Big Oil’s favorite climate solution is ‘like trying to push water uphill,’ climate chief says

Published

1 year ago

February 28, 2024

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This photograph taken on February 27, 2024, shows the the Heidelberg Materials cement plant in Antoing, during a press visit. The cement plant intends to equip it’s kiln with a carbon capture facility, which will enable the Antoing plant to achieve a net-zero carbon balance.

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LONDON — The head of the world’s climate science authority has compared the rollout of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to “trying to push water uphill,” questioning a technology that the oil and gas industry has long touted as integral to net-zero emission plans.

Jim Skea, the head of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warned on Tuesday that scaling up carbon capture still faces significant challenges.

CCS refers to a suite of technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide, typically from high-emitting activities such as power generation or industrial facilities that use fossil fuels or biomass for fuel.

The captured carbon dioxide, which can also be captured directly from the atmosphere, is then compressed and transported via pipeline, ship, rail or truck to be used in a range of applications, or permanently stored underground.

Proponents believe CCS can play an important and diverse role in meeting global energy and climate goals, while some researchers, campaigners and environmental advocacy groups argue that these technologies are not a solution.

“One of the challenges is, if you take things like solar energy, it is modular and small scale, and you can roll it through the system more quickly. Once you get past the threshold, it happens by itself,” Skea said.

“CCS is much more like trying to push water uphill to get it into technological systems, it is more challenging.”

Skea’s comments came during the first day of International Energy Week, formerly known as International Petroleum Week — a three-day global energy conference in London that convenes senior industry figures.

Jim Skea , chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) speaks during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Expo City Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec. 4, 2023.

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There is still some “engineering problem-solving” to be done, Skea said, underlining the point that carbon capture is likely to be just one part of decarbonization plans.

“The big challenges, for me, are around the business models and the policy framework within which it takes place. If we have the will to address these issues, then I see CCS as having a role to play. It is not the answer to everything, but it is certainly part of the picture,” Skea said.

Alongside the net-zero strategies of some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, CCS features prominently in the climate plans of many world governments.

Late last year, nearly 200 countries at the COP28 climate conference in the United Arab Emirates agreed to “transition away” from fossil fuels, in a text that the host nation hailed as the “UAE Consensus.”

Some have expressed concern that the deal placed carbon capture alongside renewables as technologies that can deliver a shift away from fossil fuels.

Shell calls for more CCS investment

Asked by CNBC about the challenges facing carbon capture as a climate solution, Shell Chief Economist Mallika Ishwaran said Tuesday that now is the time to “reinvigorate” CCS investment.

“I think it is, to be fair, something that has taken a while to get off the ground. We have been hearing about CCS for decades now, and we don’t see that much turning into something commercial,” Ishwaran told participants at the International Energy Week conference.

Shell’s Ishwaran said carbon capture as a technology has no intrinsic value in energy systems, but its worth is derived from its ability to remove something harmful from the atmosphere.

“I think this is the moment where you have to push on with all the technologies that are required to achieve net zero. And I would put CCS in that because there are going to be uses and cases where you need to have some amount of fossil fuels and you need to somehow find a way of abating those emissions,” she added.

A Shell logo displayed on a sign at a gas station in Nakuru, Kenya.

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The International Energy Agency has previously called for the oil and gas industry to let go of the “illusion” that carbon capture is a solution to climate change, pushing instead for energy majors to ramp up investments in clean energy.

In a report released on Nov. 23, the IEA said the oil and gas industry faced a “moment of truth” where producers need to choose between contributing to a deepening climate crisis and shifting to clean energy. OPEC Secretary-General Haitham al-Ghais sought to push back at the IEA’s comments, saying the report “unjustly vilifies” the oil and gas industry.

Environment

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

Published

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

Published

2 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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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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