New EV, mobility ideas

Issue #270

New ideas and innovation continue to flow in the overall mobility industry and specifically for electric vehicles (EVs), from the product and business or services perspectives. Waymo is developing a new training model for its robotaxis built on Google’s multimodal large language model (MLLM) Gemini. Volkswagen sees a path for new-vehicle subscription success. Airships may finally prove useful for transporting cargo, as the problem of variable buoyancy is being overcome. Toyota has conducted a test flight of a flying car in Japan, a first for the company. The buzz around silicon-based anodes, which promise improved power and faster EV charging capabilities, has been growing in recent months. Komatsu is focused on rolling out mining equipment that captures the growing decarbonization demand in the resource industry. Below are some media updates on new ideas in EV and mobility tried out by diverse players.

MLLM for autonomous driving

Waymo is developing a new training model for its robotaxis built on Google’s multimodal large language model (MLLM) Gemini. Waymo released a new research paper that introduces an “End-to-End Multimodal Model for Autonomous Driving,” also known as EMMA. This new training model processes sensor data to generate “future trajectories for autonomous vehicles,” helping Waymo’s driverless vehicles make decisions about where to go and how to avoid obstacles. - The Verge

Servitization pilot at VW

Volkswagen Financial Services still sees a path for new-vehicle subscription success and believes its pilot program Flex in the Atlanta metro area could serve as another option for customers looking for flexibility. VW Flex offers a month-to-month subscription service bundling maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance — all in a single payment. With VW Flex, customers can borrow a vehicle for as little as a month or keep it for as long as they want. When they’re ready to give it back, they just have to give Volkswagen 30 days' notice before they return it to the dealership. - Auto News and other sources

Airships for transporting cargo

In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers lofted a trio of farm animals over Versailles in a hot-air balloon, in what remains the most iconic demonstration of the power of lighter-than-air craft. Since then such vehicles have adapted to carry ever more passengers. But they have rarely been used to transport cargo. Airships may finally prove useful for transporting cargo, as the problem of variable buoyancy is being overcome. - The Economist

Toyota's flying car tests

Toyota Motor has conducted a test flight of a flying car in Japan, the Japanese automaker said recently, a first for the company. The aircraft used in the late October test was a prototype developed by US startup Joby Aviation, in which Toyota invests. Test flights have already been conducted successfully in the US. - Nikkei Asia

Silicon anodes

The buzz around silicon-based anodes, which promise improved power and faster charging capabilities for EVs, has been growing in recent months — just as the hype around solid-state batteries seems to have fizzled. While some OEMs have signed deals with solid-state battery developers, some carmakers have bet big on silicon anodes to deliver transformative change in the science behind EVs. A report from consultancy IDTechEx described the promise of advanced silicon anode materials as “immense”. It warned, however, that challenges such as cycle life, shelf life and cost, need to be addressed for widespread adoption.- CNBC

Climate-friendly mining machines

Heavy equipment maker Komatsu is focused on rolling out mining equipment that captures the growing decarbonization demand from clients in the resource industry. Komatsu announced in September during the MINExpo in Las Vegas that it will acquire Octodots Analytics, a Chile-based startup that harnesses artificial intelligence to help mining industry clients be more productive. The company has developed a battery-powered?load-hauling?machine for mines. - Nikkei Asia

Source for banner image at the top of the post: Yakushev.dim, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons