Reality Sinks In; Diesel Still Needed To Meet Climate Goals -- Angela Merkel -- Say What? -- August 21, 2017 -- Yes, You Can Re-Charge Your Tesla During The Solar Eclipse

Remember all that talk about France and Germany mandating 100% EVs by 2040? Just to be clear, those were "political" statements by their heads of state; there has been no legislation mandating that in either country.

Today a bit of reality.

First, a French oil company, Total, buys Maersk's oil an gas business for $5 billion -- NY Times.

The Maersk deal would increase Total’s overall production by 160,000 barrels a day in 2018 and make it one of the largest operators of offshore rigs in northwest Europe.

Meanwhile, the poster child for hypocrisy (along with Algore) when it comes to global warming, Ms Angela Merkel has already backtracked on her "gasoline and diesel ban." A reader sent me this story which won't be reported by America's mainstream press and probably not even in Der Spiegel (not to be confused with a catalogue).

It was reported in Reuters. But look at this crazy headline: Diesel still needed to meet climate goals, Merkel says.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Sunday against a swift abandonment of diesel cars after a series of emissions scandals, saying the fuel is still needed if climate change targets are to be met.

Speaking at a pre-election town hall event on RTL television on Sunday, Merkel called on German carmakers, all of which have been caught using workarounds to cheat nitrogen emissions tests, to work to re-establish public trust in diesel.

"We need diesel if we are to achieve our climate protection goals," she said.

Diesel cars emit less of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide but emit more of the nitrogen dioxide that can cause breathing problems in high concentrations.

I guess Germany is more worried about nitrogen than CO2 right now. Or maybe more worried about their manufacturing base. LOL.

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Alevo Declares Bankruptcy

Battery company declares bankruptcy; all 290 jobs lost.

Alevo was mentioned once before on the blog, back in 2015. 

This tells me that if the "battery story" is as big as "they" say it is, CEOs at battery companies going bankrupt must be really bad at whatever they are doing (or not doing).

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Watching The Eclipse Safely

We have eclipse glasses for all our pets. We are set.

People are asking whether they can charge their Teslas during the eclipse. Yes, but a) they need to wear eclipse glasses while "re-charging"; and, b) they need to make an appointment -- the waiting time for recharging Teslas is now about 4 hours long. I'm being told it's particularly bad in Lusk, Wyoming where there is only one charging station.

Wow, this is so exciting. I hope the next solar eclipse is at midnight -- it would be a great, great party opportunity.