Forget carbon neutral, Northwestern develops carbon NEGATIVE concrete
Depending on who you believe, concrete is responsible for between 5 and 10% of global carbon emissions. That’s a lot of carbon, and the quest for carbon neutral concrete has become a multibillion-dollar endeavor – but a team of scientists from Northwestern University thinks they’ve cracked it, and gone one better: carbon negative concrete.
Using a combination of seawater, electricity, and carbon dioxide (CO2), scientists at Chicago‘s Northwestern University Engineering have developed a new building material that goes beyond reducing emissions. The new material acts like concrete, but actively captures CO2 that’s already in the air and locks it away. Permanently.
Impressive as that is in itself, the Northwestern process goes beyond “just” concrete. The scientists involved claim similar processes could also be applied to cement, paints, and plasters.
We have developed a new approach that allows us to use seawater to create carbon-negative construction materials. Cement, concrete, paint, and plasters are customarily composed of or derived from calcium- and magnesium-based minerals, which are often sourced from aggregates –– what we call sand. Currently, sand is sourced through mining from mountains, riverbeds, coasts and the ocean floor. In collaboration with Cemex, we have devised an alternative approach to source sand — not by digging into the Earth but by harnessing electricity and CO2 to grow sand-like materials in seawater.
Dr. Alessandro Rotta Loria, PhD | NORTHWESTERN
To generate the carbon-negative building materials, Dr. Rotta Loria’s team of inserted electrodes into seawater and applying a low electric current, splitting water molecules into hydrogen gas and hydroxide ions. With the current still on, they bubbled CO2 gas through seawater, changing the chemical composition of the water and increasing the concentration of bicarbonate ions. All those ions then reacted naturally with minerals in the seawater creating solid materials like calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide.
The calcium carbonate acts as a carbon sink, while magnesium hydroxide sequesters harmful carbon emissions through further interactions with CO2.
That … kinda looks like concrete
The carbon negative materials are made in a way that’s conceptually similar to the way mollusks and corals make shells and reefs, respectively. “But instead of metabolic energy,” writes Amanda Morris, “(the team) applied electrical energy to initiate the process and boosted mineralization with the injection of CO2.”
“The appeal of such an approach is the attention that is being given to the ecosystem and using science to harness the elements in the contemporary environment to develop valuable products for several industries and preserve resources,” said Davide Zampini, vice president of global R&D at Cemex, a large-scale manufacturer of ready-mix concrete that was recently recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies (which, I mean– whatever).
This latest Northwestern material study builds on previous work from Dr. Rotta Loria’s lab to store CO2 long term in concrete.
Electrek’s Take
I’ve long held a tin-hat theory that life on Earth has always been artificial life, it’s just so small and evolved so far ahead of what we ourselves can make that we don’t recognize it. Stuff like this just reinforces that insanity – but all that’s beside the point. This is really impressive tech, and we’re well past the point where simply limiting carbon emissions will lead to a meaningful reduction in anthropogenic climate change.
We need to put the bad stuff back in the ground. These guys are doing that.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Northwestern; featured image by Ablazejo, under a CC License.
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Despite hyping the product for a year and half, it is fairly clear that Tesla doesn’t want to sell its new cheaper Model Y. At least, in the US.
Here’s why.
Remember the Cybertruck RWD?
Tesla launched the new cheaper version of the Cybertruck in April for $10,000 less than the AWD and about $20,000 worth of features removed.
By September, Tesla discontinued the model. It lasted a solid 6 months.
Many believed that Tesla wasn’t actually looking to sell the new version, which served more as making the Cybertruck AWD seemed like better value.
We might be witnessing a redo here witht the new standard Model Y that Tesla launched yesterday.
It costs $5,000 less than the Model Y Long Range RWD, which Tesla now calls “premium”, along with the AWD and Performance versions, while Tesla removed roughly $6,000-$8,000 worth of features.
The value proposition is not great, but that’s not the only reason why Tesla doesn’t seem to want to sell it.
The automaker currently doesn’t offer a lease on the new version, which is not unusual after having just launched a new variant or model. For example, Tesla is still not offering leases on the Model Y Performance, which only recently launched in the US.
But more importantly, Tesla is financing the new Model Y Standard at an APR almost 30% higher than for the cheaper “Premium” version.
The result is only $72 difference in monthly payments between the two versions:
The difference is virtually the same as between the Premium RWD and AWD, but you get a whole additional motor for that.
Electrek’s Take
We have been anticipating a situation like this, but it is honestly even worse than we thought.
For example, we didn’t anticipate Tesla removing Autopilot as standard. That alone is a few thousands dollars of value removed before even accounting for the hardware changes, such as the cloth interior, cheaper seats, or even the power folding mirrors.
Then, there are the honestly quite lazy changes, like not actually removing the glass roof, but covering it inside with a headliner.
The only really good thing I see from this launch is that it is very efficient EV and Tesla still has a lead on that front over most.
However, I have to reiterate that it is getting lazy with this lead.
The standard version is only 125 lbs lighter than the premium despite Tesla seemingly using the same battery pack with a few cells removed. When you add up all the features removal, the weight loss should be much more significant, but that’s harder to do when you make decision such as covering the glass roof rather removing it.
Tesla has to know that the value proposition here is not good.
It’s a bummer that Tesla went with that rather than a new smaller and less expensive vehicle as originally planned.
Especially when you consider that the decision was made to try to increase the utilization rate of Tesla’s current production lines, which appears to be running at about 60% amid this demand slump.
I don’t think this, and the new standard Model 3, which is better value to be fair, solve this situation.
As I previously stated, I believe this boost demand between 10-15% and that’s after Tesla either drops the price or introduces 0% interest financing, which I expect before the end of the quarter.
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On today’s incredibly frustrating episode of Quick Charge, Tesla is making it easier than ever to make fun of them by rolling out a new, “affordable” Model Y that costs $2,000 more than the “expensive” one did last week, thanks to the cancellation of the $7,500 tax credit that Elon Musk (the guy who is so good at business that he’s allegedly worth $1 trillion) spent $200 million campaigning for.
We’ve also got the new, single-motor Volvo EX30 at a price that undercuts the cheap Tesla, but includes a full length glass roof that isn’t inexplicably covered in upholstery to punish poor people. All this and more – enjoy!
Source Links
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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Chevy’s electric SUV is now the best-selling EV in the US outside of Tesla. The 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, but GM has added new style packages for you to choose from.
GM raises 2026 Chevy Equinox EV price, adds options
The Chevy Equinox EV doesn’t need much help. Starting at just $34,995, the 2025 Chevy Equinox quickly became one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US.
Entering its third year, the Equinox EV remains GM’s most affordable EV, with starting prices slightly higher at $36,495. That includes the $1,395 destination fee.
Since it’s a carryover model, there aren’t too many changes, but buyers will have several new style packages to choose from.
The 2026 Chevy Equinox LT gains a new Midnight Package, which adds black emblems, bowtie, badging, wheel caps, and 19″ black painted aluminum wheels, for $595.
There’s also a new Tech Bronze Package available on the LT and RS trims. The new option includes a Tech Bronze decal, a black nameplate, a black bowtie emblem, and 21″ Tech Bronze wheels. It costs an extra $3,595.
The 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is now listed on GM’s website. It’s still available in LT1, LT2, and RS trims with Front Wheel Drive (FWD) and All Wheel Drive (AWD) powertrain options.
The base 2026 LT FWD trim starts at $36,495 with up to 319 miles of range, including a $1,395 destination fee. Upgrading to AWD costs an extra $5,300, with a slightly shorter range of 307 miles.
| Chevy Equinox EV trim | 2025 Starting Price | 2026 Starting Price | EPA-estimated Range |
| LT 1 FWD | $34,995 | $36,495 | 319 miles |
| LT 1 AWD | $38,295 | $39,795 | 307 miles |
| LT 2 FWD | $43,295 | $43,295 | 319 miles |
| LT 2 AWD | $46,595 | $46,595 | 307 miles |
| RS FWD | $44,795 | $45,595 | 319 miles |
| RS AWD | $48,095 | $48,895 | 307 miles |
Following another record quarter of EV sales in Q3, GM said that the Chevy Equinox EV was the best-selling non-Tesla electric vehicle in the US.
With several new affordable EVs arriving, including the new Nissan LEAF, will the Equinox continue to be a top seller in 2026? It will be interesting to see where the rankings end up at this time next year.
Wondering if Chevy’s electric SUV lives up to the hype? You can use our link to find 2025 and 2026 Chevy Equinox EV models near you and try it out for yourself.
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