Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla '100D' badge spotted, Hamburg Airport uses Neste renewable diesel

Tesla has added "100D" badges to the Model S and Model X in the code of its online Design Studio. The code, with the conspicuous lack of the "P" prefix, was spotted by a Reddit user, and appears to signal the imminent arrival of a non-performance version of the EVs using the 100-kWh battery pack. This also means that these cars will have the longest range of any consumer electric vehicle in the world, greater than the Model S P100D's 315 miles. The exact range and official date of availability is still uncertain. Read more at Electrek.

The Hamburg Airport in Germany is using Neste renewable diesel in its ground fleet. In order to reduce the facility's carbon footprint, vehicles like aircraft tugs and the firefighting fleet are using Neste's locally branded "C.A.R.E. Diesel," which requires no engine modifications to use. The fuel cuts lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent. The decision to switch was made after a four-month test, during which users noted less soot emissions, fewer maintenance issues, and less consumption. Read more at Green Car Congress, or in Neste's press release.

An emissions target of an average of 70 g/km for new cars in the EU by 2025 is both feasible and economical, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). A study from the nonprofit organization shows that while the goal could be reached without widespread EV deployment, it would be cheaper to switch to electrification technology than to focus entirely on combustion engine improvements. While the additional cost to consumers would be about $1,060 to $2,285, they'd make that up in fuel savings in about three to four years, and save more money over the life of their vehicle. Read more at Green Car Congress, or from the ICCT.