Author: Casper Benedict

Tesla is making progress with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta, as the latest version, v12.2.1, is now being rolled out to employees and select groups. This comes shortly after the rollout of FSD beta v12.2 to workers. The new build includes support for HW4 vehicles, marking a significant update as the previous version was only available for HW3 vehicles. The rollout of FSD beta v12 has been closely watched, with expectations rising for a public launch in the coming months. Tesla began testing the v12 FSD beta with a limited group of employees in November and has since deployed multiple…

Tesla is reportedly gearing up to address long-standing complaints about its auto wipers, which have been a source of frustration for owners of Tesla vehicles manufactured in 2018 and later, particularly in regions with varying weather conditions. Unlike traditional rain sensor-based systems commonly found in premium vehicles, Tesla’s auto wipers rely on its Autopilot cameras and a computer vision neural net. While this approach was meant to offer a more advanced and integrated solution, it has led to several issues, including inaccuracies in detecting precipitation intensity and improper activation or speed adjustments of the wipers. Many Tesla owners have voiced…

Just over 10,000 electric cars are now in use by Uber and Lyft in New York City, constituting twelve percent of their combined fleet. This transition to electric vehicles is happening more quickly than anticipated. In early 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to require transportation service providers like Uber and Lyft to switch their fleets to electric or make them wheelchair accessible by 2030. This initiative became a reality in October 2023 with the introduction of the ‘Green Rides’ program. Since its inception, more than 7,500 new electric Uber and Lyft vehicles have been approved by the Taxi &…

Stellantis’ recent moves in the automotive industry have raised eyebrows and sparked speculation. Last October, the Euro-American corporation made waves by acquiring a 21 percent stake in Chinese automaker Leapmotor for a hefty $1.5 billion. Now, Stellantis has hinted at the possibility of producing Leapmotor’s electric vehicles (EVs) at Fiat’s historic Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. According to Automotive News Europe, if this plan materializes, the Mirafiori plant could potentially churn out up to 150,000 budget EVs annually starting in 2026 or 2027. These vehicles would be sold through Stellantis dealerships in Europe, circumventing potential tariffs on Chinese EV imports,…

The Tesla Cybertruck, known for its unique design and standout features, particularly its acceleration, has been making waves on the drag strip. Despite its unconventional appearance, the electric pickup truck has been impressing with its speed and consistency, especially considering its hefty weight and size. A recent video shared by YouTuber DblCapCrimpin, who owns the range-topping Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast, showcased the truck’s performance on the 1/8 mile strip. The Cybertruck demonstrated remarkable consistency, with four out of five passes clocking in within a narrow margin. It completed the 1/8 mile in 6.88, 6.86, 6.89, and 6.95 seconds, with only a…

General Motors (GM) is set to significantly expand access to its Super Cruise hands-free advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) by 2025, covering approximately 750,000 miles of roads in the United States and Canada. This expansion, nearly doubling the current Super Cruise network, will include rural and minor highways connecting smaller cities and townships. Super Cruise integrates lidar map data, high-precision GPS, cameras, radar sensors, and a driver-attention system to ensure safety. The system can accelerate, brake, steer, and change lanes to pass slower traffic while maintaining a selected following distance from the vehicle ahead. It can also be used while towing…

Finnish technology company Kempower has unveiled plans to introduce a new charger platform across its product range, leveraging silicon carbide (SiC) technology. The company asserts that this new SiC generation maintains high performance while ensuring reliability akin to its previous designs. Additionally, the platform is tailored to accommodate heavy-duty charging, aligning with Kempower’s future objectives. SiC technology is renowned for its superior efficiency in electronic devices compared to traditional pure silicon (Si). This is attributed to its higher conductivity and switching frequencies, resulting in reduced energy loss as heat. Moreover, SiC components can endure higher temperatures, enabling the development of…

Waymo’s autonomous Jaguar I-Pace EV fell victim to a violent attack in San Francisco’s Chinatown over the weekend, resulting in the complete destruction of the vehicle. According to Waymo, the electric cab was traversing Chinatown at approximately 9 pm on Saturday after dropping off a passenger when it was besieged by a group of individuals who proceeded to deface the vehicle. The assailants smashed the windows and threw at least one firecracker inside, igniting a fire that consumed the car. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the incident. See also: Waymo Autonomous Car Collides with Cyclist in San Francisco https://twitter.com/Gia_Vang/status/1756569968265847043…

Joby Aviation has unveiled details of its groundbreaking agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), marking a significant step in the realm of urban air mobility. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, announced at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Joby will have exclusive rights to operate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis in Dubai for a period of six years. The deal positions Joby as the primary operator of air taxi services in Dubai, with plans for initial eVTOL operations set to commence in 2025. Following this, the company aims to launch commercial air taxi…

Toyota has announced the introduction of two new electric vehicles (EVs) to the UK market, namely the nine-seater Proace Verso EV and the five-seater Proace City Verso EV. Deliveries of these vehicles are expected to commence in March. The Proace Verso EV, designed as a shuttle, is offered in two length options: 4.96 meters and 5.31 meters. Equipped with a 100 kW electric motor and a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery, both variants boast a range of up to 143 miles (203 km) on a single charge, with a top speed electronically limited to 130 kph. See also: Toyota to Invest…

Tesla has unveiled plans to significantly bolster its Supercharger network in Iceland through a collaborative effort with a gas station chain, aiming to accommodate the burgeoning demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the country. Benefiting from Iceland’s nearly 100% renewable electricity generation, EV adoption in the region offers a notably environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petrol-powered vehicles, particularly given the high cost of petrol on the remote island. Despite Iceland’s relatively sparse population of approximately 350,000 inhabitants, there exists a notable concentration of residents around the capital city of Reykjavík, where short commutes are common and well-suited for…

Hyzon Motors, a fuel cell specialist, and New Way Trucks have announced a collaboration to develop fuel cell-powered refuse collection vehicles for the North American market. The companies aim to commence pilot tests with North American customers in the first half of 2024, with plans to deliver the first fuel cell trucks to American customers by 2025. As part of the partnership, Hyzon will supply its fuel cell technology and powertrain for integration into New Way refuse collection vehicles. New Way will oversee the supply and integration of the prototype’s Sidewinder XTR automated side-load refuse body. “New Way has a…