(NAT) POLESTAR O2 ELECTRIC CONVERTIBLE

The O2 concept, pictured, will form the basis of the Polestar 6, an electric performance convertible slated for a 2026 launch - Polestar

Buoyed by positive feedback on the spunky O2 electric roadster concept it unveiled in March, Polestar confirmed today that this high-performance electric convertible is headed to production as the Polestar 6, slated to hit showrooms around 2026.

Volvo's premium electric offshoot is proving popular with buyers – too popular, it seems, for the company's current production capacity. The Polestar 2 executive sedan is more or less sold out through the end of the year, according to Inside EVs, with COVID lockdowns battering the company's Chinese manufacturing facilities, reducing its 2022 manufacturing target from 65,000 cars down to 50,000.

The Polestar 3, a handsome mid-size SUV, is set for its proper launch this October. The stage is then set for the next couple of models: the 4 will be a "subcompact luxury crossover SUV," the 5, presumably looking similar to the Precept concept from 2020, will be a sports car/grand tourer. And the Polestar 6 will take to the streets in four years' time as the hard-top convertible roadster of the range.

Under the skin, it'll be the same as the Polestar 5: the top-shelf dual-motor model will roll with a fruity 884-hp (650-kW) powertrain, putting out some 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) of peak torque for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint time around 3.2 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). No sub-two-second Tesla Roadster killer, then, but it's still very, very quick – and to be fair, Tesla's hardly proven it can rival Volvo on quality and customer experience just yet.

As for range, battery size, the look of the production vehicle and all the other bits and bobs you'd want to know, well, Polestar isn't committing to anything at this point. It'll drop a few more breadcrumbs over the next few years. One thing we do know is that if you want the sky-blue paint job, light leather interior and 21-inch rims shown in these images, you'll need to get hold of one of 500 "LA Concept Editions." New Atlas - link - Loz Blain - link - more like this (electric cars) - link - more like this (Loz Blain) - link

(TCV) TIDAL PREDICTABILITY

A floating tidal stream turbine undergoing testing in Orkney, Scotland. Steve Morgan/Alamy Stock Photo

The UK’s annual electricity demand is expected to more than double by 2050. To meet this daunting target without relying on fossil fuels, the government is betting big on wind power – one of the cheapest forms of renewable power available.

But in August and September 2021, calm weather caused wind energy generation to drop 60% below the seasonal average. Planned and unplanned outages of nuclear power plus high demand for natural gas compounded the problem, resulting in network operators restarting coal power stations and energy companies raising prices.

As hosts of COP26 in Glasgow – the 26th UN climate change summit – the UK has framed the negotiations as a chance to show that “science and innovation can deliver climate solutions”. Established energy sources such as offshore wind will play a big role in decarbonising the economy and slowing climate change. But how can a fully net-zero grid guarantee electricity when the wind drops again in the future?

There’s another way of generating clean energy that the UK has so far failed to exploit: tidal stream power.

The UK has two high tides and two low tides each day. This movement of water is created by the gravitational force of the Moon and Sun and the rotation of the Earth. In places like the Pentland Firth in northern Scotland, islands funnel and speed up these tidal flows. Tidal stream turbines are designed to work in these turbulent waters to generate electricity.

Tidal stream turbines work in a similar way to wind turbines – they even look alike. Wind turbines use the wind blowing over their blades to create a lift force, behaving like an aeroplane wing. One end of the turbine blade is connected to the hub of the rotor, so the lift force on the blades causes them to rotate. This turns a generator, producing electricity.

Tidal stream turbines do the same thing underwater using tidal flows instead of the wind. Most tidal stream turbines that have been installed so far sit on the sea floor, but some designs connect the turbines to a floating structure, making it easier for engineers to maintain them. The Conversation - link - Danny Coles - link - more like this - link