Field: Cars
New York City greenlights congestion pricing
Here’s how New York City's congestion pricing is expected to improve traffic, air quality, and public transit.
Why aren’t there solar-powered cars?
There are a number of reasons why solar-powered cars aren’t an option for everyday travel, at least not yet.
Autonomous auto racing promises safer driverless cars on the road
Autonomous racing is a testbed where competition spurs innovation and AI-controlled cars chart a course toward safer autonomous vehicles.
Cobalt-free batteries could power cars of the future
A new lithium-ion battery that includes a cathode based on organic materials could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars.
Battery electric trucks offer emission cuts of 75-85% over their entire life cycle
A civil and environment engineer weighs in on whether electric trucks are our best bet to cut road transport emissions.
Are EVs really cheaper to own? It all depends on the model.
While electric vehicles (EVs) have higher upfront costs, some claim they are cheaper over their lifetimes due to lower fuel and maintenance costs.
6 tech trends at CES 2024 that are shaping the future
From AI to health and the metaverse, these tech trends promise to change our lives long after the excitement of the newest TV wears off.
Are modern cars keeping us safe, or invading our privacy? Or both?
Modern cars have cameras to track your speed, your lane position, and if you're distracted, all in the name of safety. What about privacy?
We test drove BMW’s life-sized remote-controlled car
BMW revealed a remote-controlled car concept at CES 2024. Currently positioned as a remote valet concept, the potential extends much further.
Ever-larger cars and trucks are causing a safety crisis on US streets
Deadly traffic incidents have declined in most developed countries in recent years. But in the U.S. they’re becoming more common.
Mercedes-Benz adds special blue lights when its self-driving cars are “on”
Mercedes-Benz has added turquoise lights to its self-driving vehicles to indicate when its autonomous driving system is engaged.
Waze will now tell you if a road has a history of car accidents
Navigation app Waze’s new Crash History Alerts let drivers know when they’re approaching an area prone to car accidents.
What causes lithium-ion battery fires? Why are they so intense? And how should they be fought?
When a lithium-ion battery fire breaks out, the damage can be extensive. These fires are intense, long-lasting, and hard to fight.
You’ll be able to buy this flying car for $190k in 2024 (Updated)
Startup Pivotal has unveiled the Helix eVTOL, a one-seater aircraft it plans to begin selling for $190,000 in 2024.
Self-driving cars can now tell passengers what they’re thinking
AV startup Wayve has given its self-driving cars the ability to explain their decisions in conversational language.
A $790,000 flying car is now cleared for takeoff
Air mobility startup Aska has begun flight testing the Aska A5, an SUV-sized flying car that costs an eye-watering $789,000.
The US just certified its first fully electric flying car
Alef Aeronautics' Armada Model Zero is the first fully electric flying car to secure a certificate of airworthiness from the FAA.
Why EV growth in US could be much faster than expected
Consumer preferences and technological trends suggest that most buyers will be ready to choose an EV by 2030.
Why has no one broken the land speed record for 25 years?
Two groups are competing to be the first to create a 1,000-mph car, which would shatter the current land speed record.
Fully self-driving cars are finally available on Uber
Uber has teamed up with robotaxi operator Waymo to make rides in fully autonomous cars available to its customers.
The grid isn’t ready for 300 million EVs by 2030. Here’s how to fix it.
There were 16.5 million electric vehicles on the world’s roads in 2020 - this is expected to rise to 300 million by 2030.
This $11,000 microcar ships flat like IKEA furniture
Swedish mobility startup Luvly has unveiled an ultra-efficient $11,000 microcar, Luvly O, for urban transportation.
We used to have steam-powered cars. What happened to them — and will they come back?
Steam cars went extinct because gas-powered cars became far more convenient. Will technology ever bring back the steam car?
United Airlines plans to bring flying cars to Chicago
United Airlines plans to use flying cars to ferry passengers between O’Hare International Airport and a location near downtown Chicago.
General Motors is putting ChatGPT into its vehicles
General Motors is developing a new voice assistant that will give drivers access to the hugely popular ChatGPT while they're on the road.
Tesla switches to motors without rare earth elements
Tesla’s future powertrains won’t contain rare earth elements, which are mined primarily in China using environmentally destructive methods.
5 things you didn’t know GPS could do
You’d be surprised at all the things that GPS — the global positioning system that underlies all of modern navigation — can do.
Mercedes-Benz wins race to bring Level 3 autonomous cars to US
Mercedes-Benz has permission to deploy its Level 3 autonomous driving system, DRIVE PILOT, in Nevada, and California could soon follow.
Kid-friendly superblocks are a way for residents to reclaim their streets
A superblock covers several neighbourhood blocks reserved for shared use by cyclists, walkers, and residents.
Stanford engineers warn that electric car charging could crash a grid powered by renewable energy
Most electric car charging is done at night. A grid powered mostly by renewable energy might not be able to meet demand.
The surprising history of how electric vehicles have played the long game and won
The electric vehicle’s environmental credentials might give them a final push to win the long game over traditional cars.
On the road to autonomous cars, driver fatigue will be a problem
New research from Waymo points the way to overcoming driver fatigue in cars that are almost — but not quite — self-driving.
Free Lyft robotaxis are hitting Las Vegas
Motional and Lyft are now offering robotaxi rides in Las Vegas.
MIT’s new algorithm for self-driving cars is open-source
MIT scientists unveil the first open-source simulation engine capable of constructing realistic environments for autonomous vehicles.
Flying sports car cleared for takeoff by FAA
Samson Sky has received approval from the FAA to begin flight testing its flying sports car, the three-wheeled Switchblade.
GM has a plan to solve the biggest obstacle to EVs
GM, Pilot Company, and EVgo are building a new EV charging network comprising 2,000 stalls at up to 500 travel centers across the US.
Walmart to rollout a fleet of electric delivery vehicles
Walmart has announced a deal to buy a fleet of delivery EVs from Canoo, with a pilot beginning in weeks.
The biggest myths about electric vehicles
Electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing, but misinformation about the tech is still rampant. These are seven of the biggest myths about EVs.
Digital technology can cut global emissions by 15%. Here’s how.
The grand challenge for humanity is to ensure that groundbreaking technologies have a clear purpose for our planet.
Recycled tires can act as sunscreen for roads
Australian researchers blasted bitumen with a UV machine to discover how used tires can act as road “sunscreen.”
Bluetooth hack breaks into cars and smart locks
Researchers in the UK have identified a vulnerability in Bluetooth-based locks, including Kwikset smart locks and Teslas.
The world’s first airport for flying cars and drones has just landed
The UK's development of an urban airport for flying cars and drones could inspire other nations to follow suit.
Drones and driverless cars could help with Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis
We need a universal code of conduct for deploying autonomous vehicles and drones in humanitarian settings.
Chevrolet is electrifying the Corvette
GM has announced plans to bring the Corvette roaring into the electric vehicle market.
The next big disruption is coming: How cities can prepare for flying cars
Urban Aerial Mobility - or 'flying cars' - could present a more flexible way for cities to invest in future infrastructure.
Can my electric car power my house? Not yet for most drivers, but vehicle-to-home charging is coming
Want to help protect the environment, save money on gasoline, or try out the latest technology? Try powering your house with your car.
Starbucks is creating an EV “charger highway,” from Seattle to Denver
Starbucks is aiming to capitalize on the demand for electric vehicle infrastructure by installing chargers at up to 15 locations in the U.S.
Self-driving cars could transform the world in unexpected ways
Self-driving cars could impact the future of economics, equity, privacy, and city planning.
Solar powered cars could soon hit the streets — but can they be efficient enough to go mainstream?
If they work, solar-powered cars could be great for the environment. Here's the startups working to make that happen.
Autonomous race cars compete for $1 million prize
Autonomous race cars sped around a world-famous track in pursuit of a $1 million prize during the Indy Autonomous Challenge.
Airless tires get their public test drive
Decades in development, Michelin’s airless tires finally hit the road.
Foldable electric cars join emergency response fleet in Israel
Emergency medical service organization United Hatzalah is adding foldable electric cars to its fleet to speed up its response times
AI is helping cars spot potholes
Researchers have developed an AI system that allows cars to spot potholes.
Ford replaces humans with robot test drivers
Ford Motor Company has built a pair of robot test drivers to fill in for humans during dangerous endurance tests at its Weather Factory.
Flying race car zips across the sky for the first time
The world’s first flying race car, the Airspeeder Mk3, has completed its maiden flight and is on track to compete in a first-of-its-kind racing series later in 2021.
How lasers will create ‘uncrashable’ cars
Luminar is using lidar to build smarter and safer autonomous vehicles.
Vertical EV battery may cut costs, improve range by 30%
U.K. startup Page-Roberts proposes using a vertical EV battery to improve a car’s efficiency and cut manufacturing costs.
New solid-state lithium battery can be recharged 10,000 times
Harvard University researchers have developed a solid-state lithium battery they believe could allow electric vehicles to last 10 to 15 years.
Extreme E is bringing electric SUV racing to the ends of the Earth
With climate change and gender equity at its core, Extreme E is bringing electric SUV racing to the wild.
A battery revolution could make electric cars a reality for everyone
We'll need a new type of battery to make electric cars cheaper and convenient.
Electric flying car races get the green flag
Airspeeder is bringing electric flying car racing to the skies in 2021.
New scooter battery can charge in 5 minutes. Can it transform electric cars?
StoreDot's battery fully charges in just five minutes, and it can be manufactured on the same production lines as today's EV batteries.
Autonomous trucks are taking to the highways
Self-driving cars get all the love, but autonomous trucks are already hitting the road, with a “driver-out” demonstration scheduled for 2021.
Digital car windows could make your city safer
In partnership with Ford
What if parked cars didn’t just take up space? Ford is designing the future of cars, starting with the purpose they serve when nobody’s driving.
Waymo's driverless car service opens to the public
Waymo One has relaunched, and this time, all users can ride in cars without safety drivers.
Back to the future: Classic cars go high tech
This boutique auto shop is crafting quality, custom cars that combine vintage designs with the latest technologies. And perhaps more importantly, they’re challenging the widely accepted concept that we live in a disposable world.
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Uprising
The truth about self-driving cars
Self-driving cars have the potential to save thousands of lives and reduce carbon emissions. Will we be smart enough to hop on board?
In the midst of a crisis, Venezuelans are training self-driving cars
Hundreds of thousands of formerly middle class Venezuelans, thrown into poverty by economic collapse, are now sitting at computers as they help train self-driving cars to identify and avoid obstacles.
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DIY Science
Electrifying classic cars
Starting with the classics, this unique shop is converting existing cars into all-electric road warriors.
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Coded
This research team wants to hack your car
What happens when an SUV going 75 miles-per-hour down a highway is hacked from a remote computer?