Electric Vehicles & Cars News - Page 24

The automakers unwilling to wager on electric vehicles research and development on pace with rivals are now scrambling to catch back up. Although multiple foreign automakers are expanding their reach in the US, especially in the midwest and southeastern portions of the country.

Honda has big plans for the midwest, as the Japanese company recently announced it was teaming up with LG to bring a joint EV battery facility to Ohio. The automaker also showed off the Prologue, Honda's first electric SUV expected for release in 2024.

As said by Bob Nelson, EVP of corporate services at American Honda Motor Co: "We are proud of their efforts, but now is not the time to rest on our history. What we announced today represents a re-investment in the Honda associates who will take us from building vehicles utilizing the internal combustion engine to those powered by electrification."

It seems that drivers in a vehicle with partial automation are becoming too comfortable and treating their cars like it's fully self-driving, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

There are only a few cars that offer partial autonomy, but there is a change in the driving habits of people behind the wheel in a car with Tesla Autopilot, Nissan/Infiniti ProPILOT, or Cadillac Super Cruise. Drivers can become easily distracted by texting, eating, or some other activity that raises safety risks.

It looks like proPILOT drivers were the least worrying, with 12% of drivers willing to treat their car as fully self-driving. However, 53% of Super Cruise users and 42 percent of Autopilot users treat their semi-autonomous vehicles as fully self-driving.

Google Cloud will use its artificial intelligence-based voice assistant services for new Toyota and Lexus models, regardless of Internet connectivity. Anyone looking for a 2023 model from Toyota or Lexus can look forward to using the voice assistant from their infotainment system.

As part of the Toyota Audio Multimedia and Lexus Interface infotainment systems, Google and Toyota both hope they're able to keep drivers hands-free and focused on the road.

Even though an Internet connection isn't required, the Toyota Voice Assistant's machine learning delivers more accurate voice interactions when connected. However, the next-generation system will still provide reliable natural-speech functions when a driver interacts with it. The AI runs directly through the multimedia system processors in a vehicle's infotainment system.

Enel X Way and Sunrun have teamed up to bring smart Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations designed for EV owners to charge at home.

Level 2 chargers traditionally use 208-240v power sources and can deliver electrical current from a traditional household outlet. The grid-connected model also helps the local power grid because it's able to maximize off-peak and automated charging times.

The companies made sure the co-branded charger is compatible for use with all EV cars and trucks. Sunrun is the official charging partner for Ford, and looks to expand EV charging options for owners.

Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz announced a working partnership to connect the MO360 data platform to Microsoft's cloud service. The German automaker is looking to greatly boost its car manufacturing efficiency and thinks connecting its global car plants together can help a more seamless production pipeline.

MO360 is a digital production ecosystem made up of multiple software applications that are able to share interfaces and standardized user interfaces. Many elements of MO360 were already in place at various factories, but will now be consolidated for a more holistic approach to utilizing digital solutions.

When implemented properly, the data platform can identify supply chain bottlenecks when information is collected through the entire production lifecycle - from logistics and supplies to the assembly line, and then finally when the vehicles hit the dealerships. This virtual simulation allows operations managers to test different processes before trying them on the shop floor.

Ford recently announced the opening of its Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center (FARIC) facility to develop digital transformation in the auto industry. The new office is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and also serves as a recruiting tool for developers in the local area.

Ford says it is currently undergoing the "most profound transformation" in the company's history, so preparing for future demands in tech-focused vehicles is extremely important.

As said by Jim Buczkowski, executive director for Ford Research, Advanced Engineering, in a statement:

Korean automaker Hyundai wants to connect as many as 20 million vehicles to a custom platform tailored to their personal services. Hyundai has an ambitious road map for the program as they want to reach 20M software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with over-the-air (OTA) software updates that are tailored based on data from the connected car.

Car owners will be able to modify and upgrade performance and functionality without visiting an official service center. Starting next year, feature-on-demand services will be added, so car owners can select and purchase the technology that best fits their needs - and offers a unique layer of customization to every Hyundai on the road.

Beginning in 2023, all new launches from Hyundai will ship with the OTA software updates ready to go - and isn't just for electric vehicles, but internal combustion engines will also have their own software to offer customized functionality.

Startup Synop aims to provide electric vehicle operations and energy management to a single platform, so it becomes easier for buses, trucks, and EV fleets to make use of that energy. The company has specific interest in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, allowing electric vehicles to reverse the power and send energy back into their local power grid.

Snop understands companies are switching to electric to run their fleet, but there is still work to be done to make sure mass adoption leads to a sustainable infrastructure.

As said by Andrew Blejde, co-founder of Synop, in a statement published by CNBC: "We helped deliver 10 megawatt hours of energy back into the grid, and we did that every single day for the entire duration of the summer. Really that's about charging when it's cheap and selling energy back when it's most advantageous."

The newly-formed company, Sony Honda Mobility, became official when executives from Sony and Honda met with one another during a press conference. The company will become software-oriented and reach customers through a focus on online sales.

Automakers pairing with software and tech companies isn't anything new, but this announcement shows how blurred together both verticals are. Sony will bring experience and knowledge about software and technology, while Honda brings its car R&D and production to the table. For example, Sony reportedly wants to offer a monthly subscription for its software system, so the company will need to step up its functionality and customization to make it worthwhile.

Interested customers can look ahead to Q1 and Q2 of 2025, when pre-orders for the first vehicle are expected to launch. Sony Honda didn't offer details about the vehicle, pricing, or battery range - those details will hopefully be available sometime in 2023.

Automaker Lucid Motors announced it has produced 2,282 units during Q3 2022 and is still on track to meet its yearly production estimates. Lucid aims to manufacture upwards of 7,000 units in 20022, and we'll have to wait to see how productive the company will be to close out the year.

The San Francisco Bay Area-based company manufactures its vehicles at a production facility in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Lucid became more conservative with its production goals, cutting production guidance during 2022. The company wanted to produce 20,000 Air cars, but that number was quickly reduced in February between 12,000 and 14,000 vehicles. That number was once again trimmed back, this time with a production goal of 6,000 to 7,000 vehicles.