Category: electric vehicles

The shift in transport towards electric vehicles will have major impact on energy transition

It is important for us to understand the dynamics underway in all end-use sectors. Asit K. Biswas, Distinguished Visiting Professor and Cecilia Tortajada, Senior Research Fellow, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore write a good article on the impact of the move towards electric vehicles.   … Continue reading The shift in transport towards electric vehicles will have major impact on energy transition →

Expected developments in energy storage technology could lead to electric vehicles recharge in minutes rather than hours

We are regularly hearing about technology developments that are helping the energy transition. Adam Vaughan writes in The Guardian about a breakthrough in energy storage technology that could enable electric cars to be driven as far as petrol and diesel vehicles. Energy storage leap could slash electric car charging times Researchers have claimed a breakthrough … Continue reading Expected developments in energy storage technology could lead to electric vehicles recharge in minutes rather than hours →

Japan is scrambling to ensure it has a future in an electric-car world

The energy transition covers many aspects. The rise of electric vehicles has an impact in many ways. Jonathan Soble writes in the New York Times about Japan’s concerns to be ready.   As Electric Cars’ Prospects Brighten, Japan Fears Being Left Behind At a factory near the base of Mount Fuji, workers painstakingly assemble transmissions … Continue reading Japan is scrambling to ensure it has a future in an electric-car world →

Issues that need addressing before full roll out of electric cars

Increasingly we are reading about the bright future for electric cars. Electric vehicles have only a tiny market share, but the auto industry is betting billions that they will soon be as cheap as conventional cars. Jack Ewing gives a good account in the New York Times of the next steps that are needed.   … Continue reading Issues that need addressing before full roll out of electric cars →

The challenge to increase the number of electric vehicles

There certainly is a lot written about the age of the electric vehicle. Yet, they still represent such a small share of total cars sold. That does not come as a surprise, given the charging infrastructure needed and the continuing developments of the vehicles and batteries. Jonn Axsen, Associate Professor of Sustainable Transportation at Simon … Continue reading The challenge to increase the number of electric vehicles →

An example of the energy transition in two countries

Electric vehicles are really changing the automobile markets globally. Keith Bradsher provides a good article in the New York Times comparing China and the United States in how they are addressing electric vehicles.   China Craves Electric Cars, While U.S. Flirts With Ending Tax Credit In the United States, politicians voted on Thursday for a … Continue reading An example of the energy transition in two countries →

Positive interest in electric vehicles but where to charge them is less obvious

Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation and a regular contributor to EiD, questions why EU member states - including the UK - are blocking attempts to require new buildings to be equipped with fast charge points for EVs. This article first appeared on the Business Green website.   EV charge points are … Continue reading Positive interest in electric vehicles but where to charge them is less obvious →

Thoughts about grid modernisation

Our energy transition has many implications for our electrical systems, as we are increasingly aware of. Peter O’Connor, a Kendall Science Fellow, writes an important article on the Union of Concerned Scientists website about grid modernisation and the role of electric vehicles.   What Is Grid Modernization—and What’s the Role of Electric Vehicles? Utilities around … Continue reading Thoughts about grid modernisation →

The environmental impact of mining the materials for electric vehicle batteries

We have given much attention to the developments in batteries for electric vehicles as we try to increase their range. Max Opray provides an important article in The Guardian about the environmental impact from nickel, one of the major materials used in lithium ion batteries. Having grown up in a mining community and having seen … Continue reading The environmental impact of mining the materials for electric vehicle batteries →