Latest news with #FordModelT
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Relics found as water drastically drops in beloved NC mountain lake. See photos
Water has dropped to its lowest level in a century at North Carolina's Lake Lure, revealing relics long hidden in the mud, photos show. Among the oddities: a 32-foot 'water taxi' and vehicle believed to be a Ford Model T. They have emerged as the 800-acre lake continues shrinking due to damaged caused in September by Hurricane Helene. Many of the finds have been documented on social media by the Lake Lure Dock Company, which calls them 'a haunting look into the past.' 'This is the first time the lake has been this low since it was first filled nearly a century ago,' company owner Jake Mohl told Fox News. 'We've worked on this lake for decades, and we're seeing things no one's laid eyes on in generations.' In some instances, he has been baffled by the discoveries, such as 'the forgotten set of concrete steps.' The set appeared in June, and a photo shows it was far from being accessible to people on the bank of the lake. 'Fully intact and leading to ... nowhere,' the company wrote in a June 17 post. 'These steps likely once belonged to a building or residence — a quiet reminder of what once stood before the water came.' In the case of a 32-foot wooden boat found in the mud, Mohl theorized it was intended to be a water taxi in the 1950s, Fox News reports. 'Complete with what appears to be an old 4-cylinder Ford flathead engine,' the company wrote of the boat. 'No telling how long it's been down there or what story it carried with it to the bottom, but it's a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the lake's hidden history.' The 'chilling' remains of a Ford Model T were found around the same time, after being frozen in place for a nearly century. The vehicles were introduced to the market in 1908 and remained in production until May 1927, Ford says. 'It doesn't seem to have simply rolled into the water. The way it lies — tipped on its side, parts stripped away — suggests it may have broken down long ago, and was salvaged and abandoned, left for the lake to eventually claim,' the dock company wrote. 'Now, nearly 100 years later, it resurfaces — a silent reminder of life, labor, and machinery from a bygone era.' Long-time residents of the area expect more to show up, based on folklore. 'There are a couple of old bridges on the lake bottom too,' Clint Calhoun wrote on Facebook. 'One is in Tryon Bay not far off shore from the Lodge on Lake Lure if I recall. It's mostly intact.' 'They flooded the town to create the lake,' Julee Bee posted. 'There are still houses, churches, graves, etc down there. People had to leave everything behind.' The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is lowering the water level by 30 feet to scrape out 376,000 tons of silt and sediment pushed into the lake by Hurricane Helene, the town said in a June 17 news release. 'The Lake is currently lower than it has ever been since it was built in the mid 1920's,' the town. 'This is an important step in the recovery process for Lake Lure. We are unable to specify the length of the drawdown period as this is dependent upon the sedimentation and debris removal process being overseen by the US Army Corps of Engineers.'
The National
6 days ago
- The National
Jeremy Corbyn on 10 things that changed his life
Speaking to The Sunday National, Corbyn reflected on 10 things that shaped his life. One: Hitchhiking home from Germany In 1967, with just weeks of school left, 18-year-old Corbyn joined his brother Andrew on a drive to Germany. 'More fun than staying on,' he thought. His headteacher let him go, saying he would 'never achieve very much'. The two Corbyns set off for Hanover in an Austin Heavy 12/4 – an antique of a vehicle which looks more like a Ford Model T than a modern motor. A file photo of a different Austin Heavy'So, I went with him in this dreadful car, which weighed a tonne and frequently broke down,' Corbyn said. 'It wasn't a sort of pristine historic car, it was a bit of a rust bucket to be quite honest. 'The back seat was taken out to fill it up with the parts we needed to keep repairing the car on our journey.' But despite the slow pace and frequent breakdowns, the Corbyns did make it to Hanover and Andrew headed off to work – leaving the younger brother with the question of how to get home. READ MORE: Pam Duncan-Glancy among Scots recognised in honours list With no money for a return trip, Corbyn hitchhiked. 'It was the first time I'd ever done anything completely on my own,' he recalled. Two: Volunteering in Jamaica Not long later, Corybn was accepted to voluntary service overseas. Initially meant to travel to Malawi, a last-minute change sent him to Jamaica instead. 'That was the first time I'd ever been on a plane,' Corbyn told The Sunday National. 'I'd never been to an airport before, so this was a huge adventure. 'I arrived in Jamaica and I've never forgotten getting out of the plane and suddenly feeling the heat, just the heat, the warmth of it – and also the richness of the vegetation and the culture. To me, I'd never experienced anything like that before.' Corbyn was put to work as a 'sort of outdoor activities teacher' at Kingston College, where he became 'fascinated' with the 'culture, joy, and history' of the Caribbean nation. The late Tory minister Enoch Powell caused outrage with his 1968 Rivers of Blood speech When Enoch Powell gave his infamous 1968 Rivers of Blood speech, Corbyn saw the fallout firsthand. 'That caused the most unbelievable anger,' he said. 'The students were very, very angry because he had actually been the Tory minister who had recruited a lot of Caribbean people to go and work in the health service – and then decided that they were damaging to Britain's social wellbeing. 'Powell is now being repeated. The language used by the Prime Minister about being a 'nation of strangers', that's taken straight out of the Rivers of Blood speech. 'It's appalling, it's disgusting, it's disgraceful.' Three: First visit to Israel and Palestine The conflict between Israel and Palestine is currently in sharp focus due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Corbyn says he has visited the war-torn region nine times – but the first, back in 1998, stands out as 'a turning point in lots of ways'. Whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu had been abducted from Italy and locked up in an Israeli jail for revealing secrets of Israel's still-publicly-unacknowledged nuclear weapons programme. Corbyn was part of a group of campaigners intent on securing Vanunu's release. He recalled: 'We had tried to visit the prison – we were told we could and then we were told we couldn't. On another occasion I went with Susannah York and we were again told we could and then told we couldn't. 'So, Susannah, who had an amazing sense of presence about her, she just sat down on the road outside the prison. Now, a Hollywood film star sitting on the road anywhere is news, so all the TV cameras came.' Vanunu was released six years later, in 2004, and Corbyn said the years-long campaign taught him about working with the people of Israel against the actions of the country's government – a lesson which in today's climate could not be more relevant. While in Israel, Corbyn also visited Gaza for the first time, which he says showed him how 'so appallingly treated' the people of Palestine had been. 'That was many, many years ago, and now all those places I visited then and visited many times since have all been destroyed,' he added. Four: First elected to Parliament Jeremy Corbyn (left) pictured with Les Silverstone in 1975 (Image: Getty)Corbyn has been a fixture at Westminster for 42 years – longer than most politicians' careers. He was first elected as the Labour MP for Islington North in 1983 in a moment which he says earned him a unique place in history. 'I was elected to Parliament having gone through an incredibly long selection process which lasted for six months,' Corbyn recalled. However, it was only the start of a 'very complicated campaign'. Michael O'Halloran, who had been the local Labour MP, had defected to the SDP. So, Labour selected Corbyn. But the SDP then selected John Grant, also a sitting MP, to run for the seat. A put-out O'Halloran instead ran as an 'independent Labour' candidate. Corbyn's victory therefore made him perhaps 'the first and only person to be elected by defeating two sitting MPs'. Five: First visit to Westminster as an MP Jeremy Corbyn (left) pictured with Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams (Image: Getty)Getting elected was one thing, going to Westminster as a MP was quite another. For Corbyn, it was a 'strange experience'. 'I discovered a lot of MPs already knew each other and I couldn't work this out,' he told The Sunday National. 'I asked somebody why this was the case. They said, 'well, they were all at Oxbridge together'. Both parties. 'OK, I noted that.' Corbyn then said he was soon threatened with the removal of the Labour whip, particularly for 'supporting the need to have talks with the Irish republican movement as a way of bringing about a peace process'. 'That was like, almost instantly on entering parliament,' he recalled. Six: His parents, Naomi and David Corbyn names both of his parents, Naomi and David, as two of the most influential people in his life. He says he was 'always very close' with both of them, who were 'supportive' and 'quite political'. 'They met campaigning in support of the Spanish Republic in the 1930s, and I picked up a lot of their ideas and principles from them,' Corbyn said. 'I learned a great deal from them, not least from a huge quantity of publications of the Left Book Club, which they gave me.' Of his mother Naomi, Corbyn recalled the first time she had ever visited him in parliament, soon after he was elected as an MP. 'I showed her all round, we had tea outside on the terrace overlooking the river and all the rest of it. 'And she then got up to go, so I walked with her to the tube station, and the last words she said to me as she left was: 'Very nice, dear. When are you gonna get a real job?'' Seven: Iraq war campaign Jeremy Corbyn joins well-known faces including Emma Thompson on a Stop The War march (Image: Getty) Corbyn's long political career has seen him attend – or even lead – a lifetime of anti-war demonstrations. But for the former Labour leader, one particular campaign stands out. 'I opposed the Iraq war from the very beginning,' he said. 'After [9/11] and then the attack on Afghanistan, we formed the Stop the War Coalition. 'We had the inaugural meeting – I said to the organisers, I think you're being a bit optimistic, holding it in Conway Hall, you might not fill it. 'They said 'We've changed the venue to Friends Meeting House', and I said, 'Are you mad? It's huge. We've got to make sure we have a room that's full, not a place that's half empty'.' As it turned out, all the estimates had been wildly off. On arrival, Corbyn said he found the venue 'overwhelmed' by the number of people. As well as the main hall, he was asked to address five overflow meetings – 'including one that was at the bus stop outside'. READ MORE: Iran hits Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Tehran after Israeli strikes kill 78 people A similar pattern happened in February 2003, during the large-scale protests against the Iraq War. He recalled a meeting with a police team who had asked how many people they expected to march in London. 'I said, I don't know, maybe 400,000. And this police officer said, 'No, no, no, you're completely wrong there. By our calculations, at least 800,000 will be coming'.' On the day itself, the BBC reported that 'around a million people' had marched in London, with other rallies in Belfast and Glasgow, in one of the 'biggest days of public protest ever seen in the UK'. Eight: The allotment Around the same time as the anti-war movement was spreading across the western world, Corbyn got a call he'd been waiting for – he'd reached the top of the waiting list for an allotment. While lists back then weren't quite as notoriously long as now, Corbyn says he had been waiting a year or two for that call – and it came 'right at the start of all the Iraq war protests'. 'I nearly said no,' he added. 'But then I said no, no, I can't turn down this chance, so in between all of this, I had to go and start work on the allotment.' Corbyn calls his allotment his 'joy in life'. 'There's something magical about actually being there. On a winter's afternoon when there's almost nobody else there, and you're just there on your own digging, pruning, or whatever you happen to be doing – and then stealing into the shed and catching up on the football.' But he says he enjoys it in the summer as well: 'Everybody walks past, gives each other advice on what they're doing. 'Usually the advice is very generously saying 'you're doing it all wrong, this is how you should do it'.' That sounds a lot like being in parliament. Nine: Meeting his wife Laura Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn speaking in the Commons in March 2025 (Image: PA) This list is about the 10 things which changed Corbyn's life. But if it was about specific years, it seems likely 2003 would top it. Anti-war campaigns and allotments aside, it was also the year he met his wife: Laura. Corbyn says she likes to try and grow maize from her home country of Mexico in the allotment . That doesn't always work due to London's very un-Mexican climate – 'but it is beautifully coloured when it does come out'. For a lifelong politician, where Corbyn met his wife is perhaps unsurprising: 'It happened in the Red Rose Club in Islington, which was the Labour centre in Islington at the time.' For the next few years, the two maintained a largely long-distance relationship – but they continued to bond over politics. 'It's wonderful being able to visit Mexico and meet people who've been through awful circumstances – but nevertheless have amazing hope and determination to improve their communities,' he said. Ten: The people of Islington North Asked for the tenth and final thing for this list, Corbyn names all the people of Islington North, the constituency he has represented since 1983, which elected him as an independent for the first time in 2024 with just under 50% of the vote. Giving an example of the inspiring people of his area, Corbyn recalls the story of the death of Makram Ali, who was killed in a terror attack in 2017 which saw a van driven into a crowd of Muslims gathered near the Finsbury Park Mosque. Makram Ali was killed in a terror attack in London in 2017Corbyn praised 'the bravery of the imam at the mosque', saying: 'Obviously people were very, very angry at Darren Osborne – who had driven into the crowd and killed Makram – but the imam protected him from the crowd until the police arrived to arrest him. 'He stopped them beating him up, or doing worse. It was an incredibly principled and brave thing to do.' Corbyn said he still attends annual commemorations of the attack with Makram's family, adding: 'You learn from people who've gone through the most amazing adversity.' That, it would seem, is a lesson Corbyn has lived by.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Alfred Ford and wife keen to visit Jagannath temple in Digha
KOLKATA: Alfred Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Co, will visit the Jagannath temple in Digha with his wife, Sharmila, sometime late this year or early next year, the couple confirmed. " We eagerly look forward to visiting this divine abode of Their Lordships and consider it our greatest fortune to be able to offer our humble pranams and heartfelt prayers at Their lotus feet. It is no exaggeration to say that the golden state of West Bengal will be restored to its original glory with this temple at Digha and the much-anticipated opening of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Sri Dham Mayapur in 2027. This will place West Bengal as a major spiritual destination on the world map," Alfred and Sharmila said in a joint statement. "Our heartiest felicitations to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for this sacred endeavour! The magnificent grand mandir is truly worthy of the Lord of the Universe, Sri Jagannath," they added. Alfred Ford, who joined Iskcon in 1975 and was christened Ambarish Das, is chairman of the Sri Mayapur Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo He expressed his keenness to visit the Jagannath temple when Iskcon Kolkata vice-president Radharamn Das invited him and Sharmila, also known as Svaha Devi Dasi, to the temple. Alfred Ford's mother, Josephine Clay Ford (1923–2005), was the daughter of Edsel Ford (1893–1943), who was the son of Henry Ford (1863–1947). Henry Ford shot into prominence after the introduction of the Ford Model T in October 1908, which became the first mass-produced affordable automobile at the world's first assembly line for cars in Michigan, US. Alfred Ford's father was Walter B. Ford II (1920–1991), whose family was prominent in chemical manufacturing in the Downriver area south of Detroit. In 1974, Ford became a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, whom he first met in Dallas. He made his first trip to India with Prabhupada the next year. Since then, he visited India and Mayapur several times. Alfred's wife, Sharmila, hails from a Bengali family. While the couple visited various Krishna temples across the world, they never had access to the Jagannath temple in Puri as only devotees of Hindu descent are allowed there. Though the Digha temple is a replica of the Puri shrine, it does not distinguish devotees based on birth, religion, nationality, or race. "While the tradition in Puri restricts entry only to those born as Hindus, the Digha temple welcomes all who come with a sincere heart and respect for Lord Jagannath," said Radharamn Das.
Miami Herald
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Want Practicality on a Budget? Here Is One Used Luxury Wagon That Costs Less Than $15,000
The station wagon traces its roots back to 1910, when independent coachbuilders crafted custom bodies on the Ford Model T chassis. Back then, they were designed to shuttle passengers and their luggage to and from train stations, effectively laying the groundwork for what would become a family-friendly icon in automotive history. Over the decades, the wagon evolved to fit growing families and all their cargo, becoming a staple of suburban life. Iconic models like the 1949 Buick Estate Wagon, the Pontiac Bonneville Safari, the Chevy Caprice Wagon, and the AMC Eagle of the 80s reflected this shift. While the station wagon changed forms throughout time and proved to be a practical solution for the family road trip, they were historically regarded as being uncool. That began to change in the early 2000s, when automakers began to blend performance and style into the long-roof formula. Models like the Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring, and the turbocharged Volvo V70 R redefined the wagon's image as they combined utility with a sleek design. In 2011, Acura joined the trend when it released the TSX Wagon, a roomier and more practical version of its popular second-generation TSX sedan, first introduced in 2009. At first glance, the 2011 Acura TSX Wagon looks a little funky, especially if you're familiar with the more balanced proportions of the TSX sedan. Its extended rear overhang and raked tailgate give it a European silhouette that may be polarizing to some. But underneath that unique hatch was a car that prioritized versatility without sacrificing the sportiness that Acura buyers expected. Lift up the rear hatch, and you will be greeted with 60 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded down. That's more than enough space for a weekend of luggage, a bike, or a trip to Costco. The TSX Wagon had a low and flat loading floor, making it easy to get large and heavy items into its cargo area. As an added plus, the rear opening was wide, and there was also a cargo cover to keep items out of the prying view of potential thieves. However, the TSX Wagon wasn't only made for hauling cargo. It shared that same chassis and powertrain as the TSX sedan, which means that it had agile handling that made it fun to throw around tight corners on a back road. Under its hood sat a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that produced 201 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque through a five-speed automatic transmission. Sadly, the TSX wagon was never available with a manual transmission or a V6 like its sedan counterpart. Still, for most buyers, the powertrain provided a good balance between fuel economy and everyday drivability. Despite the Acura TSX Wagon's practicality and well-mannered driving dynamics, it didn't exactly fly off the dealership lots. It debuted in 2011 and was quietly discontinued after the 2014 model year, making it one of the shortest-production wagons in Acura's history. Part of the issue was timing, as most Americans were stuck on buying SUVs and crossovers in the 2010s. Crossovers, like the Honda CR-V and Acura RDX, were dominating the market, while wagons struggled to find their stride. Another setback for the TSX Wagon was that it wasn't a hit with Acura enthusiasts. The decision to not include a manual transmission, an optional V6 engine, or the brand's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system to help it compete with other European wagons turned out to be a bad move. In that sense, the TSX Wagon may have felt too restrained for some enthusiasts. However, it has aged well over the years and has even developed a bit of a cult following among wagon lovers and Honda/Acura fans. The Acura TSX Wagon had Honda underpinnings, which meant that it was relatively cheap to maintain and reliable to boot. Due to its short time in the market, the TSX Wagon has a rare appeal in today's used market and is quite the conversation starter in nearly any parking lot or car meet. Although Acura never built another wagon, this oddball TSX has a legacy that lives on for those who appreciate utility without the flashiness of a German badge. If you're in the market for a car that's practical, reliable, and easy to drive, the TSX Wagon is definitely worth some consideration. With its Honda DNA, the TSX Wagon is known for being dependable, and its naturally aspirated engine is strong and easy to service. That powertrain, combined with its spacious cargo area, comfortable interior, and composed ride, will give you a practical car that will make daily commuting easy, despite it being over 10 years old. That said, there are a few caveats to keep in mind when shopping for an Acura TSX Wagon, since it was sold in limited numbers. Clean examples of the car could be hard to find, and in some cases, the used price can reflect its rarity. Kelley Blue Book lists its average used price at $8,845, but that price can vary depending on the used model's condition, mileage, and location. Also, if you're expecting sporty performance or modern tech features, the TSX Wagon may not deliver, as it's more catered to being subtly sophisticated as opposed to being an outright performer. However, if you want a Japanese wagon that offers real-world utility, then the TSX Wagon delivers in spades. It's an excellent choice that rewards those who can look past its odd aesthetics by offering them a blend of comfort, function, and the type of character that's rare in today's market. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
How U.S. Battery Innovations Could Transform EVs, Homes and the Power Grid
Your smartphone, electric car and home solar array all share a hidden truth: the humble lithium‑ion battery powering them was first commercialized in 1991. Today, three decades later, the U.S. still relies heavily on this vintage chemistry. But a quiet energy revolution is underway that will drive longer EV road trips from Los Angeles to San Francisco, slash home storage costs, and cut reliance on contentious cobalt and nickel supply chains. Nearly every device you own, from your iPhone in Manhattan to your Tesla parked in Palo Alto, uses lithium‑ion cells. This workhorse chemistry delivers high energy density in a compact package, but its road map has begun to bump against real‑world limits: Range ceilings: Most American EVs top out around 300–350 miles per charge, still shy of that California coast‑to‑coast dream. Safety headaches: Flammable liquid electrolytes have prompted high‑profile recalls by major automakers after thermal‑runaway concerns: Over 60% of the world's cobalt and 70% of nickel come from geopolitically sensitive regions that can involve labor and environmental issues. Think of first‑generation lithium‑ion like the Ford Model T: revolutionary in its day, but ready for a homegrown reinvention. Under the bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Department of Energy aims to drive battery pack costs below $80 per kWh by 2025. Meanwhile, the DOE's Battery500 Consortium brings together Argonne National Lab, Ford, GM and Solid Power to push solid‑state energy density past 500 Wh/kg. States like California (with its Self‑Generation Incentive Program) and New York (via NY Green Bank) are offering rebates on stationary storage, while utilities such as PG&E and NextEra Energy are piloting grid‑scale sodium‑ion and flow batteries. These incentives, paired with swelling U.S. venture investment-over $5 billion in 2023 for battery startups-are rewiring America's cleantech landscape. Below are the five battery families poised to reshape U.S. energy, from EV showrooms in Detroit to solar farms in Texas. 1. Solid‑State Batteries: The 500-Mile EV Game Changer How they work: Replace liquid electrolytes with a solid ceramic or polymer-think of it as an unbreakable ionic highway. Why it matters for Americans: 500‑mile EV range: Ford and BMW collaborations with Solid Power aim to hit this milestone by 2027, letting a single charge carry you from Denver to No more Tesla battery‑fire headlines-solid electrolytes don't fuel thermal DOE tests show over 1,200 full cycles with minimal capacity loss-translating to 10+ years in daily service. Challenges: Scaling to gigafactory volumes remains a multibillion‑dollar hurdle. Expect U.S. pilot production lines by 2025 and limited consumer SUVs by 2030. 2. Lithium‑Sulfur: Lightweight, Low-Cost, and Made in America How they work: Swap pricey metal oxide cathodes for abundant sulfur, slashing pack weight and cost. American edge: Sulfur is a byproduct of U.S. oil refining, costing under $0.05 per kg. Key perks: Up to 500 Wh/kg theoretical energy density-fueling lighter drones for NOAA weather projects and next‑gen eVTOL cost: Potential factory costs as low as $60/kWh. Hurdle: Polysulfide shuttling degrades cycle life-startups like Lyten (HQ: Menlo Park) and Sion Power (Chandler, AZ) are deploying graphene coatings to stabilize cathodes, targeting pilot production by 2027. 3. Sodium‑Ion Batteries: Cheap, Abundant, and Perfect for Home Storage How they work: Replace lithium with sodium in the same "rocking‑chair" format-no exotic supply chains required. U.S. relevance: Sodium is over 10,000 times more abundant than lithium, with vast deposits in Gulf Coast salt flats and across the western U.S. Pros: Cost: Sodium-ion packs could drop below $70/kWh by 2026, undercutting even lithium-ion on reliability: Performs well down to –4 °F, making it a strong candidate for northern grid storage and winter life: Lab data and projections suggest 3,000–5,000 cycles, rivalling or exceeding lithium-ion durability. Use cases: Ideal for stationary home and community storage, as well as micro-mobility like e‑bikes and scooters. Catching up fast: While current sodium-ion energy density remains lower (110–140 Wh/kg), CATL projects next-gen cells reaching 200 Wh/kg by 2027, putting them on par with lithium-ion. Lab results also suggest cycle life of 3,000–5,000 cycles, making sodium-ion viable not just for home storage and scooters, but potentially for urban EVs and commercial fleets. 4. Aluminum‑Ion: Ultra-Fast Charging for Phones and Tools How they work: Anodic aluminum sheets cycle ions through novel cathode structures and ionic liquids. American R&D: Oak Ridge National Lab and Argonne prototypes show full charges in under 10 minutes. Benefits: Fast charging: Down from hours to minutes for smartphones and power Aluminum is the most recycled metal in the U.S.-no toxic extraction. Roadblocks: Lab cells still struggle to maintain 500+ cycles. Commercial rollout likely 2030+, pending DOE's SCALE‑UP funding rounds. 5. Zinc‑Air: Reliable Backup Power for Hurricanes and Grid Outages How they work: Zinc oxidizes at the anode while ambient oxygen reacts at the cathode-like a fuel cell that never runs out of air. Why Texas and Florida care: $50/kWh system costs are within reach for community backup during hurricane-driven blackouts.10‑day storage capability keeps critical services online when solar or wind dips. Limitation: Slow recharge time-best suited for primary backup or flow‑style refueling at centralized hubs. Powerwall vs. sodium‑ion: A Tesla Powerwall 2 lists around $11,500 ($430/kWh installed) today. Early sodium‑ion systems from GridScale Energy (Austin) are targeting $300/kWh installed by 2026-over 30% costs: The average price of a new EV in the U.S. hovers around $55,000. If solid‑state reduces battery pack costs by 15%, automakers could drop sticker prices by $8,000 or boost range by 100 miles without raising pilot: Florida Power & Light's zinc‑air trial aims for 1 MW, 10 MWh systems to handle hurricane season peak loads, at an estimated $200/kWh installed-half the cost of lithium‑ion backups. Why Battery Tech Is Key to America's Energy Security and Affordability Your wallet: U.S. DOE targets and IRA credits could cut your home battery costs in half by 2030. One of the leading reasons for NOT buying an EV in the US is concern over car price which is largely determined by battery security: Fewer imports of cobalt and nickel mean stronger supply chains and less price commute: Imagine your EV reliably hitting 600 miles on a charge-no more range anxiety on I‑95 or Route 66. No single battery chemistry will rule. Instead, expect a U.S. portfolio approach: Luxury EVs: Solid‑state batteries for flagship models from Tesla, Ford and mobility: Sodium‑ion for entry‑level EVs, e‑bikes and scooters in urban cores like New York or Los electronics: Aluminum‑ion and improved lithium‑ion for phones, laptops and power tools that recharge in resilience: Zinc‑air and next‑gen flow batteries giving states their own backup independence. American automakers, utilities and labs are investing tens of billion annually to lead this charge. The real competition isn't just technical-it's about reshoring manufacturing, training a new workforce, and securing U.S. leadership in the energy transition. Q: When can I buy these locally? Sodium‑ion home/storage: Available via regional installers by 2025– EVs: Limited pilot fleets from 2027–2030; mass‑market rollout by packs: Aerospace and specialty drone use in early 2030s. Q: Will lithium‑ion stick around? Absolutely. Existing plants in Nevada and Ohio will keep cranking out improved lithium‑ion for phones, laptops and lower‑range EVs through the 2030s, with incremental gains in lifetime and safety. Q: How about recycling? U.S. firms like Li‑Cycle (Toronto HQ, U.S. plants in Rochester and Gilbert) and Redwood Materials (Nevada) are scaling up facilities to recover over 95% of metals from spent cells, while new chemistries with fewer toxic metals streamline processing. Better batteries are not science fiction; they're being engineered today in American labs, factories and testbeds. Over the next decade, advances in solid‑state, sodium‑ion, lithium‑sulfur, aluminum‑ion and zinc‑air will reshape how we power cars, phones and the grid. The question for U.S. consumers isn't if these breakthroughs will arrive, but which one will change your life. And it might just be Made in America. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
