Free Republic

In yet another setback for the Biden-Harris regime’s push for electric vehicles, American consumers are showing a distinct lack of enthusiasm for purchasing new EVs. The latest Mobility Consumer Index (MCI) from consulting firm EY reveals a shocking drop in interest, with only 34% of US consumers planning to buy an electrified vehicle—down from 48% in 2023. This decline raises serious questions about the administration’s ability to force their “Electric Revolution” onto consumers. Now, after seemingly rushing to promote electric vehicles as the future of transportation, the reality is hitting hard: fully electric vehicle interest has plummeted to a mere...

Volvo's electric performance brand Polestar is unveiling a battery-powered compact car touted as a rival to Tesla's Model 3. The Polestar 2 is a five-door vehicle with a panoramic glass roof, an all-vegan interior and a battery with enough capacity to drive 500 kilometers under European tests for range measurement, or 275 miles under U.S. testing rules.With 408 horsepower, it should accelerate from zero to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in under five seconds. Polestar said Wednesday that the car's U.S. price for the launch version will be $55,500 after tax incentives; later a lower-priced version with less range is envisioned.The...

As Volvo prepares to inaugurate its first United States-based manufacturing facility in South Carolina, the Swedish luxury marque announced it will also reveal the 2019 S60 sedan at the same location. The S60 will make its debut at the Charleston production facility on June 20. Motor Authority is scheduled to be on hand in Charleston for the reveal of the S60 and a tour of the new plant. The reveal is part of Volvo's shifting strategy around media events. Volvo issued a press release about that strategy on Friday. Rather than attend major auto shows, Volvo said it will plan...

Explanation: One of these two bright sky objects is moving. On the right is the famous star Polaris. Although only the 45th brightest star in the sky, Polaris is famous for appearing stationary. Once you find it, it will always appear in the same direction -- all night and all day -- for the rest of your life. This is because the northern spin pole of the Earth -- called the North Celestial Pole -- points near Polaris. On the left, about ten million times closer, is Comet Lovejoy, which noticeably changes its sky position by the hour. The featured...

Explanation: In only about 12,000 years Vega will be the North Star, the closest bright star to our fair planet's North Celestial Pole. By then, when you fix your camera to a tripod long exposures of the night sky will show the concentric arcs of star trails centered on a point near Vega as Earth rotates on its axis. Of course, presently the bright star conveniently near the North Celestial Pole is Polaris, but that will change as the Earth's axis of rotation precesses, like the wobble of a spinning top with a precession period of about 26,000 years. If...