Commuter rail may need to escape the suburb-to-city, 9-5 paradigm. What happens to EV batteries when they die? A case study in fighting gentrification. Rethinking commuter rail service post-pandemic: It’s unknown whether commuters will return to offices at the same level as before the pandemic, but whether they do or don’t, it gives transit agencies the ability to rethink regional rail for trips that don’t involve a workday commute. Some commuter railways are already looking at opportunities to operate more like rapid transit. (Jake Blumgart | Governing) The afterlife of an EV battery: As electric vehicles become more common, scientists are ringing the alarm and pushing for a robust recycling system for used batteries. Recycling batteries is being supported by car makers as a way to use rare materials but it’s also logistically challenging. Challenges include labor costs and the dangers of disassembling with health and safety in mind. (Emma Woollacott | BBC)