Autos

Researchers seeking to understand the impact of smartphones on driving safety have a warning for music fans: Release day might be dangerous. The study, described in a working paper published last month by the National Bureau of Economic Research, showed a 43% increase in streaming and a 15% increase in... Read more

For years, long-range electric trucks seemed impossible. But much has changed in a short time. Rapid improvements to batteries and chargers mean battery electric trucks are already viable for urban and short-range trucks. In December, battery-electric and hybrid trucks outsold conventional trucks in China for the first time.... Read more

So-called "driverless" cars often have human operators remotely controlling the vehicles to help navigate tricky driving situations and avoid accidents. But this setup poses a number of challenges. How do you ensure the operators stay alert? And what happens when operators are asked to monitor multiple vehicles at once, particularly... Read more

Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) are developing new technology that could change how drunk and dangerous drivers are identified. Using a single 3D deep learning model, researchers are able to detect three major causes of road accidents simultaneously: blood alcohol concentration, fatigue and expression, such as anger.... Read more

Self-driving cars are very much a reality and no longer a vision from science fiction. In the UK, automated vehicles (AVs) such as self-driving shuttles are already being tested on public roads.... Read more

A glimpse of what the future of flying taxis might look like can be seen in this southeastern Chinese city.... Read more

While much of the public debate about self-driving cars focuses on safety, a new national study from the University of California San Diego reveals Americans' doubts about driverless cars aren't just about the fear of a crash. Many Americans also fear the technology's economic ripple effects—especially job losses in driving... Read more

Petrol prices began rising even before the conflict in Iran drove oil prices higher. Australia imports around 80% of its fuel, which means prices can spike when geopolitical shocks ripple through supply chains.... Read more

When the temperature drops to -20°C, electric car owners quickly notice it in their wallets. But is it just a matter of driving with the heat on full blast? And what can we do to save the battery as much as possible?... Read more

Spurred by EVs and electrified aviation, global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to more than double its 2023 levels by 2030, far outstripping demand, according to S&P Global Insights. New batteries must be powerful, but also affordable enough for industry to adopt on a massive scale. As a battery... Read more

After years of experimentation and early adoption, automakers are rolling out the next generation of electric vehicles that better align with people's needs and expectations. This year, you can expect to see new EVs that have more range, easier charging, lower pricing and distinctive designs. The experts at Edmunds have... Read more

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are becoming increasingly common on roadways, but making them as safe as possible may entail going beyond the particular specs of the vehicles themselves to upgrading the roadway infrastructure. EyeDAR, a low-power millimeter-wave radar sensor roughly the size of an orange, could provide radar-equipped AVs with critical... Read more

Climate change was poised to create an interesting catch-22 for electric vehicles. Electrifying transportation can go a long way to reducing carbon emissions that are driving up global temperatures. But warmer temperatures also accelerate the degradation of batteries, whose performance can be a make-or-break factor for people considering an EV... Read more

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have devised a rotating tabletop device to study wireless charging in electric vehicles. Testing on real tracks takes up vast areas at significant cost. The team not only built a prototype but used simulations to demonstrate safety and similar charging to a linear track. They... Read more

When we hear about moving objects with electricity, most of us imagine a "pulling force." Positive and negative charges attract each other, drawing objects together. It is natural to think that this attractive force—known as electrostatic force—is what makes things move.... Read more