Turntide axial flux motor to power Sierra Echo-S EV in King of the Hammers 2026 off-road race
Turntide Technologies has announced that its Sierra Echo-S, an EV powered by Turntide axial-flux motor technology, will compete in King of the Hammers 2026 off-road race. The entry is intended to prove out off-road electrification in a race that combines high-speed desert sections with slow, technical rock crawling. The Sierra Echo-S aims to be the first purpose-built electric vehicle designed from the ground up to complete the race. The EV uses Turntide compact axial-flux motors and power electronics to target high torque and efficiency for climbing steep, uneven terrain. Turntide says the compact motor packaging allows the motors to be placed closer to the vehicle center for balanced weight, with the goal of putting more power to the ground and improving control and precision during off-road driving. Sierra Echo-S features an 18.6 kWh battery and a 420 V nominal electrical system. The axial-flux motor is specified at 235 Newton meters of torque at 1,500 rpm. Turntide also specifies a 4.56 gear ratio, rugged 33-inch tires, a 2.64 horsepower-per-pound power-to-weight ratio, and 0-60 mph acceleration in 3 seconds. Beyond off-road EV racing, Turntide is applying the same axial-flux electrification approach to off-highway use cases, including heavy construction. “We are taking on this race to provide a glimpse into the future of off-highway electric mobility,” said Jason Glass, North America Business Development Director. “Our technology delivers the performance and torque necessary to excel in the toughest and most demanding conditions from extreme off-road racing to heavy construction. The off-highway industry is at an exciting turning point, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this evolution.” Source: Turntide Technologies
Tesla AI Head says future FSD feature has already partially shipped
Tesla’s Head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, says that something that was expected with version 14.3 of the company’s Full Self-Driving platform has already partially shipped with the current build of version 14.2. Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have teased on several occasions that reasoning will be a big piece of future Full Self-Driving builds, helping bring forth the “sentient” narrative that the company has pushed for these more advanced FSD versions. Back in October on the Q3 Earnings Call, Musk said: “With reasoning, it’s literally going to think about which parking spot to pick. It’ll drop you off at the entrance of the store, then go find a parking spot. It’s going to spot empty spots much better than a human. It’s going to use reasoning to solve things.” Musk said in the same month: “By v14.3, your car will feel like it is sentient.” Amazingly, Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2.2.2, which is the most recent iteration released, is very close to this sentient feeling. However, there are more things that need to be improved, and logic appears to be in the future plans to help with decision-making in general, alongside other refinements and features. On Thursday evening, Elluswamy revealed that some of the reasoning features have already been rolled out, confirming that it has been added to navigation route changes during construction, as well as with parking options. He added that “more and more reasoning will ship in Q1.” Tesla’s Ashok Elluswamy reveals Nav decisions when encountering construction and parking options contain “some elements of reasoning” More uses of reasoning will be shipped later this quarter, a big tidbit of info as we wait v14.3 — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 9, 2026 Interestingly, parking improvements were hinted at being added in the initial rollout of v14.2 several months ago. These had not rolled out to vehicles quite yet, as they were listed under the future improvements portion of the release notes, but it appears things have already started to make their way to cars in a limited fashion. Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2 – Full Review, the Good and the Bad As reasoning is more involved in more of the Full Self-Driving suite, it is likely we will see cars make better decisions in terms of routing and navigation, which is a big complaint of many owners (including me). Additionally, the operation as a whole should be smoother and more comfortable to owners, which is hard to believe considering how good it is already. Nevertheless, there are absolutely improvements that need to be made before Tesla can introduce completely unsupervised FSD. The post Tesla AI Head says future FSD feature has already partially shipped appeared first on TESLARATI.
Mapping global optimism and pessimism in 2026
We’re less than two weeks into 2026 and already it’s been a turbulent start. Beneath the headlines, recent research reveals a striking divide in optimism versus pessimism about the world’s direction, offering key insights for organizations seeking to engage global audiences on the sustainability agenda. Trellis data partner GlobeScan found that when looking at net ratings across 33 markets surveyed China and Vietnam ead the world in confidence that things are moving in the right direction. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Nigeria also show high levels of optimism, along with India and Indonesia. These markets represent fertile ground for sustainability initiatives and forward-looking partnerships. Markets in Latin America are more pessimistic than most other emerging regions, although attitudes vary across countries surveyed. Pessimism is strongest in Colombia and Brazil, and lowest in Peru. On the flip side, Europe and North America are significantly more pessimistic. It’s highest in France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy, with Germany and Sweden also among the most pessimistic countries. In North America, the United States shows a blend of hopeful and cautious attitudes, largely corresponding with political affiliation: Republican-leaning voters are far more optimistic about the future than Democrat-leaning voters. Canadians tend to be more skeptical than Americans overall. These markets require communication that acknowledges concerns and demonstrates measurable progress. What this means Optimism and pessimism are unevenly distributed globally, presenting distinct opportunities and challenges for engagement. In emerging markets, high confidence offers momentum for sustainability programs, innovation and partnerships, with communications playing a key role in amplifying achievements and inviting participation. In contrast, skepticism in Europe and North America calls for a more strategic approach: acknowledging concerns, demonstrating measurable impact and fostering trust. Tailoring strategies to these regional mindsets is essential for sustainability professionals aiming to drive their agenda forward in a world where optimism and skepticism coexist. Based on a survey of more than 31,000 people conducted July — August 2025. The post Mapping global optimism and pessimism in 2026 appeared first on Trellis.
Siemens introduces Digital Twin Composer for lifecycle modeling
Siemens announced Digital Twin Composer, a software solution for creating digital twin environments that combine industrial AI, simulation and real-time operational data for virtual evaluation and decision support. The software brings together 2D and 3D digital twin data with real-time physical information in a managed, secure visual scene built using NVIDIA Omniverse libraries, and is intended to support ongoing updates across the lifecycle of a product, process or facility. Digital Twin Composer is designed to provide real-time operational data in a 3D model so companies can visualize and test changes to products, processes or factory layouts before physical design or construction. Use cases include manufacturing facilities, shipyards, vehicle programs and data center projects on new or existing sites. PepsiCo and Siemens are using the software to create 3D digital twins of select U.S. manufacturing and warehouse facilities to simulate plant operations and the supply chain and establish a performance baseline. Siemens said teams used the models to evaluate and validate configuration changes and to support a consolidated view of operations, with the option to add AI-based capabilities over time. PepsiCo are digitally transforming select US manufacturing and warehouse facilities with the help of Digital Twin Composer (Image credit: PepsiCo) Using Siemens’ Digital Twin Composer with NVIDIA Omniverse and computer vision, PepsiCo can model equipment, conveyor paths, pallet routes and operator movement and run physics-based simulations to evaluate proposed changes before making physical modifications. PepsiCo said this approach can identify up to 90% of potential issues in advance and has increased throughput by 20% in its initial deployment, while also shortening design cycles, improving design validation and reducing capital expenditures by 10% to 15%. Many design, engineering and production teams work in separate tools and data systems. Siemens said Digital Twin Composer is intended to bring design, simulation and operations into a single model so engineers can test products, processes and facilities more quickly, validate automation earlier in the project lifecycle and use a shared digital twin for ongoing operations. Digital Twin Composer is part of Siemens Xcelerator, a portfolio of software used to develop digital twins for product, process and factory design and simulation. The tool connects 3D digital twins built with Siemens Xcelerator to operational data sources such as manufacturing execution systems, quality management systems, PLC code and industrial IoT data. It can also integrate with Siemens data science and AI software, including RapidMiner, and other AI tools to support analysis and real-time monitoring. For more information, visit siemens.com. The post Siemens introduces Digital Twin Composer for lifecycle modeling appeared first on Engineering.com.
How Lime increased ridership over 60% by letting people sit down
Sometimes innovation isn’t simply about going faster or adding more tech. Sometimes it’s as simple as giving people a seat. That appears to be the case in Seattle, where Lime says its ridership jumped by an eye-opening 61% last year. According to the company, a major contributor to that growth was the LimeGlider – a seated electric scooter that blends elements of scooters, bikes, and mopeds into a single, highly approachable form factor. more…
Donut Lab says its all-solid-state battery will be used in a production electric motorcycle this year
Solid-state batteries are a hot topic in the EV world—they theoretically off higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, as well as an improved safety profile and other advantages. Many, many companies are working on SSBs, and automakers are testing them, but we haven’t yet seen large-scale deployment of all-solid-state cells in a production vehicle. So, when a company called Donut Lab announced that its solid-state batteries are now “ready for OEM use,” and would be deployed in sister company’s Verge Motorcycles’ 2026 models in the first quarter of this year, it harvested a host of headlines. Donut Lab says its all-solid-state battery delivers 400 Wh/kg of specific energy, and is designed to last up to 100,000 cycles with minimal capacity fade. Extreme temperatures are no problem: the battery retains over 99% of its capacity from -30° to 100° C. But wait! There’s more: Donut’s SSB “is made entirely from abundant, affordable and geopolitically safe materials, does not rely on rare or sensitive elements, and demonstrates a lower cost than lithium-ion [batteries].” It can be produced in custom sizes, voltages and geometries, enabling structural integration and other specialized applications. “While the advantages are obvious, the future of solid-state batteries has been a moving target, constantly delayed,” said Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki. “Our answer on solid-state batteries being ready for use in OEM production vehicles is now, today, not later. Donut Lab has engineered a new high-performance solid-state Donut Battery that can be scaled to major production volumes and is seen now in real-world use in the Verge Motorcycles bikes on the road in Q1. Donut Lab waited to announce our solid-state battery breakthrough until the technology was fully tested, validated, and already operating in vehicles.” Donut Lab is also providing its SSBs to WATT Electric Vehicles, Cova Power Smart Trailer (a joint venture between Ahola Group and Donut Lab) and the ESOX Group, a provider of defense-grade platforms. Not everyone is convinced that a new EV era is at hand. Battery scientist Tom Boetticher posted on LinkedIn that Donut Labs’ claims “made many battery scientists highly skeptical,” noting that “there is no comparable solid-state cell anywhere in the world that achieves these specifications.” It appears that Donut’s SSB tech comes from Nordic Nano, a company in which Donut is an investor. Skepticism about a major breakthrough such as this is to be expected. Considering the plethora of publicity around Donut’s announcement, it seems certain that more details and data will be forthcoming soon. Electrek’s Fred Lambert points out that if Verge Motorcycles succeeds in delivering solid-state batteries in production vehicles in early 2026, it will have “beaten the entire global automotive industry to the punch.” Runners-up in the SSB race would include not only Quantumscape and Ducati, who unveiled a demonstration bike solid-state cells last September, but heavyweights such as Samsung SDI and Schaeffler (to say nothing of Toyota, which has been talking trash about SSBs for a decade). We shall see. Source: Donut Lab
Tesla Diner becomes latest target of gloom and doom narrative
The Tesla Diner has been subject to many points of criticism since its launch in mid-2025, and skeptics and disbelievers claim the company’s latest novel concept is on its way down, but there’s a lot of evidence to state that is not the case. The piece cites anecdotal evidence like empty parking lots, more staff than customers during a December visit, removed novelty items, like Optimus robot popcorn service and certain menu items, the departure of celebrity chef Eric Greenspan in November 2025, slow service, high prices, and a shift in recent Google/Yelp reviews toward disappointment. The piece frames this as part of broader Tesla struggles, including sales figures and Elon Musk’s polarizing image, calling it a failed branding exercise rather than a sustainable restaurant. This narrative is overstated and sensationalized, and is a good representation of coverage on Tesla by today’s media. Novelty Fade is Normal, Not Failure Any hyped launch, especially a unique Tesla-branded destination blending dining, Supercharging, and a drive-in theater, naturally sees initial crowds taper off after the “Instagram effect” wears down. Tesla makes major change at Supercharger Diner amid epic demand This is common for experiential spots in Los Angeles, especially pop-up attractions or celebrity-backed venues. The article admits early success with massive lines and social media buzz, but treats the return to normal operations as “dying down.” In reality, this stabilization is a healthy sign of transitioning from hype-driven traffic to steady patronage. Actual Performance Metrics Contradict “Ghost Town” Claims In Q4 2025, the Diner generated over $1 million in revenue, exceeding the average McDonald’s location It sold over 30,000 burgers and 83,000 fries in that quarter alone. These figures indicate a strong ongoing business, especially for a single-location prototype focused on enhancing Supercharger experiences rather than competing as a mass-market chain It’s not a ghost town lol. The @Tesla Diner still had over 30,000 burger orders and 83,000 fries orders in Q4. The diner generated over $1M in revenue in Q4, a $4M annual run rate, which is more than the average McDonald’s…. pic.twitter.com/XvAGLUqxej — Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 4, 2026 Conflicting On-the-Ground Reports While the article, and other similar pieces, describe a half-full parking lot and sparse customers during specific off-peak visits, other recent accounts push back: A January 2026 X post noted 50 of 80 Supercharger stalls were busy at 11 a.m., calling it “the busiest diner in Hollywood by close to an order of magnitude TESLA DINER Frantic!!! Crazy busy. pic.twitter.com/wMbmr8SFFn — Rich & Sharon (@HullTeslaModel3) January 4, 2026 Reddit discussions around the same time describe it as not empty when locals drive by regularly, with some calling the empty narrative “disingenuous anti-Tesla slop.” When we visited it last week it was packed. We had to wait to enter, get a table and go to the restroom. We were lucky to find a spot to charge. — Rani G (@ranig) January 4, 2026 Bottom Line The Tesla Diner, admittedly, is not the nonstop circus it was at launch–that was never sustainable or intended. But, it’s far from “dying” or an “empty pit stop.” It functions as a successful prototype: boosting Supercharger usage, generating solid revenue, and serving as a branded amenity in the high-traffic EV market of Los Angeles. The post Tesla Diner becomes latest target of gloom and doom narrative appeared first on TESLARATI.
Tesla Giga Shanghai celebrates 5 million electric drive unit milestone
Tesla China has reached another manufacturing milestone at Gigafactory Shanghai, rolling out the facility’s 5 millionth locally produced drive unit. The milestone was celebrated by the company in a post on its official Weibo account. In its post, the Giga Shanghai team could be seen posing with the 5 millionth drive unit. Giga Shanghai’s major benchmark The milestone drive unit was produced at Gigafactory Shanghai, which produces the Model Y and the Model 3. In a release, Tesla China noted that its three-in-one integrated electric drive system combines the motor, gearbox, and inverter into a single compact assembly. This forms a powerful “heart” for the company’s electric cars. Tesla China also noted that its drive units’ integrated design improves energy conversion efficiency while reducing overall weight and complexity, benefits that translate into stronger performance, improved handling, and longer service life for its vehicles. Credit: Tesla China The new milestone builds on earlier achievements at the same site. In July 2024, Tesla announced that its 10 millionth electric drive system globally had rolled off the line at the Shanghai plant, making it the first self-produced Tesla component to reach that volume. More recently, the factory also produced its 4 millionth China-made vehicle, a Model Y L. The factory has also continued hitting global production milestones, rolling out Tesla’s 9 millionth EV worldwide late last year, with the landmark vehicle being a Tesla Model Y. Tesla China’s role Construction of Giga Shanghai began in January 2019, with production starting by the end of that year. This made it the first wholly foreign-owned automotive manufacturing project in China. The facility began delivering Model 3 vehicles locally in early 2020 and added Model Y production in 2021. The plant is now capable of producing about 1 million vehicles annually. Credit: Tesla China Throughout 2025, Giga Shanghai delivered 851,732 vehicles, representing a 7.08% year-on-year decline, according to data compiled by CNEVPost. Even so, recent months showed renewed momentum. In December alone, Tesla China recorded wholesale sales of 97,171 vehicles, including domestic deliveries and exports, making it the company’s second-best monthly total on record, per data from the China Passenger Car Association. Retail sales during December reached roughly 94,000 units, up about 13% year over year. The post Tesla Giga Shanghai celebrates 5 million electric drive unit milestone appeared first on TESLARATI.
Tesla earns top honors at MotorTrend’s SDV Innovator Awards
Tesla emerged as one of the most recognized automakers at MotorTrend’s 2026 Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Innovator Awards. As could be seen in a press release from the publication, two key Tesla employees were honored for their work on AI, autonomy, and vehicle software. MotorTrend’s SDV Awards were presented during CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Tesla leaders and engineers recognized The fourth annual SDV Innovator Awards celebrate pioneers and experts who are pushing the automotive industry deeper into software-driven development. Among the most notable honorees for this year was Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s Vice President of AI Software, who received a Pioneer Award for his role in advancing artificial intelligence and autonomy across the company’s vehicle lineup. Tesla also secured recognition in the Expert category, with Lawson Fulton, a staff Autopilot machine learning engineer, honored for his contributions to Tesla’s driver-assistance and autonomous systems. GOOD NEWS MotorTrend has officially announced the winners of the fourth annual Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Innovator Awards These awards celebrate the individuals redefining how cars are designed, built, and driven This year, two major accolades go to Tesla… pic.twitter.com/qlBsFsqACM — Ming (@tslaming) January 8, 2026 Tesla’s software-first strategy While automakers like General Motors, Ford, and Rivian also received recognition, Tesla’s multiple awards stood out given the company’s outsized role in popularizing software-defined vehicles over the past decade. From frequent OTA updates to its data-driven approach to autonomy, Tesla has consistently treated vehicles as evolving software platforms rather than static products. This has made Tesla’s vehicles very unique in their respective sectors, as they are arguably the only cars that objectively get better over time. This is especially true for vehicles that are loaded with the company’s Full Self-Driving system, which are getting progressively more intelligent and autonomous over time. The majority of Tesla’s updates to its vehicles are free as well, which is very much appreciated by customers worldwide. The post Tesla earns top honors at MotorTrend’s SDV Innovator Awards appeared first on TESLARATI.
I subscribed to Tesla Full Self-Driving after four free months: here’s why
I have been lucky enough to experience Tesla Full Self-Driving for the entire duration of my ownership experience for free — for four months, I have not had to pay for what I feel is the best semi-autonomous driving suite on the market. Today, my free trial finally ran out, and I had two choices: I could go without it for a period until I felt like I absolutely needed it, or I could subscribe to it, pay $99 per month, and continue to experience the future of passenger transportation. I chose the latter, here’s why. Tesla Full Self-Driving Takes the Stress Out of Driving There are a handful of driving situations that I don’t really enjoy, and I think we all have certain situations that we would just rather not encounter. This is not to say that I won’t ever experience them as someone who has driven a car for 15 years (it feels weird saying that). I don’t love to drive in cities; I really don’t like driving on I-695 on my way to Baltimore, and I truly hate parallel parking. All three things I can do and have done, all three within the past few weeks, too. It takes all the stress out of city driving pic.twitter.com/q0SPPrH4HU — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) December 4, 2025 However, if I can avoid them, I will, and Tesla Full Self-Driving does that for me. Tesla Full Self-Driving Eliminates the Monotony I drive to my alma mater, Penn State University, frequently in the Winter as I am a season ticket holder to Wrestling and have been for 16 years now. The drive to State College is over two hours and over 100 miles in total, and the vast majority of it is boring as I travel on Rt 322, which is straight, and there is a lot of nature to look at on the way. I am willing to let the car drive me on that ride, especially considering it is usually very low traffic, and the vast majority of it is spent on the highway. The drive, along with several others, is simply a boring ride, where I’d much rather be looking out the windshield and windows at the mountains. I still pay attention, but having the car perform the turns and speed control makes the drive more enjoyable. Tesla Full Self-Driving Makes Navigating Easier Other than the local routes that I routinely travel and know like the back of my hand, I’ve really enjoyed Full Self-Driving’s ability to get me to places — specifically new ones — without me having to constantly check back at the Navigation. Admittedly, I’ve had some qualms with the Nav, especially with some routing and the lack of ability to choose a specific route after starting a drive. For example, it takes a very interesting route to my local Supercharger, one that nobody local to my area would consider. But there are many times I will go to a new palce and I’m not exactly sure where to go or how to get there. The Navigation, of course, helps with that. However, it is really a luxury to have my car do it for me. To Conclude There was no doubt in my mind that when my Full Self-Driving trial was up, I’d be subscribing. It was really a no-brainer. I am more than aware that Full Self-Driving is far from perfect, but it is, without any doubt, the best thing about my Tesla, to me. It has been incredibly valuable to me, and that is what my main factor was in considering whether to subscribe or not. It has made driving much less stressful and much more enjoyable. How I’ve gotten Tesla Full Self-Driving for free…until now Watch me subscribe to Tesla FSD! pic.twitter.com/cs5CmN5PdJ — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 7, 2026 The post I subscribed to Tesla Full Self-Driving after four free months: here’s why appeared first on TESLARATI.
10 impact investing trends that will define 2026
The opinions expressed here by Trellis expert contributors are their own, not those of Trellis. As an impact investor and educator, I’ve learned to distinguish between the noise that dominates headlines and the signals that actually move capital. As we begin 2026, this discernment has never been more essential. The jarring political landscape is enough to make you think impact investing is retreating. But here’s what the headlines miss: Markets are moving on their own momentum. Capital hasn’t slowed. It’s just getting smarter about where it flows. I see 10 trends that will shape impact investing this year. What unites them is a central theme: the transition from aspirational ideals to financial materiality. Impact investing in 2026 isn’t about virtue — it’s about value. 1. Financial materiality becomes the organizing principle The shift I wrote about last year — from moral imperatives to financial materiality — is in full swing. Asset managers approach climate and biodiversity with a focus on measurable impact to cash flows, valuations and cost of capital. This isn’t a retreat from impact; it’s an evolution. Some studies show that companies reporting clearer sustainability data are being rewarded with lower financing costs and higher equity valuations. The market is speaking and it’s saying, “Show me the numbers.” 2. Technology and AI multiply impact AI isn’t just transforming how we invest; it’s transforming how we measure impact. The KPIs that demonstrate how a business addresses environmental or social challenges can be tracked with unprecedented precision. AI-driven geospatial analytics are making physical risk assessments more robust and comparable across markets. For investors, the ability to see a fuller picture of financially material issues has never been greater. The challenge now isn’t gathering data — it’s converting raw material into reliable, actionable insights. 3. The energy transition is driven by economics, not policy Consider a statistic that should fundamentally alter the investment narrative: During the first nine months of 2024, renewables captured 90 percent of new U.S. generating capacity, with solar alone representing over 70 percent. Mandates aren’t driving this transformation — mathematics is. The cost curves have crossed. Markets have noticed. Businesses monetizing mature, commercially viable clean technologies have delivered stronger performance than peers betting on nascent innovations. New-energy equities more than doubled the gains of broader indices through the latter half of 2025. Washington’s priorities will rotate, but for solutions that have achieved genuine unit-economic advantage, each production cycle compounds its competitive position independent of whoever occupies the White House. The key analytical task ahead: separating enterprises that can thrive on pure economics from those whose fortunes remain hostage to legislative tailwinds. 4. Physical climate risk repricing across asset classes Owners of operating companies and tangible assets can no longer relegate physical climate exposure to the appendix. Surface-level projections can mislead: Aggregate extreme weather damages may increase just 2 percent through mid-century under a 3 degrees Celsius pathway. Yet averages mask the distribution that matters. Morgan Stanley’s analysis suggests the proportion of holdings facing ruinous impairment — losses beyond 20 percent of value — could multiply fivefold. Underwriters are already adjusting. Natural catastrophe protection premiums are projected to rise around 50 percent through decade’s end. Allocators thinking beyond the current cycle may find that positioning for durability in 2026 represents not merely prudent defense, but a pathway to outperformance. 5. Regional, small and mid-cap companies gain competitive advantage The globalization trend of the past 25 years is reversing. Smaller, more nimble private companies that maintain emphasis on domestic supply chains are gaining relative advantage over those at the mega end of the market. Their ability to move quickly, navigate local environments and maintain regional supply chains is becoming a distinct edge against global market shocks, presenting a “picks and shovels” approach for investing in infrastructure. 6. A graying America sells privately held companies to employees The long-anticipated “silver tsunami” — the wave of Baby Boomer business owners reaching retirement age — is cresting, with an estimated 2.9 million privately held businesses expected to change hands over the next decade. For investors, the question of who acquires these companies carries profound implications for wealth distribution. While private equity and strategic acquirers remain the default exit paths, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are emerging as a vehicle for converting retiring owners’ equity into broad-based employee wealth. The mechanics are elegant: Sellers receive favorable tax treatment, employees acquire ownership stakes at no out-of-pocket cost, and communities retain locally rooted businesses that might otherwise be consolidated, stripped or relocated. Research from the National Center for Employee Ownership shows that ESOP participants accumulate retirement assets three to five times greater than comparable workers at non-ESOP firms — a differential that compounds dramatically for lower-wage and historically marginalized employees who rarely access ownership economics through conventional channels. 7. Impact investment infrastructure grows up Impact investing is moving from a cottage industry to institutional scale. Governments, including Brazil and Turkey, are expanding impact capital and using it as a key driver of sustainable growth. Perhaps more significantly, impact wholesalers — vehicles that invest in intermediaries — are increasing the pool of domestic capital. The Japan Network for Public Interest Activities, for example, channels dormant bank assets into social enterprises. Germany is exploring similar legislation. 8. Outcome-based financing moves from pilot to policy Outcome-based financing mechanisms, such as social impact bonds and outcomes funds, have crossed the threshold from experimentation to institutionalization. In Canada, for example, outcome-based transactions have mobilized over $14.5 million since 2023, reaching more than 10,000 beneficiaries. Pay-for-results is becoming an embedded government procurement strategy. For impact investors, this shift fundamentally changes the risk profile: governments now serve as creditworthy outcome payers while private capital assumes the risk that social programs fail to produce outcomes that trigger payment — a structure that offers both downside protection and scalable deal flow. 9. Sustainability disclosure standards consolidate Here’s the irony of the current moment: As some policymakers ease back on reporting requirements, investors are using market mechanisms to protect their access to information. Despite the retreat
Siemens and NVIDIA expand partnership on industrial AI
Siemens and NVIDIA announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to bring artificial intelligence into the real world. Together, the companies aim to develop industrial and physical AI solutions that will bring AI-driven innovation to every industry and industrial workflow, as well as accelerate each others’ operations. To support development, NVIDIA will provide AI infrastructure, simulation libraries, models, frameworks and blueprints, while Siemens will commit hundreds of industrial AI experts and leading hardware and software. Accelerating the entire industrial lifecycle Siemens and NVIDIA will work together to build AI-accelerated industrial solutions across the full lifecycle of products and production, enabling faster innovation, continuous optimization and more resilient, sustainable manufacturing. The companies aim to build the world’s first fully AI-driven, adaptive manufacturing sites globally, starting in 2026 with the Siemens Electronics Factory in Erlangen, Germany, as the first blueprint. Using an “AI Brain,” — powered by software-defined automation and industrial operations software, combined with NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and NVIDIA AI infrastructure, factories can continuously analyze their digital twins, test improvements virtually and turn validated insights into operational changes on the shopfloor. This results in faster, more reliable decision-making from design to deployment — raising productivity while reducing commissioning time and risk. The companies aim to scale these capabilities across key verticals and several customers are already evaluating some of the capabilities including Foxconn, HD Hyundai, KION Group and PepsiCo. With the partnership expansion, Siemens will complete GPU acceleration across its entire simulation portfolio and expand support for NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries and AI physics models, enabling customers to run larger, more accurate simulations faster. Building on that foundation, the companies will advance toward generative simulation by using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo and open models to provide autonomous digital twins that deliver real-time engineering design and autonomous optimization. Advancing electronic design automation for accelerated computing By applying industrial AI operating logic to semiconductors and AI factories, Siemens and NVIDIA will accelerate the engines of the AI revolution. Starting with semiconductor design and building on NVIDIA’s extensive use of Siemens’ tools, Siemens will integrate NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries, PhysicsNeMo and GPU acceleration across its EDA portfolio with a focus on verification, layout and process optimization — to target 2-10x speedups in key workflows. The partnership will also add AI-assisted capabilities such as layout guidance, debug support and circuit optimization to boost engineering productivity while meeting strict manufacturability requirements. Together, these capabilities will advance AI-native engines for design, verification, manufacturability and digital-twin approaches to shorten design cycles, improve yield and deliver more reliable outcomes. Designing the next generation of AI factories Siemens and NVIDIA will also jointly develop a repeatable blueprint for next-generation AI factories — accelerating the industrial AI revolution and providing the high-performance foundation for their AI-accelerated industrial portfolios. This blueprint will balance the next-generation high-density computing demands for power, cooling and automation while ensuring technologies are well positioned for both speed and efficiency — optimizing the full lifecycle, from planning and design to deployment and operations. The combined effort bridges NVIDIA’s AI platform roadmap, AI infrastructure expertise, partner ecosystem and the accelerated power of NVIDIA Omniverse library-based simulation with Siemens’ strengths in power infrastructure, electrification, grid integration, automation and digital twins. Together, the companies aim to accelerate deployment, increase energy efficiency and improve resilience for industrial-scale AI infrastructure worldwide. Optimizing operations through shared innovation Siemens and NVIDIA aim to accelerate each others’ operations and portfolio by implementing technologies on their own systems before scaling them across industries. NVIDIA will assess Siemens offerings to streamline and optimize its own operations and offerings, and Siemens will assess its own workloads and collaborate with NVIDIA to accelerate them and integrate AI into Siemens’ customer portfolio. By accelerating one another and improving their own systems, Siemens and NVIDIA are creating concrete proof points of value and scalability for customers. For more information, visit nvidia.com. The post Siemens and NVIDIA expand partnership on industrial AI appeared first on Engineering.com.
Elon Musk wishes NVIDIA luck on self-driving, strangely silent on Hyundai’s humanoid robot
CES 2026 in Las Vegas has been dominated by two things: the next generation of AI compute and a sudden explosion of credible humanoid robots. While Tesla isn’t officially exhibiting on the floor, Elon Musk has been actively monitoring the event from X. His reactions, and lack thereof, to the major announcements give us a fascinating look into how Tesla views the rapidly crowding field of autonomy. Musk was quick to comment on NVIDIA’s major push into embedded AI for autonomous systems, but he has been noticeably quiet regarding the masterclass put on by Hyundai and Boston Dynamics. more…
Autel Energy launches MaxiCharger EV charger with integrated app-free credit card payments
Autel Energy has launched its new MaxiCharger AC Single configuration for US markets, featuring an integrated Nayax Uno Mini payment device. This upgrade delivers app-free credit card payment capabilities directly at the charger and is aimed at accelerating large-scale AC charging deployments in sectors such as destination, workplace, hospitality, fleet and multi-family residential applications. The latest MaxiCharger AC Single retains its existing architecture and installation footprint but now incorporates embedded card payment functionality. Technical specifications include adjustable output up to 19.2 kW at 80 amps (site configurable), smart dynamic load balancing for networked installations, support for ISO 15118 Plug & Charge and AutoCharge, compatibility with Open Charge Point Protocol 1.6J and 2.0.1, a five-year standard warranty, and a design lifespan exceeding 10 years. The integration introduces no mechanical or enclosure changes, supporting streamlined adoption for retrofits or new construction. The embedded Nayax Uno Mini system adds support for contactless EMV, chip insert and NFC wallet payments. Users benefit from app-free, registration-free charging for public access, while RFID and closed-loop payment options are available for fleet and controlled access deployments. The system enables immediate monetization of charging infrastructure. Integration with Nayax follows a 2025 partnership, with a plan to bring Nayax payment technology to an estimated 100,000 Autel chargers across North America and Europe by late 2026. Autel Energy says that operators gain a consistent installation workflow with current AC Single units, rapid commissioning via Autel’s digital platform, remote monitoring and diagnostics, and several connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Wi-SUN. “Our partnership with Autel is about enabling smarter, more scalable EV charging,” said Aaron Greenberg, Chief Strategy Officer at Nayax. “By embedding the Nayax Uno Mini directly into the MaxiCharger platform, Autel is delivering a charger that is turnkey, card-payment ready, and designed for deployment at scale across North America.” Source: Autel Energy
Tesla Model Y’s new feature lands driver in hot water from police officer
Tesla Model Y received a slew of both interior and exterior upgrades when the company refreshed its best-selling vehicle last year. However, one of the more notable changes from an exterior perspective landed a driver in hot water with a local police officer, who was confused about the situation with the taillight bar and its ability to alert other drivers of a reduction in speed. The new Tesla Model Y taillight with taillight glow A Tesla Model Y owner in Indiana recently noted in a Facebook post that he was pulled over because a police officer thought the vehicle’s taillights were not turned on. However, the Model Y’s new rear light bar, which spans across the entire width of the vehicle, is more than visible in both light and dark conditions. The incident, which was first spotted by Tesla Oracle, brings to light the interesting changes and perception of vehicle design that Tesla has brought forth with the new Model Y. We know some things might be head-scratching to some drivers, notably the Matrix Headlight technology present on the car, but this one truly baffled us. The post stated: “Just got pulled over for my tail lights not being “on” i told the officer it’s brand new. It has 1100 miles. I told him the red light bar is the taillight. The brake lights, both turn signals, and the red bar was on/worked. He told me that where the brake lights are, it should be illuminated there also. He gave me a warning and told me to get it fixed. Had anyone else had this kind of issue?” Having the police officer tell a driver to “get it fixed” when it is a completely legal and functional design is pretty crazy. However, the rear taillight bar, which glows and really gives the new Model Y a distinct difference between its previous iteration, is more than recognizable as a brake light and an indication of a reduction in speed. Regulatory language for vehicle designs indicates that the light has to reach a certain number of lumens, or brightness. Lars Moravy indicated this on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage when he and Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen explained some of the details of the new Model Y. This issue sparks some interesting dialogue people can have about vehicle design, and as more and more companies are adopting these futuristic looks, it seems law enforcement will have to get with the times and familiarize themselves with the regulations regarding exterior lights. The post Tesla Model Y’s new feature lands driver in hot water from police officer appeared first on TESLARATI.
Tesla launches hiring for Robotaxi program in its twentieth country
Tesla has launched a hiring initiative for its Robotaxi program in its twentieth country, as the company posted two new jobs in Thailand this week. Tesla is hiring in Bangkok and Kowloon for the Vehicle Operator position, which is related to data collection, and is the first in Thailand, but the twentieth country overall, as the company tries to expand into other markets. BREAKING: Tesla is hiring additional full-time Vehicle Operators in Bangkok, Thailand. Previous openings were 6-month, part-time roles. These are equivalent to AI Safety Operator roles in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/R6LzoU1bos — Tesla Yoda (@teslayoda) January 5, 2026 Tesla has had active job postings for Vehicle Operator positions in the United States, India, Israel, Taiwan, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the UK, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Norway, Italy, and Turkey in past listings. These postings are not all currently available, likely because the roles have been filled. Thailand is the most recent, and broadens the company’s potential path to expanding its ride-hailing program, which is only active in the United States in Austin, Texas, and the California Bay Area, so far. These roles typically involve data collection, which assists in improving Autopilot and Full Self-Driving operation. Tesla’s self-driving programs utilize real-world data that is accumulated and stored, observing vehicle and traffic behavior, as well as tendencies that are performed by human drivers to help increase safety and overall performance. Overall, the hiring signals Tesla’s aggressive timeline for global dominance in autonomous mobility. Although the company has several high-profile rivals and competitors in the field, it has established itself as a main player and a leader in the development of autonomous technology, especially in the U.S., as its FSD suite is refined on almost a weekly basis. The Full Self-Driving suite is available in seven countries and territories currently, including the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand. Its biggest goal for expansion is currently the European market, where regulatory hurdles have been the main bottleneck prolonging its launch on the continent. Tesla has performed months of testing in various European countries, including France and Spain, and does have support in some areas from various regulatory agencies. However, the company is hoping to get through this red tape and offer its suite in Europe for the first time, hopefully this year. The post Tesla launches hiring for Robotaxi program in its twentieth country appeared first on TESLARATI.
Energy storage boom strengthens demand outlook for beaten-down lithium
A boom in battery storage has bolstered the demand outlook for lithium in 2026, driving hopes for an accelerated turnaround for an industry struggling with oversupply. The lithium market has been grappling with a supply glut since the second half of 2022, with demand failing to keep pace with surging supply fuelled by a furious price surge that year ignited by an electric vehicle battery boom. But China’s power sector reforms helped to fuel stronger than expected demand for lithium used in batteries for power system storage in the second half of 2025, supporting a cautiously optimistic view of prospects for the new year. The data centre building boom in China and globally has also driven growing power storage demand for lithium, said Jinyi Su, a Wuxi-based analyst at consultancy Fubao, adding that rapid growth in lithium demand from energy storage in the second half of 2025 has surpassed expectations. “Looking ahead, energy storage is likely to become a game changer for lithium, improving its fundamentals, but too high a price could undermine the economics of energy storage, keeping a lid on prices,” Su said. Battery storage systems have emerged as China’s most lucrative clean-tech export, with nearly $66 billion in sales for the first 10 months of 2025, followed by around $54 billion in EV exports. Morgan Stanley forecasts a deficit of 80,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in 2026, while UBS estimated a deficit of 22,000 tons, compared with an expected surplus of 61,000 tons in 2025. Three other Chinese analysts said they expect a narrower lithium market surplus this year. Global lithium demand will grow by 17% to 30% in 2026 while supply is expected to rise by 19% to 34%, according to a range of forecasts by four analysts, who declined to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to media. Analysts forecast a price range of 80,000-200,000 yuan ($11,432-$28,580) per ton in 2026, versus 58,400-134,500 yuan in 2025. TURNING POINT? Lithium prices continued falling in the first half of 2025, hitting a low for 2025 of 58,400 yuan on June 23, squeezing margins and share prices for miners globally and forcing some to curb output. But Beijing’s July pledge to crack down on overcapacity across several sectors including lithium and the August production halt at Chinese battery giant CATL’s Jianxiawo mine, accounting for around 3% of global supply, sparked a global price surge. Lithium carbonate prices on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange soared by 130% from this year’s low to their highest since November 2023 at 134,500 yuan per ton on December 29. Spot prices assessed by information provider Fastmarkets surged by 108% over the same period. Lithium demand for energy storage is expected to grow by 55% in 2026, following a jump of 71% in 2025, according to a Reuters calculation based on UBS data. Broker Guotai Junan projected lithium carbonate equivalent demand from energy storage will account for 31% of overall consumption in 2026, up from 23% in 2025, eating into market share dominated by electric vehicle batteries. But a potentially quicker-than-expected migration to sodium-ion battery technology for storage systems as well as slowing EV sales could reduce demand, while supply growth will limit the price upside, said analysts. In December, the head of China’s passenger car association warned of a slump in first quarter lithium battery demand, partly from an expected drop in EV sales as tax incentives are phased out. reuters.com L'articolo Energy storage boom strengthens demand outlook for beaten-down lithium proviene da BatteryIndustry.net.
Elon Musk just said some crazy stuff about the Tesla Roadster
Elon Musk appeared on the Moonshots podcast with Peter Diamandis today to discuss AGI, U.S. vs. China, Tesla, and some other interesting topics, but there was some discussion about the upcoming unveiling of the Roadster, the company’s electric supercar that will arrive several years after it was initially slated for release. Musk made some pretty amazing claims about the Roadster; we already know it is supposed to be lightning-fast and could even hover, if Tesla gets everything to happen the way it wants to. However, the car has some pretty crazy capabilities, some of which have not even been revealed. On the podcast, Musk said: “This is not a…safety is not the main goal. If you buy a Ferrari, safety is not the number one goal. I say, if safety is your number one goal, do not buy the Roadster…We’ll aspire not to kill anyone in this car. It’ll be the best of the last of the human-driven cars. The best of the last.” Elon on the Roadster unveiling, scheduled for April 1: pic.twitter.com/U4N3lVADRK — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 6, 2026 Musk makes a good point: people who buy expensive sports cars with ridiculous top speeds and acceleration rates do not buy them to be safe. They hope they are safe in case of an emergency or crash, but safety is not at the forefront of their thoughts, because nobody buys a car thinking they’ll crash it. The Roadster is truly going to push the limits and capabilities of passenger vehicles; there’s no doubt about that. Tesla plans to show off the new version car for the first time on April 1, and Musk has only hinted at what is possible with it. Musk said back in November: “Whether it’s good or bad, it will be unforgettable. My friend Peter Thiel once reflected that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don’t have flying cars. I think if Peter wants a flying car, he should be able to buy one…I think it has a shot at being the most memorable product unveiling ever. [It will be unveiled] hopefully before the end of the year. You know, we need to make sure that it works. This is some crazy technology in this car. Let’s just put it this way: if you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it’s crazier than that.” Production is set to begin between 12 and 18 months after the unveiling, which would put the car out sometime in 2027. Hopefully, Tesla is able to stay on track with the scheduling of the Roadster; many people have been waiting a long time for it. The post Elon Musk just said some crazy stuff about the Tesla Roadster appeared first on TESLARATI.
