$3,000 DIY electric Mini Cooper is a fun exception among conversions

Rich Rebuilds electric Mini conversionThe 2020 Mini Cooper SE offers an all-electric powertrain from the factory, but YouTuber Rich Benoit took a different path to an electric Mini. Benoit's Rich Rebuilds YouTube channel gained popularity focusing on Tesla rebuilds, but recently its star has been branching out. As documented in a series of videos, he bought a non-running...

Rivian charging network will be partly proprietary, partly patchwork

Rivian R1TRivian has begun work on its own charging network, with a "two-tier" strategy that will include DC fast charging and slower AC charging, CEO RJ Scaringe said in an interview with TechCrunch. Unlike previous charging-network projects, Rivian will locate stations near hiking trails, kayaking spots, and other recreational destinations, in order to...

Georgia gets first solar roadway in the US

Wattway solar roadway in Peachtree Corners, GeorgiaThe city of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, has unveiled what it calls the first solar roadway within a city in the United States. Located in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Peachtree Corners installed solar panels in a section of its Technology Parkway, which also functions as an autonomous-vehicle testing lane, according to a press release from the...

Canoo sees its subscription-based electric van as a canvas for wraps

JGoldcrown mural for Canoo Canvas wrap programNot every vehicle design is intended to be completely unadorned; once in a while designs come along that are actually intended to be used as a canvas for customization. One such example is California-based electric-vehicle maker Canoo. Mural artist James Goldcrown made a custom mural at the company’s Torrance, California headquarters that...

Wind-powered transatlantic car carrier could cut carbon emissions by 90%

Oceanbird wind-powered car carrierSailing ships were once the backbone of international commerce, and now a Swedish shipbuilder is trying to give sails a high-tech update in order to reduce emissions. Oceanbird is a proposed a 35,000-ton, 650-foot, transoceanic car carrier, powered mostly by wind, that can reduce carbon emissions by a claimed 90% compared to a conventional ship...

Report: 50 years ago, GM and Ford understood climate change was an issue

1965 Pontiac GTOGeneral Motors and Ford knew about the possible impact of climate change as far back as 50 years ago, according to a new report from E&E News. Based on more than two dozen interviews with former employees, academics, and environmentalists, as well as examination of corporate documents, the report reveals that GM and Ford were "deeply and...

Tires could be costing EV owners an extra charge a year, study suggests

Explaining the differences between 17, 18, and 19-inch tiresOver the life of an electric vehicle, tires can have a profound effect on electric vehicle range and efficiency. That’s been given more nuance with a new collaborative study, between Geely Research Institute, Shanglong Linglong Tire Co., and Exxon Mobil—and reported earlier this month in SAE International. Over the life of an electric...