Structural batteries

[ergophobe]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/world-s-most-powerful-battery-paves-way-for-light-energy-efficient-vehicles/ar-AA1uRSD9

The short version: batteries integrated into structural materials opens the possibility of credit-card thick phones and much much lighter cars

[rcjordan]

>much much lighter cars

That has big benefits... but EVs are already being totaled for being in a fender-bender because there is a chance the battery 'may' be compromised.  Insurance companies don't like taking chances (pun-ish) but they DO like reasons for raising rates.

One thing for sure, Bubba's Backyard Body Shop won't be fixing them.

[ergophobe]

>> Backyard

Yesterday I was talking to a 24yo who recently completed all his hours to be a journeyman electrician. He said he had debated between electrician and mechanic.

I told him he had made the right choice. With the new cars and the diagnostic tools needed and all that, as a mechanic he would almost be guaranteed to spend his life working for someone else, but as an electrician he can be his own boss (and indeed, he was freelancing at my friend's house when we had the convo)

[ergophobe]

PS, the batteries are the least of it. Bubba won't know how to repair automotive panels built from bananas either

Researchers find promising potential in banana trees as replacement for synthetic automotive parts: 'You just wouldn't think of it'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/researchers-find-promising-potential-in-banana-trees-as-replacement-for-synthetic-automotive-parts-you-just-wouldn-t-think-of-it/ar-AA1oYiPp