Lithium-ion battery development and production is rapidly escalating worldwide, yet there’s no standard when it comes to battery designs, materials, and chemistries. And that affects the ability to recycle Li-ion batteries – a vital final stage of their life cycle. But this may be about to change in the US.
The post There is no Li-ion battery recycling standard, but that may be about to change appeared first on Electrek.
Source: Charge Forward
What will happen if this spreads and includes whole charging networks?
Source: Electric Vehicle News
Electrifying the US Postal Service fleet would be one of the most effective ways for the federal government to encourage EV adoption (while saving taxpayers billions of dollars and eliminating tons of emissions). However, there is a strong faction at the agency that seems determined to prevent that from happening, and some see the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) that the agency released last week as the latest salvo from the “save the gas vehicles” contingent.
In February, the USPS decided to award a $6-billion contract to Oshkosh Defense to build a new delivery vehicle to replace the agency’s sadly outdated fleet. Under the current proposal, only 10% of these will be electric, and the new EIS seems designed to support this plan.
The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) says the EIS “demonstrates a clear, illogical commitment to ICE vehicles over battery-electric vehicles, which hinges on outdated and incorrect information.”
The EIS looks at only two alternative scenarios for the new fleet: 90% ICE vehicles and 10% EVs; or 100% EVs. The USPS does not consider the 75% EV fleet composition proposed in the Postal Vehicle Modernization Act (HR1636), sponsored by US Representative Jared Huffman.
The EIS report acknowledges that a 100% EV fleet would produce 200% less emissions than the 90% ICE/10% EV option, but calls electrification financially infeasible considering the current financial status of the USPS. According to ZETA, this analysis is inaccurate for several reasons: “The cost calculation inexplicably uses nickel manganese batteries, which are more expensive—and less common and efficient—than EV industry-standard lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, the USPS’s conclusions about BEVs’ financial impact did not consider its own analysis about the social cost of carbon: The USPS calculated that the 100% BEV scenario could save three times as much in social costs compared to the 90% ICE and 10% BEV scenario. The EIS also cites the cost of charging infrastructure as a barrier to the 100% BEV scenario, but it does not list the assumptions or calculations used to make that conclusion.”
A recent report from the Electrification Coalition and Atlas Public Policy found that “USPS offers a uniquely strong case for vehicle electrification.” According to the study, “Federal Fleet Electrification Assessment,” by 2025, EVs will be less expensive than conventional vehicles for more than 99 percent of the USPS light-duty fleet, and electrification could save taxpayers some $2.9 billion. By 2030, that figure increases to nearly 100 percent, and the switch could save $4.6 billion.
The USPS also concluded that EVs are incapable of handling the distance, weather conditions, or charging requirements on up to 12,500 of the agency’s 232,000 routes. As ZETA point out, the supposedly EV-unfriendly routes represent less than 5.4% of the USPS’s total routes. Furthermore, the USPS does not plan to replace 100% of its existing fleet—rather, it is replacing 22.9% to 75.6% of its fleet over the next ten years.
“Its remaining vehicles could easily cover these routes, or the USPS could purchase a small percentage of new, fuel-efficient ICE vehicles to cover these routes,” writes ZETA. “The USPS inexplicably argues that because 5.4% of its routes are not a good fit for electrification, it is justified in acquiring a 90% gas-powered new fleet.”
“The USPS cherry-picked their models and data in order to weave the narrative they needed to justify their decision to pursue [a mostly ICE fleet],” ZETA concludes. “The USPS’s EIS shows a clear bias against BEVs by excluding data, relying on unrealistic assumptions, and mistaking simple facts.”
ZETA plans to participate in the formal public comment period of the draft EIS.
Source: Zero Emission Transportation Association
Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine
Engineering and technology company Bosch has unveiled a new charging cable for electric vehicles equipped without the traditional “charging brick.” The manufacturer shared new details of the EV cord ahead of its world premiere at IAA Mobility in Munich this week.
The post Bosch unveils unique EV cable without bulky ‘charging brick’ appeared first on Electrek.
Source: Charge Forward
…but it falls behind Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV.
Source: Electric Vehicle News
While we at Electrek often tend to focus on electric vehicles taking over roads, it’s important to remember that our inevitable abandonment of fossil fuels stems to all modes of transportation, whether it’s by land, air, or even the sea. I recently had the opportunity to set sail on Sunwater Marine’s Ramblin’ Rose, a 40-foot sailing yacht powered by solar panels and electric propulsion. It’s one of the only vessels of its kind on the West Coast.
The post I drove a rare solar-electric yacht to test clean-sea propulsion, here’s how it went appeared first on Electrek.
Source: Charge Forward
With fall on the horizon, you might be picking out vacation spots to go see the colors change before it gets too cold. If that’s the case, and you’re wanting to be able to stay off-grid for a while, solar is the way to go when it comes to powering your campsite or RV. Today, Home Depot delivers fantastic savings on solar panels and kits priced from $99. Plus, you’ll find discounts on electric lawn mowers and much more below, as well. We also have a wide selection of Tesla, Greenworks, and other e-bike discounts in today’s New Green Deals, so you won’t want to miss that either.
Head below for other New Green Deals that we’ve found today, more on why going electric for your yard tools like the mower on sale is important, and of course Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
The post Nature Power’s $99 110W solar panel kit is an off-grid camping must, more in New Green Deals appeared first on Electrek.
Source: Charge Forward
The ES8 shines in the Safety Assist category with “excellent results for its autonomous emergency braking system.”
Source: Electric Vehicle News
Beginning early this year, electric bicycle prices crept up nearly across the board. Now we are starting to see reductions in prices from major US brands. Could this be the light at the end of the tunnel?
The post As several popular electric bikes lower prices, is the e-bike market returning to normal? appeared first on Electrek.
Source: Charge Forward
Tesla has actually managed to obtain a patent on its wild idea to use lasers to clean debris off of vehicles.
We are basically talking about using laser beams as windshield wipers.
The post Tesla obtains patent on its wild idea to use lasers as windshield wipers appeared first on Electrek.
Source: Charge Forward
