BlueDot Perovskite Solar Cells Inch Forward
Climate activists have been turning up the heat on two Democratic holdouts who are on the verge of smothering President Biden’s ambitious climate plans, the well known coal stakeholder Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and the somewhat lesser known but spotlight-grabbing Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Whether or not they continue to hold out is an open question as of this writing. However, one thing is certain: Coal is on the way out. Perhaps perovskite solar cells will help fully close the door one day.
The Disruptive Potential Of The Perovskite Solar Cell
Ever since the US fell out of the global silicon solar cell race in the 1980s, policymakers have been lusting after an alternative photovoltaic technology that could be manufactured in the US, at scale, and at a price point that could beat imported silicon solar cells.
Somewhere around 2009, the Department of Energy hit upon synthetic perovskite as a potential solution. Instead of a solid mass that needs to be tailored mechanically, the meat of a perovskite solar cell is a solution of relatively inexpensive, lab-grown nanoscale crystals that can be applied like ink to practically any surface.
If you’re thinking roll-to-roll, run right out and buy yourself a cigar. If all goes according to plan, a perovskite solar cell facility could be run like a print shop, churning out reams of solar cells at high volume with minimal waste.
Perovskites could be the next big thing after plastics, but it’s not that simple. Not just any old synthetic perovskite nanocrystals can get the job done. They need to be tailored with other substances for durability. That can jack up the cost, which kind of pulls the rug out from under the whole idea of the perovskite solar cell to begin with.
Perovskite Solar Cell Activity Heats Up
Energy is energy, and it seems that some oil and gas stakeholders have taken the model of plastics to heart in pursuit of the next big thing. The company Hunt Perovksite Technologies, for example, is an offshoot of Hunt Consolidated Group, which has a long history in the fossil energy field. In an interesting move, earlier this year HPT merged with the perovskite solar cell startup 1366 Technologies to form a new perovskite venture called CubicPV.
Shell is another fossil stakeholder with a hand in the perovskite solar cell pot. In 2018, the company kickstarted the GCxN clean technology accelerator at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and GCxN has the perovskite solar cell startup BlueDot Photonics under its wing.
Last May, NREL also organized a consortium of perovskite solar cell stakeholders, consisting of BlueDot, Energy Materials Corporation, First Solar, Hunt Perovskites Technologies (now CubicPV), Swift Solar, and Tandem PV.
Perovskite Promise Gets Real
That brings us to the latest news in the perovskite solar cell area. Last year CleanTechnica caught up with GCxN program manager Adam Duran, and he had this to say about BlueDot:
“It’s promising technology, nascent technology that they are developing quickly. They are working on a creative manufacturing technology that will help reduce costs,” he said. “It’s a novel approach to how they go through the production. This is an opportunity to take their laboratory technology and start thinking about what it would look like to do production-sized panels.”
It seems that others have caught on, including the cleantech investor group Volo Earth, which is an affiliate of NREL and the influential green organization RMI.
Last spring BlueDot raised a $1 million round of Series Seed financing through VoLo Earth Ventures. Boston-based Clean Energy Venture Group and the Seattle firm E8 were also involved, to be joined later by the nonprofit firm VertueLab of Portland, Oregon.
In the latest development, last week, Japan’s Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. announced that it had jumped into the BlueDot pool through its US branch.
“We’ve been impressed with BlueDot Photonics, which is developing a unique optical technology to improve the efficiency of solar power generation, and through investment, we hope to contribute to climate change countermeasures,” said HP President and CEO Akira Hiruma.
The seal of approval from one of the top optoelectronics marketers in the world probably won’t do much to change the minds of perovskite skeptics. However, the Hamamatsu edge could finally jolt the entire perovskite field out of the lab and onto the shelves of your local hardware store.
“Having Hamamatsu as a strategic partner is a big win for us. They are photonics experts, and their engagement will help us avoid commercialization pitfalls and identify new opportunities for our products. This will also help BlueDot consider markets outside of North America as we grow in the future,” explained BlueDot CEO Jared Silvia.
They may not be alone. Our friends over at the journal Nature recently noted that at least one legacy optoelectronics company has dipped a toe in the perovskite solar cell waters, only to bail. However, Nature also lists Panasonic and Toshiba among those still in hot pursuit of perovskite PV, along with the leading wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind of China.
Perovskites, Solar Tariffs, & The Manchin-Sinema Dance
In an echo of Silvia’s comment about “new opportunities,” Nature also teased out some hints that early markets for perovksite solar cells will be niche ones. If you have any thoughts about that, drop us a note in the comment thread.
In the meantime, NREL has been dropping hints that its 30-year collaboration on thin-film solar technology with the US firm First Solar could help push perovskites into the big leagues.
If the name First Solar brings to mind that new super secret solar tariff petition filed before the US Department of Commerce by an anonymous group companies reportedly in the solar field, you are probably not alone. However, the attorney who filed the petition is partners in a law firm that has counted the fossil-friendly organization ALEC among its roster of clients, so it’s not particularly obvious that the companies behind the petition have any significant stake in the US solar industry, especially not on the level of First Solar. It’s virtually the only true soup-to-nuts solar manufacturer in the US with domestic roots.
If you have any other guesses, drop a note in the comment thread — but you may not have to guess much longer. Last week the Commerce Department was apparently not impressed by the content of the petition, and it asked for the names of the companies behind it.
Meanwhile, the transformative potential of the perovskite solar cell dovetails neatly with President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda, which he and others have characterized as a transformative step that will save the planet from catastrophic climate change, undo generations of structural inequality in the US, and establish American democracy as the unstoppable 21st century counterforce to authoritarianism, fascism, dictatorship, autocracy, oligarchy, and whatever else.
That’s a pretty full plate, and last week it looked like Senators Manchin and Sinema were on track to blow it all up — or not, as the case may be.
On Friday evening, President Biden apparently put his foot down, so let’s see what happens next.
Follow me on Twitter @TinaMCasey.
Photo (screenshot via YouTube): Perovskite solar cell courtesy of Shell Game Changer Accelerator at NREL.
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The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a fun, dependable, sporty crossover that still looks great, even years after its initial launch. And despite the very vocal whining of the internal combustion purists, this very real Mustang outsold its internal-combustion siblings by more than 2:1 in August.
“Pony cars” like the Camaro and Mustang aren’t great commuters, and aren’t especially practical, either. That’s why, throughout their history, they’ve been largely seen as second cars, young people’s cars, or one of the Mustang’s OG nicknames from the 1970s and well into the 90s, “secretary’s sports cars.” As such, when the economy is uncertain, pony cars don’t sell that well – and even though the Camaro is dead and the new electric Charger is struggling to find an audience, the ICE Mustang is feeling some of that negative pressure.
Through August, a total of 31,015 internal combustion Mustangs have been sold, representing more than an 8% decline from the same period in 2024 and less than 10% of the total number sold from January-August in the Mustang’s record sales year (~607,000 units in 1966).
Still a great car
The Mustang Mach-E is only slightly outpacing the ICE Mustang at 34,319 units through the first eight months of 2025, representing a nearly 7% increase from 2024, when demand was artificially low while buyers waited for supercharger access and/or NACS ports. But it’s that eight month we really want to look at, with Ford delivering a total of 7,226 Mustang Mach-E crossovers compared to just 3,235 ICE models.
And, before you get too excited, that’s a solid month for a modern era ICE Mustang, with 3,235 representing a 2.2% increase in sales compared to 2024. All of which is to say: no, EV sales aren’t slowing – Americans just don’t understand fractions.
If you’re interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, you can score 0% interest financing for up to 75 months on new Mustang Mach-Es in some markets, plus $7,500 and free “standard” home charger installation. There are probably some great deals on ICE Mustangs, too, if you’re into that sort of thing. You can click on the links below to find local offers on both Mustangs in your area:
Ford sold 10,671 electric vehicles in August, up more than 19.3% from last year, with sales of hybrid Fords also surging nearly 24% compared to 2024. EVs and hybrid continue to outpace the rest of the market in general, and the same is true at Ford, which is up “just” 4% across all models for the first eight months of 2025.
SALES NUMBERS: va CarScoops.
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Combining the unique qualities of Liebherr Stereoloaders with an innovative BEV drivetrain, the six-ton L 507 E raises the bar for electric construction equipment – which is why, when this Danish recycling company decided to get serious about decarbonizing, they chose Liebherr.
Danish waste management company Amager Ressourcecenter (ARC) manages waste recycling for a numober of municipalities in the greater Copenhagen area. Recently, ARC announced plans to make serious reductions to its harmful carbon emissions by investing in new, zero-emission vehicles. To that end, the company has already deployed more more than 200 EVs – including eight (8) new Liebherr L 507 E electric wheel loaders.
That’s a serious investment and a very serious amount of money. As you can imagine, the decision wasn’t an easy one.
To help ARC feel confident in its decision, Liebherr organized a week-long test drive for ARC equipment operators, allowing them to see first hand that the L 507 E, launched last year, was just as competent as its diesel-powered brothers.
“After an intensive selection process, we decided in favor of battery-electric wheel loaders L 507 E from Liebherr,” explains Casper Schwartz Glottrup, Waste & Tender Consultant at ARC. “This model convinced us and our operators the most and fulfills our requirements perfectly.
“Our eight new wheel loaders have now been in operation for around six months,” adds Glottrup. “The battery-electric drive concept works perfectly. The battery life of the wheel loaders is sufficient for a full working day at our recycling centers without intermediate charging. We are very satisfied with our investment, which we financed with our own funds and without state subsidies.”
Liebherr L 507 E
The “Stereoloader” stereo steering developed by Liebherr gives its wheel loader operators incredibly precise control over machines like the L 507 E by combining articulated steering with an independently steered rear axle. The result is a machine that combines the advantages of two different steering systems in one machine. It’s a genuinely trick piece of engineering, and one that’s already proven itself over decades of deployment in conventional, ICE-powered Liebherr wheel loaders.
The L 507 E’s standard 32.2 kWh li-ion battery promises up to 8 hours of continuous run time. But because it’s modular, you can drop in another battery for a total of 64.4 kWh and sixteen (!) hours of continuous operation. More than enough to handle several shifts of heavy work.
The loader’s battery is capable of DC fast charging back to full capacity in about 1.5 hours, or 3 hours in 64.4 kWh configuration.
SOURCES | IMAGES: Liebherr, Recycling.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Hyundai is keeping the savings going after extending its EV deals yet again. With leases starting as low as $179 a month, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is hard to pass up right now.
Hyundai extends IONIQ 5, IONIQ 9 lease deals
After a “breakout” month for IONIQ 5 sales in August, Hyundai looks to keep the momentum rolling. At least for another month.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 remains a top-selling EV in the US, and might be your best bet if you’re looking to go electric.
Through its Hyundai Getaway sales event, the 2025 IONIQ 5 was listed for lease for as low as $179 per month in August. Although the deals were set to end on September 2, Hyundai has extended them until the end of the month.
The 2025 IONIQ 5, now with more range, an NACS port, and a stylish new design, can still be leased for just $179 per month.
That’s for the Standard Range SE trim with a driving range of 245 miles. The extended range IONIQ 5 SE, with up to 318 miles of range, is available from $199 per month.
You can even snag the souped-up XRT trim for under $300 a month right now. All the offers are for a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
The deals include the $7,500 EV Lease Bonus, which is also set to expire at the end of September. With the bonus, the net cap cost drops to just $24,380 (SE Standard Range RWD model).
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim | EV Powertrain | Driving Range (miles) | Starting Price* | Monthly lease price September 2025 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | 168-horsepower rear motor | 245 | $42,500 | $179 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $46,550 | $199 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $49,500 | $209 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $54,200 | $309 |
| IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $50,050 | $249 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $53,000 | $259 |
| IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD | 320 horsepower dual motor | 259 | $55,400 | $359 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 269 | $58,100 | $299 |
Hyundai also extended the offers for its new three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9. Leases for the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 start at $419 per month. If you choose to finance it, Hyundai is offering a $5,000 cash bonus on all trims.
Both the 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 are built at Hyundai’s EV plant in Georgia, enabling them to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. With the credit set to expire at the end of September, the savings will likely disappear. It will be up to the automakers to step in with significant incentives to keep lease prices as low as they are.
Want to lock in the deals before they are gone? Check the links below to find local offers on the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 in your area.
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