The Hague, Netherlands’ third-largest city, has passed a local ordinance banning fossil fuel advertisements and ads for other highly-polluting services in the city, becoming the first city in the world to do so.
The ban encompasses not just fossil fuel advertising, but also for highly-polluting services like airline and cruise vacations, fossil gas suppliers and, best of all, gasoline-powered vehicles (but really, who would ever want to waste money on an inferior gas vehicle anyway, right Electrek readers?).
It will apply mainly to outdoor advertising in the form of billboards, displays in outdoor walking areas, ads on and inside transit, and so on.
The Hague had previously announced its intent to be climate neutral by 2030, so the city finds this to be a necessary step towards that goal. “The Hague wants to be climate neutral by 2030. Then it is inappropriate to allow advertising for products from the fossil industry. Fortunately, the city council now recognizes this,” said Leonie Gerritsen of the Party for the Animals.
The fossil ad ban was first proposed by the Party for the Animals. It builds on a previous motion to ban fossil ads from bus shelters, which had gained broad support from the representatives of the Greens, Labor, Socialists, centrist minority-rights party DENK, progressive pro-Europe party Democrats 66, and the center-right Christian Union.
The Netherlands, particularly in its cities, has one of the more advanced transportation systems in the world. Bicycles are heavily used within Dutch cities, and bike infrastructure is ubiquitous. This results in high safety as cyclists are properly protected on the road, high throughput from bicycles that take up a lot less space than cars, and low transportation emissions through the use of the most efficient transportation method man has ever devised.
The country is also among the best in electric car penetration, with just under half of new vehicles being electric – lagging only behind (all of the) Nordic countries in electrification of its automobiles.
However, as a nation, Netherlands lags behind standout countries in terms of per capita emissions. Despite heavy use of bicycles and EVs, each Dutch person emits about 50% more CO2 than the citizens of nearby France, UK or Denmark, or twice as much as nearby Sweden. (Though all of these countries have lower emissions than the US, the world’s largest all-time emitter, and even better than the cleanest US states like California and New York)
This is primarily due to Netherlands’ energy system, where fossil gas coal still make up a large part of the country’s grid, as opposed to the heavy use of nuclear in France, wind in UK and Denmark, and hydro in Sweden. Netherlands also uses fossil gas for home heating, and is one of the most gas-reliant countries in Europe with over 90% of homes using it for heating. This has also affected their energy security during the continent-wide gas crisis that came with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Fossil advertising bans could help to bend the needle on both of those aspects – while consumers don’t always have direct purchasing power over electricity generation or home heating choices, reducing the amount of propaganda from fossil companies means more might make the choice to install home solar (you can too, with our affiliate link) or to replace their fossil gas heating system with a more efficient heat pump.
Some other cities have “banned” fossil fuel ads, such as Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Sydney. However, these bans are different than The Hague’s, because they will be done through contract amendments with advertising companies, rather than through a local law.
That method can be easier to achieve at first, but can take longer to go into effect as the city needs to wait for rolling contracts to be renewed or to buy out existing contracts. The Hague’s method will go into effect immediately in just over three months, on January 1, 2025.
Electrek’s Take
Fossil fuel companies have spent more than a century propagandizing to the public about their benefits, and they wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.
While oil company ads greenwashing their contributions to renewable power may seem harmless, there’s a reason they run those ads, and it’s not because they genuinely want to improve the world. It’s because they want you to think they’re better than the other evil oil companies, and to continue giving money to support their environmental terrorism.
And ad bans like this do work. Tobacco – another horribly harmful product pushed by an evil industry – has been subject to ad bans, and those ad bans have helped to reduce smoking rates… as long as the bans are comprehensive. Unfortunately, The Hague can only ban ads in its own purview, and doesn’t have control over the airwaves or the internet. That would take a national or supranational agreement, so that might be the next step needed to ensure that a ban like this is effective.
Regardless, it’s about time that we stop oil companies from engaging in the decades-long campaign of lies that they have engaged in. Good on the Hague for being the first to do it, hopefully they can be a model for many other cities, countries, and the world.
(Incidentally, The Hague is also the seat of the International Criminal Court… but unfortunately this ban was passed by the local city government, rather than being enforceable with criminal prosecutions worldwide on oil executives who have lied for decades while doing untold damage to humanity, animals and the climate in general. Maybe next time (one can hope…))
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Environment
EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival
Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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Tesla is losing another top talent: its long-time head of software, David Lau, has reportedly told co-workers that he is exiting the automaker.
Tesla changed how the entire auto industry looks at software.
Before Tesla, it was an afterthought; user interfaces were rudimentary, and you had to go to a dealership to get a software update on your systems.
When Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, it all changed. Your car would get better through software updates like your phone, the large center display was responsive with a UI that actually made sense and was closer to an iPad experience than a car.
Tesla also integrated its software into its retail experience, service, and manufacturing.
David Lau deserves a lot of the credit for that.
He joined Tesla in 2012 as a senior manager of firmware engineering and quickly rose through the ranks. By 2014, he was promoted to director of firmware engineering and system integration, and in 2017, he became Vice President of software.
Lau listed the responsibilities of his team on his LinkedIn:
- Vehicle Software:
- Firmware for the powertrain, traction/stability control, HV electronics, battery management, and body control systems
- UI software and underlying Embedded Linux platforms
- Navigation and routing
- iOS and Android Mobile apps
- Distributed Systems:
- Server-side software and infrastructure that provides telemetry, diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and configuration/lifecycle management
- Data engineering and analytics platforms that power technical and business insights for an increasingly diverse set of customers across the company
- Diagnostic tools and fleet management, Manufacturing and Automation:
- Automation controls (PLC, robot)
- Server-side manufacturing execution systems that power all of Tesla’s production operations
- Product Security and Red Team for software, services, and systems across Tesla
Bloomberg reported today that Lau told his team he is leaving Tesla. The report didn’t include reasons for his stepping down.
Electrek’s Take
Twelve years at any company is a great run. At Tesla, it’s heroic. Congrats, David, on a great run. You undoubtedly had a significant impact on Tesla and software advancements in the broader auto industry.
He is another significant loss for Tesla, which has been losing a lot of top talent following a big wave of layoffs around this time last year.
I wonder who will take over. Michael Rizkalla, senior director of software engineering and vehicle firmware, is one of the most senior software engineers after Lau. He has been at Tesla for 7 years, and Tesla likes to promote within rather than hire outsiders.
There are also a lot of senior software execs working on AI at Tesla. Musk has been favoring them lately and he could fold Lau’s responsibilities under them.
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Kia’s electric SUVs are taking over. The EV3 is the best-selling retail EV in the UK this year, giving Kia its strongest sales start since it arrived 34 years ago. And it’s not just in the UK. Kia just had its best first quarter globally since it started selling cars in 1962.
Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK through March
In March, Kia sold a record nearly 20,000 vehicles in the UK, making it the fourth best-selling brand. It was also the second top-seller of electrified vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs), accounting for over 55% of sales.
The EV3 remained the best-selling retail EV in the UK last month. Including the EV6, three-row EV9, and Niro EV, electric vehicles represented 21% of Kia’s UK sales in March.
Kia said the EV3 “started with a bang” in January, darting out as the UK’s most popular EV in retail sales. Through March, Kia’s electric SUV has held on to the crown. With the EV3 rolling out, Kia sold over 7,000 electric cars through March, nearly 50% more than in Q1 2024.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first quarter and the fourth best-selling EV overall, including commercial vehicles.
Starting at £33,005 ($42,500), Kia said it’s the “brand’s most affordable EV yet.” It’s available with two battery packs, 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, good for 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles) of WLTP range, respectively.
With new EVs on the way, this could be just the start. Kia is launching several new EVs in the UK this year, including the EV4 sedan (and hatchback) and EV5 SUV. It also confirmed that the first PV5 electric vans will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
Globally, Kia sold a record 772,351 vehicles in the first quarter, its best since it started selling cars in 1962. With the new EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback, launching this year, Kia looks to build on its momentum in 2025.
Kia has also made it very clear that it wants to be a global leader in the electric van market with its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, starting with the PV5 later this year.
Earlier today, we learned Kia’s midsize electric SUV, the EV5, is the fourth best-selling EV in Australia through March, outselling every BYD vehicle (at least for now). The EV5 is rolling out to new markets this year, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Mexico. However, it will not arrive in the US.
For those in the US, there are still a few Kia EVs to look forward to. Kia is launching the EV4 globally, including in the US, later this year. Although no date has been set, Kia confirmed the EV3 is also coming. It’s expected to arrive in mid-2026.
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