GM Ventures, the investment arm of General Motors, has committed $10 million to Forge Nano, a company specializing in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology. Forge Nano’s ALD platform, branded as Atomic Armor, applies nanoscale coatings to enhance the performance of materials such as graphite, silicon, and nickel alloys, which are critical for battery efficiency. Beyond EV batteries, the technology finds use in sectors including semiconductors, magnetic components, and pharmaceuticals. This funding builds on Forge Nano’s $50 million Series C round in June 2023.
This investment represents GM’s second major move in additive manufacturing (AM) for EV batteries in 2024, following a $39 million Series B lead in Addionics announced in July. Anirvan Coomer, GM Ventures’ managing director, noted that GM is prioritizing technologies like Forge Nano’s ALD to scale up advanced materials, reduce costs, and enhance cathode functionality—currently the most expensive part of an EV battery. Forge Nano’s CEO, Paul Lichty, added that the funding will support efforts to improve material durability and extend ALD applications to areas such as semiconductor production.
GM’s investment reflects the automotive industry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Western EV supply chain. On the same day as the Forge Nano announcement, GM disclosed a $600 million joint venture with Lithium Americas Corp. As the transition to EVs accelerates, AM is emerging as an efficient solution for meeting the smaller, more flexible production needs of electric vehicles. This shift in manufacturing strategies highlights how AM technologies are becoming integral to the design and production processes of the EV industry.
When I wanted to find out whether my 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid saved me money compared to the conventional gas-only model, I used ChatGPT to crunch the numbers. Initially, the hybrid had a $4,000 premium over the non-hybrid version. Here’s how we factored in Ontario’s fluctuating gas prices and my car’s lifetime usage to assess whether it was a good financial decision.
Key Inputs
Hybrid Mileage: 39.5 MPG (imperial)
Non-Hybrid Best Case: 33.6 MPG (15% less efficient)
Non-Hybrid Worst Case: 27.7 MPG (30% less efficient)
Distance Driven: 200,000 km (124,274 miles), evenly spread over 11 years
Non-Hybrid Best Case (33.6 MPG): 3,698.0 gallons × 4.54609 L / gallon = 16,810.9 liters
Non-Hybrid Worst Case (27.7 MPG): 4,486.8 gallons × 4.54609 L / gallon = 20,397.3 liters
2. Annual Fuel Usage Breakdown
Since the distance was evenly spread over 11 years (~18,182 km/year), the fuel usage for early and later periods is:
Hybrid Fuel Split:
2013–2019 (7 years): (14,306.5 L / 11 years) × 7 years = 9,104.1 liters
2020–2024 (4 years): (14,306.5 L / 11 years) × 4 years = 5,202.4 liters
Non-Hybrid Best Case:
2013–2019: (16,810.9 L / 11 years) × 7 years = 10,695.4 liters
2020–2024: (16,810.9 L / 11 years) × 4 years = 6,115.5 liters
Non-Hybrid Worst Case:
2013–2019: (20,397.3 L / 11 years) × 7 years = 12,971.7 liters
2020–2024: (20,397.3 L / 11 years) × 4 years = 7,425.6 liters
3. Fuel Cost Comparison
Hybrid:
2013–2019: 9,104.1 L × $1.30 / L= $11,835.3
2020–2024: 5,202.4 L × $1.70 / L = $8,843.9
Total: $20,679.2
Non-Hybrid Best Case:
2013–2019: 10,695.4 L × $1.30 / L = $13,904.0
2020–2024: 6,115.5 L × $1.70 / L = $10,396.4
Total: $24,300.4
Non-Hybrid Worst Case:
2013–2019: 12,971.7 L × $1.30 / L = $16,863.2
2020–2024: 7,425.6 L × $1.70 / L = $12,623.5
Total: $29,486.7
Final Savings
Best Case Non-Hybrid: $24,300.4 – $20,679.2 = $3,621.2 saved
Worst Case Non-Hybrid: $29,486.7 – $20,679.2 = $8,807.5 saved
Conclusion: Was the Hybrid Worth It?
Given that the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid initially cost $4,000 more than the non-hybrid version, the fuel savings of $3,621 to $8,807 show that the hybrid was a solid investment. Even in the worst-case scenario (lower fuel economy for the non-hybrid), the hybrid delivered considerable savings, especially during periods of higher gas prices from 2020 onward.
If your driving habits included a lot of city driving, where hybrids excel, the savings might be even more substantial. Over the 200,000 km lifetime, the hybrid wasn’t just a greener choice—it was also a smart financial one.
For anyone wondering about increased maintenance or service costs due to it being a hybrid, the car has been super-reliable. Other than a relay that had to be replaced under warranty, there have been no significant maintenance issues. This reinforces that the hybrid not only delivered on fuel savings but also proved to be a reliable vehicle over its lifespan.
With the integration of technology into education, tools such as Google’s NotebookLM offer new ways to simplify complex topics for students. This AI-powered tool helps teachers break down dense information, making it easier for students to grasp challenging subjects, particularly when engaging with current events or multifaceted issues.
Translating News into Learning Materials: The Greenbelt Scandal Example
I experimented with Google’s NotebookLM by transforming a newspaper article about Ontario’s Greenbelt scandal into a podcast. The Greenbelt scandal, which involves policy shifts, environmental debates, and political ramifications, is not easy to navigate. However, NotebookLM allowed me to summarize the article, creating an accessible audio version.
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This streamlined approach offers teachers a method to present similarly complicated topics in a way that encourages student engagement.
Making Complex Topics More Accessible
In courses such as history, social studies, or environmental science, dense subjects like political issues or scientific reports often present challenges for students. NotebookLM can help by summarizing long-form content—news articles, government documents, or research studies—into key points that are easier for students to understand.
For instance, a teacher could use NotebookLM to simplify a technical climate change report, turning it into digestible information for classroom use. This connects real-world events with the curriculum, ensuring students can access and comprehend critical issues.
Enhancing Media Literacy Through Podcast Creation
NotebookLM’s ability to convert text into audio also opens up opportunities for media studies and English teachers. By transforming written articles, such as news reports or editorials, into podcasts, teachers can encourage students to analyze how different media formats present information. This method promotes media literacy and critical thinking by allowing students to compare written content with its audio presentation, deepening their understanding of the subject matter.
Facilitating Critical Thinking with Custom GPT Questions
After students listen to a podcast created with NotebookLM, teachers can use my Critical Thinking Questions for Educators custom GPT tool to generate targeted discussion prompts. For example, students analyzing a podcast on a political scandal could be prompted to examine varying perspectives, investigate the underlying causes, or propose potential solutions. This fosters critical thinking by pushing students to engage more deeply with the content, rather than simply absorbing information.
Supporting Research and Study Guides
NotebookLM can also be a valuable tool for research support. Students can use the AI to summarize extensive research reports or articles, gaining a clear starting point for exploring complex subjects. This feature is particularly beneficial in interdisciplinary studies, where students need to integrate knowledge from fields like history, science, and geography. By distilling intricate materials into core messages, NotebookLM helps students navigate academic content without becoming overwhelmed.
Customizing Content for Diverse Classrooms
In classrooms with diverse learning needs, NotebookLM can modify the complexity of reading materials. Teachers can adjust the difficulty level of texts to ensure that all students, regardless of their reading abilities or language proficiency, can engage with the same content. This adaptability is especially helpful in language studies and special education, where tailored materials are crucial for student success. By simplifying difficult texts and clarifying complex terminology, NotebookLM ensures accessibility for all students.
The Role of AI in Future Classrooms
AI tools like NotebookLM provide valuable resources for simplifying complex topics, making learning more interactive and engaging. Whether summarizing dense articles, creating podcasts, generating critical thinking questions with my Custom Critical Thinking Questions GPT, or adapting content for different learning levels, these tools enhance the educational experience. As technology continues to shape the classroom, AI will play an increasingly important role in helping students understand and interact with challenging material, fostering both critical thinking and media literacy.
Questions for Educators: How Are You Using AI in Your Classroom?
As educators, we’re all exploring new ways to engage our students and simplify the learning process. I’d love to hear how you’ve used AI tools like NotebookLM or if this post has inspired new ideas for your classroom.
Have you tried incorporating AI-powered tools to help students better understand complex topics? How did it go?
What specific subjects or topics have you found AI tools particularly useful for?
How do you think AI can shape the future of education and student engagement?
Feel free to share your experiences and insights in the comments. Let’s discuss how we can continue to leverage technology to enhance learning for our students.
In this visual podcast, we delve into a fascinating article from The Washington Post, published on September 26, 2024. The article discusses an innovative method of carbon sequestration inspired by the remarkable discovery of a 3,775-year-old log found in Canada. This ancient wood offers insights into sustainable practices that could help combat climate change.
Join our two virtual podcasters, powered by Google’s #GoogleLM, as they unpack the implications of this method for our environment. With the help of a custom utility I wrote for creating the subtitles and another for audio visualization, this episode brings the topic to life in an engaging format.
Political parties in Canada are collecting extensive personal data with minimal oversight, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the democratic process. These parties are not subject to federal privacy laws, and they use this data to create detailed voter profiles, influence political choices, and sometimes discourage voting.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming the automotive industry, but their complex integration of hardware and software can lead to expensive misdiagnoses. A recent story highlights just how costly these errors can be when an Ontario man was told his Chevy Volt needed a $33,000 battery replacement—only to later find out a simple software update solved the problem.
It had been a long time since I updated the photo at the top of this blog, so it seemed like an appropriate time to do so.
This photo was actually a test photo, taken from a moving car with a new camera I have. I was testing how good the vibration reduction in the camera was, and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised!
Welcome to the latest addition to Ontario’s educational landscape—ACSE-K8, an interactive, private email list designed exclusively for K-8 educators. Whether you’re teaching in public or private schools, or you’re a consultant in this field, ACSE-K8 offers a unique platform to integrate coding into your classrooms.
