The Road Not Taken: A Century of Combustion's Triumph and the Electric Dream

January: a new year, a new chapter, and a time for remembering the journey so far and anticipating the path ahead. Our first month was named for the two-faced god Janus. In this post, one face of Janus gazes back at the early 1900s, when steam, electric, and gasoline vehicles all vied for dominance. Janus' other face peers forward from there, imagining a world where electric vehicles (EVs) prevailed in the early 1900s battle. On this What If? path, things would be very different today. If the butterfly wings flapped in a different direction a century ago and EVs had become the dominant vehicle technology, this would have completely reshaped the world we inhabit today, and what that could mean for our future.

In the bustling streets of the early 1900s, automobiles were a chaotic symphony of steam whistles, electric hums, and gasoline roars. Steam-powered vehicles chugged along with bulky boilers, electrics glided silently on nascent batteries, and internal combustion engines (ICE) sputtered along. In this 3-way competition for the future of personal transportation, it was ICE that ultimately claimed victory. Fueled by cheap oil, mass production innovations like Henry Ford's assembly line, and the allure of long-distance travel, the other technologies were outpaced. This ICE dominance steered a century of human engineering prowess and innovation toward refining the noisy, polluting heart of the automobile. While this path brought remarkable mobility, it also locked in environmental costs and global conflict. Imagine, though, if electric vehicles (EVs) had prevailed instead. 

The ICE reign sparked countless breakthroughs, transforming a crude contraption into a pinnacle of power. Engineers tackled inefficiencies in fuel use, emissions, and performance, yielding innovations that powered global economies but there are limitations in the physics and chemistry of petroleum combustion that cannot be avoided. Here are several pivotal advancements in the design and control of internal combustion engines.

Advancement	Circa	Key Benefits and Impact
Fuel Injection	1950s	Replaced carburetors for precise fuel delivery, boosting efficiency by up to 15% and enabling smoother starts in cold weather.
Overhead Camshafts (OHC)	1960s	Improved valve timing for better airflow, increasing power output by 20-30% without enlarging engines.
Variable Valve Timing	1980s	Dynamically adjusts valve operation for optimal low-speed torque and high-speed power, cutting fuel use by 5-10%.
Direct Injection	1990s	Sprays fuel straight into cylinders for leaner burns, enhancing economy by 15% and reducing emissions.
Turbocharging	1960s (widespread 2000s)	Forces extra air into combustion for 30-50% more power from smaller engines, aiding downsizing for lighter vehicles.
Engine Control Units (ECUs)	1970s	Computerized oversight of ignition and injection, optimizing performance and enabling real-time diagnostics for 10-20% better efficiency.

These leaps made ICE vehicles more potent and parsimonious, yet they still guzzled fossil fuels and spewed carbon dioxide.

Now, let's pivot to the electric What if?. Suppose EVs, with their quiet elegance and zero tailpipe emissions, had outpaced rivals through better battery scaling or policy nudges. With a century's worth of ingenuity poured into batteries rather than pistons, our world might breathe easier today. A century of focused R&D would have supercharged battery tech, eclipsing the incremental tweaks of ICE. Today's vehicles might boast specifications that make current models seem quaint: ranges exceeding 1,000 miles on a single charge, thanks to solid-state batteries or something beyond today's lithium chemistries refined over generations. Acceleration could hit 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds as standard, with regenerative braking recapturing 90% of kinetic energy. Vehicle weights might drop 40% via advanced composites, born from EV-centric manufacturing that prioritized lightweight frames over heavy blocks. And prices? Entry-level sedans could cost under $15,000 USD, as economies of scale in battery production slash costs by 80% from early 1900s levels.

Energy density stands out as the crown jewel of this alternate ingenuity. Real-world lithium-ion batteries hover at 250-300 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), a far cry from gasoline's 12 kWh/kg effective density. However, with 100 years of undivided attention, EV batteries might reach 1.5 - 2 kWh/kg, rivaling fossil fuels (considering efficiencies) while sidestepping their toxicity. It's important to say that EVs are 4 to 5 times more efficient at turning energy into motion, so 2kWh of battery capacity is effectively worth 8 to 10 kWh of gasoline. This leap would stem from the relentless pursuit of materials like sodium-ion or metal-air cells, coupled with optimized manufacturing. Charging times could shrink to 5 minutes for a full top-up, powered by ubiquitous solar-gridded stations. Ultracapacitors, those quick-charge wonders storing energy electrostatically, would indeed be commonplace. Integrated into every EV, they'd handle burst power for acceleration or regen, extending battery life by 50% and enabling seamless grid-to-vehicle energy trading. Vehicles become rolling power banks, feeding homes during blackouts.

Societally, this EV utopia would ripple profoundly through people's mindsets and attitudes, fostering a regenerative lifestyle. Cities like Los Angeles or Beijing would have never choked on smog, sparing millions from respiratory ills and slashing healthcare costs by billions annually. Air quality improvements alone could boost global life expectancy today by 2-3 years. 

Oil's diminished sway in this alternative timeline world would rewrite geopolitics: no OPEC cartels, fewer Middle East conflicts, and trillions of dollars redirected from drilling to renewables and reforestation. Wars might pivot to securing rare earth mines, or not occur at all, as renewable grids democratize energy. Culturally, the romance of the open road is enhanced with silent, scenic cruises and with pop culture celebrating inventors like Tesla as folk heroes rather than eccentrics. Modern challenges, like access to charging in rural areas, are long ago solved.

In reflecting on these paths, the ICE's century of triumphs feels like a detour from destiny, one that moved us forward on the tech tree but scarred the Earth. Electrification is the ultimate path. An EV-led world promises not just superior specs, but a restored planet: clearer skies, and easier breathing. As we stand at another crossroads with climate urgency, embracing electrics now honors that lost electric dream, urging us toward a sustainable harmonious future.

Rockets, Robots, and Renewables: The 2025 Nobel's Roadmap to an Eco-Abundant World

Innovation's Next Wave: How the 2025 Nobel Insights Illuminate a Sustainable Future

Picture a world where technology breakthroughs aren't just the next device that you have to buy, but something that helps us do more with less. An innovation that can patch environmental gaps and propel economies forward. That is the essence of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt. Their work spotlights "creative destruction," a concept where fresh ideas dismantle outdated systems to spark lasting growth. Mokyr traces this through history, showing how cultural openness fueled the Industrial Revolution. Aghion and Howitt add mathematical models that demonstrate how research investments trigger innovation cycles to keep prosperity humming. In our time, this plays out vividly in technologies like electric vehicles, autonomous driving, reusable rockets, solar energy, and battery storage. These are not sacrifices for the planet. They are smart bets on abundance. By applying the laureates' lens, we see how such shifts promise cleaner air, lower costs, and broader wealth. On this last day of 2025, let's explore what this prize-winning research says about our future.

EVs do not demand that we give up mobility; they give us a better way.

EVs: Charging With Creative Destruction

Electric vehicles are a textbook case of creative destruction in action. For over a century, internal combustion engines ruled roads, guzzling fossil fuels and churning out emissions. Now, EVs flip the script. Aghion and Howitt's model explains the mechanics: upfront research in batteries and motors yields vehicles with vastly superior efficiency, instant torque, and operating costs under $0.04 per mile, versus $0.13 for gas cars. This erodes the old guard. Global EV sales hit over 9 million in the first half of 2025 alone, claiming 23% of the new light-duty vehicle market. The predictable future shows the supply chains for oil-fueled transportation fading, replaced by battery factories and recycling hubs. Mokyr would nod at the cultural pivot and historical parallels here, much like Enlightenment thinkers embraced steam over sails. Until its demise, policies such as the US Inflation Reduction Act's tax credits nurtured this; drawing in consumers who value sustainability without skimping on performance. The payoff? Trillions in saved energy bills and health costs from cleaner urban air. EVs do not require us to give up mobility. They enhance it, paving roads to growth that respects the Earth.

Autonomous Driving: Navigating a Smarter Mobility Landscape

Autonomous driving takes this disruption to the next level, reimagining a $7 trillion global mobility pie. Human drivers are prone to error. Manual systems keep us chained to outdated controls. Enter AI-guided systems, where sensors and algorithms obsolete steering wheels and fatigue. The laureates' Endogenous Growth theory fits perfectly: iterative software upgrades slash accident rates by up to 90%, unlocking robotaxi fleets that could halve urban transport expenses. The autonomous vehicle market is projected to soar past $4 trillion by 2034. Mokyr's historical echo rings true in the institutional tweaks, like updated traffic codes mirroring 19th-century rail regulations. Freed from the wheel, people reclaim hours for creativity, rest, recreation, or work. Fewer crashes mean healthier people. Environmentally, fewer crashes mean less wreckage in landfills, and optimized routes cut fuel waste by 20-30%. Self-driving cars destroy jobs in traditional driving roles but births roles in data ethics, fleet management, and new roles that are yet to be invented. Autonomous tech whispers a greener commute, one where safety and efficiency dance in harmony.

Reusable Rockets: Launching a New Era of Orbital Access

Reusable rockets, trailblazed by SpaceX, hurl us into orbital economics with gusto. Throwaway launches once made space a luxury for only governments, costing $10,000 per kilogram to orbit. Now, Falcon 9's landings and Starship's visions drop that to around $100 per kilogram. Aghion and Howitt's waves of innovation capture this: each reuse refines designs, obsoleting expendable rivals and slashing mission prices by 100 times. The space economy, valued at $570 billion in 2023, eyes $2 trillion by 2040, fueled by satellite swarms for climate monitoring and global connectivity, space-based energy harvest, space-based compute, Lunar bases, and Mars gateways. Mokyr may highlight this affordable space access as a cultural enabler, akin to patent booms that shielded early inventors. Private players thrive, spawning Earth-observing tools that track deforestation or ocean health in real-time. No longer sporadic feats, space becomes routine progress.

When an alternative is better and cheaper, things change quickly.

Solar Energy: Harnessing the Sun for Endless Power

Solar energy turns the tables. Fossil plants, with their fuel bills and smoke stacks, held sway for generations. Photovoltaic panels change that, harnessing sunlight at costs that plunged from $7.50 per watt in 2010 to under $0.30 today, a drop exceeding 96%. The laureates' model illuminates why: R&D in perovskites and trackers spawns better PV systems, making coal uneconomic. Grids decentralize, with rooftops turning homes into mini-generators and cutting transmission losses by 7%. Mokyr draws parallels to the eclipse of whale oil by kerosene. When an alternative is cheaper and better, the market responds, and change happens. By mid-century, solar energy could supply 50% of global electricity, saving $1.5 trillion annually in fossil fuel imports. This is environmental elegance: boundless rays yield clean electrons, fostering growth that leaves waterways and skies untouched.

Battery Energy Storage: Stabilizing the Grid for a Brighter Tomorrow

Battery energy storage seals the renewable deal. Batteries tame solar and wind's intermittency without dirty backups. No more need for emission-spewing peaker plants. Now, lithium packs dispatch power on demand. Aghion and Howitt's cycles explain the surge: scale drives chemistry tweaks, like more affordable, highly stable LFP cells that outlast rivals and are more easily recycled. This obsoletes gas turbines, enabling virtual power plants that shave peaks and save $150 billion annually by 2030. Mokyr spots parallels in early telegraph communications aiding railroad coordination; one new technology enabling another. Another example is EVs buffering the grid via vehicle-to-grid tech, making the large EV battery have a dual purpose, and weaving energy storage into our daily life. The result is a robust grid with smooth renewable integration by batteries that buffer weather whims and bolster biodiversity by reducing mercury emissions.

Aligning with Tesla's Master Plan 3: A Blueprint for Sustainable Scale

These threads weave neatly into Tesla's Master Plan 3, a 2023 blueprint for sustainable energy. It maps electrifying transport, heat, and industry on renewable backbones, demanding 50% less material than fossil paths. The laureates' destruction fits Tesla's battery ramp-up, where cost curves mirror Aghion-Howitt math for self-sustaining loops. Mokyr's cultural nod aligns with grid upgrades embedding renewable norms, redirecting industrial legacies toward abundance. Tesla catalyzes this, proving innovation scales without scarcity.

Echoing the CarsWithCords.net Vision: Green Abundance Without Compromise

We echoed many of these same ideas in our 2022 post "Green Abundance: No Sacrifice, No CO2." In fact, we even had the same historical whale oil example as the laureates. That post champions zero-emission living via top-tier tech. It spotlights driving a Tesla as proof that EVs beat gas without trade-offs. This mirrors the Nobel thesis: superior goods spur adoption per Wright's Law, enabling Jevons Paradox to ignite abundance engines. Mokyr's work shows that subsidies can jumpstart nations to clean paths. Both our vision and the laureates' vision shun restraint for smart abundance, uniting on policies that promote prosperity without destroying the planet.

Conclusion: Riding the Wave Forward

In wrapping up, the 2025 Nobel reminds us that true progress pairs ingenuity with care for our shared home. The US manufacturing credits for building renewable infrastructure are about jobs, but they are also building a progress-focused culture. EVs, autonomy, rockets, solar, and batteries are not a distraction. They are the new engines of growth, destroying waste while building resilience. Backed by Mokyr's history, as well as Aghion and Howitt's models, these real-world strides promise a world richer in options and lighter on the land. We stand at the cusp. By championing such creative waves, we craft economies that thrive, not despite innovation. The path forward gleams with cleaner, greener possibilities, inviting us all to ride the innovation wave to a future free from fossil fuels.

Tesla 2025 Lookback

Peering Back at My Tesla 2025 Crystal Ball

About a year ago, I sat down with a steaming cup and a healthy dose of optimism to sketch out Tesla's possible 2025 roadmap in this post. As someone who's long championed electric vehicles for their role in slashing tailpipe emissions and bolstering energy independence, I decided to put on my Carnac the Magnificent costume. 

I took swings at Optimus, vehicle refreshes, Cybercab and even the affordable "Model 2." So how'd I do? As the saying goes, "Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future." This is especially true when trying to predict Elon Musk's timelines. Fast-forward one year to today, in December 2025, and it's time for a candid scorecard. My batting average? Roughly 60-70% on the big swings. Some predictions landed with the smoothness of a Highland Model 3; others slipped like Optimus stepping on a banana peel. Let's unpack the hits, the near-misses, and the flat-out flops.

Vehicles: Refreshes Rock, But Newbies Notch Delays

Tesla's lineup continued to evolve in 2025. I was betting on a new affordable model (called Redwood) to shake up the EV scene and boost volumes. That didn't happen (in 2025). Robotaxis are great, but affordable personal cars will have a significant place in sales rankings for another decade or two, and this is not a segment that Tesla will want to cede to others like the Bolt and LEAF.

Prediction	Outcome	Score
Redwood: Compact crossover production starting mid-2025 at ~$25,000, 225+ mile range on 54 kWh LFP battery, NV9X platform, AI5 hardware, minimalist interior, scaling to 10,000/week at Giga Texas/Shanghai.	Redwood production didn't happen, and it is not part of Tesla's public roadmap.	Total miss. You can expect to see this again in my 2026 prediction list.
Roadster: Redesigned unveiling in August 2025, possibly tied to AI Day or Redwood event.	Delay on the unveil; it's now slated for April 1, 2026, with production whispers for 2027. It's still planned, but no shiny reveal yet.	Flop city. This flying roadster remains the eternal tease, but when it drops, it'll redefine zero-emission speed demons.
Juniper (Model Y refresh): Launch deliveries in March 2025 (US/China first), with 3% range boost, lighter weight, power-fold rear seats, power frunk, ambient lighting, front-bumper camera, second-row screen, improved suspension, & larger frunk.	Delivered bang-on: China and US rollouts hit March, packing a 3% range bump (up to 320+ miles), aero tweaks for lighter curb weight, front bumper camera, power frunk, tuned suspension, and a beefier frunk. Ambient lighting and fold-flat seats shine; no second-row screen, but the full-width taillight bar steals the show.	Bullseye. This facelift turned the Model Y into an even slicker daily driver, coaxing more miles from each charge and keeping EV adoption humming.
Model S/X: Survive as halo vehicles with potential refresh (lush interiors, noise-dampening, smoother suspension, price hike); re-add turn-signal stalk, ambient lighting, power seats/frunk/doors, front camera; free lifetime Supercharging/connectivity; Grok integration premiere then 3-6 month fleet rollout; 48V battery, Etherloop, steer-by-wire, and a price increase.	June refresh brought quieter cabins via better dampening, air suspension tweaks for silkier rides, front bumper camera, Frost Blue paint, and up to 410-mile range on the S Long Range. $5,000 hike (S at $84,990; X at $89,990). Free perks persist; Grok rolled fleet-wide mid-year. No stalk revival, ambient lights, or confirmed 48V/Etherloop.	Solid partial. The price increase and Luxe Package are exactly what we called for. The S & X are Veblen goods. The refresh gave them a needed update. I overshot with 48V and other items that they don't have yet. Still, they anchor Tesla's premium EV perch.

Autonomous Driving and Services: Supervised Steps Forward

Autonomy was my moonshot bet, envisioning robotaxis zipping through Austin and Vegas with minimal human meddling. Reality served a supervised starter pack, which still edges us closer, but less than our forecast. Testing in Austin launched in June with Model Ys, safety monitors in the vehicle, and remote ops for tricky spots with FSD training gobbling up intervention data. The Bay Area, not Vegas, was next on the list. However, Vegas got the nod via Nevada permits in September 2025, so it will be there soon. Partial credit: Foundations firm, but scaling's a slow burn.

Production and Manufacturing: Semi Scores a Win

Heavy hauling is vital for environmental impact, and boy, did it deliver. Semi engineering wrapped early; Giga Nevada's 50,000-unit factory neared completion by November, with first builds trickling by year-end and full ramps in March 2026. Southwest US Megawatt chargers sprouted; DHL piloted 5,000+ km runs in California, while PepsiCo and global testers joined the fray. These beasts promise to decarbonize trucking one silent mile at a time. Let's hope this momentum continues in 2026.

Robotics: Optimus Stumbles, But Strides

I foresaw 3-5k Optimus units in factories by late 2025, as well as demoing flair at events. Optimus made big strides in 2025 (figuratively and literally). It was handing out popcorn at the Tesla Diner opening and candy on Halloween. Optimus learned kung fu to fight Jared Leto and was making full-stride jogging maneuvers by the end of the year. Optimus Gen 3 unveil has been teased for Q1 2026. 

Energy and Infrastructure: Diner Delights, NACS Nailed

My infrastructure ink focused on fun and flow. The 50s Diner (aka Rock-n-Charge) flipped open in July at West Hollywood's 7001 Santa Monica Blvd: 24/7 retro vibes, 80 V4 Superchargers, 250+ seats, giant screens, and Optimus swag. Route 66 nostalgia meets fast charging. Spot-on. And NACS? A triumph. 2025 models from BMW/Mini/Rolls-Royce, Ford, GM, Polestar/Volvo/Nissan packed native ports; Mercedes hopped in February, majors by summer. Stellantis lags to 2026, but 28,000+ Superchargers now welcome all EVs. This interoperability turbocharges EV accessibility, one plug at a time.

Crystal Ball Retrospective: Hits, Misses, and Mileage Ahead

Looking back, my prescient prognostications shone on refreshes like Juniper and infrastructure icons like the Diner, which kept Tesla's ecosystem electric and inviting. The Semi and NACS adoption occurred as planned, paving the way for broader battery adoption and cleaner logistics. Misses? Redwood's tardy trot and Roadster's vanishing act highlight Tesla's pivot to AI over assembly lines, a classic Musk maneuver that amuses as much as it frustrates. Optimus and robotaxis inched forward under supervision, reminding us innovation's a marathon, not a microwave meal.

Despite delayed timelines, 2025 demonstrated Tesla's inherent ability to deliver sustainable surprises. As we charge into 2026, I'm bullish: More EVs on roads mean quieter cities, cleaner air, and a planet breathing easier. My 2026 forecast is coming soon. What would you like to see in it?

U.S. Clean Tech in 2025: Record Deployment Amidst Legislative Turbulence

The Year 2025: A Shock to the System

The year 2025 was a period of high-voltage whiplash for the US energy sector. It was a time when record-breaking progress collided with political U-turns. We saw the renewable industry sprint to the finish line as federal incentives evaporated like solar production when the clouds come out. Simultaneously, the industry was facing a wall of new legislative hurdles; yet, if you were a solar installer, you likely had the busiest year of your life. If you were an offshore wind developer, you probably spent 2025 updating your resume. The contradictions were sharp. The US became a manufacturing powerhouse for clean technology just as the government pulled the rug out from under consumer incentives. It was the best of times for batteries; it was the worst of times for wind turbines.

The Solar Coaster and the Storage Surge

Solar energy had a banner year in 2025. In fact, it was almost too successful for its own good. Solar and battery storage accounted for a massive 81% of all new power capacity added to the grid. When you zoom out to include other renewables, that figure reached 93% through September. The driving force behind this frenzy was not just altruism; it was panic.

Homeowners rushed to install panels before the expiration of the Residential Clean Energy Credit. This 30% credit, a staple of the industry known as Section 25D, was terminated at the end of 2025 by the new administration. The result was a "going out of business" sale atmosphere that kept installers on roofs from dawn till dusk. California led the charge. The state achieved a milestone that once seemed impossible. For nearly every day in 2025, clean energy sources provided 100% of the state's power for at least part of the day.

Batteries were the unsung heroes of this transition. Operating storage capacity jumped by 32% by October. This was not just about saving money; it was about survival. As extreme weather battered the grid, thousands of Americans turned to microgrids to keep the lights on. The resilience narrative finally overtook the environmental narrative. People just wanted their refrigerators to run during a blackout. A battery-powered renewable grid is a more reliable grid.

The Wind That Failed to Blow

While solar soared, wind energy crashed. The sector faced a perfect storm of rising interest rates, supply chain snarls, and political hostility. The lowlight of the year was the executive freeze issued in early 2025. This presidential memorandum paused all new leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf. It sent a chill through the market that no amount of hot air could warm up.

The trouble was not limited to US waters. The cancellation of major projects served as a grim warning sign for domestic developers. It signaled that the economics of offshore wind were becoming untenable without significant government support. In the US, investors took the hint; capital fled the sector. Projects that were once heralded as the future of the Eastern Seaboard were quietly shelved or cancelled.

The Corporate Casualty List

The financial strain of 2025 claimed some big scalps. The residential solar model, which relied heavily on cheap loans and generous tax credits, buckled under pressure. The most notable casualty was Sunnova. The residential solar provider filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2025. It was a sober reminder that rapid growth does not always equal sustainable profit.

Lending institutions also felt the pain. Mosaic, a major player in solar financing, faced similar existential threats. These bankruptcies cast a long shadow over the industry. They left customers wondering who would service their panels; they left investors wondering if the rooftop solar boom was a bubble waiting to burst.

The EV Tax Credit Tragedy

For electric vehicle enthusiasts, 2025 was a heartbreak. The year started with promise but ended in disappointment. On September 30, the federal EV tax credit was eliminated. This cut effectively raised the price of a new electric car by $7,500 overnight. Sales in the fourth quarter plummeted as buyers were priced out of the market.

However, the infrastructure story was surprisingly positive. 2025 saw a record number of high-speed public chargers installed across the US. The network finally began to look robust enough for the average driver. We also saw a cultural shift; electric vehicles became more visible in media as normal household appliances rather than political statements. It was a small victory in the culture war, but a victory nonetheless.

The One Big Beautiful Disaster

The defining political event of the year was the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on July 4. This legislation was a sledgehammer to the previous administration's legacy. It rolled back key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and introduced strict new rules on foreign supply chains.

The OBBBA established a Prohibited Foreign Entity (PFE) regime. This rule penalized projects that sourced components from countries like China. While the goal was to boost domestic manufacturing, the immediate result was chaos. Developers scrambled to find compliant parts. Many found that US factories, while growing, could not yet meet the demand.

The 2025 Energy Scorecard

Metric	2020 Status	2025 Status	Trend
New Power Capacity (Renewables)	~70%	93%	Surge
Federal Solar Tax Credit	26%	0% (Expired 12/31)	Eliminated
Electricity Prices	Baseline	+35% vs 2020	Spike
US Solar Manufacturing Rank	14th Global	3rd Global	Boom
Heat Pump Sales	Niche	Outsold Traditional ACs	Shift

The Gridlock on the Grid

Perhaps the most frustrating lowlight of 2025 was the interconnection crisis. We built the power plants; we just could not plug them in. The queue to connect new projects to the grid grew longer and slower. Outdated transmission infrastructure struggled to handle the load.

Electricity prices hit record highs in 2025. Rates were up 35% compared to five years prior. Utilities blamed inflation and grid upgrades; consumers just blamed the utilities. This price hike added insult to injury for ratepayers who were already dealing with the loss of solar incentives.

A Spark in the Dark

The year 2025 proved that the energy transition is not a straight line. It is a jagged path filled with obstacles and detours. Yet, despite the legislative setbacks and corporate bankruptcies, the fundamental shift continued. We saw US manufacturing reborn; we saw heat pumps become the default choice for heating and cooling; we saw the grid get cleaner and more stable, even if it became more expensive.

The momentum of technology often outpaces the slow march of policy. Solar panels are cheaper than ever; batteries are more efficient. The public desire for energy independence is stronger than any tax credit. As we move beyond this turbulent year, the destination remains clear. The road is bumpy, but we are still heading toward a future free from fossil fuels.

Tesla 2026: Cybertruck Could Transform Model S and X

Tesla’s Potential Large Passenger Vehicle Platform: A Unified Future for Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck

Tesla’s Cybertruck has a bold appearance that's unlike pickups of yore. Cybertruck's boldness continues under the surface as well. Traditionally, vehicles use miles of wire to connect everything to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. Cybertruck scraps that and opts for a faster network, which they call Etherloop. This uses about 68% less wiring. Munro & Associates) reports ~73% overall wiring weight reduction in Cybertruck compared to prior Tesla architectures.

Similarly, Cybertruck uses a 48-volt auxiliary power system. This offers significant advantages, including improved efficiency and reduced weight by using thinner wiring. The higher voltage supports more powerful electrical systems, such as enhanced lighting and infotainment, while reducing the need for multiple low-voltage batteries. It also simplifies steer-by-wire.

These innovations cannot stay exclusive to the Cybertruck. They must proliferate throughout Tesla's vehicle lineup. The fastest way forward for this proliferation would be the bold step of unifying the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck on a shared platform based on the Cybertruck’s architecture. This would create Tesla's new large passenger vehicle platform. It would streamline production for these vehicles, reduce costs, and bring cutting-edge technology to Tesla’s flagship models. 

We'll explore the advantages, implications, manufacturing location, and timeline for such a platform and redesign, along with the potential for features like four-wheel steering to enhance the Model X.

Advantages of a Shared Platform

A unified platform would allow Tesla to standardize components across the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck. Shared parts could lower production costs through economies of scale, as Tesla would purchase components in bulk. Manufacturing would become more efficient, with simplified assembly lines and reduced setup times. The Cybertruck’s 48-volt architecture, steer-by-wire, and Ethernet-based wiring system would modernize the Model S and Model X, which currently lack these features. Additionally, steer-by-wire tech would enable right-hand drive variants, which Tesla discontinued for Model S and X in 2023. This would reopen the UK and Australian markets to the S and X.

A shared platform for Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck means shared components and architecture. It does not mean a similar exterior design for all three. The Model S and Model X would not adopt the Cybertruck’s angular stainless steel exterior. The Model S and Model X would utilize the Cybertruck’s 48-volt system and steer-by-wire technology, rather than its aesthetics. Their sleek, curved designs would be preserved.

Implications and Manufacturing Locations

A shared platform could reshape Tesla’s production strategy. Currently, Model S and Model X are built at the Fremont factory in California, while the Cybertruck is produced at Gigafactory Texas in Austin. A unified platform would likely lead to consolidated production at Gigafactory Texas. A shared platform would also support adding four-wheel steering to the Model X, complementing its falcon-wing doors, making the X even cooler.

Shared Production Line

A shared platform would allow Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck to share a production line. A typical production line produces 100,000 to 250,000 vehicles annually, depending on automation and model complexity. The vehicle mix on a shared production line could be adjusted based on demand, enabling flexibility for Tesla to optimize and respond to market shifts for these three relatively low-volume vehicles.

Timeline for Redesign

The Model S and Model X received major refreshes in 2021, with minor updates in June 2025, adding features like a front bumper camera and improved interiors. Tesla’s typical refresh cycle spans 5-7 years, so a major redesign in 2026 fits this pattern. A major platform overhaul that brings all of Tesla's latest and greatest tech to their flagship vehicles would be exciting.

Manufacturing and Feature Summary

Aspect	Details
Current Manufacturing Location	Model S/X: Fremont, CA; Cybertruck: Austin, TX
Potential Manufacturing	Likely Gigafactory Texas on shared platform
Last Major Refresh	S/X 2021 (interior, powertrain updates)
June 2025 S/X Update	Front bumper camera, new wheels, enhanced interiors, new paint colors
Proposed Features	48V architecture (all), steer-by-wire(all), four-wheel steering (CT and new for Model X)
Right-hand Drive Variants	Currently unavailable for S/X; possible with new platform; (Re)opens regions
Redesign Timeline	Speculatively Sept 2026

Conclusion

A large passenger vehicle platform based on the Cybertruck could transform Tesla’s Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck production by reducing costs, unifying technology and production lines, while enabling right-hand drive variants. Manufacturing would shift to Gigafactory Texas. The refresh cycle history hints at 2026 as the year this redesign could happen. Adding a four-wheel steering option to Model X would elevate its appeal, making it a standout in Tesla’s lineup.

Tesla 2025 Solar Powerwall Year In Review

Each year, Tesla gives you a bunch of solar and Powerwall stats. You also get to see community stats and where you land in the pack for some of them. They also give you a title or category depending on how you use your system. My title is on the final image below. 

Saving money is not the primary reason that we bought solar and Powerwalls, but once we had them, I certainly tried to maximize this aspect. 

509 years is quite the smartphone charge.

Jog for 2 years, but at what speed? 🏃

I am really surprised that we're even in the top half for solar production. We're in rainy Oregon, and we have east/west-facing panels.

StormWatch mode is one of my favorite features of the Powerwall. If the grid goes down, my lights (and heat) don't go out.

4.5MWh is enough to power a small community during an outage. This much energy could supply electricity to about 400-500 average US homes for a full hour during peak demand, or around 150 homes for a whole evening (assuming ~30 kWh daily use per home). Of course, in my case, this energy was spread out over the year.

Our lowest consumption days tend to be in the Spring and Autumn, when the heat pump does not need to heat or cool our house. 

Our highest energy usage days are typically in July or August when the AC has to run for several hours each day. So why was June 9th our big day in 2025? This was a VPP event day. Our local utility sucked 32 kWh from our Powerwall along with all the surplus solar that we could generate during the event. 

There are over a thousand peak hours each year on our TOU energy schedule. Solar covered 16% of it, Powerwalls covered the bulk (57%), leaving just 27% for the grid. For 2026, the Powerwall coverage should be even higher since we had a new TOU schedule starting on January 1st, 2025 and the Powerwall was slow to adjust to the new schedule (despite the fact that I put the new rate schedule in on Jan 1st).

 

Congratulations, you've made it to the end, so you get to see that our title for 2025 is Trickster. We don't use our Powerwalls in the boring stand-by only mode or the straightforward self-power mode. Instead, we time-shift to use solar to cover the peak hours and use off-peak charging in the winter to supplement this. This is a win-win; we get more affordable energy, and the grid gets to offload our demand during peak time and deliver more during off-peak when there's plenty of capacity available. ♕

Low Rolling Resistance Tires: A Decade of Scientific Advancements

Introduction

Back in 2015, trying to find definitive data on a tire’s Coefficient of Rolling Resistance (Crr) felt like an archaeological dig. Consumers like me were left squinting at vague marketing promises like "Fuel-Saver," hoping the ambiguous language meant they would not sacrifice too much range or performance. Fast forward to today, and while the industry still harbors a few secrets, the overall landscape for Low Rolling Resistance (LRR) tires has improved dramatically. Regulatory shifts and the quiet, crushing demands of high-torque electric vehicles (EVs) means that LRR technology has moved from a niche offering to a foundational pillar of modern mobility. Reducing rolling resistance (the energy lost to tire deformation) is simply smart science, and the market now rewards drivers who seek efficiency, longevity, and superior structural strength.

Silicon Secrets and Structural Shifts

The biggest gains in LRR technology stem from breakthroughs in material science, which is a surprisingly rubbery and complex field. The secret sauce is largely silica, specifically Highly Dispersible Silica (HDS). When mixed with specialized synthetic elastomers, HDS significantly reduces a tire’s internal friction, or hysteresis. Less friction means less heat, which means less energy wasted when the rubber flexes against the road.

Manufacturers are also experimenting with structural innovations. Some companies, for instance, are leveraging large-diameter, narrow-width designs coupled with higher inflation pressures. This concept, sometimes called "ologic," effectively reduces the contact patch's deflection, providing a superior blend of lower rolling resistance and improved aerodynamics. This careful engineering ensures the tire maintains safety and satisfactory wet grip, preventing LRR from becoming a frustrating trade-off for braking power. The push for more durable and efficient compounds has also opened the door to sustainable alternatives, with some research focusing on non-petroleum-based rubber additives.

Data Disclosures and Dollar Savings

The days of relying solely on a tire salesperson’s cheerful assurances are waning. While the US still lacks a unified federal standard for replacement tire labeling, the influence of comprehensive systems, such as the European Union’s tire label that mandates rolling resistance ratings, has elevated consumer awareness globally. Today, consumers have access to third-party testing and specialized online reviews, allowing for meaningful comparisons that simply were not possible a decade ago.

The economic case for LRR is compelling, often outweighing the slightly higher initial purchase price. For the average passenger vehicle, switching to a high-quality LRR tire typically improves fuel economy by 1% to 5%. This might sound modest, but for high-mileage drivers or fleet operators, the compounded effect is substantial. Consider the potential long-term cost recovery:

Fuel Savings Factor	Estimated Average Fuel Economy Improvement
Passenger Vehicle	1% to 5%
Reduction of Vehicle Road Load	10% reduction in Crr yields ~1.6% fuel savings
Long-Term ROI	Fuel consumed by a standard tire over its life can cost several times its initial $ price

As the global market for these superior tires is projected to reach $20.5 billion, competitive pricing ensures that these innovations are readily available. Buyers can now prioritize tires that offer a happy marriage of low resistance and long tread life, maximizing their savings at the Supercharger (or at the pump).

Conclusion

The journey from vague "eco" promises to quantified, performance-backed LRR tires has been swift. What was once a mystery wrapped in a flimsy marketing brochure is now a sophisticated, silica-enhanced product that tangibly benefits the driver and the environment by maximizing efficiency. Choosing a modern LRR tire is not just a gesture of environmental friendliness; it is a fiscally responsible decision that pays dividends over the lifespan of the rubber, saving you cash and improving your range. We'll see if there's a 2035 follow-up on the state of LRR tires here on CarsWithCords.net. 

References

(January 2015). Rolling Resistance Cars With Cords. Retrieved from: https://www.carswithcords.net/2015/01/rolling-resistance.html

The Trillion Dollar Battery Boom

The Battery Bonanza

Modern civilization is currently attempting a massive energy makeover. We are trading old fossil fuels for sunshine and wind. This shift is noble, necessary, and requires new thinking. Solar panels and wind turbines are wonderful when the weather cooperates. However, the sun sets every evening. The wind occasionally takes a nap. And there are seasonal considerations; many regions receive far more solar in the summer than in the winter. We need a way to bottle energy for a rainy day. This is the realm of energy storage. Many people assumed we would need a dozen different technologies to save the day. There are many ways to store energy, such as gravity blocks, compressed air, and giant liquid tanks. Yet, one technology is currently eating the lunch of every competitor. Lithium-ion batteries are no longer just for your smartphone or your laptop. They are taking over the power grid. This growth is fast, fierce, and fascinating. It is changing how engineers think about the future of energy. The transition is not just about the environment. It is about the cold, hard logic of mass production.

The Lithium Juggernaut Jumps

Lithium batteries are the current champions of the energy world. Their growth has been nothing short of spectacular. A decade ago, these batteries were expensive toys for early adopters. Today, they are the backbone of the energy transition. In 2024, the price of lithium-ion battery packs fell to an average of $115 per kilowatt-hour. This represented a 20% drop in just one year. Some regions, like China, saw prices dip as low as $94 per kilowatt-hour. Analysts expect the $100 threshold to become the global norm by 2026. This price collapse makes lithium batteries incredibly attractive for utility companies. They are modular, manageable, and mass-produced. You can stack them like toy bricks to build a giant power plant.

The scale of this industry is difficult to grasp. Global battery capacity is projected to increase 14-fold by the year 2030. This is not just a small trend. It is a total transformation of the industrial base. In the US, companies are building massive factories to keep up with demand. Panasonic recently opened a giant facility in Kansas. This plant alone aims to produce 32 gigawatt hours of batteries every year. This massive supply chain makes lithium the default choice for almost every new project. It is reliable. It is bankable. Investors love a technology they already understand. While other startups are still testing prototypes, lithium is already in the field doing the heavy lifting. The learning curve for this technology is steep. As we build more, we get better at it. Every factory built makes the next one cheaper. It is a virtuous cycle of industrial improvement.

Hydrogen Hype and Heavy Hardships

While lithium is soaring, another contender is struggling to find its footing. Hydrogen is often called the fuel of the future. Some enthusiasts believe it will solve all our storage problems. They imagine a world where we turn extra solar power into gas. We would store this gas and burn it later for electricity. Unfortunately, physics is not always a fan of this plan. Hydrogen has several significant technical flaws. The most annoying issue is its tendency to cause embrittlement. Hydrogen molecules are tiny. They are much smaller than the molecules in natural gas. These tiny particles can actually seep into the crystalline structure of solid metals. Once inside the metal, hydrogen makes it weak and brittle. It turns strong steel pipes into something more like glass. This leads to cracks, leaks, and catastrophic failures.

Engineering for hydrogen requires special, expensive materials. You cannot just use the existing natural gas infrastructure. If you try, the pipes might literally shatter under pressure. This adds a massive layer of cost to any hydrogen project. It is a material science nightmare that lithium batteries simply do not face. Lithium stays inside its casing. It does not try to escape by melting your hardware from the inside out. Furthermore, hydrogen is difficult to contain. It leaks through seals that would stop any other gas. This makes transport and long-term storage a constant battle against physics. The cost of preventing these leaks often outweighs the benefit of the fuel itself.

The Efficiency Gap

Efficiency is the second major hurdle for hydrogen. When you store energy, you want to get as much back as possible. This is called round-trip efficiency. All energy storage systems are "leaky buckets," but some leak more than others. Lithium batteries are remarkably efficient. They usually return between 85% and 95% of the energy you put into them. They are like a very honest bank. You deposit 100 units of energy, and, after some fees, you get 90 back. Hydrogen is more like a loan shark that charges a 60% fee for every transaction. To make green hydrogen, you must use electricity to split water. This process loses energy. Then you must compress the gas, which loses more energy. Finally, you turn it back into electricity using a fuel cell or by burning it.

The final result is disappointing. Most hydrogen storage systems have a round-trip efficiency of only 30% to 45%. You lose more than half of your energy just by moving it around. This makes the cost of the final electricity very high. You have to build twice as many solar panels just to compensate for the losses. In a world where every dollar counts, this is a tough sell. Lithium batteries are simply better at being thrifty. They keep the lights on without wasting the harvest. Efficiency is not just a technical metric. It is a fundamental economic constraint. Every percent lost is money thrown away.

A Comparison of Storage Solutions

Feature	Lithium Ion Batteries	Hydrogen Storage Systems
Round Trip Efficiency	85% to 95%	30% to 45%
Average Pack Cost (2024)	$115 per kWh	High infrastructure costs
Scalability	High and modular	Low and site-specific
Infrastructure Risk	Well-tested technology	High metal embrittlement
Optimal Duration	1 to 12 hours	Days to months

The Last Stretch

This is needed for the final steps of grid decarbonization. We can reach about 98% of our goals using just wind, solar, and lithium batteries. This is because lithium is now competing in the 12-hour storage range. It can handle the daily cycle of the sun with ease. The remaining 2% is the hard part. This is where we might need something that lasts for weeks. However, building massive hydrogen plants for that tiny sliver of time is expensive. Instead, we can focus our resources on cleaning up the easiest parts first. Let's first work on the low-hanging fruit; once this is solved, then we can look at the state of technology and see what new goals are within reach. 

The dark doldrums of winter are a specific challenge for grid planners. These are periods when the wind stops blowing, and clouds cover the solar farms for days. In the past, people thought we needed massive hydrogen reservoirs for these rare events. However, new studies suggest we can overbuild our renewable capacity instead. If we have more solar than we need, we can still generate enough power on a cloudy day. Lithium batteries can then smooth out the remaining bumps. This approach is called SuperPower. It is significantly cheaper than building a completely new hydrogen economy. We are learning that the simplest solution is often the most effective. We do not need a complex Rube Goldberg machine of gas pipes and compressors. We just need more batteries and more panels.

Lithium is the tool that gets us through the first 90% of the marathon. It is fast, flexible, and functional. We should celebrate its growth. We should also be realistic about the alternatives. Hydrogen has a role to play in the deep future, but it is not a silver bullet. It is more like a lead slug. It is heavy, slow, and prone to breaking things. For now, the battery is king. We are watching a global shift that will redefine how we live. The speed of this shift is dictated by the factory floor and the laboratory. Both are currently working very hard on the lithium battery.

A Sunny Sequence

The transition to a cleaner grid is a long journey. It requires smart engineering and even smarter economics. Lithium-ion batteries have proven to be the most viable bridge to this new era. They have survived the skeptics and the price wars. They continue to drop in cost while improving in performance. While we must address the challenges of mining and recycling, the progress is undeniable. We are moving away from dirty fuels and toward a smarter, more efficient system. Every gigawatt hour of battery storage we add makes our grid more resilient and more reliable. We are no longer limited by the weather. We are limited only by how fast we can build.

Hydrogen will likely remain a niche player for a long time. Its problems with embrittlement and efficiency are too large to ignore. We should not wait for a perfect technology that might never arrive. We have working solutions right now; let's deploy them. By doubling down on batteries, we can accelerate the change our world needs. It is an exciting time in energy. It is an even better time to be a person who enjoys breathing clean air. We are building a foundation for a future free from fossil fuels. Success is within our reach if we stick to the technologies that work. The battery has won the first round. It is ready for the next 94 rounds of the fight.

The Heroes of Home Energy

A Guide to Empowering Your Home

In the quest for a more sustainable and resilient energy future, we often focus on individual technologies. We hear about the promise of electric vehicles (EVs), the efficiency of solar panels, the convenience of home batteries, and the stability of a smart grid. But what if the true power lies not in these technologies alone, but in how they stack and amplify the impacts? That’s the powerful thesis of a presentation given at a Drive Electric Month 2025 event. These four renewable energy "heroes," when united, form a powerful solution that saves money, cuts emissions, builds resilience, and fosters independence.

Backrow: (left) Solar Power, (center) Smart Grid, (right) Battery Powerhouse
Front and Center: The Electric Vehicle

The Star Player: Electric Vehicles

While each hero is mighty in its own right, the EV is the superstar of the team. EVs offer a familiar list of advantages: they're fast, smooth, quiet, and can be conveniently fueled at home. However, their real superpower is that they are "fueled" by electricity. Unlike gas, which is susceptible to supply shocks, price volatility, and geopolitical issues, electricity is generated in countless ways and distributed through an existing, massive network. The ability to charge off-peak also helps stabilize the grid and better utilize our existing infrastructure. EVs are more than just a means of transportation; they are a linchpin to our energy future.

The Shining Light: Solar Power

The second hero is solar power. Solar captures energy from the giant fusion reactor in the sky called our Sun (aka Sol). By installing rooftop solar, you can transform your home into its own energy generation station, gaining a level of independence from the grid. As electricity rates continue to climb, the cost of solar technology has steadily declined, making it an increasingly attractive option for homeowners.

The Brains of the Operation: The Smart Grid

The smart grid is our third hero, and it’s all about making your energy usage smarter. In many places, electricity is priced at a flat rate, regardless of when you use it. However, many utilities offer Time-of-Day (TOD) rate plans. These plans divide the day into off-peak, shoulder (or mid-peak), and peak periods, with significantly lower rates during off-peak hours. By shifting your energy use to these cheaper times, you can save a considerable amount of money.

The Heavy Hitter: Home Batteries

The final hero is the home battery, a powerful tool that gives you on-demand energy right at your fingertips. Our battery hero has the time-shift superpower. A home battery allows you to shift your use of the energy you create with solar panels to the time that you need it. Without batteries, you only have solar power when the sun is shining. Batteries also provide crucial backup power during grid outages, and, perhaps most importantly, they allow your solar panels to continue operating during these outages. Without a battery, most solar systems simply turn off when the grid is down because they need a signal from the grid in order to operate. A home battery’s inverter takes over this role, keeping your solar operational and your lights on when your neighbors’ are out.

The Fantastic Four of Energy - Assemble!

Like any good superhero team, these four heroes work best when they work together. Solar provides energy for your home, EV, and battery. The smart grid’s time-of-day rate plan encourages you to use power when it’s cheapest. The battery allows you to time-shift solar energy to eliminate costly grid use during peak hours. Net-metering, a team-up between solar and the grid, allows you to feed excess energy back into the grid and receive credit for it.

The most impressive team-up, however, is the Virtual Power Plant (VPP), a collaboration between home batteries and the utility. When the grid anticipates high demand, such as on a hot day, the utility can call on its customers’ batteries to provide power. This is a win-win: the utility avoids firing up expensive and dirty "peaker plants," and the battery owner is paid significantly more than the typical grid kWh cost. Each VPP event that our utility runs uses 80% of our home battery capacity (leaving us a 20% reserve) and earns us over $50. There are 6 or 7 of these events each year. That's $300 - $350, which pays for several months of a merger electricity bill that's already offset by solar and net-metering. 

A Brighter, More Resilient Future

The fantastic four heroes of home energy (EVs, solar, the grid, and home batteries) are not just a collection of powerful technologies; they are a synergistic solution for a better energy future. They empower homeowners to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and become more energy independent. This is just the beginning. The "Super Six" is on the horizon, with the potential addition of Captain Heat Pump and Doctor Induction Stove to the team. The electrify everything saga continues. The future is electric, and it’s looking brighter than ever.

The Rise of a Sustainable Sun Cult: Rituals and Beliefs

Imagining a Modern Sun Worshiper:

Solar Panels, Batteries, and Rituals for the Renewable Age

Today is the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice. To welcome the longer days ahead, let's do something fun on this shortest day of the year.

In a near-future world where the sun powers our homes, EVs, and gadgets, what if this went a step further? Picture a religion that reveres the sun not just as a star, but as the ultimate renewable energy source. This modern twist blends ancient awe with today's tech, like photovoltaic panels and lithium-ion batteries. Think of this lighthearted thought as sustainability meets spirituality. Followers could see solar arrays as holy altars capturing divine photons, and batteries as sacred vaults storing that power for cloudy days.

I'm not proposing the founding of a new religion, just having a fun thought experiment as the days start to get longer from here.

It is all about promoting clean energy, innovation, and sharing the sun's gifts. The Temples would be off-grid community hubs with massive solar setups and battery banks for recharging souls and devices alike. Core values include ditching fossil fuels, pushing for worldwide solar adoption, and even "energy alms" by sharing surplus power through microgrids. No ancient sacrifices here, just smart apps tracking solar yields as signs from above.

Key Rituals: Harnessing the Sun's Power

Rituals in this faith would tie into solar cycles and tech, blending sun salutations with hands-on energy management. The rituals cover daily life, weekly observance, and big celestial events. No need for fancy gear; even a basic portable solar charger lets you join in.

Daily Dawn Invocation

Start your day right at sunrise. Face your solar panels east and chant a quick thanks: "O Mighty Sun, channel your rays into our collectors." Then plug in a battery or device for the "charging ceremony," imagining those electrons as blessings flowing in. Log your daily output forecast on a group app for communal vibes. It is like a morning coffee ritual, but with kilowatt-hours instead of caffeine.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Sunday lives up to its name as the sun's day. Sunday would be the weekly Sabbath -Go full off-grid, relying only on your panels and stored solar juice from batteries. No tapping the fossil-fueled utility. Gather for "Ray Meetings" to swap efficiency tips, confess tech glitches, and bless batteries with maintenance and cleaning. Ponder solar schematics or brainstorm upgrades. It is a recharge for body and tech.

Solstice Celebrations

• Summer Solstice (Longest Day): Call it "Max Glow Fest." Feast on solar-cooked meals powered by extended daylight hours. Install fresh panels as offerings, compete in harvest challenges like who banks the most energy, and hold night watches over battery stats. Appreciate the light and warmth the sun provides every day. Look at the sun's role in all the food that's produced. It celebrates solar abundance. 
• Winter Solstice (Shortest Day): Dubbed "Power Preserve Rite," this one is about thrift. Huddle around efficient lighting setups, audit your usage to understand your waste, and dim the lights to respect the sun's brief visit. Wrap up with plans to ramp up for spring. Think of it as a tech hibernate mode.

Equinox Observances

• Spring and Autumn Equinoxes (Equal Day/Night): These are "Equi-Energy Days," all about balance. Share battery charge evenly via cables for fairness, meditate at solar noon and midnight on storage heroes. Plant solar sensors or sundials in yards to read seasonal data as holy insights. Celebrate harmony between tech and nature.

Name Ideas for This Sunny Faith

1. Solara Sanctum: A sacred spot for solar worship, like a battery-backed haven.
2. Heliobatt Faith: Merges sun worship with battery storage for enlightened living.
3. Photonic Covenant: A pact to capture and keep those sun particles ethically.
4. Radiant Order: Views solar networks as divine, interconnected webs sustaining us.

What do you think? This fun concept highlights how solar tech can inspire real change.