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EV owners are more likely to add solar panels to their homes, according to a new US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) study – here’s why.

And conversely, owning photovoltaic panels also has a bearing on whether a homeowner buys an electric vehicle, but not as strongly.

Researchers from NREL, University of California Santa Barbara, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory examined a survey of 869 households in the San Francisco Bay Area in the NREL’s 2018 WholeTraveler Transportation Behavior Study, and the newly released 2022 Residential Energy Consumption survey, the latter of which confirmed the older survey’s findings.

NREL’s Shivam Sharda, lead author of the paper, said, “Both EVs and PVs have a complementary nature, which might play a pivotal role in energy systems resiliency, addressing concerns regarding grid stability and power management strategies.”

But the researchers assert in the abstract that electric vehicles and PV are deployed “disjointedly” due to a “lack of understanding of the behavioral interdependence in consumer preferences toward these technologies.”

More of the 2018 survey participants owned or previously owned solar panels than an EV – 9.1% vs. 6.5%. (The researchers acknowledge that solar has been around longer than EVs, and the cost of having residential solar is less than most EVs.)

They found that 25% of EV owners also owned solar, while only 8% of the non-EV owners owned solar, and Sharda said that EV owners are likely to be more incentivized to adopt solar because it’s an inexpensive, clean source of energy to charge their cars at home.

The 2018 survey also highlighted two reasons that might have prompted someone to adopt one or both technologies: being aware of EVs and solar, and being social enough to ask about them.

Sharda explained, “If you have a friend or a family member who owns a rooftop solar or an EV, you become more educated about the technology, so you know the pros and cons by talking to them. That has a significant influence on your owning EVs or PVs.”

So the study recommends that the government considers offering joint incentives for consumers to adopt both EVs and solar. Because EV owners are inclined to use solar anyway, bundled incentives might provide a push for EV owners to adopt solar sooner.

“The Electric Vehicles-Solar Photovoltaics Nexus: Driving Cross-Sectoral Adoption of Sustainable Technologies,” is published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Read more: This modular off-grid solar EV charger can be installed in just four hours

Photo: Tesla


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Tesla relaunches Model S/X in Europe after a 3-month break

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Tesla relaunches Model S/X in Europe after a 3-month break

Tesla has relaunched Model S and Model X in Europe after a 3-month break in taking orders for its two flagship vehicles on the old continent.

In June, Tesla unveiled another minor refresh of the Model S and Model X.

Considering Tesla fumbled the rollout of the previous refresh in Europe, with significantly delayed deliveries, the automaker addressed the issue this time by stopping to take orders for the Model S and Model X in Europe starting in July.

Today, Tesla reopened orders for new Model S and Model X vehicles in European markets.

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In France, the Model S starts at 109,990 € while the Model X starts at 114,990 €.

Tesla is quoting a start of deliveries in November.

Here are Tesla’s listed changes to the Model S and Model X with this mild update:

  • Up to 744 km of range (Model S Long Range)
  • Even quieter inside
  • New wheel designs + exterior styling
  • Front fascia camera for better visibility
  • Dynamic ambient lighting all around the interior
  • Smoother ride thanks to new bushings & suspension design
  • Adaptive driving beams
  • More space for 3rd row occupants & cargo in Model X

While being Tesla’s flagship vehicles, the programs have been somewhat neglected over the last 5 years, and sales have been in a steady decline.

The automaker even stopped making the vehicles for RHD markets.

Electrek’s Take

Nice to see Tesla learning from its mistakes.

For those who don’t remember, the rollout of the previous refresh was terrible. Tesla took orders for almost a year, but it waited for almost another year to start deliveries due to problems ramping up production.

Now, it appears that deliveries in Europe will occur within 6 months of the refresh and within weeks of ordering for most people.

That said, the mid-cycle refresh has been considered mild and isn’t likely to have a significant impact on sales.

I wouldn’t expect more than a few thousand Model S/X sales in Europe per year.

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‘Uber Green’ shifts to ‘Uber Electric,’ and is offering (some) drivers $4k to switch to an EV

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'Uber Green' shifts to 'Uber Electric,' and is offering (some) drivers k to switch to an EV

Uber gets it. The rideshare behemoth has observed the upward trend of EV adoption across its database of customers and drivers and is helping to support that transition. Beginning today, the “Uber Green” ride option is now called “Uber Electric,” visible to all app users worldwide. To celebrate the transition, Uber is offering discounted rides for those opting for electric vehicles, and drivers may also qualify for a $4,000 grant.

At this point, Uber is a household name in the rideshare and logistics industries. Hell, it’s even a verb at this point. You don’t get this far without innovation and foresight, something the $200 billion company has excelled at to constantly evolve and adapt.

I recall when Uber initially offered only black town cars. Now you can order an UberX, Uber XL, Uber Comfort, Uber Eats, Uber Pet, rent a car, order groceries… the list goes on. In terms of electric vehicle adoption, Uber has long shown interest in the technology and quickly understood that EVs are ideal for the gig economy that comprises its market.

We’ve seen Uber partner with several autonomous vehicle developers, many of which operate fleets of electric vehicles. In fact, we’ve covered so many partnerships between Uber and other exciting mobility companies that we can’t begin to name all of them.

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At one point, Uber was even developing a dedicated rideshare EV with defunct UK startup Arrival. The list goes on.

Today, Uber has recognized the dwindling incentives available to US drivers interested in going electric and has tweaked its rideshare offerings to promote more sustainable options.

Uber Electric
Source: Uber

Uber Green goes full-electric worldwide today

According to an email sent from Uber this morning, Uber Green has been renamed Uber Electric. Per the company, the new name “reflects record EV growth on our platform, making it easier for riders to choose zero-emissions rides.”

Uber elaborated that over 200,000 EVs are driving on its global network, and 1 in 4 of its customers say their first-ever EV ride was through the Uber app (I hope it wasn’t in the back seat of a Model Y, because that’s a rough ride).

Today’s transition builds upon Uber’s decision to make Uber Green (a mix of hybrids and EVs) fully electric in the US earlier this year. Those parameters now apply to the entire rideshare network. Pradeep Parameswaran, Global Head of Mobility at Uber, spoke:

Uber Electric is more than a new name, it represents the real progress we’ve made toward electrifying our platform globally over the past five years. Thousands of drivers are leading the charge, choosing electric and helping cities improve air quality. We’ll keep supporting drivers by removing barriers to EV adoption and working with cities to improve access to charging.

To celebrate the transition to Uber Electric, the company is offering customers 20% off (up to $8) their next EV ride when they use promo code GOELECTRIC20 (valid for 7 days).

Additionally, Uber has recognized the expired federal grant of $4,000 for used EV purchases in the US and is keeping that incentive alive in certain states to entice drivers to continue to go fully-electric. The company’s “Go Electric” grants will offer eligible Uber drivers up to $4,000 toward new and used electric vehicle purchases, but only in the following regions:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Massachussetts
  • New York City

Uber’s grant can be combined with other individual state incentives, making it easier than ever for drivers to go electric, depending on their state. Uber pointed out that US drivers nationwide can still receive $1,000 toward any new or used EV purchased through TrueCar. 

Go electric! Opt for the EV option on your next ride and use that discount code!

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Tesla recalls recent Model 3 and Model Y over battery pack defect

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Tesla recalls recent Model 3 and Model Y over battery pack defect

Tesla is recalling approximately 13,000 recent Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built earlier this year due to a battery pack defect that can result in power loss.

In August, Tesla started getting reports of power losses in new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

After reviewing 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports, the automaker identified a defect in some battery pack contactors that could potentially affect approximately 8,000 Model Ys and 5,000 Model 3s built in the US between March and August 2025.

Tesla wrote in the recall notice:

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The recall population includes certain Model Year (“MY”) 2025 Model 3 vehicles manufactured between March 8, 2025, and August 12, 2025, and MY 2026 Model Y vehicles manufactured between March 15, 2025, and August 15, 2025, that are equipped with a battery pack contactor manufactured with InTiCa solenoid.

If the battery pack contactor opens when the vehicle is in drive, it loses power and ability to apply torque, which may increase the risk of a collision – hence the safety recall.

The automaker identified Sistemas Mecatrónicos InTiCa S.A.P.I., a tier 2 supplier in Mexico, and SongChuan, a tier 1 supplier in Taiwan, as being involved in the recall.

Tesla confirmed that it is contacting all potentially affected owners and it will replace the affected contactor with “a certified contactor that does not contain InTica solenoid and that maintains coil termination connection” at no cost to owners.

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