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Page Updated:

Oct. 30, 2026

• Alt Fuel Transportation
(Not Just Cars)

Alt-Fuelers

Visit our Alternative Energy Transport section, filled with photos and information on the latest technology.

Warning: Your'e Going to want one.

• The Story of Alt Fuel Vehicles

History and Future

This piece was written by the website's creator, in response to the EV revolution that is now occuring.

Five pages (with photos) you might enjoy.

• NOVA Episode: Electric Flight

Breakthrough in Green Transportation

Can new emission-free electric planes replace our polluting airliners and revolutionize personal transportation in our cities? NOVA takes a ride in some quiet, energy-efficient, prototypes that are vying for success as electric flight takes off.

Click now for a link to the
episode and a preview video.

Green Transportation News
(LatesOldert Dates First)

• • Trump Boosts His Least Fave Car

  Electric Boomerang
  
  {POLITICO}

  Sept. 29, 2026 -ELECTRIC DONALOO: Donald Trump might go down as the EV president. Global sales of electric vehicles are soaring, aided by skyrocketing gasoline and diesel prices resulting from the Iran war.

  In Europe, 1 in 5 new cars registered this year are fully electric. Add hybrids and it climbs to more than half of new registrations. In Australia and South Korea, EV sales were up 110% through the first half of 2026 compared to the same time in 2025. And in China, total car sales were down 5% through August — but EV sales were up almost 18%.

• • 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Interior Review

  Stylish, Luxe … But Is It Great?
  
  {edmonds}

  Sept. 27, 2026 -We named the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid the Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best winner for 2026, and it's easy to see why. It's spacious, luxurious and incredibly stylish — especially for an everyday SUV. The interior is a big part of the reason the Palisade is so beloved, especially in chart-topping Calligraphy trim.

  Because the new Palisade is so good, we added one to our One-Year Road Test fleet. But instead of springing for a Calligraphy, we got the one-step-down Limited, which costs about $5,000 less. Are we missing any of the good things that come on the Calligraphy? Are we wishing we'd have ordered the more expensive model? Let's dig into our editors' comments to find out.

• • Seattle Gets a New Light Rail Station

  And Then a Long Wait

  

  Sept. 27, 2026 -After a two-year streak of splashy grand openings where overflow crowds explored new light rail routes, Sound Transit this week will unveil its last train station until the 2030s.

  North Seattle’s new Pinehurst Station will welcome passengers at 5 a.m. Wednesday with less hype and lower expectations. It will be near-empty for a long time

• • Californians Trade In Over 1,000 E-
  Bikes As Injuries Abound Nationwide

  Electric Bicycle Owners in Southern California Are Parting Ways With Their High Powered Two-Wheelers
  
  {DAILY CALLER}

  Sept. 25, 2026 -After many injuries and hospitalizations, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office organized a first-of-its-kind buyback program for e-bike owners to trade in the vehicles for gift cards worth up to $1,000,The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. On Sept. 13, residents handed in more than 1,000 e-bikes, e-motorcycles and similar electric two-wheeled vehicles at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

• • Chinese Auto Companies Race Ahead On EV Technology

  Achieving 5-Minute Ultrafast Charging

  

  Sept. 24, 2026 -On Wednesday, Geely AutoM/b> unveiled technology that can charge an electric vehicle battery from 10% to 70% in just 4.5 minutes, a leap analysts called a significant development for the Chinese auto group.

  Geely is joining the ranks of BYD, which last year overtook <>Tesla as the world’s biggest EV maker, as well as CATL, the world’s largest EV battery maker, both of which this year rolled out around 5-minute EV ultrafast charging.

• • Trump Administration Plans to Gut Clean Car Rules

  It Would Kill a Federal Effort to Speed the Transition to Electric Vehicles

  

  Sept. 24, 2026 -The Trump administration will move on Monday to sharply scale back fuel-efficiency rules for new cars and light trucks, gutting one of the government’s most significant efforts to reduce gasoline consumption and speed the country’s shift to electric vehicles.

  President Trump said on Saturday on social media that he had “just approved new Fuel Economy Standards,” adding falsely that President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had implemented an “E.V. mandate.” The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said in his own social media post that the move would be announced Monday.

• • Scientists Discover Gentle Chemical Bath
  That Revives Tired EV Batteries

  The New Process Revives Lost Driving Range, Offering a Greener Alternative to Costly Recycling Plants
  
  {HAPPY HEALTHY NEWS}

  Sept. 24 2026 -Imagine taking your aging electric-vehicle battery back to the shop, giving it a good scrub, and driving away with nearly all of your lost range restored. That hopeful vision is exactly what Cornell University scientists have recently demonstrated in the lab.

  Instead of spending billions on massive battery-recycling plants, the team has developed a simple chemical bath that gently refreshes the battery’s internal chemistry. The process does not require breaking the battery apart, saving both time and precious resources.

• • The Bentley Torcal Might Be the World's Fanciest EV

  The Torcal is a Bentley First and an Electric SUV Second
  
  {edmonds}

  Sept. 23, 2026 -What's new: Bentley's first EV is the Torcal, a midsize SUV that slots below the Bentayga and shares its underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne Electric.

  Why it matters: The Torcal is every bit a Bentley, with features like power doors, multilayered wood trim, exquisite attention to detail, and serious curb appeal.

  Edmunds says: This might be one of Bentley's finest efforts yet and also serves as a new entry point to the brand.

• • Segregated Bike Lanes Spark Historic
  First for Edinburgh Cyclists

  Scottish City Celebrates Cleaner Air and Happier Commuters
  
  {HAPPY HEALTHY NEWS}

  Sept. 23, 2026 -A fresh wave of joy is rolling through Edinburgh as bicycles quietly claim their place on city streets. Morning commuters are trading engine noise for the gentle whir of wheels and the soft breeze of early daylight.

  Segregated bike lanes and easy e-bike rentals have transformed a once car-dominated route into a vibrant corridor of pedals and smiles. The change marks the first time bicycles have outnumbered vehicles during rush hour on this historic Scottish thoroughfare.

• • Why Some Schools Are Hitting the Brakes on Electric Buses

  The New Models Can Prove Expensive and Unreliable and Lack the Range to Fully Replace Older Buses...

  

  Sept. 23, 2026 -Gouverneur, N.Y., a rural town with brutal winters near the Canadian border, waited three years to receive its first pair of electric school buses. It took no time for problems to start.

  After just one day of shuttling students, the buses’ high-voltage chargers began malfunctioning, sidelining the vehicles for weeks. When the buses were back on the road in November, their heating systems failed, forcing both out of service again, including one for four months.

• • Startup JetZero Has a New Kind of Plane
  and Bigger-Than-Boeing Dreams

  A New Type Of Plane — One That Has Never Carried Commercial Passengers — Could Take Flight As Soon As Next Year

  

  Sept. 20, 2026 -The concept has been in the works for decades, part of the industry’s continuous push to make planes more fuel-efficient to reduce emissions and fuel costs. But technology wasn’t quite ready, and the endeavor has been too risky to justify the sizable financial investment.

  Now, a startup based in California is ready to try.

• • Amtrak to Introduce Upgraded, Sleek
  Airo Train Sets On Cascades Route

  On Track For Great Results

  

  Sept. 18, 2026 -A new age of train travel begins in the Pacific Northwest on Sept. 30 when Amtrak will introduce the first two train sets of its new sleek, upgraded and amenity-rich Airo Fleet to the Amtrak Cascades route.

  The Airo Fleet boasts ergonomically designed seating, panoramic windows, free Wi-Fi, individual power outlets, improved accessibility, upgrades to the onboard cafe and more than 300 seats per trainset, a significant bump in passenger capacity.

• • Utilities, Schools See Growing Value In
  Electric Buses For Virtual Power Plants

  By Participating In Programs That Ease Grid Congestion, School Districts Can Recoup Thousands Of Dollars From the Price of Electric School Buses
  
  {UTILTY DIVE}

  Sept. 16, 2026 -In the summers of 2021 and 2022, a single electric school bus discharged about 10.8 MWh of electricity into the suburban Boston electric distribution grid to offset load peaks. National Grid’s ConnectedSolutions virtual power plant program paid nearly $12,000 per season for its efforts.

• • What's the Best Small Electric SUV?

  We Tested 8 of Them to Find Out
  
  {edmonds}

  Sept. 15, 2026 -Don't think for a second electric SUVs are going anywhere. The fact of the matter is EVs are better than ever, and there are more options for families who want an electric crossover that's going to fit into their everyday lives. So many, in fact, that test-driving them all yourself would be quite the task, so we put eight of them together to find out which one is truly best.

  All of these EV SUVs were judged against the Edmunds Rating, and the score determined each one's finishing position. We spent weeks with all of these cars, put all of them through our testing regimen, covered thousands of miles in them, and lived with them every day to get the most accurate results possible.

• • Tesla Is Reclaiming the U.S. EV
  Market as Legacy Automakers Retreat

  U.S. EV Sales Remain Depressed, But Tesla’s Market Share Has Recovered From Its 2025 Nadir
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  Sept. 12, 2026 -Elon Musk once predicted that an end to America’s federal electric-vehicle tax credit would be painful for Tesla TSLA 0.52%increase; up pointing triangle at first, but ultimately beneficial to the automaker in the long run.

  He was right, at least in a relative sense.

  Recent auto-sales data indicates that Tesla is once again gaining ground in the U.S. EV market as legacy automakers retreat from battery-powered cars. Musk’s company is back to comprising more than half of the U.S. EV market, with a 52% share in 2026 through August, up from 43% a year earlier, according to Motor Intelligence.

• • Tesla Eyes European Freight Market
  With Long-Delayed Semi Truck

  Tesla Began Limited Deliveries to Customers Including PepsiCo in the ?United States in Late 2022
  
  {CNBC}

  Sept. 11, 2026 -Tesla plans to bring its Semi electric truck to Europe, broadening its reach beyond North America as it ?seeks foothold in a heavy-duty market where rivals already sell battery-powered models.

  The Elon Musk-led automaker will disclose European specifications and launch details at the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hanover, Germany, next week, it said in a ?post on X.

• • Supporters and Critics Lay Out Plans
  For Colorado Connector Passenger Rail

  Both Supporters and Critics Laid Out Plans For a Passenger Rail System, Which Would Stretch From Fort Collins to Pueblo
  
  {FOX31}

  Sept. 10, 2026 -The passenger rail system, known as Colorado Connector, or “CoCo,” service, according to supporters, would run on existing rails.

  At a press conference at Union Station, the mayors of Boulder, Denver, Pueblo and Westminster all voiced their support.

  Supporters said that CoCo would relieve congestion and be less taxing on the environment. The eventual plan will include 10 stops.

• • London Talks Raise Hopes For Green Shipping Deal

  There Have Been “Constructive Discussions” Over How to Meet the Industry’s Green Targets
  
  {CLIMATE HOME NEWS}

  Sept. 7, 2026 -A relatively ambitious deal to reduce the shipping industry's 3% of global emissions now looks more likely after four days of closed-door talks in London, observers say.

  The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which oversees the negotiations, said there had been "constructive discussions" and "genuine willingness within the group to make concrete further progress".

• • Will We Ever See the Ram Rev Plug-in Hybrid?

  Stellantis is Reportedly Delaying Both the Ram Rev and Jeep Grand Wagoneer Plug-In Hybrid Models
  
  {edmunds}

  Sept. 4, 2026 -Ramhas delayed the launch of its Rev plug-in hybrid truck once again, according to a new report from Automotive News. The Rev — which was originally called the Ramcharger — was first announced in late 2023 and expected to be on sale in the second half of 2025. In fact, the plug-in hybrid model was supposed to arrive after the launch of Ram's fully electric truck — the original Rev — which was subsequently axed.

  According to the AN report, the Ram 1500 Rev plug-in hybrid will now arrive in mid-April. A Ram spokesperson did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

• • Shipping Companies Are Putting
  Sails Back On Cargo Ships

  One of the World's Largest Logistics Companies Plans to Fit One of Its Ships With a Strange Type of Sail
  
  {NPR}

  Sept. 6, 2026 - One of the world's largest shipping lines will soon be the first to equip a container vessel with a sail. This week, global logistics firm Maersk said it would fit the device on a cargo ship in 2027. It comes during a sea change for shipping and planet-warming pollution, as NPR's Henry Larson reports.

  Unlike the tall ships of old, shipping liners have no rigging for the wind to sing through.

• • Carmakers Have a New Idea to Boost EV Range

  Add a Gas Engine
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  Sept. 6, 2026, -The auto industry has a new solution to Americans’ fear that electric vehicles will run out of juice: a gasoline engine.

  Hyundai, Ford Motor F 1.46%increase; up pointing triangle and Jeep parent Stellantis STLA 1.28%increase; up pointing triangle are among the first U.S.-market automakers planning to roll out a new kind of plug-in vehicle called an extended-range EV. It is a fully electric car with the security blanket of a gas-powered generator to charge the battery, if needed—ensuring you won’t end up stranded as long as a gas station is nearby.

• • The Ford Fathom Electric Truck Is Coming Next Year

  Here's Our Best Look Yet
  
  {edmunds}

  Sept. 4, 2026 -What's new: Ford CEO Jim Farley has shared new images of the Fathom EV pickup undergoing hot-weather testing in and around Las Vegas.

  Why it matters: The latest prototypes give us a better look at the Fathom’s compact proportions as Ford prepares a sub-$30,000 electric truck for 2027.

  Edmunds says: The Fathom is shaping up to be more like an electric Maverick than a smaller F-150 Lightning, with everyday usability and affordability taking priority.

  Ford's upcoming Fathom electric pickup has surfaced in Las Vegas following hot-weather testing in the Nevada desert, with CEO Jim Farley sharing new photos and video of the camouflaged trucks. Even with plenty of disguise in place, the prototypes give us the clearest look yet at a low-slung four-door truck that appears closer in size to a Ford Maverick than a traditional midsize truck.

• • Long-Lost Railway Connection Restored After 30 Years

  Sweden and Finland Reconnected Their Railway Lines After a 30-Year Gap, Restoring a Vital Arctic Transit Route
  
  {HEALTHY HAPPY NEWS}

  Sept. 4, 2026 -Early on a Monday morning in August, history quietly rolled across the frozen north. A passenger train rumbled through Finland’s Arctic landscape, traversing thawed tundra and birch forests before coming to rest at a border crossing that hadn’t seen rail traffic in three decades.

  The destination? Sweden—a neighbor separated by just a few miles of track, but disconnected by 30 years of railway silence.

  For rail-loving European societies, cross-border train travel is nothing new. But this journey was different—it marked the restoration of a vital connection severed in the 1990s, when economic pressures and declining freight demand led both nations to abandon the line.

• • This Solar-Powered E-Bike Crossed the Alps
  and Completed an Incredible 1,300-Kilometer Run

  A Homemade Solar-Powered Cargo Bike Came Close to Energy Independence, But...
  
  {ZME SCIENCE}

  Sept. 3, 2026, -What if an electric bike could keep going for hundreds of kilometers without needing a charging station? A UK-based filmmaker and photographer, Shawn Ryan, set out to test that idea with a solar-powered cargo bike he built himself.

  He took the 61-kilogram bike on the 2026 Sun Trip, a long-distance solar-bike adventure in which riders travel hundreds of kilometers using bikes powered partly or entirely by solar energy, riding about 1,300 kilometers through France and the Alps.

• • Musk Launches Steering-Wheel-Free Taxi Service

  In Bet Riders Lose ‘No Control’ Fears and Hop Inside

  

  Sept. 3, 2026, -Elon Musk sent dozens of self-driving Cybercabs without steering wheels or brake pedals onto the streets of Austin, Texas, on Thursday, betting that Americans will overcome their fears of rides with “no control” and hop inside.

  The rollout of the gold-colored Teslas, which give passengers no way to take control in an emergency, comes as the company prepares to launch the service in other cities. Tesla shares have suffered amid a slump in vehicle sales, but they rose more than 5% Thursday on hopes that the futuristic-looking taxis will catch on quickly.

• • Ford’s $30,000 EV Truck Sets Ambitious Goal:

  100,000 Sales in Year One
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  Sept. 2, 2026, -Ford Motor F 1.46%increase; up pointing triangle is setting an ambitious sales target for its new electric truck that has only been met by Tesla in the U.S.

  The automaker aims to sell more than 100,000 of the trucks in its first year of production, according to people familiar with the matter. The truck, called the Ford Fathom, starts around $30,000 and will go on sale next year. Ford is seeking mainstream sales not seen by its earlier, more expensive electric vehicles.

• • The Cybercab Is Almost Here.
  Now Comes the Hard Part

  The Electric-Auto Maker Will Officially Debut Its Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxi On Thursday. But...
  
  {WIRED}

  Sept. 2, 2026, -Matte gold, sloped, and steering-wheel-free, the Tesla Cybercab seems designed to catch the eyes of looky-loos. Now rubberneckers may have more opportunities: Tesla is set to host an event on Thursday at its Austin, Texas, headquarters to debut the Cybercab.

  Tesla first rolled out a prototype Cybercab at a flashy event on the Warner Bros. lot in 2024. This week’s unveiling will likely mark the vehicle’s official introduction to the electric-auto maker’s small ride-hail service. It has operated a pilot program in Austin since last summer, and has since expanded to a handful of other cities in Texas and Florida, with permits to launch in Arizona and Nevada. (A “robotaxi” service in the San Francisco Bay Area is not legally permitted to operate without drivers behind the wheel.)

• • GM Demonstrates World’s First Solar Powered Car

  GM Demonstrates World’s First Solar Powered Car
  
  {EEworld ONLINE}

  August 31, 2026 -Sure, cars today can park themselves. They can download traffic patterns in real-time and even remotely place our Starbuck’s orders.

  But even our uber (heh) connected cars of today had to start somewhere—and that “somewhere” started with what could power them.

  On August 31, 1955, General Motors’ William G. Cobb demonstrated the world’s first solar-powered automobile, the 15-inch-long Sunmobile, at the General Motors Powerama auto show in Chicago.

• • What’s Really Driving Recalls of Cars
  at Risk of Bursting Into Flames?

  It’s Not EVs

  

  August 28, 2026 -Electric vehicles for years have been dogged by worries about fire.

  Headlines from the early 2020s were filled with Teslas burning in garages and Chevy Bolts taken off the road due to flammable batteries. Federal safety investigators urged automakers to give emergency responders better guides on how to fight lithium-ion battery fires.

  It seemed like EVs represented a new kind of fire risk.

  But EVs are not driving the recent growth in recalls warning that vehicles could erupt into flames at any time, even when parked and turned off.

• • Trains in Switzerland Are Now Running Over Solar Panels

  A First-of-Its-Kind Test
  
  {ZME SCIENCE}

  August 27, 2026 -A train line in western Switzerland now carries two kinds of traffic: passengers above, and sunlight below.

  On a 100-meter stretch of active railway near the village of Buttes, 48 solar panels sit between the rails, low enough for trains to pass over them and removable enough for crews to take them away when the track needs work. The installation, developed by the Swiss startup Sun-Ways, is small. Its 18 kilowatts of capacity could generate about 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, roughly the annual use of a few European households.

• • More PG&E Customers Can Now Funnel
  Energy From Their EVs to the Grid

  And Get Paid For It
  
  {energy central}

  August 25, 2026 -Mobile batteries: PG&E is helping more customers turn their EVs into “a home backup and a grid asset.” How? The utility is broadening its Vehicle-to-Everything program to include more cars, chargers, and software (via partnerships with Bidirectional Energy and PowerFlex.)

  What’s in it for me? Customers can get up to $13K in California incentives, in addition to $2.5K upfront (or $3K for disadvantaged communities) from PG&E.

• • Amazon’s Toaster-Shaped Robotaxis Hit the Road

  The Company is the First to Charge For Rides In Its Autonomous Vehicle Without a Steering Wheel, Dashboard or Pedals
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  August 23, 2026 -Toaster-shaped taxis that don’t have a driver or a steering wheel have started rolling across San Francisco and charging for rides in Las Vegas.

  The all-electric cars are the first robotaxis offering rides on the roads without standard driver features like a dashboard and pedals. They can drive in either direction and hold up to four passengers who sit facing each other. Windows stretch across much of the sides. The vehicles are called Zoox and they come from a new entrant in robotaxis: Amazon.com AMZN 1.52%increase; green up pointing triangle.

• • Full Self-Driving Is the Best Thing
  About the New Tesla Model Y

  Facing Stiffer Competition From Rivals, Tesla’s Updated Model Y Relies On Its Street-Savvy Software to Maintain an Edge
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  August 22, 2026, By Dan Neil -Six years ago I proclaimed the original Model Y the best car in the world, and the world agreed. The family-sized four-door hatchback went on to lead global sales of all passenger vehicles over the three-year period, 2023-2025. I’m that powerful.

  Lately, however, products from Chinese and European rivals have overtaken the Model Y in a number of fundamental metrics. BMW’s Neue Klasse-based iX3, for example, has a claimed range of 383-434 miles—up to 140 miles more than Model Y, depending on configuration. The BMW also boasts a faster charging, 800V-nominal electrical architecture; the Model Y retains a 400V system. The Model Y’s charging rate maxes out at 250 kW. Most fast-charging networks now operate up to 350 kW.

• • In China’s Biggest Car Recall, Tesla and
  8 Others Will Address Door Safety

  China’s Regulator Ordered Changes After Vehicle Occupants Sometimes Had Difficulty Exiting Electric Cars

  

  August 21, 2026 -The Chinese government announced its biggest car recall ever on Friday, forcing nine automakers to address the dangers of retractable door handles popularized by Tesla particularly for electric cars.

  The recall involves 4.3 million vehicles. Most of the automakers, including Tesla, will attach stickers to their cars to show where the handles are. Tesla will also push online software updates to the cars so their windows will open automatically after a crash.

• • Electric Vehicles Are Catching Fire Amid
  a Surge In Recalls Over Models That
  Can Burst Into Flames Even While Parked

  EVS Are Catching Fire Amid a Surge In Recalls Over Models That Can Burst Into Flames Even While Parked
  
  {DAILY CALLER}

  August 20, 2026 -Sarah Lammersen’s plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler caught fire while her daughter drove it, days after a recall of a partially electric car model, according to The Washington Post. Jeep alone recalled more than 200,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles in November 2025, over a risk that their batteries could catch fire while parked or driving.

  “FCA US LLC confirms that a remedy for the recall of certain 2020-2025 Jeep® Wrangler 4xe and 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs is available to customers. The solution consists of a software update to the high-voltage battery pack control module that will improve diagnostic capability for early detection of internal battery separator damage,” a spokesperson for Jeep parent company Stellantis told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

• • All Aboard Amtrak’s Sleeker, Cleaner New Trains

  The $8-Billion Airo Fleet Promises Cleaner, More Reliable Service as Passenger Rail Enjoys Record Ridership, But...

  

  August 19, 2026 -On Charlie Hamilton’s regular Amtrak rides from Seattle to Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia, he passes some of the country’s most spectacular vistas: the Puget Sound coast and the Skagit Valley. On clear days, he can even see Mount Rainier. But perhaps the most beautiful sight is not the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. It’s the cars and trucks inching along the highway.

  “It’s nice to be able to be going along there and going faster than what people on Interstate 5 are doing. We kind of like that bit,” said Hamilton, who leads the train advocacy organization All Aboard Washington.

• • The Gulf Oil Shock Is Pushing
  E.V. Sales to New Heights Globally

  Something EV Fans Can Get Charged Up About

  

  August 19, 2026 -Electric car sales are on track to hit record highs this year, with 29 percent of all new cars purchased around the world expected to be either purely battery-powered models or plug-in hybrids, according to a recent report from the International Energy Agency. That’s a sharp increase from just 4 percent in 2020.

  The boom in sales was somewhat unexpected. Some analysts had predicted a slower market for electric vehicles this year — until the U.S. war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused oil and gasoline prices to spike. That has led to a frenzy of electric car sales in many unexpected corners of the globe.

• • World’s Largest All Electric Airplane Just
  Flew for 27 Minutes on About $5 of Power

  A Major Test Shows Both the Promise and Stubborn Limits of Battery-Powered Aviation
  
  {ZME SCIENCE}

  August 21, 2026 -A white aircraft with a 106-foot wingspan lifted from a runway in upstate New York last week carrying something unusual for a flying machine of its size: no jet fuel at all.

  For 27 minutes, Heart Aerospace’s X1 flew entirely on batteries, climbing to 1,100 feet while its four electric motors drew more than one megawatt of power. The aircraft weighed more than 25,000 pounds at takeoff. The electricity consumed during the flight cost about $5.

• • Tiny Ferries Connect Tiny Islands
  of Puget Sound With the Mainland

  All Three Seem Genuinely Happy as They Sit In Their Captains’ Bridges Operating the Ferries On Recent Sunny Days

  

  August 18, 2026 -HARRISON LINDGREN, AARON WHITE and Gary Poole don’t know each other. But they share something special. Each says he has the best job with the best view, anywhere.

  All of them are among the captains for Puget Sound’s tiniest ferries: Lindgren on the Hat (Gedney) Island ferry, White on the Herron Island ferry and Poole on the Lummi Island ferry.

• • The 2027 Tesla Model Y L Goes Farther
  Than Any Model Y Has Gone Before

  Adding More Length and a Proper Third Row of Seats Hasn't Hurt the Model Y's Real-World Range
  
  {edmonds}

  August 18, 2026 -Usually, the math is quite simple: A larger, heavier EV with extra power should mean less range and less efficiency. But in the Edmunds EV Range Test, the 2027 Tesla Model Y L flipped that logic on its head.

  There isn't an official EPA estimate for the Model Y L's range (yet), but Tesla set the benchmark at 320 or 325 miles, depending on whether your car has 20- or 19-inch wheels. We expected a real-world result similar to those numbers; Tesla's estimates have been pretty accurate as of late.

• • EVs Drive Down China’s Oil Demand as Iran War Slogs On

  Drivers Are Buying More Electric Cars and Using Less Gasoline in Plug-In Hybrids
  
  {CLIMATEWIRE}

  August 14, 2026 -Electric vehicles displaced 1.5 million barrels of oil a day in China during the second quarter of the year, nearly doubling expectations, according to the International Energy Agency.

  The growth suggests that the use of electric cars is accelerating as the country — which dominates global manufacturing of battery-powered vehicles — faces oil supply disruptions as the U.S.-led war against Iran approaches the six-month mark, the Paris-based agency said in its latest oil market report.

• • Maximizing Electric Vehicle Incentives:

  A State-By-State Guide
  
  {FACTOR THIS}

  August 13, 2026 -Here’s what most operators don’t expect: the biggest funders of industrial fleet electrification aren’t federal agencies. They’re the utilities already billing your facility every month.

  Roughly half the programs in the database are run or funded by utilities. They tend to be faster to access, less bureaucratic, and directly targeted at the equipment and infrastructure your operation needs.

  The reach is wide. A single TVA EnergyRight program pays up to $2,000 per forklift for IC-to-electric conversions and covers seven southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Entergy eTech runs a dual-track rebate across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, paying the fleet operator and the selling dealer separately. Xcel Energy covers Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin. National Grid serves Massachusetts and New York.

• • Hydrogen-Powered JCB Hydromax Races to 406
  MPH and Sets New Land Speed ‘Record’

  The 32-Foot Streamliner Uses Two Hydrogen-Fueled Internal Combustion Engines Producing a Combined 1,600 Horsepower
  
  {INTERESTING ENGINEERING}

  August 12, 2026 -JCB’s hydrogen-powered Hydromax streamliner has reached 406.320 mph (653.2 km/h) at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a provisional world land speed record for a hydrogen internal combustion vehicle.

  The run took place on August 11, with Wing Commander Andy Green OBE behind the wheel. The record still needs formal ratification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

• • CATL Battery for Electric Aviation
  Passes Important Safety Test

  EVs to Fly Safely
  
  {energy central}

  August 11, 2026 -Wondering why electric planes haven’t really taken off? They’ve hit some turbulence: Batteries that pack enough capacity to power long trips are just too dang heavy. But that could soon change. An aviation battery from storage titan CATL recently became the highest-density tech of its kind to clear a key safety test. Now, the Chinese company could take e-planes to new heights

• • On These Motorcycles, the Thrill Is Truly Electric

  With Gas Prices High, People in Developing Countries Are Lining Up to Buy Battery-Powered Bikes

  

  August 11, 2026 -The frenzy started on a single street in Lahore, Pakistan, where a half-dozen showrooms sprang up selling the same thing — electric motorcycles — and still couldn’t keep up with demand. As gasoline prices soared this year a seventh store opened, followed by an eighth. Another two are doing business just around the corner.

  And that was just the beginning.

  Electric motorcycles scarcely existed in Pakistan three years ago. But across the country, new brands are arriving by the week with names like Vlektra and Jolta, from some 84 companies and counting.

• • When Should You Scrap Your Gasoline Car?

  The Answer is Almost Certainly Now

  

  August 11, 2026 -Replacing a gasoline car of any age—even a brand-new one—with an electric vehicle will almost always lower overall carbon emissions, according to a new analysis. The findings resolve a key conundrum about making the switch from gasoline to electric vehicles, the researchers say.

  Driving an electric vehicle (EV) produces less emissions than driving a gasoline car, and the disparity is growing ever wider as electric grids decarbonize. So it has been obvious for a while that if you’re in the market for a new car the best choice for the environment is an EV. But manufacturing an EV produces more emissions than manufacturing a gasoline car, and this has led to uncertainty about the break-even point.

• • Trump Waged War On EVs, But....

  Now He’s Helping Them Out
  
  {E&E NEWS}

  August 11, 2026 -President Donald Trump has made no secret of his disdain for the EV sector. But one of his major policy initiatives is now poised to bolster the same companies he’s put on the back foot.

  Since taking office, Trump and Republicans in Congress have scrapped hefty consumer tax credits designed to drive faster electric vehicle adoption nationwide, raising costs for cars, batteries and charging stations. EPA under his watch has moved to reconsider Biden-era emissions standards for gas-guzzling cars and trucks. And, with help from Republicans, he’s moved to stall funding for EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. while pushing fossil fuels.

• • Electric Motorcycles Are Soaring

  A Side Effect of the Iran War

  

  August 11, 2026 -The frenzy started on a single street in Lahore, Pakistan, where a half-dozen showrooms sprang up selling the same thing — electric motorcycles — and still couldn’t keep up with demand. As gasoline prices soared this year a seventh store opened, followed by an eighth. Another two are doing business just around the corner.

  And that was just the beginning.

  Electric motorcycles scarcely existed in Pakistan three years ago. But across the country, new brands are arriving by the week with names like Vlektra and Jolta, from some 84 companies and counting.

• • Amtrak Suspends Seattle-Portland Service Indefinitely

  Amtrak Service Between Seattle and Portland on Hold

  

  August 9, 2026 -Amtrak service between Seattle and Portland is on hold indefinitely after a fire tore through a vacant warehouse near the Oregon train station last week.

  Almost all northbound train traffic has been restricted, Amtrak said in a statement, due to damage from the blaze at the 100-year-old building, which sits a half-mile from Portland’s Union Station.

  Substitute buses were running between Seattle and Portland to replace some trains, while other lines were canceled completely, Amtrak said.

• • California Offers New Tax Credit for
  Drivers Who Switch to Electric Vehicles

  Now, Californians Will Automatically Get a $3,500 Tax Credit for a New Zero-Emission Car, Or Half That for a Used EV
  
  {7EYEWITNESS NEWS}

  August 9, 2026 - If you've been thinking about switching to an electric vehicle, California is offering a new tax incentive.

  Gov. Gavin Newsom just announced drivers can now get thousands of dollars off when they buy a new EV for the first time.

• • America’s Electric Honeymoon Is Over

  Owners Must Work Out Where to Go Next
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  August 8, 2026 - Mark Block’s friend wouldn’t stop bragging about the great lease deal he got for his 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6. When Mark and his wife, Ida, saw that they, too, could get a sleek, electric $50,000 car for $340 a month after a $4,000 down payment, they couldn’t resist.

  They liked their new battery-powered sedan. But when their lease was due back and they went looking for a similar deal, they faced higher prices and fewer options.

• • 2027 Rivian R2 Underperforms in Our Real-World Range Test

  But That's Not a Deal-Breaker
  
  {edmonds}

  August 6, 2026 -The Rivian R2's adventurous styling promises trips well beyond the daily commute, but its real-world range places some limits on those ambitions. A 2027 Rivian R2 Performance with 21-inch wheels traveled 304 miles in the Edmunds EV Range Test, falling 26 miles short of its 330-mile EPA estimate. That's surely disappointing but not really a deal-breaker. More on that in a minute.

  That 8% shortfall means you should expect just over 300 miles from this configuration in mixed driving rather than the full figure advertised on the window sticker. The R2 Performance with 21-inch wheels rides on all-season tires, the combination that receives the SUV's highest EPA range estimate. If you opt for 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, the expected range figure drops to 307 miles.

• • Ford's New Fathom is Its Cheap EV Pickup, Starting at $28,350

  Ford is Betting a Tesla-Like Formula With Simplified Parts and a Sub-$30,000 Sticker Will Be a Winning Plan For Its Next EV
  
  {yahoo!finance}

  August 6, 2026 -Ford (F) on Thursday revealed the name of its all-new affordable midsize electric pickup and the first model to roll off its new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform: the Fathom.

  The truck will start at $28,350 with a standard-range battery, excluding a $1,595 destination and delivery charge, making it one of the cheapest EVs on the US market.

• • Colorado’s Statewide E-Bike Rebates —
  Worth $1,000 Or More — Are Back

  Here’s How to Get One
  
  {The Denver Post}

  August 6, 2026 -Coloradans will once again get a shot at big savings on e-bike purchases through the relaunch of a popular state rebate program after a yearlong hiatus.

  The program will provide $1,000 discounts toward the purchase of a new e-bike to more than 2,800 income-qualified residents over the next year, the Colorado Energy Office announced Thursday. The rebates are part of the state’s broader work to reduce greenhouse emissions and meet its climate goals.

• • The World’s Fastest JCB

  Can You Dig It?
  
  {The Economist}

  July 31, 2026 -Some 25,000 years ago western Utah was covered by water. But over time Lake Bonneville shrank, becoming the Great Salt Lake and vast salt pans. The crusty white expanse is worshipped by speed freaks, who for over a century have ripped across it in Heath Robinson machines. The annual Speed Week, in which racers aim to break world records, starts this weekend.

  The most eagerly awaited entry is from JCB, a British maker of diggers that has produced a hydrogen-fuelled car. The Hydromax, a 10m-long yellow (of course) arrow, aims to go faster than 350mph (563kph) using two highly tuned digger engines. That would break a record its diesel-powered racer set at Bonneville 20 years ago. Then, as now, the driver is Andy Green, a former fighter pilot. Hydromax may feel a bit pedestrian to him: in 1997 he set the overall land-speed record in a jet-powered car at a supersonic 763mph.

• • Hormuz Crisis Speeds Up Transition to Electric Cars

  With the Oil Price Soaring Amid the Iran war, Drivers Increasingly Chose Electric Cars Over Internal Combustion Engines
  
  {CLIMATE HOME NEWS}

  July 30, 2026 -The spiking price of oil helped increase global sales of electric cars in the second quarter of 2026 despite total car sales falling, a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report shows.

  The IEA's latest update on the market for electric cars said sales increased by 4% in the second quarter, after the war between the US, Israel and Iran disrupted oil supplies around the world and caused oil prices to jump at the end of February.

• • Vehicle-to-Grid Integration Could
  Offer Up to $7B in Savings Per Year

  This Stat Comes From a Recent E3 Study (Funded by GM)
  
  {energy central}

  July 30, 2026 -The details: This stat comes from a recent E3 study (funded by GM), which highlighted V2G’s potential to boost capacity and reduce the need for new transmission and distribution infrastructure. E3 estimated that these savings could arrive by 2030, according to market price forecasts and EV adoption predictions.

  Where GM comes in: As we reported, the automaker is going all in on V2G by adding the capability to all its new EVs—and partnering with utilities on pilot programs. But for this to scale, GM emphasized, public-private collaboration is crucial.

• • China’s EV Problem: What Happens
  When Millions of Batteries Die?

  Across the Country, Many Retired Electric Vehicle Batteries Are Processed By Uncertified Recyclers, Creating Environmental and Worker Safety Risks

  

  July 30, 2026 -After spending the past decade building the world’s largest electric vehicle market, China is confronting one consequence of its success: a growing wave of batteries nearing the end of their service life.

  Annual sales of battery-powered vehicles in China, including fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, have surged from about 1 million in 2018 to more than 16 million in 2025. With EV batteries typically lasting about eight years, the country is entering its first major wave of battery retirements.

• • Walmart Leapfrogs EV Charging
  Competitors With Rapid Buildout

  In a Matter of Months, the Retailer has Become a Major Player in the Business of Fueling EVs
  
  {Bloomberg}

  July 29, 2026 -Since the start of the year, four high-speed charging stations have opened in Bentonville, Arkansas, even though the state has been a laggard in transitioning to electric vehicles.

  Bentonville, however, is Walmart Inc. country and these are Walmart chargers — three at stores near the company’s headquarters and one at the airport.

• • 2027 Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV First Drive Review:

  Another Step in the Right Direction
  
  {edmonds}

  July 27, 2026 -What's new: Mercedes' compact C-Class goes electric next year, boasting more than 400 miles of range with an estimated starting price around $55,000.

  Why it matters: This gives Mercedes-Benz a compelling foe for the upcoming BMW i3, not to mention the Tesla Model 3.

  Edmunds says: With its luxurious trimmings and excellent on-road manners, the C-Class is way more compelling than some frumpy ol' Tesla.

  The EQ-blob era of Mercedes-Benz electric cars is coming to an end, and what's on the horizon is far more compelling. Arriving early next year with an expected starting price around $55,000, the new electric C-Class sedan promises long range and fast charging with a heap of modern multimedia tech, and it's nicer to drive than its GLC SUV sibling. I'm as sick of the phrase "Tesla-killer" as you are, but compared to a Model 3 Dual Motor, I'm confident Mercedes' new electric C-Class will prove to be the better buy.

• • 2026 Tesla Model Y Pricing: Here's
  What You'll Pay for Each Trim

  Here's What It'll Cost to Put This Wildly Popular Crossover EV In Your Driveway
  
  {edmonds}

  July 25, 2026 -The Model Y has been one of the automotive industry's biggest success stories since its debut in 2020. Tesla's compact electric SUV combines impressive driving range, a roomy cabin and generous cargo capacity in a package that's easy to live with every day. It also delivers quick acceleration and sharp handling that make it more enjoyable than many competing electric SUVs. Best of all, the Model Y offers all of those strengths at a relatively accessible price.

  Tesla continues to build on the Model Y's winning formula with substantial updates for 2026. Many of these changes mirror those introduced on the refreshed 2025 Model 3. Revised styling, interior improvements, new technology and mechanical tweaks are all aimed at making the Model Y quieter, more comfortable and more refined.

• • Next Stop For California’s High-
  Speed Rail: Finding Private Investors

  The State has a $25 Million Agreement With a consortium of Companies to Explore Private Financing Opportunities

  

  July 25, 2026 -California has spent nearly two decades relying on taxpayers to finance its high-speed rail project. Now it’s looking to private investors.

  Whether any step up remains an open question.

  The search for private money was always part of the plan. When Californians approved a bond measure to fund the project in 2008, they pictured a system to rival the best in the world. Sleek trains would whisk riders between San Francisco and Los Angeles in just 2 hours and 40 minutes. Using renewable energy would cut emissions by up to 3 million metric tons annually. Voters were willing to put up $10 billion to make this dream a reality.

• • China’s Geely to Make EVs at Ford Plant
  In Spain Under New Joint Venture

  A New Manufacturing Joint Venture In Europe
  
  {CNBC}

  July 23, 2026 -China automaker Geely will build electric vehicles at a Ford Motor plant in Spain under a new manufacturing joint venture in Europe, the companies announced Thursday.

  Pending regulatory approvals, the companies said the joint venture will begin operations in the first half of 2027, with the first new vehicles scheduled to roll off the line in 2028. The Valencia, Spain, plant will continue to produce the Ford Kuga in the meantime, according to a news release.

• • The First Solar-Powered Flight Around the World

  A Made in Manchester Production
  
  {BBC}

  July 22, 2026 -In 2016, a fragile-looking aircraft with the wingspan of a jumbo jet and the power of a scooter attempted something no-one had ever managed before: flying around the world without a drop of fuel.

  But behind the serene images of Solar Impulse Two, gliding over oceans, was a story of near disaster, exhaustion, and a team pushed to breaking point.

• • Kia's Smallest SUV Is a Pint-Sized Telluride

  2027 Kia Seltos Tested
  
  {edmonds}

  July 21, 2026 -What's new: The extra-small Seltos SUV has been fully redesigned for 2027, with increased space, more features and improved fuel economy.

  Why it matters: With the average transaction price of a new car approaching $50,000, affordable and value-driven SUVs like the $26,485 Seltos become even more appealing.

  Edmunds says: The Seltos has a lot to like beyond its low starting price and a long warranty.

  With the average transaction price of a new vehicle creeping higher every year, there's been an industry-wide push to improve the more affordable end of the market. The redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos is a perfect example, taking a lot of what we like about the company's larger products and distilling it into a smaller package that starts at a mere $26,485.

• • Booming EV Sales Won’t Lift Tesla

  Just Not Charging
  
  {The Economist}

  July 21, 2026 -On Wednesday, fuelled by bumper electric-vehicle sales, Tesla is expected to report a sharp rise in second-quarter revenue. Investors will focus on the extent to which sales reflect price cuts and promotional offers. They will also monitor Tesla’s cash-burn rate as it spends big on artificial intelligence and factories.

  The firm’s shares have fallen by 17% this year, despite hopes Elon Musk would try to merge his carmaker with the newly listed SpaceX. Tesla has gained American market share from local rivals. But global pressure from cheaper Chinese EVs means investors do not see the vehicles as a source of growth—it will, they believe, have to come from self-driving technology, as well as robotaxis and humanoid robots. For now, there are few Cybercabs on the road and Tesla’s Optimus robots are not in commercial production. Mr Musk will no doubt continue to predict that they will arrive in large numbers soon.

• • Inside China’s Race to Overtake European Supercars

  The Rise of Chinese Vehicles at Britain’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, as Quiet Electric Newcomers Challenge the Noisy, Traditional World of European Motorsports
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  July 15, 2026 -Chinese electric vehicles were more dominant than ever at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, a premier European auto show traditionally known for loud, fast cars from brands like McLaren and BMW.

  Hosted by the Duke of Richmond at his country manor, the event saw the largest stand belonging to China’s BYD, which is now taking on Europe’s storied brands on their home turf.

• • 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

  What's It Like to Live With?
  
  {edmonds}

  July 14, 2026 - The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was the big winner in the 2026 Edmunds Top Rated awards, taking home the honor of Top Rated SUV and being named our Best of the Best. It's a vehicle we recommend without hesitation, so we're putting our money where our mouth is — figuratively, at least — and living with a 2026 Palisade Hybrid for a one-year, 20,000-mile in-depth test.

  Curious about what else we're living with in our One-Year Road Test garage? Check out the whole fleet here.

• • The South is the Next EV Charging Frontier

  Thanks (in Part) to Fried Chicken
  
  {energy central}

  July 14, 2026 -Even as US EV sales fall, charging infrastructure continues to crop up—and recent growth is especially quick in Southern states like Florida, Texas, and Georgia (where the number of charging ports jumped 29% over the past year). Now, EV drivers can even charge up at popular regional chains like Bojangles and Buc-ee’s.

• • The Electric RV Revolution is Underway

  A Battery Revolution
  
  {RV Business}

  July 14, 2026 -If the American Dream had wheels, it might look like an Airstream trailer. The silver torpedo beckons from the future, even as it evokes ’60s-era roadside burgers and moon rockets.

  Like many things in American life, it’s electrifying.

  Starting about three years ago, the electric revolution arrived. Incumbents began seriously field testing EV technology, and start-ups like Lightship and Pebble announced battery-powered, self-propelled trailers.

• • 2026 Tesla Model 3 Pricing Guide

  What You'll Pay for Each Trim
  
  {edmonds}

  July 11, 2026 - Whether you're looking for an affordable entryway into EV ownership, maximum driving range or sport-sedan levels of performance, the 2026 Tesla Model 3 offers something for just about everyone. Each trim builds on the Model 3's core strengths while catering to different priorities, making it easier to find a version that fits your driving habits and budget.

  Whichever trim you choose, the Model 3 stands out for its quick acceleration, impressive efficiency, and the inherent benefits that come with access to Tesla's expansive Supercharger network. Its minimalist cabin is dominated by a large central touchscreen, while regular over-the-air updates can expand the car's capabilities and keep its technology feeling fresh for years. Add a practical cabin, generous cargo space and advanced driver assistance features, and the Model 3 remains one of the most compelling electric sedans on the market.

• • Colorado School District Just Solved Two Problems
  at Once With This Genius Electric Bus Innovation

  Six New Electric School Buses Are Serving Double Duty—Transporting Kids and Powering the Grid During Peak Demand
  
  {HEALTHY HAPPY NEWS}

  July 10, 2026 -A Colorado school district just figured out how to make their buses work overtime in the most ingenious way possible. Six brand-new electric school buses in Cherry Creek are doing something revolutionary—after they drop kids off at school, they’re plugging back in to help power homes and businesses across the Denver area.

  Here’s how this heartwarming innovation works: The buses charge up overnight when electricity demand is low and rates are cheaper. They ferry students to and from school as usual, but during those long hours sitting idle at the depot, they become giant backup batteries for the local power grid

• • As Europe Bakes, Eurostar Orders
  Trains That Can Cope With 55C Heat

  These Trains Will Enter Service in 2031 and Run Into the 2060s
  
  {CNN Business}

  July 10, 2026 Eurostar has specified that its new fleet of trains must be able to withstand sweltering temperatures of 55 degrees Celsius, or 131 degrees Fahrenheit, as it gears up for a radically altered European climate over the coming decades.

  The company, which operates high-speed trains connecting a handful of northern European cities, including London, Paris and Brussels, initially ordered up to 50 new trains that could handle temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius (113 Farenheit).

• • Is This the Electric Car of the Future?

  There is a Lot of State-of-the-Art Tech Here
  {POLITICO}

  July 9, 2026, by David Gregory-Kumar -I am driving around in a one-of-a-kind electric car that can charge its battery from 10% to 80% in 10 minutes.

  It is packed with cutting edge technology, but in the fiery kiln of a British heatwave there is a bit of worry the wing mirrors might melt.

  In jargonese, this is the Shell Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car - which means this is a car built from scratch, in 18 months, to pack in as much of the latest electric vehicle (EV) technology as possible.

• • Mexico is Placing an Enormous Bet On Rail

  Can It Keep Its Plans On Track?
  
  {The Economist}

  July 6, 2026 -GIVEN THAT its passengers are mostly heading into work, the mood aboard El Insurgente, a train linking Mexico City with nearby Toluca, is unusually upbeat. Since it began running in February Mexicans have enjoyed a smooth ride in sleek trains across one of the world’s most clogged and sprawling urban areas. It’s “wonderful” to avoid traffic, says one satisfied customer. The journey between Toluca and the Mexican capital, barely 60km (40 miles) apart, can take several hours by road. El Insurgente takes about an hour and costs under $6.

  Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, wants more of this. She has ambitious plans to build more than 3,000km of new passenger rail—in effect a national network—by the end of her term in 2030. Many countries, such as China and Turkey, are making big bets on trains. But Mexico’s dreams are “dramatic”, says Andrew Young, a rail analyst. Mexico is starting more or less from scratch, in a region not known for trains, and building with speed, he says.

• • EV Batteries Are Defying Expectations
  After Hundreds of Thousands of Miles

  Industry Experts Think Newfound Knowledge of Battery Durability is a Game-Changer For Consumer Confidence in EVs
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  July 4, 2026 -Richard Symons recently took his five-year-old Tesla Model 3 on a 260-mile road trip across England without having to stop for a charge.

  A new electric vehicle could make the trip no-problem. But Symons’s car—which he has affectionately nicknamed “Miles”—has logged 247,000 miles and is still up for frequent long-distance drives.

• • Cars Cost to Run: Electricity vs. Gasoline

  While the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV and Its Gas-Powered Counterpart May Look Nearly Identical On the Surface——the Costs to Charge and Fuel Them Could Not Be More Different
  
  {ZETA}

  June 30, 2026 -This tool lets you compare the per-mile cost of 20 gas-powered and 53 electric vehicles, using up-to-date electricity rates and average gas prices across all 50 states. By entering your annual mileage, you can instantly see how much you'll save over time—whether it's for one month or up to 15 years.

• • Delhi Plans To Ban Petrol Rickshaws
  and Scooters in Effort To Cut Toxic Fumes

  Government Hopes For 30% of City’s Fleet to Be Electric by 2030

  

  June 30, 2026 -The unruly chaos of Delhi’s roads would be unrecognisable without the rickshaws and scooters that zip through India’s capital in their millions, emitting toxic fumes in their wake. But now, ambitious policies aim to give the city’s most recognisable vehicles an environmental makeover.

  On Monday, Delhi’s government announced plans to eventually ban petrol scooters, motorbikes and autorickshaws in favour of those running on electricity, in an attempt to bring down dangerously high pollution levels in the city by the end of the decade.

• • Can ‘Rolling Power Plants’ Offer the Grid Much-Needed Relief?

  The True Value of EVs: “Being Able to Marry What the Vehicle Flexibility Can Do With Other DERs.”
  
  {energy central}

  June 28, 2026 -Earlier this month, General Motors announced its plans to steer vehicle-to-grid charging into the mainstream. The automaker will incorporate this capability into all new EVs (and some existing ones). Eventually, GM drivers could sell these electrons back to their utilities—but first, the company must wrap up pilot programs to work out the kinks.

  GM is now testing this concept with PG&E and DTE, and it’s also in conversations with around 10 utilities, the company told Reuters.

• • The AI Startup Challenging Tesla and
  Waymo in the Race to Automate Driving

  Wayve is Emerging as a Go-To Partner for Traditional Automakers Trying to Keep Up With Silicon Valley
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  June 28, 2026 -Earlier this year, a team of engineers flew to Detroit on a secret mission to make Jeep Grand Cherokees drive themselves.

  A few weeks later, prototypes were convincing enough for Jeep owner Stellantis STLA -1.94%decrease; red down pointing triangle to take investors on test rides around Motor City’s suburbs and commit to rolling out the technology across America.

• • DougCo Commissioners Approve New Regulations
  For Low-Powered Scooters and Off-Highway Vehicles

  The Ordinance Takes Effect Immediately and Regulates Where the Vehicles can be Operated
  
  {9News}

  June 24, 2026 - The Douglas County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve an ordinance that regulates the usage of low-powered scooters and off-highway vehicles on public roads, trails and other public property in unincorporated areas.

  The approval of the ordinance, which takes effect immediately, came after two public readings with public comment. The county also solicited feedback online. In a news release, the county said the board received more than 200 comments online, most of which were in support of the changes.

• • Strange New Ev-Makers Keep Appearing in China

  If You Can Make a Robo-Vacuum, You Can Make a Car
  
  {The Economist}

  June 24, 2026 -Next year Dreame, a Chinese business better known for its robo-vacuums, plans to start selling sleek electric vehicles (EVs). It is not the only firm branching out from small household appliances to machines that can carry an entire household. Rox Motor, which started selling electric SUVs in 2023, was also founded by a vacuum tycoon. Xiaomi, which made its name producing cheap smartphones (and also makes vacuums, among other things), began selling sports cars a year later.

  Perhaps more surprising is that there are new entrants to the crowded Chinese EV market at all. No fewer than 143 EV brands sold at least one car last year. But 46 of them did not sell more than 1,000, according to AlixPartners, an advisory firm. Even so, 23 new EV brands were launched while just nine were halted.

• • Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate Reveals
  $24,950 Starting Price For EV Pickup

  Making It the Cheapest Truck in America
  
  {yahoo/Finance}

  June 24, 2026 -Electric vehicle startup Slate revealed new specs and the all-important starting price for its bare-bones pickup.

  The company, backed by Amazon (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos, said its one-color, no-frills electric pickup truck will start at an attractive $24,950, below some expectations in the high $20,000s.

• • Seattle Light Rail Ridership Just Beat
  Its Last World Cup-Driven Record

  Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times Project That Digs Into the Region’s Transportation Issues...

  

  June 23, 2026 - Light rail trains carried a record 280,000 passengers Friday, as people surged into Seattle for the U.S.-Australia World Cup soccer match, a sold-out Mariners game and summer-sauntering downtown.

  Even more surprisingly, Sound Transit reported 236,000 riders on its 58-mile network a day earlier, when there was only a baseball game.

• • Rivian’s Make-or-Break SUV Is Here

  Fans Are Already Balking at the Lease Price
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  June 16, 2026 -Kevin King has been checking out Rivian’s RIVN -4.47%decrease; red down pointing triangle off-road-ready electric vehicles around town for years, and he hoped the company’s new, more affordable R2 SUV might be his way to join the pack.

  Only one thing kept him from taking delivery on the sport-utility vehicle after putting down his deposit: lease prices over $800. “I was holding out hope that it would be possible for me to get an R2 this year,” said King, who lives in Nashville, Tenn. “When I saw that price, I couldn’t justify it.”

• • Jaw-Dropping Clean Air Victory

  Quarter Million Lives Saved
  
  {HEATHY HAPPY NEWS}

  June 15, 2026 -Revolutionary shift to cleaner vehicles saves over 262,000 lives through dramatically improved air quality.

  More than half of new vehicles now run on alternative energy, proving environmental progress is possible.

  Ordinary families breathing easier as cities transform from smog-choked to clear-skied havens.

  In a heartwarming triumph for public health, a massive transformation in transportation has saved over a quarter million lives thanks to cleaner air. The shift toward hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered vehicles has created a ripple effect of hope and healing across.

  communities that once struggled with dangerous pollution levels.

• • Sarasota Test Pilot Takes Next Step In Electric Flight

  The Pilot Has Taken Another Step Toward the Future of Electric Flight With a New Milestone In Experimental Aviation

  

  June 15, 2026 -Sarasota-based test pilot Miguel Iturmendi logged another aerial first recently when he flew his world-record-setting Helios Horizon electric airplane with solid-state batteries.

  The solid state batteries, which Iturmendi developed and created locally, double the range and flight time possible compared to electric-vehicle batteries.

  Solid-state batteries can also be charged from almost empty to 80% full in less than 15 minutes.

• • What's Next In Robotaxis

  An Infrastructure Roadblock
  
  {AXIOS}

  June 12, 2026 -Robotaxis are hitting a very analog bottleneck: real estate. The next phase of autonomy isn't about better AI — it's about land, electricity and logistics to keep fleets on the road

  Why it matters: The race for autonomy is becoming an infrastructure battle, one that will demand billions for urban land, grid upgrades and high-throughput service hubs.

  Between the lines: Like any fleet business, the key to operating a successful AV network is maximizing vehicle "uptime."

  Robotaxis plugged into an EV charger, or waiting to be serviced, aren't earning fares.

• • The Grand Plan to End the Hellscape That Is Penn Station

  Thanks to a New Design and Financing Approach—and a Real-Estate Developer In the White House—a Plan is On Track
  
  {THE WALL STREET JOURNAL}

  June 12, 2026 -More than a million fans will visit New York City this month for the World Cup, and many of them will squeeze through the decaying bowels of Pennsylvania Station while they’re here.

  Manhattan’s western gateway is the nation’s busiest transit hub, handling more passengers each day than John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports combined. It will be the designated train station for Manhattan-based fans attending World Cup matches—beginning Saturday—across the river in East Rutherford, N.J.

  It is also a scuzzy pit, literally.

• • 2026 Toyota RAV4 vs. Toyota Corolla Cross

  Hybrid Toyota SUVs Compared
  
  {edmunds}

  June 11, 2026 -What's new: The Toyota RAV4 is all-new for 2026, but it's got competition from within the Toyota family.

  Why it matters: The Corolla Cross represents a more wallet-friendly alternative to the ever-popular RAV4.

  Edmunds Says: We take a look at both Toyotas to help you decide if the more expensive RAV4 is worth the extra spend.

  Toyota's SUV lineup has become so crowded that the new RAV4 (which is all hybrid, all the time) and Corolla Cross Hybrid are stepping on each other's toes. At a glance, both offer familiar Toyota styling, available hybrid powertrains, plenty of standard driver assistance tech, and the high-riding stance that we've come to expect from a crossover. Yet despite the similarities, these two SUVs cater to different priorities.

• • High Expectations For The Rivian R2

  Legacy Automakers Have Been Promising to Match the Tesla Model Y For Almost a Decade...
  
  {INSIDE EVS}

  June 9, 2026, By Mack Hogan -Rivian had me in its sights. When it set out to make a mass-market software-defined EV that’s as capable off-road as it is fun on-road, the company had me dead to rights. Equal parts EV enthusiast and off-roading hooligan, I’ve been waiting for something like this for a long, long time. But after plunking down $100 for a reservation on the R2, I was mostly just worried. I wasn’t sure if Rivian would hit its target.

  But it did. The company struck me right through the heart. With an unparalleled blend of incredible performance, cutting-edge software, and off-road chops, the R2 is the do-everything machine I’ve always dreamed of. I want one, badly.

• • 2027 Rivian R2 First Drive Review

  Full of Character and Easy to Like
  
  {edmonds}

  June 9, 2026 -The 2027 Rivian R2 is the company's first foray into the heart of the EV market. The R1T and R1S are too large and expensive for most buyers, but the R2 hits a sweet spot. It costs between $45,000 and $60,000, goes head-to-head with Tesla, BMW, and more, and it's tasked with bringing the Rivian experience to a much wider swath of buyers. So it's a good thing that Rivian absolutely nailed it.

  The R2 is not just a scaled-down R1S. This SUV is full of innovations, like simplified wiring that reduces overall cost and new electronics management hardware that makes the R2 easier to repair than Rivian's other products. The R2 boasts high-res cameras and sensors and will soon support point-to-point hands-free driving. And none of this comes at the expense of losing the same trucky, go-anywhere persona that's defined the Rivian brand.

• • Scientists Have Made Jet Fuel From Plastic Waste

  A New Process Converts Hard-to-Recycle Styrofoam Waste Into Valuable Jet Fuel at a Cost Competitive With Petroleum-Based Fuels

  

  June 11, 2026 -While fuel shortages due to the Iran war made some countries double down on electrification, they also highlighted one industry that could be quite literally grounded without fossil fuels: aviation. Flying relies on fossil-based jet fuels and is extremely hard to decarbonize.

  Researchers in China now report a process that could help bring down flying’s carbon emissions while also tackling the plastic waste crisis. The two-step process converts plastic waste into high-quality jet fuel more efficiently and at much less cost than other methods researchers have reported in the past to convert plastic waste to fuels.

• • 2026 Tesla Model 3 RWD Is the Efficiency
  Champ in Our Real-World Range Test

  Tesla’s Smallest Sedan Shows Why Efficiency Can Matter Just As Much As Battery Size When Choosing an EV
  
  {edmonds}

  June 8, 2026 -The 2026 Tesla Model 3 RWD did more than beat its EPA range estimate in the Edmunds EV Range Test — it also became the most efficient EV we've tested that is currently in production.

  Tesla's rear-wheel-drive Model 3 has an EPA range estimate of 363 miles, but our test car traveled 393 miles on a full charge. That's 30 miles farther than its official figure, or an 8.3% improvement. It's not the biggest percentage gain we've seen from an EV, but the final number is hard to ignore. Nearly 400 miles of real-world driving range puts the Model 3 RWD close to the top of our range chart.

  The more impressive figure is how little energy it used to get there. The EPA rates the Model 3 RWD at 25 kWh per 100 miles, or 4 miles per kWh. In our testing, it returned 21.7 kWh per 100 miles, or 4.61 mi/kWh, making it 13.2% more efficient than its EPA estimate. Lower consumption is obviously better, as it means the car uses less electricity to travel the same distance.

• • Seattle’s Daily Light Rail Ridership Jumps to No. 1 In U.S.

  Light Rail Ridership Jumps

  

  June 6, 2026 -Sound Transit’s new light rail connection over Lake Washington has unleashed a tsunami of new passengers between Bellevue and Seattle, boosting the regional total to 155,000 daily boardings.

  Transit staff verified the startling April number on Friday, and said similar loads continued through May. Those preliminary counts, based on laser scanners inside the railcars, represent an instant increase of about one-fourth.

• • Electric Vehicles Cut Pollution In China –
  and Prevent 260,000 Premature Deaths

  Having Fewer Fossil-Fuel Powered Cars On the Road is Reducing Some Pollutants, But Not Others
  
  {nature}

  June 5, 2026 -Across China, a marked rise in people driving electric vehicles has led to a drop in air pollution in many cities. As a result, fewer people are dying from pollution-related diseases.

  Outdoor air pollution causes more than four million premature deaths annually, and about one-quarter of them occur in China. Vehicles powered by fossil fuels are a main contributor to that pollution, releasing carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and other compounds that are dangerous to humans when inhaled.

• • Regent's Electric Sea Glider Gets Closer to Reality

  A Rhode Island-Based Startup is Advancing Testing of a 12-Passenger Electric Sea Glider as Regulators Develop Certification Rules For a New Class of Maritime Transportation
  
  {AXIOS}

  June 3, 2026 - Its electric range is about 180 miles, but could extend to 400 miles with next-generation batteries, co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer tells Axios.

  State of play: Congress recently directed the U.S. Coast Guard to begin laying out the certification and inspection process for this emerging category of vessels known as wing-in-ground (WIG) craft.