Lifestyle
The EV renaissance is coming with Netherlands and Germany taking stage first

The announcement that the Netherlands and Germany has plans to phase out gas cars and replace it with 100% all-electric vehicles could set a precedence for success or failure for the rest of the world. Many industries, governments, and people will be eagerly watching from the sidelines for indications of what the future may hold.
The intricacies of benefits and challenges are greatly unknown. Even the best analysts won’t be able to forecast the impacts of the shift. There are far too many factors at play. Power generation needs and loads can be anticipated through careful calculation, but social and economic responses are usually less predictable. As the Netherlands takes the stage first, the world will watch an interesting evolution unfold.
Social
The most volatile and powerful force is wilded by the collective people. The social climate of the Netherlands can prime the engine that drives change. If they are a progressive and insightful bunch, they may willingly exceed their governments goals. As a whole, the nation may recognize that early adoption leads to a smooth transition.
However, if the people resist change due to fear and uncertainty, the transition may be a long and bumpy road. They may fight to the bitter end to maintain, import, and even smuggle their fossil fuel vehicles into the future.
Economic
Shifting from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars will revamp the Netherland’s entire economy. In a reversed parallel to the uptake of EVs and their infrastructure, ICE cars will face similar struggle as they phase out. We are all too familiar with the questions “but where do you charge it up? Are there enough charging stations out there?”
The tables are going to turn. Whether by choice or by economic force, petrol stations will begin to shutter and become few and far between. The slowest of the adopters will find it less and less convenient to fuel up their cars. While early EV adopters always had the options to charge at home, a gas equivalent for home fueling seems unlikely.
If gas stations affiliated convenience stores are smart, they will rework their business models to better accommodate EV drivers. In the USA we are already seeing an encouraging trend with companies like Sheetz who have begun to shift from the typical gas station model, and refocus on fast-food, small grocery store, and beverage business. They are installing a few fast-chargers and even in talks to feature Tesla Supercharging stations.
ICE cars are already arguably miserable to maintain and repair. Vehicle service businesses will likely shy away from working on them. Parts will become hard to find. One could argue that there would be a slight uptick in business for ICE repairs centers to accommodate owners who are holding out on purchasing an EV, but will hardly reflect Cuba’s embargo-driven demand for repairs.
The Netherlands already have some forward thinking companies paving the way to EV adoption. Dutch company Fastned is off to a good start and appears to be insightful enough to plan ahead for future growth of its existing fast charging locations. If they are any indication for the country’s willingness to switch to EV’s, the future is very bright.
The global oil industry may not be threatened by losing business in the Netherlands alone, but their national oil industry must be losing their mind. How will they cope? Will they go away completely, or will they somehow adjust their energy focus to renewables in order to save jobs and business?
We should keep an eye on this exciting movement as it unfolds. The Dutch will be doing the entire world a favor. Highlighting success and errors though example is one of the best ways the rest of the world can learn the best way to accommodate the imminent transportation and energy shift.
Lifestyle
Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update
Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.
The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.
Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video
With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:
Turn your Tesla into a rave cave with the new Light Sync feature 🎶
Rolling out now in software update 2025.26+ pic.twitter.com/IIsQxZ9jDP
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 29, 2025
To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”
Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.
Elon Musk
xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area.
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.
xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs
Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.
In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.
“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.
Musk Foundation donation
Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students.
The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”
“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.
The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”
Lifestyle
EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.
The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry.
A strategic fit
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.
That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.
“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”
Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”
Enabling the next wave
Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.
“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.
The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.
Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.
In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”
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