Archive for the ‘transportation’ category: Page 52
Feb 25, 2024
First Stellantis EV for the US rolls off the assembly line after selling out of dealer allocation
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: sustainability, transportation
The first Stellantis brand EV destined for the US rolled off the assembly line this week. The all-electric Fiat 500e will arrive in the US by the end of March after selling out of its first dealer allocation in less than a week.
“We’re thrilled that the Fiat 500e has officially begun its journey to reach customers in North America,” Fiat CEO and CMO at Stellantis said Wednesday.
The Fiat 500e is already the best-selling electric city car in Europe, ranking first in Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and France. Since launching, the 500e has sold over 185,000 units globally. Now, the small electric car is about to take on North America.
Feb 25, 2024
Tesla Cybertruck range test reveals impressive distance on full charge
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in category: transportation
Tesla Cybertruck range tests are all the buzz, and publications are looking to see how accurate the automaker’s projections and estimates are, and how many miles the all-electric pickup can travel on a full charge.
A few tests have already been performed, including one that took the Cybertruck on the highway and gave less-than-favorable results.
However, range tests are never identical because so many external factors, like driving style and temperature, for example, can significantly influence the results.
Feb 24, 2024
Google Pay app is shutting down in the US after being replaced by Google Wallet
Posted by Kelvin Dafiaghor in categories: media & arts, mobile phones, transportation
Google Pay, the digital payment app for desktop, mobile apps, and in stores, was pretty much phased out by the introduction of Google Wallet in 2022. Google Wallet, which is a mobile app for Android users, is used five times more than Google Pay, according to the announcement. Since Wallet can also house credit cards for tap-to-pay, as well as digital IDs, and public transit passes, it’s proven to be the more useful alternative.
It’s somewhat typical for Google to launch products only to shut them down or roll them into other products after a few years due to lack of demand or commercial interest. The Google graveyard includes Jamboard, its cloud gaming service Stadia, and Google Play Music. So this is just one of many Google products to bite the dust. But Google Pay users won’t be left stranded.
If you’re a Google Pay user, you can still use the U.S. version of the app until June 4. But you can still transfer funds from your account into your bank account through the Google Pay website after June 4. After that, Google Pay users will no longer be able to send, request, or transfer money through the app.
Feb 24, 2024
MIT Scientists May Have Found a Cheap Way of Storing Huge Amounts of Energy in Cement
Posted by Kelvin Dafiaghor in categories: energy, sustainability, transportation
A team of MIT researchers has figured out a way to create a supercapacitor simply by mixing cement, the binding ingredient of concrete, and a fine charcoal product called carbon black together with water.
Better yet, this mixture could allow a home to store a full day’s worth of energy in its foundation, potentially paving the way to an efficient renewable energy storage solution that doesn’t rely on mining rare Earth metals.
Roads made up of the material could even power electric cars wirelessly, the researchers say, or windmills could store their generated energy in their base.
Feb 23, 2024
An inchworm-inspired robot with enhanced transport capabilities
Posted by Dan Breeden in categories: robotics/AI, transportation
Soft robots inspired by animals can help to tackle real-world problems in efficient and innovative ways. Roboticists have been working to continuously broaden and improve these robots’ capabilities, as this could open new avenues for the automation of tasks in various settings.
Researchers at Nagoya University and Tokyo Institute of Technology recently introduced a soft robot inspired by inchworms that can carry loads of more than 100 g at a speed of approximately 9 mm per second. This robot, introduced in Biomimetic Intelligence and Robotics, could be used to transport objects and place them in precise locations.
“Previous research in the field provided foundational insights but also highlighted limitations, such as the slow transportation speeds and low load capacities of inchworm-inspired robots,” Yanhong Peng told Tech Xplore. “For example, existing models demonstrated capabilities for transporting objects at speeds significantly lower than the 8.54 mm/s achieved in this study, with limited ability to handle loads above 40 grams.”
Feb 23, 2024
Nuro gets a leg up from Arm in launching its third-generation delivery robot
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: business, robotics/AI, transportation
“We create the lowest power performance technology,” said Dipti Vachani, senior VP and general manager for Arm’s automotive business, in an interview, “so that Nuro can then take advantage of all that AI software.”
Nuro was founded in 2016 by Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu, two veterans of the Google self-driving car project that would go on to become Waymo. It is one of the few companies operating fully driverless vehicles — that is, vehicles without safety drivers behind the wheel — on public roads today.
Feb 21, 2024
Ex-SpaceX engineers unveil Arc Sport, 570 horsepower electric wakeboat
Posted by Gemechu Taye in categories: engineering, sustainability, transportation
Discover the Arc Sport, a revolutionary electric wake boat engineered for performance, sustainability, and seamless user experience.
Former SpaceX engineers have unleashed their latest innovation, the Arc Sport, onto the waters, redefining the landscape of wake sports. Combining cutting-edge aerospace engineering with electric vehicle (EV) technology, the Arc Spor t promises an exhilarating experience like no other.
Boasting a massive 226 kWh battery capacity and a robust 570 horsepower (425 kW) motor, this engineering marvel delivers more than double the torque of its gas-powered counterparts.
Continue reading “Ex-SpaceX engineers unveil Arc Sport, 570 horsepower electric wakeboat” »
Feb 21, 2024
BYD is buying back stock to fuel its dominant global expansion with new EVs
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: sustainability, transportation
The world’s EV leader, BYD (OTC: BYDDY), announced a stock buyback plan as it continues expanding into new markets. BYD is pushing into different segments with new luxury EVs and mid-size electric SUVs.
After selling a record 526,409 all-electric vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD topped Tesla to become the best-selling EV maker globally.
The automaker’s success was fueled by its lineup of affordable EVs like the Dolphin, Atto 3 (Yuan Plus in China), and Seal. However, BYD is quickly expanding into new segments.
Feb 21, 2024
Plasma scientists develop computer programs that could reduce the cost of microchips, stimulate manufacturing
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: computing, mobile phones, nuclear energy, transportation
Fashioned from the same element found in sand and covered by intricate patterns, microchips power smartphones, augment appliances and aid the operation of cars and airplanes.
Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are developing computer simulation codes that will outperform current simulation techniques and aid the production of microchips using plasma, the electrically charged state of matter also used in fusion research.
These codes could help increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process and potentially stimulate the renaissance of the chip industry in the United States.