Solid-state batteries are poised to revolutionize the car industry, and Honda is inching closer to putting them in their cars, far ahead of many automakers. These types of batteries differ in their makeup from other types, and those differences are an advantage. They're more energy dense, meaning they can store more energy in the same amount of space, or the same amount of energy in a smaller footprint. Solid-state batteries are generally considered safer because they don't use a liquid electrolyte that can leak or catch fire. And, they perform better in high temperatures, which enables faster charging. Honda just completed its first solid-state battery demonstration assembly line (covering approximately 295,000 square feet) at its plant in Tochigi, Japan, to test its mass production process for assembling the batteries. The line has special equipment to verify each production process, including weighing and mixing of materials, coating and roll pressing of assemblies, formation of cells, and construction of the modules. Honda will also be looking at the costs of assembling these new batteries, which, besides the advantages above, are also less expensive to produce. With its roll-pressing technique, similar to how liquid batteries are made, it can increase the density of the solid layers and make continuous pressing possible. The bonding of the electrodes is faster too with the company trying to reduce production time per cell. Honda is also working to reduce the indirect costs of production, including power consumption even though the necessary temperature of building as solid-state batteries are less finicky during production (and usage). The automaker's aim in reducing costs is to pass the saving onto the customer. This could result in the price of battery-electric vehicles reducing to the price of those with other powertrains. Because of its enormous size and widely varying power and off-road equipment in addition to passenger vehicles, Honda plans to amortize the cost of these solid-state cells over millions of units. Though the new battery technology is not set for mass production until the second half of the 2020s, Honda has been working on it for more than a decade. The company says that because of that early research it was able to produce the demonstration line quickly, and is making progress in material selections. "Replacing engines that have been supporting the advancements of automobiles to date, batteries will be the key factor of electrification. We believe that advancement of batteries will be a driving force in the transformation of Honda," Keiji Otsu, President and Representative Director of Honda R&D said in a press release. "Now, the start of operation of our demonstration production line for our all-solid-state batteries is in sight, and we can say that we have reached an important milestone for Honda and the country of Japan. We will continue taking on challenges to launch our mobility products equipped with our all-solid-state batteries as quickly as possible so that Honda can offer new value to our customers." Honda is just one of many automakers in different phases of researching and developing solid-state batteries. BMW and Nissan both have joint development agreements with a U.S.-based battery company Solid Power, with plans to introduce these types of batteries in vehicles before the end of the decade. Stellantis is an investor in Factorial, a company that plans produce an electric Dodge Charger Daytona demonstration car with solid-state batteries by 2026. Volkswagen, Toyota and others have their own deals and have made similar promises on their own timelines.The Prime Minister will this week kick off what he has called the “next phase” of Government, as he announces the markers for his “missions” that Number 10 say will allow the public to hold Sir Keir and his team to account on their promises and will be reached by the end of the Parliament. The milestones will run alongside public sector reform, Downing Street said. This will include a focus on reforming Whitehall, spearheaded by the as-yet-unannounced new chief civil servant the Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet ministers, so it is geared towards the delivery of Labour’s missions, according to Number 10. The same focus will also influence decisions for next year’s spending review, it has been suggested. Writing in The Sun on Sunday, the Prime Minister compared “focusing the machinery of government” to “turning an oil tanker” and said that “acceptance of managed decline” has “seeped into parts of Whitehall”. “The British people aren’t fools. They know a ruthless focus on priorities is essential,” he wrote. The Sunday Times reported that one of the milestones would focus on early education, with the aim to raise the number of children who are ready for school, educationally and socially. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said that “it’s estimated that more than a million school days worth of teacher time each year is spent dealing with” children who are not prepared for school. Labour’s missions, as laid out in their July election manifesto, focus on economic growth, energy security and cleaner energy, the NHS, childcare and education systems, as well as crime and criminal justice. Ahead of revealing the details, Sir Keir said in a statement: “This plan for change is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation. “Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway – it means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people. “We are already fixing the foundations and have kicked-started our first steps for change, stabilising the economy, setting up a new Border Security Command, and investing £22 billion in an NHS that is fit for the future. “Our plan for change is the next phase of delivering this Government’s mission. “Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this Government was elected on mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people. “Given the unprecedented challenges we have inherited we will not achieve this by simply doing more of the same, which is why investment comes alongside a programme of innovation and reform.” The so-called “missions” outlined in Labour’s election manifesto focused on five key policy areas: kickstart economic growth; make Britain a clean energy superpower; take back our streets; break down barriers to opportunity; and build an NHS fit for the future. 🚨 New polling with @ObserverUK Keir Starmer has seen an 8 point drop in his net approval rating after a significant uptick in the number disapproving of his performance. 22% approve of his performance vs. 54% who disapprove. This gives Starmer a net rating of -32%. pic.twitter.com/J33nMnwflP — Opinium (@OpiniumResearch) November 30, 2024 The announcement comes after a first five months in office that has seen anger over Budget proposals and reports of tension in Number 10. Polling for The Observer newspaper by Opinium indicates that more than half of the public disapprove of the Prime Minister’s performance. According to the survey of approximately 2,000 adults, 54% of people disapprove of his performance, compared with 22% who approve, leaving him with a net rating of -32%.National interest must prevail over politics: Barrister Aqeel

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Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press Nov 25, 2024 10:34 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Mercedes driver George Russell, of Britain, leads the field during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Matt York) LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.’’ Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Auto Racing Most drivers not named Joey Logano eager for some changes to NASCAR's current playoff format Nov 25, 2024 9:19 AM Verstappen still manages to win 4th straight F1 title in one of worst seasons of his Red Bull career Nov 24, 2024 11:51 AM Russell and Hamilton give Mercedes a 1-2 finish in Las Vegas Nov 24, 2024 2:24 AM

Lynne Roberts wasn't looking to leave as Utah women's basketball coach. Then she got a call from LAThe President ofMontenegro Jakov Milatović has sent a letter of condolences to thePresident of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connectionwith the tragic loss of life in the plane crash involving theaircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) on December 25 near the cityof Aktau in Kazakhstan, reports. "Dear Mr. President, I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic crash of anAzerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau inKazakhstan, which claimed the lives of many passengers. On behalf of the citizens of Montenegro and in my own name, Iextend the most heartfelt condolences to the families of thevictims, and I convey my wishes for a swift recovery to those whowere injured. Our thoughts, solidarity and deepest sympathy are with you, thefriendly people of Azerbaijan and all those affected by this tragicevent in these moments of profound grief," the letter reads.EU universal charger rules come into force

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