electrive

Electric car sales in Europe have surged 52 percent, with record-high gasoline prices around $10 a gallon making the switch to battery-powered vehicles far more attractive for drivers. Commentators say the price gap at the pump is accelerating the shift away from combustion engines, putting pressure on automakers to expand EV lineups and raising questions about whether sales will hold up if fuel prices fall back.

New figures on global electricity generation show coal remained the largest single source in 2024, producing about 34% of the world's power. Wind and solar together accounted for 15%, a sharp rise from just 4% a decade earlier. The data was presented as charts drawn directly onto a world map, letting viewers zoom from global totals down to country-level detail, prompting discussion about the slow pace of the energy transition.

Interest in electric power is trending in Brazil, with people searching for information about electricity supply, prices and possible outages. The spike suggests widespread concern among consumers about energy costs or reliability of the grid, though no single confirmed event has been identified as the driver of the attention.

Land Rover has unveiled the 2028 Range Rover Sport Electric, an all-electric version of its performance-oriented luxury SUV. Outlets including Car and Driver describe it as a sleeker take on the full-size Range Rover Electric, pairing the Sport's sportier styling with a fully electric powertrain. Details on range, pricing and exact launch timing remain limited as the vehicle is positioned for the 2028 model year.

Scientists say they have identified millions of ancient natural 'battery'-like formations resting on the deep ocean floor, according to a report carried by Popular Mechanics. The claim suggests these seabed structures may hold stored energy or electrical properties formed over millions of years. Details of the discovery, including where the formations were found and who led the research, have not been specified in the available coverage.

Researchers have developed a 'moist-electric' wallpaper that generates electricity from water vapor in indoor air while also helping regulate humidity. The material, described in Advanced Energy Materials, could turn ordinary walls into passive energy-harvesting surfaces for powering low-wattage devices. Readers are debating how much power such surfaces can realistically produce and whether the technology could scale beyond the lab.

An analysis circulating widely this week argues that solar power is outperforming what is often considered nuclear energy's strongest advantage: reliable, always-on baseload electricity. The piece weighs cost declines, deployment speed, and storage improvements against nuclear's steady output, concluding that solar's rapid growth is eroding nuclear's key selling point. Energy watchers are debating whether the comparison holds up as countries plan future power grids.

New commentary by researcher Hannah Ritchie argues that shifting the global economy from fossil fuels to electricity will make the energy system dramatically more efficient, so the world will actually need less total energy after the transition. Electric motors, heat pumps and other electric technologies waste far less energy than combustion, meaning demand could fall even as living standards rise. The piece is drawing attention in energy and climate policy discussions.

Elon Musk's SpaceX has reportedly moved a step closer to a possible merger with Tesla, according to a report by Barron's. The idea of combining the rocket company and the electric-car maker has long been floated but never confirmed by either company. Details of how close a deal actually is remain thin, and investors and analysts are watching for any official statement from Musk or the two boards.

Toyota paired its electric Hilux concept with a caravan, a combination widely read as a direct response to online nostalgia and skepticism about whether an electric pickup can handle classic towing duties. Commentators say the automaker leaned into retro road-trip imagery to prove the battery-powered workhorse still fits the Hilux's go-anywhere reputation.