Join every day information updates from CleanTechnica on electronic mail. Or observe us on Google Information!

Enjoyable truth about me: I’m a tennis nut. As such, I’m tremendous excited concerning the 2024 Australia Open, which has already begun if you happen to depend qualifiers (I do). The primary draw begins tomorrow, and pleasure is constructing the world over. I’ll provide a bit of tennis commentary down on the backside for others like me, however let’s first leap into the cleantech information.

With regards to tennis, automobile firms are sometimes main sponsors. One factor I’ve beloved seeing previously few years is that these firms are sometimes highlighting electrical automobiles — within the corners of the courts, on the tennis grounds, as prizes, transporting the athletes, and simply wherever doable. Kia has lengthy been the sponsor of the Australian Open, and it was nice to see a press launch this week from Kia indicating that it was going to be emphasizing its newest electrical automobiles at this 12 months’s Australian Open.

In complete, Kia is supplying 130 official AO24 autos this 12 months. That features the absolutely electrical Kia EV9 seven-seat SUV and the absolutely electrical Kia EV6 — certainly one of my 5 favourite automobiles in the marketplace. Being certainly one of its newer autos, the 2024 Australia Open is the primary AO that the EV9 shall be supporting — however absolutely not the final. The EV9 is a champion in its personal area, having gained a number of awards in Europe and the US just lately, together with Household Automotive of the 12 months from Fatherly and Automotive of the 12 months from DrivingElectric. It was additionally named one of many 50 best improvements of the 12 months by Standard Science. The EV9 additionally just lately obtained 5 stars from the Euro NCAP score system.

Now, for the dangerous information: of these 130 AO autos, solely 25 would be the absolutely electrical fashions Kia is highlighting in its press announcement. There shall be 15 EV9s and 10 EV6s, however then there may also be 10 Carnivals (a minivan) and 95 Sorentos. Ugh. Possibly Kia shall be extra formidable subsequent 12 months.

“Because the longest-running main associate of the Australian Open, we’re delighted to as soon as once more play a pivotal function in supporting what’s broadly thought to be one of many world’s most prestigious sporting occasions whereas highlighting our ongoing dedication to the electrical automobile transition,” commented Charles Ryu, Senior Vice President, and Head of the International Model & CX Division at Kia. That’s good. However how about a couple of extra EVs, please!

“We’re delighted to as soon as once more have the chance to display Kia’s newest industry-leading sustainable mobility options to these attending AO24 and to have interaction with thousands and thousands of followers the world over by means of the digital advertising and marketing campaigns we’ve got ready.” Cool. However how about a couple of extra EVs, please!

OK, I’ll cease.

The excellent news is that Kia will function its electrical autos in fan engagement actions, stimulating extra gross sales, and the automaker is associate with Uber to attempt to get extra of its drivers into electrical automobiles (Kia electrical automobiles, to be particular). “Kia’s model initiatives at AO24 will embrace mannequin showcases for the EV9 and EV5 idea automobile. A hanging customized Ocean Matte Blue EV9 shall be positioned subsequent to a kinetic show wall, alongside two further EV9 fashions that guests can have interaction with. The model can also be collaborating with Uber One and including an electrical really feel to their reinstated Kia fan fleet initiative, specializing in sustainable mobility. Kia will provide Uber one members complimentary trip alternatives to the tennis in a fleet of 30 electrical autos, that includes a mixture of EV6 and EV9 fashions.” Uber has massive electrification targets, so I hope to see this partnership blossom and flower down underneath. We additionally simply lined an Uber–Kia collaboration over at CES in Las Vegas primarily based on Kia’s new Platform Past Autos (PBV).

Humorous sufficient, Rafael Nadal is a model ambassador for Kia. That’s humorous as a result of the Australian Open is his arch rival’s (Novak Djokovic’s) finest event, and is among the two Nadal has gained the least (not that two AO titles is something to be ashamed of). Possibly Kia ought to have sponsored Roland Garros all these years as a substitute. 😉 Joking apart, Nadal is among the hottest tennis gamers — and athletes — the world over, and it’s a optimistic collaboration. Sadly, Nadal simply pulled out of the event final week attributable to an damage. In any case, Kia is “organizing a collection of fan engagement actions that spotlight its dedication to electrification and mark the corporate’s twenty-year partnership with model ambassador Rafael Nadal.” Rafa will not be there, nevertheless it ought to be enjoyable!

OK, now, for a bit of tennis commentary! You may tune out now if you happen to’re not a tennis nut.

Novak Djokovic has gained the Australian Open 10 occasions. Nobody has gained a single tennis main extra occasions apart from the aforementioned Nadal, who has gained Roland Garros a shocking 14 occasions. Betting cash is clearly on Djokovic profitable an eleventh. Sure, the person is sort of 37 years previous, and that’s insane, however within the latest year-end ATP Finals, many tennis analysts commented that Djokovic could have performed his finest tennis ever. It’s a enjoyable debate that by no means ends whether or not 2011 Djokovic, 2015 Djokovic, or 2023 Djokovic was higher, however the truth that it’s a debate that may’t be settled it thoughts blowing. In brief, Djokovic, having dominated this event for greater than a decade and being seemingly pretty much as good as ever, is the heavy favourite to win. I’ll notice, as properly, that Djokovic switched to electrical automobiles a number of years in the past, shopping for a Tesla Mannequin X when the mannequin was new to the market.

Past the obvious and on to different apparent commentary: the highest contenders for the title are fairly various and attention-grabbing this 12 months. These gamers could be Daniil Medvedev (he has crushed Djokovic in a hardcourt slam remaining earlier than, the US Open); the very younger Jannik Sinner (22 years previous), who beat Djokovic twice in latest months however then misplaced to him within the finals of the 2023 ATP Finals; and the even youthful stunner from one other mom, Carlos Alcaraz (20 years previous), who beat Djokovic within the Wimbledon finals final 12 months, Novak’s different finest event and one through which he appeared invincible during the last a number of years. Should you needed to decide somebody from this group of 4 profitable AO24 or every other participant profitable the title, nearly all of the betting cash could be on certainly one of these 4. However, I’ll throw some wild lengthy pictures on the market, some prime hardcourt gamers who might make an unbelievable run with a bit of luck on their facet: Tommy Paul, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Gael Monfils, Ben Shelton, Francis Tiafoe, Alex de Minaur, Sebastian Korda, Nicolas Jarry, Lloyd Harris, Chris Eubanks, Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, and Hubi Hurkacz. Control these gamers!

On the ladies’s facet, heavy favorites (in no matter order you favor in the intervening time) are Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka. Then you definitely’ve obtained nonetheless very younger and rising Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva. And also you’ve obtained potential sneak assaults from veterans Naomi Osaka, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Victoria Azarenka, Carolina Wozniaki, and Elina Svitolina. The ladies’s facet is extra identified for surprises, however titles could also be consolidating among the many massive hitters on the prime in hardcourt tournaments now. We’ll see!

I feel I’ve gone off matter sufficient. Benefit from the 2024 Australian Open and go take a look at drive an electrical Kia at present!

All photos courtesy of Kia. Photographs by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ FIONA HAMILTON.