Tesla’s Strengths & Struggles, Kia EV9 Assessment, Photo voltaic Growth in South America — Prime CleanTechnica Tales of the Week

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Let’s stroll by way of a number of the high tales of the previous week and a half right here on CleanTechnica. It’s been a little bit of a wild week, significantly due to the happenings at a sure cleantech firm, however there’s much more happening than that as effectively. Benefit from the roundup!

To begin with, we’ve obtained the beginnings of an enormous Kia EV9 evaluate collection, and the primary impressions are that individuals love it. (The EV9 can also be now providing some NBA aptitude to associate with the NBA playoffs — perhaps Jennifer can ask about getting a pattern for her evaluate.)

Taking a look at US EV gross sales within the first quarter, the Tesla Mannequin Y outsold the Mannequin 3 by greater than 3:1 within the 1st quarter. In the meantime, the Ford Mustang Mach-E grew to become the third greatest promoting electrical automotive within the US. Notably, the Tesla Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3 now price about $10,000 much less than the typical promoting value of a brand new automotive, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E simply obtained some updates and a reduce in value. We’ve additionally obtained separate stories on surging gross sales from Ford, Cadillac, Hyundai, Kia, and Rivian.

In the meantime, a comparability of Elon Musk and the Wizard of Oz will not be what you have been anticipating this week, nevertheless it’s one thing you’ve obtained to learn. On the very least, it consists of attention-grabbing historical past on The Wizard of Oz. On the same subject, I wrote a chunk on how we’ve to “get actual” concerning the provide–demand scenario at Tesla, and I wrote a chunk earlier on the truth that Tesla’s Grasp Plan, Half Deux is much from realization. Total, the story is that there are huge questions on whether or not Tesla has misplaced its approach a bit.

I additionally identified that Tesla nonetheless has a market cap larger than Toyota, Porsche, Mercedes, and Hyundai mixed, and in addition greater than Ford, GM, Stellantis, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW, BYD, Hyundai, and Kia mixed. Does that basically make sense at this level?

Yet another Tesla theme this week was Full Self Driving (FSD). I posted a video of utilizing FSD for greater than 20 minutes, explored the place Tesla FSD 12.3.3 continues to be failing, and I additionally ran throughout an announcement from just a few years in the past the place Elon Musk stated Tesla (TSLA) was principally price $0 if FSD robotaxis don’t arrive. Moreover, Fritz Hasler offered his perspective on utilizing FSD for years in gentle of the brand new, decrease $99/month value for it.

Governments of Europe proceed to throw cash away on hydrogen transport, and Mike Barnard simply torched them for it.

For those who actually have a while, although, learn Mike Barnard’s lengthy piece on why we should always electrify every little thing unexpectedly, or watch the video. The article is a transcript of his presentation for the India Sensible Grid Discussion board.

Nice photo voltaic information from Brazil, Colombia, and Chile is at all times good to listen to, and it appears that is an particularly good time for the business down there. Due to Juan Diego Celemín Mojica for bringing us an intensive replace on this.

We’ve obtained some enjoyable electrical bike progress in Ghana and Nigeria.

We even have the nice information that EVs have been serving to to decrease electrical energy costs, and the vital information that air air pollution from vehicles creates Alzheimer’s. Add them to the lengthy listing of electrical automotive advantages.

Controversially, Mexico is supporting the US in protecting Chinese language EV factories out of North America. Not cool? Or solely truthful and essential? That is the controversy.

Who will produce a substitute for the Tesla Mannequin C/Mannequin 2? … Maybe Kia/Hyundai, readers recommend. Or is the reply merely nobody? And maybe Tesla’s lower-cost automotive venture is basically simply on maintain as a part of the corporate’s cost-cutting efforts.

We’ve additionally obtained EV gross sales stories from Spain and from Germany — at all times enjoyable.

And I’ll wrap up with an amazing level and plea from Jennifer Sensiba. She explains that EV homeowners complain a little bit too carelessly on social media (and elsewhere) — typically not offering the suitable context by explaining that they do love their EVs and the EV life, and wouldn’t return to fuel.

Another favourite tales from the previous week?

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