Activists take part at a “Look Down action” rally to stop deep sea mining outside the European Parliament in Brussels on March 6, 2023. (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenzo Tribouillard | Afp | Getty Images
Norway is poised to become one of the first countries in the world to approve the controversial practice of deep-sea mining.
In a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, lawmakers in the northern European country are expected to approve the government’s proposal to open Norwegian waters for commercial-scale deep-sea mining.
The vote is expected to pass smoothly after the government’s plans received cross-party support late last year.
Advocates say removing metals and minerals from the ocean’s seabed is necessary to facilitate a global transition away from fossil fuels, adding that the practice is less environmentally damaging than land-based mining.
Critics say deep-sea mining is “extremely destructive,” while scientists warn the full environmental impacts are hard to predict.
Critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese can be found in potato-sized nodules at the bottom of the seafloor. These minerals are used for electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and solar panels.
The Environmental Justice Foundation, an international NGO, says the bottom line is that any possible benefits from deep-sea mining “do not outweigh the environmental and economic risks.”
What’s being proposed?
Norway’s proposal paves the way for companies to apply to mine for critical minerals in its national waters near the Svalbard archipelago. The area, which is part of Norway’s extended seabed shelf, is estimated to be larger than the U.K. at roughly 280,000 square kilometers (108,108 square miles).
Norway’s government does not intend to immediately start drilling for critical minerals, if the plan is approved. Instead, companies will need to submit proposals for licenses that will be voted on a case-by-case basis in parliament.
The approval of deep-sea mining would put Norway at odds with both the U.K. and the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, which have pushed for a temporary ban on environmental concerns.
ROTTERDAM, SOUTH HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS – 2022/02/08: The deep-sea creatures on board the Luciana and the mining vessel Hidden Gem seen in the background, during the demonstration.
Ocean Rebellions protest The Deep Sea Says No Why the deep sea? The deep seabed is largely unexplored, many areas have unique marine life (an estimated 10-million life forms and most are undiscovered) and many areas are important to the survival of all ocean life. Deep Sea Mining in areas like the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) (Pacific Ocean) will destroy the deep seabed and the life that depends on it, destroying corals and sponges that have taken thousands of years to grow. (Photo by Charles M. Vella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images
The Norway Environment Agency has previously criticized the government’s impact assessment of the plan, while 120 EU lawmakers wrote an open letter in November calling on the country’s parliament to reject the project.
The letter from EU lawmakers also warned about the risk that the proposal posed for marine biodiversity, the acceleration of climate change and for traditional activities, such as fisheries.
In a separate open letter calling for a pause to deep-sea mining, more than 800 marine science and policy experts across the globe warned that very little is known about deep-sea habitats and biodiversity.
They say that more robust research is necessary to better understand what’s at stake.
“The sheer importance of the ocean to our planet and people, and the risk of large-scale and permanent loss of biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem functions, necessitates a pause of all efforts to begin mining of the deep sea,” the letter says.
The World Liberty Financial website arranged on a smartphone in New York, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images
President Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial crypto project said on Monday that it raised $250 million in its second token sale, bringing the total amount of coins sold to $550 million.
WLFI, a venture backed by the first family that describes itself as a sort of crypto banking platform, launched in October, weeks before Trump’s election victory. In a document published at the time of launch, WLFI said the Trump family could take home 75% of net revenue.
In Monday’s release, WLFI said more than 85,000 participants underwent so-called know-your-customer verification to gain access to the token sale. Co-founder Zach Witkoff, son of billionaire U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, is quoted in the release as saying that “WLFI is on track to supercharge DeFi,” or decentralized finance.
In January, Tron blockchain founder Justin Sun upped his stake in WLFI tokens to $75 million. A court filing the following month showed that Sun and the SEC were exploring a resolution to the regulator’s civil fraud case against the crypto entrepreneur.
WLFI is one of several crypto projects in the Trump family that are kicking off just as the president is pushing a crypto-friendly agenda. Earlier this month, President Trump signed an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
According to a memo from the White House last week, David Sacks, the Trump administration’s AI and crypto czar, sold over $200 million worth of digital asset-related investments personally and through his firm, Craft Ventures, before starting the job. Sacks said in a podcast that he “didn’t want to even have the appearance of a conflict.”
At the end of February, the SEC declared that meme tokens are not securities. The announcement came after the president and First Lady Melania Trump launched their own meme coins in the days leading up to the inauguration.
WATCH: Trump’s bitcoin reserve leaves crypto investors disappointed
![Volkswagen just revealed the 2025 ID.4's initial pricing and trim [update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/2025-VW-ID.4.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Volkswagen of America announced the initial pricing and trim for the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 – here’s the lowdown on the latest rebate.
March 17, 2025: The 2025 VW ID.4 is already arriving on dealer lots, and VW is already offering it with a $5,000 Retail Customer Bonus across all 2025 ID.4 trims. However, the rebate is only available when paying cash or financing at a standard rate, which means it can’t be combined with VW’s 72-month 0% APR offer also available for the 2025 ID.4.
CarsDirect crunched the numbers and estimated that over a 72-month term, consumers will save “about $61 per month by choosing the 0% deal over the $5,000, which adds up to almost $4,400 over the course of the term.”
But if you want a better deal on an ID.4, then opt for a 2024 model, because you can stack 0% APR for 72 months with the $5,000 bonus.
The offers are good until the end of April.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Volkswagen ID.4 in stock. –trusted affiliate link
February 3, 2025: Volkswagen has restarted production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant with 82 kWh models rolling off the line. The 62 kWh version will follow later, and all models are set to get additional features starting midyear. Pricing and more details are coming soon.
The 82 kWh ID.4 models stick to a similar trim lineup as 2024. Both the Entry and S trims come in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, while the top-tier S Plus is exclusively all-wheel drive.
Without further ado, let’s get to it. Here’s the meat-and-potatoes pricing and trim of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4:
Entry
RWD Pro: starting at $45,095 MSRP
AWD Pro: starting at $48,995 MSRP
Exterior features
- 19-inch alloy wheels on RWD models
- 20-inch wheels on AWD models
- Gloss black grille
- LED head- and taillights
- Automatic headlights with rain-sensing wipers
- Heated windshield (AWD only)
- Heated washer nozzles
- Heated mirrors
- Black roof rails
- 3-door KESSY® with proximity unlocking
- Tow hitch (AWD only)
Interior features
- 12.9-inch Discover Pro Max infotainment display with navigation and backlit sliders
- Wireless App-Connect (AndroidAuto, CarPlay, and MirrorLink) and charging with compatible devices
- 45W USB-C charging
- Intuitive voice control
- 5.3-inch ID. Cockpit
- Volkswagen Car-Net with Plus Nav and Plus Speech packages included at no additional charge for three years
- SiriusXM® with three-month Platinum Plan trial subscription included
- Manual cloth and leatherette seats
- Heated front seats
- Dual-zone Climatronic
- 10-color ambient lighting ID. Light
- Auto-dimming interior mirror
- Stitched dashboard
- Variable cargo floor cover.
- Driver assistance features include standard IQ.DRIVE; plus Park Distance Control; Park Assist (Parking Steering Assistant); Dynamic Road Sign Display; and Light Assist (High Beam Control for headlights).
S
RWD Pro S: starting at $50,195 MSRP
AWD Pro S: starting at $54,095 MSRP
Exterior features
- The equipment set from the entry models
- 20-inch wheels
- Illuminated front and rear VW logo and light line in the front fascia
- Premium LED projector headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)
- Poor weather lights
- Mirrors with memory function
Interior features
- 30-color ambient lighting
- Perforated leatherette seats
- Door-panel stitching
- Heated steering wheel
- 12-way power seats with memory
- Ventilated front seats
- Rear-seat pass-through
- Center armrest with cupholders
- Panoramic fixed glass roof with electric sunshade
- Power tailgate with Easy Open and Close
S Plus
AWD Pro S Plus: starting at $57,295 MSRP
Exterior features
- Features build on the S models
- 21-inch wheels
- Black roof with silver roof accents, C-pillar, and roof rails
- Silver accents on front and rear bumpers
- Power-folding mirrors with signature lighting
Interior features
- Additional features include heated rear seats
- Three-zone Climatronic
- Harman Kardon premium audio with 14 total speakers including subwoofer
- Area View (Overhead View Camera)
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Volkswagen ID.4 in stock.–trusted affiliate link
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![Kia's first electric hatch actually looks pretty cool in real life [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Kia-EV4-first-electric-hatch.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Is the hatchback finally coming back? Kia’s first electric hatch, the EV4, looks like the one we’ve been waiting for. It almost looks more like a low-riding crossover on the road, but it could be a cheaper option. Check it out for yourself in the video below.
Kia’s first electric hatch is almost here
We finally got our first look at the EV4 during Kia’s 2025 EV Day last month. Four models, two sedans and two hatchbacks, were showcased.
Both will kick off new segments in Kia’s rapidly expanding EV lineup. The EV4 is part of Kia’s new mass-market electric car lineup, with prices starting at $30,000 and even lower in some markets.
After opening orders for the EV4 sedan in Korea last week, the hatchback version is expected to arrive later this year. The EV4 hatch was recently spotted driving on the road for the first time in Korea, giving us our best look at its bigger backside.
You can immediately see this is not your average Ford Focus or VW Golf. In Kia’s words, the “EV4 introduces a new typology” for sedans and hatchbacks. And that it does.
The video from ShortsCar shows the EV4 hatch from all angles as it drives by on a public street. It looks about the same as the sedan from the front, but you can’t miss the extended backside.
While the sedan has more of a sports car-like back end, the hatch almost looks like a mini crossover, and not in a bad way.
The EV4 sedan starts at about $29,000 (41.92 million won) in Korea. Although the sedan is built at Kia’s Autoland Gwangmyeong EVO Plant in Korea, the hatch will be built in Slovakia, as it’s primarily aimed at Europe.
Kia plans to begin building hatchback models in the second half of the year. The sedan model will also launch in Europe later this year. It will be offered with two battery options, 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, for up to 630 km (391 miles) WLTP range. The hatchback is rated with up to 590 km (366 miles) range by WLTP standards.
For those in the US, don’t worry. Kia confirmed that the EV4 sedan will launch in the US. However, no specific date has been set. When it arrives, it’s expected to be among the most affordable EV options at around $35,000 to $40,000.
The hatchback will start at around 37,000 euros ($40,000) in Europe. Sorry to disappoint anyone, but it’s not expected to arrive in the US.
Would you buy the electric hatch if it was sold in the US? I actually like the look. It reminds me of a smaller, low-riding EV6. Let us know what you think of it in the comments below.
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