After World War II, manufacturing on the Continent was severely degraded. Automakers in France, Germany, and Italy began producing cars that were simple and cheap — cars like the Isetta, Messerschmidt, and Fiat Cinquecento. In 1949, the Citroen 2 CV went on sale, a car that looked like it was … [continued]
Two years ago, the EU imposed new tariffs on Chinese made electric cars because they were flooding the the new car market in Europe. For some reason, the European Commission decided not to place similar tariffs on plug-in hybrids made in China at the same time. The German auto industry … [continued]
My colleague José Pontes did a masterful report on the status of electric car sales in Europe last week. The news was all good, but I wanted to focus on one country where the news is particularly heartening for those who support the EV revolution. The bottom line is that … [continued]
The new electric vehicles from Scout Motors parlay dials, buttons and switches into a rugged 1970's-era DIY off-grid vibe with 21st century V2X capability and other modern electronic systems.
A study by the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University comes to a rather startling conclusion. Despite all the roadblocks put in the way of the EV revolution by the present US administration, the researchers predict EV sales in the US will quadruple from 8 percent today … [continued]
Electric, shmetric. A car is a car, right? You get in, start it up, and go where you need to go. What’s the big deal? That sort of thinking is what nearly killed Hertz after its owners — a couple of B School whiz kids with more money than brains … [continued]
Chatgpt generated panoramic image of a California refinery at twilight, smokestacks fading into dusk while EV charging stations glow in the foreground
California’s refinery sector is contracting, and the reasons are not as complicated as operators often suggest. When refinery owners announce closures, they usually point to the burden of environmental regulations, the costs of compliance, or fines from state agencies. Those factors are real, but they are not decisive. The more … [continued]
ChatGPT generated this panoramic image of a rural African village powered by a solar mini-grid, with electric motorcycles charging under a canopy of solar panels, highlighting the potential for off-grid renewable energy to enable clean transport in regions without reliable national grid access
Africa’s transport landscape starts from a very different baseline than the regions leading the global electric vehicle transition. Vehicle ownership per capita is low in most countries, and in many places motorcycles, scooters, and informal public transport dominate the movement of people and goods. In 2015, the continental average for … [continued]
ChatGPT generated panoramic image of a gasoline powered SUV being crushed in a junk yard as the owner is handed the keys to a shining new electric car
Europe stands at the doorstep of a decisive decade for electric vehicles. Over the next ten years, the continent’s major automotive markets — Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands — will see battery-electric vehicles dominate new car sales. This shift is driven largely by strong policy mandates, technological improvements, … [continued]
The BMW iX3, the first model in the Neue Klasse series, will be in showrooms next year and will set new standards for electric cars.
ChatGPT generated this panoramic image of a long lineup of internal combustion vehicles waiting at the last open muffler shop, surrounded by shuttered service garages marked "Out of Business."
For decades, fueling up your car meant a quick stop at your local gas station, and vehicle maintenance was simple and affordable. But imagine your regular fill-up suddenly becoming a frustrating search for dwindling fuel pumps, or discovering that routine repairs now cost twice as much due to disappearing parts … [continued]
