Electric Vehicle News

A solar innovator predicts the top 5 trends in solar’s future

Electrek spoke with Derya Baran, assistant professor of material science and engineering at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, about solar trends.

Baran’s work pushes boundaries in the solar sector, including inventing inkjet-printed solar panels so light they can rest on a soap bubble and the creation of a two-sided, tandem solar cell. She was recognized by the MIT Technology Review as a 2020 Innovator Under 35 in the MENA region.

We asked Baran what she sees as the top 5 future solar trends. This is what she said.

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The post A solar innovator predicts the top 5 trends in solar’s future appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward

Green Deals: Illuminate your yard with two solar outdoor LED lights at $27.50, more

US_ImaginTop (99% positive lifetime feedback) via Amazon is offering a 2-pack of LITOM Solar Outdoor LED Lights for $27.59 shipped with the code LQ5OWVA4 at checkout. Down from $43, today’s deal saves 36% and marks one of the best prices that we’ve tracked all-time. You’ll find that these lights are outdoor-rated and ready to go anywhere around your property. A built-in solar panel means you won’t have to run wires or change batteries here. Plus, if the sun doesn’t come out for a while, you can just plug it in via microUSB and easily charge the built-in battery. Rated 4.8/5 stars.

Head below for more deals on portable power stations, smart thermostats, and of course Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best Tesla accessories.

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The post Green Deals: Illuminate your yard with two solar outdoor LED lights at $27.50, more appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward

Tesla may get $1.2 billion worth of German subsidies

The European Commission recently approved a multinational project to support battery innovation, which will involve 42 companies, including several automakers. One of those automakers is Tesla, which may receive a cool billion euros ($1.2 billion) in public funding from the federal government of Germany and the state of Brandenburg, the site of the company’s Gigafactory 4.

It’s not yet clear how much federal support Tesla will receive, and the final decision is expected to take several weeks. Other automakers that could receive state aid under the program include BMW, Stellantis (Fiat Chrysler) Rimac and Valmet. The government funding is expected to trigger at least three times as much in private investment.

The aim of the 2.9-billion-euro European Battery Innovation project is to help the EU to reduce battery imports from China, which currently controls some 80 percent of the world’s lithium-ion cell production. German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the program will create “the critical mass for the battery ecosystem in Germany and Europe.” According to the Commission, the value of Europe’s battery market is expected to reach 250 billion euros by 2025, and the continent hopes to be self-sufficient in batteries by that date.

Tesla plans to introduce a new structural battery design for Model Y at the German Gigafactory, and Elon Musk said in November that the carmaker will add a battery-cell production facility at the site. The initial capacity will be around 100 gigawatt-hours per year, and could eventually ramp up to as much as 250 gWh.

“I’m pretty confident at that point it would be the largest battery-cell plant in the world,” Musk said.

Source: Automotive News

New report outlines cooperation between utilities and school districts to finance electric school buses

A new report from the United States Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG) outlines ways that utility companies and school districts can come together to deploy electric school buses across the country.

Electric school buses are ready to roll—the technology is here, and protecting school children from noxious diesel fumes is a cause that draws a lot of support. However, the higher up-front cost of e-buses puts many school districts on the struggle-bus, so to speak. Fortunately, federal grant programs and loans are available, and the prospect of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology opens up the possibility of cooperating with local utilities.

The new report, Accelerating the Transition to Electric School Buses, details ways in which school districts, utilities and local government can work together to speed the transition to zero-emission buses.

“Electric utilities have a lot to gain from the large-scale adoption of electric school buses, and could play a major role in supporting the transition,” US-PIRG explains. “Electric buses can expand and stabilize the grid, provide surplus energy storage, and increase energy demand. By providing discounted rates on electric bus charging and building charging infrastructure, utilities can help speed the adoption of electric buses. Utilities can also support electric buses by investing in infrastructure for bus charging in depots and on routes, helping to finance the upfront purchasing costs of electric buses, and introducing smart charging systems to maximize integration of renewable energy.”

Several utility companies have already launched programs to help school districts adopt electric buses, including Dominion Energy in Virginia and Portland General Electric in Oregon.

Vehicle-to-grid technology, which allows buses to send stored energy back to the grid, is particularly well-suited to school buses. It can be a win-win proposition, offering a valuable service for utilities and income for school districts.

US-PIRG’s report contains a number of recommendations for school districts, lawmakers and utilities, along with details on how to leverage existing programs to accelerate e-bus deployment.