Jim Walker, P.E. on LinkedIn: Ford poaches ex-Tesla, Rivian, and Apple talent to develop affordable EVs (2024)

Vehicle-to-Grid adoption. “Ford Motor, General Motors, BMW and other automakers are exploring how electric-car batteries could be used to store excess renewable energy to help utilities deal with fluctuations in supply and demand for power. Automakers would make money by serving as intermediaries between car owners and power suppliers.”“Millions of cars could be thought of as a huge energy system that, for the first time, will be connected to another enormous energy system, the electrical grid, said Matthias Preindl, an associate professor of power electronic systems at Columbia University.” [Source: The New York Times.]

4

1 Comment

The old fossil gas-fired electric generation plant in Boston (the Mystic Generating Station) shuts down, making way for real estate development and the future New England Revolution's soccer stadium."The proliferation of rooftop solar panels has lessened the need for Mystic to be retained as a backup power source, ISO New England president Gordon van Welie said, as will the region’s first major offshore wind farm, Vineyard Wind, when it’s fully operational within the next year." [Source: The Boston Globe]https://lnkd.in/gHps-Vtx

25

The first floating off-shore wind project gets a federal lease in the Gulf of Maine. The research project features “12 floating offshore wind turbines generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy, or enough to power as many as 144,000 average homes…”“Offshore wind offers our state a tremendous opportunity to harness abundant clean energy in our own backyard, to create good-paying jobs and drive economic development, and to reduce our over-reliance on fossil fuels and fight climate change,” Gov. Janet Mills said.[Source: The Portland Press Herald]https://lnkd.in/gnyie5fc

18

Rural, northern Maine ran on 100% solar power in early May. “Versant Power, the region’s transmission and distribution utility, said that since 2020, it has worked with developers to connect more than 140 megawatts of solar energy to the grid and has processed more than 1,780 applications to connect renewable energy generators to the distribution grid in the same four-year period. It’s working with the owners of more than 400 projects to integrate 382 MW of renewable energy in northern and eastern Maine, exceeding total demand for electricity in the region.”https://lnkd.in/dBHxfekj

47

2 Comments

The next innovation to drive down utility-scale battery storage. “The [Chinese] state utility says the 10 MWh sodium-ion battery energy storage station uses 210 Ah sodium-ion battery cells that charge to 90% in a mindblowing 12 minutes. The system comprises 22,000 cells.” [Source: Electrek]https://lnkd.in/gqnh_wiK

6

Florida is rich in sunshine. It is the state's natural resource. Natural gas, however, the dominant fuel supply for electricity generation is imported into the state. Why does the governor reject home-grown renewable energy and energy efficiency? For a state on the frontlines of sea level rise and damaging hurricanes, with an insurance industry in crisis over climate-induced weather disasters, this performative law against sensible clean energy policies is irrational and counterproductive to Floridians' health, well-being, and economic flourishing. Climate change is hurting Floridians. As a Florida homeowner and part-time resident, I see that the local businesses and communities are still recovering from the last hurricane. What will happen this year? Florida's ocean waters are warm and getting hotter, providing energy to this summer's potential storms.

13

39 Comments

Good news! "General Motors (GM) is investing $390 million in Kansas for next-gen Chevy Bolt EV production.Kansas isn’t the only state GM is investing in for EV production. In April 2024, the legacy automaker committed to building a$3.5 billion battery plant in Indiana. General Motors started preparing the battery plant’s site for heavy construction. The battery plant will help GM build Ultium batteries." [Source: Teslarati]https://lnkd.in/dUW7Yfce

8

Economist Noah Smith provides an EV economic policy analysis. Some key points are that EV technology is rapidly advancing, and costs are falling due to China's industrial policies. U.S. and European car manufacturers must compete with the technology and cost-reduction gains despite the tariffs. GM and Tesla are at special risk because their profits and stock valuation depend on selling cars in Asia and Europe.China is building EV car assembly plants in Mexico and could follow the Japanese and German companies in building factories in the U.S. Therefore, the tariffs are not a long-term solution to protect slow-moving U.S. manufacturers from Chinese competition. Ford, GM, and Tesla must compete with advancing technology and lower costs.Losing manufacturing capacity in the U.S. is a critical national security threat. The Biden administration understands this risk and has been instrumental in rebuilding manufacturing capacity with the IRA and CHIPS acts.

4

"BYD said it was its first “medium-sized urban smart electric SUV.” It’s also the first EV based on BYD’s new e-Platform 3.0 Evo. The new EV platform is an upgrade from thee-Platform 3.0with improved charging and powertrain capability.""BYD says the platform features the “world’s first full scenario intelligent pulse self-heating technology.”"Even in extremely cold environments (-25°C), BYD claims the platform shortens full charging time by 40%. The electric SUV can charge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes." [Source: Electrek]https://lnkd.in/gXPukQbq

6