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Now, there’s an electric version — the E-Nomad — that has a lot of car enthusiasts talking.","_key":"bd03628a791b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d4d220229a49"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here are some of the notable details:","_key":"3a769502250f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"48ca5da26c85"},{"_key":"0ee53aea5c66","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"An expected 0-60 time of ","_key":"3b3bdae343cb0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"roughly 3.4 seconds","_key":"70a3d3629064"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A range of","_key":"8ceae92e62e80"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" about 150 miles","_key":"24725d76528f"},{"_key":"defdd3d84834","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on a full charge"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b242a823d3dd","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A curb weight of ","_key":"bf67301f11f20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"under 2,000 pounds","_key":"4abb6d2fba05"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"40342830d76b","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"86a4fb9930d3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"6447f5ec203f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’ve checked out the specs of leading EVs on sale today, you’ll notice that the E-Nomad weighs about half as much. That’s because of some innovative weight-saving measures as well as an efficient battery pack that tips the scales at under 660 pounds."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"71075a45c7ad","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s enough to send the E-Nomad cruising with a maximum of","_key":"f4a9616869e80"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 281 horsepower","_key":"ed77deb50923"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and 361 pound-feet of torque.","_key":"32baa85d00d5"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"1e987d360ac1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, the range isn’t as robust as many rivals, which is due at least in part to its bulbous styling. 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Simon Saunders, the automaker’s director, says that this project “hints at ","_key":"790c8a7b14be0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"just a small part ","_key":"91b39a5030fe","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":"of Ariel’s future.”","_key":"b05a2d29b130","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"363add86a066"}],"_type":"story","summary":"It weighs roughly half as much as the typical electric vehicle.","_id":"d42c2b42-34ea-4492-8dbb-3fcb6e1051f0","id":"y4BZcXaI","title":"This Concept Car Promises A Slimmed-Down Entry In The EV Market","_createdAt":"2024-08-28T21:21:46Z","category":"energy","publishDate":"2024-08-29"},{"id":"QpMVYRS1","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"In the pursuit of renewable energy, solar power is near the top of most lists. But you might already be aware of one obvious problem — the sun only shines on a particular area of the planet for roughly half of each day.","_key":"d61eea4c7a280","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7c61f464e797"},{"_key":"e881a422f6bb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The remaining 12 hours or so (aka nighttime) delivers no supply of solar energy, thus requiring either expensive storage capabilities or a reliance on other forms of electricity.","_key":"6f8e0b92b9210"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Reflect Orbital’s answer","_key":"8ac46bbb0ad30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"00a02a1e6e7c"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Ben Nowack, the founder and CEO of a California-based startup company called Reflect Orbital, said he was ","_key":"33dc71cd4d980"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"inspired by this fundamental flaw","_key":"98dd0afe51e1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in solar energy production and believes he’s found a solution.","_key":"b7d32dff4a5d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1eaf790a12e8"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"85a9f62a96e5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Earlier this year, he spoke at the International Conference on Energy from Space and addressed the issue directly.","_key":"0eb0d86e41e00"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"84d0d772617a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“The problem is that solar energy is not available when we actually want it,” he said. “It would be really great if we could get some solar energy before the sun rises and after sunset, because then ","_key":"acf868230f570","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"you could actually charge higher prices","_key":"3f444ec02beb"},{"_key":"fe321965cadf","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and make a lot more money. 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One major ","_key":"878d4603a5f30"},{"_key":"878d4603a5f31","_type":"span","marks":["8f6fb6b45f88"],"text":"concern"},{"_key":"878d4603a5f32","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" involves not only the availability and cost of public charging stations."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"beba22cfed47"},{"style":"normal","_key":"5e735df2ecd3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a0a12db1142e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where things stand"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Over the course of the past year, surveys show that EV owners have become a lot happier with the availability and performance of public charging facilities. Reports also indicate a higher level of satisfaction with how much such stations cost and how long they take to deliver a charge.","_key":"ffd91d54c76c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"93e6225542bb","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"7dc41fac9be6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But what really makes the process confusing is the fact that","_key":"28d583e4b1ee0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" there’s not a uniform price","_key":"ed61d1625208"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"bcbbd8abcf3d"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While the cost of a gallon of gas can vary greatly depending on location, supply, and other factors, there’s generally some amount of stability on a daily basis. 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Since most of the demand occurs in the evenings, the formerly ample supply of solar power has dwindled, meaning that energy providers are forced to once again","_key":"f54fefaa6cc40"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" turn to fossil fuels or natural gas","_key":"77a80a535183"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to ensure consistent service.","_key":"cf8ed4b59a95"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"087d21c5897f","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, researchers are well aware of this fact … and there’s an ambitious project underway to meet the nation’s modern energy needs.","_key":"068e90dfd5ef0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8df4d9197d75"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"800a1cfca63b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"43644f1a825c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"All about the batteries"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e14f71b062a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"California has long been at the forefront of advancements in solar power production, and now experts in that state are taking on the role of","_key":"6049a32a9c570"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" leading in the development of new batteries ","_key":"9b21268eac29"},{"text":"capable of storing that energy so it doesn’t go to waste.","_key":"157ee6065757","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In fact, more of these massive batteries have been produced in California than in any spot on the planet aside from China.","_key":"04c2a34356c20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"366c52b49220"},{"style":"normal","_key":"40fc3eb94741","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s the deceptively simple goal: Batteries ","_key":"2836eb12acda0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"store excess solar power collected during the day","_key":"9dc9e23b1f87"},{"_key":"1f290ff921e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"send it back out after dark","_key":"6ba9a5f9cb27"},{"_key":"52bac076e082","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" when there’s a spike in demand. 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This creates a scenario in which the cost of electricity is effectively below zero and some of the solar energy is wasted.","_key":"25e722125a1b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A nationwide trend emerges","_key":"ea0fc894b3cb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5b31c0ca09b4"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Other U.S. states are ramping up their installation of solar panels with incentives to homeowners who choose to add them to their property. 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And like those before it, the electricity it distributes will be produced by burning coal.","_key":"9e64e94e8e020"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e452e7ac6636","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“It’s not right,” she said. “These power lines? They’re not for me and my family. ","_key":"7b53518c4ab50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"I didn’t vote on this","_key":"2c90bb07e3ae"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". And the data centers? That’s not in West Virginia. 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And while sources like wind and solar have clear benefits, there’s a growing belief that a more advantageous ","_key":"7567e76ff63b0"},{"marks":["56cc31abd2c6"],"text":"option","_key":"7567e76ff63b1","_type":"span"},{"_key":"7567e76ff63b2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" lies within the universe’s most ubiquitous element: hydrogen."}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7e187c14fe23","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"America bets big","_key":"fcf6612f093b0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8974978747ad","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The White House confirmed that it would be allocating about $7 billion for ongoing projects that seek to create hydrogen production capabilities in several strategic locations across the country.","_key":"84e2a635670a0"}]},{"_key":"40b7a773549f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In addition to hopes that this would help ","_key":"6286d0e1646f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"establish a new, greener future","_key":"3e07e5bae05b"},{"marks":[],"text":" for U.S. energy needs, the Biden administration also touted the possibility that these hubs will create lots of new jobs.","_key":"306d33ce80e1","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"401f1cc97381","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The first round of investments were approved in a recent bipartisan infrastructure bill and proponents of the project say it could eliminate as much as 25 million metric tons (the amount produced by more than 5 million gas-powered vehicles) annually.","_key":"2786cf9c23cd0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Is it really that clean?","_key":"cd3b442bc1cf0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4be829714bf2","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"By harnessing the pent-up power within this very combustible gas, many experts say hydrogen could be the key to meeting energy needs while producing no emissions aside from good old-fashioned water.","_key":"1d588392584b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eddb3d25ab45"},{"style":"normal","_key":"4a188b990860","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But then there’s the pesky matter of producing hydrogen energy. 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And critics say this reliance on fossil fuels might actually end up helping massive oil companies.","_key":"945a3459ebdc0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0475927f46b6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Basav Sen of the Institute for Policy Studies asserted that the current U.S. policy is misguided, asserting: “We need to see an end to fossil fuel subsidies rather than investing in inventing new ways to subsidize the fossil fuel industry.”","_key":"095ffbc8665a0"}]}],"_createdAt":"2023-11-05T23:32:03Z","id":"s0i0lHzm","_updatedAt":"2023-11-05T23:37:31Z","category":"energy","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2023/11/move-over-solar-power-hydrogen-is-the-cool-new-green-energy-source","_id":"cdd96626-1e53-492a-9b34-298f569451c9","_rev":"b28Q1Zd9IX35Clbiut2XcY","_type":"story","summary":"The Biden administration just announced a multibillion-dollar investment.","title":"Move Over Solar Power, Hydrogen Is The Cool New Green Energy Source","image":{"asset":{"_rev":"31eprprQN7XHorqXKSPEuL","sha1hash":"9c9eacf0ca0d4ae07f6d72fb72124503d984b45f","uploadId":"ljRyU2WAVCnbgMXFQDHn8AvEmbx3LmsY","description":"CALGARY, CANADA - September 18, 2023 : \rAramco focusing on what it can deliver to the future in a decarbonised way, which is where hydrogen production comes in. 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Early estimates suggest that "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"at least 15 of the 20 nations","_key":"7339549705f71"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" represented at the G20 meeting (including the U.S.) will agree to join the alliance.","_key":"7339549705f72"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"And on the surface, there’s a lot to like about these fuels. In fact, humans have always used some type of biofuel — ","_key":"df02eeba02130","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"burning wood or manure, for example","_key":"df02eeba02131"},{"text":" — to keep warm, produce light, cook food, and perform other important tasks.","_key":"df02eeba02132","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"601eb1bd6a57","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"0512c3e99f13","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Current biofuels provide an opportunity to reduce pollution and improve sustainability. 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Some engineers today, however, believe they are on the cusp of producing a "},{"_type":"span","marks":["7627147c4169"],"text":"method","_key":"e9eac46283531"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that can produce ","_key":"e9eac46283532"},{"text":"a significant amount of renewable energy","_key":"e9eac46283533","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"e9eac46283534"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bff2559d5ff2","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://thedebrief.org/forget-solar-panels-here-come-rain-panels/","_key":"7627147c4169"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"3dc52384d97a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although it might sound like a pipe dream, the fact is that similar technologies already exist in the formation of modern hydroelectric dams."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73f4a8550b12"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"70e1b4a41d1c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The big problem that experts face when developing a process to turn rainfall into energy involves the very small amount of inherent power found in a single drop. That means a large network of panels must be in operation to harness enough energy to make the process worthwhile.","_key":"d1a9fc221f8b0"}]},{"_key":"eb09ea9bb780","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In previous attempts, ","_key":"7bd793d6f3010"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"much of that energy was lost","_key":"7bd793d6f3011"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" before it arrived at the generator. That’s where the recently designed panels fit into the process.","_key":"7bd793d6f3012"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"02aa2ff5fe0e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A promising new development"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"da6174b20229"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e510233f6d65","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Professor Zong Li led the team that helped create this breakthrough proposal, which he said would borrow some of the basic concepts that have made modern solar panels so much more efficient.","_key":"1923fef775ea0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“Referring to the design of solar panels in which multiple solar power generation units are connected in parallel to supply the load, we are proposing ","_key":"c1958cda5d340","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a simple and effective method","_key":"c1958cda5d341"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for raindrop energy harvesting.”","_key":"c1958cda5d342"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"53701611a1f6"},{"children":[{"text":"Known as “","_key":"08b31604bd6e0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"bridge array generators","_key":"08b31604bd6e1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” these devices will theoretically address the energy-loss problem that has plagued previous efforts.","_key":"08b31604bd6e2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"be54c3e57d81","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a14257c11dbd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Li concluded: “The results of this study will provide a feasible scheme for large-area raindrop energy harvesting.”","_key":"c63adcca37e30"}]}],"summary":"Researchers think they have a way to harness the resources of rainfall.","_createdAt":"2023-07-28T20:01:56Z","slug":"/story/2023/07/solar-power-isnt-the-only-type-of-energy-that-comes-from-the-sky","_type":"story","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"image":{"attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"extension":"jpg","uploadId":"So20Zcnw5Uiz6SUdtwdYOQ4CR0seZ8VF","_rev":"LQmYyyfjf2g5yyLKN39Vhw","mimeType":"image/jpeg","size":1878330,"_createdAt":"2023-07-29T01:16:31Z","_updatedAt":"2023-07-29T01:16:31Z","metadata":{"palette":{"lightVibrant":{"background":"#a8c4e0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":8.01},"darkVibrant":{"population":1.07,"background":"#4c3713","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#9cbccf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.08},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.48,"background":"#6b532f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":9.13,"background":"#3c5234"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":9.13,"background":"#3c5234","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"population":0,"background":"#6c8ca4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3983,"aspectRatio":1.5098559514783927,"height":2638},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VdEDO~ISIUWEoe.TMwRjozoft8awWBa$ozt8oeWBWBj]","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"sha1hash":"9be08a23d7dc60fe57be9bd2e747b0fde5c355e2","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/9be08a23d7dc60fe57be9bd2e747b0fde5c355e2-3983x2638.jpg","assetId":"9be08a23d7dc60fe57be9bd2e747b0fde5c355e2","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/9be08a23d7dc60fe57be9bd2e747b0fde5c355e2-3983x2638.jpg","_id":"image-9be08a23d7dc60fe57be9bd2e747b0fde5c355e2-3983x2638-jpg","originalFilename":"shutterstock_433625311.jpg"},"_type":"image"},"category":"energy"}]