Why Is Elon Musk Tweeting About Rammstein And What Can We Learn From A German Metal Band?

So apparently Elon Musk is a fan of German punk-metal-electronica band Rammstein. Who knew? Whilst often appearing to be on the edge of decency, and sometimes over, Rammstein’s most prominent songs reflect an almost exclusive trait of German popular culture; a desire to examine, expose and critique the nation’s past acts of violence, injustice and imperialism.

Tesla Battery Day — Has Elon Musk Already “Leaked” The Battery Tech That Will Give Scale To The EV Revolution?

{article first published on Cleantechnica.com} Tesla Battery Day is less than a week away. In my view, most Tesla commentary…

See Why Tesla Scares The Legacy Players

Mase Goslin, whose previous graphs we have highlighted, has compiled a new time series graphic of EV sales in the US, this time by brand. This more clearly shows Tesla’s rise to absolute dominance of the US EV market, crushing all other players and accelerating off over the horizon. EVs are the future, and Tesla is the undisputed market leader, especially in the US, but also globally. If you’re an automaker on the wrong side of this trend, it must be terrifying!

BNEF’s Latest “Embarrassingly” Lowball EV Outlook

BNEF’s reputation as progressive on EV adoption projections is in question after its latest Electric Vehicle Outlook report trims its previous projections of sales across the coming decade down 10%, and assumes annual growth rates will quickly drop to 23–24% from the current rate of 56%. The main bottleneck BNEF sees is battery manufacturing capacity. By the firm’s in-house estimates, battery manufacturing capacity grows only enough to supply 10 million EVs annually by 2025. Leading battery forecasters, Benchmark Minerals, see future battery capacity much higher than this. Let’s breakdown the BNEF report and provide an alternative outlook.

Amsterdam May Ban All Fossil Vehicles By 2030 — Legacy Auto Lobby Responds With FUD

The Alderwoman of Amsterdam, Sharon Dijksma, is advancing the city’s Clean Air Action Plan towards a ban of all fossil burning vehicles by 2030. Current transport-related air pollution in the city is the equivalent of smoking 6 cigarettes per day, reducing average life expectancy by 3 months. The auto industry lobby is up in arms, calling the plan “bizzare, beyond all reality.” The city council will debate the measures from the end of May, with a final decision by the summer.

World’s First 100% Solar Powered Train

The Byron Bay Railroad Company’s charming 100% solar-powered train has been featured in a Fully Charged video, showcasing the possibility of zero-emission public transport. The train is super efficient, requiring 8.33 watt-hours per passenger kilometer, even with frequent stop–starting. With a 6.5 kW rooftop solar array and a lithium-ion battery on board, in peak solar hours, the train is effectively 100% self-powered.

Reuters Spreads Electric Vehicle FUD On Behalf Of Laggard Japanese Auto

In a classic FUD piece penned by a long-term cheerleader of Japanese OEMs, Reuters — either in ignorance or in deceit — is spreading falsehoods and negativity about EVs. The piece directly quotes from engineers and managers on the payroll of Honda and Toyota, Japanese automakers both known to be unwilling to offer electric vehicles.

Stuttgart, Home Of Porsche & Mercedes, Has Banned Older Diesels

Every diesel vehicle over 10 years old is now effectively banned from operating in any part of the entire city area of Stuttgart, home to Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and 630,000 residents. The move signals the first serious diesel ban in any German city. A mid-year review of the resulting pollution rates will decide if many of the remaining diesels, older than 5 years, will also be banned from 2020.

China EV Forecast: 50% EV Market Share by 2025 — Part 1

hina is charging full speed ahead into electric vehicles, on track to sell over 2 million EVs this year, from 1.1 million in 2018. The rapid growth has been driven partly by policy, but increasingly by consumer demand. A rising proportion of Chinese consumers simply prefer electric vehicles to traditional combustion vehicles, viewing them as a new and superior technology, and better value. With EVs continuously improving and getting more affordable, there’s a clear path to EVs taking 50% of market share in China by 2025.

China EV Forecast: 50% EV Market Share by 2025 — Part 2, Consumer Demand

China is charging full speed ahead into electric vehicles, on track to sell over 2 million EVs this year, up from 1.1 million in 2018. The rapid growth has been driven partly by policy, but increasingly by consumer demand. In part two of this three-part series (check out part one if you missed it), we’re going to look at the demand side of the EV transition in China. Why are Chinese consumers queuing up for EVs?

Anthropologies as stories of life

I’ve recently reviewed Tim Ingold and Gisli Palsson’s Biosocial Becomings (2013) for Current Anthropology. The draft text of my review is reproduced…