by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 18, 2019
Tesla is set to start running its first overseas assembly plant, Chinese authorities giving the carmaker approval to fire up an all-new factory in Shanghai. The plant could prove critical for Tesla as it pushes to benefit from regulations that have turned China into...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 17, 2019
If battery-cars are ever to dominate the automotive market, it’s often said, they’ll need to overcome three key obstacles: cost, range anxiety and the lack of a public infrastructure. A new move by Ford Motor Co. is aimed specifically at the last of these challenges,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 16, 2019
Volvo is planning to plug into battery-electric technology in a big way, the automaker on Wednesday revealing its first-ever all-electric vehicle, a version of its XC40 crossover, while also announcing it will become part of a new brand-within-a-brand dubbed Recharge....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 16, 2019
Even before announcing its first-ever all-electric vehicle, Volvo has outlined a broad new plan to address its contribution to climate change, including the launch of a separate brand for battery-cars that will called “Recharge.” In the short-term, the Swedish...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 9, 2019
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has gone to three scientists who collectively were responsible for “the development of lithium ion batteries,” technology that has transformed everything from handheld appliances to mobile phones and, increasingly, allowed...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 4, 2019
Ever since the automotive age began, tires have been a major source of pollution. There are hundreds of millions of them lying in dumps and landfills, often serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests. And, when they catch fire – which is not uncommon –...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 26, 2019
Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz has announced that his state will adopt the strict emissions and mileage mandates set by California, echoing a decision taken by New Mexico officials just the day before. The tougher mandate “just makes sense,” Minnesota Gov. Walz said in...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 24, 2019
Less than a week after federal regulators announced they were eliminating the waiver allowing California to set its own greenhouse gas emissions, the head of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday threatened to pull federal highway funds because of the state’s...
by Michael Strong | Sep 20, 2019
It didn’t take long for California to make good on its promise to the Trump administration if it revoked its ability to set its own automotive emissions standards. “Mr. President, we’ll see you in court,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 20, 2019
During a news conference in Washington on Thursday, U.S. Department of Transportation Sec. Elaine Chao derided EVs as “cars that American consumers do not want to buy or drive.” True, all forms of electrified vehicles – from conventional hybrids up to pure...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 19, 2019
Amazon will purchase 100,000 battery-electric delivery vans from Rivian, a suburban Detroit start-up, as part of its new “Climate Pledge.” Jeff Bezos, the online retailer’s CEO, announced the move during a Washington news conference on Thursday, outlining a broad...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 19, 2019
California will lose its ability to set tougher fuel economy standards than those set by Washington, two senior members of the Trump administration announced Thursday morning, proclaiming that move, along with a planned rollback of federal mileage rules, will result...
