Volvo’s hydrogen-powered engine trucks are reshaping transportation with clean energy solutions. Discover how hydrogen is driving a greener, efficient future.
Category: transportation
An often-spouted complaint about public infrastructure projects is how long they take to complete. California High-Speed Rail, a perennial punching bag, is slated to get its initial operating segment running by 2031 at the earliest. A recent project in Japan flipped that notion on its head. The West Japan Railway Company, also known as JR West, replaced an entire station with 3D-printed prefabricated pieces in under three hours last week. The company also claims the construction costs were half that of reinforced concrete.
JR West used this new construction method to replace Hatsushima Station, a small wooden station built in 1949 and served less than 400 passengers per day. The company waited for an overnight lull in the schedule, then quickly sent its workers into action. The new station was pieced together with four hallow 3D-printed mortar pieces, according to the Japan Times. At the work site, the pieces were filled with rebar and concrete to provide the same earthquake resistance as traditionally built stations. Despite the blazing fast construction time, JR West aims to open the new station in July.
Tesla is now shipping the Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Supervised) Early Access Program to the USA. This is a big step forward in Tesla’s work to improve and project its autonomous driving technology. Tesla expects that the capability will eventually extend to all FSD owners in North America, letting them try out pre-release versions of the automaker’s most sophisticated automotive-driving-assistance software.
Enrolling in this program will allow Tesla owners to test out high-end upgrades before the rest of the public gains access. Most importantly, participants will offer useful info and vehicle data that will aid in refining and fine-tuning future versions.
The future of off-road adventure has arrived! The Kawasaki Corleo isn’t just another concept vehicle—it’s a revolutionary four-legged robotic riding machine…
In a jaw-dropping announcement that has sent shockwaves through the automotive and tech industries, Elon Musk has revealed that Tesla’s next-generation vehicles will feature an innovative new capability: the ability to chat with drivers. This game-changing feature will allow Tesla cars to interact with their owners through natural language, responding to commands, engaging in conversation, and even providing real-time assistance to drivers on the road. Musk’s revelation marks another leap forward in Tesla’s mission to redefine the future of transportation and push the boundaries of what cars can do.
The announcement comes on the heels of Tesla’s ongoing efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology into its vehicles, further blurring the lines between traditional cars and cutting-edge, self-driving machines. With this new feature, Tesla is set to revolutionize the driving experience by introducing a level of interactivity and intelligence that has never been seen in a vehicle before. 
Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous, powering everything from cellphones and laptops to electric vehicles. They’re also notorious for overheating or catching fire.
Now, with an innovative computational model, a University of Wisconsin–Madison mechanical engineer has gained new understanding of a phenomenon that causes lithium-ion batteries to fail.
Developed by Weiyu Li, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UW–Madison, the model explains lithium plating, in which fast charging triggers metallic lithium to build up on the surface of a battery’s anode, causing the battery to degrade faster or catch fire.
A modified manufacturing process for electric vehicle batteries, developed by University of Michigan engineers, could enable high ranges and fast charging in cold weather, solving problems that are turning potential EV buyers away.
“We envision this approach as something that EV battery manufacturers could adopt without major changes to existing factories,” said Neil Dasgupta, U-M associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering, and corresponding author of the study published in Joule.
“For the first time, we’ve shown a pathway to simultaneously achieve extreme fast charging at low temperatures, without sacrificing the energy density of the lithium-ion battery.”
Surprising results from hypersonic air flow simulations could help design stronger, faster and more durable supersonic vehicles.
The world of robotics is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by rapid advancements in physical AI. This evolution is accelerating the time to market for new robotic solutions, enhancing confidence in their safety capabilities, and contributing to the powering of physical AI in factories and warehouses.
Announced at GTC, Newton is an open-source, extensible physics engine developed by NVIDIA, Google DeepMind, and Disney Research to advance robot learning and development.
NVIDIA Cosmos launched as a world foundation model (WFM) platform under an open model license to accelerate physical AI development of autonomous machines such as autonomous vehicles and robots.
These limits have kept solar tech stuck on rooftops and in fields. But a new type of cell, almost invisible to the eye, may soon change that. Transparent solar cells could turn windows, cars, and even skin into energy-harvesting surfaces.
Unlike the old models, these next-gen cells don’t clash with their surroundings. They blend in while still capturing sunlight. Some are so clear they reach up to 79% transparency. On average, most hover above 70%, allowing them to function without being noticed.
A major reason for this leap forward lies in materials only a few atoms thick. Known as 2D materials, they’re helping reshape what solar panels can do. One group, called transition metal dichalcogenides, absorbs light well and has band gaps that can be tuned.