Automark

The soaring price of Tesla’s shares now makes the company the first US carmaker be valued at more than $100 billion, as much as Ford and GM combined, already above Volkswagen and now second only to Toyota.

Meanwhile, Daimler keeps unveiling prototypes that will never feel tarmac under their tires, and is learning the hard way that the technology needed to make batteries is not so simple: it has been forced to lower production expectations of its electric Mercedes-Benz EQC (previously dubbed a potential Tesla-killer because batteries are much more difficult to manufacture in large amounts than the company thought, an issue that Tesla has been tackling for a long time through its own research, its own infrastructure and a few acquisitions in its joint venture with Panasonic. The German company’s goal was to sell 25,000 Mercedes-Benz EQC by 2019, but only managed to build about 7,000: to make it worse, the German vehicle register displays that it has only sold some 55 units.

The truth is that making electric vehicles is not as simple as some people thought, and that now, after delaying the development of the technologies involved, the moment of truth has arrived: Volkswagen is desperately trying to become a technology company in order to compete with Tesla, and even claims that this will force it to sacrifice some of its sacred cows so as to focus on what is really important for the future. The company’s CEO, Herbert Diess, recently said: “we need to move faster on electric vehicles or we will follow Nokia’s fate.” If Volkswagen fails to produce and sell several hundred thousand electric vehicles by the end of this year, it will break EU rules, and will be subject to multi-million dollar fines, such as those it has been paying out worldwide for its dieselgate, having just done so in Canada.

A reality that seems to be dawning on another automotive giant, GM, which seeing the evolution of Waymo, has unveiled its Origin prototype, an electric and autonomous vehicle (no steering wheel or pedals) designed for use as a shared taxi, and that promises to save its users about $5,000 a year compared to traditional car ownership models. We don’t know yet whether this Cruise-designed vehicle (GM’s subsidiary with Honda) will ever make it onto the roads, but it shows how the big traditional manufacturers are slowly struggling to adapt to a fast-changing world.

Electric vehicles, the death of the obsolete and polluting internal combustion engine, and increasingly, transport as a service rather than a product. This is the moment of truth for the automotive industry. The traditional car-makers ignore these realities at their peril.

Source of article: Forbes.com

China has just hurtled past another milestone in its vast high-speed railway expansion plans.As the countdown to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics continues, the new 108-mile high-speed railway line connecting the capital with Olympic host city Zhangjiakou has just entered service, cutting the travel time between the two from three hours to 47 minutes. But this isn’t just another bullet train.This beauty, part of China’s Fuxing series, can run up to 350 kilometers per hour (217 mph) without a driver — said to be a world first.

It’s also been dubbed the world’s first smart high-speed railway.Taking about four years to build, the line, also referred to as the Jing-Zhang high-speed railway, connects Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, all three of which will host events during the upcoming Winter Olympics.The route will stop at 10 stations, including Badaling Chang Cheng, the most popular section of China’s Great Wall. Chongli railway, a branch line from the Jing-Zhang railway, is also open and will ferry passengers from the capital city to Taizicheng Station — a stone’s throw away from several skiing competition venues and the Olympic Village.

Just how smart is this new train?

The new rail line began operations on December 30, with the first train running from Beijing North Railway Station to Taizicheng Railway Station.A quick search on the official high-speed railway website 12306 China Railway shows there are currently about 30 bullet trains running between Beijing and Zhangjiakou daily but only six of them are serviced by the new “smart train”.Tickets range from RMB77 ($11) to RMB231($33) for a normal high-speed train and RMB90 ($12) to RMB270 ($38) if you’re traveling on a smart train.At the time of writing, tickets for the smart trains need to be booked two days in advance.

So what makes them “smart?” Well, the carriages are equipped with 5G signals, intelligent lighting and 2,718 sensors to collect real-time data and detect any operational abnormalities.Meanwhile, each individual seat has its own touch-screen control panel and wireless charging docks. Though the high-speed trains on the route are autonomous, a monitoring driver will be on board at all times. The trains can automatically start, stop and adjust to the different speed limits between stations.Back at the station, robots and facial recognition technologies have been deployed to help passengers with directions, luggage and paperless check-ins.

Getting ready for the 2020 Winter Olympics

The trains’ interiors have been designed with the needs of athletes and journalists in mind, too.Some cabins feature larger storage areas for winter sports equipment, which can be accessed by QR code. Special storage spaces have also been created to house athletes’ stimulant test samples.The dining car can reportedly be converted into a media center during the Olympics, with adjustable seats and tables making it easier on journalists traveling with lots of equipment.

The car will also offer a live-broadcast service and charging outlets underneath each table. Car Four features removable seats, which will make it easier for passengers traveling with wheelchairs during the 2022 Winter Paralympics.”[The trains] can improve the efficiency of our work, promote China’s winter sports, and boost the ice and snow economy,” Yang Yang, a Winter Olympics speed skating gold medalist and one of the first passengers to ride the new line, tells state-run media Xinhua.

The first China-built railway

Chinese railway enthusiasts are excited about the new route for another historical reason.Jing-Zhang Railway was originally the name of a now-defunct line. First opened in 1909, it was the first railway designed and built independently by Chinese, linking Beijing and Zhangjiakou. Traveling along the entire route back then took eight hours.

The line’s few remaining original stations closed in 2016 to make way for the construction of the new high-speed railway.Today, China is home to the world’s largest high-speed rail network, which stretches about 35,000 kilometers, and the fastest commercially operating train — the Shanghai maglev.Running at the top speed of 431 kph, the train links Shanghai Pudong Airport and Longyang Road in the eastern side of Shanghai.

Courtesy: CNN

The Ministry of Climate Change is putting in its best efforts to promote electric vehicles in Pakistan to help protect natural environment but it is yet to come up with concrete policies to translate this dream into reality.

According to the data, the federal cabinet approved first-ever national Electric Vehicles (EVs) policy with an aim to tackle negative impacts of climate change and offer affordable transport to the common people.

The government has set the target to transform 3,000 CNG stations to EV charging stations and convert 100,000 cars and 500,000 bikes and rickshaws to EVs in next 4 years.

An official said they are still pondering over the details about how the government would tackle the situation when high concentration of EV home charging during peak hours/periods would overload local power transformers.

“The charging stations for EVs will require electricity that will be through distribution companies only unless someone makes its own electricity supply arrangement,” he said.

There are also some more questions including whether battery powered EVs would be competitive with conventional fueled vehicles in next five to ten years and how and when cost-effective charging infrastructure would be developed in the country, the official said.

As far as the air pollution is concerned, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests an ambient PM level; 30 µg/m3 for PM2.5 (fine particles with diameter no larger than 2.5 µm) and 20 µg/m3 for PM10 (particles with diameter between 2.5 µm and 10 µm).

Spokesperson of the Climate Change ministry said carbon emissions from motor vehicles is considered one of the largest contributors to air pollution due to which their ministry is working hard to introduce culture of electric vehicles everywhere in the country.

“The use of electric vehicles may help resolve many issues including air pollution, rising fuel import bill and saving two-thirds of transportation,” he said.

Courtesy: The News

As it gears up for a big push into India and a wider pursuit of climate neutrality, Amazon has announced plans to deploy 10,000 electric delivery rickshaws across the country. The move follows successful trials in Indian cities in 2019, as the company also commits to new investment and job creation in the world’s second most populous country.

This pledge commits the company to being completely carbon neutral by 2040, and its announcement was accompanied by news that Amazon had placed an order for 100,000 electric delivery trucks from automotive startup Rivian.

The 10,000 electric rickshaws it will deploy in India are in addition to that, with all hoped to be in operation by 2025. They include both three- and four-wheeled vehicles that have been designed and built in India, and will become operational in more than 20 cities by the end of 2020.

“At Amazon India, we are committed to building a supply chain that will minimize the environmental impact of our operations,” said Akhil Saxena, Vice President of Amazon’s Asia Operations. “The expansion of our Electric Vehicle fleet to 10,000 vehicles by 2025 is an integral milestone in our journey to become an energy efficient leader in the industry. We will continue to invest in the electrification of our delivery fleet, thereby reducing our dependence on non-renewable resources.”

“The 21st century is going to be an Indian century,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said last week during his visit to India, where he announced plans to leverage Amazon’s profile to help create a US$10 billion market for Indian exports by 2025.

All up, the company plans to invest $1 billion in local technology, infrastructure and logistics projects to help create one million new jobs in India by 2025. As it shares plans to scale up operations in the country, it is also placing a lot of emphasis on its environmental ambitions, which fit in alongside its so-called Climate Pledge announced back in September.

Courtesy: New Atlas

Japanese car giant Toyota said Thursday it is investing nearly $400 million in a company working on commercialising electric flying cars for “fast, quiet and affordable air transportation services”.

The investment in Joby Aviation comes as the automaker looks to expand into new sectors as the industry rapidly transforms, with president Akio Toyoda pledging to move the firm “from a car manufacturer to a mobility company”. 

“Air transportation has been a long-term goal for Toyota, and while we continue our work in the automobile business, this agreement sets our sights to the sky,” Toyoda said in a statement announcing the investment. “Through this new and exciting endeavour, we hope to deliver freedom of movement and enjoyment to customers everywhere, on land, and now, in the sky.”

Founded in 2009, Joby Aviation is developing a four-passenger electric aircraft that takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter, though it has multiple rotors. The firm envisions the aircraft as a mode of commercial transport, rather than for sale to individuals, with its pilots ferrying commuters around.

Toyota said it would also offer its “expertise in manufacturing, quality and cost controls for the development and production” of Joby’s aircraft. One of its executive vice presidents, Shigeki Tomoyama, will join Joby’s board, playing an “active role in setting strategic direction”, Toyota said.

Joby already has a partnership with ride-sharing firm Uber to develop an “urban air taxi service”. Toyota has ventured into the flying vehicle field elsewhere, investing in the Japanese SkyDrive project to develop what is intended to be the world’s smallest flying car.

It has also branched out into other sectors, announcing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month its plans for a “woven city” at the base of Mount Fuji that would be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and include roads for autonomous vehicles as well as smart homes.

Courtesy: Latest Stories