🚘 Transportation
Transportation in all forms and sizes are getting cleaner and the vehicles are self-driving. We for example cover electric cars, airplanes and trucks but also drones and all kinds of autonomous vehicles.
🚗 Waymo self-driving vehicles are significantly safer than human drivers
Waymo's self-driving cars have been involved in fewer than one accident with injuries per million miles driven. They estimate that their vehicles have 70 percent fewer accidents with injuries than human drivers.
🚗 Waymo doubles the number of paid robotaxi trips to 100,000 per week
Waymo now provides over 100,000 paid robotaxi trips per week in the USA. The company has expanded its service to new areas in California and Arizona. Waymo is now testing driverless vehicles on highways around the San Francisco area.
🔥 Much lower risk of fire in electric cars compared to fossil fuel cars
The risk of fire in a rechargeable vehicle is 0.0012 percent, compared to 0.1 percent for combustion engine vehicles. According to this statistic, fires in gasoline or diesel-powered cars are over 80 times more common.
🔋 Battery prices continue to drop, lowering the cost of electric vehicles
The price of lithium-ion batteries in China has decreased by 51 percent in the past year. Lower battery prices make electric vehicles cheaper than fossil fuel cars in many segments, and large-scale battery solutions in energy systems become more profitable.
🚑 New Indian traffic safety model to save lives in poor countries
Zero Fatality Corridor has reduced road fatalities by over 50 percent on specific stretches in India. The model is adapted to the conditions of low- and middle-income countries. The Indian government plans to expand the model to the country’s 15 most dangerous highways.
🚗 Waymo's robotaxi has now reached 50,000 paid trips per week
Waymo's robotaxi is now performing 50,000 paid trips each week, up from 10,000 a year ago. The service is fully autonomous and available 24/7 in selected parts of Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
🛩️ Really large drones pave the way for long-distance freight transport
MightyFly receives FAA approval for autonomous eVTOL transport drones. The drone can carry a 45 kg load up to 100 kilometers. The range and ability to operate beyond the operator's line of sight enable long transport distances.
🔋 Electric cars will continue to rise in the US (despite what some claim)
Despite challenges such as inadequate charging infrastructure and high costs, 42 percent of respondents are considering buying an electric car as their next vehicle.
🚅 Europe's longest test track for Hyperloop opens in the Netherlands
The EU is investing in hyperloop technology with a new testing facility in the Netherlands. Hyperloop could significantly reduce commuting times between cities in Europe.