New Zealand’s first solar-powered electric, stratospheric aircraft was launched using an Audi e-tron S Sportback. The “Kea Atmos Mk1” from Kea Aerospace is designed to collect high-resolution aerial data to monitor the weather, tree health, and pollution, among other agricultural uses. Kea Aerospace has been building and flying electric-powered aircraft to collect insights and data
Entertainment
Tesla has launched its “next-gen Megapack controls platform,” which it claims enables faster deployment and commissioning of large-scale energy storage systems than its competitors. Megapack has become the go-to battery system for electric utilities looking to deploy large-scale energy storage, whether to stabilize the grid or take better advantage of renewable energy. The battery system has
A new Tesla Solar Roof installation that includes Tesla’s entire energy ecosystem is giving us a glimpse at the house of the future when it comes to energy. There’s a clear shift in the market toward home energy independence. The shift to renewable energy is allowing homeowners to produce their own energy, and now, with
Ford revealed during a media conference call on Tuesday that it plans to retool and transform its Oakville assembly plant in Ontario to prepare for the auto industry’s future. The facility will be renamed the Oakville EV complex to represent its role in the company better. Ford to build EVs and battery packs at Oakville
A Tesla Cybertruck prototype has been spotted with new steel wheels as we try to track changes on the beta prototypes ahead of the start of production. As we previously reported, Tesla has built a fleet of beta Cybertruck prototypes to test ahead of the start of production this summer. Over the last few months,
Tesla has reached a new Supercharger milestone with 45,000 stalls as it still dominates fast charging, especially in the US. The Supercharger network is a big part of Tesla’s success. The automaker was so early in electric vehicles that it couldn’t rely on third-party charging networks, and it had to develop its own. That turned
Tesla is about to launch a big new software update that includes a few new features and a lot of user interface upgrades. As a Tesla owner, it’s always a good day to get a notification that a new software update is available. You start wondering what new features or improvements you are getting that
Tesla has announced a new deal to build a Megafactory in Shanghai, China, to build energy storage products in the market. Last year, Tesla launched its first ‘Megafactory’ in California. The plant is dedicated to producing Megapacks, a large battery system used in large-scale energy storage projects for electric utilities around the world. It is
Frank Skinner has paid tribute to comedian Gareth Richards as he introduced a special edition of a podcast featuring the best bits of the radio show they co-hosted. Richards’ death was announced yesterday almost two weeks after he suffered brain injuries in a motorway crash. Describing Richards as a “former colleague and dear friend”, Skinner
A recent bill put forward in Rhode Island would require solar panels on all newly constructed buildings and parking lots larger than 16,000 square feet – should this idea be rolled out across the US? Solar on new parking lots and buildings Jennifer Boylan’s (D-Barrington and Riverside) bill is called the Solar Neighborhoods Act (RI
Ram Trucks is preparing to launch its first electric pickup, the 2025 Ram 1500 REV, with a massive battery providing up to 500 miles range. After Ram owner Stellantis said it plans to build the electric truck in the US, new reports suggest Illinois, home of the recently idled Jeep assembly factory, is pushing to
Kelly O’Brien looks like Dolly Parton, sounds like Dolly Parton and has even been endorsed by the country legend herself. But she’s among a community of tribute acts who say Facebook rules are seeing their pages shut down, as the platform doesn’t allow people to pretend to be someone well known or speak for them
After a year of selling the vehicle as an “off-the-menu” product, Tesla has finally opened orders on the cheaper Model Y AWD with 4680 cells made in Gigafactory Texas. Tesla started producing and selling the vehicle almost a year ago to the day, but it was only gradually offered to customers. At first, it was
Tesla (TSLA) has implemented a new wave of price reductions across its entire lineup of electric vehicles. Prices on some models are down by as much as $5,000 overnight. After consistently and gradually increasing its electric vehicle prices over the last two years, Tesla has started bringing those prices down in 2023 to keep demand
Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, who left the company a few years ago, is coming back to Tesla as a board member. JB Straubel was a co-founder at Tesla and the company’s longtime Chief Technology Officer until he left in 2019 to launch Redwood Materials, which is helping create a North American battery supply chain. After
Volkswagen’s electric version of its iconic microbus, the VW ID. Buzz has just gotten even more adventure-friendly. Custom German auto tuner ABT revealed today it has developed solar modules to fit on the roof of the ID. Buzz to add roughly 1,800 miles (3,000 km) per year to the vehicle’s battery or for off-grid power.
Tesla workers were sharing private videos filmed by customer vehicles, according to a concerning new report based on insiders. Tesla vehicles are equipped with arrays of cameras that are primarily used for its Autopilot or Full Self-Driving package, but Tesla has also used the hardware to power new surveillance features like “TeslaCam” and “Sentry Mode,”
Ford introduced a new artificial intelligence-based technology called Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist that can automatically back up and align the F-150 Lightning pickup’s hitch ball to a trailer with the push of a button. With over 100 years of experience in making trucks, Ford knows a thing or two about what owners are looking
What looks like a Sur-Ron electric motorbike, but packs in 50% more get-up-and-go? The Talaria Sting R MX4. And the popular California-based electric bike dealer Luna Cycle has just launched the powerful yet low-cost electric trail bike as the newest member of its rapidly expanding inventory. For years the name “Sur-Ron” has been synonymous with
After teasing the all-electric compact van several times, Ford took the sheets of its third electric van Thursday, the E-Transit Courier, for the European market. Ford revealed its first electric van, the E-Transit, an electric upgraded version of its versatile best-selling Transit model in 2020. Since deliveries began earlier last year, the E-Transit has climbed