Mobility On The Go: 9/18/2024
JAELYN CAMPBELL 9-17-2024
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has highlighted a worrying trend of increased driver distractions, such as phone use and eating, when using partial automation systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Volvo’s Pilot Assist. These systems, designed to aid with routine driving through technologies such as sensors and cameras, can inadvertently lead to driver complacency. The IIHS study reveals that drivers often meet only minimal requirements to keep these systems engaged, leading to risky behavior. Despite the potential of these systems to enhance safety, the ease of use may cause excessive reliance on automation. The rise of these technologies has sparked concerns about driver distraction, prompting investigations into related accidents. The IIHS advocates for stronger safeguards and driver engagement to prevent misuse and ensure safety. As the push for automated driving technology intensifies, manufacturers must balance innovation with safety to truly enhance road safety without providing a false sense of security.
WILL SABEL COURTNEY 9-13-2024
Last month, a Tesla Semi truck crash in California resulted in a significant fire, requiring firefighters to use 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish it. The NTSB announced that air support was called in to drop flame retardant to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby forest areas. The crash involved a Tesla employee driving the truck to a facility in Sparks, Nevada. At the time of the incident, ADAS were purportedly inactive. The crash occurred on Interstate 80 near Lake Tahoe, closing the highway for 14 hours. The truck was monitored for 24 hours post-fire to prevent re-ignition, a risk in lithium-ion fires due to their chemical composition providing all necessary fire elements.
JASMINE WU and DEIRDRE BOSA 9-13-2024
Uber is expanding its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo to offer robotaxi services in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta by early 2025. In these cities, users can book Waymo’s driverless cars through Uber’s app, contrasting with San Francisco and Los Angeles where the Waymo app is used. This move follows investor pressure on Uber to boost its autonomous vehicle strategy, particularly with Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi event. Waymo has rapidly increased its presence, now with 100,000 weekly paid trips. This partnership marks another advancement for Uber in the robotaxi sector after its self-driving division sale in 2020. Initially, Uber Eats deliveries in these new cities are not included.
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JONATHAN M. GITLIN 9-18-2024
Beginning September 18, General Motors electric vehicles have officially gained access to the Tesla Supercharger network after a deal signed last June. “Enabling access to even more publicly available fast chargers represents yet another way GM is focused on further improving the customer experience and making the transition to electric more seamless,” stated Wade Shaffer, Vice President of GM Energy. Adapters are needed to connect to the Tesla J3400 plug, costing GM customers $225, which drivers can purchase through an app that can also be used to find Supercharger locations. Starting in 2025, GM will begin producing vehicles with the J3400 charging port.
NIKKEI ASIA 9-16-2024
Baidu operates 400 driverless taxis in Wuhan, supported by government subsidies, making fares significantly cheaper than those of traditional taxis. This initiative is part of China’s strong backing for automotive innovation, with Chinese firms competing vigorously in the electric vehicle sector alongside Tesla. Baidu aims to deploy 1,000 such vehicles and expand to 100 cities by 2030. However, the rise of these autonomous taxis has sparked protests from traditional drivers who fear job losses and criticize the technology’s reliability. Despite these concerns, China remains committed to advancing in automotive and IT intersections, recognizing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system as a benchmark. Notably, Tesla’s operations in China have bolstered the local EV industry. Baidu and players like Huawei are testing their autonomous systems in China’s extensive domestic market.
SUVRAY KOTHARI 9-10-2024
As the demand for electric vehicles has dropped over the past year in the US, electric cars are depreciating much faster than traditional gas and hybrid vehicles. Resale prices of used electric vehicles dropped 25% over the past year, which means consumers can purchase a high-tech electric vehicle for less than the average price of a used ICE vehicle. In a study published last week by automotive research firm, iSeeCars, the prices of the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV have been dropping six times faster than ICE vehicles over the past year.
“The substantial drop in EV prices over the past year appears to have brought them in line with demand, with used EV days-on-market much lower today, reflecting a faster selling rate compared to a year ago,” stated iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer.
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