Elon Musk’s Neuralink sparks BCI race in China
A city council meeting in California that proposed banning the entry of new contracts with companies controlled by Elon Musk got weird and ironic on Tuesday night after councilmembers were forced to admit some of the entities would benefit the community. The City of Davis in California held a weekly city council meeting on Tuesday, where it voted on a proposal called “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies.” The proposal claimed that Musk ” has used his influence and corporate platforms to promote political ideologies and activities that threaten democratic norms and institutions, including campaign finance activities that raise ethical and legal concerns.” We reported on it on Tuesday before the meeting: California city weighs banning Elon Musk companies like Tesla and SpaceX However, the meeting is now published online, and it truly got strange. While it was supported by various members of the community, you could truly tell who was completely misinformed about the influence of Musk’s companies, their current status from an economic and competitive standpoint, and how much some of Musk’s companies’ projects benefit the community. City Council Member Admits Starlink is Helpful One City Council member was forced to admit that Starlink, the satellite internet project established by Musk’s SpaceX, was beneficial to the community because the emergency response system utilized it for EMS, Fire, and Police communications in the event of a power outage. After public comments were heard, councilmembers amended some of the language in the proposal to not include Starlink because of its benefits to public safety. One community member even said, “There should be exceptions to the rule.” After the City of Davis, California, held its City Council meeting on Tuesday and voted on a resolution called “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies,” it was forced to admit that it needs… pic.twitter.com/hQiCIX3yll — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 19, 2026 Community Members Report Out of Touch Mainstream Media Narratives Many community members very obviously read big bold headlines about how horribly Tesla is performing in terms of electric vehicles. Many pointed to “labor intimidation” tactics being used at the company’s Fremont Factory, racial discrimination lawsuits, and Musk’s political involvement as clear-cut reasons why Davis should not consider his companies for future contracts. However, it was interesting to hear some of them speak, very obviously out of touch with reality. Musk has encouraged unions to propose organizing at the Fremont Factory, stating that many employees would not be on board because they are already treated very well. In 2022, he invited Union leaders to come to Fremont “at their convenience.” The UAW never took the opportunity. Some have argued that Tesla prevented pro-union clothing at Fremont, which it did for safety reasons. An appeals court sided with Tesla, stating that the company had a right to enforce work uniforms to ensure employee safety. Another community member said that Tesla was losing market share in the U.S. due to growing competition from legacy automakers. “Plus, these existing auto companies have learned a lot from what Tesla has done,” she said. Interestingly, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis have all pulled back from their EV ambitions significantly. All three took billions in financial hits. One Resident Crosses a Line One resident’s time at the podium included this: Another member of the community did this…a member of the City Council admonished him and it came to a verbal spat pic.twitter.com/1L334qq9av — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 19, 2026 He was admonished by City Council member Bapu Vaitla, who said his actions were offensive. The two sparred verbally for a few seconds before their argument ended. City Council Vote Result Ultimately, the City of Davis chose to pass the motion, but they also amended it to exclude Starlink because of its emergency system benefits.
4-hour projects, 15-year toll: Neoen, Statkraft, Zenobē and Infranode progress BESS in Northern Europe
4-hour projects, 15-year toll: Neoen, Statkraft, Zenobē and Infranode progress BESS in Northern Europe - Energy-Storage.News Skip to content
Tesla Cybertruck's newest trim will undergo massive change in ten days, Musk says
Tesla has initiated Cybertruck deliveries in a new region for the first time, as the all-electric pickup has officially made its way to the United Arab Emirates, marking the newest territory to receive the polarizing truck. Tesla launched orders for the Cybertruck in the Middle East back in September 2025, just months after the company confirmed that it planned to launch the pickup in the region, which happened in April. I took a Tesla Cybertruck weekend Demo Drive – Here’s what I learned By early October, Tesla launched the Cybertruck configurator in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with pricing starting at around AED 404,900, or about $110,000 for the Dual Motor configuration. This decision positioned the Gulf states as key early international markets, and Tesla was hoping to get the Cybertruck outside of North America for the first time, as it has still been tough to launch in other popular EV markets, like Europe and Asia. By late 2025, Tesla had pushed delivery timelines slightly and aimed for an early 2026 delivery launch in the Middle East. The first official customer deliveries started this month, and a notable handover event occurred in Dubai’s Al Marmoom desert area, featuring a light and fire show. Around 63 Cybertrucks made their way to customers during the event: As of this month, the Cybertruck still remains available for configuration on Tesla’s websites for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Middle Eastern countries like Jordan and Israel. Deliveries are rolling out progressively, with the UAE leading as the first to see hands-on customer events. In other markets, most notably Europe, there are still plenty of regulatory hurdles that Tesla is hoping to work through, but they may never be resolved. The issues come from the unique design features that conflict with the European Union’s (EU) stringent safety standards. These standards include pedestrian protection regulations, which require vehicles to minimize injury risks in collisions. However, the Cybertruck features sharp edges and an ultra-hard stainless steel exoskeleton, and its rigid structure is seen as non-compliant with the EU’s list of preferred designs. The vehicle’s gross weight is also above the 3.5-tonne threshold for standard vehicles, which has prompted Tesla to consider a more compact design. However, the company’s focus on autonomy and Robotaxi has likely pushed that out of the realm of possibility. For now, Tesla will work with the governments that want it to succeed in their region, and the Middle East has been a great partner to the company with the launch of the Cybertruck.
Enable the next wave of applications and opportunity: Cubenergy’s FlexCombo 2.0 flexible energy storage AC block
Standardised interfaces and reserved space for expansion allow capacity upgrades without major redesign, aligning with European project financing and phased investment models. This means asset owners and investors can break free from upfront CAPEX constraints, expand in response to market demand, scale in line with growth opportunities and invest as needed. Grid-Forming Capability Aligned with Global Grid Codes FlexCombo 2.0 AC Block is equipped with Cubenergy’s proven grid-forming (GFM) technology. The system supports functions such as inertia provision, continuous high- and low-voltage fault ride-through, short-circuit current contribution, fast frequency response, dynamic reactive power control, and black start capability. FlexCombo 2.0 is designed to comply with key European and UK grid codes, including EN 50549-1/-2/-10, VDE 4110, VDE 4120, VDE 4130, and G99, with configurable parameters to meet national and regional requirements. Cubenergy has deployed GFM energy storage systems since 2018, including projects in weak-grid regions. Since 2021, the company has delivered several hundred megawatts of grid-forming BESS worldwide. Designed for Strictest Logistics and Site Conditions FlexCombo 2.0 has obtained major international certifications, including CE marking, as well as UL 9540A and IEC62933 certification. The FlexCombo 2.0 AC Block. Image: Cubenergy. Each FlexCombo 2.0 energy block weighs approximately 8 tons, is compatible with standard transport equipment, and is designed to meet common road transportation constraints. Featuring Cubenergy’s PowerSkid, the system can be installed on level ground using a portable installation module, reducing the need for concrete foundations and heavy civil works. According to Cubenergy, this design simplifies installation, shortens construction schedules, and reduces on-site risks, particularly for projects located in remote or infrastructure-constrained areas. Safety & Availability Safety and long-term availability are core design principles of FlexCombo 2.0. The system incorporates a multi-layer safety concept aimed at preventing the spread of exhaust gases, heat transfer, and thermal runaway propagation. FlexCombo 2.0 has achieved safety certifications and is equipped with an intelligent thermal management system enabling operation in –30 °C ~ +50 °C environment. Cubenergy conducts full-scale environmental and functional testing to validate performance under extreme conditions and combines test data with its global service network to support system operation throughout the project lifecycle. Supporting Global Applications With increasing demand for grid-supportive energy storage, FlexCombo 2.0 is positioned for applications such as renewable integration, frequency regulation and other ancillary services, industrial decarbonisation, and AI data centre power systems. To learn more, visit www.cubenergy.com. Smart design simplifies installation, shortens construction schedules, and reduces on-site risks. Image: Cubenergy.
Tesla launches new Cybertruck trim with more features than ever for a low price
Tesla has officially launched a new trim of its all-electric Cybertruck, which has more features than previous offerings at this price point, which is an incredibly good value. Tesla is now offering the Cybertruck All-Wheel-Drive, and starting at $59,990, it appears to be a lot of truck for the money. Along with the sub-$60,000 starting price, Tesla gives the Cybertruck AWD a 325-mile range rating, a powered tonneau cover that houses three bed outlets. It also has Powershare capability, coil springs with adaptive damping for a refined suspension feel, Steer-by-wire and four-wheel-steering, a 6′ x 4′ composite bed, a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds, and a powered frunk. This is a considerable upgrade to the Cybertruck Rear-Wheel-Drive that Tesla offered last year. It was discontinued after just a few months, but we still have yet to see anyone share pictures of it online. Tesla has launched a new Cybertruck trim: the Cybertruck AWD – Starts at $59,990– Dual Motor AWD w/ est. 325 mi of range– Powered tonneau cover– Bed outlets (2x 120V + 1x 240V) & Powershare capability– Coil springs w/ adaptive damping– Heated first-row seats w/ textile… pic.twitter.com/erZBtlq3Bs — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 20, 2026 That truck did not have a power tonneau, did not have adaptive suspension, leather seats, or nearly any of the premium features in the upper-level trims. It was not a great deal, either. It was only a $10,000 discount from the next Cybertruck trim, which meant losing a motor and a lot of premium features for not that much of a savings. This is a much better offering from Tesla and could help the company see a bit of a resurgence from a sales perspective. Although the Cybertruck is a popular vehicle from a fan perspective, it is not a great seller, and Tesla knows it. Tesla Cybertruck undergoes interior mod that many owners wanted Despite it being a crowd favorite, it was simply priced out of people’s budgets, so this All-Wheel-Drive configuration should be easier to handle financially for many of those who wanted the Cybertruck but not the price tag that came with it. It is not a far cry from what Tesla priced back in 2019, as it unveiled three trim levels back in November, nearly seven years ago: a Single Motor for $39,990, a Dual Motor for $49,990, and a Tri-Motor for $69,990. This new AWD trim is just $10,000 off from that price tag, and accounting for inflation, Tesla is pretty close. Deliveries are expected to begin in June 2026.
FAW Begins Testing Semi-Solid-State Battery With 500 Wh/kg Energy Density
Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Or support our Kickstarter campaign! What if, executive editor Zachary Shahan said at the weekly CleanTechnica writers meeting on Wednesday, there was a battery that had twice the power of a conventional LFP battery and cost less as well? From your lips to God’s ear, Zachary. On February 10, 2026, CnEVPost reported that China’s FAW — which happens to be Volkswagen’s primary manufacturing partner in China — has been testing a semi-solid state battery with 500 Wh/kg of power in a prototype production automobile. The prototype battery is rated at 142 kWh and replaced a conventional LFP battery rated at less than half that amount. Once fitted with the prototype battery, the car is said to have a range of 1000 km or more by the generous Chinese standard. Not only is the power density at or close to the maximum theoretical power density for batteries, but the cost of the batteries is said to be lower than conventional LFP batteries because its uses cheap, abundant manganese in place of nickel. The battery pack was manufactured by FAW subsidiary China Automotive New Energy Battery (CANEB) and developed jointly by CANEB and a team led by professor Chen Jun at Nankai University. The researchers went in a different direction from other companies who are developing semi-solid state batteries. For instance, NIO has a prototype 150 kWh semi-solid battery that it rents to customers because it makes the cars too expensive if it is included in the purchase price. Those cars are capable of traveling more than 650 miles on a single charge. Swapping Manganese For Nickel By swapping the expensive nickel for manganese, the FAW researchers managed to lower the cost of the hybrid pack and at the same time offers energy density commensurate with that of a solid-state battery. “The battery uses in situ cured composite electrolyte technology, which provides high ionic conductivity, a wide electro-chemical window, strong interfacial compatibility, flame retardancy, and cost advantages,” a report by the researchers claims. The anode has also been formed in situ to increase the battery lifespan and safety profile, while the lithium-manganese cathode offers an energy density of 300 mAh/g, more than double the best LFP cells can offer. The range tests in the prototype FAW vehicles are expected to demonstrate that more than 1,000 km on a charge is possible. At an average EV efficiency of about 30 kWh per 100 miles, the hybrid battery is expected to be rated at 500 miles or more using the EPA standard. The next prototype battery from FAW is expected to be rated at 200 kWh and offer close to 700 miles on a charge. Because of its outstanding energy density, the physical size of the battery pack is no larger than that of a traditional LFP battery. Defining Terms Sharp-eyed readers will pick up on the fact that this is called a “semi-solid state battery.” Getting terms and definitions is important to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. China has established the first solid-state battery standardization and classification system, which is scheduled to go into effect officially in July. In that nomenclature system, solid-state batteries are categorized by the amount of liquid in their electrolyte, and those with 95 percent solid electrolyte will be called hybrid solid-liquid batteries. CATL and other companies consider the hybrid technology to be a perfect stopgap solution on the way to fully solid-state batteries, according to Notebook Check. At the present time, true solid-state batteries are expensive and have a shorter lifespan that conventional or hybrid batteries. One reason for the higher cost is that hybrids can be produced on existing production lines, whereas the true solid-state batteries require extensive and expensive production retooling. The search for better batteries continues in laboratories around the world, but especially in China. CATL and BYD are currently planning small integration of true solid-state batteries into prototype vehicles in 2027. Dongfeng said last year it expects to begin mass production of solid-state batteries with a 1,000-kilometer range by September of this year. Last month, FAW announced that its Hongqi brand had placed its first prototype vehicle equipped with solid-state batteries in service, but did not disclose its energy density or the vehicle’s range. Svolt To Donut Lab: Really? There is a corollary to this battery news. In January, Donut Lab, based in Helsinki, Finland, said at CES 2026 that it is now producing true solid-state batteries for vehicles with more than 400 Wh/kg power density and a lifespan of more than 100,000 cycles. “While the advantages are obvious, the future of solid state batteries has been a moving target constantly delayed when companies working in electrification are asked about when they will become a reality,” Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki said. “At Donut Lab, 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 seen now in real world use in the Verge Motorcycles bikes out on the road in Q1.” Significant performance claims for the battery included 99 percent functionality at -30º C and 100º C, rapid charging in under 5 minutes, and no need to limit charging to 80 percent to preserve battery life. The company’s claims have been challenged by Yang Hongxin, chairman and CEO of Svolt Energy. “That battery doesn’t exist in the world,” he told local media on January 14, 2026. “All the parameters are contradictory… Any technician with basic knowledge would recognize it as a scam,” Yang said, according to a report by Xuanyuan Business Review. Scam is a pretty harsh word, usually reserved for use by maniacal followers of a certain US president. To bolster his assertions, Yang pointed to claims of 12C charging capability, extreme low-temperature performance, and 400 Wh/kg energy density. Svolt maintains a highly conservative stance on all solid-state batteries. “Too many unresolved
Hydrostor, ESS Inc, PowerSecure enhances New Mexico grid
Hydrostor, ESS Inc, PowerSecure enhances New Mexico grid - Energy-Storage.News Skip to content
Tesla dominates JD Power EV Satisfaction ranking, grabbing top two spots
A city council meeting in California that proposed banning the entry of new contracts with companies controlled by Elon Musk got weird and ironic on Tuesday night after councilmembers were forced to admit some of the entities would benefit the community. The City of Davis in California held a weekly city council meeting on Tuesday, where it voted on a proposal called “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies.” The proposal claimed that Musk ” has used his influence and corporate platforms to promote political ideologies and activities that threaten democratic norms and institutions, including campaign finance activities that raise ethical and legal concerns.” We reported on it on Tuesday before the meeting: California city weighs banning Elon Musk companies like Tesla and SpaceX However, the meeting is now published online, and it truly got strange. While it was supported by various members of the community, you could truly tell who was completely misinformed about the influence of Musk’s companies, their current status from an economic and competitive standpoint, and how much some of Musk’s companies’ projects benefit the community. City Council Member Admits Starlink is Helpful One City Council member was forced to admit that Starlink, the satellite internet project established by Musk’s SpaceX, was beneficial to the community because the emergency response system utilized it for EMS, Fire, and Police communications in the event of a power outage. After public comments were heard, councilmembers amended some of the language in the proposal to not include Starlink because of its benefits to public safety. One community member even said, “There should be exceptions to the rule.” After the City of Davis, California, held its City Council meeting on Tuesday and voted on a resolution called “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies,” it was forced to admit that it needs… pic.twitter.com/hQiCIX3yll — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 19, 2026 Community Members Report Out of Touch Mainstream Media Narratives Many community members very obviously read big bold headlines about how horribly Tesla is performing in terms of electric vehicles. Many pointed to “labor intimidation” tactics being used at the company’s Fremont Factory, racial discrimination lawsuits, and Musk’s political involvement as clear-cut reasons why Davis should not consider his companies for future contracts. However, it was interesting to hear some of them speak, very obviously out of touch with reality. Musk has encouraged unions to propose organizing at the Fremont Factory, stating that many employees would not be on board because they are already treated very well. In 2022, he invited Union leaders to come to Fremont “at their convenience.” The UAW never took the opportunity. Some have argued that Tesla prevented pro-union clothing at Fremont, which it did for safety reasons. An appeals court sided with Tesla, stating that the company had a right to enforce work uniforms to ensure employee safety. Another community member said that Tesla was losing market share in the U.S. due to growing competition from legacy automakers. “Plus, these existing auto companies have learned a lot from what Tesla has done,” she said. Interestingly, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis have all pulled back from their EV ambitions significantly. All three took billions in financial hits. One Resident Crosses a Line One resident’s time at the podium included this: Another member of the community did this…a member of the City Council admonished him and it came to a verbal spat pic.twitter.com/1L334qq9av — TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 19, 2026 He was admonished by City Council member Bapu Vaitla, who said his actions were offensive. The two sparred verbally for a few seconds before their argument ended. City Council Vote Result Ultimately, the City of Davis chose to pass the motion, but they also amended it to exclude Starlink because of its emergency system benefits.
Without transparent energy planning, the lights could go out
Open models, by contrast, let us look under the hood. They show whether the assumptions are realistic, and how they drive the outcomes. Transparency allows manufacturers, investors, policymakers, transmission system operators (TSOs), and regulators to recognise when storage is critical and becomes cost-efficient, especially during multi-day ‘dark doldrums’ (aka ‘dunkelflaute’ in German). Without that visibility, we risk underbuilding storage, overbuilding generation and paying the price later. How open models solve the problem While existing black-box energy planning has served us well so far, we at Open Energy Transition argue that open models must now become the standard in energy planning. Open models not only ensure transparency and trust: they also offer adaptability, security, and flexibility. Many models are available on the market, including PyPSA, GenX, OpenSwitch, OSeMOSYS, and many more – and they can be used and supported by multiple organisations, ensuring vendor independence. Lessons from Germany Recently, we conducted a study on multi-day storage (MDS) in Germany in collaboration with Form Energy. The goal: assess storage needs to reach near 100% clean power by 2035. Many models fail to capture cost-optimal investments in MDS because they lack temporal detail. That’s why we used highly granular, multi-year climate data with annual optimisation. Here’s what the study found: Across 16 scenarios, factoring in gas phase-outs, delayed transmission, and gas price sensitivity, the results were clear: low-cost MDS has huge potential. Up to 70GW could be deployed across modelled regions (31GW in Germany alone). MDS reduces curtailment, flattens electricity prices, cuts resource dependence, and helps achieve emission targets. MDS, in the form of iron-air batteries (as produced by e.g. Form Energy), can lower system costs, strengthen grid support, and boost resilience during multi-day gaps. And Germany isn’t unique. The same open approach applies across Europe. In fact, our open modelling projects already stretch beyond storage, from building insulation in European housing, to working on reproducing [European transmission system operator association] ENTSO-E’s Ten-Year Network Development Plan using the openly available and transparent Open-TYNDP repository. Why openness matters Could black box models have produced similar results? Probably. But open modelling did it cheaper, quicker, more transparently, and with lasting value. Organisations and companies such as Form Energy, a US-based multi-day storage technology company that OET has collaborated with, can now use the models moving forward because they’re open, freely available on GitHub, and reusable for future projects under MIT licenses. Transparency is necessary in navigating today’s increasingly complex energy systems with many stakeholders, and it is independent of software vendors. Transparency in the code also means assumptions can be checked, outcomes tested, and findings reproduced. For the Germany study, PyPSA-Eur was used – a detailed open model dataset of the European energy system, which can be easily adapted to test new storage technologies within Europe or different regions around the world (with PyPSA-Earth). But this isn’t just about cost or efficiency. Open models are adaptable, secure, and reusable. They can be reapplied to new contexts, enabling faster learning across countries and technologies. They’re also secure. Sensitive data can remain local, while open workflows ensure vulnerabilities are found and fixed by the community. That’s more trustworthy than proprietary software, where security holes can remain hidden, and data can be exchanged with vendor servers without users realising it for months, years, or in the worst case, forever. The bigger picture Energy system modelling goes beyond forecasting; it opens a path to shaping the future, democratising insight, and allowing governments, utilities, industry, and communities to make decisions based on shared, testable evidence. Energy storage, for example, cannot remain an afterthought. It is relevant to a resilient, reliable, net-zero system. Ignoring it risks blackouts, higher costs, and slower decarbonisation. Open models make the inherent value of energy storage visible to all. Time to act Open models aren’t futuristic gadgets or fads. They’re here, proven, and ready to use by policymakers, regulators, grid operators, and companies alike. They can work alongside proprietary software or replace it, saving on costly subscriptions while delivering comparable, high-quality insights. The energy transition is upon us. To reach established decarbonisation goals and build resilient systems, planning must take the next step that many others have taken: move to open models. We are building with the ecosystem, and the question is no longer whether open models work, but why we’re not using them yet. About the Authors Charlotte Heikendorf (marketing lead), Daniel Rüdt (energy system modeller), Dr. Martha Maria Frysztacki (head of energy system modelling and co-founder) work at Open Energy Transition (OET), a registered nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the energy transition by tackling energy planning challenges.
Tesla owners surpass 8 billion miles driven on FSD Supervised
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) has approved a 40-year agreement with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to build the Music City Loop, a tunnel system linking Nashville International Airport to downtown. After eight months of negotiations, MNAA board members voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to move forward with the project. Under the terms, The Boring Company will pay the airport authority an annual $300,000 licensing fee for the use of roughly 933,000 square feet of airport property, with a 3% annual increase. Over 40 years, that totals to approximately $34 million, with two optional five-year extensions that could extend the term to 50 years, as per a report from The Tennesean. The Boring Company celebrated the Music City Loop’s approval in a post on its official X account. “The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has unanimously (7-0) approved a Music City Loop connection/station. Thanks so much to @Fly_Nashville for the great partnership,” the tunneling startup wrote in its post. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has unanimously (7-0) approved a Music City Loop connection/station. Thanks so much to @Fly_Nashville for the great partnership.— The Boring Company (@boringcompany) February 18, 2026 Once operational, the Music City Loop is expected to generate a $5 fee per airport pickup and drop-off, similar to rideshare charges. Airport officials estimate more than $300 million in operational revenue over the agreement’s duration, though this projection is deemed conservative. “This is a significant benefit to the airport authority because we’re receiving a new way for our passengers to arrive downtown at zero capital investment from us. We don’t have to fund the operations and maintenance of that. TBC, The Boring Co., will do that for us,” MNAA President and CEO Doug Kreulen said. The project has drawn both backing and criticism. Business leaders cited economic benefits and improved mobility between downtown and the airport. “Hospitality isn’t just an amenity. It’s an economic engine,” Strategic Hospitality’s Max Goldberg said. Opponents, including state lawmakers, raised questions about environmental impacts, worker safety, and long-term risks. Sen. Heidi Campbell said, “Safety depends on rules applied evenly without exception… You’re not just evaluating a tunnel. You’re evaluating a risk, structural risk, legal risk, reputational risk and financial risk.”
US Treasury FEOC guidance applies existing safe harbour rules
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Tesla announces crazy new Full Self-Driving milestone
Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla does intend to sell a version of the Cybercab for less than $30,000 by 2027. He shared the update in a post on social media platform X. Amidst Tesla’s announcement that the first Cybercab has been produced at Giga Texas’ production line, some members of the Tesla community immediately started joking about how the milestone will affect a wager shared by popular YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD.) Following Tesla’s We, Robot event in October 2024, MKBHD noted that while the Cybercab was impressive in a lot of ways, he is very skeptical about Elon Musk’s estimate that the autonomous two-seater could be sold to consumers for below $30,000 around 2027. “I think the obvious red flag, the biggest red flag to me is the timeline stuff. This is notorious Elon stuff. He gets on stage, he says we’re going to have this vehicle out for $30,000 before 2027,” he said, adding “No, they’re not. There’s just no way that they’re actually going to be able to do that. I mean, if they do, let’s say they do, I will shave my head on camera because I’m that confident.” It was then no surprise that meme images of MKBHD with his head shaved immediately spread on X following Tesla’s announcement that the first Cybercab has been built at Giga Texas. One of these, which was posted by longtime FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog, received a response from Elon Musk. The CEO responded with the words “Gonna happen,” together with a laughing emoji. Apart from riding jokes about MKBHD’s wager, Musk also confirmed that Tesla will be selling a Cybercab to regular consumers before 2027, and the vehicle will be priced for $30,000 or less. In response to an X user who asked if the exact scenario will be happening, Musk responded with a simple “Yes.” While the first Cybercab has been produced at Giga Texas, it would not be surprising if the following months will only see low volumes of the autonomous two seater being produced. As per Elon Musk in previous comments, the Cybercab’s early production will likely be slow, but it will eventually be extremely fast. “For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast,” he said.
The Fire Horse Energy Transition & Creative Destruction
Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Or support our Kickstarter campaign! Joseph Schumpeter wrote that creative destruction is the essential fact about capitalism. He was not describing a gentle process. He was describing waves of innovation that dismantle capital stock, reprice assets, and reorganize entire industries. In the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Fire Horse we have just entered symbolizes intensity, speed, and disruption. Different traditions, same observation. Some periods compress change. The global energy system now sits in one of those periods, where physics, cost curves, and geopolitics align to accelerate industrial restructuring. The economic logic behind electrification is straightforward. Fossil systems burn fuel to create heat, convert heat to motion, and then deliver work. Each step loses energy. Internal combustion vehicles convert roughly 20% to 25% of fuel energy into motion. Gas power plants convert 35% to 60% of primary energy into electricity. Electric drivetrains convert 85% to 90% of electrical energy into motion. Heat pumps deliver 2 to 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity. When end uses electrify, primary energy demand falls even if final energy services remain constant. In many scenarios, full electrification of transport and building heat reduces primary energy demand by 40% to 60%. That reduction destroys fossil fuel throughput and the rents tied to it. Cost curves reinforce the thermodynamics. Utility scale solar has fallen roughly 85% in cost since 2010 according to IRENA data. Onshore wind has fallen about 60% in the same period. Lithium-ion battery pack prices have fallen from over $1,000 per kWh in 2010 to under $150 per kWh in 2023, with competitive Chinese tenders for stationary storage cells near $65 per kWh. Grid batteries built for $100 to $180 per kWh, amortized over 15 years at 7% and cycled twice per day at 85% efficiency, add roughly $18 to $32 per MWh in capital cost. When paired with new wind or solar producing power at $25 to $50 per MWh, the combined cost typically lands around $43 to $82 per MWh, which sits at or below the $60 to $100 per MWh cost of new gas generation in most markets, and without the negative externalities. Natural gas generation in the west and coal in China and India needs to set the peak electricity merit order cost in order to be profitable, and increasingly it can’t. The destruction Schumpeter described is visible in balance sheets, not metaphors. Industrial realignment follows the cost curves. China produces roughly 80% of global solar modules and over 70% of lithium-ion battery cells. It has installed more than 1,000 GW of wind and solar capacity combined, and continues adding over 200 GW per year. It has built over 40,000 km of high voltage transmission, including ultra high voltage lines moving power thousands of kilometers. The European Union has framed decarbonization through regulatory mechanisms such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which prices embedded carbon in imports of steel, cement, aluminum, and other materials. The United States deployed the Inflation Reduction Act with hundreds of billions in tax credits for clean manufacturing and generation, but faces political uncertainty around long term policy durability, evidenced by the last year of policy and climate action regression. Creative destruction at the state level becomes a contest over manufacturing share, supply chains, and standards setting. Energy security now acts as an accelerant. Europe imported about 155 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in 2021. After the invasion of Ukraine, those flows collapsed. Gas prices spiked above €300 per MWh in spot markets at the peak of the crisis. Governments scrambled to build LNG terminals and secure alternative supply. At the same time, renewable deployment accelerated. Germany added over 14 GW of solar in 2023. The European Union added roughly 56 GW of solar in the same year. When a region realizes that fuel imports expose it to geopolitical coercion, domestic generation and electrification become strategic assets. Wind farms and transmission lines do not require foreign fuel contracts once built. The destruction of fossil dependency becomes national policy rather than environmental aspiration. Capital markets respond to structural shifts. Major oil and gas companies still generate large cash flows, but long term demand projections have shrunk or at minimum flattened. The International Energy Agency’s net zero scenario projects global oil demand falling from about 100 million barrels per day to around 24 million barrels per day by 2050. Even more moderate scenarios show plateauing demand in the 2030s. If reserves booked on balance sheets assume sustained high demand, repricing risk emerges. At the same time, global investment in clean energy exceeded $1.7 trillion in 2023 according to BloombergNEF, surpassing fossil fuel supply investment. When capital shifts at that scale, it is not symbolic. It is reallocation of future growth expectations. Creative destruction in this phase is financial before it is physical. Volatility and overreach accompany acceleration. Hydrogen has attracted over $300 billion in announced projects globally, yet only a fraction have reached final investment decision. Carbon capture projects promise tens of millions of tons of annual capture, but actual operating capture globally remains under 50 million tons per year, most of it still realistically climate negative, not even neutral. When capital chases policy signals without cost parity, projects stall. Protectionist measures can also distort markets. Tariffs on solar modules in the United States have slowed installations. Export controls on advanced chips affect grid and electric vehicle supply chains. Schumpeter’s process is not linear. It includes bubbles, policy reversals, and stranded pilots. Fire spreads quickly but can also burn capital. Physical climate impacts add pressure. Global average temperature has risen about 1.2°C above pre industrial levels. Extreme heat events have increased in frequency and intensity. Wildfire—the fire horse made literal—damages in North America now run into tens of billions of dollars annually. Flood losses in Europe and Asia follow similar trajectories. Insurance companies have withdrawn from high risk regions in California and Florida. When actuarial tables shift, mortgage markets and municipal finance feel
Lydian secures US$689 million for three US BESS, solar projects
Lydian secures US$689 million for three US BESS, solar projects - Energy-Storage.News Skip to content
Elon Musk's xAI celebrates nearly 3,000 headcount at Memphis site
Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla does intend to sell a version of the Cybercab for less than $30,000 by 2027. He shared the update in a post on social media platform X. Amidst Tesla’s announcement that the first Cybercab has been produced at Giga Texas’ production line, some members of the Tesla community immediately started joking about how the milestone will affect a wager shared by popular YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD.) Following Tesla’s We, Robot event in October 2024, MKBHD noted that while the Cybercab was impressive in a lot of ways, he is very skeptical about Elon Musk’s estimate that the autonomous two-seater could be sold to consumers for below $30,000 around 2027. “I think the obvious red flag, the biggest red flag to me is the timeline stuff. This is notorious Elon stuff. He gets on stage, he says we’re going to have this vehicle out for $30,000 before 2027,” he said, adding “No, they’re not. There’s just no way that they’re actually going to be able to do that. I mean, if they do, let’s say they do, I will shave my head on camera because I’m that confident.” It was then no surprise that meme images of MKBHD with his head shaved immediately spread on X following Tesla’s announcement that the first Cybercab has been built at Giga Texas. One of these, which was posted by longtime FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog, received a response from Elon Musk. The CEO responded with the words “Gonna happen,” together with a laughing emoji. Apart from riding jokes about MKBHD’s wager, Musk also confirmed that Tesla will be selling a Cybercab to regular consumers before 2027, and the vehicle will be priced for $30,000 or less. In response to an X user who asked if the exact scenario will be happening, Musk responded with a simple “Yes.” While the first Cybercab has been produced at Giga Texas, it would not be surprising if the following months will only see low volumes of the autonomous two seater being produced. As per Elon Musk in previous comments, the Cybercab’s early production will likely be slow, but it will eventually be extremely fast. “For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast,” he said.
Investments, tolls and platform financing reported across Europe
Investments, tolls and platform financing reported across Europe - Energy-Storage.News Skip to content
Tesla launches new Model 3 financing deal with awesome savings
A California City Council is planning to weigh whether it would adopt a resolution that would place a ban on its engagement with Elon Musk companies, like Tesla and SpaceX. The City of Davis, California, will have its City Council weigh a new proposal that would adopt a resolution “to divest from companies owned and/or controlled by Elon Musk.” This would include a divestment proposal to encourage CalPERS, the California Public Employees Retirement System, to divest from stock in any Musk company. A resolution draft titled, “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies,” alleges that Musk “has engaged in business practices that are alleged to include violations of labor laws, environmental regulations, workplace safety standards, and regulatory noncompliance.” It claims that Musk “has used his influence and corporate platforms to promote political ideologies and activities that threaten democratic norms and institutions, including campaign finance activities that raise ethical and legal concerns.” If adopted, Davis would bar the city from entering into any new contracts or purchasing agreements with any company owned or controlled by Elon Musk. It also says it will not consider utilizing Tesla Robotaxis. Hotel owner tears down Tesla chargers in frustration over Musk’s politics A staff report on the proposal claims there is “no immediate budgetary impact.” However, a move like this would only impact its residents, especially with Tesla, as the Supercharger Network is open to all electric vehicle manufacturers. It is also extremely reliable and widespread. Regarding the divestment request to CalPERS, it would not be surprising to see the firm make the move. Although it voted against Musk’s compensation package last year, the firm has no issue continuing to make money off of Tesla’s performance on Wall Street. The decision to avoid Musk companies will be considered this evening at the City Council meeting. The report comes from Davis Vanguard. It is no secret that Musk’s political involvement, especially during the most recent Presidential Election, ruffled some feathers. Other cities considered similar options, like the City of Baltimore, which “decided to go in another direction” after awarding Tesla a $5 million contract for a fleet of EVs for city employees.
KNESS & Hithium 2GWh Ukraine BESS deal, 700MWh progressed elsewhere
Hithium said that the co-operation covers multiple different durations and will utilise both its 5MWh and 6.25MWh products. The company launched its latest BESS products in 2025, including a 2,000Ah cell designed for long-duration energy storage (LDES). It follows KNESS securing state-owned bank financing for a project in March last year, although this latest pipeline is of a much larger scale. The company is one of the two main companies deploying BESS at scale in Ukraine, along with another power group DTEK, which has used system integrator Fluence. Projects are for now mainly providing critical ancillary services to grid operator Ukrenergo, which has had to deal with regular grid outages due to targeted Russian attacks since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hithium signed a similar 2GWh supply agreement with investor Renalfa for projects in the Eastern Europe region in September. EPC firm YESS Power commissions North Macedonia project Turkey-based YESS Power has completed and commissioned a solar-plus-storage project with a 30MW/60MWh BESS in North Macedonia, among the largest in the country. The BESS technology was provided by China-based Cubenergy, while Mey Energy is the investment firm behind the project. The North Macedonia government recently approved a plan for the deployment of 4.42GW of new power generation capacity, mainly solar, but also wind, gas and over 2GW of energy storage. Stakeholders at the solar and storage project in North Macedonia. Image: YESS Power via LinkedIn. Greek state-owned PPC adding BESS to Romania wind farm PPC Renewables Romania, part of the Greek state-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC), has revealed plans to install a 60.12MWh BESS at its Sălbatica 1 wind farm. The project in Romania totals RON68.2 million (€15.7 million) of investment. Around one-sixth of that investment will be covered by a grant from the European Union’s Modernization Fund. By the end of 2025, the Fund has earmarked €1.2 billion (US$1.42 billion) for clean energy investments in Romania (out of a total €20 billion across the EU over five years). Alongside the funding programme, Romanai has also taken regulatory measures to help storage deployments, including removing so-called ‘double-charging’ of storage for charging and discharging on the grid. PPC meanwhile is building three large-scale BESS projects in Greece, as well as two pumped hydro units, all-in-all totalling 860MW of power. Construction start on 100MW/200MWh Estonia project Project investors Diotech and Transcom are launching construction on a 100MW/200MWh BESS facility in Tsirguliina, Valga County, Estonia. It was acquired from developer LignaMets. Called Project Zirgu, it is the largest ‘100% Estonian capital-based battery industrial park’, the firms said. The 100MW/200MWh build is just the first phase, set for completion by March 2027 latest, of a project which could eventually total 200MW/800MWh. Phase one requires an investment of €35 million, although offers from Estonian banks for co-financing are being considered. Diotech is also developing a 900MWh BESS project in Poland in cooperation with lithium-ion OEM LG Energy Solution, which has a lithium-ion and BESS factory there. It didn’t say explicitly, but it implied LG is providing the tech for the Estonia project too. …and soon to start on a co-located 250MWh one A 77.5MW PV power plant in Estonia is to be co-located with a 55MW/250MWh BESS to create what is claimed will be the country’s largest hybrid project. Developer Evecon and investment manager Mirova, through their jointly owned Baltic Renewable Energy Platform (BREP), have also concluded, they say, the Baltic region’s first flexibility and power purchase agreement (FPPA) under a 10-year deal with Pure Energy. The hybrid project will combine Evecon’s Kirikmäe solar PV plant, commissioned in 2024, with a 250MWh BESS under construction since the start of 2026. WiSo Engineering is the EPC contractor for the BESS element, with Chinese firm Huawei supplying the batteries, power conversion equipment and medium-voltage components. As reported by Energy-Storage.news, Evecon and Mirova, along with French independent power producer (IPP) Corsica Sole, are partners in another joint venture, Baltic Storage Platform, which recently inaugurated a 100MW/200MWh BESS in Estonia. The Hertz 1 project will be joined by a second BESS of the same size, Hertz 2, which is due for completion later this year. See the full original version of this article on PV Tech. Alight buys co-located solar and storage in Finland IPP Alight has acquired two solar-plus-storage projects in Finland, totalling 225MW of power capacity. One of those is a 75MW project with the building permit for a 30MW BESS, and is targeting 2028 operations, while the other appears to be solar-only. It acquired the project from 3Flash, with which it is also collaborating on a 120MW solar, 45MW BESS, also in Finland. Four years ago the firm added a 2MWh BESS to a solar project in Sweden. Merus Power 80MWh order System integrator and power solutions firm Merus Power has signed a 30MW/80MWh Finland BESS deal with Neve Oy, a multi-sector group owned by the city of Rovaniemi. The project will be delivered to the site by the end of 2026. Merus Power is responsible for the manufacture, installation, and testing of the energy storage system. The firm is one of the most active in the Finnish domestic market, and in mid-2025 commissioned a 38MW grid-forming BESS for the project owners, private equity firm Ardian and utility Lappeenrannan Energia.
