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Climate change and energy

Volkswagen’s all-electric ride-sharing service is part of its comeback campaign

Three years after the carmaker’s notorious emissions scandal, its new focus on electric vehicles is as much an effort to repair its image as it is a bet on the future of the automotive industry.

Some background: In 2015 it was uncovered that as many as 11 million VW diesel cars were emitting high levels of the pollutants that cause smog. The company has been digging itself out from under a mountain of negative press ever since.

Plugging in: The carmaker announced yesterday that it will be launching an all-electric ride-sharing service called WE in Germany next year. It will be in direct competition with Uber and Lyft, and there are plans to expand to other countries in 2020.

Speeding ahead: Last month, an electric Volkswagen set a new record in the intense Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It beat the previous mark (held by a gas-powered rally car) by 17 seconds.

Why it matters: VW wants its brand to be associated with clean energy—as opposed to law-breaking, emission-spewing cars—and it’s especially focused on regaining trust in its home country, Germany.

Deep Dive

Climate change and energy

The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.

Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.

Harvard has halted its long-planned atmospheric geoengineering experiment

The decision follows years of controversy and the departure of one of the program’s key researchers.

Decarbonizing production of energy is a quick win 

Clean technologies, including carbon management platforms, enable the global energy industry to play a crucial role in the transition to net zero.

How thermal batteries are heating up energy storage

The systems, which can store clean energy as heat, were chosen by readers as the 11th Breakthrough Technology of 2024.

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Illustration by Rose Wong

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