Free Republic

Tesla now qualifies for federal subsidies after agreeing to universalize a portion of its nearly 17,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers to assist the Biden administration’s goal of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, according to Axios... Of the $25 billion for EVs, Tesla will receive a portion of the $7.5 billion in federal incentives set aside for EV charging stations, according to Politico.

Proposed measures at the Illinois statehouse could require electric vehicle charging stations in the garage of new homes, a change one builder says would increase costs. House Bill 2206 and Senate Bill 40 require a new single-family residence or a small multifamily residence to have at least one electric vehicle charging station for each residential unit with dedicated parking. Dean Graven of the Home Builders Association of Illinois said neither measure considers the added costs. "This is a mandate with no funding behind it, a mandate that every new house, single-family duplex, then it gets into the multi-family, would have...

Congratulations. You’ve just purchased one of the most expensive high-performance electric trucks on the market. You’ve gone green and you’ve done it in style with the GMC Hummer, starting at $86,645. That’s right — the Hummer’s now a green vehicle! What was once the biggest villain in the left’s war on fossil fuels is now the poster child for responsible off-roading.... The video begins with standard 120V charging — or Level 1 charging, to use official jargon. This is the standard current your home already offers. “Right now it’s about 6 p.m. on Tuesday,” the man says. “And it says...

I've been musing re home EV charging. I have no expertise beyond common sense but there will surely be practical considerations involved...Let's say we have a surburban family with mom, pop & children all driving EVs. How many can be charged at once? I am thinking a multi-EV charging system and the necessary electrical capacity to safely power it would both need to be heavy-duty and therefore quite expensive. ka-ching and then you get to pay the electric bill!If this home only has a minimum power charging system requiring hours to charge a single vehicle, there would be EVs on...

Oregon is hoping to attract more drivers to purchase electric vehicles with its plan to add hundreds of charging stations across the state. The $100 million program, which aims to provide electric vehicle chargers every 50 miles along Oregon’s highways, was approved by the federal government Wednesday. “We’re trying to address a little bit of this chicken and the egg. What comes first? Do people have the cars or is the charging available? We know that charging is key to people gaining confidence that an electric vehicle is something that can work for them,” Amanda Pietz, an administrator at ODOT,...

Has your gas-guzzling SUV ever sent you a message telling you a specific time when you are not allowed to fill your vehicle with gas? Because Tesla owners are getting messages informing them of when NOT to charge their electric vehicles during California's "flex alert," which is where Californians are told when they can and cannot use electricity. Last week, Californians were "advised" by the non-profit American Public Power Association to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, turn off unnecessary lights and avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles. It was ironic because, only days earlier, unelected government...

If there is one consistent fact about electric vehicles, it’s that they are unreliable. Now their charging stations have come into question as well. In Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado, many companies have implemented charging stations in their parking lots. All of them are not fully functional, however. Chris Lane, a Basalt resident who owns two electric cars, highlighted a couple of issues with the local charging stations: Cables are ripped out, attachments are damaged and screens are cracked. If there is a mechanical problem with any one of these stations, it automatically shuts down, Aspen Daily News reported. “I...

Authorities said two recent fires in Blue Springs were both caused by lithium-ion batteries that are commonly found in most homes. No one was hurt in the fires. Rechargeable batteries are found in a variety of products. The fire department said to make sure your smoke detectors work and take action. The pictures show what's left of a Dyson vacuum that caught fire from a third-party battery purchased on Amazon. The fire started in the primary bedroom closet while the family was at home. "They burn at really high heat. It takes a lot of water," said fire Capt. Derrick...

RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) – There should be no such thing as a free charge for an electronic vehicle unless there is also free gasoline and diesel fuel for all other motorists. That’s the underlying principle of a bill filed in the North Carolina House that would create strict rules for free charging stations for electric vehicles on both private and public property. What the bill requires: But HB 1049 would place restrictions on private businesses and even state government that would appear to contradict such investments. It stipulates that: Any customer who uses an EV station must receive a receipt...

Americans are feeling the pinch of inflation. Wages are up but consumers are worse off. Average hourly earnings have risen by 5.5% over the last year. But factoring in rising costs, real earnings are down 2.6%. So, how are Americans making ends meet? They’re charging it. Consumer debt continues to climb at a staggering rate. Total consumer debt rose by $52.4 billion in March, a 14% increase according to the latest data released by the Federal Reserve. Outstanding consumer debt now stands at $4.54 trillion. The Federal Reserve consumer debt figures include credit card debt, student loans and auto loans,...

According to a study released earlier this week, over 27% of all electric vehicle charging stations in the San Francisco Bar area are non-functioning, bringing forward a major issue that may push back further public adaptation of electric cars in California in the coming years.

One in four public electric vehicle charging stations in the San Francisco Bay Area does not work, according to a new study. The report, produced by David Rempel of the University of California at Berkeley, suggested that while California — especially the Bay Area — is trying to make the shift to electric vehicles in a hurry, the current infrastructure is not ready.

It has been true for years: Mile for mile, it’s cheaper — generally much cheaper — to recharge an electric vehicle than it is to refuel one with an internal-combustion engine. That has been a key selling point for Tesla and other EV makers, particularly in times when gas prices have soared, such as now. But this time there’s a wrinkle: While gas prices have indeed soared in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so have electricity prices — particularly in some parts of the U.S. that have been big markets for Tesla’s EVs. That raises a question: Is...

ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) — A wave of new electric vehicle charging stations across the country is coming as interest in alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles is on the rise and could heighten further due to a global spike in gasoline prices. Though most of the plans were in the works before already high gas prices surged because of the war in Ukraine, the timing may work in favor of electric vehicle makers and other proponents of ditching fossil fuels. From coast to coast, cities big and small are adding charging stations for electric vehicles. Strong demand is forecast for the...

...woe to the urbanites. Chargers built into apartment parking lots are few and far between. And as if parking in a city isn’t nightmarish enough, competition for plug-friendly street spots leaves EVs stranded from the electricity that gives them life. Could you hack into the power lines above and snake a cord into your Tesla? Sure, if you prefer your biology extra crispy.......convincing urban dwellers to pony up for EVs is tough. Even those who have gotten over anxieties about battery ranges will find there aren’t many places to charge them....So the goal is clear: Build more chargers. But in...

Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” the Department of Justice should investigate former President Donald Trump for his role in the Capitol riot on January 6. During a congressional hearing, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said, “Mr. Meadows’ testimony will bear on another key question before this committee. Did Donald Trump, through action or inaction, corruptly seek to obstruct or impede Congress’ official proceedings to count electoral votes?”

Our smartphones have become such an essential part of our lives that it can sometimes be hard to leave them alone, even when they are charging. But using your phone while you are charging it can be hazardous. It can threaten your life and cause potential damage to your phone. There have been several reports of people either being very seriously injured or killed due to explosions when using their phone while charging. 1. Overheating If you keep using your phone while charging it, it will become prone to overheating – a problem that could cause the harmful chemicals present...

CHICAGO — The Illinois Tollway is examining the possibility of embedding equipment into I-294 that would charge electric vehicles as they drive along the road. The agency is at the start of a $4 billion project to rebuild and widen a 22-mile stretch of I-294, also known as the Tri-State. As part of the project, the Tollway wants to add infrastructure to charge electric vehicles. Off the highway, that could include both conventional charging stations and "super-charger" stations that power up electric cars and trucks more quickly. The agency also is studying "smart-powered lanes," a type of technology being tried...

The Illinois Tollway is examining the possibility of embedding equipment into I-294 that would charge electric vehicles as they drive along the road. The agency is at the start of a $4 billion project to rebuild and widen a 22-mile stretch of I-294, also known as the Tri-State. As part of the project, the Tollway wants to add infrastructure to charge electric vehicles. Off the highway, that could include both conventional charging stations and “super-charger” stations that power up electric cars and trucks more quickly. The agency also is studying “smart-powered lanes,” a type of technology being tried in Sweden...

California legislators on Thursday tightened rules requiring Volkswagen to spend a portion of clean car infrastructure funds in disadvantaged communities, passing a bill as part of a budget package agreed with Governor Jerry Brown. The state's regulator, the Air Resources Board, last month told VW to "make every attempt" to invest 35 percent of the first 30-month investment cycle in disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by air pollution.