Russia’s Deputy Prime Minster Alexander Novak (L) and Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud attend a session as part of the 24th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2021) at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center.
Donat Sorokin | TASS | Getty Images
LONDON — Two of the world’s largest oil-producing countries plan to defy the International Energy Agency’s recommendations and continue investing in oil and gas, rejecting calls to drastically scale back the use of fossil fuels despite a deepening climate crisis.
It comes at a time when policymakers are under immense pressure to deliver on promises made as part of the Paris Agreement, a landmark accord widely recognized as critically important to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.
Almost 200 countries, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, ratified the Paris climate accord in 2015, agreeing to pursue efforts to limit the planet’s temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement requires net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Remarkably, the world’s leading energy advisor delivered its starkest warning yet on global fossil fuel use last month, saying the exploitation and development of new oil and gas fields must stop this year if the world wants to reach net-zero emissions by the middle of the century.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the IEA had ostensibly arrived at its findings “by using reverse calculations” on how to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The IEA was not immediately available to return a request for comment. To be sure, the top global watchdog says halting developments in oil, gas and coal is fundamental to reaching the internationally agreed goal of net-zero emissions.
“In my view this a simplistic approach. It is also unrealistic,” Novak told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble, according to a translation.
“There is no doubt we need to move in the green energy and towards the green agenda as there is demand for it in society but we need to be clear what resources this can be done with, who is going to pay for it, what technologies and opportunities we have available to us, including in order to resolve outstanding problems that still await their solutions,” he added.
A Surgutneftegas worker near pumpjacks in Surgut Region of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, in the West Siberian petroleum basin.
Alexei Andronov | TASS via Getty Images
His comments come shortly after Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman joked about the IEA’s report at an online news conference earlier this week.
“It is a sequel of the La La Land movie. Why should I take it seriously?” Abdulaziz said, according to Reuters.
Saudi Arabia is “producing oil and gas at low cost and producing renewables. I urge the world to accept this as a reality: that we’re going to be winners of all of these activities,” he added.
Speaking to CNBC Thursday, Russia’s Novak said Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz had once again reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to invest in oil at a SPIEF panel earlier that day.
Novak said it was Moscow’s intention to do the same.
“I can assure you that the Russian Federation, its plans, its strategy [is to] continue to invest in both oil and gas and in coal. But we also invest in renewables as well, in hydrogen, in electric cars and electric charging stations, so we see the coming decade as using a mix of renewables and fossils fuels,” Novak said.
California-based B2U Storage Solutions is building a new battery energy storage facility east of San Antonio, Texas – and it’s going to be powered by used EV batteries.
The Bexar Corrilla project in Bexar County is B2U’s third grid storage site and its first in Texas. When complete later this year, it’ll have 24 megawatt-hours (MWh) of capacity and plug directly into San Antonio utility CPS Energy’s distribution system. B2U will repurpose around 500 end-of-life EV battery packs, housed in 21 modular cabinets, to store and dispatch power to the Texas grid.
The company has already deployed over 40 MWh of used EV batteries as battery storage in California. Its tech skips the expensive and energy-intensive remanufacturing process, thanks to a patented plug-and-play system that connects the batteries directly to the grid. The system’s certified to UL 9540 safety standards and uses AI to manage real-time power trading.
So why Texas? The state’s grid is notoriously volatile, and demand for backup is rising fast with more renewables and people plugging in. Batteries like these can help stabilize things when transmission can’t keep up.
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B2U’s CEO Freeman Hall says the Texas expansion “is a significant strategic milestone” and shows how repurposed EV packs are becoming a go-to solution for grid and industrial-scale energy storage.
Over the next year, the company plans to build three more projects in Texas, bringing its total footprint in the state to 100 MWh. Add in its California solar + storage sites, and B2U expects to hit 150 MWh of repurposed EV batteries on the grid by mid-2026.
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Honda’s luxury brand is teaming up with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to electrify its fleet of vehicles. Acura donated 75 electric ZDX SUVs, its largest vehicle donation to date, to support the mission. The new EVs will be used to get to and from remote conservation sites.
Acura donated 75 ZDX EVs to The Nature Conservancy
Acura is donating 75 ZDX SUVs to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) this year through its dealership network across the US.
The fleet will be used to support the organization’s missions, including fieldwork, community engagement, and conservation efforts in rural and remote areas.
As part of their +30-year partnership, Honda is donating another $1 million to expand charging options and support TNC’s transition to EVs.
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Over 30 years ago, Honda and TNC collaborated for the first time to preserve the Big Darby Creek. Since then, the automaker has invested over $1 million to protect the aquatic system.
“The donation of these vehicles has significantly accelerated our efforts to electrify our fleet, reducing our carbon footprint and setting a powerful example of climate leadership,” Daniel Salzer, director of sustainability at The Nature Conservancy, said after receiving the donation.
Acura ZDX electric SUV for TNC (Source: Acura)
The ZDX is the luxury brand’s first all-electric vehicle, and it’s been a surprise hit so far in the US. It’s currently one of the best-selling premium EVs in the US.
Through the first half of 2025, Honda has sold 10,355 Acura ZDX models, surpassing the Cadillac Lyriq, which is also based on the same Ultium platform.
The company is selling even more than it expected. Mike Langel, Acura’s president of national sales, told Automotive News earlier this year that the luxury brand expected to sell around 1,000 ZDX models a month in 2025.
Acura donates 75 electric ZDX SUVs to The Nature Conservancy (Source: Acura)
Acura has offered some of the most generous discounts of any electric vehicle, reaching nearly $30,000 off in some states.
According to CarsDirect, the electric 2024 Acura ZDX A-Spec AWD is available to lease for as low as $299 per month.
The offer is for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing, but is limited to California, New York, Oregon, and other select states. The A-Spec AWD variant offers a range of 313 miles, while the RWD model has an EPA range rating of 304 miles. Honda’s electric SUV, the Prologue, is listed for lease starting at just $259 per month.
Looking to test one out for yourself? We can help you get started. You can use our links to find Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue models in your area.
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The new and improved IONIQ 6 is smarter, more stylish inside and out, and can drive even further. With nearly 350 miles of driving range, the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 now leads as Korea’s longest-range domestic EV.
Hyundai’s new IONIQ 6 leads Korea’s longest-range EV
Hyundai’s electrified streamliner is back and better than ever. The IONIQ 6 has received its first refresh since its launch three years ago in September 2022.
The new IONIQ 6 features Hyundai’s 4th-generation batteries, unlocking nearly 350 miles (562 km) driving range on a single charge. That’s the longest among domestic electric cars in Korea, beating the Kia EV4, which has a range of up to 341 miles (549 km).
Hyundai fine-tuned the exterior fastback design for maximum efficiency. With a drag coefficient of just 0.21, it’s the most aerodynamic of any Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis vehicle.
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Although still based on Hyundai’s “Mindful Cocoon” concept, the interior has been improved based on customer feedback. It now features a refined center console and incorporates “luxurious materials” into the three-spoke steering wheel and door trim.
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 refresh (Source: Hyundai)
Hyundai added new features, including a new Air Conditioning Occupancy Detection function. The system, a first for a Hyundai vehicle, can detect passengers and adjust the AC system.
Another new feature is Smooth Mode, designed to reduce motion sickness by providing less sensitive acceleration and deceleration.
The interior of the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 (Source: Hyundai)
The new IONIQ 6 is available with two battery options: 63 kWh and 84 kWh. With a range of up to 272 miles (437 km), the updated standard range model offers over 43 miles (70 km) more driving range. The extended-range battery is rated at 349 miles (562 km) range.
A Hyundai Motor Company official said, “The New Ioniq 6 is equipped with a 4th generation battery, securing the longest driving range among domestic electric vehicles.”
The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line (Source: Hyundai)
Despite the larger battery, the IONIQ 6 can still recharge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes with a 350 kW fast charger.
Hyundai launched the updated EV in Korea on Monday, priced from 48.56 million won ($35,000). That’s for the base E-Value+ standard range model.
The long-range Exclusive trim starts at 55.15 million won ($40,000) while the flagship Prestige N Line variant will run you 61.32 million won (61.32 million won). With government and local subsidies, Hyundai said the actual purchase price will be lower.
The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line interior (Source: Hyundai)
To celebrate the ultra-long-range capabilities of the new IONIQ 6, Hyundai is launching an ad campaign titled “the beginning of a new trend” in Korea.
For those in the US, Hyundai is expected to launch the new IONIQ 6 in early 2026. The current model is already rated with an EPA-estimated range of 342 miles.
With the updates, we could see it top 350 miles EPA-estimated range. Like the 2025 IONIQ 5, it’s also expected to arrive with a built-in NACS port to charge at Tesla Supercharger.
What are your thoughts on the updated model? Do you like the changes or does the IONIQ 6 still need some tweaking? Let us know in the comments.
Looking to test out Hyundai’s EV for yourself? With new models on the way, Hyundai is offering some sweet deals on its current lineup. The 2025 IONIQ 6 is available for lease starting at $169 per month. The 2025 IONIQ 5 may be an even better bet at just $179 per month. You can use our links below to find Hyundai’s electric vehicles near you.
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