Silicon Valley Business Journal: Tesla Co-Founder Ian Wright Still Doubts Potential for Mass EV Market

Tesla co-founder Ian Wright, now CEO of an East Bay company that makes parts that convert commercial trucks into hybrid vehicles, says he never has thought the idea of making an electric vehicle for mass consumption would work.

Wright said he has been totally surprised by Tesla's success.

Wright made his comments in an interview with the San Francisco Business Times about Wrightspeed's relocation to Alameda from San Jose. Wrightspeed makes hybrid electric-gas turbine drivetrains for big trucks.

EurActive: Europe's Renewable Energy Deployment 'Sub-Optimal,' Report Says

Europe could have saved itself $100 billion (€86B) by installing solar power panels in sunnier countries and wind turbines in windier places, the World Economic Forum's "Future of Electricity" platform said in a report released on Tuesday (20 January).

The report, written with consultancy Bain, added that another $40 billion (€34.5B) could have been saved by better cross-border coordination and bigger power cables between countries.

Bloomberg: India Gets Obama’s Backing for $160 Billion Solar Push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who pioneered India’s first solar incentives as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, won backing from U.S. President Barack Obama for an expansion of the technology nationwide.

Without giving any detail, Obama said the U.S. will “stand ready to speed this advancement with additional financing.” The remark was made at a press conference on Sunday in New Delhi as Modi reiterated his aim for India to install by 2022 five times as many photovoltaics as the U.S. has now.

Reuters: On Climate Change, 'Not a Scientist' Not Enough for Some U.S. Republicans

With the national Republican party largely silent on climate change, conservative environmental groups like ConservAmerica are stepping up efforts to sharpen the Republican message. In recent months they have held meetings for like-minded conservatives and met with lawmakers and aides in a bid to help craft a new Republican environmental platform.

Attempts to strike a softer tone will collide with entrenched resistance, primarily from the donor network in the orbit of billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, who oppose any attempt to regulate the oil, gas and chemical industries that are the backbone of their empire.

Washington Post: Why $2.00 Gas Could be Coming Any Day Now

Across the country today, 28 different states are now selling regular gasoline for under $2.00, on average. And yet the nationally averaged gas price, according to AAA, remains at $ 2.03. What’s up with that?

The answer -- with the country on the cusp of $2.00 gas -- is that it all lies in how you do the math.