Electric Vehicles & Cars - Page 4

With some carmakers like General Motors starting to turn their back on in-car entertainment options like Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto, some had worried whether that would be a growing trend. Companies like Tesla prefer to offer their own in-car entertainment systems and have all of their owners use that exclusively while offering apps like Google Maps and Apple Music themselves. However, Polestar says that it won't be one of those ditching iPhone and Android connectivity any time soon.

Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath was speaking with TechCrunch when he said that the company believes it's too important to offer customers a choice for it to ditch any of the phone-mirroring options available today. Polestar currently uses an in-car system that is powered by Google, and while Polestar believes that offers the best experience, he believes that it isn't in Polestar's best interest to try and dictate to drivers how they listen to music or use their favorite mapping systems.

The approach is a refreshing one in an industry where carmakers don't have a reputation for flexibility. CarPlay and Android Auto offer ways for drivers to connect their phones either using a cable or wirelessly and then access their apps via a large touchscreen. It's safer and easier for drivers to use those apps than try to use their phone while driving, and in many cases, the apps offered simply aren't available via the car's built-in software.

Samson Sky has been working in the Switchblade Flying Sports Car for a while now. After its first successful flight on November 5, 2023 - the company is launching a crowdfunding investment campaign to 'get into the production phase' for its for-real flying car.

The Switchblade Flying Sports Car runs on unleaded auto fuel, and with the wings folded in, it's a three-wheeled sports car with a high-tech and luxury interior that's legal and safe to drive on the road. According to Samson Sky, you could drive the Switchblade from your garage to a local airport, where the wings swing out in under three minutes, and the tail extends - ready to take to the skies.

Samson Sky notes that it has over 2300 reservations from across the globe from those interested in picking up a Switchblade, with $10 million raised prior to this new campaign and orders of $472 million.

Tesla has released a video on its YouTube channel showcasing what appears to be the most attractive features of the recently-started shipping Cybertruck.

The video was posted to Tesla's official YouTube channel and was originally titled "Cybertruck in 60 seconds", but it has since had its title changed to "Cybertruck Features," which was more accurately named. The video shows a fast-paced series of demonstrations of the main Cybertruck features, starting off with the storage in the back of the pick-up truck, 120/240V outlets, touchscreens, 15 speakers, 2 subwoofers, 11,000 lbs of towing capacity, which is demonstrated with footage of Cybertruck towing a SpaceX Raptor engine.

The video continues to show the Cybertruck's adaptive air suspension, which can increase its height. There are also 4-wheel-steering capabilities, steer by wire, a 2,500-pound payload capacity, lockable storage, and, of course, speed. Tesla's Cybertruck, despite its weight, is able to reach 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. The video doesn't showcase absolutely everything within the Cybertruck, but if you are interested, I highly recommend watching the video below by Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), who has spent extensive time with one and reviewed it.

Have you ever wondered if you could use the palm of your hand as a key? Well, now you can, thanks to Phillips' Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt that was unveiled at CES 2024.

The new smart lock comes with a price tag of $359.99 and features such as the ability to save 50 palm vein pattern variations across all ages to the device. The device connects with the Phillips mobile app, which enables the smart lock to double as a doorbell. There is a bell button located at the base of the smart lock that, when pressed, sends a notification to a user's Phillips mobile app, informing them someone is at the door.

As for the inside of the Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt, users will find the device has multiple sensors designed to detect when an individual is reaching for the handle. Once detection has been made, it will automatically unlock the door and then lock it again once the individual has left. Notably, the Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which enables voice commands to control the smart lock.

With CES 2024 in full swing, Sony, partnered with Honda, has taken to the stage to show off the new iteration of their Afeela EV.

The Afeela has been a highlight at CES since 2023 and is even more impressive this year. At first glance, the car might have looked to be driving itself onto the stage until a wider perspective reveals that it was driven there using Sony's own PlayStation 5 Dualsense controller.

The car was driven on stage by Sony Honda Mobility president and COO Izumi Kawanishi, who was on stage with the DualSense controller operating the vehicle. The ability to drive the car using a PlayStation DualSense controller is more novel than anything else. It is not to imply any evidence of a PlayStation-controlled car coming sometime in the future but just an act of spectacle for those in attendance at CES. This was backed up by Kawanishi's comment that it was just "for the purpose of the tech showcase".

Tesla has taken to its website to unveil its impressive delivery numbers for 2023, with the electric vehicle manufacturer exceeding the previous year's deliveries by 38%.

The Elon Musk-led electric vehicle manufacturer managed to produce 1.846 million EVs last year and, of those, delivered 1.809 million. Those figures include the last quarter, where 494,989 EVs were produced, and 484,507 were delivered to customers. It should be noted that Tesla initially told investors it was anticipating hitting 2 million vehicles in 2023 but later walked back its estimate in October. Despite the walk-back of some projections, the company performed better in Q4 2023 than some analysts predicted, per CNBC.

During Q4 2023, Tesla produced 476,777 Model 3/Y vehicles and made 461,538 deliveries. The company didn't reveal the percentages for the other models it offers consumers, such as Model S/X; the company instead opted for an "Other models" category that contains 18,212 EVs produced and 22,969 deliveries made.

A drone has been sent over Tesla's Gigafactor in Shanghai revealing the EV manufacturing plant is ready to ship hundreds of Tesla's.

The video was captured by Tesla watcher Wu Wa, who sent a drone capable of shooting in 4K over Giga Shanghai, Tesla's largest vehicle plant that is responsible for producing more than 950,000 vehicles ever year. The vehicles captured in the above video are believed to be headed to Europe, and highlight Tesla's exponential growth in the region through continuous exports. Wu Wa believes the fleet of vehicles is scheduled to leave on January 8.

It's not just exports that are going well for Tesla in China, as more than 60,000 Tesla were purchased by new owners in China just in December, an indicator the Tesla brand is expanding more within the region. On a wider scale, Giga Shanghai has become a pivotal part in Tesla's global push to get as many EV's in the hands of as many drivers as possible. For more information on this story, check out this link here.

A new report has revealed what appears to be Tesla's biggest hurdle when it comes to getting Cybertruck production up to the expected 250,000 per year by 2025.

Reuters has released a report that details Tesla's biggest problem when it comes to Cybertruck production being slowed down is the 4680 batteries with its new dry-coating technology. At the moment, Tesla's Giga Texas factory is only making 24,000 of these batteries per year, which simply isn't enough to meet the demand for the Cybertruck, per the aforementioned publication, which cited "nine people familiar with the matter."

The nine people who spoke to Reuters did so under the condition of anonymity and explained that Tesla has yet to develop its dry-coating technique for 4680 battery production at an industrial scale, which was a massive part of the vehicle manufacturers' forecasts in 2020 as it indicated it was moving away from the more expensive and time-consuming wet-coating method.

Following its decision to ditch Apple CarPlay in favor of a new, in-house infotainment software system powered by Google, GM has found things to be hard going of late. The company's new Chevrolet Blazer EV has been released to mixed reviews, with some saying that the infotainment system often finds itself in a bootloop and otherwise simply refuses to work properly. Now, it seems that GM is aware that something isn't behaving as it should - and it's gotten so bad that it has decided to stop selling the electric vehicle while it tries to figure out what to do next.

A new TechCrunch report notes that the company says it is now working quickly to try and roll out a fix and that those who already took delivery should hang fire and wait for a schedule on their update. There's been no timescale given for when the software update will be ready or when the SUV will go back on sale, although GM did say that the problem only affects a limited number of its vehicles.

This is of course a bad look for Chevrolet after only making the EV available for sale a couple of weeks ago. Early reviews by various online publications have not been kind, especially when discussing the new infotainment system.

The Tesla Cybertruck is making its way into the hands of the public, and now owners are reporting that Tesla's new electric vehicle ships with a feature called "Wade Mode".

The new feature is a first for Tesla as no other EV from the company comes with this feature, which makes sense when you consider how it changes the Cybertruck. Nic Cruz Patane took to X to share an image of the feature, writing the Cybertruck has a "toggle" for Wade Mode within the "Off-Road" settings. Notably, Wade Mode is intended to be used when driving through water, and when toggled on, it raises the ride height of the Cybertruck while also pressurizing the battery.

Tesla's head of design, Franz von Holzhausen, explained to car enthusiast Jay Leno that the Cybertruck uses a technology Tesla calls the "scuba pack". This technology uses Cybertruck's air suspension system to pressurize the battery by forcing air into the battery pack, creating positive pressure that, with the seal around the pack, keeps water out.

Elon Musk has said that Tesla is working on a new modification for the Cybertruck that will make it double as a boat.

The CEO of Tesla took to his personal Twitter account to reply to a post that showcased Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, and car connoisseur Jay Leno inspecting the Cybertruck. Moravy was explaining to Leno that "Elon did want to make it a boat" and that Cybertruck currently almost floats. Moravy continues and says to make it a boat, it would need a little bit of extra buoyancy to keep it afloat, while also some creativity to implement a motor.

This post was replied to by Musk, who quickly said that Tesla is going to offer a mod package that enables Cybertrucks to "traverse at least 100m of water as a boat". The Tesla CEO added that the only big changes are the "need to upgrade cabin door seals". Notably, the Cybertruck is 6,603 pounds, and this isn't the first time Musk has floated the idea of the Cybertruck turning into the Cyberboat.

Several Tesla owners have reported that over the weekend, Tesla removed access to Disney+ across its vehicles.

Many Tesla owners began reporting over the weekend that Disney+ apps have started disappearing, which many are assuming is in response to the devolving relationship between Disney CEO Bob Iger and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Some Tesla owners believe they have been caught in the crossfire between the two CEOs, and as a result of their quarrel, consumers have to suffer, particularly Tesla owners who now have to explain to their kids that they can no longer watch any Disney content in the car.

The deteriorating relationship between Musk and Iger reached its boiling point when Musk appeared at the New York Times' Dealbook Summit and was asked what he thought about advertisers leaving the platform following Musk's self-admitted regrettable tweets. Musk responded by saying, "Go f*ck yourself" to advertisers attempting to curb freedom of speech on X by threatening to stop advertising expenditure. Musk

After a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects, it has found Tesla needs to recall more than two million vehicles across the United States over safety concerns with the EV's Autopilot feature.

Firstly, Tesla's Autopilot feature is the company's name for its driver-assisted system and consists of two main components: the "traffic-aware cruise control" and Autosteer. The automated cruise control measures the distance between itself and the vehicle in front, adjusting for speed by breaking with the goal of maintaining a safe distance.

The Autosteer component is responsible for monitoring the lines on the road and will make slight adjustments to keep the vehicle in between both lines. The system was originally designed by Mobileye, but Tesla decided to build its own and dropped many sensors in a way to save costs. Tesla's camera-only approach then evolved into complaints being filed to the NHTSA, where drivers reported their Tesla slammed on the breaks when it falsely identified an object as a reason to slow down.

If you're a Tesla EV owner waiting for the company to add support for CarPlay, we're sorry to say that you're probably going to be waiting a long time - if ever. But there is at least some good news if you're an Apple Podcasts user. That's because Tesla is getting ready to add support for the podcast listening app to its EVs starting very soon indeed.

The new update, which is set to roll out as part of the annual holiday update, will start rolling out next week after it was spotted early by Not a Tesla App on X, the social network previously known as Twitter. According to the release notes the Apple Podcasts app is coming to Tesla vehicles, with users simply signing in using their Apple ID. Once they do that they'll benefit from all of the features that you might expect including being able to listen to podcasts where they left off on another device, and more.

The new app will also include all of the key features available in the iPhone's Podcasts app including the Library and Listen Now tabs, while the Browse tab will allow people to find new podcasts from their vehicle.

The road will be able to wirelessly charge electric vehicles while they are stationed, idling, and even driving. But where is it?

A team of engineers have installed what's being described as the United States' first wireless-charging road that involves the use of copper inductive charging coils positioned beneath the road to charge electric vehicles.

The road is located in west downtown Detroit and stretches a quarter mile of 14th Street. Engineers plan on using this location as somewhat of a testing ground for the technology, and will make the road available to the public within a few years, per the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Tesla has started making deliveries of the highly anticipated Cybertruck, and while it's incredible to finally see the strange new EV take to the streets, the finalized version is slightly different than the one that was initially promised.

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk initially promised consumers that they would be able to purchase a 500-mile range Cybertruck for just $69,900, and, unfortunately, the one that was showcased on the Cybertruck Delivery Event was quite different than what was first mentioned. The $69,900 Cybertruck has a total range of 250 miles, and the top-tier Cyberbeast has a total range of 320 miles.

To account for the discrepancy between what was initially promised, Tesla has announced a range extender that comes in the form of a battery pack that takes up 1/3 of the truck bed. Elon Musk took to X to explain the range extender is "meant for very long trips or towing heavy things up mountains". The optional range extender increases the Cybertruck's range by 120 miles, which would bring the Cyberbeast, a $100,000 vehicle, to 440 miles. Sixty miles short of what was originally promised.

Tesla has finally begun to deliver Cybertrucks after the highly anticipated electric vehicle was first unveiled back in 2019.

Tesla conducted its Cybertruck Delivery Event yesterday, and company CEO Elon Musk took to the stage to give the public more details on the design of the Cybertruck and what went into making it become a reality. Musk touched on how Tesla had to create a brand new alloy to accommodate the Cybertruck's ambitious design, and what the company finally landed on was a 1.8mm-thick stainless super alloy that is corrosion-resistant and bullet proof.

During the delivery event, a video was shown to the crowd of Tesla firing a variety of weapons at the side panel of a Cybertruck. The new electric vehicle from Tesla went up against a 9mm Glock, M4 shotgun, and a .45 caliber Tommy Gun. The Cybertruck's exterior was able to stop all of the bullets, with only a single pellet breaking through the steel and cracking the window. However, this pellet didn't go through the other side of the door, unlike "any other truck," which Tesla shows off later in the video.

The wait is finally over, with Tesla delivering its first Cybertrucks to customers starting on November 30. The company revealed more details about the highly anticipated electric vehicle during an event officially called the Cybertruck Delivery Event.

The event was helmed by none other than Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who took to the stage to showcase the impressive capabilities of the Cybertruck. The presentation consisted of displaying the previously undisclosed information about the Cybertruck - power, composition, payload capacity, pull strength, and, of course, speed. Now, tech analysts are predicting that the launch of the Cybertruck will skyrocket Tesla's value, with the product launch being described as a "big moment" for the company.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote that the launch of the Cybertruck is important for Tesla's "growth story over the coming years" and will be proof to doubters of Musk's capability to "expand the Tesla halo effect". Additionally, Ives wrote that the Cybertruck launch is unlikely to "move the financial needle" for the company throughout 2024, but show investors Tesla's determination toward innovation and separating itself from legacy automakers in the EV market.

Tesla has finally delivered its first Cybertruck's to buyers of the highly anticipated electric vehicle, while company CEO Elon Musk has showcased its raw power against a Porsche 911.

Elon Musk took to the stage at the Cybertruck Delivery Event held today at noon P.T. (3 p.m. ET) at the Texas Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. Musk showcased the vehicle, revealing key details about its design, toughness, composition, and, most importantly, power. The entire event was live-streamed on X, and Musk revealed a video to the crowd that showcased the Cybertruck going against a Porsche 911 on a 1/4 mile sprint.

The video showcased the Cybertruck beating the Porsche 911 while towing a Porsche 911. The Cybertruck was able to complete the 1/4 mile sprint in under 11 seconds, while going from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Musk said that the Cybertruck is able to "tow a Porsche 911 across a 1/4 mile faster than the Porsche 911 can go by itself". Musk finished off the event by saying, "and deliveries begin now!".

Tesla has officially delivered its very first Cybertruck to customers at its Cybertruck Delivery Event, where it also revealed key details about the highly anticipated electric vehicle.

The Cybertruck was first announced back in 2019 and was delayed until now due to production setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the time has finally arrived as Tesla's CEO Elon Musk stood on stage to reveal the finalized design and capabilities of the electric vehicle that has amassed more than 1 million pre-orders. According to Musk, the Cybertruck is a "better truck than a truck and a better sports car than a sports car," with its design calling for a brand new Tesla-designed stainless steel "super alloy" that won't corrode, doesn't need paint and can be made at volume.

As for the glass, Musk explains that it's designed to repel rocks that flick up from the road, even going as far as to say that the Cybertruck's glass is "rock proof". Additionally, the glass "makes the car very quiet", while its steel panels are strong enough to stop an entire clip of .45 caliber bullets traveling 935 ft/s fired from a Tommy Gun. In another feat of "toughness," the Cybertruck will be able to pull 11,000 pounds, with a 2,500-pound payload capacity.