World’s largest energy storage: Tesla Energy, the electric carmaker’s battery storage unit, has taken on the world’s largest grid-scale battery project – and must get it done in 100 days. It comes from 
a tweet CEO Elon Musk made in March to back up South Australia with 100-megawatt-hour battery storage in 100 days or it would be free. That part of Australia has been devastated by power outages. It will be the largest lithium-ion battery storage project in the world, surpassing the second largest – an 80-MW facility in California – also supplied by Tesla Energy. Power will comes from a wind farm operated by France’s Neoen, and will be able to light up 30,000 homes in another blackout were to occur.
Electric pickup truck competition: A new startup, Bollinger Motors, is taking on Workhorse Group and Tesla in the electric pickup truck market. New York entrepreneur Robert Bollinger brings his background in cattle ranching, cosmetics and marketing to the company – and his new business plan. Bollinger Motors will give its electric trucks easily replaceable riveted body panels and a design that allows owners to quickly convert the pickup into an SUV. Power comes from N electric drive system built from off-the shelf components but fueled with electrons from its own lithium-ion battery pack. The company is designing and assembling prototype trucks in upstate New York, and will host a reveal event in New York City on July 27.
Support funding for Clean Cities: Transportation Energy Partners is encouraging supporters of the Dept. of Energy’s Clean Cities program to write Congress so that funding can be salvaged. The White 
House Budget for the next fiscal year wants to eliminate funds for Clean Cities as part of the proposed 73% cut to DOE’s overall Vehicle Technologies program. You can help save Clean Cities by adding your name to TEP’s national letter to the Congressional appropriations leaders. You’re also encourage to contact your Members of the House and Senate directly and urge them to protect funding for the DOE Clean Cities program. Here’s the link.
