The CEO of Electrify Expo, BJ Birtwell, didn’t hold back after test-driving some of the biggest names in electric vehicles—Tesla’s Model 3 and Cybertruck, plus Porsche’s Taycan. His takeaway? The EV industry’s future isn’t just about flashy tech or Elon Musk’s hype; it’s about real-world usability and infrastructure. Birtwell’s candid perspective suggests that while Tesla has pushed boundaries, the competition (and challenges like charging networks) are far from settled.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another EV puff piece—it’s a reality check from someone knee-deep in the industry. As more automakers jump into the electric game, Birtwell’s blunt assessment hints at the growing pains ahead: Can EVs move beyond early-adopter appeal to mainstream practicality? And where does Tesla fit in that picture? For anyone tracking the EV revolution, this is a grounded take worth hearing.

A little-known Chinese company called U Power is betting big on electric vehicles (EVs) with an ambitious plan to overhaul Hong Kong’s taxi fleet using battery-swapping tech. Instead of waiting hours to recharge, drivers could swap depleted batteries for fresh ones in minutes—saving time and potentially speeding up global EV adoption for commercial fleets.

Editor’s Note: Hong Kong’s iconic taxis are notorious for their emissions, so a shift to EVs could make a real dent in urban pollution. But the bigger story here is U Power’s battery-swap model—if it works in a demanding market like Hong Kong, it could convince taxi operators (and maybe even delivery or ride-hail fleets) worldwide that EVs don’t have to mean downtime. That’s a game-changer for the industry.

A UK start-up called Barocal just scored a major win—and a cool $1 million—for its work in green energy tech. They took home the top prize at this year’s TERA-Award, a competition backed by Hong Kong billionaire Peter Lee Ka-kit, who’s on the hunt for breakthrough climate solutions. Barocal focuses on energy storage and conversion, two big pieces of the clean-energy puzzle. With a record 785 entries this year, the competition’s heating up, and Barocal’s win puts them in the spotlight as a potential game-changer.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another start-up success story—it’s a sign that serious money and attention are flowing into climate tech. Peter Lee’s TERA-Award is basically a talent scout for the next big green energy breakthroughs, and Barocal’s win hints at the kind of ideas gaining traction. With climate deadlines looming, spotting and funding these innovations fast could make all the difference. Plus, it’s a reminder that the race to decarbonize isn’t just about big corporations—small players with big ideas are in the mix too.