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Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Armin Laschet visit the construction site of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, August 13, 2021.
Patrick Pleul | Reuters

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the fundamental good the electric car maker does will be measured in the acceleration of the world to sustainable energy.

Tesla’s role in the auto industry’s move to electrification is undeniable. Many major automakers are now investing billions in EV and battery manufacturing, and consumer interest in EVs continues to grow. While a Pew Research Center survey this summer found only 7% of U.S. adults currently had an electric or hybrid vehicle, 39% said they were considering an electric vehicle to be the next car they bought. 

“One of the many things he did is he pushed the industry toward taking EV seriously,” former Ford CEO Mark Fields said of Musk.

Tesla didn’t surpass 1% share of new car sales until 2018, but during the first half of 2021, Tesla’s share of the all-electric segment of the auto market stood at about two-thirds.

“Profitability as a pure EV maker is an accomplishment in and of itself,” said Driss Lembachar, manager of transportation and infrastructure research at Morningstar’s Sustainalytics.

Tesla‘s stock price, now near-$900, and its rise to a near-$1 trillion company, shows that investors have been rewarded for sticking with a company that five years ago traded under $50 amid constant reporting on financial struggles.

But for ESG analysts including Lembachar, “There is some room for improvement.”

Beyond Tesla earnings and sales

As Tesla gets set to report its latest earnings on Wednesday and demand for its EVs show continued growth, its balance sheet becomes less volatile, and it ramps up manufacturing around the globe — including operations in Europe and China — its success is also an indication that Tesla has passed beyond its roots as a California start-up. It’s becoming a mature automaker. That is one reason ESG experts are watching closely to see how Musk’s company evolves in relation to investor concerns about environmental, social and governance issues.

Yana Kakar, global managing partner emeritus at Dalberg, said when the ESG debate is boiled down to a choice between whether the product a company produces is good, such as a Tesla EV, or the way it produces the product is good, that is a mistake.

“That’s a false dichotomy,” she said. “There is no necessary tradeoff. It is not a zero-sum game.”

How a company produces its products can be a reflection of the same values in the products it creates, and “that is entirely achievable,” Kakar said. 

This debate over Tesla has a parallel to the rise of Silicon Valley companies that are “revolutionizing” industries and, as a result, have to keep their focus on that primary goal and not ESG.

“That attitude has been particularly prevalent in Silicon Valley,” said Jaakko Kooroshy, head of sustainable investment research at FTSE Russell. “But investors have come around to the view that a company can continue ‘saving the world’ and also have decent sustainability disclosures, and those disclosures do matter in the context of the company trying to save the world.” He added, “The line from Tesla for a very long time was ‘we are busy here saving the world so who cares about our emissions disclosures and corporate governance mechanisms.”

Tesla shareholders are pressing company on ESG

The recent Tesla annual shareholder meeting showed how investor pressure is being applied to the company, with a measure for diversity, equity and inclusion reporting approved by shareholders over management objections. The vote came shortly after a legal case in which a former Tesla contract worker sued over a hostile work environment and was awarded $137 million.

ESG experts say it is a sign that Tesla shareholders are making their voices heard, but it will be another year before ESG experts and shareholders can assess any changes made by Tesla in response to the shareholder measure. Shareholder measures are non-binding, and though corporate management often enacts changes in response to shareholder wins, it is not always with the scope or comprehensiveness that shareholders expected.

To date, in spite of all of the “good” the company is doing related to climate change, Tesla has not had the best ESG track record.

Paul Tudor Jones’ ESG firm JUST Capital ranks Tesla among the bottom 10% of all companies on ESG — its ESG methodology is weighted more heavily to broad social issues than climate specifically.

FTSE Russell has Tesla ranked last among carmakers globally on ESG issues.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on its ESG philosophy.

Environment and climate

ESG rating agencies, in the early days of the industry, don’t yet agree on how to assess Tesla even on the “E” of environment with which it is synonymous.

Lembachar said on the environmental pillar in ESG, “They are one of the best … it goes without saying they produce only cars without emissions, and they have been credited for that.”

But in 2018, FTSE Russell gave Tesla a “zero” on environment because even though its revenue sources are green and its cars are non-emitting, the company didn’t disclose its own operational emissions.

Historically, Tesla did not provide transparency in terms of reporting its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions, water use, or waste management. But Tesla has improved as investors pressed for more information and it has started publishing more corporate disclosures in recent years, said Kooroshy, which has led to an improvement in Tesla’s environmental ranking in the FTSE Russell ESG analysis.

How Tesla deals with the waste it generates and its water usage, particularly as it is starting to scale around the world and provide millions of vehicles, does matter, he said. There are many ways to produce EVs, some cleaner and some more problematic, and supply chains and sourcing of raw materials such as cobalt, which goes into batteries, and human rights and labor issues in regions where minerals are sourced, need to be considered by investors as risk factors.

“What is clear is that Tesla has made some improvements, but compared to many of its peers in the auto industry, its environmental reporting is still fairly rudimentary,” Kooroshy said. “They are conscious of, and made commitments to disclose more data points in future, and as they do, when they do, we will see it reflected in those ratings.” 

Labor

On balance, social and governance issues remain the major hurdles for Tesla. MCSI places Tesla above average in its rankings, but not as an ESG leader.

“If you look at labor management or product safety quality, we see some issues there,” said Arne Klug, vice president of ESG research at MSCI. “We couldn’t say that the company’s programs, in terms of labor management, or product safety, quality, are really aligned with its growth strategy based on our assessment.”

In March, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Tesla violated federal labor laws while United Auto Workers and other unions tried to organize at its original plant in Fremont, California. The NLRB also found Tesla guilty of “coercively interrogating” three employees over unionizing activities, illegally firing another and disciplining another.

For JUST Capital, worker issues are one of the primary reasons Tesla gets “tripped” up in its rankings, Whittaker said. How a company supports local communities, what is it doing on diversity, and what it is doing on fair pay and worker issues, are all issues that JUST weighs more heavily than climate alone in its overall ESG rankings because Whittaker said, “the public weighs them highly.”

The labor issues will pose a material risk to Tesla as it expands around the world, Lembachar said, as they do for any company with global operations where a confrontation with a labor force at one site can increase the risk of more general strikes.

“Workforce issues can have more of an effect now that the company is getting out of this start-up stage and expanding around the world and in Europe, where there is a really strong union tradition,” he said. “The company must be prepared for labor-related risks and, according to us, must have stronger labor-related programs prepared to tackle issues related to the expansion of its workforce engine around the world.”

Autopilot as an ESG issue

Tesla is facing investigations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding Autopilot, the automated driving technology currently in Tesla’s Models 3, S, X and Y in 2021.

While it may at first not seem obvious how self-driving is an ESG issue, it in fact falls within traditional categories that date all the way back to the days of Ralph Nader and “unsafe at any speed”: product safety and passenger safety.

Lembachar said Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) is something his firm receives a lot of questions about as an ESG scoring metric, but he says it is simple: “Anything related to passenger safety is product governance and falls under the ‘Social’ pillar. Everything related to recalls, accidents, defects, responsibility of company is product governance.”

He was quick to point out that if self-driving works it may ultimately cut down on accidents by as much as 90%, and Tesla is potentially far ahead of competitors with the technology. But in a period of time when it is being scrutinized as the cause of accidents and fatalities, self-driving remains a product governance negative, and that metric has a heavy weighting for the auto industry. That hits other companies, too, such as GM after its recent recall on electric cars due to battery fire risk. And Lembacher said these issues have a material cost: for GM, more than $1 billion in the case of the recalls. “That is a very material issue,” he said.

Corporate governance and Tesla’ ESG future

Even though tweets may seem ephemeral, Musk’s confrontation with the Securities and Exchange Commission over controversial tweets can negatively impact the company’s corporate governance score.

“In terms of corporate governance, we see the confrontation between Musk and the SEC as problematic,” Lembacher said. “Tweets are problematic when they change the share price and that can be harmful for shareholders … and that’s why the SEC has been flagging it. There is a risk that the regulator at some point will sanction the company and since we are running a risk rating product, we have to flag this issue.”

Questions also remain about the company’s acquisition of SolarCity, which was controlled by Musk’s cousins (a legal case is ongoing brought by shareholders).

The corporate governance issues raise a bigger question about Musk’s impact on ESG ratings.

“It is not enough to say the company is being run by a ‘genius’ and as a result, ‘please don’t ask us too many questions,” Kooroshy said. “There is no doubt about the achievements of this company, particularly about accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. This is stuff for the history books, but at the end of the day, for investors trying to understand how much of a portfolio to invest in this company … not enough, he said. “It’s still not a free pass. … Making these disclosures doesn’t stop them from innovating.”

Kakar said Tesla’s mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy, and its focus on that as an argument in its defense, is implicitly a relative statement comparing itself to other automakers, and that is where the false tradeoff comes in. “It is terrific they are making EVs … but relative to the next guy is not the important point, and doesn’t obfuscate responsibility.” 

Many ESG investors and ESG investment products today accentuate the “E” and climate specifically. “That’s where the action is at and investors have seen it as a good story, and if you think about environmental performance and climate as the big opportunities, you see Tesla as a big solution and will be attracted to it,” Whittaker said.

But as any company grows in scope and scale, the range of issues they have to contend with changes and investors will ask more about the “how” behind the growing business.

“That’s what is going to happen with Tesla as people become more aware of the social risk of how it operates,” Whittaker said. “It is bound to become more of an issue for investors and more of an operational risk for the company if it doesn’t perform well … more prominent in the overall calculus of company competitiveness and success.”

“That is not to say it won’t do well,” he added. “Musk is an incredible entrepreneur and business leader and I am sure if it becomes an issue he thinks will affect the value of the company or brand, he will respond accordingly. I expect it will become more of an issue for the management team to have to deal with.”

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China’s first large-scale sodium-ion battery charges to 90% in 12 minutes

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May 17, 2024

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China's first large-scale sodium-ion battery charges to 90% in 12 minutes

China sodium-ion
Photo: China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage

China’s first major sodium-ion battery energy storage station is now online, according to state-owned utility China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage.

The Fulin Sodium-ion Battery Energy Storage Station entered operation on May 11 in Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in southern China. Its initial storage capacity is said to be 10 megawatt hours (MWh). Once fully developed, the Station is expected to reach a total capacity of 100 MWh.

The state utility says the 10 MWh sodium-ion battery energy storage station uses 210 Ah sodium-ion battery cells that charge to 90% in a mindblowing 12 minutes. The system comprises 22,000 cells.

Once the project reaches 100 MWh, it could release 73,000 MWh of clean energy each year. That’s enough to power 35,000 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50,000 tonnes annually.

In an interview with China Central Television, Gao Like, a manager at the Guangxi branch of China Southern Power Grid, said that the energy conversion efficiency of its sodium-ion battery energy storage system exceeds 92%. It’s comparable to the efficiency of common lithium-ion battery storage systems, at 85-95%.

Chen Man, a senior engineer at China Southern Power Grid, said [via the South China Morning Post] that once sodium-ion battery energy storage enters the stage of large-scale development, its cost can be reduced by 20-30%. He continued:

This can be achieved through further improvements in the sodium-ion battery structure, manufacturing process, material utilization, and cycle life, thus lowering the energy storage cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity.

Large-scale sodium-ion batteries are gaining momentum due to their lower cost and abundance of raw materials compared to lithium-ion batteries. The challenges with sodium-ion batteries have been lower energy density and shorter lifespans that can limit efficiency and long-term performance in large-scale applications.

Read more: A new sodium-ion battery breakthrough means they may one day power EVs

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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – ad*

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You can now lease a Rivian R1T for cheaper than the Nissan Titan, starting at $559/month

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May 17, 2024

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You can now lease a Rivian R1T for cheaper than the Nissan Titan, starting at 9/month

Rivian-R1T-lease-cheaper

If you’ve been eyeing a new Rivian R1T, now may be the time to start shopping. Rivian is offering R1T lease rates as low as $559 per month, which is even cheaper than the Nissan Titan.

After introducing leasing for the R1T last November, Rivian is already offering some massive savings opportunities.

Rivian is offering R1T lease configurations for as low as $559 per month. That’s for a new 2024 Rivian R1T Standard Adventure Package and includes $7,500 in lease cash.

The offer is for a 36-month lease with 30,000 total miles with $7,454 due at signing. That amounts to $766 per month. Total vehicle pricing totals $71,700, including Dual Motor AWD, 21″ Wheels, LA Silver Paint, Black Mountain interior, and a $1,800 destination fee.

Although the Nissan Titan’s MSRP is about $24,000 cheaper, the Rivian R1T is still the better lease deal.

Nissan has the 2024 Titan listed at $659 for 36 months. That’s with $5,949 due at signing, according to online research firm CarsDirect. The offer is based on an MSRP of $52,380 for the SV 4×2 Crew Cab model and 10,000 miles a year, which amounts to $824 a month.

Rivian-R1T-lease-cheaper
Rivian R1T (left) and R1S (right) (Source: Rivian)

Rivian R1T is not the only EV lease getting cheaper

The difference maker is the incentives. We’ve seen it with other models like the Hyundai IONIQ6/5 and Kona Electric.

Kia is also offering up to $12,000 off 2024 EV6 and EV9 models with massive stackable incentives.

GM cut prices on its Blazer EV, while deliveries of the new Equinox EV are now underway. The Equinox EV (2LT) currently starts at $43,295, but the $34,995 (1LT) version will be available later this year. With the $7,500 credit, the Equinox EV can be bought for as little as $35,795.

Rival Ford also slashed prices on the Mach-E by 17% earlier this year, driving triple-digit volume growth. Meanwhile, Ford has introduced several incentives for the F-150 Lightning as it looks to keep its title of top-selling EV pickup in the US.

With up to 410 miles range, an 83.9″ long extendable tailgate, up to 11,000 lbs towing, and a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3 seconds, the R1T is built to upgrade your next adventure.

Rivian-R1T-lease-cheaper
Rivian R1T (left) and R1S (right) (Source: Rivian)

Rivian added R1S leasing options in January. The Rivian R1S can be leased for as little as $639 per month. That’s also for 36 months (30,000 miles total), with $8,534 due at signing.

Rivian’s R1S electric SUV was the seventh best-selling EV in the US last year, topping the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Model X, as demand for large electric SUVs continues to grow.

If you’re ready to see what Rivian has to offer at some of the lowest prices so far, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to view deals on the Rivian R1S and R1T in your area.

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Save up to $400 on Jackery’s new Explorer 1000 v2 power station starting from $679, Greenworks tools 50% off, and more deals

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May 17, 2024

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Save up to 0 on Jackery's new Explorer 1000 v2 power station starting from 9, Greenworks tools 50% off, and more deals

Today’s Green Deals are ones of maximum savings on old and new devices alike, headlined by the launch of the pre-order discount on Jackery’s new Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station for $679. It is joined by an early Memorial Day sale that is taking up to 50% off Greenworks tools, including chainsaws, mowers, blowers, trimmers, pressure washers, and more – starting from $97. There’s also a double one-day sale on the NIU KQi3 Pro Electric Kick Scooter for $600 and the GoTrax FLEX VOYAGER Electric Scooter at $370. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals that are still alive and well.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Jackery’s new Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station now available for pre-order at $679

Jackery has launched an early bird pre-order deal on its new Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station for $679 shipped, after using the on-page code E1000V2 at checkout for $120 off. This is the very first opportunity to save on this newly upgraded power station before it begins shipping out next month, giving you until May 31 to lock down your very own ahead of summer. Its predecessor, the standard Explorer 1000, has regularly been discounted between $640 and $650 during most major sales we’ve seen since the new year began, meaning for the same general price you’ll be able to get this updated model instead of settling for its older version.

The new Explorer 1000 v2 arrives upgraded from its standard NMC lithium battery to a LiFePO4 battery for greater efficiency and better operations at lower levels of charge. It’s been given a slight bump up from a 1,002Wh capacity to a 1,070Wh of capacity, with its power output being raised as well from 1,000W to 1,500W. Charging times are also more significantly improved, with what used to take 7.5 hours through a 180W max solar input now only taking 3 hours with a 600W solar input or 1.6 hours via a wall outlet (as well as 12-hour charging through a car port). It features the next generation of Chargeshield 2.0 that provides a whopping 62 forms of all-round protection, so don’t worry about accidental surges from storms, sudden outages, etc. It also has seven output ports for your charging needs: three ACs, two USB-Cs, one USB-A, and one car port.

And if you were just thinking to yourself, “I wish there was a way to grab this model with a solar panel,” you’re in luck – cause Jackery also is giving you the first chance to save on the Explorer 1000 v2 Solar Generator bundle for $899 shipped, down from $1,299, after using the on-page code SG1000V2 at checkout for $400 off. The regular Explorer 1000’s bundle gives you two 100W solar panels (whereas the new Explorer 1000 v2 bundle simplifies it into one 200W panel) and is currently marked down to $1,099, meaning this pre-order deal gives you far more for even less – but keep in mind it also only lasts until May 31, so don’t dawdle too long on making a decision.

As part of its early Memorial Day sales, Amazon is taking up to 50% off a large collection of Greenworks mowers, blowers, trimmers, pressure washers, chainsaws, pole saws, bundles, and more. A standout amongst the bunch is the 24V 6-inch Cordless Electric Mini Chainsaw for $99.97 shipped. Regularly fetching $160, this tool has only seen three discounts since the start of the new year, with the first two keeping at $136, while last month we saw it fall to the $100 low. Today’s deal is a slightly bigger 38% markdown off the going rate that lands it at a new all-time low with only a few cents of difference. We’ve also curated a list of our other top picks in this sale below.

This 6-inch mini chainsaw is an ideal addition for travelers and homeowners alike, equipped with a brushless motor and 2.0Ah battery that is able to make up to 100 cuts on a single charge and fully recharges in up to an hour. Plus, as is common with the brand, the battery can be interchanged with over 125 other devices and tools within the Greenworks ecosystem for more convenient power needs. Its compact design allows it to better fit in tight spaces than any standard chainsaw and it lessens arm fatigue at just 3 pounds. And with its multiple, built-in safety features, like the anti-splash baffle or the safety lock, you’re ensured a much more controlled experience whether it’s for garden or tree pruning, home DIY projects, cutting up firewood, or more.

Other notable Greenworks Memorial Day discounts:

Notable Greenworks Memorial Day bundle discounts:

NIU KQi3 Pro Foldable Electric Kick Scooter hits $600 for today only

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the NIU KQi3 Pro Foldable Electric Kick Scooter for $599.99 shipped. Usually fetching $799, this model has seen very few discounts since the new year began, with its successor, the KQi3 Max often receiving discounts over it. We’ve seen it go for as low as $599 in the past, meaning today’s deal gives you the second-lowest price we have tracked at just $1 above the all-time low from Black Friday sales. Regardless, it’s still a great opportunity to snag this commuting option at its lowest prices – but don’t forget, the deal only lasts until the end of the day.

The NIU KQi3 Pro offers an affordable, longer-than-normal-commuting solution of 31 miles on a single charge at 20 MPH top speeds, matching or coming near many popular e-bike models that go for more. It sports a 350W rear drive motor and a 48V battery that can handle 20% inclines together, as well as wider 21-inch handlebars and 9.5-inch rubber pneumatic tires. Its triple braking system gives you superior stopping power, with braking lights on its backside and a bright Halo headlight for evening or night time cruises, ensuring a safer journey. You’ll also get complete smart controls through the NIU app, letting you monitor or adjust settings, but more importantly it allows for the scooter to be locked for added security. You can also find the upgraded KQi3 Max model on sale as well for $750, down from $1,000.

As a cheaper option for those with a shorter travel distance or perhaps for your teens to start off with, Best Buy is also offering a one-day discount on the GoTrax FLEX VOYAGER Electric Scooter for $370, down from $600. You’re looking at a much more simplified sit-down option here, with a 15.5 MPH top speed for up to 19 miles on a single charge with its 350W motor and 36V battery. Its cushioned seat, working alongside the 14-inch shock-absorbing pneumatic tires and its rear suspension, will ensure a much smoother ride as opposed to other basic standing models. You’ll also get an integrated storage basket for errand running – or perhaps for your kids to ride to school or to a friend’s house.

Spring e-bike deals!

Hover-1 multi-color Instinct Electric Bike parked with kickstand with NYC skyline in background within post for Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station

Other new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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