How will Tesla’s bitcoin investment affect its carbon footprint?

2021 Tesla Model S Plaid+Tesla electric cars don't produce "tailpipe" emissions, but a new investment by the automaker could negatively affect its overall carbon footprint. On Monday, Tesla announced that it had bought $1.5 billion of the cryptocurrency bitcoin, and would soon accept bitcoin as payment for its cars. But bitcoin is estimated to produce more carbon...

Toyota confirms US arrival for two electric vehicle models in 2021

Toyota future electric vehicle designs  -  2019Toyota’s all-electric vehicles are coming to America—in 2021, the company confirmed in an announcement Wednesday. That includes an arrival for two battery-electric vehicles, according to Toyota North America, and an additional plug-in hybrid model. By 2025, Toyota’s goal is to have 40% of new U.S. vehicle sales be electrified...

Flywheel tech helps ease grid demands of EV fast-charging

Chakratec flywheel-based Kinetic Energy Storage systems for EV charging, grid-balancingAlthough true flywheel-based kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) never quite caught on in racing or in production hybrids, a company in Israel has been working on putting the technology to use where it could make a big difference: EV fast-charging stations. The flywheels Chakratec uses for charging stations weigh about 330 pounds each and...

Detroit Diesel is going electric, in pivot to keep powering Freightliner

Freightliner eCascadia electric semi-truckIn a sign of the times, a brand that's known for its diesel engines is pivoting to become the supplier of e-axles for Freightliner's trucks. Detroit Diesel will manufacture electric powertrains for the upcoming Freightliner eCascadia semi truck and Freightliner eM2 medium-duty truck, according to a press release from Daimler Trucks, parent company...

Tesla existed before Elon Musk: Founders on how they pitched the idea

2011 Tesla Roadster Sport. Photo by Joe Nuxoll.While he's the face of the electric-car maker today, Elon Musk did not start Tesla. Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning were co-founders of Tesla, aiming to produce what became the Tesla Roadster. They attracted investment from Musk, who was granted a chairman of the board position with his investment in 2004, during Tesla's first funding round...