Tuscaloosa, Alabama will be home to a new battery plant by Mercedes-Benz. The one billion dollar investment will also include set-up of a nearby plant to produce a new ‘EQ’ line of electric SUVs. Production of the new SUV is expected in the next decade.

Mercedes plans to offer a full range of electric venhicles by 2022, and will build global production of batteries and vehicles. The Tuscaloosa plant is the fifth plant to produce batteries.

Referenced: Mercedes-Benz

With the first Tesla Model 3 rolling off the production line, prospective EV owners must weigh their options. The Chevy Bolt entered production in 2016 but has failed to draw as much attention as its then-unreleased competitor. With pre-orders already in the thousands for the Model 3, new customers are looking at least a 6 month wait for delivery. So, some may find useful a comparison to the Chevy Bolt, available now.

Beyond the cool factor of the Model 3, the automonous driving features such as lane sensing, adapative cruise control, and “autopilot” definitely give it an advantage. Consider also the progress that autopilot features have undergone under the Model S and Tesla’s leadership in this field. It is likely that owners will continue to see improvements to this feature over time, with an ambitious goal of a fully autonomous vehicle. On this vision the Chevy Bolt cannot compete.

That said, the Bolt is here now, and has great mileage, so if you are looking for an EV in this pricerange that you can drive today, then this is your best (only) option.

In a speech last month in Iowa President Trump commented:

We’re thinking about building the wall as a solar wall so it creates energy and pays for itself.

In recent weeks the Trump has clarified those remarks and made clear that those bidding on the construction of the wall should take solar into consideration.

No official plans or estimates of cost or power generated have yet been released.