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Formula E’s 11th season starts on Saturday in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and includes the debut of the new Gen3 EVO car – which iterates on the original Gen3 car by activating the front motor, giving more grip and even faster acceleration than a Formula One car.

Formula E is the FIA’s top-level electric racing series, racing single-seater open-wheel formula cars on famous racetracks and in downtown city centers – where quieter, zero-emission cars can get away with things that noisy gassers cannot.

It’s now on its eleventh season, and there’s been plenty of excitement and unpredictability throughout. The series has remained competitive, with championship battles often coming down to the last race with multiple drivers and teams vying for the win – unlike F1, where championship battles are often decided midway through the season.

And Formula E has been iterating on its vehicles pretty rapidly, with changes every couple years adding new capabilities and making the cars faster.

Early Formula E seasons started with a much less powerful vehicle, and drivers would even swap vehicles mid-race (battery swapping was deemed too complicated, so they just swapped cars instead).

In 2018, Formula E introduced the Gen 2 car which was more powerful and no longer needed to swap mid-race. Then in 2022, the Gen 3 car started racing, with the addition of a front motor to be used for stronger regenerative braking.

On the original iteration of the Gen 3 car, the front motor wasn’t active during acceleration – but that’s changing now, as the modified Gen 3 EVO car will be able to use the front motor during qualifying, race starts, and during “attack mode,” a short boost in power that drivers can activate during the race to gain an advantage. So, technically, this means these cars are going to be all-wheel drive, at least some of the time.

All-wheel drive has been popular on road cars recently, because it enhances acceleration and drivability. And on EVs, it’s quite easy to add, because you can just slap a second motor on the other axle and run a few cables to it, rather than needing to run driveshafts and gearing mechanisms all through your car to transfer the power from a single combustion engine to two separate axles.

However, sportscar and racing enthusiasts have often preferred rear-wheel drive because it makes cars more squirrelly and difficult to control, showcasing driver skill more readily.

So this is a pretty big change – single seat open-wheel racing has historically been all rear-wheel drive with few driver aids involved. There have been a few all-wheel drive cars tried in the past, but currently other open-wheel single seaters (like F1, IndyCar and the like) are rear-wheel drive only.

Another big change for this year is in the tires, which will be grippier than last season. The Gen 3 car originally didn’t improve laptimes as much as expected, likely due to a change in tire supplier, and this year’s tires promise to be more capable of handling the car’s higher power output.

Further, we might finally see the debut of the “attack charge” mid-race charging feature. Along with the introduction of a front motor, Gen3 brought 600kW charging capability. This was mostly used for better regenerative braking, but Formula E also said it wanted to introduce a mid-race 600kW charge.

But introduction of that feature got pushed back multiple times, so now, even if Formula E says it’s ready to introduce it – we’ll believe it when it happens. It was tested at pre-season testing in Spain last month, so that’s one step done at least.

If it does get introduced this year, it will likely be at a double-header race, with one race using the mid-race charge system, and the other not.

The new season comes along with changes in drivers and teams, as they often do. Lola cars has taken over the ABT team, running a racing team for the first time since 1997 now alongside Yamaha, and last season’s ERT team has rebranded as Cupra Kiro. Maserati committed to return – and has committed to the entirety of the future Gen4 era, through 2030.

Drivers have shifted around from team to team, with two new rookie drivers joining the grid – Zane Maloney who joins the Lola team after previously racing in Formula 2, and Taylor Barnard who drove 3 races last year for McLaren but now starts the season as a full-time driver.

Tracks have changed as well, with the retirement of the Misano ePrix, meaning no more races in Italy. Saudi Arabia, which previously hosted several season openers at the Riyadh street circuit, will move its races to a new street circuit in Jeddah. The Portland ePrix (which was great the last couple years) is going away, being replaced by the Miami ePrix – which was previously held in 2015, though now will happen at the Homestead-Miami speedway NASCAR track, instead of the previous Miami street circuit along Biscayne Bay. The headline Monaco ePrix, at the world-famous Circuit de Monaco, will become a doubleheader for the first time, with two races on the same weekend. And the Jakarta ePrix is back, after being skipped in 2024.

This weekend’s race is at the Sao Paulo street circuit, which has hosted Formula E twice before. Since Formula E seasons start just before the end of the year and the Sao Paulo ePrix was scheduled from mid-season to the season opener, we’re now getting a second 2024 Sao Paulo ePrix – the last of which was won by Sam Bird. The 2023 race was won by Mitch Evans.

The circuit goes along the city’s Carnival route, with a long back straight interrupted by one chicane, and a return to the start/finish line through some side streets with tight turns. The long straights should offer good opportunities for overtaking, but also add to difficulty in energy management for the teams.

The race starts this Saturday, December 7, at 2pm local Sao Paulo time. That’s Noon Eastern time, 9am Pacific time, and 5pm UTC. You can check out how to watch the race in your area by going to Formula E’s “Ways to Watch” section. In the US, Roku should be the most reliable way to watch.


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Tesla board members officially settle excessive compensation case for nearly $1 billion

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Tesla board members officially settle excessive compensation case for nearly  billion

A judge has officially approved a settlement in a case brought by Tesla shareholders against board members who will now have to return stock, cash, and give up on stock options worth a total of nearly $1 billion.

Let me start this article with a quote from Tesla CEO Elon Musk:

Tesla will never settle a case where we’re in the right, and never contest a case where we’re in the wrong.

Today, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick approved a settlement agreement between Tesla and all its board members from 2017 to 2020 and the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit on behalf of Tesla shareholders over what the shareholders believed to be excessive compensation.

The agreement was first reported in July 2023, but it is only now being officially approved and we learn a few more details.

Shareholders believed that members of Tesla’s board were compensating themselves excessively with hundreds of millions of dollars between 2017 and 2020 when the average compensation of a board member of a S&P500 company is just north of $300,000.

Under the settlement, the board members agree to return to Tesla $277 million in cash, $459 million in stock options and to forgo $184 million worth of stock options awarded for 2021-2023.

That adds up to nearly $1 billion.

The board members include Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother, Brad Buss, Ira Ehrenpreis, Antonio Gracias, Stephen Jurvetson, all close friends of Elon Musk and people who have financial dealings with Musk outside of Tesla, Linda Johnson Rice, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, Hiromichi Mizuno and Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corp and also a close friend of Musk.

As part of the settlement, Tesla or the board does not admit to any wrongdoing.

Musk didn’t take compensation as part of the board, but he is embroiled in a similar case over his own $55 billion CEO compensation package, which was rescinded by the same judge after she found that it wasn’t negotiated or presented to shareholders in good faith.

The board members who received this “excessive compensation” also happened to be the one who “negotiated” Musk’s CEO compensation package.

The case is heading to the Delaware Supreme Court, as reported earlier today.

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Nissan’s Ariya electric SUV takes on the extreme weather in its new test chamber [Video]

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Nissan's Ariya electric SUV takes on the extreme weather in its new test chamber [Video]

Despite how cold it may feel outside, Nissan’s electric SUV has likely been through colder. Nissan is proving its Ariya SUV can handle the extreme weather at its unique new test chamber at its tech center near Detroit. With temperatures ranging from -40 to 176 °F, the Ariya is being pushed to see what it’s made of.

Nissan launched the Ariya, its first electric SUV, in the US in late 2022. Over 13,400 Ariya models were sold in the US in its first sales year, with another nearly 20,000 handed over in 2024.

A few weeks ago, Nissan introduced the 2025 Ariya, starting at just $39,770. It has two battery options, 66 or 91 kWh, good for 216 and 289 miles range. That’s for the FWD models.

You can opt for Nissan’s e-4ORCE AWD dual-motor system for “thrilling acceleration” with up to 389 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. However, with the added power, you sacrifice some range. The AWD Ariya gets up to 272 miles range.

With many parts of the country seeing frigid temperatures, Nissan says its “Ariya is very well equipped” to combat freezing weather.

Nissan-2025-Ariya-incentives
2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE (Source: Nissan)

The electric SUV was already the first vehicle (EV or gas-powered) to drive from the North to the South Pole in 2023. Now, it’s being put through the paces at Nissan’s tech center outside of Detroit.

It’s currently around 23 °F in Detroit, with a low of 11 °F, but Nissan says it’s even colder in its unique new test chamber. The chamber is located at the Nissan Technical Center North America campus, just outside Detroit.

Nissan-Ariya-chamber
The Ariya in Nissan’s test chamber (Source: Nissan)

Nissan Ariya handles cold weather tests in new chamber

“Our chambers are capable of temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 176 degrees Fahrenheit,” Jeff Tessmer, senior manager of Zero Emission Vehicles at Nissan’s tech center, explained.

Nissan tests the Ariya in a test chamber with “far more extreme” temperatures than the typical driver will see. Tessmer said, “We want to test the worst-case scenario so that our customers will still get the same performance in a wide variety of weather conditions.”

One of the biggest goals is to prove the electric SUV’s battery can maintain charge levels even in extreme weather.

Nissan Ariya undergoes extreme cold weather chamber test (Source: Nissan)

Nissan puts it through “cold soak” tests to ensure performance. During a 24-hour cold soak, the Ariya was parked in -4 °F weather with a 17% battery charge. It also wasn’t plugged in or using its battery heater. After the team returned the next day, the electric SUV still had a 17% charge and started up immediately.

The Ariya is equipped with a battery heater that drivers can turn on ahead of time to ensure optimal performance. On hot days, it includes a liquid-cooled system to regulate battery temperatures.

Nissan-2025-Ariya-incentives
2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE interior (Source: Nissan)

Drivers can also use the MYNISSAN app to pre-warm the cabin, check the interior temperature, and schedule charging times. Ansu Jammeh, an engineer on Nissan’s Zero Emissions Engineering team, said the best time to use the heating feature is “when the vehicle is plugged in so that it uses power from the grid instead of the vehicle.”

2025 Nissan Ariya trim Battery
(kWh)
Starting Prices* (MSRP) Range
(miles)
Engage FWD 66 $39,770 216
Engage e-4ORCE 66 $43,770 205
Evolve + FWD 91 $44,370 289
Engage + e-4ORCE 91 $45,370 272
Evolve + e-4ORCE 91 $48,370 272
Platinum + e-4ORCE 91 $54,370 267
2025 Nissan Ariya prices and range by trim (*not including a $1,390 destination fee)

Nissan added a new wireless charging pad across all 2025 Ariya models. The inside features Nissan’s Advanced Drive-Assist setup with dual 12.3″ infotainment and driver display screens formed in a “wave-like” shape.

Other standard features of the 2025 model include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a Head-up display, and a Virtual Personal Assistant. It also includes Nissan’s ProPilot Assist for assisted driving.

Are you ready to check out Nissan’s electric SUV for yourself? We can help you get started. You can use our link to find Nissan Ariya models at the best price in your area today.

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This Florida solar farm is supplying clean energy to 12 cities

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This Florida solar farm is supplying clean energy to 12 cities

Florida’s Rice Creek Solar Energy Center is now online, delivering nearly 75 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity to 12 cities across the state. The solar farm is part of the Florida Municipal Solar Project, one of the largest municipal solar initiatives in the US.

Located in Putnam County, near Palatka, the Rice Creek site is covered with 213,000 solar panels that generate enough power for around 14,000 homes. This marks the third solar site in the Florida Municipal Solar Project, with more on the way.

Twelve utilities are tapping into the clean energy from Rice Creek, including Beaches Energy Services (Jacksonville Beach), Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Homestead, Keys Energy Services in Key West, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Lake Worth Beach, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach Utilities, Newberry, Ocala, Town of Havana, and Winter Park. This is the first solar power project for Havana, New Smyrna Beach, and Newberry.

Jacob Williams, the general manager of the Florida Municipal Power Agency, explained, “By working together, our members and their communities benefit from additional solar-powered energy that’s both cost-effective and carbon-free.”

The FMPA, based in Orlando, coordinates the project, while the 12 municipal utilities – who are also FMPA’s member-owners – purchase the power. Miami-based Origis Energy is the builder, owner, and operator of Rice Creek. According to Origis Energy’s Josh Teigiser, “We are honored to support this FMPA work. Long-term agreements for solar generation, including for Rice Creek Solar, provide a stable rate base contributing to lower and more predictable customers’ bills.”

Construction is already underway on a fourth Florida solar farm, Whistling Duck Solar, in Levy County. The Florida Municipal Solar Project is expected to grow to seven sites in the next few years and will generate a total of around 525 MW of clean energy.

Read more: Ohio’s largest solar farm just came online


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