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Kia doesn’t just build EVs for a cleaner future. The company wants to be a complete sustainable mobility solutions provider. As part of its efforts, Kia introduced a new “world first” EV3 accessory made from plastic found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It’s the first genuine Kia accessory made using reclaimed ocean plastic.

The EV3 was introduced during Kia’s first annual EV Day last October as part of its new affordable electric car lineup.

After opening pre-orders in June, starting at just over $30,000 (KRW 42.08 million), Kia’s compact electric SUV secured over 10,000 reservations in 23 days.

Kia’s vice president, Jeong Won-Jeong, is already calling the EV3 a “game changer” in its home market. Through its new E-Value program, Kia’s EV3 can be bought for as little as $67 per month.

In Europe, the EV3 starts at about $40,000 (36,000 euros) and can drive up to 372 miles (599 km) on a single charge.

Ahead of its US debut, Kia’s low-cost electric SUV has already been spotted testing on public roads (see the images here). The EV3 is expected to launch in the US by 2026, with prices starting around $30,000 to $35,000, which would make it among the cheapest EV options.

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Kia EV3 (Source: Kia)

Kia EV3 gains new accessory made from ocean plastic

In 2022, Kia joined forces with The Ocean Cleanup to help clean up the world’s oceans. The support has already helped remove over one million pounds of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).

The massive floating waste is the largest of its kind, covering an estimated 1.6 million sq km. Kia is finding a better way to use wasted plastic as part of its efforts.

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Kia introduces limited-edition EV3 trunk liner made from recycled ocean plastic (Source: Kia)

Kia introduced the “first ever car accessory made using plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by The Ocean Cleanup” on Monday.

The accessory is a limited-edition trunk liner designed for the new Kia EV3. Kia said the trunk liner will be available in select markets. It will be available to order “in line” with the EV3 rolling out to new markets.

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Kia’s limited-edition EV3 trunk liner made from recycled ocean plastic (Source: Kia)

Kia called the new EV3 accessory “one of the most significant outcomes of the partnership so far.” The company’s executive vice president, Charles Ryu, said the partnership is “a worldwide movement to create cleaner, healthier oceans for future generations.”

As the first Kia accessory from recycled ocean plastic, the company sees “tangible progress made toward creating a circular resource system for ocean plastic.”

Kia introduces limited-edition EV3 trunk liner made from recycled ocean plastic (Source: Kia)

The trunk liner is reminiscent of waves and “the flow of trash into a collecting area.” Made from 40% reclaimed ocean plastic, the accessory is just as durable and functional as a conventional trunk liner, Kia claims.

Each trunk liner also includes a QR code that provides more information about the product’s development and Kia’s partnership with The Ocean Cleanup.

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Kia EV3 interior (Source: Kia)

Kia has introduced other eco-friendly materials, including recycled fishnets for flooring in its three-row EV9. The EV6 also uses cloth and matting from recycled plastics as part of Kia’s efforts.

To support its vision of becoming a global leader, Kia pledged to use over 20% sustainable materials in its vehicles by 2030.

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Google to invest $25 billion in data centers and AI infrastructure across largest U.S. electric grid

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Google to invest  billion in data centers and AI infrastructure across largest U.S. electric grid

Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet & Google, speaks during the Reuters NEXT conference, in New York City, U.S., December 10, 2024.

Mike Segar | Reuters

Alphabet‘s Google will invest $25 billion in data center and artificial intelligence infrastructure over the next two years in states across the biggest electric grid in the U.S., the technology company said Tuesday.

Google will also spend $3 billion to modernize two hydropower plants in Pennsylvania to help meet the growing power demand from data centers and AI in the region, according to the company.

The refurbishment of the Pennsylvania plants is part of broader a framework agreement that Google signed with Brookfield Asset Management to purchase 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power across the U.S.

Google’s investments in the region comes as the PJM Interconnection is struggling to keep up with rising electricity demand from data centers and industry. PJM is the biggest electric grid in the nation, covering 13 states across the mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest and South. It includes the world’s largest data center market in northern Virginia.

President Donald Trump, White House Cabinet officials, tech and energy executives are meeting at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to discuss AI investment in Pennsylvania.

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How one man with a hacksaw and an e-bike became a Texas flood ‘hero’

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How one man with a hacksaw and an e-bike became a Texas flood 'hero'

Locals call him the “Bicycle hero,” but Texas man Evan Wayne says he’s just doing what he can to help his community after it was cut off due to the recent devastating and deadly flooding tragedy.

When the local Sandy Creek flooded following torrential rains in Texas, it destroyed the only bridge into one community. Residents were cut off from access to supplies, including everything from necessities like food, water, and medicine to basic comforts.

Although the bridge was impassable to cars, volunteers who quickly organized to help the stranded residents found that the damaged bridge could still be traversed on foot. Or in the case of Evan Wayne, it could be covered by an electric bike.

Evan joined hundreds of volunteers who answered the call of grassroots organizers by working together without any official capacity. While many started by hand-pulling garden carts of supplies uphill to reach the stricken community, Evan jury-rigged a trailer to an e-bike and took on as much of the load as he could, helping shuttle much-needed food and gear into the community over hundreds of round-trip journeys.

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“This was a dog trailer 48 hours ago. I had a hacksaw, hacked the top off, grabbed some bungee cords, and here we are,” explained Evan in an interview with CBS Austin, while waiting for the next load of gear to be stacked on his trailer.

In the first two days of the operation, he made around 100 round trips each day, shuttling food and water as well as critical rescue supplies. “Right now, I’m waiting on a couple of chainsaws that I’ll bring in for a crew that’s been going at it with handsaws so far.”

In addition to delivering needed supplies, Evan has often found himself moving something even more important: information. “I’ve flagged down medics. I’ve been the guy that goes between Austin EMT and STAR Flight because I’m quicker than cell phones sometimes, people don’t have signal a lot of the time.”

Evan quickly points out that he isn’t the only one helping. “I’ve got an e-bike, but other people are pulling carts. People are walking, people are carrying things. Everyone is doing what they can.” But there’s no doubt that his ability to carry more gear at higher speeds and make hundreds of round-trip journeys so far in and out of the stricken neighborhood has helped impact countless lives.

“This is all volunteers here. They’re just taking it upon themselves to get people where they need to go. I think there’s an umbrella company coming in, taking over tomorrow, but until they get here, people are just taking care of people, which is what you’ve got to do.”

E-bikes proving their worth in emergencies

While many people consider electric bicycles just another form of recreation, they’ve proven to be potent transportation alternatives after natural disasters worldwide.

Not only do their small and efficient batteries make performing hundreds of rescue trips like Evans’ possible, but recharging can be done simply and easily with a solar panel when electricity is out after a disaster. And when gas stations are out of fuel (or simply can’t pump it with the power grid down), e-bikes can keep running while gasoline-powered motorcycles or ATVs run dry.

Electric bicycle batteries have also proven to be a handy source of emergency power after hurricanes and other disasters, often helping owners keep their phones charged up for days to remain in contact with family or rescue services.

While most hope to never need theirs for emergency purposes, electric bicycles have proven their worth in countless disaster scenarios, adding benefits far beyond just alternative transportation, recreation, or fitness riding.

E-bikes can be kept running nearly indefinitely after natural disasters with access to solar recharging equipment

Image credits: CBS Austin (screenshots), used under fair use

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Block leads rebound in fintech stocks as analysts downplay JPMorgan data fee risk

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Block leads rebound in fintech stocks as analysts downplay JPMorgan data fee risk

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testifies during a remote video hearing held by subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on “Social Media’s Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation” in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2021.

Handout | Via Reuters

Block jumped more than 5% on Monday, leading a rally in shares of fintech companies as analysts downplayed the threat of JPMorgan Chase’s reported plan to charge data aggregators for access to customer financial information.

The recovery followed steep declines on Friday, after Bloomberg reported that JPMorgan had circulated pricing sheets outlining potential fees for aggregators like Plaid and Yodlee, which connect fintech platforms to users’ bank data.

In a note to clients on Monday, Evercore ISI analysts said the potential new expenses were “far from a ‘business model-breaking’ cost increase.”

In addition to Block’s rise, PayPal climbed 3.5% on Monday after sliding Friday. Robinhood and Shift4 recorded modest gains.

Broader market momentum helped fuel some of the rebound. The Nasdaq closed at a record, and crypto rallied, with bitcoin climbing past $123,000. Ether, solana, and other altcoins also gained.

JPMorgan announces plans to charge for access to customer bank data

Evercore ISI’s analysts said that even if JPMorgan’s changes were implemented, the most immediate effect would be a slight bump in the cost of one-time account setups — perhaps 50 to 60 cents.

Morgan Stanley echoed that view, writing that any impact would be “negligible,” especially for large fintechs that rely more on debit, credit, or stored balances than bank account pulls for transactions.

PayPal doesn’t anticipate much short-term impact, according to a person with knowledge of the issue. The person, who asked not to be named in order to speak about private financial matters, noted that PayPal relies on aggregators primarily for account verification and already has long-term pricing contracts in place.

While smaller fintechs that depend heavily on automated clearing house (ACH) rails or Open Banking frameworks for onboarding and compliance may face real pressure if the fees take effect, analysts said the larger platforms are largely insulated.

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