Connect with us

Published

on

The Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm, in waters off the coast of Wales. The U.K. is home to a mature offshore wind sector.

Ben Birchall | PA Images | Getty Images

Wind power was Britain’s biggest source of electricity in the first quarter of 2023, overtaking natural gas and highlighting the increasingly important role renewables are set to play in the years ahead.

According to researchers at Imperial College London, wind turbines provided 32.4% of Britain’s electricity in the first three months of the year. Gas, a fossil fuel, was responsible for 31.7% of the electricity fuel mix.

The results were made public prior to the publication of Drax Electric Insights, an independent report put together by a team at Imperial.

In a statement Wednesday Drax, an energy firm, said it was the first time wind had “provided the largest share of power in any quarter in the history of the country’s electricity grid.”

Other sources in the mix included:

  • Imports (12.6%)
  • Nuclear (12.5%)
  • Biomass (5.7%)
  • Solar (2.3%)
  • Hydro (1.5%)
  • Coal (1.3%)

In its statement, Drax said wind-based output was 3% higher compared to the first quarter of 2022. Gas, by contrast, declined by 5%.

Wind turbines, according to the analysis, produced 24 terawatt hours of electricity. This, Wednesday’s announcement said, would be enough to charge over 300 million Tesla Model Ys.

“The renewable power revolution has transformed how Britain gets its electricity, making our power grid cleaner and greener,” Imperial College London’s Iain Staffell, lead author of Drax Electric Insights series, said.

“There are still many hurdles to reaching a completely fossil fuel-free grid, but wind out supplying gas for the first time is a genuine milestone event,” he went on to state.

Read more about energy from CNBC Pro

The U.K. is home to a mature offshore wind sector that looks set to expand in the coming years, with authorities aiming for as much as 50 gigawatts of capacity by 2030.

Major offshore wind farms include Hornsea 2, a 165-turbine facility that’s been described by Danish energy firm Orsted as the “world’s biggest offshore wind farm.”

Hornsea 2, which is now fully operational, has a capacity of more than 1.3 gigawatts, but other projects off the U.K.’s coast are set to be even bigger.

Situated in waters off northeast England, in the North Sea, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm will have a total capacity of 3.6 GW once fully up and running.

Development of the project is taking place in three phases, with those behind it saying it will be able to power 6 million U.K. homes. A fourth phase of the wind farm, known as Dogger Bank D, has also been proposed.

Continue Reading

Environment

New Tesla Model Y vs Old Model Y – which do you prefer?

Published

on

By

New Tesla Model Y vs Old Model Y - which do you prefer?

Now that the new Tesla Model Y Juniper refresh has been fully unveiled and we know all the details, which one do you prefer: the new one or the old Model Y?

We are curious to get your opinion on the new Model Y design. Opinions appear divided as some see the update with the lightbars as played out, while others appreciate the more aggressive look.

What do you think?

Here are comparison images of the new and old Model Y:

Here are also the updated specs and features, but these are objectively almost entirely positive other than the lack of gear shift stalk, maybe, so the poll is obviously more about the design changes:

Feature Model Y New Model Y
Starting Price After Est. Savings $31,490 Available Now $46,490 Available Starting March
Trims Long Range RWD Long Range AWD Performance AWD Launch Series Long Range AWD
Range 277-337 miles (EPA est.) 303-320 miles (est.)
Seating First row: power recline and heated Second row: manual fold and heated First row: power recline, heated and ventilated Second row: power two-way folding and heated
Displays 15.4″ front-row touchscreen 15.4″ front-row touchscreen 8″ second-row touchscreen
Ride Comfort First-generation suspension First-generation noise reduction hardware Second-generation suspension Second-generation noise reduction hardware
Cameras 7 exterior cameras 8 exterior cameras (includes a new front-facing camera)
Audio Long Range RWD: 7 speakers Long Range AWD: 13 speakers, 1 subwoofer Performance AWD: 13 speakers, 1 subwoofer Launch Series Long Range AWD: 15 speakers, 1 subwoofer
Connectivity First-generation hardware Second-generation hardware
Trunk Power open Hands-free power open on approach
Interior Footwell and door pocket ambient lighting Wooden detailing with black interior Footwell and door pocket ambient lighting Wrap-around ambient lighting Aluminum detailing and premium textiles
Climate Tinted and laminated safety glass Power-actuated first-row air vents Manual second-row air vents Tinted and laminated safety glass with metallic infrared reflective coating Power-actuated first- and second-row air vents

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

BYD tops Mercedes, VW in car sales revenue in China despite average prices under $17,000

Published

on

By

BYD tops Mercedes, VW in car sales revenue in China despite average prices under ,000

BYD’s record-breaking year is paying dividends. Despite its vehicles selling for less than $17,000 on average, BYD topped Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, ranking first in car sales revenue in China last year. After taking the market by storm in 2024, the world’s largest EV maker aims for even more growth this year.

BYD ranked first in car sales revenue in China in 2024

BYD capped off an impressive run in 2024, selling over 500,000 vehicles for its third straight month in December. The year-end sales push bumped BYD’s total passenger car sales to over 4.25 million passenger vehicles last year, up 41% from about 3 million in 2023.

After topping Volkswagen to become China’s largest car maker in 2023, BYD became the country’s largest auto group in October 2024, surpassing SAIC. SAIC has joint ventures with Volkswagen and GM.

Not only is BYD selling more cars than its overseas rivals, it’s also making more on vehicle sales. According to China’s Sina Finance (via CarNewsChina), BYD ranked first among automakers in China in car sales revenue last year.

BYD sold 3.49 million vehicles in China, generating 420.7 billion yuan, or around $58 billion. Mercedes-Benz was second, with 710,000 cars sold for 307.9 billion ($42.5 billion) in revenue.

BYD-first-sales-revenue
BYD Dolphin (left) and Atto 3 (right) Source: BYD

Volkswagen placed third with 2.1 million vehicles sold in 2024 and 303.2 billion yuan ($41.9 billion) in sales revenue.

The most interesting part is that BYD’s average selling price (ASP) per vehicle was just $16,700 (121,000 yuan), compared to Mercedes-Benz’s $59,500 (430,000 yuan) and Volkswagen’s $19,700 (143,000 yuan).

Ranking Automaker Average Vehicle Selling Price
(*USD)
Vehicle Sales Revenue
(*USD)
1 BYD $16,700 $58.1 billion
2 Mercedes-Benz $59,500 $42.5 billion
3 Volkswagen $19,700 $41.9 billion
4 Toyota $23,300 $36.7 billion
5 BMW $46,900 $32.7 billion
6 Tesla $33,800 $22.3 billion
7 Aito $55,500 $21.4 billion
8 Li Auto $42,000 $21.1 billion
9 Honda $20,800 $17.8 billion
10 Geely $12,700 $13.2 billion
Top ten automakers by car sales revenue in China for 2024 (Source: CarNewsChina/ Sina Finance)

BYD beat out Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, and Tesla even with a significantly lower average selling price.

Electrek’s Take

After BYD stopped making fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has become a force in the auto market. With over 1.76 million EVs sold in 2024, BYD ranked second, slightly behind Tesla, which delivered over 1.78 million vehicles.

Despite this, BYD was the “world’s top EV maker,” beating out Tesla with about 4,500 electric cars produced in 2024.

With China becoming saturated with domestic rivals, BYD is aggressively expanding overseas to drive growth in 2025. Last year, it sold more EVs in Japan than Toyota, and it was BYD’s first full sales year in the country.

BYD was Singapore’s best-selling car brand last year, the first Chinese automaker to achieve this feat. With plans to rapidly expand in Europe, Central and South America, and other key regions, BYD is poised to see even more growth in 2025.

Although it’s best known for low-cost electric cars, like the Seagull, which starts at under $10,000 in China, BYD is quickly expanding its lineup with new pickup trucks, smart SUVs, off-road models, and electric supercars rolling out.

Earlier this month, it launched the world’s largest car carrier, which will ship up to 9,200 vehicles overseas as BYD prepares for another big year in 2025.

Source: CarNewsChina, Sina Finance

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

How Washington is turning emissions taxes into cheaper electric bicycles

Published

on

By

How Washington is turning emissions taxes into cheaper electric bicycles

Electric bicycle incentive programs have grown considerably over the last few years, and Washington State is one of the most recent to lay the groundwork for yet another program designed to reduce the cost of this alternative transportation for lower-income commuters. But the state is also going about it in a unique way, by using funding raised from its emissions taxes.

That’s right, a new $5 million budget earmarked for electric bicycle rebates in the state is being funded by the state’s emissions taxes as part of the Climate Commitment Act, which received a groundswell of support among voters in the state.

The rebates will range from $300 for those making more than 80% of the area median income to up to $1,200 for lower-income residents.

Applications will take place via a still-in-development online portal system, and the rebates will be honored at the register, meaning riders won’t have to fork over the entire amount and then wait for a reimbursement check or tax rebate.

Unlike other e-bike incentive programs we’ve seen, such as the infamous California state program that was beset with issues from the start, the Washington State e-bike incentives won’t be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, lucky state residents will be randomly selected from the pool of entrants in a lottery-style drawing. However, many of the other details of the program are still being hashed out ahead of final implementation.

E-bike incentive programs like this one have been gaining traction nationwide as policymakers recognize the role electric bicycles can play in expanding transportation access. These programs often specifically target lower-income individuals who may not have the upfront cash to invest in an e-bike, despite the long-term savings they offer.

For many people, car ownership is an expensive burden, with costs for gas, insurance, and maintenance quickly adding up. E-bikes provide a cost-effective alternative, allowing people to commute to work, run errands, and access essential services without the financial strain of owning a car.

Beyond affordability, these programs also help address transportation equity and environmental concerns. Many lower-income neighborhoods have limited public transit options, making daily travel difficult for those without a car.

E-bikes can bridge that gap, providing a reliable and efficient mode of transportation that extends the reach of bus and train networks. Shifting more trips from cars to e-bikes reduces traffic congestion and carbon emissions, contributing to cleaner air and more livable cities.

via: Seattle Bike Blog

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending