Cheap electricity cannot solve Europe’s productivity gap by itself, but it can raise energy productivity, support automation and reduce recurring fossil-fuel exposure.
Europe is running out of workers while still debating how long to preserve machines that burn imported fuel. That is an odd starting point for a competitiveness strategy. Europe’s central economic problem is not electricity prices alone. Mario Draghi’s competitiveness diagnosis is broader: weak productivity, fragmented markets, difficulty turning research … [continued]
California, Oregon, Washington, New York, and New Jersey have just launched two major new electric truck accelerator programs.
As we all know by now, Tesla officially launched its Cybercab in Austin, Texas, this week. The custom-designed robotaxi doesn’t include a steering wheel, pedals, or side mirrors. However, there’s apparently some concern that this wasn’t done appropriately or legally. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reportedly … [continued]
Many people just think about Waymo and Tesla when they think about the robotaxi race or competition in the United States. However, there’s also Zoox, and it has been doing a lot this year. It’s been growing its user base faster than anyone, it’s launched a new robotaxi model, it … [continued]
Electric freight rail is established technology. The unresolved North American question is where electrification pays first, not whether electric traction works.
Direct electric freight rail is not speculative technology. It already operates across enormous railway systems, moves very heavy freight and works in difficult climates. The interesting North American question is therefore not whether electric freight rail can work, but where catenary should go first, where batteries or dual-mode locomotives make … [continued]
In June, Germany’s Manager Magazin reported that Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume had a plan to close four factories in Germany and eliminate 100,000 workers, both in Germany and around the world, by 2030. It said the plan would be made public at a company board meeting on July 9. The Volkswagen factories … [continued]
If you are thinking about buying an electric car, just do it, buy a pure battery electric car! A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is more reliable, more convenient for local driving, smoother, and better accelerating. You can drive a BEV anywhere in the US on major highways without worrying about … [continued]
The Tesla Cybercab has officially launched. What that means in the medium term is not yet clear, but there are a variety of facts we now have on our desk following the launch. Let’s roll through them. The Tesla Cybercab has been launched and is available to the public to … [continued]
Renewable energy and storage are credited with resolving longstanding grid reliability issues in Texas, even during extreme hot weather.
IFA Berlin, which stands for “Innovation For All,” is a diverse technology show. There were numerous mobile, entertainment and AI-enabled devices, but there were also a range of clean technology products. On the first day of IFA, I saw several different paths to sustainability. Products from large companies and small … [continued]
