Mayoral hopeful suggests EV taxi loan scheme
The main contender against Sadiq Khan for London Mayor is suggesting black cab drivers should be given interest-free loans to buy electric versions of the iconic vehicle. Shaun Bailey told The Sun that City Hall would also pay a tenth towards the zero-emission cars and install more charging points so they do not run out […]
Amazon’s ring offers car security
Amazon’s doorbell security company Ring is launching a range of products specifically designed for cars. Its product the Ring Car Alarm is designed to protect the car by sending an alert immediately to the Ring app when it detects an event, such as a bump, break-in, tow-away or an attempt to open the door. The […]
Westcotec urges LAs on data use
The Norfolk-based road safety technology firm Westcotec is advising local authorities of the importance of understanding and using good data before committing to potentially significant road safety investments. It says effective collection and expert analysis of data helps to ensure that resources can be targeted where they are most needed, and avoids the risk of […]
UK car production nearly halves in August
There’s more grim reading from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders about the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on the car industry. It says production declined 44.6% in August, with just 51,039 units rolling off factory lines as efforts to ramp up production stalled amid the coronavirus crisis. It adds there is weak demand […]
$25,000 self-driving Tesla “within three years”
Telsa’s owner Elon Musk is predicting that his company could produce a cut-price self-driving car within three years, thanks to new technology slashing the cost of batteries. In a “Battery Day” presentation from San Francisco, AFP reports he joined the head of his power team to lay out battery design, material and production innovations that […]
Zenzic launches new ‘CAM Scale-Up’ programme
The organisation tasked with accelerating the “self-driving revolution” in the UK, Zenzic, has announced the launch a scheme looking for innovative self-driving technology SMEs and start-ups. The CAM Scale-Up Programme wants companies based in the the UK to apply for a chance to test and develop their products through the world-leading CAM Testbed UK, which […]
Moovit and TfN partner on public transport info tool
Mobility as a Service development company Moovit has announced it’s going to use Transport for the North’s Open Data Hub to gather “precise disruptions data, giving riders all the tools they need to get to their destination with confidence”. TfN’s Open Data Hub platform provides open-source fares and disruption data for developers, to enable riders […]
VW takes stake in driverless lorry company
Volkswagen’s HGV subsidiary the Traton Group has agreed a partnership with American self-driving technology company focused on heavy-duty trucks. Traton will work with San Diego-based TuSimple to develop self-driving trucks, launching a development programme to operate the first SAE level 4 autonomous hub-to-hub route between Södertälje to Jönköping in Sweden using Scania trucks. As part […]
Scottish council takes delivery of dozens of EVs
A council in Scotland has expanded its electric vehicle fleet by buying 141 new Renault ZOE all-electric cars. South Lanarkshire’s order is the biggest ever placed for Renault ZE electric vehicles in Scotland. The council says it reaffirms its commitment to implementing low-carbon travel across its operations. The majority of the vehicles will be utilised […]
Arup proposes the “15 minute village”
The design, planning and engineering company Arup have released a thought-leadership paper suggesting a reworking of neighbourhoods so everything is within 15 minutes. It says survey after survey is showing that, post-pandemic, roughly 40% of people wish to work from home 40% of the time. It calls this great news for both city dwellers and […]