Could these EV-specific tires help save the planet, and our wallets?
A new exclusive, and some other good EV news, too.
Hello, dear readers. It's been a while. I've been so blissfully busy over the past little while I've not had a chance to catch up on email, never mind taking the time to write about it.
But let's get back in the groove, shall we? Here's what I've been up to over the past few weeks.
EV-Specific Tires Coming Soon to a Factory Near You
A disappointing reality of EV ownership is that they can chew through tires with rapidity. They're heavier and more powerful, and that doesn't equate to more tire life. Making that reality doubly troubling is our increasing awareness of what tire microplastics are doing to the environment, including the lingering horror of 6PPD-quinone, which I wrote about for the Verge last year. Now, I have some better news: An exclusive story on Enso, which is working to build longer-lasting EV-specific tires, and will do so in a new factory in the USA.
Read it exclusively at The Verge
Another Anti-EV Myth, Busted
Stop me if you've heard this one: Our grid is already struggling to keep up with power demand on hot summer days. So, adding a gazillion EVs to the mix will make it ten times worse, right? Actually, not so. In my latest piece for InsideEVs, diving into anti-EV rhetoric, I examine how EVs not only won't kill the grid but could actually help save it.
Restomod Icon Jonathan Ward's Next Move
Jonathan Ward was way ahead of the curve in the restomod game, taking classic Toyotas and Fords and turning them into modern machines faithful to the vibe but wholly updated. Now, he's embracing EVs in a big way, and he was extremely candid about his reasons for doing so. You can read my profile of Ward and his EV aspirations in Worth's print magazine or online, and I'm happy to say that's just one piece in an ongoing series I'll be cooking up for the magazine.
This Scope is Rebooting Stargazing
Not just cars this time! I've been mystified by the heavens since I was a kid, and my wife and I have had a casual, on-again, off-again love affair with skygazing since we've been married. But getting out the ol' scope has always been such a chore that we've never really stuck with it. This astonishingly powerful yet packable little scope from Unistellar is a total game-changer in that regard, doing for astrophotography what the smartphone did to calling home, but it comes with a few major catches.
The G-Wagen’s American Impact for Japan
Finally, please indulge a proud moment. Look at this lovely copy of Car Graphic, Japan’s biggest car magazine, and yes that’s my dumb you’ll find on page 13. I’m thrilled to have a regular column, and this most recent one was on how this German off-roader has become an American cultural icon. It’s only in print, and only in Japan.
