Climate in the 21st Century
- Thread starter Jimdamick
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DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
Sativied
Well-Known Member
2025 VW ID. Buzz: The Electric Bus | Volkswagen
Experience the electric revolution with the 2025 VW ID. Buzz, the ultimate electric bus. In every ride, futuristic design meets zero direct emissions.
www.vw.com
I love this thing, this is the cargo version:
I'm at a fairly busy road near the old city center, especially during peak traffic it can get noisy. A few years ago buses were replaced with electric versions and the number of smaller EVs increased a lot too. I hear more tires than engines now. Main thing still making noise is small delivery vans.
Way too pricey imo, 70-80k for the consumer version, but for business a good part is deductible plus many companies want to (appear to) promote greener solutions.
DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
I find it kinda funny that two of Europe's northernmost countries, Norway and Sweden are leading in EV sales, with current EV batteries performing poorly in the cold. Electric is a good choice in Europe, in the UK for instance one is never more than 50 miles from the sea, there is a lot less long distance driving between major cities.2025 VW ID. Buzz: The Electric Bus | Volkswagen
Experience the electric revolution with the 2025 VW ID. Buzz, the ultimate electric bus. In every ride, futuristic design meets zero direct emissions.
I love this thing, this is the cargo version:
View attachment 5247840
I'm at a fairly busy road near the old city center, especially during peak traffic it can get noisy. A few years ago buses were replaced with electric versions and the number of smaller EVs increased a lot too. I hear more tires than engines now. Main thing still making noise is small delivery vans.
Way too pricey imo, 70-80k for the consumer version, but for business a good part is deductible plus many companies want to (appear to) promote greener solutions.
Sativied
Well-Known Member
Yeah first thing that came to mind when recently with a little frost so many EVs went on strike. Not just low charge but also problems opening and with charge plugs.
Population in Norway is a bit like in Australia, most people live in a relatively small area. The average commute is shorter than in much smaller NL for example. Half a charge in Norway is still plenty. What’s really special about Norway is that the government doesn’t heavily subsidies car owners. Apparently they actually care more. But then the gasoline rates are higher in north west than in for example south or east so there’s still a financial incentive. I can get 2950 euros for a new EV, 2000 euros for a used one. I drive a 0.9L cilinder with turbo (disabled in eco mode) that goes 20-33km per liter, drive just 6-7k per year, so I lack the urge personally. Waiting a couple of years till more used 500e and peugeot 208 hit the market. I don’t see it as a choice though, it’s inevitable progress. Also, by 2035 gasoline, diesel and lpg cars are no longer allowed to be sold in the EU.
Population in Norway is a bit like in Australia, most people live in a relatively small area. The average commute is shorter than in much smaller NL for example. Half a charge in Norway is still plenty. What’s really special about Norway is that the government doesn’t heavily subsidies car owners. Apparently they actually care more. But then the gasoline rates are higher in north west than in for example south or east so there’s still a financial incentive. I can get 2950 euros for a new EV, 2000 euros for a used one. I drive a 0.9L cilinder with turbo (disabled in eco mode) that goes 20-33km per liter, drive just 6-7k per year, so I lack the urge personally. Waiting a couple of years till more used 500e and peugeot 208 hit the market. I don’t see it as a choice though, it’s inevitable progress. Also, by 2035 gasoline, diesel and lpg cars are no longer allowed to be sold in the EU.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
let’s hope electro tech catches up. Especially in terms of efficiency (km per kWh, important for those of us who rent and can only recharge at 1.5 kW) and temperature range (it’s gotta hold and deliver a charge at -15 and +50 degrees plus midday sun, the local extremes) before it is compulsory.
DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
Solid Power awarded millions from US Dept. of Energy to build solid-state batteries
Solid-State battery developer Solid Power continues to rally financial support to help scale its nickel- and cobalt-free cells for EVs....
electrek.co
Sativied
Well-Known Member
Huge rare earth metals discovery in Arctic Sweden
Nearly all of the metals, used in mobile phones, electric cars and wind turbines, come from China.
www.bbc.com
The article downplays the amount as only a fraction of the world‘s reserves but it’s 68x the amount the EU imports from China per year. Even at projected need in 2030, when EV production is much higher, it’s enough for 10-12 years.
DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
Another article on it, Ukraine apparently has lot's of rare earth's too and was the world's supplier of helium before the war. Rare earth's might not be as important as once thought, there are new batteries in development that don't use any and there are Niron magnets to replace rare earth ones. They will still be needed, but probably not in the quantities many foresaw.Huge rare earth metals discovery in Arctic Sweden
Nearly all of the metals, used in mobile phones, electric cars and wind turbines, come from China.
The article downplays the amount as only a fraction of the world‘s reserves but it’s 68x the amount the EU imports from China per year. Even at projected need in 2030, when EV production is much higher, it’s enough for 10-12 years.
Sweden finds Europe's largest deposit of rare earth metals, which could become 'more important than oil and gas'
Swedish mining company LKAB discovered one million metric tons of rare earth oxides, which are used in electric vehicles and wind turbines.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
US was always the majority helium supplier.Another article on it, Ukraine apparently has lot's of rare earth's too and was the world's supplier of helium before the war. Rare earth's might not be as important as once thought, there are new batteries in development that don't use any and there are Niron magnets to replace rare earth ones. They will still be needed, but probably not in the quantities many foresaw.
Sweden finds Europe's largest deposit of rare earth metals, which could become 'more important than oil and gas'
Swedish mining company LKAB discovered one million metric tons of rare earth oxides, which are used in electric vehicles and wind turbines.www.cnbc.com
DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
Maybe it was Europe's largest producer, but the war disrupted supplies from Russia too. I remember reading about it contributing to the shortage. I had a look online and can't find much about prewar helium production, everything seems to date from 2021. They do produce other vital noble gases. I was under the impression their NG was rich in Helium. "Before the invasion, Ukraine was responsible for 70% of the total global supply, and it produced most of the ultra-pure neon".
Will the War in Ukraine Impact Noble Gas Supplies? - Taiwan Business TOPICS
The invasion of Ukraine, a global supplier of noble gases needed for semiconductor production, has raised concerns about supply chain disruptions. The
topics.amcham.com.tw
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Two things:Huge rare earth metals discovery in Arctic Sweden
Nearly all of the metals, used in mobile phones, electric cars and wind turbines, come from China.
The article downplays the amount as only a fraction of the world‘s reserves but it’s 68x the amount the EU imports from China per year. Even at projected need in 2030, when EV production is much higher, it’s enough for 10-12 years.
1) scandium and yttrium are not rare earth elements. There are fourteen such with consecutive Z numbers from cerium (58 ) to lutetium (71). Lanthanum (57) is often counted as well, but properly belongs to column 3: scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, actinium.
2) no mention is made of the grade (relative purity) of the deposit. There are vast rare-earth reserves worldwide, but they are of low grade, which makes refinement expensive and dirty. China has the combination of a better-grade deposit combined with an institutional indifference to cheap&dirty processes.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Possibly supply outside US. We don’t sell to everybody, and our helium consumption is vast, leaving a minority available for export.Maybe it was Europe's largest producer, but the war disrupted supplies from Russia too. I remember reading about it contributing to the shortage. I had a look online and can't find much about prewar helium production, everything seems to date from 2021. They do produce other vital noble gases. I was under the impression their NG was rich in Helium. "Before the invasion, Ukraine was responsible for 70% of the total global supply, and it produced most of the ultra-pure neon".
Will the War in Ukraine Impact Noble Gas Supplies? - Taiwan Business TOPICS
The invasion of Ukraine, a global supplier of noble gases needed for semiconductor production, has raised concerns about supply chain disruptions. The
injinji
Well-Known Member
Tax.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Especially in Norway.
Comparing the Scandinavian automobile taxation systems and their CO2 mitigation effects
Despite their similarities, Scandinavian countries have adopted starkly different automobile tax regimes. The Danish system entails very high and convex tax rates with moderate CO2 differentiation....
www.tandfonline.com
DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
Had some snow for a few days, raining now and 8C, we have had a couple of snow storms followed a week later by rain and warm weather. We should have green grass here at 46 degrees north as spring like waves of warm weather come through every week or two. Had to shovel the driveway a few times but not too much. Usually the cold weather arrived around Christmas and we now have green grass until then. When I was the kid in the 60s here, it was winter from November until April and sometimes the harbor filled with drift ice until may and even June, people used to drive their cars and race on the harbor ice back then it was frozen in winter, but it is ice free now.
injinji
Well-Known Member
A 100% tax will change behavior.Especially in Norway.
Comparing the Scandinavian automobile taxation systems and their CO2 mitigation effects
Despite their similarities, Scandinavian countries have adopted starkly different automobile tax regimes. The Danish system entails very high and convex tax rates with moderate CO2 differentiation....www.tandfonline.com
injinji
Well-Known Member
Oil companies' scientists had better projections about warming than the government in the 1970's. They predicted 0.3F per decade. Actual warming was 0.32F.
www.scientificamerican.com
Exxon Knew about Climate Change Almost 40 Years Ago
A new investigation shows the oil company understood the science before it became a public issue and spent millions to promote misinformation
BudmanTX
Well-Known Member
i would bet that most or all the oil companies knew about it....they just decided to ignore it and go buisness as usual...meanwhile..Oil companies' scientists had better projections about warming than the government in the 1970's. They predicted 0.3F per decade. Actual warming was 0.32F.
Exxon Knew about Climate Change Almost 40 Years Ago
A new investigation shows the oil company understood the science before it became a public issue and spent millions to promote misinformation
injinji
Well-Known Member
I see lawsuits like the tobacco companies had in their future.