Category: Transportation

As the holiday season approaches, many drivers hit the road with an ever-present concern: the risk of accidents and unsafe drivers. With the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting approximately 40,000 fatalities on U.S. roads each year, the urgency to improve road safety has never been greater. Experts believe that technology could play a key role in keeping drivers safer in the years ahead. In the next 12 to 15 years, the majority of vehicles in the U.S. could be equipped with C-V2X, or Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything communications—a technology that could transform the way cars interact with each other and their environment.

C-V2X enables cars to “talk” to one another in real-time, helping prevent collisions before they happen. “It’s cars communicating with each other so they don’t crash into each other,” explained Dr. Billy Kihei, an Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He believes this technology has the potential to significantly reduce accidents, especially those involving impaired drivers.

Vehicles powered by diesel are a significant source of carbon emissions, posing a considerable challenge on the path to decarbonization. In 2022, diesel fuel was responsible for roughly 25% of carbon dioxide emissions from transportation in the U.S. and about 10% of overall energy-related emissions, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. To tackle this problem, researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to convert carbon dioxide into a cleaner, more sustainable fuel—electro-biodiesel.

Joshua Yuan, from the Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering at Washington University, and Susie Dai, a professor at the University of Missouri, have pioneered a process that uses electrocatalysis to convert carbon dioxide into electro-biodiesel. This new method is 45 times more efficient and requires 45 times less land compared to traditional soybean-based biodiesel production, offering a more sustainable alternative.

Student transportation leader First Student and utility company Con Edison have launched an innovative vehicle-to-everything (V2X) Smart Energy Hub in Brooklyn, featuring 12 solar-roofed electric school buses. Located at First Student’s Malta Street site, the project is set to replace traditional diesel buses with clean energy-powered alternatives. Solar panels on the buses and rooftop arrays at the facility combine to create a sustainable system for energy generation, battery storage, and power delivery.

First Student has employed its trenchless First Charge deployment method, which eliminates the need for extensive digging, cuts construction costs by at least 30%, and simplifies future charging system upgrades. This technology provides a faster, more efficient rollout, minimizing disruption and expense.

Wheels are essential for cars, trucks, bikes, and wheelchairs, yet their limitations on uneven surfaces often confine wheelchair users to smooth, flat terrain. The same challenge applies to mobile robots. Recognizing this, a team of Korean researchers has developed a groundbreaking adaptive wheel that changes shape in real-time, allowing for smoother travel over obstacles and rough terrains, revolutionizing off-road mobility.

Reimagining the Wheel

While the idea of “reinventing the wheel” might seem like an exaggeration, this innovation builds on a history of transformative wheel designs. Years ago, Hankook, in collaboration with Seoul National University and Harvard, created origami-inspired wheels that could change shape. Earlier still, graduate student Ackeem Ngwenya developed the “Roadless” wheel system, where the tread adjusted from narrow to wide with a simple screw turn. Even NASA contributed with its nickel-titanium alloy tires, which could deform under pressure and return to their original shape.

In collaboration with industry partners and research institutions, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is pioneering efforts to make battery-powered trucks a viable option for long-distance cargo transport. A significant advancement in this mission is the introduction of megawatt charging technology. On Friday, at the Plattling Technology Campus, the first prototypes were unveiled to the public, with the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger, in attendance. This new technology allows for a truck’s battery to be charged within the regulatory rest period, providing 4.5 hours of operation without additional waiting time.

In Germany, approximately 70% of freight transport, in terms of volume and distance, relies on road transportation, predominantly using diesel-powered trucks. This reliance contributes significantly to environmental pollution, with 40% of the transport-related CO2 emissions (148 million tons) stemming from freight transport. Transitioning from diesel to electric power presents substantial environmental benefits. Under the leadership of the Chair of Automotive Technology at TUM, the NEFTON research consortium is developing the necessary technical and infrastructure solutions to facilitate this switch.

A groundbreaking collaboration between Angel Trains, TransPennine Express (TPE), Turntide Technologies, and Hitachi Rail has led to the retrofitting of a TransPennine Express ‘Nova 1’ Class 802 train with a cutting-edge battery system. Developed by Turntide Technologies in Sunderland, the battery unit boasts a peak power of over 700 kilowatts and is designed to replace one of the train’s three diesel engines. Impressively, the battery matches the acceleration and performance levels of the diesel engine it replaces, without adding extra weight to the train.

Hitachi Rail projects that this battery technology could reduce emissions and fuel costs by up to 30%. This substantial reduction in environmental impact and operational expenses marks a significant advancement in the rail industry’s efforts to combat climate change and enhance sustainability.

Dubai is on the brink of revolutionizing public transportation with its cutting-edge driverless Railpods, reminiscent of futuristic concepts from “The Jetsons.” Developed by the city’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), these innovative rail systems offer a glimpse into the future of urban mobility and could soon extend to cities worldwide.

The Railpods, resembling miniature monorail cars, traverse tracks elevated above the ground. The RTA is working on two versions of the project: the Floc Duo Rail system, featuring two tracks akin to traditional trains, and a solar-powered variant utilizing a bridge to harness solar energy for the pods’ operation.

V-Space, a pioneering startup, has successfully crafted Korea’s inaugural Urban Air Transportation (UAM) solution, the V-Space eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) vehicle. This all-electric quad-copter design, capable of transporting individuals or payloads up to 120 Kg, combines innovation and practicality for urban mobility.

The standard eVTOL model, aptly named V-Space, embodies its vertical takeoff and landing capability, resembling a drone-like small helicopter with a seat designed for one person. Operating over a 40-mile distance at a maximum speed of 60 Mph, the eVTOL offers a swift alternative, especially during emergencies where traffic congestion is a critical concern.

Urban air mobility (UAM) offers more than just novel ways to transport goods; it presents entirely new avenues for sustainable mobility solutions. In the Fraunhofer ALBACOPTER Lighthouse Project, six Fraunhofer institutes have united to address the technical and societal challenges linked with UAM. Spearheaded by the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI, researchers have developed an aircraft inspired by the albatross, designed for remarkably efficient gliding. This innovation and other highlights will be showcased at the joint Fraunhofer booth (D11, Hall B1) during the IAA MOBILITY trade show in Munich from September 5 to 8, 2023.

UAM entails stringent requirements for aircraft and system technology, particularly the need for safe, quiet VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) systems that deliver powerful propulsion performance during hovering.

A remarkable milestone in green transportation has been achieved with the introduction of North America’s first hydrogen-powered train. The groundbreaking project, which commenced earlier this month, aims to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen as a clean alternative to diesel fuel on railways where traditional electrification methods are challenging.

The train, named M4 (Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot), has been developed by French company Alstom and is currently operating on a captivating two-and-a-half-hour journey through central Quebec. The demonstration showcases how electricity stored as hydrogen can effectively replace diesel, offering a greener solution for rail travel. With up to 120 passengers on board, the tourist train runs from Quebec City’s Montmorency Falls to Baie-Saint-Paul along the Train de Charlevoix route on Wednesdays through Sundays until September 30.

Cruise ships have long been criticized for their detrimental environmental impact, with a single vessel emitting emissions equivalent to thousands of cars. Recognizing the urgent need for change, Norwegian cruise liner company Hurtigruten is taking a proactive approach to address the ecological emergencies facing the planet. Today, the company revealed the initial designs for a zero-emission cruise ship set to launch by the end of the decade, marking a significant step forward in sustainable maritime travel.

First introduced as “Sea Zero” in March 2022, the concept ship presented by Hurtigruten Norway showcases a revolutionary design. The vessel features three autonomous, retractable sail wing rigs reaching a height of 50 meters, housing approximately 1,500 square meters of solar panels. In addition to the sail wings, the ship will be powered by multiple 60-megawatt batteries, which recharge while in port, along with wind technology. The vessel’s advanced features include AI maneuvering capabilities, retractable thrusters, contra-rotating propellers, advanced hull coatings, and proactive hull cleaning technology.