Environment

Op-ed: The day the climate crisis came home

Published

4 years ago

September 10, 2021

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Streetlights, headlights, and apartments with lights on around noon on Sept. 9, 2020, in Russian Hill, San Francisco.

Christina Farr | CNBC

One year ago today was the most terrifying day of my life.

I’ve faced personal tragedies and professional setbacks, but there are templates to deal with those. You rely on friends and family, you nurse your grief and anger, you seek counseling. With any luck and a lot of hard work, you heal and you move on.

But the day the sky turned orange in San Francisco from widespread wildfire smoke was a different kind of tragedy, precisely because it wasn’t personal — it was communal. It affected all of us. Nobody could help. Everybody was equally freaked out. We had been breathing wildfire smoke for about three weeks, and all I could think about was how long this new phase, this deep-orange darkness, would last. A day? A week? Three weeks? We were already locked down at home from the Covid pandemic, with the kids out of school and most businesses closed. The added feeling of isolation from this new phase was almost too much to bear.

Those of us who are old enough might remember a brief window in the 1990s when it seemed like the environmental movement was ascendant. Politicians and corporations were paying attention. The entire world banned chlorofluorocarbons in less than a couple years after it became clear they were depleting the ozone layer, exposing us to more solar radiation. The ozone layer is now recovering.

But that moment faded, replaced by the urgency of the War on Terror and the gridlock of hardcore partisan politics, along with a global economic expansion that has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and into the middle class.

That global economic expansion has been fueled by cheap fossil fuels and accompanied by a dramatic rise in greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released in August, shows the picture very starkly. We are currently averaging 410 parts-per-million of CO2 in the atmosphere — well above the 382ppm figure that Al Gore used in his famous chart of CO2 concentrations in the 2006 movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

The wildfires in the west aren’t caused entirely by climate change — fires have always been part of the landscape, and forest management practices have definitely played a part. But so did two decades of record heat and a drought that has killed millions of trees. Today’s fires burn hotter and spread faster than any in recent memory, according to scientists and firefighters.

Climate change has been hard for most of us to see and feel. That’s beginning to change. This year’s continuous parade of extreme weather events — floods, hurricanes and wildfires — is a foretelling of what the world faces. If you haven’t faced your orange day yet, chances are you will.

The positive side of all this: More people than ever before are committed to finding solutions. Personally, the orange day in San Francisco inspired me to shift some of my attention from the tech industry, which I’ve been covering for more than 25 years, to focus on what I believe will be the most important news story of the next few decades.

Similar events are inspiring people to take action all over the world.

Many are advocating for major political changes, and the upcoming COP26 conference in Glasgow will almost certainly be a lightning rod for protests.

But while political solutions are a necessary part of the puzzle, those changes can be reversed or their impact blunted by the next election cycle.

More excitingly, the business world is finally, belatedly climbing aboard. Venture capitalists and billionaires like Bill Gates and Tom Steyer are racing to fund start-ups dealing with everything from clean energy to agriculture to transportation. Companies are boasting about their plans for reaching net-zero carbon emissions. Banks and insurance companies are quietly acknowledging the risks associated with climate change and adjusting their practices accordingly. ESG funds with a strong emphasis on green solutions are immensely popular — although not always effective. Tesla, the biggest auto company in the world by market cap, pioneered making zero-emission electric vehicles at scale, sending the auto giants and dozens of scrappy start-ups to follow as fast as they can.

At CNBC, we intend to cover the climate crisis from a business news perspective. We know what the predictions say could happen 20, 50 and 100 years into the future — but what’s happening today? How is climate change affecting businesses and individuals right now? Who’s proposing ambitious new solutions to reduce carbon emissions and suck carbon out of the atmosphere, who’s funding those solutions, and what are their chances of success? How are companies preparing for an uncertain future? What can you do to prepare yourself and your family — financially, physically, and mentally?

Pledges are less important than action. Rather than focusing on what companies say they intend to do, we’ll focus on what they are actually doing, where they are actually spending money and whether that money is doing any good — or is simply a half-hearted attempt to garner some positive press. Greenwashing is rampant, and ripe for exposure. We’ll look closely at trends like ESG investing and carbon offsets to explain how they work — or don’t work — and talk to policy experts about alternative financial solutions that could be more effective. We’ll treat every start-ups claims with the same kind of cautious “show-me” skepticism we’ve learned to adopt through collective decades of experience covering the tech industry.

There are no magic bullets. The carbon we’ve already pumped into the atmosphere is not going away any time soon, and the effects will probably get worse before they get better. The political, cultural and psychological barriers to change are a huge challenge — nobody likes being told to consume less. Nobody likes being told they must suddenly revamp their business at great expense with no guarantee of higher future profits. Investors will continue to seek returns, as they always have.

But as the world wakes up to the reality of climate change, there’s more money flowing toward the problem than ever before. Collective human ambition and the desire to improve our condition got us into this mess. They’re necessary to get us out.

Environment

This $15,000 Chinese EV can swap batteries faster than you can pump gas [Video]

Published

2 hours ago

November 6, 2025

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This $15,000 Chinese EV can swap batteries faster than you can pump gas [Video]

How does a fully charged battery in under 100 seconds sound? China’s CATL, GAC Group, and JD.com revealed a battery-swappable version of the Aion UT that can swap batteries quicker than you can pump gas.

The Aion UT Super can swap EV batteries in 99 seconds

The new battery swap version looks about the same as the current Aion UT sold in China, but it’s equipped with CATL’s Choco-SEB battery packs.

CATL introduced the new battery packs in December that can be swapped for a fully charged one in under 100 seconds, making it just as fast as filling up a gas tank.

The new Aion UT Super draws power from a 54.036 kWh CATL LFP battery, providing a CLTC driving range of 500 km (310 miles). Drivers can swap, charge, or rent batteries at one of CATL’s Choco Battery Swap Stations. It also features a single electric motor with 134 horsepower (100 kW).

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Measuring 4,270 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width, and 1,575 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, the electric hatch is about the size of the Volkswagen ID.3.

Don’t feel like swapping? The electric hatchback can still recharge from 30% to 80% in 26 minutes, the company said.

Inside, the setup is relatively simple, with a floating infotainment screen at the center and a smaller driver display cluster.

The new Aion UT Super will be sold exclusively on JD.com, also known as the “Chinese Amazon.” GAC opened blind pre-orders on Wednesday ahead of its official launch next week during the 11.11 shopping festival, China’s largest shopping event.

According to CarNewsChina, prices for the swappable Aion UT Super are expected to range from 100,000 yuan ($14,000) to 120,000 yuan ($16,800).

The Aion UT Super just swapped its battery at a CATL Chocolate Battery Swap Station. Time: 88 seconds.#CATL pic.twitter.com/U3K4ecaypX

— ThinkerCar (@thinkercar) November 5, 2025

Although the company promotes a full battery swap in as little as 99 seconds, it’s actually even quicker. A video from ThinkerCar shows the Aion UT Super swapping its battery at a CATL Chocolate Battery Swap Station in just 88 seconds.

The Aion UT Super joins other Chinese EVs, including the Changan Oshan 520, that are rolling out with CATL’s 99-second swappable batteries.

Several major Chinese brands, including GAC, Chery, NIO, FAW, and BAIC, are partnering with CATL to launch vehicles powered by its Choco-SEB batteries.

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Environment

Candela’s flying electric boats set to soar around the Maldives

Published

4 hours ago

November 6, 2025

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Candela’s flying electric boats set to soar around the Maldives

In a landmark move for sustainable maritime transport, Swedish firm Candela is bringing its hydrofoiling electric vessel, the Candela P‑12, to the Maldives, promising faster, cleaner, seasickness-free transfers from the airport to the remote atolls.

Reef rescue and comfort for tourists

The Maldives’ atolls face a serious threat from the thousands of twin-outboard speedboats that shuttle tourists and locals across the archipelago.

They’re heavy on fuel, produce large wakes, and are responsible for significant reef damage. These traditional gasoline-powered boats burn around 5 liters (1.3 gallons) of fuel per mile (15 times more than a bus), generate large wakes that erode coral, and emit CO₂ emissions that rank among the country’s worst.

Enter the P-12: By flying 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the water surface on two computer-controlled hydrofoils, it cuts energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional hulls, enabling long-range electric operation. The vessel produces minimal wake and engine noise, drastically reducing the impact on reef ecosystems and marine life – a critical win for one of the world’s most fragile marine environments.

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For vacationers, the change should be dramatic.

The ride inside the P-12 is described as a “magic carpet” experience: an air-conditioned cabin, wi-fi, entertainment screens, refreshment service, stroller and wheelchair access – and thanks to the hydrofoil system and active flight controller, virtually no waves, no slamming hull, and no seasickness.

It’s like flying, but without any turbulence.

Maldives order and deployment

In 2026, a fleet of ten P-12 vessels will begin operating between Malé International Airport and outer-island resorts, managed by operator Ego Shuttle, which has also signed for an additional ten units.

This will be the Maldives’ first electric vessel deployment, and the largest hydrofoil electric fleet in the world, according to the release. The vessels will be assembled, maintained and operated locally, with a logistics hub and green-job training for Maldivian workers.

“Wake and noise impact has been a real problem in many marine sanctuaries around the world. Until now, there have been no real options to electrify waterborne transport, as conventional hulls are simply too inefficient. With the P-12, we finally have a vessel with the range and speed to replace fossil-fuel boats — while minimizing the impact on this unique environment,” says Shabir Walji, CEO of Ego Shuttle.

The Maldives will now join other countries also incorporating the Candela P-12 electric ferry into their own sustainable over-the-water transportation systems, from Thailand to New Zealand, among several others.

Candela was founded just over a decade ago with a mission to design and build faster, more efficient, cleaner boats that outperform fossil-fuel vessels.

The company has become world famous for its signature hydrofoils that lift the hull out of the water, dramatically reducing drag and thereby energy use. I’ve spent some helm time on both the C-7 and C-8, the pair of electric hydrofoil speedboats produced by Candela ahead of their expansion into commercial ferries like the P-12. And as someone who has operated both models, I can attest to how smooth the ride is and how impressive it truly feels to soar over the water.

Candela’s P-12 vessels have already entered service in Stockholm. One of its early pilots, a vessel called Nova, reportedly cut a 15 km route commuting time to 30 minutes, while using 84% less energy per passenger-kilometre compared to the diesel ferry it replaced.

Electrek’s Take

This is a serious step forward – both for island-nation sustainability and for electrifying maritime transport. The Maldives face existential threats from climate change and ecosystem degradation, so reducing boat noise, wakes, and emissions is both environmentally urgent and commercially smart (since tourism depends on those healthy reefs).

In spite of the other major social challenges the country still faces – from limited freedoms for women to broader human rights concerns – it’s encouraging to see real progress on the environmental front. Meaningful climate action doesn’t erase those issues, but it does show that even small nations can take bold technological steps toward a cleaner future.

All told: This looks like a win-win for guests, operators and the environment. I’ll be closely watching how the service performs in 2026 – especially how much of a wake/reef benefit is achieved and how the guest experience compares to typical speedboat transfers. And if the Maldivian operators need someone to come report on the new fleet directly from a white, sandy beach, I’ll see if I can clear my schedule.

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Environment

Tesla launches ‘Multipass’ in more markets for frictionless third-party charging

Published

8 hours ago

November 6, 2025

admin

Tesla launches 'Multipass' in more markets for frictionless third-party charging

Tesla has quietly expanded its new MultiPass feature to more regions across Europe, allowing owners to charge at third-party stations directly through their Tesla account — no separate app, card, or registration required.

The feature, which first launched in the Netherlands earlier this year, is now rolling out to additional countries, including Germany and France, according to Tesla’s own support page. The update builds on Tesla’s push to make charging as frictionless as possible — not just at Superchargers, but across an entire network of compatible public chargers.

What is Tesla MultiPass?

Tesla describes MultiPass as a “seamless charging option” that lets drivers find and charge at third-party charging stations using their existing Tesla Account. By partnering with a network aggregator, Tesla now connects to over 1,000 charging networks and thousands of stations across Europe.

In practice, MultiPass aims to make the charging experience at third-party stations as close to a Tesla Supercharger as possible — you can simply tap your Tesla key card or select the stall in your Tesla app at a supported charger, and the cost of the session is automatically billed to your Tesla account. The same payment method used for Supercharging applies, and sessions appear right in your Tesla app’s charging history, unified with your Supercharger activity.

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Tesla’s goal is to reduce the number of sign-ups and third-party accounts you need to charge outside of Tesla’s own network. MultiPass turns the Tesla key card into a universal charging credential.

Tesla owners simply need to activate MultiPass through the Tesla app: