https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/automotive-news/ en-us Tech Xplore covers the latest in car tech Tesla reported a jump in second-quarter auto sales Thursday, as Elon Musk's electric vehicle company easily topped expectations in a period of lofty gasoline prices due to the U.S.-Iran war. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-tesla-global-auto-sales-2nd.html Automotive Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:40:01 EDT news702218155 The liberalization of the high-speed rail market in Spain in 2020 led to an increase in passenger numbers compared with its competitor, air travel. Airlines responded to this increased competition by reducing seat capacity by 10% to 16%, while maintaining flight frequencies to preserve connectivity through their hub airports, according to a study by researchers from the University of Barcelona, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya published in Research in Transportation Business & Management. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-airlines-flight-frequencies-competition-high.html Business Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:24:49 EDT news702210223 Houston has already felt the first wave of World Cup traffic. Now, with a high-stakes July 4 match approaching, officials are prepared to keep the city moving, using real-time data, adaptive signals and other tools developed by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-houston-real-strategy-world-cup.html Automotive Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:00:03 EDT news702188221 Electric vehicle batteries could last twice as long, preventing costly replacement, with a new approach to heating and cooling the batteries, according to a study led by University of Michigan Engineering. The system is designed to work with voltage and charging data that today's battery management systems already collect, rather than requiring new sensors inside the battery. It is best suited for lower-power Level 1 and Level 2 charging, which is common at homes, workplaces and public parking areas, and is expected to cover most EV charging demand. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-smarter-diagnostics-silicon-ev-batteries.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:40:09 EDT news702127861 A new approach to battery recycling could turn today's electric vehicle waste into the building blocks of tomorrow's higher-performing batteries. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an environmentally friendly method to upcycle cathodes from used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries into a more powerful battery material known as lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), which can store more energy than LFP. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-spent-ev-batteries-life-higher.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:40:08 EDT news702122515 Lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices (PEDs) such as laptops, smartphones, powerbanks and electronic cigarettes can pose a serious safety risk in air travel. Damaged or overheated batteries can combust or explode. In the LOKI-PED project, the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP cooperated with Airbus to examine the consequences of smoke and fire occurring in aircraft cabins and cockpits. This first scientifically substantiated risk assessment will contribute to a safer use of electronic devices in air travel. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-plane-battery-wh-limit-devices.html Hardware Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:40:05 EDT news702116281 Many new electric vehicles are prohibitively expensive for car shoppers. But there are a few relatively low-cost options that provide plenty of usable range and utility. One great example is the Nissan Leaf. Originally debuting for 2011, it's today's longest-tenured EV and remains among the most affordable ways to go electric. The 2026 Leaf has been fully redesigned and features sleeker styling and a maximum estimated range of more than 300 miles. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-chevrolet-nissan-leaf-ev-comparison.html Automotive Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:40:09 EDT news702116091 Two-wheeled vehicles with conventional stability-control systems must lean to change direction, making it difficult for rider-assistance systems to determine whether a rider is intentionally cornering or experiencing instability that could lead to a fall. To address this challenge, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan, have developed a rider-intent-aware control system that can distinguish between the two and provide stabilization support only when needed. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-smart-bicycle-riders-falling.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:40:05 EDT news702044701 French ride-sharing and travel site BlaBlaCar said Tuesday that it would push into 20 new countries—double the current number—thanks to the scaling opportunities provided by AI. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-group-blablacar-ai-country-expansion.html Automotive Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:20:12 EDT news702039667 A research team led by Kyung Mun Min and Seonghwan Choi of Materials Processing Research Division (Korea Institute of Materials Science) has developed a new analysis model capable of predicting the anisotropic mechanical behavior of sheet metals within seconds using only microstructural information of metallic materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-microstructure-based-sheet-metal-behavior.html Engineering Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:40:09 EDT news702037382 One of our biggest "to-dos" on the path to net-zero is transportation. Electric vehicles are replacing internal combustion engines; public transit is expected to grow, while private vehicle use is likely to decrease. Buses are a particularly attractive option for expanding public transportation: Unlike railways, they require virtually no new infrastructure. If private vehicle use declines at the same time as bus capacity expands, existing roads will have enough space to accommodate additional buses. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-retrofitting-diesel-buses-electricity.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:20:01 EDT news702037021 The key to making longer-lasting electric vehicle batteries may not be specialized materials or new chemistry, but simple physical pressure, according to new research. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-physical-pressure-ev-batteries-environmental.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:00:08 EDT news702035581 Working with car companies, battery developers and policymakers, University of Michigan researchers have developed a framework to help stakeholders navigate toward a future with better, more affordable and more sustainable electric vehicles. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-offs-ev-batteries.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:40:05 EDT news701953441 A bio-inspired robotic bird capable of mimicking the key movements of kestrels is helping researchers unravel the mysteries behind the species' exceptional hovering capabilities. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-robotic-bird-uncover-mysteries-flight.html Engineering Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:06 EDT news701944741 At the Eurobike trade fair, hopes are high that smart and AI-enabled bicycles can revive an industry that has been dealing with years of flagging sales. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-industry-smart-bikes-boost-sales.html Consumer & Gadgets Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:22:49 EDT news701864551 Driverless cars could ease commutes in Dallas-Fort Worth, a new study led by SMU suggests. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-autonomous-vehicles-potentially-dallas-fort.html Automotive Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:40:03 EDT news701608981 Although electrified versions of vans, buses and semis cost more upfront on average than their diesel-powered counterparts, the overall calculus behind adopting greener vehicles is currently in flux. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-batteries-fuel-cells-overhaul-emissions.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:00:05 EDT news701452081 Next-generation electronic devices like newer computers and other high-power devices require more energy to run. When they are working hard, the intense heat they generate can limit their performance and reliability. That's why scientists are trying to find better and more sustainable materials to help cool devices down. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-bacteria-based-cooling-material-electronics.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:40:05 EDT news701539981 The first global regulations for fully autonomous vehicles were adopted Wednesday, a U.N. agency said, establishing uniform international safety requirements that could pave the way for larger-scale rollouts of self-driving cars. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-global-cars.html Automotive Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:20:01 EDT news701536271 Perforated landing pads could significantly reduce the noise of delivery drones and electric aircraft during takeoff and landing, new research by the University of Bristol has found. As electric air taxis move from the realm of science fiction to reality, the study, published in Applied Acoustics this week, could influence the design of landing pads to help these futuristic vertical aircraft limit noise, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing the future of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-pad-noise-futuristic-vertical-air.html Engineering Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:20:06 EDT news701521442 Cities hold the key to accelerating the transition to electric freight and boosting energy security, new analysis from C40 Cities, University of Exeter and Arup reveals. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-electric-trucks-closer-cities.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:01 EDT news701513342 The carbon-reduction benefits of electric vehicles vary across cities in China, as richer cities can transfer much of their carbon emissions from power generation to less developed cities, burdening them with additional costs, a new study led by UCL researchers has found. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-china-ev-boom-shifts-power.html Business Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:20:05 EDT news701511481 Airbus on Tuesday said it would inspect 16 A380 planes, five of them immediately, after cracks were found in a key wing component on aircraft used by Emirates and Qantas. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-airbus-a380s-plane-wings.html Automotive Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:40:03 EDT news701491931 Autonomous drones could deliver packages, inspect bridges and skyscrapers, monitor emergencies like wildfires and, eventually, ferry people. But the airspace still lacks the testing and coordination infrastructure needed to prove drones can operate safely around people, buildings, aircraft and each other. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-smart-drones-safe-skies-student.html Robotics Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:00:06 EDT news701439410 The aviation industry accounts for a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Biobased, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can mitigate climate impacts, but transitioning to SAF faces critical supply chain constraints. A research team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has developed a method to produce jet-grade fuel from food waste, contributing to a circular bioeconomy. In a paper published in Nature Sustainability, they focus on technical and economic considerations. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-food-jet-fuel-simpler-refining.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:00:05 EDT news701366222 In the Lofoten Islands off Norway's northwestern coast, a rescue helicopter circles over a cruise ship. Soon, two people and a large bag are lowered onto the deck. Then a line is launched over to the coast guard ship right next to it. The cruise ship is ready to be towed. Fortunately, this is only an exercise to test the new equipment and not a real emergency. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-emergency-equipment-helicopters-fly-worse.html Engineering Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:40:03 EDT news701365021 The war in Iran has helped reshape the global electric vehicle market, giving Chinese automakers an opening across the developing world as soaring fuel prices push drivers towards electric vehicles, even as charging infrastructure lags behind a wave of imports. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-high-oil-prices-surge-chinese.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:39:36 EDT news701321949 Battery-electric trucks are expected to play the leading role in the future decarbonization of road freight transport. At the same time, a new study from Chalmers University of Technology shows that hydrogen could remain important for the heaviest trucks operating over long distances. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-batteries-dominate-future-road-freight.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:20:03 EDT news701010513 Fayas Malik Kanchiralla, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Environmental and Energy Sciences, together with colleagues has analyzed how the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) proposed climate framework affects shipping's transition to new marine fuels. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-shipping-decarbonization-requires-life-perspective.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:01 EDT news701016541 Just as an orchestra needs a conductor, a battery management system (BMS) controls the power storage of an electric vehicle. However, until now, monitoring has been based only on the voltages, currents and temperatures of the individual battery cells. Their aging or possible damage can only be checked externally using complex calculations. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-battery-electric-car-batteries-safer.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:40:01 EDT news701012226