https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/automotive-news/ en-us Tech Xplore covers the latest in car tech Physical access to an aircraft has not typically been considered a cybersecurity risk—but it should be, according to a team of computer scientists at the University of California San Diego. In a paper presented Aug. 13 at the USENIX Security Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland, former UC San Diego Ph.D. student Sam Crow showed that physical access to an aircraft, even for a brief period, would allow an attacker equipped with a custom-made hardware device to take over communications between two key onboard computers. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-physical-access-boeing-flight.html Security Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:06:25 EDT news705841556 The development of traction batteries for electric vehicles is becoming increasingly complex. Electrical performance, thermal behavior and mechanical safety interact closely and require integrated solutions. At the same time, uniform design standards have been lacking. This creates disadvantages. In the event of an accident, it makes it more difficult for emergency responders to safely handle damaged or burning batteries, and recycling is also much more complicated because of inconsistent designs. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-oil-cooling-ev-batteries-safer.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:00:04 EDT news705830221 Researchers at the Surrey Space Centre (SCC) found that extreme space weather events can significantly increase radiation exposure at typical flight altitudes of 8–14 km (5–9 miles) and trigger faults in aircraft electronics—posing a challenge for flight safety. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-extreme-space-weather-disrupt-flights.html Automotive Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:40:02 EDT news705755642 Gas turbine engines, like those powering passenger planes, operate under extreme conditions during everyday use. These engines regularly reach temperatures well over 800°C (1,470°F), which creates challenges for long-term durability and efficiency. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-coating-gas-turbines-reliable-longer.html Engineering Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:20:06 EDT news705754682 Imagine that you share a ride to work with the same colleague most mornings. As it passes by a license plate reader, the camera records the car, which can be linked through vehicle records to its registered owner. Beside it, another sensor detects signals broadcast by devices traveling nearby, such as your phone and your colleague's smartwatch. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-tech-tracking-plate-readers-associating.html Security Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:00:08 EDT news705670643 A McGill University study recommends that cold-climate cities increase their electric bus fleets and expand charging capacity so vehicles can be charged slowly, a process that draws less power from the grid than fast charging. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-electric-buses-cold-climates-optimizing.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:40:09 EDT news705664562 The first — and only — person to break the sound barrier in a car hits the track in Utah this week with new wheels and his eye on another record. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-driver-broke-barrier-utah.html Automotive Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:06 EDT news705634576 In recent months, American drivers have felt the pain of increased prices at the gas pump. There's some evidence that higher prices may be fueling interest in greener ways of getting around. Battery electric cars, more commonly called electric vehicles or EVs, can be cheaper to own and operate than gas-powered internal combustion engine cars, and they offer considerable sustainability benefits. But just how much better for the planet are electric vehicles, really? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-car-ev-compelling.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:05 EDT news705155941 Two pilot mobility hubs in New York's Capital District are nudging commuters out of their cars and onto buses, bikes and car-share vehicles, according to a new analysis from NYU Tandon's C2SMART transportation research center. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-small-ny-mobility-hubs-car.html Automotive Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:40:03 EDT news705148741 China has drawn up new safety rules for the growing number of autonomous vehicles on its roads, including a mandatory deactivation override, the government said Tuesday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-china-safety-autonomous-vehicles.html Automotive Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:20:05 EDT news705070802 Global air travel is predicted to more than double by 2050, threatening to exceed the capacity of air traffic control officers (atcos) to oversee our skies safely. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-skies-busier-ai-air-traffic.html Automotive Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:00:08 EDT news705058682 Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without manual controls like steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals as the rules start to catch up to the evolving technology. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-robotaxis-wheels.html Automotive Fri, 31 Jul 2026 02:46:53 EDT news704684795 Airports could become better able to withstand major operational disruptions under a new computing system designed to keep digital services running during periods of intense pressure. Details are reported in the International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-ear-sys-airport-delays-major.html Computer Sciences Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:20:09 EDT news704633704 To improve pedestrian safety in urban areas, researchers are developing technologies that alert pedestrians to potential hazards via smartphones or earbuds. However, loud warning sounds and strong vibrations can induce stress, and repeated alerts may eventually be ignored. To address this challenge, the researchers proposed a method that uses auditory augmented reality, which overlays information onto environmental sounds through earbuds, to slightly modify the sound of an approaching vehicle and naturally draw attention to it. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-dynamic-pitch-shifts-vehicle-pedestrians.html Hi Tech & Innovation Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:40:08 EDT news704626141 A joint research team—led by Ki-Jae Kim, a professor in the Department of Energy Science and the Department of Future Energy Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), alongside Jang Wook Choi's research team from Seoul National University—has developed a high-performance hybrid polymer binder for thick-film electrodes. The breakthrough significantly boosts the energy density of lithium-ion batteries while extending their lifespan. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-hybrid-battery-binder-ev-range.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:05 EDT news704539780 A specially modified Airbus A350 plane touched down in France on Tuesday after a record 24-hour test flight from Australia, ahead of joining Qantas' fleet next year. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-airbus-hour-flight-plane-qantas.html Automotive Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:50:01 EDT news704517867 As the need for sustainable electric vehicles grows, cobalt-free, high-nickel cathode batteries (such as manganese-coated nickel-core batteries) have emerged as one of the most promising technologies. These batteries increase driving range while reducing dependence on expensive critical minerals. However, a new study suggests that a hidden weakness in the battery material could significantly reduce the life span of these next-generation batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-hidden-battery-flaw-shorten-ev.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:40:05 EDT news704458624 Airbus and Boeing presented differing outlooks for their commercial aircraft in coming years as the aviation sector gathered near London for this week's Farnborough airshow. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-airbus-boeing-fly-farnborough.html Automotive Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:00:09 EDT news704040122 A KAIST research team has developed a method capable of detecting minute variations in battery electrode thickness that can contribute to thermal runaway with a precision equivalent to approximately one ten-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair, all without disassembling or damaging the battery. The technology is expected to improve battery safety and quality by identifying invisible defects during the manufacturing process. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-ultraprecise-battery-scan-nanoscale-electrode.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:05 EDT news704033762 The Lexus ES and Mercedes-Benz CLA are two luxury sedans you might be familiar with. The ES is Lexus' comfort-oriented midsize sedan, while the CLA is a relatively affordable entry point to getting a new Mercedes. Notably, both are redesigned for 2026 and come in both gas-powered and fully electric versions. These new EVs represent the latest in electric technology and are significantly less expensive than other luxury EVs. But which one should you choose? Edmunds' auto experts compared them to find out. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-lexus-es-mercedes-cla-electric.html Automotive Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:40:07 EDT news703943636 Every year from June to September, India experiences the monsoon season. While the visible heavy rainfall often takes the blame for many roads requiring repairs much sooner than expected, a far less visible yet critical force is at play long before the first raindrop falls on the road. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-exploring-smarter-climate-resilient-roads.html Engineering Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:20:07 EDT news703943821 Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, generating around 14% of transport emissions—second only to road transport. It is also one of the world's hardest-to-decarbonize industries. Unlike conventional jet fuel, hydrogen produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions during operation and, when generated from renewable energy sources, has the potential to transform the sector. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-tracking-flight-path-green-aviation.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:00:04 EDT news703932002 Teaching an AI to navigate a ship is far more challenging than teaching it to drive a car. In busy waterways such as Japan's Seto Inland Sea, vessels must safely negotiate dense traffic, narrow channels, hundreds of islands and ever-changing conditions while complying with navigation rules. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-experienced-captains-conventional-ai-autonomous.html Engineering Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:00:01 EDT news703925360 With its extended, foldable "wing of tomorrow" unveiled Tuesday at the Farnborough Airshow, Airbus is moving closer to the 2030 launch of its new single-aisle aircraft, Bruno Fichefeux, head of future programs at Airbus, told AFP. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-airbus-future-aisle-jet-hydrogen.html Automotive Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:40:11 EDT news703868891 A Dutch student team on Tuesday unveiled what it believes to be the world's first solar-powered ambulance, which it hopes can bring much-needed medical care to the remotest parts of the globe. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-dutch-students-unveil-world-solar.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:20:03 EDT news703868846 At least 2.2 million cars on the road today are vulnerable to an attack that allows thieves to lock and unlock doors and immobilize vehicle engines remotely via a Bluetooth connection, computer scientists at the University of California San Diego have found. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-million-cars-anti-theft-dealers.html Security Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:00:05 EDT news703864561 A research team led by Professor Jo Woon Chong of the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), in collaboration with researchers from KAIST and Texas Tech University in the United States, has developed the Passenger Movement Estimation System (PMES). This AI-based system predicts passenger movements using CCTV footage to prevent subway door entrapment accidents before they occur. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-ai-tech-proactively-subway-door.html Automotive Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:00:05 EDT news703855261 If producing electric vehicles (EVs) were an Olympic sport, China would dominate the medal podium. China now leads the world in the sale and export of EVs, a term encompassing everything from battery-powered cars to plug-in hybrids. Chinese companies also produce the lion's share of the rechargeable batteries that keep EVs running. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-chinese-companies-ev-meteoric.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:00:07 EDT news703846742 West Virginia University researchers say driving anxiety, one of the most common phobias, is triggered by a variety of circumstances that can lead to panic attacks and avoidance of the open road during the summer travel season and at other times of the year. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-experts-stress-wheel-distract-drivers.html Automotive Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:20:03 EDT news703843322 Road deaths are declining in the U.S. and worldwide, but lower-income countries aren't experiencing much of the improvement, according to a study published Monday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-road-deaths-declined-globally-poorer.html Automotive Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:44:05 EDT news703824226