SAN RAMON — Tesla is working on new battery technology that CEO Elon Musk says will enable the company within the next three years to make sleeker, more affordable cars that can travel dramatically longer distances on a single charge. But the battery breakthroughs that Musk unveiled Tuesday at a...
Walters: Short-Circuiting the Legislative Process for Electric Cars
The 2020 session of the California Legislature is radically different from any other in the state’s 170-year history, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislators abandoned the Capitol last spring after giving Gov. Gavin Newsom carte blanche authority and a billion dollars to deal with the crisis. When they finally returned...
Despite Sharp Growth in Electric Cars, Vehicle Emissions Keep Rising
It is tempting to employ any number of puns when considering California’s transportation future: The state is at a crossroads, its policies could run out of gas, dangerous curves lie ahead. But keeping in mind that the state’s climate policies demand the wholesale electrification of transportation, here’s another: California must...
Tesla Gears up for Fully Self-Driving Cars Amid Skepticism
SAN FRANCISCO — Tesla CEO Elon Musk appears poised to transform the company's electric cars into driverless vehicles in a risky bid to realize a bold vision that he has been floating for years. The technology required to make that quantum leap is scheduled to be shown off to Tesla...
California Must Make Use of ‘Renewable’ Natural Gas. Here’s How.
After significant success in other sectors, California is getting serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions from one of the hardest areas to decarbonize: heating in homes, businesses and industrial applications. To ensure success, flexible policy making is required. Californians are familiar with green technology. Solar panels, wind turbines, and electric...
How Electric Cars Could Make America’s Crumbling Roads Worse
U.S. roads and bridges are in abysmal shape – and that was before the recent winter storms made things even worse. In fact, the government rates over one-quarter of all urban interstates as in fair or poor condition and one-third of U.S. bridges need repair. To fix the potholes and...
China is Already Powerful. What Happens When a Strongman Rules?
This week, China's national legislative body will likely vote to allow President Xi Jinping to remain in power - possibly for life. A change to the country's constitution would remove presidential term limits that have been in place there since 1982. Those limits have prevented the consolidation of absolute power into...