Power
An Interview with Southern California Edison’s Director of eMobility, Katie Sloan
Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the largest electric companies in the United States. With a service area covering over 50,000 square miles, SCE provides electrical services to more than 14 million customers. We here at enrg.io were lucky enough to interview SCE’s Katie Sloan recently. Ms. Sloan is the director of eMobility for SCE and we are extremely grateful to her for her time. Enrg.io: What is SCE doing to promote EV technology and infrastructure? Katie Sloan: SCE’s overall strategy to promote electric vehicles is to focus on three areas: availability of charging stations, affordability of energy and infrastructure, and awareness through education and outreach. Through Charge Ready, our passenger electric vehicle charging infrastructure program, SCE has been partnering with ...
Out-Darwined by EVs, are Hybrids Going Extinct? Let’s Hope Not!
The progress electric cars have made in the last decade is, frankly, staggering. As recently as 2008, in fact, you could win engineering awards at SEMA for building a “hybrid” concept car that was basically a normal car with eight extra car batteries stuffed into the trunk. You can trust me on that, since building that very car is what got me started writing about “green speed”. Back then, the Toyota Prius– which was already several years old— was still considered fringe, but it worked in a time that getting Tesla off the ground seemed like an impossibility. That was then, though, and EVs have gotten so good that it kind of begs the question: are hybrids going extinct? The short answer seems to be: yes. More and more automakers seem to be skipping the &#...
Range Anxiety Dead? Electric Porsche Does 2148 Miles in 24 Hrs
Covering 2,128 miles in a day. That’s enough to carry a car about the distance from Los Angeles, California to Atlanta, Georgia in just twenty four hours. That’s impressive enough in any car, but there’s something extra special about this particular run, because it was done in a Porsche. An electric Porsche. That’s right, kids. Last week, at Italy’s Nardo test track, a pre-production prototype of the upcoming, hotly anticipated and all electric Porsche Taycan drove more than 2000 miles in just twenty-four hours. That’s an average speed of just under 90 MPH, and that includes charging time. (!) So, yeah– these guys were driving FAST, all day and all night. The test served to hype the Taycan, of course, but the first full year’s supply of the f...
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hyundai NEXO Earns Top Safety Rating
Despite hydrogen fuel cell equipped cars and trucks having been around for several years now, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has never actually crash tested one. Hyundai wanted to be the first, apparently, and they threw down the gauntlet by offering the IIHS an first early opportunity to evaluate a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle just as the NEXO starts to reach dealers in California— and scoring the firm’s highest possible safety rating. (!) “Hyundai and its engineering team continue to make vehicles even safer with the addition of active standard safety features, prioritizing cutting-edge safety and convenience at the forefront of the driving experience,” explained Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. And, for those of ...
Meet Andrew Ference: the NHL’s Mr. Green
Andrew Ference has long been known for his commitment to environmental causes. The Canadian defender has been a staunch advocate of all-electric vehicle (EV) ownership and other forms of green living. In 2018, Ference was hired to be the NHL’s first Director of Social Impact, Growth, and Fan Development, a position that will allow him to continue his environmental advocacy. Ference first became cognizant of the negative environmental effects that professional sports teams can have on the environment in 2003. In a series of conversations with prominent environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki, Andrew began to realize the potential he had to make a difference. In a 2009 interview with Samaritan Mag, Ference explained, “He was really the one who pushed me to use my voice as a hockey play...
Prometheus Looks to Make Gasoline from Air
In the world of Greek mythology, Prometheus is credited with stealing fire from the gods and giving it to man. In similar fashion, the California startup Prometheus Fuels is looking to do the impossible and perfect a process that turns air into gasoline. Impossible you say? Hardly. According to Prometheus’ founder Rob McGinnis, “It can sound like magic, but it’s really just chemistry.” Prometheus Fuels uses an electrochemical process that starts with CO2 from the air to form carbonic acid. This acid is then converted to carbon monoxide and carbon hydroxide. When electricity is added, the carbon monoxide reacts with water to make ethanol. While electricity is required, it can be generated using renewable sources such as wind and solar. This gives Prometheus’ an envir...
Tesla Brings Back Free Supercharger Access to Boost Sales
There’s really no way to put a positive spin on the fact that sales of the Tesla Model S and Model X– the brand’s most profitable products– are down double-digit percentages this year. Maybe the long-term demand isn’t there or the Model 3 is scavenging sales– or maybe the people who bought the pricey Tesla models are waiting to see the new Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron electrics before pulling the trigger on a new one. It’s tough to say what’s driving the downturn, but it’s easy to see that Tesla, itself, is taking things seriously. Seriously enough, even, to reinstate free, unlimited Supercharger access to anyone who buys a new Model S or Model X! BREAKING: All new Model S and Model X orders now come with ⚡ free ⚡ unlimited ⚡ Supercha...
Oklahoma to Be Home to New Wind-Solar Hybrid Energy Complex
As first reported by Renewablesnow.com, Oklahoma will soon be home to the largest wind-solar hybrid energy generation complex in the United States. The Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) will be off-taking the power generated and NextEra Energy Resources LLC. will be responsible for construction and operation. An announcement made last week by a WFEC spokesperson detailed the specifics of the project which will ensure that its power generation portfolio will include 50% solar, wind, and hydropower capacity. Gary Roulet, Chief Executive Officer for WFEC said in a statement: “At Western Farmers, we are always looking for ways to better serve our customers with reliable, low-cost and environmentally-friendly energy. With the price of wind and solar energy lower than ever, we are now ...
Infographic: Toyota Set to Reduce Carbon Emissions 40% by 2022
With great power comes great responsibility– and, with its international engineering and manufacturing empire spanning six continents, it would be hard to argue that Toyota didn’t have great power. That’s why it’s so nice to see the giant automaker take corporate its responsibility seriously. Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050 goal of cutting global emissions from plant operations to zero globally by the year 2050 is massively optimistic, of course. To prove they’re serious, however, Toyota has made another commitment: cut its US carbon emissions 40% by 2022. “Toyota has long been defined by its commitment to responsible environmental practices, and we’re proud to build upon that great legacy today,” said Kevin Butt, General Manager ...
Tidal Power: the Pros and Cons
I read an article last week on a subject that I admittedly know very little about: tidal power. I’ve seen a few videos on Youtube about the subject, but that’s about it. What is tidal power? Is tidal power a reliable, consistent renewable energy? With so much of the world’s population living near large bodies of water, why isn’t tidal power a rival to solar or wind as a viable source of renewable energy? Let’s take a look at the good and bad. Definition Tidal power is defined as a method of energy generation that relies on the variations of ocean tides and currents. Power is created as the tides rise and fall, a completely natural process. Although fossil fuels are burned when the turbines used to create the energy, tidal power is 100% renewable otherwise. Ene...
Tiny House Living
Alright, I admit it: I love HGTV. From House Hunters to Fixer Upper, I find shows about searching for and improving homes wildly entertaining. A show I watched recently followed a family of four as they went in search of a tiny house. The house they eventually settled on was a mere 250 square feet and had no defined bedrooms! While I am definitely not willing to move my own family into a house that small, I respect this family’s decision. In addition to saving money, one of their reasons for downsizing from a larger house was due to environmental concerns. There is no doubt that “going tiny” is better for Mother Earth. Lower Costs, Higher Quality Tiny houses are typically defined as being 400 square feet or less. A smaller house means fewer building materials needed. The ...
Generating Electricity Off-Grid
Ever dreamed of living off-grid? I know I have. The thought of unplugging from the modern world and living as our ancestors did is strangely appealing to me. Part of me thinks that I would enjoy the challenge of off-grid living. Another part of me worries that I would go nuts without basics like electricity and running water. While the lack of running water may be an issue, generating enough electricity to power a small home is getting easier and easier. Here we take a look at the three most popular methods for generating electricity in an off-grid home. 1. Solar Solar power is without a doubt the most popular way to generate off-grid energy. Many homes today incorporate solar panels into their on-grid electrical systems, which are designed to sell back any unused electricity to the power ...