Energy in Demand News, June 21-22, 2026

At the recent Bonn Climate Change Conference, climate negotiators met to discuss a range of issues – from mitigation to adaptation, finance to technology and capacity-building – and prepare decisions for adoption at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye in November. Fiona Harvey wrote in the Guardian that for “decades, electrification has been a nerdish backwater of … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 21-22, 2026 →

The electric vehicle revolution is happening faster than anyone expected

Gero Rueter writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the extraordinary global acceleration of electric vehicle adoption and how falling battery costs, industrial policy and energy security concerns are driving the transition away from combustion engines. China is driving the transition, but Europe and other countries are catching up fast. EVs are no longer a … Continue reading The electric vehicle revolution is happening faster than anyone expected →

150 new power plants: the cost of balancing the grid if the EU slashes EV targets

Scaling back the EU’s electric car targets makes the transition to renewables far more expensive to achieve according to a new study for Transport & Environment. Europe’s electricity system could be one of the biggest victims of plans to scale back electric vehicle targets. By providing ‘batteries on wheels’, EVs are set to fundamentally rewire … Continue reading 150 new power plants: the cost of balancing the grid if the EU slashes EV targets →

European cities are starting to show what happens when streets are built for people

Zeeshan Tirmizi writes on the Deutsche Welle website about a citizen-led campaign in Berlin that is collecting signatures to create a car‑free centre in the German capital. Other European cities also show what happens when streets are built for people. Here's what happens when cities kick out cars Berliners lost 60 hours to traffic … Continue reading European cities are starting to show what happens when streets are built for people →

The economic case for electric vehicles is now improving

In an article on The Conversation website, Viet Nguyen-Tien, Research Economist, London School of Economics and Political Science; Gavin D. J. Harper, Research Fellow, Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements & Critical Materials, University of Birmingham; and Robert Elliott, Professor of Economics, University of Birmingham discuss how the crisis at the Strait of Hormuz has been … Continue reading The economic case for electric vehicles is now improving →

France’s energy transition: wanting to fast-track its electrification

Liam Gilliver writes on the Euronews website that French Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu says electrification is now a concern of ‘national interest’ and no longer just about climate change. France wants to fast-track its electrification as the war on Iran continues to highlight the dangers of fossil fuel reliance with some new initiatives. In a … Continue reading France’s energy transition: wanting to fast-track its electrification →

Why batteries may save the world

Paul Krugman, an American economist who is the Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and in 2008 was sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to new trade theory and new economic geography, writes on Substack of the growing importance … Continue reading Why batteries may save the world →

Australia’s new car carbon market is already reshaping the auto industry

In an article on The Conversation website, Hussein Dia, Professor of Transport Technology and Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology discusses how the new fuel efficiency scheme in Australia has created a new, tradeable carbon currency applying just to cars and light commercial vehicles in just seven months. How Australia’s new fuel efficiency scheme quietly … Continue reading Australia’s new car carbon market is already reshaping the auto industry →

Sales of electric vehicles on upward trajectory in the EU

Molly Lempriere writes on the Carbon Brief website about how EVs have overtaken standard petrol (gasoline) cars for the first time in December. Analysis: EVs just outsold petrol cars in EU for first time ever Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) overtook standard petrol cars in the EU for the first time in December 2025, … Continue reading Sales of electric vehicles on upward trajectory in the EU →

EU walks back 2035 all-electric target, permitting some new combustion engine cars

A last-minute deal in Berlin ensured the death of the combustion engine ban — a previously unthinkable outcome. Jordyn Dahl writes on the Politico website about the Commission’s latest plan that now goes to the European Parliament and Council. Also, check out the latest article by Monica Frassoni. She argues why the electric transition is … Continue reading EU walks back 2035 all-electric target, permitting some new combustion engine cars →