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Last week, Hurricane Ida knocked out all 8 transmission lines into New Orleans. In Baton Rouge, it took out our communications along with our electricity — with the exception of those who had Verizon. Although most of Baton Rouge is getting back online, New Orleans as well as smaller towns and cities still don’t have power.

Someone shared an article by Canary Media with me, and after reading it, I fully agree. We need microgrids here in Louisiana, yet our leaders don’t seem to want them. Advocates have been trying for years to make our local grid resilient, but oddly, our leaders don’t seem to want that. Why?

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen governments (local, state, etc.) purposely refuse to do things that benefit everyone. It’s like they want us to have messed up grids so that we suffer during disasters. The article cited another article by Canary Media that showed the outcome following local authorities’ repeated dismissals of proposals to invest in decentralized and resilient grid upgrades.

In 2016, a New Orleans-based nonprofit, Alliance for Affordable Energy, had a great alternative to Entergy New Orleans’ plan to build a new natural-gas-fired power plant. That idea was to build clean electricity resilience from the ground up — an integrated resilience plan that challenged Entergy New Orleans to try to find an alternative to a central power plant. The plant would be subject to known vulnerabilities — such as the impact of a category 4 hurricane.

The Alliance for Affordable Energy called for pursuing distributed microgrids. The article aptly described these as self-powered islands of solar power, batteries, and backup generation that could provide electricity during grid outages. If only we had these during Ida. Executive director Logan Atkinson Burke shared how this was frustrating. “Had we taken the time and initiative to plan for distributed generation, distributed solar-plus-storage, and more energy efficiency, people would be more prepared to shelter safely and comfortably,” Burke said. “We’ve been advocating for microgrids to be built within the city for years for precisely this reason.”

Here’s Why Entergy Doesn’t Want Distributed Energy

The problem is Entergy’s long-standing opposition to distributed energy. The utility has consistently opposed including local renewable energy and energy storage in its own plans. Utilities also get an incentive when they convince regulators to approve large power plants instead of enabling customer-sited distributed energy such as rooftop solar. The article pointed out that vertically integrated utilities such as Entergy are paid a guaranteed rate of return on capital investments, including power plants. Self-supplied customer energy reduces the revenue and profits Entergy and other utilities earn from selling electricity.

It’s all about money, profits, and greed. They make more money from weakening our defenses against disasters such as Ida than they would from strengthening them. And we, the people, end up paying the price. And our government readily caters to this greed. Not just Louisiana’s — this trend is seen elsewhere as well.

Car dealerships in Connecticut, for example, lobby legislatures to prevent Tesla and Rivian from coming to their state and opening a sales center. This hurts the economy, but they do it anyway. It’s all about greed, money, and profits.

 

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Hyundai’s first EV sports car has even Lamborghini interested [Video]

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Hyundai's first EV sports car has even Lamborghini interested [Video]

The IONIQ 5 N is the fastest Hyundai ever made, electric or gas-powered. The sporty electric car is so good that it’s now drawing the attention of some of the industry’s finest. Hyundai’s EV sports car was recently spotted outside a Lamborghini test facility. Check out the video below.

Hyundai’s EV sports car caught at a Lamborghini test site

As the first EV to wear its “N” badge, Hyundai aimed to set the bar even higher. And that it did. The IONIQ 5 N is not only the most powerful Hyundai, it’s also the most fun to drive with a series of track-ready features.

Based on its advanced E-GMP platform, Hyundai’s electric sports car delivers up to 641 hp. That’s when using its N Grin boost feature, which gives you a 10-second power surge.

When on the track, N Launch control enables you to adjust to different road conditions for the perfect takeoff. Other features, like N e-Shift, simulate an 8-speed N Dual Clutch Transmission, making it feel like you’re in a true race car.

With N Active Sound+, you cannot only feel the performance but also hear it. Eight internal and two external features sync to your vehicle’s performance.

Hyundai's-EV-Lamborghini
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai’s EV sports car is apparently good enough to attract Lamborghini’s attention. A Hyundai IONIQ 5 N model was recently spotted leaving Lamborghini’s test facility.

The video from YouTuber Varryx shows a Lamborghini test driver leaving the “Porta Sud,” suggesting the sports car maker could be benchmarking Hyundai’s EV.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N spotted outside a Lamborghini test facility (Source: Varryx)

Lamborghini unveiled the Lanzador in 2023, its first fully electric vehicle. The concept introduces a new high-ground-clearance GT with 2+2 seating. Or, in other words, like a supercar sitting on an SUV. It’s expected to launch in 2029.

Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N already beat a Lamborghini Urus Performante in a drag race (see the video here), so it’s no wonder the Italian sports car maker is taking notes.

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Hydrogen dead end: Hyzon board votes to dissolve company

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Hydrogen dead end: Hyzon board votes to dissolve company

The board of directors of the troubled hydrogen fuel cell maker has voted to dissolve the company that developed the first HFC garbage truck to North America last spring, pending shareholder approval.

After a promising global start that saw the American startup announce pilot programs that would see its hydrogen fuel cells put to work in transit buses in Brisbane, its tow trucks (above) in Victoria, and five 154-ton severe duty trucks scheduled to service a zinc refinery operation in north Queensland, slow sales and an inability to deliver on its ambitious goals saw the company quit Australia in July.

Now, Hyzon is quitting altogether.

After issuing a WARN letter to employees in December announcing layoff plans, citing an inability to raise funding and the future uncertainty relating to the availability of government subsidies. Now, it appears the Hyzon board of directors has unanimously voted to dissolve the company and liquidate its assets (pending shareholder approval).

Unanimously approved, subject to stockholder approval, the transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets through an assignment for the benefit of creditors, and the liquidation and dissolution of the Company pursuant to a plan of dissolution while continuing to pursue strategic alternatives and potential funding sources intended to maximize the value of its business and assets.

HYZON, IN A STATEMENT TO NASDAQ

If Hyzon is unable to find a buyer or an patient, bullish customer soon, expect all of Hyzon’s staff at its Bolingbrook, Illinois and Troy, Michigan facilities to be laid off by the end of February 2025.

Electrek’s Take

Hyzon 200 kW hydrogen fuel cell.

When I wrote about Hyzon retreating from Australia’s shores, I noted that Australia’s commercial BEV sales were booming. The same is true in the US, as well, with Cox Automotive expecting fully 1 in 4 new cars sold this year to be fully electric.

It seems like the market has spoken, then – and hydrogen has lost.

SOURCE | IMAGES: NASDAQ, via ACT.

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GM is using AI to find ideal spots for EV charging stations

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GM is using AI to find ideal spots for EV charging stations

Data scientists at General Motors (GM) are using AI and machine learning to pinpoint ideal EV charging station locations across the US.

As EV sales hit record highs for GM in 2024, many drivers are still unsure where to charge their vehicles. To tackle this, GM has partnered with EVgo and Pilot Travel Centers to boost public charging options and improve the overall charging experience.

Partnerships with EVgo and Pilot Travel Centers

GM and EVgo are working together to install 2,850 DC fast charging stalls nationwide. This includes 400 flagship fast-charging locations in major metro areas with 350 kW chargers for ultra-fast charging. These stations feature pull-through layouts for easier vehicle maneuvering, bright lighting for safety, and canopies to protect against the elements.

Additionally, GM has teamed up with Pilot Flying J and EVgo to add up to 2,000 DC fast chargers at 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. So far, more than 130 locations are operational.

Using AI to site EV charging stations

To ensure new charging stations are sited where they’ll have the most impact, GM’s data scientists are tapping into artificial intelligence. AI tools analyze EV traffic patterns, driver behaviors, and existing infrastructure to identify optimal locations for chargers.

By treating site selection as a mathematical optimization problem, these algorithms evaluate factors like traffic flow and proximity to other chargers. The results are then visualized on detailed maps, helping stakeholders understand the reasoning behind each recommendation. Human experts review and refine these suggestions to finalize charging site plans.

Once the data-driven decisions are made, GM works with its partners to bring these strategic charging stations online.

This approach blends advanced technology with industry collaboration to tackle one of the most significant hurdles for EV adoption, ensuring drivers have the confidence to make the switch.

What do you think about the use of AI to site EV charging stations? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more: GM and EVgo double their DC fast chargers to 2,000 in 16 months


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