New CO2-holding #batteries can store 200 megawatt-hours of electricity, stabilizing the grid when renewables need a break. It takes less than two years to build and only requires 5 hectares of flat land to construct. https://spectrum.ieee.org/co2-battery-energy-storage?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fedica-Mastodon-Daily-Pipeline
NBC Chicago: Route 59 in Naperville closed after Tesla crashes, bursts into flames
The closure on Route 59 spans from the crash site near 95th Street to Cantore Road.
Updated on January 9, 2026 at 5:35 pm
"...Naperville Fire Department used a special tool designed for electric vehicle fires called a "Poseidon Nozzle" that was invented by a Naperville firefighter. It helps extinguish EV batteries when they catch on fire. ..."
NBC Chicago: Route 59 in Naperville closed after Tesla crashes, bursts into flames
The closure on Route 59 spans from the crash site near 95th Street to Cantore Road.
Updated on January 9, 2026 at 5:35 pm
"...Naperville Fire Department used a special tool designed for electric vehicle fires called a "Poseidon Nozzle" that was invented by a Naperville firefighter. It helps extinguish EV batteries when they catch on fire. ..."
With electric vehicles becoming a realistic option for Japanese consumers, battery recycling holds the key to the further spread of EVs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/10/battery-recycle-japan-ev/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #batteries #electricvehicles #cars #carmakers #recycling
With electric vehicles becoming a realistic option for Japanese consumers, battery recycling holds the key to the further spread of EVs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/10/battery-recycle-japan-ev/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #batteries #electricvehicles #cars #carmakers #recycling
“Todd pooled together $20 million from a mix of lenders, keen investors and his own savings and flew to China to meet with the chairman in a bid to launch #BYD in #Australia under a third-party distributorship.
He proposed that under a new company, #EVDirect, he would convert BYD cars from left-to right-hand drive in Australia using local engineering firms.
But the chairman had a different plan. Todd says BYD would eventually pour “10-times” the amount that Todd and his lenders had stumped up to *set up the company’s first right-hand-drive assembly line* in China to service #Australia and #NewZealand.
As part of the agreement, EVDirect was granted exclusive #DistributionRights. Under a #JointVenture with retail giant Eagers Automotive, known as EVDealer Group, BYD would sell more than 50,000 cars in Australia between February 2022 and July 2025 to the value of about $3 billion.”
The UK, French, USA all gave gave away the Australian car market.
#EV / #ElectricCars / #batteries < https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/built-in-52-seconds-how-byd-is-using-australia-to-capture-the-globe-20251104-p5n7qs> / <https://archive.md/tdRvV>
“Todd pooled together $20 million from a mix of lenders, keen investors and his own savings and flew to China to meet with the chairman in a bid to launch #BYD in #Australia under a third-party distributorship.
He proposed that under a new company, #EVDirect, he would convert BYD cars from left-to right-hand drive in Australia using local engineering firms.
But the chairman had a different plan. Todd says BYD would eventually pour “10-times” the amount that Todd and his lenders had stumped up to *set up the company’s first right-hand-drive assembly line* in China to service #Australia and #NewZealand.
As part of the agreement, EVDirect was granted exclusive #DistributionRights. Under a #JointVenture with retail giant Eagers Automotive, known as EVDealer Group, BYD would sell more than 50,000 cars in Australia between February 2022 and July 2025 to the value of about $3 billion.”
The UK, French, USA all gave gave away the Australian car market.
#EV / #ElectricCars / #batteries < https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/built-in-52-seconds-how-byd-is-using-australia-to-capture-the-globe-20251104-p5n7qs> / <https://archive.md/tdRvV>
Solid state batteries are now a reality – better in ALL ways than Lithium-Ion

Donut Lab introduced what it claims is the world’s first commercially available all-solid-state battery at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, marking a pivotal moment in the decade-long race to bring the promising technology from laboratory prototypes to real-world vehicles. The phone-sized battery cells are already powering the Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle, which enters production this quarter.
- Higher density (400 Wh/kg)
- Faster charging (potentially in 5 to 10 minutes)
- Full charge (no longer needing to limit to 80%)
- Safer (No flammable liquid electrolytes, No thermal runaway chains, No metallic dendrites that can cause internal shorts)
- Good for 100,000 cycles (high-end Lithium-Ion is about 5,000 cycles).
But there is more, at −30 °C and even over 100 °C , they can retain over 99% of their capacity. The usual issue has also been cost, but it is claimed now that without using rare earth minerals, material costs are actually lower than Lithium-Ion too.
It still does not stop there though, as these batteries are not created in the cell shapes that Lithium-Ion were, and which required products to conform to the shape of the battery. These solid state batteries behave like clay, so custom sizes, voltages, and geometries are now possible.
This also means that these are not only for vehicles but can potentially work in phones and micro-electronics.
A solid-state battery uses a solid material (like a ceramic or special polymer) to conduct electricity between its positive and negative sides, instead of the liquid or gel electrolyte found in regular lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
As regards a reality check, Verge’s TS Pro motorcycle is being launched now with one of these Donut solid state batteries. Range has increased from the older battery types having 350 km, to now up 600 km, with a charging time of 10 minutes. We will have to see the road tests later in 2026, but if so, then solid state batteries will truly be a game changer. Given the range and the charge cycles, that means the battery will be good for about 60 million kms. That is way more than any combustion engine is ever going to last.
See donutlab.com/battery and newatlas.com/motorcycles/verge…
#Blog, #batteries, #environment, #EV, #technology
Solid state batteries are now a reality – better in ALL ways than Lithium-Ion

Donut Lab introduced what it claims is the world’s first commercially available all-solid-state battery at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, marking a pivotal moment in the decade-long race to bring the promising technology from laboratory prototypes to real-world vehicles. The phone-sized battery cells are already powering the Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle, which enters production this quarter.
- Higher density (400 Wh/kg)
- Faster charging (potentially in 5 to 10 minutes)
- Full charge (no longer needing to limit to 80%)
- Safer (No flammable liquid electrolytes, No thermal runaway chains, No metallic dendrites that can cause internal shorts)
- Good for 100,000 cycles (high-end Lithium-Ion is about 5,000 cycles).
But there is more, at −30 °C and even over 100 °C , they can retain over 99% of their capacity. The usual issue has also been cost, but it is claimed now that without using rare earth minerals, material costs are actually lower than Lithium-Ion too.
It still does not stop there though, as these batteries are not created in the cell shapes that Lithium-Ion were, and which required products to conform to the shape of the battery. These solid state batteries behave like clay, so custom sizes, voltages, and geometries are now possible.
This also means that these are not only for vehicles but can potentially work in phones and micro-electronics.
A solid-state battery uses a solid material (like a ceramic or special polymer) to conduct electricity between its positive and negative sides, instead of the liquid or gel electrolyte found in regular lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
As regards a reality check, Verge’s TS Pro motorcycle is being launched now with one of these Donut solid state batteries. Range has increased from the older battery types having 350 km, to now up 600 km, with a charging time of 10 minutes. We will have to see the road tests later in 2026, but if so, then solid state batteries will truly be a game changer. Given the range and the charge cycles, that means the battery will be good for about 60 million kms. That is way more than any combustion engine is ever going to last.
See donutlab.com/battery and newatlas.com/motorcycles/verge…
#Blog, #batteries, #environment, #EV, #technology
just ran across this outfit in Oregon offering *unlimited miles* warranty on OEM replacement batteries for older Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.
~$1500 including shipping. (Obviously full EV would be somewhat more)
But this is why EVs are going to absolutely destroy the existing car industry. When you can replace the most important part for the price of 3/4/5 new car payments...on an EV that doesn't have other crap to break down - you could easily run a car 20-25 *years*.
https://shop.lionbatteryrepair.com/collections/all
Looking at their warranty definitions one thing stuck out to me
"Minimum mileage per year of 10,000 miles enforced."
which I guess makes some sense - batteries that basically sit can degrade.
just ran across this outfit in Oregon offering *unlimited miles* warranty on OEM replacement batteries for older Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.
~$1500 including shipping. (Obviously full EV would be somewhat more)
But this is why EVs are going to absolutely destroy the existing car industry. When you can replace the most important part for the price of 3/4/5 new car payments...on an EV that doesn't have other crap to break down - you could easily run a car 20-25 *years*.
https://shop.lionbatteryrepair.com/collections/all
Looking at their warranty definitions one thing stuck out to me
"Minimum mileage per year of 10,000 miles enforced."
which I guess makes some sense - batteries that basically sit can degrade.
LA Times: New California fee targets batteries in PlayStations, power tools and singing cards
"...With the start of the new year, Californians will pay a new fee every time they buy a product with a nonremovable battery — whether it’s a power tool, a PlayStation or even a singing greeting card.
The 1.5% surcharge, capped at $15, expands a recycling program that’s been quietly collecting old computer monitors and TVs for two decades...."
(paywall)