International Business Times: It Is an 'Open Secret' That Apple Is Building an Electric Car, Says Musk
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has said that it is an "open secret" that Apple is developing an electric car, believed to be code-named Titan. Apple, however, has not made any announcement with regards to such a vehicle, even though a car mounted with cameras registered to the iPhone-maker was seen on U.S. roads in 2015.
Musk told the BBC that it was "obvious" Apple was working on its own electric car as "it's pretty hard to hide something if you hire over a thousand engineers to do it." According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook had given the go-ahead for the Apple electric-car project around a year back.
Utility Dive: Why the Cost of Other Components Matters to Storage Deployment
When it comes to energy storage systems, the cost of the battery itself receives a great deal of attention, but a new report shows that the plummeting price of other storage components could prove just as significant for the proliferation of the resource.
The 15 to 20 different items in the balance of the system (BOS) represent one-half to three-fourths of the installation’s cost. Those costs are likely to plummet over the next five years -- if the growth of storage deployment continues.
“If storage can keep up its momentum, there is reason to believe BOS costs will fall from their 2015 level of $670/kW to under $400/kW by 2020, a 41% cost drop,” said Luis Ortiz, lead author of a recent report from GTM Research, Grid-Scale Energy Storage Balance of Systems 2015-2020: Architectures, Costs and Players.
Bloomberg: Crude Falls Below $30 a Barrel for the First Time in 12 Years
Oil dropped below $30 a barrel in New York for the first time in 12 years on concern that turmoil in China’s markets will curb fuel demand.
West Texas Intermediate crude tumbled to the lowest level since December 2003. Concerns that China’s economic growth may slow has soured investors on the prospects for a quick recovery, turning hedge funds the least bullish in five years. A rapid appreciation of the U.S. dollar may send Brent oil to as low as $20 a barrel, according to Morgan Stanley.
Engadget: New Material Can Store Solar Energy to Warm You Up Later
Solar projects are usually focused on generating electricity, but we could arguably save more power by storing heat. Scientists from MIT have created a new type of solid material that does exactly that. When exposed to sunlight, it assumes a "charged" state that can be maintained for long periods of time.
However, when triggered with a small burst of heat, the material reverts to its original chemical composition, releasing a much larger amount of heat energy. Since the film is thin and transparent, scientists think it could be useful in the near future for defrosting your car's windshield and could one day heat your home or even your clothes.
Vermont Public Radio: Solar Companies Must Be Truthful in Marketing, Says AG
The Vermont Attorney General’s office has issued an advisory to solar companies to be truthful in their marketing of community solar arrays.
They are reminding companies that the customers can’t be told they’re buying solar energy if the companies also sell the renewable energy credits to utilities.
Assistant Attorney General Justin Kolber says solar companies must follow the Federal Trade Commission’s guide for environmental marketing.