Canada in Crisis, China Dominating Electric Vehicle and Self-Driving

Canada's unprecedented existential crisis caused by bizarre actions from the White House. It could be worse—we could be Greenland. Meanwhile, the long-awaited geothermal power plant near us is finally set to come online next year, initially providing 5MW of power—just enough to keep James' heated socks toasty.

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• Out of Spec YouTube channel

We also take a deep dive into an EV YouTuber's trip to China and uncover just how far behind we are in EV technology. Spoiler: it's bad, but still not as bad as Greenland. Plus, while Indian Railways celebrates 100 years of electrification, some North American officials are still convinced electric trains don't exist.

Also on the show this week:

• Turning fiber optics into smart sensors.

• James rigs up his old electric car to defrost his windows.

• And much more!

Canada's Existential Crisis

The latest U.S. policies have thrown Canada into turmoil, with jobs disappearing and small businesses shutting down. The idea of Canada becoming the 51st state is floating around, but what would that mean? With an additional 343 seats in the U.S. House and 2 in the Senate, plus 345 electoral votes, Canada would fundamentally alter the political landscape—potentially preventing another Republican presidency. But would Americans ever accept us?

Geothermal Power Finally Coming Online

The long-awaited geothermal power plant near us will start producing electricity next year. Initially generating 5MW, this marks a significant step in clean energy for the region. Read more: Deep Earth Energy and SLB Canada partnership.

EV Tech in China is Light-Years Ahead

Kyle Connor from Out of Spec recently tested EVs in China, where battery swapping is a common practice due to the lack of home charging in massive apartment complexes. 

Turning Fiber Optics into Smart Sensors

Researchers are developing technology that repurposes fiber optic cables to monitor and optimize the electrical grid. Read more:  Electrek article.

Listener Mail

The Lightning Round!

• China's EV charging points surged by 49% to 12.8 million in 2024.

• The UK now has 8GWh of operational battery energy storage, with nearly 20GWh under construction.

• 60 million AAA members in the U.S. and Canada can now get preferred pricing at ChargePoint stations.

• Tesla's sales are plummeting in California while the broader EV market continues to grow.

• PV-powered EVs can extend their range by up to 30%, with real-world tests showing an additional 530 km of range.

• Enhanced geothermal is expected to reach a levelized cost of $80/MWh by 2027, eliminating the need for coal and nuclear as baseload power sources.

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