Bloomberg: Hype Meets Reality as Electric Car Dreams Run Into Metal Crunch

When BMW AG revealed it was designing electric versions of its X3 SUV and Mini, the going rate for 21 kilograms of cobalt—the amount of the metal needed to power typical car batteries—was under $600.Only 16 months later, the price tag is approaching $1,700 and climbing by the day.When BMW AG revealed it was designing electric versions of its X3 SUV and Mini, the going rate for 21 kilograms of cobalt—the amount of the metal needed to power typical car batteries—was under $600.Only 16 months later the price tag is approaching $1,700 and  by the day. [more…]

guardian: Elon Musk hands over first Tesla Model 3 electric cars to buyers

With half a million orders for the $35,000, 350km-range vehicle, the upstart carmaker faces its biggest test [more…]