SAVING LIVES
Electric vehicles are widely known for their eco-friendly attributes, however, according to a new study they may also have significant health benefits.
The study, led by Marianne Hatzopoulou, an associate professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering looked at electric vehicle’s impact on public health in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
The study found that replacing all fossil-fuel-powered cars and buses with electric vehicles (EVs) could prevent 456 deaths a year.
Hatzopoulou and her team ran computer simulations of different scenarios, including replacing 20 per cent, 50 per cent and 100 per cent of the cars in the GTHA with EVs, switching to electric buses and switching to newer, lower-emission transport trucks.
In each scenario, the study found that moving to less-polluting vehicles saved lives.
Just in the GTHA, switching from gas to electric could reduce those costs, which include medical care, by $2.4-billion a year.
MAKING MOVES
Tesla Inc. became the most valuable car company in the world on July 1, 2020, a day before the electric car maker revealed its better-than-expected sales numbers.
Tesla announced that it delivered 90,650 vehicles during the quarter, which was an improvement from the 74,130 vehicles that analysts were forecasting.
With the total value of all its shares on the Nasdaq, a figure known as market capitalization, Tesla is now worth $207 billion.
By surpassing Toyota’s $203 billion, which was the previous highest value, Tesla is now the most valuable car company in the world.
REVIVED AND TRANSFORMED
AC Cars has revived its iconic Cobra sports car, and transformed it into an electric vehicle.The limited-edition run of zero-emission cars will also be joined by new petrol versions that use the four-cylinder engine from the latest Ford Mustang.
The AC Cobra Series 1 Electric will be limited to just 58 models as a tip of the hat to 2020 being the 58th anniversary of the first Cobra model.
Each new Cobra will be based on the original design using a similar ladder frame, but with adaptations to accommodate electric propulsion. Buyers can also upgrade components including the steering and brakes to modernise the driving experience.
The electric motor will make 304bhp and 500Nm of torque, with a 0-60mph time of 6.7 seconds. The battery capacity will be 54kWh, which results in a range of 150 miles. It doesn’t come with fast charging, however, with its maximum charge rate being 6kW.
