA’s analysis is based on the assumption that most U.S. consumers will buy an EV if the price is competitive with an internal combustion engine vehicle. However, manufacturers “are unlikely to achieve ICE-comparable costs on EVs until 2028+,” analysts said. “This means OEMs have little incentive to ramp EV production, despite what might be higher levels of demand at lower prices. ... As such, we expect EV penetration to inch higher from 2024 to 2027, but after 2027 it could start to accelerate.”

The EV penetration rate has averaged 6.8% so far this year, down from 7.5% in 2023, according to the research note. BofA analysts say they now expect EVs to make up about 8% of vehicle sales in 2024, 14% in 2027 and 29% in 2030.

President Biden set a goal for 50% of all new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric by 2030.

Earlier this year, BofA Global Research forecast an approximately 10% penetration for 2024, 18% in 2027 and about 33% in 2030, a spokesperson for the firm said in an email.

“The trajectory of EV adoption has been pushed back by a year or more,” analysts said.

Analysts at Bloomberg reached a similar conclusion in a June 12 report.

Electric vehicle markets around the world “are not all traveling in the same direction or at the same speed in 2024,” BloombergNEF said. “Sales of EVs continue to rise globally, but some markets are experiencing a significant slowdown and many automakers have pushed back their EV targets. ... the growth rate is visibly slower than before.”

Developing economies such as like Thailand, India and Brazil are “experiencing record sales as more low-cost electric models are targeted at local buyers,” BloombergNEF noted. And China is the only large market “that has reached the point of consumer-led takeoff for EV sales.”

Policy support for EVs “looks less certain than it did a year ago,” BloombergNEF added. “In the US, EV market jitters inflamed by the upcoming presidential elections helped slow down adoption this year, and by 2027 only 29% of cars sold in the country [will be] electric.”

Despite a potential slowdown, U.S. utilities are expecting the shift to electric transportation to drive significant load growth, as will the electrification of building systems, including heating and cooling; hydrogen production; the growth of data centers and other sources. Reports filed last year with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission show grid planners expect nationwide electricity demand to grow 4.7 % over the next five years, while 2022 estimates called for just 2.6% growth.

In New England, transportation is expected to be the single largest contributor to electricity demand growth in the coming years, according to a May report from the region’s grid operator. EVs make up only about 2% of all vehicles in New England but by 2033 are expected to constitute 26% of the region’s personal vehicles.

Annual power consumption from EVs in New England is expected to grow from 325 GWh this year to more than 15,000 GWh by 2033, according to the “2023–2032 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission” from ISO New England.

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Electric vehicle prices are tumbling. Here's how they now compare with gas-powered cars. - CBS News

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Prices on electric vehicles are tumbling as dealership lots are filling up with more models amid cooling consumer demand. The result is that EV prices, in some cases, are approaching those of gas-powered cars, after adding in federal tax credits.

The average price of a new EV in May was $56,648, according to Kelley Blue Book, or about 15% lower than two years earlier, when the average price was $65,000. Meanwhile, used EV prices plunged to $28,767 last month, representing a 42% decline from $40,783 a year earlier, according to iSeeCars. 

Prices are falling, in part, because EV sales have hit a plateau in the past year or so, Jenni Newman, the editor-in-chief of Cars.com, told CBS News. Still, the sticker prices on EVs tend to be higher than those of gas-powered cars, although that gap is narrowing as dealers cut prices on electric-powered vehicles.

"So we're seeing inventory build up, both on the new side and the used side, which means there are deals to be had," she said. 

While a record 1.2 million EVs were sold in the U.S. last year, according to Cox data, experts expect 2024's sales to remain at about that level. 

Federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 for qualifying used EVs are helping convince some Americans to buy electric. After applying these credits, EV prices are even closer to that of gas-powered cars, with new models of the latter selling for an average price of about $45,000, Newman noted. 

Dealership supply

The number of EVs available for sale was limited three years ago as automakers battled a shortage of semiconductor chips. But once those supply chain woes vanished, automakers revved up their production to keep pace with Americans' growing demand for EVs. 

Today, dealerships now have about 117 EVs available on their lots for a typical 45-day supply, compared to 78 gas-powered vehicles and 54 for hybrids, according to data from CarGurus.

Hybrid vehicle production and sales increase as people seem to turn away from EV's 04:37

The auto industry is betting big on EVs, with automakers spending billions of dollars to retrofit their factories to produce battery-powered vehicles. As the number of EV options expand, automakers are turning to price cuts to convince customers to buy the eco-friendly vehicles. 

Over its lifetime, an EV produces 50% less CO2 than a gas-powered vehicle, while a hybrid cuts those emissions by 25%, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Decarbonizing the nation's fleet of gas automobiles would take longer if consumers choose hybrids over EVs.

Prices are also falling at a time when Americans appear to be losing interest in EVs. A survey this month from consulting firm McKinsey found that nearly half of U.S. drivers who bought an EV plan to switch back to a gas-powered vehicle. 

A separate AAA survey found declining interest in purchasing electric vehicles, with only 18% of U.S. adults saying they are likely to buy an EV, down from 23% last year. The main concerns cited by consumers are EV's high costs, limited charging infrastructure and range anxiety, the survey concluded. 

Newman said the lack of charging locations is still a major concern for EV drivers, but automakers and local governments have launched programs to increase the number of stations. 

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Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.

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Keller: Why are consumers turning their backs on electric vehicles? - CBS Boston

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BOSTON - Right now there are more than 3 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in the United States, but it seems some owners are having a bit of buyer's regret.

A bombshell report on the global EV marketplace finds 46% of American EV drivers are so fed up with charging and mobility issues, they're ready to switch back to gas-powered vehicles.

Massachusetts consumers slow to embrace EVs   

The White House has been promoting electric vehicle use nationally. And Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey's environmental plan leans heavily on putting a million EVs on our roads by the end of this decade. But millions in spending on new charging stations and other EV initiatives has barely made a dent - just 66,000 EVs were registered here as of January 1.

"It's not happening at nearly the pace that we need to have to meet those goals," said Christian Milneil, editor-in-chief of the website Streetsblog Massachusetts, who noted EV sales here lag way behind Healey's targets and gas-powered vehicle use is trending up.

What will attract drivers to EVs?  

Good luck getting Beacon Hill to do more to push reluctant drivers toward EVs. "Lawmakers are much more reluctant to regulate consumers than they are to regulate big businesses like electric power," said MilNeil.

So, WBZ-TV asked Clifford Atiyeh, president of the New England Motor Press Association: if high gas prices, the palpable impacts of climate change, and millions and millions of dollars in government incentives and infrastructure investments won't get people into EVs, what will?

"People aren't stupid," he said. "They see their options; they've been educated about what cars they want; and right now, electric cars are, by and large, not meeting those needs for single-car families."

Atiyeh points out that the big automakers have backed off all their talk of switching to all-EV production, emphasizing hybrids and other brands that still use gas. The big question is: How much longer can we live with the environmental damage caused by internal combustion vehicles while waiting for consumers to fully adopt EVs?  

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China goes into panic mode over EU tariffs on electric cars, offers perks for German carmakers if they drop restrictions - Yahoo Finance

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On the precipice of an all-out trade war with the European Union, China is panicking and dangling perks for German carmakers to try to bring things back from the brink.

The world’s second-biggest economy proposed lowering its existing 15% tariff on imported large engine vehicles from EU countries in an effort to convince Germany to get the EU to scrap tariffs announced last week of up to 38.1% on Chinese EVs, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reportedly proposed the agreement in a meeting with German counterpart Robert Habeck in Beijing over the weekend, according to one of the people cited by Bloomberg. It’s unclear whether the incentive, which would greatly benefit German automakers, will change the EU’s position, but it could convince Germany to use its leverage as the bloc’s biggest economy to possibly change the terms before the tariffs are set to take effect on July 4.

China’s incentive approach is a stark contrast from its knee-jerk reaction following the announcement of the EU tariffs last week. After the EU voted to impose tariffs of up to 38.1% on Chinese-made cars produced by some of the country’s biggest automakers, China announced an anti-dumping probe on pork imports from the EU. More than half of all pork imports to China, the world’s largest pork consumer, came from the EU last year, according to Chinese customs data. China has also threatened to raise tariffs on large engine vehicles to as high as 25%, which would directly affect German carmakers.

Whether with incentives or threats, China is desperate to scrap the EU tariffs. From January to April, 37% of Chinese EVs were exported to EU member states. Chinese automakers are already facing 102.5% tariffs instituted by President Joe Biden last month and Canada said Monday it was considering levying its own tariffs on Chinese EVs as well.

The incentive of lowering tariffs on vehicles imported to China is also tempting for German automakers. Sales to China made up about one-third of all German car sales last year, but once-dominant German carmakers are increasingly facing pressure from cutthroat Chinese car companies.

Last year Volkswagen was replaced as the top-selling car brand in China by domestic player BYD. For cars above $34,500, German brands’ market share fell to an estimated 45% in 2023, compared to 60% in 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing data from Bernstein.

Lower tariffs could help provide a boost to German automakers battling against competitive Chinese players. The German Association of the Automotive Industry has already come out with a statement to make it clear the new tariffs could do more harm than good.

“The potential damage that could be caused by the measures now announced may be greater than the potential benefits for the European - and in particular the German - automotive industry,” the association said in a statement.

Despite the harsh rhetoric between the EU and China, there may still be hope the two can avoid an all out trade war. Brussels and Beijing will begin talks over the EV tariffs this week, according to a statement from China’s Commerce Ministry.

In the meeting over the weekend with Germany’s Habeck, China Commerce Minister Wang said China was open to negotiations but also warned that it was not afraid to retaliate.

"If the EU is sincere, China hopes to start negotiations as soon as possible; if the EU insists on its own way, China will take all necessary actions to defend its own interests,” Wang said, according to Chinese state media.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Classic cars 'upcycled' to electric - BBC.com

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Everrati is removing old petrol engines and mechanical drivetrains and replacing them with batteries

A company is converting classic Land Rovers and Porsches to electric power to make more sustainable vehicles.

Older cars increasingly cannot drive in city centre low-emission zones, but Everrati, based in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, is removing petrol engines and mechanical drivetrains built more than half a century ago and replacing them with batteries.

"Creating a brand new car uses up to 20 tonnes of CO2," founder and chief executive Justin Lunny told me.

"A car made 60 years ago is hugely sustainable," he added.

One in six new cars is now powered by batteries.

Everrati's latest prototype is a 1964 Mercedes Pagoda, an iconic two-seat sports car of the type once owned by John Lennon, John Travolta and, more recently, Harry Styles.

The car has been developed in a discreet workshop out of sight on a former US Air Force base.

Justin Linny admits the process is "very expensive" but "will hopefully last a lifetime"

Each car is built to order and does not come cheap. A good Pagoda sells for about £200,000 at classic car auctions. A customer pays Everrati about £330,000 to replace the engine with a battery, and restore every part of the vehicle to as-new showroom condition.

Everrati built its first car three years ago. It has 20 on the road, and 12 more are being built in Oxfordshire and at a site in California.

"It's not for everybody," Mr Lunny admitted. "It's very expensive. But we're creating something that will hopefully last a lifetime.

"We have people creating these with - and for - their children, because they want that legacy."

Chief engineer Tony Fong demonstrated the controls on the Mercedes Pagoda for our reporter

He is now building six Land Rovers for a client in Dubai. Another is in the Hamptons outside New York.

"Buyers are usually wealthy people who love the idea of something that is now fully sustainable and reusable," he explained.

"It's the ultimate upcycling."

Chief engineer Tony Fong demonstrated the controls on the Pagoda for me.

"The gearstick has been modified," he said.

"Pull towards you for drive, push away for reverse. The gauge for the fuel tank now shows battery capacity. When this was built there were no hazard lights. We are engineering those in."

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What is it like to drive? On the former airfield's perimeter road, it is much noisier than newer electric cars. It is a work in progress, full of quirky character.

I've driven a lot of classic cars, and this feels very different.

Because it is battery-powered, it has more performance now than when the original petrol car was built. It has a smaller range than a modern mass-produced car, and it charges more slowly too.

There are no seatbelts, no airbags or traction control. But it will be fitted with air conditioning to suit today's clients. Such luxury was not available 60 years ago.

The car is no motorway mile-muncher. It is more likely to be seen in Instagram poses outside fashionable restaurants or summer parties than on a touring holiday.

With a total price tag above £500,000, this is a niche market. Most will be sold in North America and the Middle East.

Mr Lunny believes he could build 100 cars a year with his 20 staff. Beyond that, the ambition is to sell his bespoke battery and drivetrain technology to other carmakers.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.

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Google AI Uses Enough Electricity In 1 Second To Charge 7 Electric Cars - Jalopnik

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Nobody asked for this AI search bullshit, Google. Not only are the AI generated responses demonstrably worse than normal, they’re infringing on intellectual property rights, killing traditional media, and—thanks to a new Jacobin report we now know—soaking up gobs of electricity in the process. Artificial intelligence-powered search engines are an all-around bad idea, and a stop should be put to the whole thing as quickly as humanly possible. Google’s AI Overviews feature has only been operational for two months, but it’s already done a lot of harm and will only continue to get worse.

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As it turns out, these AI search results require around ten times the energy to power them as a traditional Google search. According to research firm Digiconomist, adding AI-generated answers to all Google searches could approach the energy usage of the entire country of Ireland. Each search requires three watt-hours of electricity, which doesn’t sound like much at first glance. That’s more or less the same electricity used by an LED lightbulb in your home, if you left it on for an hour.

The problem arrives when you consider just how many Google searches are run in a day. According to Statista, Google averaged 8.5 billion searches per day in 2023, or 98,379 searches per second. If each AI-generated search requires 3 watt-hours of electricity, that’s a usage rate of 295,138.88 watt-hours, or 295.14 kilowatt-hours. The average electric vehicle sold in 2023 had a 40 kilowatt-hour battery onboard, meaning the electricity used by AI search for a single second could have been used to power about seven and a half average electric cars.

If your brain wants a bigger number, that’s 442.7 EV charges per minute, 26,562.5 EV charges per hour, or 637,500 EV charges per day. And, it is worth mentioning, these numbers only account for Google’s electricity use related to AI-generated search results. AI and Large Language Models are energy intensive and have been used for assloads of dumb fucking shit so far this decade.

Thank god we’re all turning down our air conditioning, biking or walking instead of driving, and buying high-efficiency appliances so our energy use is low enough that Google’s awful search robots can use it instead.

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