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Mountain Middle School, Durango, Colorado. Photo: Shaw Solar Solar power now powers more than 10,800 US K-12 schools – that means 1 in 7 students goes to a school powered by the sun – but battery storage hasn’t quite caught on yet. That’s more than 7 million students, according to the sixth edition of Generation180’s Brighter Future report, which tracks solar and battery storage at US schools. The data is current through April 2026. The number of solar-powered schools has nearly doubled from 5,450 in 2016, while their combined solar capacity has more than tripled to over 2.4 gigawatts. Generation180…

It’s a quick fix for that dead zone in your house. Eza_Nanda/Shutterstock If you have an old Android phone gathering dust in a drawer somewhere, you may already have everything you need to fix the dead zones in your home Wi-Fi network. Instead of buying new hardware, be it an extender, a mesh node or a more powerful router, you could just use an old Android device.  Most households have at least one old Android phone sitting forgotten somewhere, too outdated to use as a daily driver, but too functional to justify throwing it away. Before…

There was a time when hot hatches came in all shapes and sizes—some became legends, while others quietly vanished in the shadow of bigger names. Today, Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si, and Mini Cooper S rule the affordable performance scene, backed by loyal fans and decades of praise. But some gems slipped through the cracks. One stands out: small, loud, turbocharged, and overflowing with personality. It never got the spotlight it deserved—yet now, it’s thousands cheaper than a used Mk7 GTI, making it one of the best performance bargains you can buy. Why Some Hot Hatches Were Forgotten Not Every…

Buying almost any new car is a surefire way to lose money. Whether you buy a new luxury SUV or a desirable sports car, depreciation comes for them all. Only in exceptionally rare cases do vehicles of any kind actually gain value. For example, the second-generation Ford GT once started in the mid $400k range in 2017, but now it’s worth about double on the used market. Pickup trucks usually follow the same patterns as any other mainstream model — they lose value quickly at first, then find a plateau or valley to rest in. The V6 Toyota Tacoma is…

Automotive Kia is recalling 21,290 EV9 electric SUVs in the U.S. because a problem with the front passenger Occupant Detection System could prevent the vehicle from properly disabling the passenger airbag when a child or child restraint is present. The recall covers all 2025 EV9s and certain 2026 models built at Kia’s Georgia facility between May 17, 2024, and May 13, 2026. Kia estimates that about 6 percent of the recalled vehicles may actually have the defect, but the potential safety consequence is serious enough to warrant a broad recall. The issue centers on a bladder tube located…

Pictures of the Mercedes CLA Hybrid being tested on UK roads. Pictures taken by Auto Express senior photographer, Pete Gibson

There are few more underrated pieces of automotive technology than audio-related equipment. We’ve all been there: you’ve forgotten to download your chosen playlist or podcast and are relying on your roaming data alone, only to reach an area with poor reception. Unless you’re behind the wheel of something with an engine that makes a better noise than most songs, you’re in for a long cruise with just your thoughts, or hopefully a passenger, to keep you company. Thanks to a legendary piece of audio technology, there was a workaround. And due to the efforts of one manufacturer, this old but…

The future of electric Hondas in North America has looked pretty bleak this year. The company had three EVs on target for production, two for Honda, and one for Acura, and all three were cancelled earlier this year with no successors announced. Honda has since made it clear that its near-term plans will be focused on hybrids. Apparently it’s not done with EVs, though, it’s just that they won’t be arriving for some time. The Earliest They’ll Arrive Is Next Decade During a press event, some Honda and Acura executives spoke with members of the media about the status of…

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday. Hello and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news roundup bringing you the biggest automotive headlines from around the world. The Downshift recaps news briefly, with links to full stories for those seeking more info. Here’s your bulletin for Friday, August 28, 2026. 💸 The cheapest Kia Niro just got about $2,500 more expensive for 2027, now costing $29,890 before destination. Factoring in shipping, you can’t get a Niro for less than $30,000 anymore. Additionally, Kia…

Worldpac’s 2026 Supplier and Training Expo (STX) brought together more than 2,500 automotive aftermarket professionals who collectively completed 43,200 hours of training during the five-day event. The biennial expo, held Aug. 19-23, featured exhibits from more than 100 international parts manufacturers, along with training, networking and keynote presentations. Worldpac also recognized nine suppliers for their partnerships with the company and announced that its next Supplier and Training Expo will be held in 2028. Keynote speakers included Terry Bradshaw, a four-time football champion and Hall of Fame quarterback, and Siri Lindley, a two-time world champion and Hall of Fame triathlete. Bradshaw…