Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo, Zenbook Pro 16X OLED Laptops Have Clever Innovations for Creatives
Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo, Zenbook Pro 16X OLED Laptops Have Clever Innovations for Creatives
Asus announced several new Zenbook and Vivobook laptops Monday as part of its Pinnacle of Performance event. Like other PC makers, Asus is updating current models with AMD Ryzen 6000-series and Intel 12th-gen Core processors. And you'll see a lot more OLED displays available for its laptops this year, too. But with Asus, it's always the things you won't find anywhere else that make its announcements stand out.
Asus has made dual-screen laptops for years now, for example, but it was last year's Zenbook Duo 14 that took the concept from gimmicky to legitimately useful. The new Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED refines that model's design while beefing up performance with up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics.
The laptop's main display is a 14.5-inch 2.8K 120Hz OLED touchscreen. But when you lift the lid, a secondary 12.7-inch touchscreen rises from the body, tilting up 12 degrees using a redesigned hinge mechanism. The result is reduced visual separation between the two displays and greater airflow.
The smaller second panel, called the ScreenPad Plus, is useful for just giving you more room to work and communicate. However, Asus software makes it possible to do more such as turn it into a customizable tool panel for Adobe software using its Control Panel app. The display is pen-enabled as well, so it can be used jotting down a quick note or drawing.
The Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is expected to be available soon starting at $2,000. UK and Australia pricing weren't immediately available but the US price converts to approximately £1,615 or AU$2,850.
The Zenbook Pro 16X OLED has a keyboard that raises for comfort and cooling.
Asus
Joining the Duo is the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED. Instead of a second display, this model has a keyboard that raises 14.5mm giving it a 7-degree tilt for more comfortable typing. But it also increases airflow, which made it possible to put in up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics.
Below the keyboard is a haptic touchpad that's 84% larger than its predecessor's. It's paired with an updated Asus Dial, a rotary controller that can be used for anything from controlling volume to making tool adjustments in Adobe apps. The 16-inch 4K 60Hz OLED HDR pen-enabled touchscreen will meet the needs of creatives, too.
No release date was announced for the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED but pricing is expected to start at $2,600.
Inflation, Interest Rates and Jobs: How Today's Economy Compares to Recessions of the Past
Inflation, Interest Rates and Jobs: How Today's Economy Compares to Recessions of the Past
This story is part of Recession Help Desk, CNET's coverage of how to make smart money moves in an uncertain economy.
What's happening
There's still debate about whether the US economy is officially headed into a recession, but the economic downturn is causing widespread stress.
Why it matters
Periods of financial volatility and market decline can drive people to panic and make costly mistakes with their money.
What's next
Examining what's happening now -- and comparing it with the past -- can help investors and consumers decide what to do next.
Facing the aftershocks of a rough economy in the first half of 2022, with sky-high inflation, rising mortgage rates, soaring gas prices and a bear market for stocks, leading indicators of a recession have moderated slightly in the past month. That could mean the economic downturn won't be as long or brutal as expected.
Still, the majority of Americans are feeling the sting of rising prices and anxiety over jobs. The country has experienced two consecutive quarters of economic slowdown -- the barometer for measuring a recession -- even though the National Bureau of Economic Research hasn't made the "official" recession call.
At a time like this, we should consider what happens in a recession, look at the data to determine whether we're in one and try to maintain some historical perspective. It's also worth pointing out that down periods are temporary and that, over time, both the stock market and the US economy bounce back.
I don't mean to minimize the gravity and hardship of the times. But it can be useful to review how the economy has behaved in the past to avoid irrational or impulsive money moves. For this, we can largely blame recency bias, our inclination to view our latest experiences as the most valid. It's what led many to flee the stock market in 2008 when the S&P 500 crashed, thereby locking in losses and missing out on the subsequent bull market.
"It's our human tendency to project the immediate past into the future indefinitely," said Daniel Crosby, chief behavioral officer at Orion Advisor Solutions and author of The Laws of Wealth. "It's a time-saving shortcut that works most of the time in most contexts but can be woefully misapplied in markets that tend to be cyclical," Crosby told me via email.
Before you make a knee-jerk reaction to your portfolio, give up on a home purchase or lose it over job insecurity, consider these chart-based analyses from the last three decades. We hope this data-driven overview will offer a broader context and some impetus for making the most of your money today.
What do we know about inflation?
Historical inflation rate by year
Macrotrends.net
Current conditions: The US is experiencingthe highest rate of inflation in decades, driven by global supply chain disruptions, the injection of federal stimulus dollars and a surge in consumer spending. In real dollars, the 8.5% rise in consumer prices over the past year is adding about $400 more per month to household budgets.
The context: Policymakers consider 2% per year to be a "normal" inflation target. The country's still experiencing over four times that figure. The 9.1% annual rate in July was the largest jumpin inflation since 1980 when the inflation rate hit 13.5% following the prior decade's oil crisis and high government spending on defense, social services, health care, education and pensions. Back then, the Federal Reserve increased rates to stabilize prices and, by the mid-1980s, inflation fell to below 5%.
The upside: As overall inflation rates rise, the silver lining might be increased rates of return on personal savings. Bank accounts are starting to offer more attractive yields, while I bonds -- federally backed accounts that more or less track inflation -- are attracting savers, too.
What's happening with mortgage rates?
30-year fixed-rate mortgage averages in the US
Current conditions: As the Federal Reserve continues its rate-hike campaign to cool spending and try to tame inflation, the rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has grown significantly. In June, the average rate jumped annually by nearly 3 percentage points to almost 6%. In real dollars, that means that after a 20% down payment on a new home (let's use the average sale price of $429,000), a buyer would roughly need an extra $7,300 a year to afford the mortgage. Since then, rates have cooled a bit, even dipping back down below 5%. What happens next with rates depends on where inflation goes from here.
The context: Three years ago, homebuyers faced similar borrowing costs and, at the time, rates were characterized as "historically low." And if we think borrowing money is expensive today, let's not forget the early 1980s when the Federal Reserve jacked up rates to never-before-seen levels due to hyperinflation. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in 1981 topped 16%.
The upside: For homebuyers, a potential benefit to rising rates is downward pressure on home prices, which could cause the housing market to cool slightly. As the cost to borrow continues to increase with mortgages becoming more expensive, homes could experience fewer offers and prices would slow in pace. In fact, nearly one in five sellers dropped their asking price during late April through late May, according to Redfin.
On the flip side, less homebuyers mean more renters. Rent prices have skyrocketed, and housing activists are asking the White House to take action on what they call a "national emergency."
What about the stock market?
Dow Jones Industrial Average stock market index for the past 30 years
Macrotrends.net
Current conditions: Year-to-date, the Dow Jones Industrial Average -- a composite of 30 of the most well-known US stocks such as Apple, Microsoft and Coca-Cola -- is about 8.5% below where it started in January. Relative to the broader market, technology stocks are down much more. The Nasdaq is off almost 19% since the start of the year.
The benchmark S&P 500 stock index hit lows in June that marked a more than 20% drop from January, which brought us officially into a bear market. Since then, it's bounced back up a little, but some experts warn that a current bear market rally is at odds with expected earnings and we could see even lower stock prices in the near future.
The context: Stock price losses in 2022 are not nearly as swift and steep as what we saw in March 2020, when panic over the pandemic drove the DJIA down by 26% in roughly four trading days. The market reversed course the following month and began a bull run lasting more than two years, as the lockdown drove massive consumption of products and services tied to software, health care, food and natural gas.
Prior to that, in 2008 and 2009, a deep and pervasive crisis in housing and financial services sank the Dow by nearly 55% from its 2007 high. But by fall 2009, it was off to one of its longest winning streaks in financial history.
The upside: Given the cyclical nature of the stock market, now is not the time to jump ship.* "Times that are down, you at least want to hold and/or think about buying," said Adam Seessel, author of Where the Money Is. "Over the last 100 years, American stocks have been the surest way to grow wealthy slowly over time," he told me during a recent So Money podcast.
*One caveat: If you're closer to or living in retirement and your portfolio has taken a sizable hit, it may be worth talking to a professional and reviewing your selection of funds to ensure that you're not taking on too much risk. Target-date funds, a popular investment vehicle in many retirement accounts that auto-adjust for risk as you age, may be too risky for pre- or early retirees.
What does unemployment tell us?
US unemployment rates
Current conditions: The July jobs report shows the unemployment rate holding steady, slightly dropping to 3.5%. The Great Resignation of 2021, where millions of workers quit their jobs over burnout, as well as unsatisfactory wages and benefits, left employers scrambling to fill positions. However, that could be changing as economic challenges deepen: More job losses are likely on the horizon, and an increasing number of workers are concerned with job security.
The context: The rebound in theunemployment rate is an economic hallmark of the past two years. But the ongoing interest rate hike may weigh on corporate profits, leading to more layoffs and hiring freezes. For context, during the Great Recession, in a two-year span from late 2007 to 2009, the unemployment rate rose sharply from about 5% to 10%.
Today, the tech sector is one to watch. After benefiting from rapid growth led by consumer demand in the pandemic, companies like Google and Facebook may be in for a "correction." Layoffs.fyi, a website that tracks downsizing at tech startups, logged close to 37,000 layoffs in Q2, more than triple from the same period last year.
The upside: If you're worried about losing your job because your employer may be more vulnerable in a recession, document your wins so that when review season arrives, you're ready to walk your manager through your top-performing moments. Offer strategies for how to weather a potential slowdown. All the while, review your reserves to see how far you can stretch savings in case you're out of work. Keep in mind that in the previous recession, it took an average of eight to nine months for unemployed Americans to secure new jobs.
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What's happening
Home prices overall are up by 37% since March 2020.
Why it matters
Surging home prices and higher interest rates make monthly mortgage payments less affordable.
What's next
Rising mortgage rates will make borrowing money more expensive, which will lessen competition to buy homes and eventually flatten prices.
Home prices continued to skyrocket in March as buyers tried to stay ahead of rising mortgage rates.
Prices increased by 20.6% this March compared to last year, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, the leading measures of US home prices. This was the highest year-over-year increase in March for home prices in more than 35 years of data. Seven in 10 homes sold for more than their asking price, according to CoreLogic.
Out of the 20 cities tracked by the 20-city composite index, Tampa, Phoenix and Miami saw the highest year-over-year gains in March. Tampa saw the greatest increase, with an almost 35% increase in home prices year-over-year. All 20 cities experienced double-digit price growth for the year ending in March.
The strongest price growth was seen in the south and southeast, with both regions posting almost 30% gains in March. Seventeen of the 20 metro areas also saw acceleration in their annual gains since February.
"Those of us who have been anticipating a deceleration in the growth rate of US home prices will have to wait at least a month longer," said Craig Lazzara, managing director at S&P DJI, in the release. "The strength of the Composite indices suggests very broad strength in the housing market, which we continue to observe."
Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, home prices overall are up by 37%. The current surge in home prices is a result of tight competition between buyers in a low-inventory market as they attempt to lock in lower mortgage rates before rates jump even higher throughout the year, as experts predict they will.
If you're considering buying a new home -- or are actively in the market -- the news isn't all bad. Interest rates are at their highest point in more than 40 years, and one potential benefit of that may, eventually, be downward pressure on home prices. As it becomes increasingly expensive to borrow money, fewer people will seek to do so, and homes for sale may receive fewer offers leading to, eventually, lower prices. In fact, nearly one in five sellers lowered their asking price during a four-week period in May and April, according to Redfin.
"Mortgages are becoming more expensive as the Federal Reserve has begun to ratchet up interest rates, suggesting that the macroeconomic environment may not support extraordinary home price growth for much longer," said Lazzara. "Although one can safely predict that price gains will begin to decelerate, the timing of the deceleration is a more difficult call."
Netflix's 'Queen's Gambit' Mobile Game Will Play Chess on the Ceiling
Netflix's 'Queen's Gambit' Mobile Game Will Play Chess on the Ceiling
What's happening
Netflix is widening its library of mobile games to include a handful spun off from its popular shows.
Why it matters
It's the first time since Netflix kicked off its gaming initiative that it's tapping into stories and characters already popular on Netflix.
Netflix will be rolling out a chess game based on The Queen's Gambit, the limited series that caused Google searches for "chess" to spike to a 14-year high when it was released. It'll even put Beth Harmon's drug-induced upside chessboards up on the ceiling.
It's one of a handful of mobile games coming to Netflix based on some of its popular existing shows, including Spanish heist thriller La Casa de Papel, also known as Money Heist; fantasy series Shadow & Bone; reality show Too Hot to Handle; and game show Nailed It. (And no, Squid Game: The Game isn't one of them.)
It marks the first time since Netflix kicked off a dedicated mission to add games that the company is leveraging its own stories and characters already popular with its subscribers to anchor new game titles.
The Queen's Gambit Chess game and Nailed It!: Baking Bash will be released sometime before the end of 2022, while the rest didn't have timing details. By the end of the year, Netflix said it plans to more than double its number of available games to about 50. The move is part of Netflix's effort to invest in video games as part of its standard subscriptions, in the hope they'll entice new subscribers and give existing ones more reasons to keep their membership.
The news was announced during a presentation Friday wrapping up Netflix's Geeked Week, an online fan event.
Last year, Netflix confirmed that would expand into gaming, starting with ad-free games for mobile devices like phones and tablets at no added cost to subscribers. So far, Netflix has 22 casual, mobile games available, some of which were previously released. Netflix has sketched out broad ambitions for gaming, indicating that it ultimately envisions pursuing console games for Xbox and PlayStation, too.
Gaming widens Netflix, the world's biggest subscription video service, from its bedrock business of TV shows and movies. As Netflix has grown, it has repeatedly called out gaming phenoms like Fortnite as some of its toughest competition because of the massive amount of entertainment hours they command worldwide. Gaming is also Netflix's most meaningful move into a new kind of entertainment since it started streaming in 2007 and since it released its first original show in 2012.
The gaming initiative took on new significance after Netflix reported its first drop in subscribers in a decade earlier this year, and the company has warned that memberships are expected to decline even more.
Netflix isn't alone in this gaming expansion. Amazon, which operates Prime Video, has invested in Luna, its cloud gaming service, and also has its own gaming studio. Google, parent of YouTube, has put money into its own Stadia game-streaming service. And Apple, which makes its own films and TV shows for Apple TV Plus, also widened into Apple Arcade.
But Netflix would be unique by making games part of its one and only subscription. Others offer their gaming services as standalone products, typically also in a bundle with a bunch of other memberships.
Netflix's games are playable and downloadable via links in Netflix's mobile app, but they need to be installed separately from Netflix's app on your device. You can download the games directly from the Apple and Google app stores, typically at 10 a.m. PT on the day of their release; Netflix also usually posts links to the games' app store listing starting at 2 p.m. PT. In the Netflix app, Android mobile and iPhone users should see a dedicated games row if you scroll down your home tab, with Android additionally having a dedicated games tab. Tablet users should also see a dedicated games row or find games in the categories dropdown menu.
WhatsApp Status: Everything you need to know about the Snapchat clone
WhatsApp Status: Everything you need to know about the Snapchat clone
WhatsApp is rolling out a new Status feature to all users. Instead of the text-only status that lets people know whether you're busy or available to chat, the new Status feature uses photos, text, emojis and sketches to show what you're doing. If that sounds familiar, it could be because it appears to be inspired by Snapchat.
And unlike Snapchat and Instagram, WhatsApp can protect your Status updates with end-to-end encryption.
Here's what you need to know about the new feature.
When will I get the Status feature?
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
When your account gets access to Status, you won't have to download or install an app update from the App Store or Play Store -- it'll just show up.
You'll know if you have access to Status on iOS when the Contacts tab gets replaced with a camera icon (see photo above), and the far-left tab reads "Status." Android users will see a new Camera icon to the left of the Chats tab, next to a new Status tab.
Who can see my Status?
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
WhatsApp includes privacy settings, giving you complete control over who sees your Status. By default, only your contacts can view your Status, but the privacy settings let you change that.
With the Status tab selected on an iPhone, tap on Privacy. Android users, tap the menu button > Status Privacy.
You are given three options:
My Contacts: All of your WhatsApp contacts can view your Status.
My Contacts Except...: Select the people you don't want to show your Status to. This still shares your Status with the rest of your Contact list.
Only Share With..: Select only with the contacts you want to show your Status to.
If you change your privacy settings after uploading a Status, keep in mind the new settings will only impact future updates.
Viewing your friends' Statuses is a lot like Snapchat
If you already use Snapchat Stories or Instagram Stories, then you'll feel right at home with Status. Here are the basics:
To view a Status uploaded by your friend, open the Status tab. A list of friends who've shared a Status will fill in.
Touch the screen to pause a Status, giving you more time to view it, tap to skip through a Status, or swipe left to go to the next person.
Swipe up on a status to reply to the the Status you are currently viewing.
...And so is updating your Status
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
WhatsApp Status includes all the familiar features of Snapchat and Instagram Stories -- stickers, text captions, drawings and more. Here's how to update your Status:
To add a photo or video to your WhatsApp Status, open the app and tap the camera icon. Take a photo or video, or pick one from your camera roll.
You can draw, write and place emojis on the photo. There's also an option to add a caption that will be shown on the bottom of the photo or video as your contacts watch it.
Finally, tap the paper airplane icon. You can either send your Status directly to a friend, as a photo or video within a conversation thread, or you can tap My Status at the top of the list to update your Status.
Videos can go longer than 10 seconds
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Instead of limiting your video status updates to just 10 seconds (like Snapchat), videos you record and share as a Status can be as long as 45 seconds.
And you can upload GIFs!
In the year 2017, supporting animated images, or GIFs, in an app is a requirement. As such, WhatsApp Status will accept GIFs you've saved to your camera roll or photos app. Select a GIF, trim it down if you need to, and share just as you would a regular, boring, photo or video.
Your Status will remain active for 24 hours, after which it disappears.
Sadly, there doesn't appear to be a way to save a Status to your phone. Whatever you capture and create in WhatsApp is limited to WhatsApp.
Find out who's viewing your Status
A view counter is placed at the bottom of your screen, showing you how many people have watched or looked at your status. You can swipe up on the screen to view a list of contact names who have viewed your Status.
You can get away with screenshots
Unlike Snapchat, WhatsApp does not alert you when a contact takes a screenshot of your Status. In other words, be conscious of exactly what you are sharing to your Status, just because it disappears from your Status after 24 hours doesn't mean no one saved a copy.
Check out our complete guide to Instagram Stories.
Snapchat's Spectacles are now available for purchase online. Here's our review.
Pokemon Go Zamazenta Raid Guide: Best Counters, Weaknesses and Moveset
Pokemon Go Zamazenta Raid Guide: Best Counters, Weaknesses and Moveset
Pokemon Go has brought not one, but two legendary Pokemon back for a limited time. Pokemon Sword and Shield's cover monsters, Zacian and Zamazenta, are both appearing in five-star raids through the end of the month, giving you another chance to add them to your collection if you missed them last summer.
Here are some tips to help you beat and catch Zamazenta before it leaves the raid rotation again.
Zamazenta Raid Hours
Both Zacian and Zamazenta are appearing as a five-star raid boss until 10 a.m. local time on Aug. 31, giving you almost two full weeks to catch them.
If you're hoping to get Zamazenta in particular, you'll have your best chance to encounter one on Aug. 31, during Pokemon Go's Raid Hour event. More gyms will be hosting Zamazenta raids from 6 to 7 p.m. local time that evening, giving you more opportunities to battle the legendary Pokemon.
Zamazenta weaknesses
Zamazenta's Hero of Many Battles form is a pure fighting type, which means it's vulnerable to three types of Pokemon: psychic, flying and fairy types. Stack your team with fully evolved and legendary Pokemon of those types and you should have little trouble toppling Zamazenta.
Best Zamazenta counters
Here are some recommended Pokemon to use against Zamazenta:
Psychic
Alakazam: Psycho Cut, Psychic
Mewtwo: Confusion, Psystrike
Metagross: Zen Headbutt, Psychic
Latios: Zen Headbutt, Psychic
Gallade: Confusion, Psychic
Fairy
Clefable: Charm, Dazzling Gleam
Alolan Ninetales: Charm, Dazzling Gleam
Granbull: Charm, Play Rough
Gardevoir: Charm, Dazzling Gleam
Sylveon: Charm, Moonblast
Flying
Mega Pidgeot: Wing Attack, Brave Bird
Rayquaza: Air Slash, Hurricane
Staraptor: Wing Attack, Brave Bird
Braviary: Air Slash, Brave Bird
Tornadus: Air Slash, Hurricane
Best moveset for Zamazenta
As with Zacian, you'll want to teach Zamazenta a different moveset depending on what form it's in. Hero of Many Battles Zamazenta will excel if it knows the Fast Attack Snarl and the Charged Attack Close Combat. Crowned Shield Zamazenta is not yet available in Pokemon Go, but it'll make a great steel-type attacker if it knows Metal Claw and Iron Head.
There's still a lot happening in Pokemon Go this month, including more Spotlight Hours and the Pokemon Go Fest: Finale event. You can see everything going on in the game over the next few days in our August events roundup.
This 10-inch Lenovo Chromebook tablet is $235 off, score one for under $100 now
This 10-inch Lenovo Chromebook tablet is $235 off, score one for under $100 now
When it comes to affordable tablets, most people think about Amazon's Fire Tablet lineup of devices, as they offer a great balance of value and performance. If you're looking for something that's a bit more robust than what Amazon can offer, but don't need to step up to an iPad, this deal from Lenovo is something you should strongly consider. Right now, Lenovo's 10e Chromebook Tablet is down to an impulsively low price of just $99, which is a whole lot cheaper than its regular price of $334.
Now, you won't be using this tablet for playing games or editing photos, but that's OK. At just under $100, the Lenovo 10e is a perfect device for consuming media, browsing the web, creating documents and more. It has 32GB of storage internally, but you can use a USB-C flash drive should you need to carry more files around with you. It's a great device for sitting on the couch at night or to give to a family member to help them stay connected with friends and family a bit better. Lenovo sells a $70 keyboard attachment, a $35 stylus and more to make it an even better experience.
Google will support the Lenovo 10e Chromebook with updates through June 2028, so you don't have to worry about buying something that's immediately obsolete.
Meet the DIY mechanics retrofitting classic cars with electric motors
Meet the DIY mechanics retrofitting classic cars with electric motors
Editors' note: This article is part of Dear Future, a collaboration between CNET and VICE Motherboard that looks at major innovations -- in robotics, space travel, VR and more -- shaping the world around us.
"What sound does daddy's car make?" Michael Bream asked his son, Eli. The two-year-old paused for a moment. "Vroom," he said.
"No, that's not it," Bream said. Something clicked inside Eli and he made another, softer noise. "Woosh." Bream nodded.
Bream's car and the classic hot rods his shop modifies don't sound like normal vehicles when you race them on the highway. That's because they run completely electric—no gas required. I paid a visit to Bream's shop, EV West, in Southern California this October.
EV West is a boutique car garage specializing in removing combustion engines and replacing them with electric batteries. Bream and his team of around a dozen technicians have transformed everything from a 1950s Volkswagen bus to a Ferrari 308 GTS from gas guzzlers to fully-electric rides.
Older vehicles are often less efficient and release more carbon emissions than their newer counterparts, but many people choose to drive them anyway because, well, they look cool. Thanks to EV West, car fanatics don't need to compromise between the environment and having a classic ride.
Jehu Garcia's Volkswagen Bus runs on off-the-grid-sourced electric power.
Motherboard
"We're part of the anti-Tesla crowd but in a very positive way," Bream told me.
Bream's small car garage is located behind a string of commercial warehouses in San Marcos, California, a sleepy suburb not far from San Diego. The whole place feels more like a computer lab than a car shop. There's no gasoline smell, and the garage is devoid of the kind of grease I associate with my local mechanic. On the walls are old car posters that have been photoshopped to boast the benefits of electric power.
In one corner is a Tesla Powerwall, a large battery that stores energy harvested from 18 or so solar panels on EV West's roof. Bream's team uses the Powerwall to charge many of its electric cars.
Jehu Garcia's VW Bus is all EV inside.
Motherboard
EV West acquires batteries for its cars in an usual way. When a Tesla Model S crashes, its parts are often sold at auction. Bream's garage then snaps them up, and installs them inside vintage cars. The old engines are sold on the secondhand market, where there's still demand for original vintage parts.
Modifying a car to utilize electric power doesn't come cheap. If you want to have EV West do it for you, it'll cost around $18,000. That's if you bring in a vintage Volkswagen Beetle and want it outfitted with an electric battery that has a 100 mile range. Different model cars and larger batteries will cost you extra. You'll also need to be patient: business is booked for the next year.
"We really take our time to make sure [the cars] are up to our standards," Bream told me.
Even children's bikes can be electrified.
Louise Matsakis/Vice
While wandering around Bream's shop, I met some of the gearheads who work for him, like Spencer Larue. In college at San Diego State University, he built an electric mini bike that he ripped around indoors. "Because it's electric, I could cruise down the hallways," Larue said.
After checking out the garage, Bream took me for a ride in a vintage electric Volkswagen Beetle painted bright yellow. "This is an old car," Bream said. "Sometimes the doors open." He then ripped the Bug around a weedy field behind the garage, as a half-dozen or so of his mechanics watched me scream out the passenger side window.
Riding in a vintage car modded to use electric power feels strange. The car quietly surges forward, and doesn't rumble at all. It feels smooth in a way that a manual transmission isn't supposed to. It's like the car is somehow running on butter. The experience is pleasingly futuristic—even if the upholstery your butt rests on is decades old.
EV West is ultimately a tiny shop that's part of an equally small industry—at least for now. The garage only mods around a dozen cars per year, and less than one percent of vehicles on the road worldwide today run electric.
Jehu Garcia and Michael Bream.
Motherboard
At the same time, EV West stands at the edge of a promising future for electric vehicles. They're set to outsell fossil-fuel powered cars within two decades, Bloomberg's New Energy Finance group predicts. Cars with a plug will constitute a third of the global auto fleet by 2040, displacing eight million barrels a day in oil production, according to the same report. That's significantly more oil than all of ExxonMobil produces each day.
One of the reasons experts predict electric vehicles will finally become mainstream is that the cost of producing the lithium-ion batteries they depend on is dropping rapidly. Battery prices are crucial because they represent one-third of the cost of building an electric car. The cost of making one fell 35 percent in 2015, and the world's lithium mines are already bracing for a major uptick in sales of electric vehicles in the next couple of years.
"I fear people won't do the right thing [drive electric] until it's cheapest," Bream told me. "My only true hope is that these renewables will be cheaper."
This Volkswagen Bug has been treated to electrification at EV West using Tesla Model S bits.
Motherboard
Experts estimate that Bream's hope could soon become reality. By 2040, long-range electric cars will cost less than $22,000 in today's dollars. That's pretty cheap—a 2017 Honda Civic costs about the same.
One question left to answer: If electric cars hit the road en masse, how will we harness the necessary electricity to power them? The answer is likely renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Solar power in particular is promising: It's currently the fastest growing source of new energy, according to the International Energy Agency. Jobs in the industry are also reportedly growing 17 times faster than the US economy.
Still, there's reason to be skeptical about a future where electric cars rule the road. For now, they can't go very far without recharging, and charging stations remain scarce. As electric cars help bring the cost of oil down, there's also a chance other parts of the world will double-down on newly cheaper fossil fuels.
That's not a gas nozzle being hooked up to EV West's 1978 Ferrari 308.
Motherboard
Michael Bream and his team at EV West have chosen to remain optimistic, for good reason. Every car in their garage is a testament to how the power of clean, electric energy can transform how we get around. Especially the bright red 1978 Ferrari 308 GTE.
The car was burned in a fire and later restored to utilize a new power source, making it the world's first electric Ferrari. Eric Hutchison, a friend of EV West, found the sportscar at a junkyard, bought it for a steep discount, and rebuilt it. Riding in the car feels particularly rebellious when you consider that Ferrari's chairman Sergio Marchionne once said that an electric Ferrari would be "obscene."
I bet he's never taken the world's first for a spin.
