A couple of kids wrote a science book about Tesla & EVs, by kids and for kids
A new children’s science book about Tesla and EVs, Everything Tesla: From How They Work To How Fast They Go And All The Fun In Between!, launches today, written by twin 9th graders Aiden and Eliana Miao, and targeted at kids between the ages of 8 and 13.
Aiden and Eliana are from Palo Alto, California and spent the last 4 years assembling the impressive tome, which was originally going to be 20 pages long but swelled to over 200 pages as they researched and wanted to add more to the book.
The authors say that they wanted to inspire kids to learn about science and electric cars and to care about the environment. They say that their parents’ Model 3 inspired them to think about climate change, along with wildfires and smoke days that have increasingly become a feature of California summers and autumns as climate change continues to worsen.
For their research, they read and watched a number of EV news sites and Youtube channels, including us here at Electrek (hi kids!). They pitched us over email and frankly, it was one of the more professional pitches we’ve gotten, and the book really impressed us when they sent us a copy.
Eliana says they also held meetings with professors and engineers to fact-check their writing over the course of the 4 years of work they put into this book (more than a quarter of their lives working on one book? they’re veritable George R.R. Martins).
After years of writing the book and being met with a significant amount of rejection from adults, Aiden and Eliana found an editor, Alexander Cox, and a designer, Sadie Thomas of LS Design, who helped them turn their idea into a real book.
The book is exceedingly well-realized (way beyond what we expected when we read their initial pitch email – Stanford, keep an eye out for these kids’ college application when it comes in), with full-page graphics on every page and quite a lot of information.
Everything Tesla largely focuses on Tesla and Tesla-related topics, though a lot of these points are generalizable to other electric cars, like how electric motors work or dispelling battery-related myths, or to related topics, like sections on solar panels and climate change.
The book as a whole is written in language that is accessible to young audiences, but still has a wealth of information that could probably teach some adults the basics about electric cars. The authors think this might be the first kids’ science book written by kids and for kids. Or at least, they couldn’t find any others in their own search.
While the book is not endorsed by Tesla, it does adopt a very positive view of everything related to the company. We here at Electrek also appreciate Tesla’s leadership in the EV industry, but our praise for the company and particularly its leader might have been a little more moderated than what you’ll read in the book.
Nevertheless, this is a much more impressive effort than, uh, anything I’ve ever seen a 9th grader do. Kids these days, am I right?
Everything Tesla releases today, is self-published and is available on Amazon in Kindle or hardcover versions, and at Books Inc in Palo Alto. The authors will have a book launch event at Books Inc on March 23rd at 2pm, and are excited to give an author talk next week at their old elementary school, where they attended when they started writing the book. Find out more about the book on its website at https://everythingteslabook.com.
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The bright yellow D6 XE dozer might look like your everyday medium-class dozer, but underneath that vibrant bodywork it’s hiding a highly efficient electric drive system that Cat says makes it the most advanced hybrid dozer on the market.
Operating more like an extended range EV (EREV) than a conventional hybrid, the D6 XE runs a Cat C9.3B diesel engine that operates as an electrical generator, feeding power to electric motors that drives the dozer’s tracks directly. The result is instant torque, smooth, high-precision controls, and 35% better fuel efficiency (and, as a consequence, significantly lower emissions) compared to the diesel-only D6T.
35% is big in a segment where equipment can and do regularly burn 25 gallons of red dye diesel per day, and that number only gets bigger when you factor in the oil and maintenance costs saved from ditching the conventional transmission altogether. Combined with the reduced number of moving parts and reduced metal fatigue from vibration-free running, and Cat estimates its D6 XE electric drive operators are saving over $1/hour of operation in rebuild savings, alone — that’s a game-changing number!
“(A full rebuild) can be up to roughly 60 percent of new machine price,” says Sam Meeker, marketing professional at Caterpillar, citing the need for a typical rebuild at the 10,000- to 15,000-hour mark. “So you could be getting a half-price dozer for that second life.”
Turbo encabulator
First introduced in 2018, the newly updated Cat D6 XE features a switched reluctance electric motor and generator instead of the previous, permanent magnet system used in the first-gen Caterpillar electric-drive machines. The newer drivetrain is more power-dense and efficient, and makes for a generator that doesn’t require a massive, maintenance-intensive cooling system.
“We like to run this machine at a lower RPM, not only for fuel efficiency, but then it allows us to lug up into a load,” adds Meeker, hyping up the big hybrid dozer. “So when we pull the load on, instead of the tractor lugging down, it actually increases the RPM and the power output, maintaining that consistent torque … we only make as much power as we’re going to use, and we generate less heat than previous designs.”
In a bid to encourage more operators to give their electric drive models a try, Caterpillar is offering on-demand learning resources through its online platform, catoperatortraining.com. Designed to be accessible any time and from any device, Cat’s is particularly valuable for operators, whether they’re digital natives or just learning how to navigate new technologies. The company is also partnering with global equipment rental fleets like Plantforce in the UK, which (if nothing else) is absolutely phenomenal at taking pictures of heavy equipment.
Electrek’s Take
While there are a lot of people outside the urban construction space who may scoff at environmental concerns, the quest for improved efficiency and cost reduction among commercial fleet managers knows no political ideology. Add in more restrictive noise regulations and the side benefits of improved job site safety and fewer sick days, and electric equipment is a no-brainer.
Simply put: If it’s better or cheaper, fleets will buy it. If it’s better and cheaper, they’ll buy two — and electrically driven heavy equipment assets are proving to be consistently better, in a broader scope of use cases, than diesel alone.
SOURCE: Caterpillar, via Heavy Equipment Guide; featured image by Plantforce.
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A report this morning detailed American EV automaker Rivian’s plans to lay off a portion of its current workforce as it tries to conserve cash while gearing up for the launch of its newest model, the R2, next year.
Not much backstory here, so we’ll get right into it.
A report from the Wall Street Journal this morning shared brief details of Rivian’s layoff plans, which could affect approximately 4% of the current staff. At the end of 2024, Rivian’s workforce tally sat around 15,000 people, so the reported layoff could affect as many as 600 individuals, possibly more.
Other outlets have pointed out that EV automakers like Rivian have faced a tougher market following the end of the $7,500 federal tax incentive. While that may be true to a certain extent, most of Rivian’s R1 variants didn’t qualify, unless it was a lease, and the automaker has deployed its own incentive programs.
In fact, Rivian’s Q3 2025 deliveries exceeded expectations. It remains speculative at this point until we receive an official statement from Rivian explaining the plans to lay off staff, but this could be a preemptive decision based on market forecasts.
Furthermore, Rivian is closer than ever to launching R2 in 2026, which has the makings of becoming a bestseller in the EV industry if sales match a mere portion of the hype surrounding it. The layoffs could also be a lean-down to conserve funds through the home stretch of that development process before beefing back up again in 2026 or 2027 when demand is (ideally) higher.
We really do not and will not know the reasoning behind the decision until Rivian shares more information.
We reached out to Rivian for comment and were told the automaker will have more to share this afternoon. We will update this story as new information becomes available.
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![Hyundai's new IONIQ 6 looks way better in person after its facelift [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Hyundai-IONIQ-6-facelift-US.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hyundai will reveal the refreshed electric fastback at the LA Auto Show next month. Ahead of the event, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 was caught rocking a sleek new facelift in the US.
Hyundai will reveal the IONIQ 6 facelift in November
Hyundai’s electrified streamliner is undergoing its first major refresh since it first launched in September 2022. Although the IONIQ 6 was expected to be Hyundai’s answer to the Tesla Model 3, it hasn’t quite lived up to the hype.
Last year, Hyundai sold just 12,264 IONIQ 6s in the US. That’s less than the nearly 13,000 it handed over in 2023.
The IONIQ 5, on the other hand, has remained one of the most popular EVs alongside the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Chevy Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Honda Prologue.
Like the 2025 IONIQ 5, Hyundai gave its electric fastback a facelift, a built-in NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers, and a bigger battery to extend driving range.
After launching the 2026 IONIQ 6 in South Korea in July, Hyundai will introduce the updated US model at the LA Auto Show next month.
Although we’ve seen plenty of the same web-generated images floating around, the new and improved IONIQ 6 looks way better in person.
The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 was spotted on public streets in California rocking a stylish new look ahead of its official debut.
Hyundai said it “enhanced every line and detail to make the IONIQ 6 simpler and more progressive,” after unveiling the design at the Seoul Mobility Show earlier this year.
The video from KindelAuto gives us a clear look at the redesign. Hyundai tweaked the front end, which was often the most criticized part, with a new hood and updated fascia.
In South Korea, the 2026 IONIQ 6 is now the longest-range domestically made electric vehicle, with up to 350 miles (562 km) of driving range.
We will learn prices, driving range, and other details at the LA Auto Show next month. The event starts on November 21, but the media and press day kicks off the day before on November 20, 2025. Check back soon for the full rundown.
The 2025 IONIQ 6 already has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 342 miles. With Hyundai’s fourth-gen batteries, we could see the 2026 model arrive with around 350 miles of range. It will also feature an NACS port for the first time.
Hyundai also plans to introduce the IONIQ 6 N in early 2026. The sporty model packs nearly 650 horsepower (478 kW), good for a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in just 3.2 seconds.
With the updated 2026 models arriving, Hyundai is offering some sweet deals on its current EV lineup. The 2025 IONIQ 6 is available for lease starting at $229 per month, or you can take advantage of 0% APR or a $7,500 cash bonus. Looking for something bigger? The 2025 IONIQ 5 may be an even better bet with up to $11,000 in bonus cash. Check out our links below to find Hyundai vehicles in your area.
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