June 2018 – Climate, Sustainability, Technology

Asia Pacific (APAC) takes the lead and holds it when it comes to renewable energy investment globally. While this is a major boom to the economies of Asia, it’s a loss that the Americans and Europeans are not investing similar amounts.

Trends Point to Asia

The global leaders in solar panel production have already shifted from Germany to China (around 2012 the shift began) and a similar phenomenon may be in the process for wind energy. The largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world is Vestas – located in Denmark. However, for one year in 2015 the Chinese firm Goldwind – headquartered in Beijing – was the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world. While there is more likely to be regional strongholds in the wind turbine production due to the size of turbines and requirements to manufacture locally, it’s interesting to note the shifting areas of expertise again drifting towards China and Asia. Follow the money. Furthermore, follow the investment, and see where the future money will be.

Renewable Energy Investment Globally – changing trends of leadership to APAC from Europe. Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Between 2011 and 2014 the global leadership position of investment into renewable energy shifted to the Asia Pacific region (APAC) – and the Asian investors have never looked back. This is a sorry state of affairs for two regions who had a decade-long lead to invest in renewable energy.

Renewable Energy Investment by Region. Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Every quarter since Q2 2014 through the end of 2017, APAC has enjoyed at least $32 Billion in renewable energy investment, with the largest quarterly investment hitting $50 Billion. To put that into perspective, the Americas have never made more than $22 Billion in RE investment – ever. EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) peaked historically in the $35 Billion / quarter investment range – however that was in 2010 and 2011.

Europe has given up its leadership position in renewable energy investment and the Americas still lag behind, investing less than 1/2 of was Asians did in renewables in 2017. This is a huge opportunity for the USA to take a leadership role in investment, production and high-tech expertise related to these industries. Will we get the investment dollars to make it happen? Will we get the political support to boost our economy in the RE sector?

The advantages from renewables are threefold:

Grow energy jobs now
Reduce energy costs in the short run and long run
Reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions

Investing in renewables is a win-win-win. Let’s hope that the USA will begin to take a leadership role in bringing the Americas to the top of this investment list.

Graham Majorhart is the co-founder of Carby Box, the first way to become carbon neutral through Amazon.com

Beautiful, top-performing electric vehicles are here and more are on the horizon.

The Porche Mission-E electric vehicle, as seen in Berlin in April 2018, is going into production in 2019.

The Porche Mission-E electric vehicle will go into production in 2019 with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and an expected range of over 500 km (310 mi)…and looks extremely cool.

The quickest car in the world today is already an electric car – the Tesla Model S, with a 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds. The only other two cars that equalled this performance previously were the “LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder. However, it’s worth noting that the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder were limited run, million dollar vehicles. While those cars are small two seaters with very little luggage space, the pure electric, all-wheel drive Model S P100D has four doors, seats up to 5 adults plus 2 children and has exceptional cargo capacity.” – Tesla press release.

The Tesla Roadster 2020 – top speed of 248 mph and a range of 621 miles.

The Tesla Roadster will be relaunched in 2020, with a top speed of 400 km/h (248 mph) and a total range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). When it launches, the Tesla Roadster will almost certainly be the quickest production vehicle on the planet with 0-60 acceleration time of 2.1 seconds.

Of course, the cars listed above are high priced, top-performance vehicles. The entry level Model S is $74,500 before federal and state tax credits. The 2020 Roadster will cost $200,000. The Porche Mission E will cost approximately $75,000 according to pre-launch information available.

E-Vehicles Version 3.0

However, looking ahead at the next class of electric vehicles, we see that the long-term trend of higher-quality, lower cost vehicles will emerge. The Tesla Model 3 has already gone into production in 2018 and deliveries have begun. The cost of this vehicle after federal tax credits is $27,500, with 15 states offering additional incentives ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

There are safety features inherent to well-designed electric cars, such as Teslas, primarily their structural integrity originating in their compact engine structure and low center of gravity caused by the placement of batteries at the bottom of the car. Elon Musk claimed during production that the Model 3 will be the safest car in the class – overtaking the Volvo S60 – and shared this video on Twitter showing a side-impact crash test. Judge for yourself.

Electric cars have already achieved the milestones of better performance, safer crash performance and reduced fuel costs.

The only remaining hurdle which is soon to fall is the cost of the vehicle itself. With the Model 3, a purchaser in Colorado with state incentives would pay $22,500. Are electric cars a thing of the future or have they already arrived?

Graham Majorhart is the co-founder of Carby Box, the first way to become carbon neutral through Amazon.com.

Month: June 2018

Renewable Energy Leadership Sits in Asia – Can we bring it to the USA?

The main reason electric cars will succeed – they are better, cheaper cars