Welcome to episode 242 of The Clean Energy Show! This week, we explore a groundbreaking proposal to connect Europe's and North America's power grids using undersea cables, a move that could revolutionize clean energy by balancing solar and wind production across continents. California is launching a new program offering free e-bikes to low-income residents, but there's a catch: applicants must sit through climate change and e-bike safety videos. Meanwhile, OPEC faces a harsh reality check as oil demand peaks much sooner than anticipated, leaving petrostate politicians scrambling. And in New York City, plans for mandatory e-bike license plates spark controversy.

Also in the show: Mercedes gets the green light for Level 3 autonomous driving in Germany, GM pulls the plug on its Cruise robo-taxi business, and BC Hydro opens a powerful new EV charger in British Columbia. All this and more, including the ever-illuminating Lightning Round!

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Main Stories

• California's Free E-Bike Program: Read more.

• Transatlantic Power Grids: Full report.

• OPEC’s Oil Demand Reality Check: Read the full analysis.

Other Highlights

• Mercedes-Benz's DRIVE PILOT gets approval in Germany for Level 3 autonomous driving, allowing drivers to legally read, work, or watch TV while the car drives itself.

• GM halts its Cruise self-driving taxi operations after safety incidents.

• BC Hydro opens a new 350 kW EV charger in Oyama, BC, significantly improving EV travel in the region.

Listener Mail

The Lightning Round

• US Supreme Court upholds California’s right to set its own vehicle emissions standards.

• Global renewable energy installations hit a record 560 GW in 2023, compared to just 7.1 GW of new nuclear.

• EV battery life may last 40% longer than previously estimated.

• Study finds only 1% of EV owners would switch back to gas-powered cars, with cost savings being the primary reason.

• BYD plans to introduce 6C charging technology, enabling 10-80% charging in just 7 minutes.

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This week, we dive into the latest advancements in clean energy and sustainability! A universal ‘Plug and Charge’ protocol for EVs is set to roll out in 2025, promising a seamless, app-free charging experience for all electric vehicles. In Boston, a groundbreaking program prescribes solar power to low-income patients—an innovative approach to health and energy security. Meanwhile, scientists uncover a surprising factor contributing to global warming: the Earth is dimming, with reduced cloud cover playing a significant role.

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We also welcome back a beloved guest with a special EV announcement and discuss listener mail on passive solar building codes, spinning homes, and solar history. All that and much more, including quick updates on Hyundai’s fast-charging push in India and the Pope’s new electric ride!

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• EV Charging Revolution: Learn how the upcoming universal 'Plug and Charge' protocol will streamline charging for all EV drivers. Source.
• Solar Power Prescriptions: Boston doctors prescribe solar energy to improve health and prevent utility cutoffs for vulnerable patients. Source.
• The Earth’s Dimming: Reduced cloud cover is accelerating global warming, adding a new layer of urgency to climate action.
• Listener Mail: Insights into passive solar design and how cities like Davis, CA, led the way in sustainable building practices.
• Pope’s New EV: Mercedes-Benz unveils an all-electric popemobile, showcasing the intersection of sustainability and tradition. Source.

• Seaweed for Cattle: Feeding seaweed to cows cuts methane emissions by 40%.
• Kenya’s Renewable Transformation: From 60% fossil fuels in 2000 to just 6% today.
• Egypt’s Renewable Ambitions: 18.6 GW of new wind and solar by 2030.
• Battery Price Drop: Lithium-ion battery packs see the steepest price decline since 2017. Here's a gift link to the Bloomberg article.
• Heat-Related Deaths

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Scientists in the Rockies are developing technology to detect attempts to dim the sun—a safeguard against rogue geoengineering experiments. A proposal for a 2,500-mile subsea power cable aims to deliver renewable energy from North Africa to Britain. Could it revolutionize energy trade or is it an oversized project? The most-watched primetime show in the U.S. is now powered by batteries, drastically cutting fossil fuel use. Could the NFL’s transition inspire other industries?

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Also this week:

• Finland’s Nuclear Waste Solution: Finland leads the way with the world’s first permanent geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. Is this the future of nuclear waste management?
• Ukraine’s Resilient Renewable Energy: Despite attacks on its grid, Ukraine’s decentralized clean energy projects are proving harder for Russia to destroy and quicker to repair than fossil fuel systems.
• UK’s ICE Ban in 2030: The UK confirms it will stick to its 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, with strong penalties for automakers that fail to comply.
• Updates on heat pump performance in extreme cold, a look at Norway’s sky-high car taxes, and Brian's adventures with a cold.
• Listener mail: Practical tips for EV owners and insights from parades powered by the F-150 Lightning.
• A Lightning Round featuring everything from BYD's vertical integration to agrivoltaics boosting grape yields and Mexico's net-zero commitment by 2050.

• Sunday Night Football Power Backup
• Morocco-UK Subsea Cable Proposal
• Finland’s Nuclear Waste Repository
• Ukraine’s Renewable Energy Strategy
• UN Conference on Plastic Pollution

• China’s CO2 Decline: A 1% drop in Q2 2024 marks the first quarterly decrease since COVID-19.
• BYD’s Sodium-Ion Batteries: A promising grid-scale alternative to lithium-ion.
• Heat Pump Policies in Europe: 24 nations now support industrial-scale rollouts.
• Plastic Pollution Treaty Stalemate: Talks to curb production hit a wall, with future discussions planned.

Catch us next week for more clean energy news and listener mail! Want to support the show? Join our Patreon for bonus content and early access to episodes. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app!