Automotive news

Consumer & Gadgets

EV drivers more likely to be involved in at-fault road traffic crashes than petrol and diesel drivers, study reveals

Drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) are more likely to be involved in at-fault road traffic accidents than drivers of petrol and diesel cars, research by Lero, the Research Ireland Center for Software, at University of Limerick ...

Business

Study: Conflicting goals, focus on economic development lead to underperforming streetcar systems

A city's streetcar system can be many things. But it can't be everything. New research from the University of Kansas has found that cities with underperforming streetcar systems often get there by setting too many—and sometimes ...

Automotive

Officials warn that EVs could catch fire if inundated with saltwater from Hurricane Helene

Electric vehicles can catch fire if they are inundated by saltwater, so owners who live in the path of a major storm like Hurricane Helene should take precautions and prepare for the possibility that they'll be unable to ...

Energy & Green Tech

Organic supramolecular crystals with high hydrogen storage performance could enhance fuel-cell vehicle efficiency

Hydrogen is often seen as the fuel of the future on account of its zero-emission and high gravimetric energy density, meaning it stores more energy per unit of mass compared to gasoline. Its low volumetric density, however, ...

Automotive

Volkswagen crisis pits homegrown leaders against each other

Volkswagen managers and workers representatives will start crunch talks in Hanover on Wednesday, following the German group's announcement that drastic cost-cutting measures are needed to keep the carmaker competitive.

Energy & Green Tech

Higher blends of biodiesel fuel could cut transportation emissions

Barriers that are currently preventing the use of greater percentages of biomass-based diesel fuel blended into petroleum diesel have been identified, along with strategies to overcome them, according to researchers at the ...

Engineering

Data mining reveals US bridges with most large ship traffic

Bridges in New York, California, and Georgia are among United States bridges with the most traffic from the largest ships, according to a new and unprecedented data mining effort, the first step in an urgent assessment of ...

Automotive

BMW unveils car that can change color

BMW unveiled Wednesday the prototype of a car that can change color and showcases digital features like projecting driving data across the inside of the windshield.

Automotive

Stellantis to build electric 'air taxis' with Archer

Global automaker Stellantis will produce electric "air taxis" developed by US aviation company Archer, it announced Wednesday at the major Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Automotive

GM beats Toyota in US auto sales on strong demand

General Motors overtook Japanese carmaker Toyota in US automobile sales last year, according to company figures released Wednesday, reclaiming the top spot on strong demand after earlier supply difficulties.

Energy & Green Tech

A second chance for batteries, gearboxes and cog-wheels

Used and damaged cars are often disposed of via energy-intensive scrapping processes—even when many of their parts are still fully functional. In the EKODA project, Fraunhofer researchers are developing a better alternative. ...

Engineering

Further optimizing car brakes using a neutron detector

Human lives depend on brakes. They need to grip quickly and return to their resting position immediately once the brake pedal is released. If they do not return fully, energy losses may occur. This is not noticeable to the ...

Business

Japan's 'Little Trains that Could' battle for survival

In the driver's seat of a two-carriage train, Katsunori Takemoto puts on his white gloves and checks the antiquated gauges before setting out alongside cabbage fields in Japan's rural Chiba.

Energy & Green Tech

EXPLAINER: 2023 tax credits for EVs will boost their appeal

Starting Jan. 1, many Americans will qualify for a tax credit of up to $7,500 for buying an electric vehicle. The credit, part of changes enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to spur EV sales and reduce greenhouse ...

Automotive

US probing automated driving system use in 2 Tesla crashes

The U.S. government's highway safety agency said Thursday it will send teams to investigate two November crashes in California and Ohio involving Teslas that may have been operating on automated driving systems.

Energy & Green Tech

Racers, mechanics, tinkerers converting classic cars to EVs

When Kevin Erickson fires up his 1972 Plymouth Satellite, a faint hum replaces what is normally the sound of pistons pumping, gas coursing through the carburetor and the low thrum of the exhaust.