After the gas crisis, the Arctic could be Russia and Europe’s next flashpoint

Published

4 years ago

October 15, 2021

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A new cold front could open up in the political tension between the European Union and Russia over energy. This time in the Arctic.

On Wednesday, the EU put forward proposals that could see it pushing to ban the tapping of new oil, coal and gas deposits in the Arctic in an effort, it said, to protect the region from further disruptive climate change.

Russia, a major holder of Arctic territory where an abundance of its hydrocarbon and fish stocks are found, is not too pleased with the proposals with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak telling CNBC Thursday that they were politically-motivated and nonsensical.

“ I was a bit surprised when I heard about this yesterday. Why the Arctic, why not the Equator? One could come up with a number of places in the world where oil and gas production must be banned,” he told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble at the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow, according to a translation.

“This proposal has no other motivation than political,” he added. “What do these statements tell us – that we need to stop extracting the entire gas produced at the moment? I think that the authors of these proposals have very little understanding of the real state of affairs,” he said.

The EU proposals come at a time when tensions are already high between Russia and the EU when it comes to energy, and specifically natural gas. Prices have been soaring as Europe’s demand is squeezed by tighter-than-expected supplies.

Russia has said it has ramped up gas supplies but critics say it is using its gas exports to the region for political purposes, chiefly its bid to get Germany to certify the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Russia denied it was exploiting Europe’s gas crisis, with President Vladimir Putin insisting to CNBC on Wednesday that Moscow was not using gas a weapon.

Arctic engagement

Tensions in the Arctic have already been growing between regional players for a number of years, particularly in light of Russia’s quiet expansion of its political, economic and military influence there.

Unlike Russia, the EU is a comparatively new player in the Arctic and the bloc, per se, is not a member of the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, although the Council includes the EU member states Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

The EU appears to be looking to increase its role in the region, however, and in a proposal mooted by the European Commission on Wednesday, it noted that “the Arctic region is of major strategic importance for the European Union, with regard to climate change, raw materials as well as geostrategic influence.”

It said it would aim to “strengthen EU engagement” in the region through “contributing to maintaining peaceful and constructive dialogue and cooperation in a changing geopolitical landscape, to keep the Arctic safe and stable” as well as “pushing for oil, coal and gas to stay in the ground, including in Arctic regions” and “supporting the inclusive and sustainable development of the Arctic regions to the benefit of its inhabitants and future generations.”

The Arctic is an integral part of Russia’s economy and territory, its coastline accounts for 53% of Arctic Ocean coastline and the country’s population in the region totals roughly 2 million people — that’s around half of the people living in the Arctic worldwide, according to the Arctic Institute, a center for circumpolar security studies.

Female polar bear with her two cubs on drifting iceberg in Barents Sea, Russia.

Alexei Chekunkov, Russia’s minister for development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, said in June that “the Arctic is the engine of economic growth. It accounts for 10% of our GDP and 20% of our exports” and Russia is aware of sustainability in the region; the theme for Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council, a position it will hold until 2023, is “Responsible Governance for a Sustainable Arctic.“

Sustainability is a big question for the region, which is being starkly affected by climate change: The Arctic is warming about twice as fast as the global average, according to the Norwegian Polar Institute, which has warned that “significant regional warming leads to continued loss of sea ice, melting of glaciers and of the Greenland ice cap” with drastic consequences for humans and nature in the region, and the world.

Novak questioned whether the EU proposals meant that people living and working in the region would have to move.

“There are many people living in the Arctic zone of Russia, there are many settlements and communities that inhabit these regions, we generate power to support their activities. What should we deduce from such statements – that we need to put an end to all human activities, to habitation in these regions altogether?” he said Thursday.

He noted that the proposals did not only affect Russia, with the U.S., Canada, and Iceland and Norway (which are both in the European Economic Area but not the EU) also having territory in the Arctic, and who are members of the Arctic Council.

Environment

Is the Hyundai IONIQ 5 the best EV lease deal at just $179 a month?

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2025

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Is the Hyundai IONIQ 5 the best EV lease deal at just 9 a month?

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 got a major glow up with extra driving range, a sleek interior and exterior facelift, and even Tesla Supercharger access with an added NACS port. With leases starting at just $179 per month, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 might be your best bet to get into an EV right now.

How much does the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 cost to lease?

Hyundai upgraded its best-selling electric SUV in every way possible for the 2025 model year. The 2025 IONIQ 5 can drive up to 318 miles on a single charge, recharge from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes, and is available starting at just $42,500.

After cutting lease prices last month, the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was available to lease for as low as $179 per month.

The offer was set to end on July 7, but Hyundai extended it through its new “Hyundai Getaway Sales Event.” The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range model is still available for lease, starting at just $179 per month.

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That’s for the base version, which has a range of up to 245 miles. The offer is for a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.

The long-range SE RWD variant, with a driving range of up to 318 miles, can be leased for as little as $199 per month. Upgrading to the AWD model will cost $249 per month. You can even snag the off-road XRT variant for $299 a month right now.

Hyundai upgraded the IONIQ 5 with a sleek facelift, adding to its already bold design. Inside, the 2025 IONIQ 5 features a redesigned center console, steering wheel, and HVAC control system based on driver feedback.

It also features a more powerful, next-gen infotainment system. The setup includes dual 12.3″ driver display and infotainment screens with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice-recognition, and more.

If you’re looking for something a little bigger, Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9 (Check out our review), is listed for lease starting at just $419 per month.

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim	EV Powertrain	Driving Range (miles)	Starting Price*	Monthly lease price July 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

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and range by trim (*includes $1,475 destination fee)

To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is throwing in a free ChargePoint Level 2 home charger with the purchase or lease of a new 2025 IONIQ 5 or 2026 IONIQ 9.

Both the 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 are built at Hyundai’s new EV plant in Georgia. The current lease offers include the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of September. Hyundai’s new deals are available through September 2, 2025.

Ready to test one out for yourself? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to find deals on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 near you.

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Environment

Tesla Semi efficiency improves in real-world trucking test covering 4,494 miles over 3 weeks

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

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Tesla Semi efficiency improves in real-world trucking test covering 4,494 miles over 3 weeks

The Tesla Semi, Tesla’s electric Class 8 semi-truck, saw its efficiency improve in a new real-world trucking test covering 4,494 miles over three weeks.

The Tesla Semi underwent significant changes over the years of delays.

Tesla officially unveiled the “production version” in 2022, but the vehicle never entered volume production. It is expected to finally happen at the end of the year at a new factory in Nevada.

When unveiling the “production version”, which turned out not to be the final production version, Elon Musk said that the Tesla Semi has an efficiency of 1.7 kWh per mile.

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In September 2024, Tesla reported improvements in its own fleet after covering 250,000 miles. It claimed to be achieving 1.6 kWh per mile.

Last year, two Tesla Semi customers got closer to what Musk claimed in 2022. DHL got 1.72 kWh per mile in their own test, and Saia got 1.73 kWh per mile.

Now, Tesla Semi appears to have improved quite a bit in a new real-world test by logistics company ArcBest.

The company claims to have put Tesla Semi through regular operations, varying from lane dispatch to regional runs over three weeks:

Over a three-week period, ABF operated a Tesla Semi across typical dispatch lanes, including over-the-road routes between service centers in Reno, Nevada and Sacramento, California. The pilot also included regional runs in the Bay Area and rail shuttle operations.

ArcBest claims that Tesla Semi averaged 1.55 kWh per mile during the three weeks:

The electric Semi logged 4,494 miles, averaging 321 miles per day with an overall energy efficiency of 1.55 kWh per mile.

Efficiency in the trucking business varies considerably based on several factors, including the load, but it is nonetheless an impressive performance.

Dennis Anderson, ArcBest chief innovation officer, commented on the test program:

“Freight transportation is a vital part of the global economy, and we know it also plays a significant role in overall greenhouse gas emissions. While the path to decarbonization presents complex challenges — such as infrastructure needs and alternative fuel development — it also opens the door to innovation. Vehicles like the Tesla Semi highlight the progress being made and expand the boundaries of what’s possible as we work toward a more sustainable future for freight.”

Tesla says that the truck should enter volume production toward the end of the year and customer deliveries are expected to start next year.

While the efficiency of the electric truck has improved, we previously reported that its price has increased significantly.

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Environment

Range Rover finally has a logo, just in time for the brand’s first electric SUV

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

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Range Rover now has its own logo for the first time. The luxury automaker is unveiling a sleek new look as it gears up to launch its first electric SUV later this year.

Range Rover introduces its first logo

Since it launched its first vehicle in 1970, the Range Rover badge has become an iconic status symbol. You can’t miss the classic Range Rover look.

With its first EV due out later this year, the luxury automaker is preparing for a new era. JLR revealed the new Range Rover logo, a first for the luxury automaker, during an investor presentation.

The new logo is a stark contrast to the “Range Rover” badge we are accustomed to seeing, featuring a minimalist design similar to the Rolls-Royce emblem.

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JLR told Autocar that the new logo won’t replace the signature Range Rover badge at the front or rear. Instead, it will be used to complement it.

“The Range Rover Motif has been developed as a smaller symbol for where our familiar Range Rover device mark does not fit, such as on a label or as part of a repeating pattern, and within event spaces where an emblem is more appropriate,” the company said.

With Range Rover’s first electric SUV set to hit showrooms later this year, will we see it featured on the new EV? JLR confirmed in May that the Range Rover Electric now has over 61,000 clients on the waitlist.

The company claims the new EV is undergoing “the most intensive testing any Range Rover vehicle has ever endured” ahead of its big debut later this year.

According to Thomas Müller, Range Rover’s executive director of product engineering, the electric SUV is already outperforming some of its top gas-powered models.

JLR has already begun testing new EV production lines at its Solihull, UK, plant in preparation for the new Range Rover model. Next year, the luxury brand is expected to introduce the smaller Sport and Velar EV models.

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