In an agrivoltaic study, UCLA engineers put a semi-transparent solar roof on a greenhouse, and some unexpected things happened with both the roof and the plants. More…
Author: electrek.co
Engwe M20 launched as one of the lowest-cost dual-suspension electric mopeds we’ve seen
The electric bicycle company Engwe has just launched its latest e-bike design known as the Engwe M20. While borrowing significantly from other e-bikes in the industry, the M20 goes its own way in one key area: the price tag. More…
Quick Charge Podcast: March 13, 2023
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. More…
Volkswagen plots first North American EV battery cell plant location
Volkswagen has officially selected St. Thomas, Ontario, as the home for its first North American EV battery cell plant Monday, after revealing its rugged electric SUV and pickup line Scout will build EVs in South Carolina. The initiatives are part of the the VW Group’s broader North American EV strategy. More…
This US solar company is about to ramp up flexible thin-film solar
Thin-film solar panel maker Ascent Solar Technologies announced today that it’s going to repurpose its Thornton, Colorado, factory to accelerate industrial-scale commercialization of perovskite solar modules. More…
Aptera awarded $21M grant from California Energy Commission to help bring solar EVs to production
Solar electric vehicle startup Aptera Motors shared encouraging news today as it has been awarded a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to the tune of $21 million. The grant comes as welcomed news for Aptera as it looks to reach scaled production of its namesake solar EV as one of the few startups left trying to successfully scale the sustainable technology for the masses. More…
Why Fox News wants you to be afraid of electric bikes
Fox News is no stranger to the tactic of fearmongering as a way to stir up its base. But the media network’s latest misdirection campaign attempts to use fear to attack a surprising new target: electric bicycles. More…
ChatGMC? General Motors planning ChatGPT-based virtual assistant for future EVs
Imagine having a ChatGPT-powered virtual personal assistant in your electric vehicle that could act as the brains behind the car. Well, GM is looking to make it a reality in its future EVs as part of an expanding collaboration with Microsoft, which made a multi-billion dollar investment in the AI chatbot’s developer OpenAI earlier this year. More…
Volta Trucks approved to build and sell EVs in Europe ahead of series production in Q2
Just over a month after announcing customer orders for over 300 of its flagship Zero electric trucks, commercial EV startup Volta Trucks announced it has secured the necessary certification to produce and sell its vehicles in Europe. This is welcomed news as the company is still aiming for a start of series production of the trucks next quarter.. More…
Biden just approved an Alaska oil drilling project – here’s why that stinks
The Biden administration said on Monday that it’s approving the Willow oil drilling project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. More…
EU Commission working on e-fuel exemption for Germany to get combustion car ban finalized
The saga of getting the EU’s proposed ban on sales of new combustion cars by 2035 continues, and more details are in limbo than ever. Following Germany’s abrupt opposition to the ban ahead of its final vote (a mere formality) last week, the EU Commission has declared plans to include a role for e-fuels in the future with hopes it will be enough to regain Germany’s blessing. Here’s the latest. More…
2,000 SONDORS Metacycle e-motorcycles shipped as company extends big price drop
After the e-bike and e-motorcycle company SONDORS’s CEO spoke with Electrek on the Wheel-E Podcast last week, the company made several big announcements about the love-it-or-hate-it Metacycle electric motorcycle. More…
Rivian (RIVN) is looking past Amazon for EDV deliveries after recent contract talks
Rivian ($RIVN) is in discussion with its largest shareholder and commercial partner, Amazon ($AMZN), to end a significant part of its 2019 electric delivery van (EDV) agreement. More…
Tesla significantly ramps up hiring for Cybertruck production
Tesla has significantly ramped up its hiring effort for Cybertruck production, which is just a few months away. More…
Tarform unveils 50 mph electric jet ski designed like a manta ray
The boutique electric motorcycle maker Tarform has just unveiled a very different type of electric vehicle than we’re used to seeing from the company. This time it has shunned two wheels in favor of a sleek hull, creating the Tarform Raye personal watercraft. More…
Believe it or not, the Amish are loving electric bikes
Electric bicycles have been finding favor in a growing number of communities. From hunters to surfers and even soldiers, e-bikes and their low-cost, far-reaching transportation options have permeated a surprising number of different groups and use cases. The latest community adopting e-bikes en masse may be even more of a surprise: the Amish. More…
Quick Charge Podcast: March 11, 2023
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. More…
This insane Tesla Solar Roof earns the owner $350 per month
This insane Tesla Solar Roof and Powerwall installation is earning the homeowner $350 per month as part of a virtual power plant. More…
Weird Alibaba: This funky Chinese electric ATV is half quad, half pickup truck
Uh oh, I’ve done it again. I’ve fallen in love with another one of the victims subjects of my Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week series. It’s an odd mashup of a quad and a pickup truck, complete with dumping bed. It’s the opposite of a mullet: party in front, business in back. More…
Tesla opens direct Powerwall orders again, don’t have to combine with solar
Tesla has decided to open direct Powerwall orders again after previously only making the popular home battery pack available with a solar power system.. More…