Don't Be The Kodak of Energy

The U.S. of A. has been a cradle of innovation since its beginning, from the Wright brothers' first flight to the Lunar landing that united a watching world. Yet today, as the nation that sparked the digital revolution grapples with its energy future, a troubling pattern emerges. The US clings to the fossil fuel frameworks of the 1900s, much like Kodak held fast to film long after inventing the digital camera. This reluctance to embrace renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) risks ceding global leadership to competitors. By investing boldly in clean power and efficient transport, the US can reclaim its pioneering spirit, secure economic vitality, and preserve the natural bounty of innovation for generations to come. Or it can cling to the energy systems of yesteryear and fade into the background. 

The Kodak Parallel in American Energy

Consider Kodak's fate in the late 20th century. The company dominated photography with its film empire, generating billions in revenue. Engineers at Kodak developed the first digital camera in 1975, a breakthrough that promised portability and instant results. Instead of embracing this innovation, Kodak's executives dismissed digital as a threat, fearing it would erode their core business. Other companies saw the potential and delivered the cameras consumers were demanding. By 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy, while rivals like Canon and Sony built empires on the technology Kodak birthed.

This story mirrors the US energy sector's trajectory. The nation pioneered much of the modern grid in the early 1900s, harnessing coal and oil to fuel industrial might. Hydropower dams like Hoover symbolized American ingenuity, powering cities and factories. Yet as solar panels and wind turbines emerged from US labs in the mid-20th century, much like Kodak, US policy and industry inertia have favored entrenched interests. Today, the US generates only 23% of its electricity from renewables, per International Energy Agency data. Natural gas and coal still claim over half, locking in vulnerabilities to price swings and supply disruptions. This path echoes Kodak's error of ignoring and (unsuccessfully) suppressing homegrown innovations because the status quo is profitable.

The Global Surge in Renewables and EVs

While the US hesitates, other nations accelerate. China, Europe, and even emerging markets pour resources into renewables and EVs, capturing market dominance and technological edges. In 2024, renewables overtook coal as the world's top electricity source, driven by solar and wind expansions. China alone hosts 47% of global installed solar and wind capacity, nearly double the combined total of the US and Europe. This investment yields results: China's solar and wind now supply 18% of its electricity, up from 9% in 2020.

EVs tell a starker tale. Global sales hit 17 million units in 2024, a record surge. China leads decisively, with EVs comprising 51% of new car sales, accounting for 66% of worldwide volume. Europe follows at about 20% market share, bolstered by aggressive incentives and charging networks. The US lags at 8.1%, despite domestic giants like Tesla.

The table below highlights these disparities:

Region	Renewable Share in Electricity Generation (2024)	EV Market Share of New Car Sales (2024)
US	23%	8.1%
China	31% (including hydro)	51%
Europe	42%	20%

Sources: International Energy Agency; Rho Motion; Ember Climate.

These figures underscore a shift. China added more renewable capacity in 2024 than the rest of the world combined, creating millions of jobs and slashing energy import bills. Europe, through unified policies, cut emissions while boosting GDP via clean tech exports worth $100 billion annually. The US, by contrast, risks isolation in a market projected to reach $2 trillion in EV value by 2035.

The Economic and Strategic Costs of Stagnation

The price of this lag extends beyond symbols. Fossil dependence exposes the US to geopolitical risks, as seen in recent oil shocks that inflated household costs by $500 per year on average. Renewables offer stability: wind and solar costs dropped 85% and 70% since 2010, making them cheaper than new coal plants. Yet US deployment crawls, hampered by regulatory hurdles and subsidy gaps.

Economically, the toll mounts. China dominates battery supply chains, controlling 80% of global production and undercutting US manufacturers. This erodes American competitiveness; a single gigafactory in Nevada employs thousands, but scaled nationally, renewables could add 5 million jobs by 2030, per World Resources Institute estimates. EVs amplify this: domestic production could generate $300 billion in annual revenue, yet tariffs and inconsistent policies drive investment abroad. Strategically, falling behind weakens national security. Allies in Europe advance toward energy independence, while adversaries exploit US vulnerabilities.

Patriotism demands action. The land of the free thrives when it leads, not follows. By streamlining permits and expanding tax credits, the US can unleash private sector dynamism, much as it did with semiconductors.

Conclusion

The US stands at a crossroads, Kodak's shadow a cautionary tale. The 1900s energy model served its era, powering victory in world wars and postwar booms. But clinging to it now dims the beacon of progress. Renewables and EVs are not mere alternatives; they are the next frontier of American exceptionalism, harnessing sun, wind, and innovation to fuel a resilient economy and safeguard our rivers, forests, and air.

Let us rally as one nation, from Capitol Hill to heartland farms. Invest in the technologies we invented. Champion policies that reward builders and dreamers. In doing so, the US will not only catch up but surge ahead, ensuring our children's inheritance is one of abundance, not austerity. The stars and stripes wave highest when ingenuity lights the way.

The Quarter Ton Comeback

My first EV was a little electric truck, and maybe my next EV will be one too. I picked up my first EV in 2007; it was nearly a decade old at that point. This was not a conversion; it was built as a pure EV by General Motors. It was a Chevy S10 EV. Having a little truck was very handy.

The Electric Quarter Ton

The first wave of electric trucks in the modern EV movement arrived with plenty of promise and even more hype. Rivian’s R1T, Ford’s F-150 Lightning, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and Tesla’s Cybertruck showed the world that battery power could move serious metal. Yet they never quite conquered the market the way many of us hoped. The technology simply was not ready to deliver range, towing capacity, and an affordable price tag in one profitable package.

First-Generation Frustrations

Those early full-size EV trucks were engineering marvels, but they carried the weight of compromise. Massive battery packs delivered impressive EPA numbers on paper, yet real-world towing cut range in half or worse. Prices climbed well past the average truck buyer’s comfort zone, and gross margins suffered under the combined pressure of battery costs and low production volumes. Legacy automakers in particular leaned on half-measures; they electrified existing platforms rather than designing from a clean sheet. The result was heavy vehicles that struggled to achieve economies of scale; these trucks never reached the volumes needed to make that curve steep enough. Buyers noticed. Sales remained a niche rather than a revolution.

Big Bloat Brigade

Compact and mid-size trucks once filled American driveways and job sites. Vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma of earlier generations, the Ford Ranger, and even smaller offerings such as the Chevy S-10 ruled the quarter-ton segment. They were affordable, easy to park, and capable enough for daily work. Over the last twenty years, that segment shrank as manufacturers chased higher margins. Trucks grew longer, wider, taller, king cabs, and far more expensive. What began as practical work tools evolved into luxury lifestyle statements. The average transaction price for a new pickup climbed steadily while the practical mid-size segment nearly vanished. Many buyers still wanted something smaller and less costly; the market simply stopped offering them in meaningful numbers.

Mid-Size Momentum Returns

Fortunately, the next generation of electric trucks looks ready to revive that missing segment. Several manufacturers and startups are targeting the mid-size and compact space with vehicles that finally balance the three priorities of range, utility, and price. These new offerings treat the truck as a platform for practical electrification rather than a statement piece.

Consider the Ford Fathom. Built on the company’s new Universal EV platform and scheduled for deliveries in late 2027, it targets a starting price near $28,350. Ford promises more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4, a usable bed, a frunk, and bidirectional power. The design emphasizes efficiency and cost control through modern manufacturing methods, and it will use the affordable LFP chemistry.

Slate Auto takes minimalism to an extreme. Their modular electric truck starts at $24,950 and can convert into an SUV configuration. With a projected 205 miles of range, 1,550-pound payload, and 2,000-pound towing capacity, it aims squarely at buyers who want basic capability without bloat. Direct-to-consumer sales and extensive accessory options keep the base price low while allowing owners to customize later. Gross margins remain positive from day one, according to the company.

Telo’s MT1 pushes the compact envelope further still. Roughly the length of a Mini Cooper yet offering a 60-inch bed and five seats, it claims up to 350 miles of range, 500 horsepower in dual-motor form, and towing beyond 6,600 pounds. Sustained 400 kW charging places it among the fastest-charging vehicles in any class. Production is targeted for late 2026 with initial volumes ramping in 2027.

Kia has also entered the conversation with plans for a body-on-frame midsize pickup for the U.S. market before 2030. The company intends to offer hybrid and extended-range electric variants, targeting roughly 90,000 annual sales. This shared architecture with a related Hyundai truck should help achieve the scale needed for better margins. 

Toyota, meanwhile, has already launched the Hilux BEV in markets outside North America. Sadly, this truck only has 149 miles (240 km) of range. You can expect to see a major battery upgrade to the Hilux if Toyota wants to move any of them when the competition hits. 

These vehicles share a common philosophy. They reject the notion that an EV truck must match the extreme dimensions of today’s full-size ICE models. By starting smaller they reduce battery size, cut curb weight, improve efficiency, and lower the cost of entry. Wright’s Law works in their favor as production volumes climb. Vertical integration or focused contract manufacturing further protects margins that eluded the first generation.

Comparison Snapshot

Model	Focus	Starting Price	Key Notes	Timeline
Ford Fathom	Mid-size	~$28,350	Full features, RAV4-like space	2027 arrival
Slate Truck	Compact modular	$24,950	205-mile range, convertible	Late 2026
Telo MT1	Ultra-compact	~$41,000	Up to 350 miles, high power	Late 2026
Kia midsize	Body-on-frame	TBD	HEV and EREV options	By 2030

The pattern is clear. The industry is rediscovering that not every truck buyer needs a three-ton beast. Many simply need reliable, efficient, and affordable capability.

The Road Ahead

The first generation of electric trucks proved the concept was possible. The next generation must prove it is practical and profitable. By returning to the mid-size and quarter-ton dimensions that once defined the segment, manufacturers finally have a realistic path to scale. Battery costs continue to decline, charging networks expand, and manufacturing processes grow more efficient. The result should be vehicles that deliver usable range, honest towing numbers, and price tags that attract mainstream buyers rather than early adopters alone.

Legacy automakers still risk half-measures if they merely electrify oversized platforms. The startups and the more aggressive programs at Ford and Kia show a better route: design the vehicle around the battery and the customer’s actual needs. When those pieces align, the electric quarter-ton can reclaim its place on American roads. The technology is no longer ahead of itself. It is arriving right on time.

Robotaxi Rides and Congestion Killers || Cybercabs With Satellite Uplinks

Cybercabs as Mobile Bandwidth Nodes

Smarter Swarms and Signals

If you've ever attended a massive stadium concert, a championship game, or a popular music festival, you know the frustration. You try to send a simple text message, upload a quick photo, or call a friend in the crowd. Your phone displays full bars, but it won't load a single page. Network congestion turns your high-tech smartphone into an expensive glass brick. Cellular networks are designed for normal loads; when you put a large crowd together, it's often more than they can handle. 

To solve this problem, telecom carriers deploy temporary mobile cell sites. The mobile communications industry calls these temporary setups deployables or part of the "Animal Farm". Traditionally, carriers tow in a Cell on Wheels, known as a COW, or drive in a Cell on Light Truck, known as a COLT. Some units use satellite dishes, which the industry calls SatCOLTs. Other setups rely on Cellular Repeaters on Wheels, known as CROWs, or diesel Generators on a Trailer, known as GOATs. These heavy vehicles require dedicated drivers, setup time, and prime parking spots. They sit parked for days, idling or burning fuel to power their equipment.

SatCOLT example

Now imagine a much smarter approach. What if the vehicle providing extra bandwidth also drives itself to the venue? What if that same vehicle brings passengers to the event, parks nearby, beams gigabits of data through a satellite constellation, and then gives rides to attendees heading home? 

Tesla has recently integrated the new V5 Starlink dish into the Cybercab. The obvious use case is providing bandwidth for the passengers in the vehicle. However, what if there are no passengers, or the passengers are only using a small fraction of the available bandwidth? Tesla has the chance to find a secondary revenue stream from a Cybercab fleet by making it one of the "farm animals."

It's a powerful synergy between Tesla autonomous hardware and SpaceXai satellite internet infrastructure. Instead of sitting idle as a single-purpose asset, an autonomous robotaxi can do double duty. It solves urban transit bottlenecks and wireless network gridlock at the exact same time.

Pitches, Packets, and Paws: The Animal Acronyms

Since the telecom world loves its animal acronyms, any Cybercab equipped with a Starlink dish deserves its own spot in the barnyard. Bringing autonomous robotaxis into the mobile infrastructure fleet allows us to update the industry nomenclature. After a little brainstorming, here are five possible animal-inspired acronyms for a Starlink-connected Cybercab deployable network node:

• CAT: Cybercab Antenna Terminal. 
• STAG: Starlink Tesla Autonomous Gateway. 
• RAM: Robotaxi Antenna Module. 
• SLOTH: StarLink Orbital Tesla Hub. 
• BEAR: Broadband Enabled Autonomous Robotaxi. 

Out of all five acronyms, BEAR stands out as my personal favorite. A fleet of BEARs roaming around a crowded stadium offers both muscle and agility.

The table below outlines how these five hardware configurations compare in function and primary telecom utility:

Mobility, Megabytes, and Money

The economics of traditional telecom deployables are often brutal. Carrier companies spend $20,000 to $50,000 per event to haul a massive COW or COLT to a venue. They pay technicians to set up telescoping masts, align microwave links, and monitor diesel power generators. Once the concert ends, that expensive equipment returns to a storage depot. It earns zero revenue until the next major event.

An autonomous BEAR flips this legacy model on its head. Robotaxis already generate revenue by moving people around urban centers. During a major sporting event or festival, passenger demand surges before kick-off and spikes after the final whistle. In the three hours between those peaks, dozens of Cybercabs park in nearby staging lots. Instead of sitting idle, these vehicles activate their Starlink dishes. They establish direct links with Low Earth Orbit satellites passing overhead.

The vehicles then broadcast localized 5G micro-cells or public Wi-Fi hotspots to the surrounding crowd. They can absorb up to 80% of localized data spikes near venue entrances. Carrier networks can offload massive volumes of data traffic onto the Starlink backbone. In return, cellular carriers pay the robotaxi fleet operator for temporary bandwidth offloading. A vehicle that once earned money only while moving now generates continuous cash flow while parked. And it's nearby and ready to pick up passengers when the event ends. It might even forward the request for someone to be picked up that it responds to. 

Engineering realities make this integration surprisingly practical. Electric vehicles carry massive onboard battery packs. A standard EV battery can power a high-performance Starlink dish and cellular radio stack for days without needing a recharge. They don't require noisy, polluting diesel GOAT generators.

Furthermore, autonomous mobility creates dynamic network flexibility. Traditional COWs remain locked in fixed positions for the duration of an event. A swarm of Cybercabs can dynamically redistribute itself. If a crowd shifts toward an outdoor exit, the vehicles can drive to new locations, distributing network capacity evenly across the venue perimeter.

Societal evolution and regulatory approvals move slowly. Telecom spectrum licenses, city taxi permits, and carrier roaming agreements will take time to negotiate. Commercial partnerships between autonomous fleets and wireless carriers must clear strict regulatory hurdles. Yet the financial math remains compelling. Fleet owners maximize asset utilization, carriers save on capital expenditures, and event attendees get seamless data speeds.

Final Volts: Smarter Networks for a Clean Era

The convergence of autonomous electric transportation and satellite communications marks a practical evolution in urban infrastructure. Relying on single-purpose, gas-guzzling utility trucks to solve temporary communication bottlenecks belongs to the past. By combining the autonomous capability of a Tesla Cybercab with the global reach of a Starlink satellite dish, we turn everyday transit assets into resilient, dual-purpose powerhouses.

These multi-use robotaxi swarms demonstrate how smart engineering and economic pragmatism go hand in hand. They reduce urban traffic, lower cellular congestion, and generate multiple revenue streams for fleet operators. Replacing traditional diesel-powered cell deployables with battery-electric autonomous nodes brings us another step closer to an efficient, quiet, and resilient world. Integrating these technologies helps accelerate our transition toward a future free from fossil fuels.

Make Data Centers Lower Your Electric Bill, Not Raise It

How Data Centers Can Slash Your Electric Bill

Compute Crisis and Consumer Costs

The artificial intelligence boom is triggering an unprecedented expansion of hyperscale compute hubs. These gargantuan data centers require immense electricity, threatening to trigger localized grid bottlenecks and spike monthly utility rates for average households. This demand surge places an unfair financial burden on residential ratepayers who receive no direct benefit from these digital monoliths (as we've discussed in previous posts).

As a result, public sentiment towards data centers has soured significantly over the past few years. Energy expert Jigar Shah recently shared that public approval for data centers has dropped to a dismal 29%. Consumers are growing increasingly weary of tech giants moving into their backyards while offering very little in return.

To quiet public frustration, legacy utilities are relying on hollow tactics. In one example, they threw a minor corporate donation at a town and forced data centers into long-term contracts fueled by "natural gas." This is a massive step backward. Let's be transparent: the term "natural gas" is a deceptive marketing term, so it will be called fossil gas for the remainder of this article. Just as legacy automakers protected the internal combustion engine (ICE) instead of embracing EVs, many legacy utilities cling to fossil gas rather than modernizing the grid. This tension was previously explored in our post, Data Centers: Threat to the Grid or Clean Energy Accelerators?.

Policy, POWER, and Protection

Fortunately, in some areas, proactive legislation is emerging as a powerful shield for residential ratepayers against runaway infrastructure costs. The landmark Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act protects household consumers from subsidizing corporate energy appetites. State utility regulators are utilizing this framework to completely overhaul how utilities like Portland General Electric (PGE) charge large industrial users.

The act establishes a clear financial boundary by creating a distinct customer class for facilities exceeding a 20-megawatt load. Under these rules, large data centers must cover 100% of local infrastructure upgrade costs that they require up front. They must sign mandatory 10 to 30-year utility contracts, face steep demand charges, and absorb a proposed 29% rate hike so household consumers see direct bill relief.

Furthermore, this forward-thinking policy ensures that industrial growth does not derail environmental progress. The legislation explicitly ties large-load interconnection approvals to strict emission limits, state clean energy targets, and local greenhouse gas reduction goals. This proves that economic expansion can be achieved without compromising climate goals, abandoning public accountability, or making residential customers pay for the electricity to power AI searches from around the globe.

Data Demands and Distributed Dividends

To solve this crisis long-term, we must shift from defensive protection to active optimization by looking through a prosumer lens. Instead of treating data centers as energy-sucking parasites, we can transform them into localized clean energy anchors. This collaborative architecture empowers neighborhoods to build true energy independence while optimizing the local grid.

We can easily understand this transformation by utilizing a classic web protocol analogy. Just as the internet relies on decentralized routers to move data packets efficiently, a modernized electrical grid can route electrons from distributed energy resources (DERs) to balance local peak demand. The grid no longer needs to be a rigid, one-way street controlled by an archaic monopoly.

Smart prosumers who own rooftop solar, home batteries, and a modern EV plugged into the garage can form regional alliances with these computing hubs. Through aggregated virtual power plants (VPPs), individual consumers can balance grid stress and seamlessly upload a kWh to the grid when data centers run hot. This turns a potential infrastructure threat into a massive community asset. For details, see our guide, How Virtual Power Plants Lower Your Electric Bill.

Math, Margins, and Microgrids

Achieving this future requires a complete structural breakthrough, which is precisely what Jigar Shah's concrete strategy lays out. Tech companies do not need to rely on sluggish utility monopolies to build out power generation; instead, they can spend a microscopic fraction of their annual revenue, specifically 1/1000th, to fund physical, clean energy infrastructure directly within a 10-mile radius of their data centers. This localized approach completely bypasses the grid queues of traditional electricity networks.

By installing battery storage and solar panels at scale, this hyper-local solution becomes remarkably inexpensive for tech giants. This distributed method protects corporate gross margins and avoids years of bureaucratic grid interconnection delays. Furthermore, this entire ecosystem deploys completely within a rapid 9-month timeframe. The data clearly contrasts the slow, expensive legacy model against this nimble approach:

Grid Strategy Metric	Traditional Connection Model	Shah's Distributed Asset Model
Capital Funding Cost	Expensive long-term utility investments passed down to localized ratepayers	A minuscule 1/1000th of corporate annual tech revenue
Deployment Timeline	Multiple years caught in legacy utility red tape	Rapid deployment and execution within 9 months
Consumer Bill Impact	Drastic upward pressure on regional monthly electricity rates	Direct 50% permanent reduction for local residents
Public Support Rating	A weak, failing 22% public approval	A commanding 67% public support rate

The Road Ahead

The ongoing compute explosion is forcing an inevitable shift toward vertical integration, local microgrids, and decentralized power architecture. The old model of centralized, monopolistic fossil generation is proving too slow and far too expensive to fuel the computing demands of the next decade. Relying on legacy utility half-measures will only result in soaring costs and public backlash.

If technology companies embrace true grid partnership through distributed assets and progressive policy frameworks like the Oregon POWER Act, they can completely bypass legacy inertia. They will save consumers money, secure their own operational reliability, and aggressively build a future free from fossil fuels. The spark for total grid modernization is officially here, and it is time for big tech to plug in.

Watch this Oregon data center power rate policy breakdown for an investigative look at how utility regulators are restructuring rates under the landmark legislation to ensure household electricity bills are protected from skyrocketing commercial computing loads.