Electric cars in Norway clog bus lanes.
Norway is a major and rich oil-producing country, but Norway’s ministers are under increasing public pressure to reduce perks and tax breaks for booming electric car sales.
Continue reading… “Norway’s boom in electric car sales has become a big problem”
With ethics settings in cars we create new responsibility for ourselves to get it right.
Do you remember that day when your autonomous car saved the lives of five people you aimed for with your car when you temporarily lost your mind? By the time you realized what you were doing, it was too late to brake. But thankfully your autonomous car saved their lives by grabbing the wheel from you and swerving to the right. Too bad for the one unlucky person standing on that path, struck and killed by your car, though.
Continue reading… “Are adjustable ethics setting for robotic cars a terrible idea?”
Google’s self-driving car has made impressive progress but there are still some major limitations for automated driving. It can’t drive itself in 99 percent of the country. The car knows nearly nothing about parking, and can’t be taken out in snow or heavy rain, and it would drive straight over a gaping pothole.
Continue reading… “Google’s self-driving cars still face many hidden obstacles”
Electric vehicles will yield big environmental improvements in China.
China is supposedly about to invest a hundred billion yuan (equivalent to about 16.3 billion US dollars at today’s exchange rate) into electric vehicles and the infrastructure to support them, like public charging stations, according to “two people familiar with the matter”, says Bloomberg.
Continue reading… “China to invest $16.3 B in electric cars”
Kala Segway
The Segway offers transportation solutions that would reduce congestion, pollution and other environmental problems. The unique design and function of the Segway has a fresh idea and excites the imagination of several people, designers included. If we fast forward a few years, we will see quite a number of concept vehicles entering the market with the same vision. Here are some of these futuristic models Segway lovers would need to look out for in the near future. (Pics)
Continue reading… “Futuristic scooter concepts built around the Segway”
IXION Windowless Jet Concept
It depends on what you think about the IXION Windowless Jet Concept, it either has no windows, or it has all the windows. Cameras on the exterior of this as-yet-unbuilt jet would provide jaw-dropping 360-degree views of what you would be seeing if your airplane were a transparent glass tube shuttling through the sky. (Video)
Continue reading… “IXION Windowless Jet Concept could be the airplane of the future”
The biggest issue is a problem of supply and demand.
Drivers don’t like big rigs on the highways because of their intimidating size and slow speed. Semis are absolutely vital to moving goods around the country. But, the US is on the road to a major trucking crisis. A recent analysis from Business Insider finds that we aren’t producing nearly enough new drivers to fill all the needed seats. By 2022, the shortfall could reach 239,000 people.
Continue reading… “America’s massive trucker shortage and why it’s only getting worse”
Tesla factory
For those planning to buy an expensive electric vehicle in the near future there is some good news: Electric car powerhouse Tesla Motors will be making plenty.
Continue reading… “Tesla plans to produce over 110K electric vehicles by 2015”
Tesla to create a 500-mile range electric car.
Tesla Electric cars have the highest energy density battery in the world. That’s twice of the Nissan Leaf. But their range is more than twice that of the Leaf so we come into other factors: what’s the drag co-efficient of the car, how much does it weigh, what’s the efficiency of the motor and gearbox, what’s the rolling resistance? All those factors affect the range.
Continue reading… “500-mile range electric car will soon be possible, says Elon Musk”
Baidu wants to keep the individual in control.
Would you prefer to ride in a completely autonomous self-driving car, like Google’s self-driving car, or one like Chinese search engine Baidu’s semi-autonomous car? Instead of cars that have no steering wheels, gas pedals, or brake pedals for drivers to control, Baidu is thinking about cars with intelligent assistants who help you drive.
Continue reading… “Baidu is developing a semi-autonomous car”
Nimbus microbus
The Nimbus is a funky little hybrid that looks like a retro-styled SUV, but its actual story is even more intriguing. The Nimbus concept car is a microbus that can take electric hybrids off-road. The concept comes from Brazilian designer Eduardo Galvani who claims it offers a greater driving range and better fuel economy than any hybrid currently on the market. (Pics)
Continue reading… “Nimbus – a retro-futuristic off-roading electric SUV”
A maglev train at the Pudong International Airport.
High-speed rail (HSR) will connect not only cities, states and countries in the future, but also far-reaching continents. In about 15 to 20 years from now, one could travel seamlessly from London, UK to Beijing, China and even have a detour within the Gulf countries using the global high-speed rail network. In the next 15 years, while UK would have built its new HSR2 that covers 332 kilometers, China will have completed over 25,631 kilometers of high speed track to seamlessly move people in its country.
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.