The TechMobility Podcast
Welcome to The TechMobility Podcast, your ultimate source for authentic insights, news, and perspectives at the nexus of mobility and technology. We're all about REAL FACTS, REAL OPINIONS, and REAL TALK! From personal privacy to space hotels, if it moves or moves you, we're discussing it! Our weekly episodes venture beyond the conventional, offering a unique, unfiltered take on the topics that matter. We're not afraid to color outside the lines, and we believe you'll appreciate our bold approach!
The TechMobility Podcast
Best Hybrids & EVs List; 2025 Chevrolet Equinox review; Concrete vs Steel; EV Batteries' 2nd Act
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The electric vehicle market continues to evolve quickly as manufacturers compete in an increasingly crowded space. US News and World Report recently released their 2025 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars rankings, evaluating an impressive 115 different models across various categories. Hyundai stood out as the top performer, earning three prestigious awards for their Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Tucson Hybrid models – a reflection of their $85 billion investment in EV technology across their brand portfolio.
What struck me most wasn't just who made the list, but who didn't. Several standout models from General Motors were conspicuously absent, including the Chevy Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and the luxurious Cadillac Escalade iQ. Having personally experienced many of these vehicles, I found myself questioning the evaluation criteria and wondering which specific models were included in the assessment process.
Speaking of Chevrolet, my hands-on experience with the all-new 2025 gasoline-powered Equinox revealed a vehicle of contrasts. As a current owner of a 2018 model, I approached this redesigned crossover with high expectations. While I appreciated the improved displays, heated steering wheel, and optional cooled seats, I was disappointed by the lower fuel economy and the fact that the rear seats no longer fold completely flat – a practical concern for anyone who regularly hauls cargo. The quirky steering wheel-mounted shifter took some getting used to, and I found myself missing the upscale sophistication of the previous Premier trim level.
Beyond automotive innovations, we explored two intriguing topics: the historical shift from steel to concrete in skyscraper construction and the promising second use of EV batteries. Did you know that super-tall buildings like the Burj Khalifa use concrete only up to certain heights before switching to steel frameworks? Or that EV batteries, when they are no longer suitable for vehicles, can power microgrids for years afterward? One company in Nevada built a 12-megawatt system using 792 repurposed battery packs in just five months – a remarkable example of how yesterday's EV components might help solve tomorrow's energy storage challenges.
Want to join the conversation about these developments in technology and mobility? Follow us across social platforms, check out our YouTube channel for additional insights, or visit techmobility.show for more in-depth coverage of the topics that matter most in our rapidly changing world.
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Speaker 2:I'm Ken Chester On the docket my review and impressions of the all-new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox SUV concrete versus steel and second act, ev batteries From the Tech Mobility News Desk. Yeah, I'm going to say this. I'm going to go out on a limb and give you this. It's the US News and World Report 2025 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars Revealed. I get mail from folk who definitely differ with me about EVs. It would be fine if they listened to everything I said about EVs, which include the bad and the ugly. They don't seem to hear that part. They only hear about me talking about EVs and, oh my God, you have sold out Green New Deal. How dare you? No, actually no, for the record, I drive a gasoline powered vehicle and we'll talk about that a little later in this program, but for now I want to talk about.
Speaker 2:The US News and World Report announced its 2025 best hybrid and electric cars, recognizing top performing vehicles across 10 categories. And here's something I didn't know they evaluated 115 models. I didn't even know there were 115 different models of EVs, plug-in hybrids and hybrids. Did not know that In the American auto industry for sale in the United States right now, 115 models. You didn't know either. Just fess up. You didn't know. Now we both do.
Speaker 2:The awards highlight vehicles excelling in quality, efficiency and value, and I've driven a number of these, so this is not really a surprise to me. Hyundai led the industry, securing three awards for the second consecutive year, while other brands like Toyota, ford and newcomers Rivian and Volvo also earned accolades. Let me remind you of something and I told you this about five years ago I told you that the Hyundai Group was spending $85 billion $85 billion with a B to go all in on EVs, and that was for Hyundai, kia and Genesis. These are all brands that they own, so it is no surprise that they had developed a EV platform that was configurable across their brands and it was very performance-oriented and very well-made. So here are the key highlights. Hyundai dominates with three awards the Ioniq 5, which I've driven, the Ioniq 6, which I've driven, and the Tucson Hybrid. Four vehicles retain their titles the Ford F-150 Lightning, which I drove, the Lucid Air, which I drove the lucid air, which I drove, oh my goodness. Toyota camry, which I haven't driven, and the lexus nx hybrid, which I have. First time winners rivion r1s haven't driven that one volvo xc60 plug-in hybrid I have. And the mazda cx90 plug-in hybrid, which the mazda, really the mazda cx90 amazing vehicle, whether you buy a gasoline or hybrid just and mazda right now can't keep up with the demand. It's the biggest vehicle they make and I can tell you they hit a home run with it. And I can tell you they hit a home run with it.
Speaker 2:Evaluation criteria according to US News and World Report Gas mileage, range, pricing and automotive press consensus. Yeah, I often disagree with the automotive press and I'm part of it, but okay, I don't know how they arrived at automotive press consensus. Not sure who they were talking to there. Categories covered hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric cars, suvs and trucks and, for the record I do not know, they said 2025, usually with those they're talking about previous year models. So I don't know if they included 2025 models in this mix.
Speaker 2:And, since this report came out, what vehicles did not get included? Because there's a lot of awesome vehicles out there. For example, there's no category about the Chevy Equinox EV, the Chevy Blazer EV, the Chevy Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra EV, the Hummer by GMC EV not here, and I can tell you because I've driven the GMC. I've driven, actually, the Cadillac Escalade IQ and you'll get a review later on in the year on that vehicle. But, oh my goodness, according to US World News and World Report, hyundai's Ioniq 5 retained its title as best electric SUV, praised for its range and design. Yeah, I actually prefer the Ioniq 6 personally. I thought it had a better design and I liked it better. The Ioniq 6 won best electric and Tucson Hybrid secured the Best Hybrid SUV.
Speaker 2:Hmm, I don't know. I think I kind of fell in love with the Genesis GV60 personally, but that's me Because, again, me automotive consensus. I don't know where they're coming from. If they'd asked me, they'd get a different answer. Ford's F-150 Lightning continued its reign as best electric truck since 2023, while the Lucid Air marked four years as best luxury electric car. And this is against, bearing in mind that both Mercedes-Benz and BMW also field electric vehicles. I'd love to see how it went up against the Mercedes EQS. Personally, I mean the Lucid Air, amazing vehicle, but I would love to have seen it come against some of Mercedes-Benz comparison because, again, some of this is subjective. Also, the F-150 Lightning did they include any of the entries from GM? It does not say. I do not know, because while I was definitely impressed with the F-150, I am more impressed with the GMC Sierra EV and they're both around the same price. The Ford was a little cheaper but, oh my goodness, sitting in that Sierra EV was like sitting in a luxury home I mean top-end luxury home, just amazing.
Speaker 2:Toyota Camry, lexus NX hybrid held their respective titles if best hybrid car and best luxury hybrid, I don't know. I've driven the Genesis GV70 electrified and I've driven the Lexus and my choice? I would have chose the Genesis. Personally, I thought the Genesis overall was better, but again, they didn't ask me. Just so we're clear, they did not ask me. Newcomers made a strong impression. The Rivian R1S claimed best luxury electric SUV. I've never driven it and the factory is five hours from where I stand and I have not had that chance.
Speaker 2:Volvo's XC60 plug-in hybrid earned best luxury plug-in hybrid. Let me tell you they must have did this before the XC90 EV came out, because I'm going to tell you something about the Volvo XC90. Oh my God, ev90, I'm sorry, ex90. Let me get that straight the EX90, the most amazing vehicle I have ever driven on this planet in my lifetime. The only drawback to that vehicle is you basically have to relearn all the internal controls because they're all different, completely, utterly different. But you are rewarded with an experience that the only other vehicle I've ever had even close to that experience in was the Lucid Air. So again, I don't know, when they say this, what vehicles were included and what weren't, but I would definitely have nominated the Volvo XC90, ex90, I'm sorry I keep getting it wrong, the EX90, of being just amazing head and shoulders above. Oh, my goodness, no question here.
Speaker 2:The Mazda CX90 PHEV, a three-row SUV, one best plug-in hybrid for its powerful performance and upscale interior. We are in total agreement with that. It is an amazing vehicle that, if you get a chance to drive it, drive it, drive it, and whether you buy the gasoline version or the plug-in hybrid version, you will be a happy person. If you can get one, mazda is selling all the ones they can get right now because it is that good. So you may want to consider that Absolutely Because they are that good. But this is their list and I agree with some of it, but not all of it. It's an all-new Chevy Equinox. My review and impressions are next. You are listening to the Tech Mobility Show.
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Speaker 2:Social media is the main place to be these days, and we are no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Facebook videos, from my latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary of a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight. You. Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Facebook. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to our Facebook page. Social media is the place to be these days, and we're no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Instagram videos, from the latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary on a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight. You Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Instagram. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar.
Speaker 2:For those of you that listen to podcasts, we have just the one for you. Hi, I'm Ken Chester. Tech Mobility Topics is a podcast where I upload topic-specific videos each week. Shorter than a full show. These bite-sized programs are just the thing, particularly if you're interested in a particular topic covered on the weekly radio show. From Apple Podcasts to iHeartRadio and many podcast platforms in between, we got you covered.
Speaker 1:Just enter Tech Mobility Topics in the search bar. Wherever you listen to podcasts, get a Chevy Trailblazer with one year of OnStar available, xm, satellite Radio and Sunroof. Let the sun in and let the music out. Chevy Trailblazer. Qualified lessees can get a 39-month low-minage lease on an 06 Chevy Trailblazer LS 4x4 for around $300 a month. Residency restrictions apply.
Speaker 2:Call for details the Chevy Trailblazer, gmc Envoy, buick Rainier, oldsmobile Bravada. They were all part of a midsize little larger than midsize crossover SUVs that GM was building in the beginning part of this century that were pretty much out of production by 2009. Unfortunately, it seemed like they always had to be pushing a deal to sell the Trailblazer for some reason Although today you will see Trailblazers all over the place Still rolling, still rolling For some reason the Trailblazer tended to age better than the GMC Envoy or the Buick Bravada for some I mean Oldsmobile Bravada for some reason. Oh well, let me talk about the Chevy Equinox. It's a crossover SUV that was introduced by the nameplate in 2004. For the 2005 model year, the new crossover replaced the Tracker and S10 Blazer in the company's lineup. The Equinox is the mechanical twin, if you might remember, or sibling, to the Pontiac Torrent and GMC Terrain. For the 2025 model year, chevy is marketing both a gasoline version and a battery EV version of the Equinox. Let me be clear they are, in fact, quite different, and let me add this Just so you know this review is just about the gasoline Equinox, the 2025 gasoline version Chevy Equinox, and I hope to get the chance to experience the EV model in a future review.
Speaker 2:And, having said that, I guess now it's time for a little bit of Equinox confidential. So here's a confession I own a 2018 Chevy Equinox LT and I got to tell you that I found the first two generations of this crossover SUV to be ugly, dysfunctional and undesirable. Ooh, I hated the look of them. Then Chevy introduced the all-new third-generation Equinox in September 2016, with production models going on sale in the United States during the fall of 2017. As the 2018 model, I saw it for the first time at Media Days at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show in February of that year Smaller, stylish and also practical. I had no idea that within two years, I'd own one myself. Chevy got so much of this vehicle right, and it's no wonder that this generation of Equinox and I'm talking from 2018 to 2024 model years set volume and sales records to the nameplate. If you drive down a road, you will see these everywhere. A GM was selling 25,000 to 30,000 of these a month during its lifetime during those model years, and if you drove one, you understood why it was darn near perfect for what it was. So, having said that, having been a third-generation Chevy Equinox owner which I still am, by the way, let's talk about the all-new fourth-generation Equinox owner, which I still am, by the way. Let's talk about the all-new fourth-generation Equinox.
Speaker 2:Chevy unveiled the latest iteration of its popular crossover SUV last January for the 2025 model year. Available in three trim levels, the new Chevy shares its styling with the larger Traverse, which has adopted a more truck-like exterior presentation in recent years. Each of the new Equinox's trim levels LT, rs and Active boasts their own unique front fascia. Although power for the SUV is a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline four-cylinder engine that makes 175 horsepower and 184 to 203 foot-pounds of torque and has been carried over from the third generation NNG is communicated to the drive wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission for front-wheel drive models and a hydromatic 8T45 8-speed transmission automatic for models equipped with all-wheel drive. For 2025, the Equinox adds driver-selectable modes normal and snow on front-wheel drive models. All-wheel drive models add an off-road mode, if you will, an off-road mode. These drive modes optimize the powertrain and handle the conditions as chosen by the driver. Epa fuel economy numbers are 26 city 28 highway for front-wheel drive, 24 city 29 highway for all-wheel drive. Cargo capacity is 63.5 cubic feet with a rear seat folded flat. Towing capacity 800 pounds for front-wheel drive, 1,500 pounds for all-wheel drive.
Speaker 2:Let me stop right here. Already, the new Equinox gets poorer gas mileage than mine. It tells me I can get between 24 and 30. I often get 32. In the summertime I can get 32. Usually my foot firmly planted down all the way to the floor and I'm getting really good gas mileage. These new ones front-wheel drive is already getting less, so I'm not happy about that, but here it is.
Speaker 2:Here's what I liked about the new Equinox. Let me give you the good news first, then I'm going to fuss a while. I also need to share with you before I start that my impressions are based on the limited time that I was able to spend behind the wheel during the Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally in El Cart Lake, wisconsin, and I found that to be a great place to experience a number of vehicles, but not with the usual week that I usually get to spend with each, but it's a great way to be exposed to vehicles that I may never get a chance to evaluate. Now I found the next generation Equinox, and this was a top-of-the model equipped with all wheel drive that I drove to be very comfortable and smooth, solid and quiet at speed, and while I was originally disappointed that Chevy didn't offer a more powerful engine than the carryover 1.5L 4 cylinder. The 8 speed automatic more than made up for the engine.
Speaker 2:Mid range shortcomings, displays, controls and switch gear are much better than on my Equinox and I totally love them. Not only are the front seats heated, they're now cool too. And oh yeah, by the way, capital letters HEATED STEERING WHEEL. Thank you, chevrolet. Yeah, kind of a pet peeve of mine, got a heated seat, not a heated steering wheel. Yeah, the driver enjoys good outward visibility with a much better rear view camera. And for those of you that normally travel in the backseat, good news Chevy also offers optional heated outboard rear seats in the new Equinox. An optional panoramic sunroof adds light and airiness to the cabin. The cargo area is well-sized for the model.
Speaker 2:Here's what I didn't like about the Equinox and yeah, it's kind of a long list. Call me a purist, but the rear seats don't fold flat like they did in my 2018. There's a lip of about an inch of show, which may not matter to most folks, but if you use the cargo area to haul things like I do, it will. And while Chevy couldn't resist the urge to get rid of the center console mounted gear selector. It chose a quirky shifter stock and windshield wiper switch on the steering wheel. That will take some getting used to.
Speaker 2:Here's where I throw in an editor's note, and I noticed this funky setup on a number of 2025 GM vehicles that I've evaluated lately. Let me be plain here I don't like it. No, no, it's funky. I don't like it. It's no, no, it's funky. I don't like it. Here's the bottom line.
Speaker 2:As an owner of the third generation Equinox, I found a lot to love about the all new 2025 gasoline version. I'm still trying to come to grips with the truck-like exterior styling, as the sophisticated good looks of my 2018 is what drew me in. I'm also mourning the loss of the Premier luxury trim level. The new active trim is directed at a more active, outdoorsy lifestyle. I want the upscale sophistication that the previous Premier offered just enough class without the thousands more in cost. I guess I'm not the target market, oh well. The manufacturer's selected retail price for the 2025 Chevy Equinox gasoline version starts from $28,600 for the LT front-wheel drive model, up to $35,000 for either the RS or active all-wheel drive. Destination charges add $1,395. When it comes to structural material, concrete has been the go-to for towers displacing steel.
Speaker 2:This is the Tech Mobility Show. Do you listen to podcasts? Seems that most people do. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. If you've missed any of our weekly episodes on the radio, our podcast is a great way to listen. You can find the Tech Mobility podcast just about anywhere. You can enjoy podcasts. Be sure to follow us from Apple Podcasts, iheart Radio and many platforms in between. We are there. Just enter the Tech Mobility podcast in the search bar. Wherever you listen to podcasts, social media it's the place to be. We no exception. Hi, I'm ken chester, host the tech mobility show. Several times a week, I post to tiktok several of the topics that I cover on my weekly radio show. It's another way to keep up on mobility, technology news and information. I've built quite a library of short videos for your viewing pleasure, so be sure to watch, like and subscribe. That's the tech mobilityility Show on TikTok. Check it out.
Speaker 2:Decades ago, concrete overtook steel as the predominant structural material for building towers worldwide. There's actually a museum that features an expedition that explains the why and the how of that fact. It's a hard truth and we explore it. This is Topic B. I thought I would take you in a different direction. During this segment, I thought we'd talk about buildings and the fact that in the early days, a lot of the older towers were made of steel, but a lot of factors came together to change that. Amongst it, the invention of re-rod, which was over 100 years ago. Stronger cement, limitations in just how high you can raise stuff. Now cement has this great capability of being strong and durable and lasting, but it also has some limitations. I found out, and as I learned in reading this piece and studying this piece, I was amazed to find out that most buildings that are really really, really tall may have cement foundations for maybe the first 70, 80, 90 floors, but if it's higher than that, it's steel. And the big problem is is because they can only pump cement up so far before it's no longer practical, before they can no longer do it. It's a matter of transporting the cement to where it's needed, and above a certain level it just can't happen.
Speaker 2:It used to be that ground zero for the tallest buildings in the world were in the United States of America and they were typically office buildings. Today, those tall buildings would be mixed-use buildings in basically the Middle East, the UAE, dubai, saudi Arabia, and it wouldn't be just office buildings, it'd be residences and things like that in China, things like that. But a lot of this stuff was created here. For its plasticity, versatility and compressive strength, reinforced concrete is hard to beat, though its performance is more problematic when assessed by the metric of embodied and operational carbon, a consideration that is recognized up front. In other words and we've talked about this, we've talked about decarbonization, we've talked about how difficult it is to get the carbon out of the steel making and particularly out of the concrete making process. They are very carbon intensive in their makeup, in their creation, in their manufacture, and it's always been that way.
Speaker 2:Now this exhibit, in all places Manhattan, is called the modern concrete skyscraper and it examines the history of tall towers, structural material choices, describing a transition from early dominance of steel frames to contemporary condition, in which most large buildings rely on concrete. And, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, this change did not happen instantly or for any single reason, but through a combination of technical and economic factors, including innovations by various specialists well recognized and otherwise, an availability, ironically, of high-quality limestone deposits near Chicago. That seems like a very specific reason to build them in the rest of the country, but okay, and the differential development of material industries and nations whose architecture grew prominent in recent decades. There is this thing, and I didn't even know what existed, but I'm going to introduce this to you. It's called the Council on Tall Building, urban Habitat, and they actually have measurements about buildings and things and they set kind of standards. I didn't even know they existed, but I think it's pretty cool because you know it's a cool thing. Let's talk about a little history, for example, as super talls is what they call, the really tall buildings reach even higher in the global race for official height rankings by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat national, corporate or professional bragging rights.
Speaker 2:Concrete's dominant may not be permanent in that sector, given the challenge of pumping the material above a certain height. For example, the 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa, formerly the Burj Dubai, uses concrete up to 1,987 feet and steel above that point, and they describe it as being the tallest steel building, with a concrete foundation of 156 stories. For the moment, however, concrete is ahead of its chief competitors steel and, on a smaller scale, believe it or not timber, and that's got to be reformulated or reinforced timber. We've talked about that construction here a while back. The invention of steel and the grid of steel and the skeleton frame is only the first chapter in the history of the skyscraper. The second chapter, the one we're in now, is concrete and they talk about a lot of inventions. Let me give you a bit of it. Of the skyscraper. The second chapter, the one we're in now, is concrete, hmm, and they talk about a lot of inventions. Let me give you a bit of it.
Speaker 2:The exhibition, this museum in Manhattan, traces the use of concrete back to ancient Roman combination of aggregate and polysana, the chemical formula for which was largely lost with the fall of the Roman Empire. From there the show explores comparable materials. Revival in 18th century England the patenting of Portland cement by Leeds builder Joseph Aspiden in 1824. Portland cement was invented in 1824. The proof of concept house by Frank Coy's Coying Net in 1824. The proof-of-concept house by Frank Coy's Coying Net in 1856.
Speaker 2:You didn't know. The first cement house was built in the 1850s. And a pivotal development of rebar in the mid-19th century. Hmm, you didn't know that either. Can you tell me what the first concrete skyscraper was in the United States? Bet you didn't know. Let me tell you Ernest Ransom's 1903 Ingalls Building. Do you know where it's located Cincinnati, ohio. It was considered then, in 1903, to be the world's tallest concrete building, at 15 stories, and arguably the first concrete skyscraper Arguably the first concrete skyscraper.
Speaker 2:So if you're at this museum in Manhattan, you might be accosted by a question. So let me ask it what is a skyscraper? In 1974, when the World Trade Center and Sears Tower had just finished, you would have said then it's a very tall building that is built of steel, an office building in North America. But if you ask that same question today, the answer is a building that is mixed-use, constructed of concrete and located in Asia or the Middle East.
Speaker 2:There are eras of engineering innovation that I talk about, devoting special attention to the 19th and 20th century patent era of Claude Allen Porter Turner he was the pioneer in flat slab flooring and mushroom columns. And Henry Chandley Turner yeah, that Turner founder of Turner Construction Ransom, who patented the twisted iron rebar. And another fellow and I'm going to try to pronounce his name Frank Honebeck, h-e-n-n-e-b-i-q-u-e, known for reinforced concrete system, exemplified by Liverpool's Royal Liver Building, which was the world's tallest concrete office building when completed in 1911. I'm all about this history here. I love history and it's interesting to note the materials that they were using to build taller and taller skyscrapers and all the other things they had to do to accommodate these things, to stand and to survive. We haven't even talked about how they compensate for wind and stress against the building that tall and everything else that goes with it, because it's a whole other conversation of rolling weights and flexing and wind management and things like that. But there's a lot to go into these buildings. It's pretty cool. Ev batteries may have a second life as stationary energy storage systems.
Speaker 2:We are the Tech Mobility Show. To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings at the Tech Mobility Show by visiting techmobilityshow. That's techmobilityshow. You can also drop us a line at talk at techmobilityshow. Did you know that Techobility has a YouTube channel? Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the TechMobility show. Each week, I upload a few short videos of some of the hot topics that I cover during my weekly radio program. I've designed these videos to be informative and entertaining. It's another way to keep up on current mobility and technology news and information. Be sure to watch, like and subscribe to my channel. That's the Tech Mobility Show on YouTube. Check it out.
Speaker 1:Are you tired of juggling multiple apps and platforms for meetings, webinars and staying connected? Look no further than AONmeetingscom, the all-in-one browser-based platform that does it all. With AON Meetings, you can effortlessly communicate with clients, host virtual meetings and webinars and stay in touch with family and friends All in one place and for one price. Here's the best part you can endure a 30-day free trial. It's time to simplify your life and boost your productivity. Aonmeetingscom, where innovation meets connection. Get started today and revolutionize the way you communicate.
Speaker 2:Social media is the place to be these days, and we're no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Instagram videos From the latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary on a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight you. Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Instagram. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar.
Speaker 2:Ev batteries. While they are no longer fit to operate in an EV when their capacity drops below 80%, they do have the opportunity to be redeployed as stationary energy storage systems, and that could last years. Might be just the thing to help satisfy booming energy demand across the United States. This is topic C. What we have here is a paradox. We have a growing number of EVs coming to the market. We have a growing number of EVs on the road. The number in the future is going to be mitigated by the removal or expiration of the EV tax credit. What that means is eventually the number of available EV batteries as they come to their end of their life in 8, 10, 15 years will drop, just at the time that the need for more electric power continues to rise. Ev batteries could very well be the stopgap between renewable energy and needs of the power grid. This is topic C. Ai, data centers and EV vehicles are all adding to electricity demand across our grid. In the United States the numbers are staggering.
Speaker 2:Anybody who's forecasting electric demand for the next 15 to 20 years in the United States is saying, okay, what do we do? They're hemmed in quite a bit because coal has been largely frowned on so they've moved away from coal. Natural gas plants are what replace them, but you're kind of in the middle where we're not adding as many and we're actually adding renewable energy at a faster rate than we are natural gas plants. Nuclear energy is an option, but we're kind of betwixt and between. We are past the point of adding the traditional, large, very expensive, take forever to build nuclear plants. But yet we haven't developed workable prototypes yet of the small modular reactors. Yet that's just starting and it could be years before they're proven and actually approved to be put into commercial service. That could be 10 to 15 years from, and actually approved to be put into commercial service. That could be 10 to 15 years from now. And that's assuming everything breaks right. So what do you do in the meanwhile? Well, coal plants are a question, because to refurbish them, I mean, it's like anything If you are used to what they call life cycle accounting.
Speaker 2:Life cycle accounting takes into fact that a given asset has a given life and that over its life you're going to spend so much money. And if you're in the utility business, if you're in manufacturing, you depreciate and you spend accordingly for maintenance and capital expenditures and upkeep. Based on that life cycle history, if that asset has a 25-year life, you've spent money. You probably haven't spent any real money on that asset in the last five years of its life because you're about to take it out of service. So stuff that you would have normally do, that would have extended the life for 5, 10, 15 years, you didn't spend the money on because you're getting ready to take it out of service.
Speaker 2:The problem is right now in America we got this need for electric power right now. So with utility boards asking utilities, hey, can you keep that online another two to three years? The utility companies are in a pickle. They're looking at their coal plants and going. Well, here's the problem Because we haven't spent any money really other than regular maintenance and upkeep on this plant for the last 5, 10 years. We need $20, $30, $40 million to get another few years out of it, because we're right up against it and it's going to probably take a year or two to get all those changes made, and that's assuming that they're on top of it. So the first question they've got is okay, utility board, can you guarantee me a return on investment if I spend this money to keep this online? I need to be able to keep it online for 10, 15 years to get my money out of it, not the four or five years you want, and are the ratepayers willing to pay it? That's question number one. You want, and are the rate payers willing to pay it? That's question number one. Question number two we have all this renewable energy, either online or coming online, and that doesn't even include the stuff that is now being delayed because of the changes in legislation lately. I'm talking about stuff's already in the ground, already being connected, already committed to, already into construction.
Speaker 2:The problem has been, in recent years, the grid's inability to bring this stuff online, this distributed power online quickly, and for those of it that does, there's still this little gap, because you don't always need the power when it's being generated the windy days, the sunny days you need it in the cloudy days and the rainy days, when you need it, or when it's extremely hot or extremely cold. So what do you do? What do you do? What can you do today to mitigate all these issues, as you're trying to work out the longer range issues? Well, we do have a solution, and these would be EV batteries, because EV batteries, unlike a lot of other power sources, can be repurposed.
Speaker 2:Let me give an example. The CEO of a battery cycling company called Redwood Materials has fashioned his own microgrid in the Nevada desert out of 792 repurposed battery packs from auto manufacturers and guess what? He doesn't connect it to the grid. He uses that off-grid for his AI stuff at his company. Because he didn't need to connect to the grid and get all the applications approved and things and hearings and all that, he was able to put it online in five months. This installation holds 12 megawatts and 63 megawatt hours of energy capacity, which feeds an artificial intelligence data center built on site. An adjacent solar array provides energy and it's not connected to the national grid or even the local grid. It's all self-contained. He did it in five months. Five months you can do this.
Speaker 2:Imagine them doing this in the oil fields, where they can build their own microgrids with repurposed batteries, because right now they're building their own plant because the existing power grids are insufficient for the boom in oil that they need to pump. From the ground to run the pumps, which is kind of circular logic and kind of backwards as far as I'm concerned. The very thing that is causing the boom in energy is causing the need for alternatives to get it out the ground. That's crazy, but these energy storage systems in North America have been booming. These energy storage systems in North America have been booming. They estimate that it will grow from 52 gigawatt hours capacity to 90 gigawatt hours of capacity by the end of the decade.
Speaker 2:Energy storage systems and since we're going to have an issue in getting rare earth materials and everything from overseas and again other issue trying to get the mines developed to get them here, this will become a kind of obvious thing. But it will bid up the price of used EV batteries as these vehicles get scrapped. So the question is it's economical now? Will it continue to be economical? The good news is, you won't have to worry about these things being recycled. There's already a built-in demand. The question is will it be enough, with all the swirl in the marketplace going on right now?
