GOING POSTAL

Beset by impossible political demands, huge legacy costs, and an erosion in its core business, America’s mail-delivery service is struggling valiantly to break even.

Das EV

Electric vehicles remain very much a niche market. But as BMW, one of the world’s largest automakers, formally enters the fray, that may begin to change.

iEARNINGS

As Apple’s stock price has fallen, many investors and analysts have questioned whether the company still has what it takes to succeed in the cutthroat technology world. Apple’s latest earnings suggest that it does.

Cool Down

When the electrical grid is under stress, dialing down usage is as important as bringing new power on line. By paying companies to dim the lights during heat waves, a company in Boston operates a giant virtual power plant.

VROOM

The Silicon Valley electric car manufacturer has plowed through its adolescence and is showing signs of maturity. Having paid back its government loan and turned a profit, it is now being invited into an exclusive stock market club.

Car Tech

Like idle hands, idle vehicle motors are a big threat. They waste energy and cause pollution. Simple technology solutions that shut off engines when they’re not in use can lead to huge savings.

CHARGE

Cars that run partially or entirely on electricity make up a tiny sliver of the vast U.S. car market. But companies selling them posted big gains in June.