EVs, Solar, & Energy Storage: Ignoring The Science That Will Save Us

Published

4 years ago

August 20, 2021

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Ignoring the science that could save Planet Earth is rampant today. People can have empathy, function in society, and survive — even thrive — yet still reject basic premises of scientific climate reasoning. People want to be totally sure, for example, that the changes they make in removing themselves from reliance on fossil fuels, centralized electricity generation, and legacy autos are certain and solid decisions.

But ignoring the science disregards the facts about the climate crisis and the power of renewable technologies.

Cars, trucks, and other forms of transportation are a major producer of air pollution in the world. Climate scientists say vehicle electrification is one of the best ways to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. A research team from MIT released data in an interactive online tool to help people quantify the true costs of their car-buying decisions — both for the planet and their budget. EVs are arriving much faster than anyone might have forecast.

The source of solar energy — the sun — is nearly limitless and can be accessed anywhere on earth at one time or another. Yes, it would take around 10 million acres of land, but that’s only about 0.4% of the area of the US to allow enough space for solar photovoltaics (PV) to supply all of the nation’s electricity.

Energy storage has been evolving and creating long-term benefits and reliability for consumers. It is critical for the entire grid as it augments energy resources and can act as a generation, transmission, or distribution asset – sometimes in a single asset. As an enabling technology, it can save consumers money, improve reliability and resilience, integrate generation sources, and help reduce environmental impacts.

If renewable energy technology is so great, then why do so many people deny its potential in our lives?

Ignoring the Science: Denial in Crisis

Public health expert Sara Gorman and psychiatrist/scientist Jack Gorman argue in a recent book that failure to adhere to scientific evidence can have dire outcomes. Their exposition can help us to unpack why well-meaning people hold to notions that sustainable energy methods like EVs, solar, and energy storage are bad.

Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Science that Will Save Us updates a 2016 first edition book. The revision investigates the psychological factors that lead to self-defeating denial of facts; the authors conclude that normal, evolutionary, and adaptive tendencies act against us. If we extend their argument, the costs of wavering on renewable energy technologies are so enormous that we must make transparent theirs benefits — over and over — if we are to overcome denialism and create a citizenry who can sort out scientific climate facts from hype.

Here are some inroads to do just that offered by the authors of Denying to the Grave.

We want to think that charismatic leaders of anti-science movements are just people who hold incorrect ideas about health and well-being. The Gormans discount that notion and say, instead, that such individuals actually masquerade as selfless but gain considerable personal benefits from promulgating false ideas. Activist voices like Greta Thunberg and António Guterres have counterparts like Peter Duesberg, Andrew Wakefield, Jenny McCarthy, Gilles- Éric Séralini, and Wayne LaPierre. Such leaders have such an influence that audiences make decisions or hold beliefs that do not resemble decisions or beliefs they might otherwise hold on their own.

Confirmation bias refers to our tendency to attend only to information that agrees with what we already think is true. Just look at the world’s energy system, which definitely needs to be greened for sustainable development. However, green energy development is fundamentally established upon people’s knowledge about its comparative advantages over other types of energy development. Whether an energy candidate is truly ‘green’ depends on many factors that encompass costs and benefits in various dimensions and range from inputs to outputs along multiple lifecycles. Cognitive biases can lead to misleading language use and further result in entrenched decision-making that only leads to more ignoring the science of renewable technologies.

Ignoring the science of sustainable energy technology can often involve examining causality and filling in ignorance gaps, according to Gorman and Gorman. They say that it is highly adaptive to know how to attribute causality but that people are often too quick to do so. People have a difficult time sitting with uncertainty and accepting coincidence. Revealing ways to better comprehend true causality can be done by examining criteria for causal inference — strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experiment, and analogy. We might apply those criteria to early studies of demand response or smart grids demonstrated the effective matching of supply and demand in a region.Today, to fill in the knowledge gaps, such analyses can be expanded into linkages among carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth.

Because it’s impossible to keep up with the enormous amount of scientific articles that are published, we rely on a variety of sources (like CleanTechnica 😀 ) to sift through them. Gorman and Gorman argue that the public needs to overcome an avoidance of complexity of science to judge independently what publications are important. In the world of EVs, solar energy, and energy storage, this means drawing upon a complexity science perspective in which an appreciation of the complex, dynamic, and interconnected relationships occurring within a complex system or problem. Renewable energy fundamental understanding and scientific breakthroughs in new materials and chemical processes make possible new energy technologies and performance levels — staying current with these innovations is essential to gaining renewable energy scientific literacy.

It’s common today to hear people problem-solve through a risk-cost-reward equation. Sometimes, we work through those equations based on skewed risk perception and probability. Risk perception is prone to change based on type of risk, and many people still consider renewables a risky venture. Yet over the last decade a surge in lithium-ion battery production has led to an 85% decline in prices, making electric vehicles and energy storage commercially viable for the first time in history. Comparing energy storage needs and priorities in 2010 vs 2021, important applications continue to emerge including decarbonization of heavy-duty vehicles, rail, maritime shipping, and aviation and the growth of renewable electricity and storage on the grid.

Ignoring the Crisis OR Zeroing in on Clean Technologies

The scientific process is slow and methodical. Analyzing claims can lead to peer-reviewed consensus so that, eventually, the scientific community converges on a shared reality that becomes scientific fact. Spread of misinformation is common in any time of social change and has produced much science denial in crisis over the last decade. Especially during times of political polarization, audiences tend to reject an entire body of beliefs, rather than examining each belief separately.

Surveys show that people in the US have a very high regard for science and its potential to accomplish much that will benefit individuals. When agencies like the EPA have their necessary funding, scientific expertise can be restored to full strength. Gorman and Gorman argue that “the science that is used to help guide policy must be unencumbered by political intrusion and represent solid, data-driven research. We need an end to censorship, banished words, and firing of scientists whose findings are inconvenient for politicians.”

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Environment

California greenlights $56.5M to amp up apartment EV chargers

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

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California greenlights .5M to amp up apartment EV chargers

California apartment EV chargers — Photo: ChargePoint

If you live in or develop apartments in California, there’s fresh cash on the table to get Level 2 EV chargers installed. The Communities in Charge project, backed by the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program, just opened a new funding lane worth up to $56.5 million for multi-family housing and nearby spots where tenants can plug in.

How it works

Who can apply? California property owners or stakeholders ready to install Level 2 chargers at multi-family and adjacent tenant-accessible sites.
When? Applications opened today at 9 am PT and run through January 9, 2026, at 5 pm PT.
What’s covered? Up to $8,500 per Level 2 port. Starting in October, the program will also kick in $2,000 per publicly accessible Level 1 port. Extra “plus-ups” are available for Tribal communities.
Equity first: An equity-based scoring system bumps projects that serve disadvantaged, low-income, and Tribal areas to the front of the line.

The project is run by CALSTART (with GRID Alternatives and Tetra Tech riding shotgun). CALSTART already oversees more than $1 billion in national clean-transportation incentives.

“This funding wave marks a critical step in making electric vehicle charging accessible to more Californians, no matter the type of housing,” said Stacey Simms, CALSTART’s senior director of clean fuels and infrastructure. “By dedicating funding to this housing sector, we’re ensuring that infrastructure barriers are broken down so that multi-family housing residents can go electric at home.”

What happens after you click ‘submit’

Applications roll in through the Incentive Processing Center and get reviewed as they arrive:

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Readiness Tier 1 (projects that can basically start tomorrow) snag an immediate “Notice of Final Award.”
Readiness Tier 2 candidates get a “Notice of Conditional Award” and 90 days to hand in extra paperwork before they secure their final green light.

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Environment

Rivian (RIVN) Q2 2025 report: Limited R1 production doesn’t slow deliveries, R2 remains on track

Published

3 hours ago

August 5, 2025

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Rivian (RIVN) Q2 2025 report: Limited R1 production doesn't slow deliveries, R2 remains on track

Rivian just posted its more recent letter to shareholders outlining its progress and financial numbers from Q2 2025. We have already covered much of Rivian’s Q2 achievements outlined in the letter. However, we have gained a clearer understanding of where the American automaker stands on production numbers, revenue, and gross profit through half the year as it continues to gear up for the start of R2 production next year.

While Q2 2025 is by no means the worst report from Rivian, it’s not the most exciting from a financial outlook. However, the American automaker does point out several impressive milestones and investments it solidified the previous three months.

For example, Rivian shared news of a fresh equity investment of $1 billion from Volkswagen Group, part of a larger $5.8 billion agreement joint venture between the two OEMs.

As we pointed out in July, Rivian has been expanding its global footprint, announcing a new UK office in addition to a shiny new East Coast headquarters located outside of Atlanta, not far from where its second EV manufacturing facility will eventually operate.

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Q2 2025 also marked Rivian’s initial sales of its second-generation Quad Motor R1 models. Speaking of new models, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe shared several progress updates of the new R2 throughout Q2 2025, and today’s letter to shareholders continues to detail steady progress for the highly anticipated EV.

Let’s dig into the full report, shall we?

Rivian-R2-launch — Rivian R2 midsize electric SUV (Source: Rivian)

Rivian expects higher Q3 2025 deliveries compared to Q2

As announced before the full Q2 2025 report, Rivian’s BEV production was way down, completing a mere 5,979 vehicles in Normal, IL, compared to 14,611 a quarter prior. That said, Rivian deliveries were up in Q2 (10,661 vs. 8,640 in Q1 2025).

Rivian cited the reason for limiting production last quarter as “primarily due to a variety of supply chain complexities partially driven by shifts in trade policy.” Despite the lower production numbers, Rivian said it is staying pat on its delivery guidance for 2025 and expects to have an even better Q3 2025. Per the shareholder letter:

We are maintaining the range of our delivery guidance to 40,000 – 46,000. We anticipate the third quarter to be our peak delivery quarter of the year across both our consumer and commercial vehicles. Due to some of the recent changes associated with regulatory credits and our second quarter performance, we are increasing our guidance for adjusted EBITDA losses to ($2,000) million – ($2,250) million.

Total revenues were up in Q2 2025 by both quarter and year-over-year, but Rivian’s total cost of revenues increased, leaving gross profits at an (unaudited) plateau. Same as last quarter, Rivian still expects its 2025 capital expenditures to land somewhere between $1.8 and $1.9 billion.

Aside from the financials, which you can view in their entirety here, Rivian continues to put a tremendous amount of future success in its upcoming R2 model. Per Rivian, R2 development and launch remain on track. The automaker has essentially completed construction of a new 1.1 million square foot plant expansion in Normal, with production tooling equipment for component manufacturing installations now underway.

Rivian expects to commission the new R2 line in Q3 2025 en route to equipment and production processes validation. As we’ve covered plenty this year, the American automaker is assembling validation prototypes of the R2 on a pilot production line in California.

To make room for R2 production, Rivian will shut down its existing production footprint in Illinois for about three weeks in September. After that, Rivian’s manufacturing capacity will increase to about 215,000 units per year. Per the shareholder letter:

During the second quarter we made significant progress towards our development of R2, and advancements in AI. Due to our sourcing efforts and contracts we have in place, we are confident R2 will launch at an advantaged cost structure as compared to R1 and expect it to have a quick path to positive gross profit.

As always, Rivian will host an audio webcast this afternoon at 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET to discuss its Q2 2025 results and provide a business update. The link to the webcast and shareholder letter is available here.

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Environment

Tesla cars can now do vehicle-to-home (V2X) with this new Powerwall competitor

Published

4 hours ago

August 5, 2025

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Tesla cars can now do vehicle-to-home (V2X) with this new Powerwall competitor

All Tesla vehicles are now capable of bidirectional charging (V2X) thanks to an impressive Powerwall competitor, Sigenergy, which can include a universal bidirectional DC charger.

V2X, or bidirectional charging, is becoming a fairly common feature for electric vehicles.

Whether it’s in a reasonably low capacity to power tools and other equipment on the go (V2X), or with higher capacities to power a home (V2H) or send electricity back into the grid for money (V2G).

As a leader in electric vehicles, Tesla was long seen as being reticent in adopting the technology.

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Today, Cybertruck is the only Tesla vehicle that officially supports bidirectional charging and it only works with Tesla’s own Powershare home solution, which still has limitations years after launching. For example, it still doesn’t work with Powerwalls.

And yet, I was surprised to see yesterday a Tesla Model Y send electricity back into a house for the first time.

My friend Sylvain Juteau, President of Roulez Electrique, was showing me the latest addition to his Trois-Rivieres charging station: the Sigenergy DC charging and ESS system. You can watch our video of our full walkthrough of the system here:

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I had already heard a bit about Sigenergy and how they were gaining a foothold in the home energy storage market in countries like Australia.

Tesla has been dominating the home energy storage system for years with the Powerwall, but now its supremacy is being challenged, and I’m starting to understand why.

This device is what the Tesla Powerwall was supposed to be.

In 2016, when discussing the upcoming Powerwall 2, CEO Elon Musk stated that it would feature an “integrated Powerwall 2.0 battery and Tesla charger.”

The Powerwall 2 came and went, and never had a charger integrated.

Tesla is currently on the Powerwall 3, which features some significant improvements in power capacity and solar inverter integration, but it doesn’t have an integrated EV charger.

Sigenergy’s device combines all components into a single, stackable, and expandable system with an incredible user interface.

For a few years now, the industry has had the ISO 15118 international standard for vehicle-to-grid (V2G), and Sigenergy has built a fully certified bidirectional DC charger module that fits with its modular energy storage system.

The system consists of stackable 8 kWh battery modules, with a top module that includes a solar inverter and serves as the brain of the system.

Between them, you can fit this new bidirectional DC charger module. With 3 battery modules (24 kWh), it looks like this:

The system can provide up to 25 kW DC fast charging, allowing you to charge at a rate of 25 kW at home.

It bypasses the onboard charger in your electric vehicle, just like public DC fast-charging stations.

At 25 kW, which is achievable with 3 battery modules and solar, it is certainly not as fast as most public fast-charging stations, but it is a lot more than the generally ~7 kW capacity of a level 2 home charging station.

And the killer feature is that this module is capable of bidirectional charging so it can not only DC charge an EV, but it can also pull DC power from an EV.

The device is available with both CCS and NASC connectors, but bidirectional charging utilizes the CCS protocol.

It means that even Tesla cars with NASC connectors and CCS modules (2019-2021, depending on the model) can use the bidirectional. To be clear, this is unofficially supported by Tesla – meaning that it works, we have tried it, but it’s not something that the automaker officially supports.