Cleantech News Roundup: Alberta Tar Sands, Honda Clarity, Electric Maserati, Tesla Motorcycle, Wind Turbine Myth, & India’s Solar Appetite
In this edition of the cleantech news roundup, we’ve got a Honda Clarity review, a Tesla motorcycle nothingburger, an electric Maserati Alfieri GT, an electric Mustang and a Volvo 142 electric conversion, a debunked wind myth, Canada’s tar sands “investment” (which should be pronounced ‘money down the drain’), and even an easy sesame noodle recipe.
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Clean Transport
Honda Clarity: Is It The Best EV Deal Of 2018?
Is the new Honda Clarity electric the best electric car deal of 2018? It’s not the kind of question I usually ask on Gas2, but it recently came up while I was reading a review of the car, and I think the answer might be: yes!
Porsche Buys into Electric Supercar Builder Rimac
You read that right. German carmaker and engineering extraordinaire, Porsche, has purchased a minority stake in Rimac — the Croatian electric supercar company.
Elon Musk: Tesla Motorcycle Will Never Happen
It’s a little-known fact, but Elon Musk was nearly killed on a motorcycle when he was 17. It’s that accident all those years ago that, he says, is behind his answer to a journalist’s questions about an electric motorcycle. That answer being: Tesla will never develop an electric motorcycle.
California PUC Approves Massive Transportation Electrification Program
At the end of May, the California PUC approved a sweeping initiative proposed by the utility companies it regulates that will push the cause of vehicle electrification forward farther and faster than anyone thought possible.
Porsche Taycan – Mission E Gets a New Name
Porsche has some news about its own 4-passenger electric sports car, the Mission E. Except it’s not the Mission E, anymore. It’s the Taycan- a name that can be translated to mean “lively young horse”, which references the imagery at the heart of the storied brand’s Stuttgart crest that has “featured a leaping steed since 1952”.
Artist Imagines Electric Porsche 911 of Tomorrow
Macedonian artist Dejan Hristov realizes that the future of the automobile is electric – and he’s apparently been thinking about what that means for one of his favorite automotive icons, the Porsche 911. And, in looking at the tremendous amount of work he’s put into his concept renderings, I think it’s safe to say that he’s been thinking about an electric Porsche 911 a lot.
Geely Emgrand GSe is released in China for 119,800 RMB
In June, Geely launched in China the Geely Emgrand GSe, which is an electric version of its internal combustion engine Emgrand GS. The estimated starting price after subsidies has been reported as 119,800 Yuan ($18,740) for the base model to 145,800 Yuan ($22,807) for the full package.
Electric Maserati Alfieri: 0-60 Under 2 Sec.
When Maserati announced plans to launch an all-electric GT, the faithful moaned and howled in protest. This week, though, the prospect of an electric Maser doesn’t seem too bad. That’s especially true when you consider the following: the electric Maserati Alfieri GT will sprint to 60 MPH in under 2 seconds.
NTSB: Autopilot in Use During Deadly Tesla Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has just released its findings regarding the deadly March crash of a Tesla Model X P100D in Mountain View, California. Their findings indicate that the Tesla was functioning in its autonomous “Autopilot” mode at the moment of impact, and that the car was accelerating when it finally hit the end of a concrete median barrier.
A pure electric estate car in China: The Roewe Ei5
Looking to buy an electric estate car and you can’t afford a converted electric Tesla shooting brake? Roewe has the Ei5, an electric estate car, and the only down side is the fact that it is presently only sold in China.
Formula E “Hyperboost” Confirmed for 2018/19
Driving over special “turbo boosts” to gain speed is a familiar concept to anyone who’s played Excitebike or Mario Kart. But whether they’ve played those mages or not, it’s about to become a familiar concept to Formula E drivers, as well. That’s because the FIA has confirmed the use of “Hyperboost” zones for the upcoming 2018/19 FE season!
Tomahawk Will Be World’s First Electric 4 Passenger Sports Car
Developed by two intrepid entrepreneurs from Quebec who quit their day jobs in 2013 to follow their dreams, the result is an aggressively styled cab-forward vehicle with 2+2 seating, scissor doors for easy access for rear seat passengers, and a battery pack mounted low in the chassis for superior handling.
Polestar 1 to Make its Goodwood Debut
The Volvo-developed Polestar 1 is a formidable coupe. Packing 600 electrified horsepower and nearly 740 lb-ft of torque into a lightweight carbon body shell and putting that power to the ground via all four wheels, it’s going to be a thriller — but when it makes its debut on Goodwood Hill later this summer, it will have a chance to be an iconic thriller.
McLaren to Focus on Future Hybrids, not SUVs
Tony Joseph has an absolutely awesome job. He’s the president of McLaren North America. As such, he knows a thing or two about McLaren’s future products- and, thankfully, that product lineup includes more P1-style hybrids, and zero hulking SUVs.
Classic Volvo 142 Gets the DIY Electric Treatment
Kjell Ekelund is an interesting guy. A retired foreman with fifteen years of Volvo experience and plenty of time on his hands, Ekelund is an expert tinker — and an idealistic one, at that! That’s why he decided to build an all-electric Volvo 142.
This 800HP Electric Mustang is Quicker and Quieter
Mitch Medford is a hot rodder and drag racer, through and through. He appreciates the classics, and has a refined style that leans towards clean, uncluttered builds. Clean, uncluttered builds with massive amounts of tire-shredding torque, that is. It’s that thirst for speed that let him to build an 800 HP, 10-second ’68 Mustang fastback.
Extreme Downforce of the Volkswagen IDR Pike’s Peak Electric Racecar
Volkswagen has high hopes for its all-electric I.D. R hillclimb race car. With plans to hit the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb later this year, VW hopes a win at that prestigious event with an EV will help environmentally-conscious consumers to look beyond the highly public “dieselgate” emissions scandal from 2015. To make sure everything goes to plan, the company is breaking new ground in aerodynamic efficiency with its track-ready racer.
Electric Mercedes SUV Testing in Spain
The upcoming, 100% electric Mercedes SUV is set to be revealed early next year. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t want Tesla and Porsche to get all that sweet, electric PR, though. As such, they’re giving everyone a sneak peek at the new EV in these photos from a hot weather testing session in Almeria, Spain.
Bloomberg Model 3 Tracker Stands At 2,350 Cars A Week
Scotland is subsidizing electric bikes to encourage sustainable and active travel
Making the case for the electric school bus
Clean Energy
India Shows More & More Appetite For Solar Energy
IBC SOLAR, a global leader in photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy storage from Germany, has completed a 27 megawatt (MW) solar plant near Kesinga in the Indian state of Odisha. For IBC SOLAR, this is its largest project to date as well as its first project in Eastern-India. And it shows how fast things can change to clean energy from the sun.
Wind Turbines DON’T Use More Energy Than They Produce — Debunking The Myth That Won’t Die
Norwegian news source Nettavisen reports a myth about wind turbines is spreading across social media sites. The myth suggests it takes more energy to create a wind turbine installation than it will produce in its lifetime. Just as Elon Musk disparages hydrogen fuel cells as “fool cells,” the creators of this disinformation campaign refer to electricity from wind as “idiot power.”
Canada Investment In Alberta Tar Sands Is Money Down The Drain
Drivers in Alberta and all citizens of Canada have been shortchanged, not enriched, by their government’s investment in the Alberta tar sands. The action makes no economic sense at all, although it has attracted support from voters in Alberta who believe their financial well being is tied to fossil fuels.
Make a Big Difference in your Energy Use with Small Changes [Infographic]
This infographic shows 17 ways you can cut back your energy bill. Most of the tips are very easy to implement and you can do them right now.
Pipeline Protesters Acquitted As War Against Free Speech Accelerates
There was a small victory for ordinary people recently. 23 persons were arrested in Boston in 2016 for protesting against a high pressure natural gas pipeline. In March, after prosecutors reduced the criminal charges against the defendants — including Kareena Gore, daughter of Al and Tipper Gore — to a misdemeanor, the judge dismissed all charges against them.
4 maps that show who’s being left behind in America’s wind-power boom
Why does a huge swath of the country have hardly any wind turbines at all?
Woman, scientist, climate advocate: Can you be all three?
Sarah Myhre is a woman, a scientist, and a climate advocate. Are these strengths in a climate crisis?
Clean Living
Your Sustainability Story: Low-Carbon Shoes from Ashbury Skies
We’ve launched a new feature here at Important Media that encourages our readers to share their personal sustainability story.
Natural Support for Depression and Anxiety
If you are living with depression or anxiety (or a combination of both), it’s important to know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing, but there are a many ways in which herbs can help support you (and remedy) the feelings you are suffering with.
A More Natural Sleep Solution: Som Sleep
Have you ever read the warning that accompanies a bottle of prescription sleep aids? It can be a bit of a jarring experience to view the ways in which these medications can impact your body. Fortunately, there are more natural options to help you achieve a quality snooze.
Easy Sesame Noodles: Serve them Hot or Cold!
Easy Sesame Noodles are perfect served hot or cold as a base for a bowl meal or alongside lettuce or Napa Cabbage Wraps. And they only take about 15 minutes to make!
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