The Verge: Electric Cars are Now Required to Make Noise at Low Speeds So They Don’t Sneak Up and Kill Us
Electric and hybrid-fuel cars will be required to produce noise when traveling at low speeds under a new rule issued by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is to prevent these vehicles from injuring pedestrians, especially people who are blind or are visually impaired.
Electric cars, which are growing increasingly popular among manufacturers and consumers, make hardly any engine noise. The only noises they usually generate is caused by wind resistance or tire noises, and that is only at moderate to higher speeds.
Detroit Free Press: What's the Outlook for Electric Vehicles Under Trump?
The Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3 and electric vehicles in general face a radically new regulatory and political playing field as a professed climate-change denier prepares to occupy the White House and gas prices continue to fall.
First there is the $7,500 federal tax credit for consumers buying or leasing an electric vehicle. The Trump administration so far has been short on policy specifics. But just two days after the election, automakers' chief lobbying group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, urged the Trump transition team to revise not only the fuel economy standards, but also the Obama administration's autonomous vehicle standards, on the grounds that they could cost its member companies billions of dollars.
"The short answer is that we don’t know what will happen with the Trump administration and electric vehicles," said Dave Reichmuth, senior engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists clean vehicles program. "It might be awhile before we understand the policy priorities for the new administration."
Gas2: Toyota Electric Car Division Has Only Four Employees
After announcing recently that it is open to the idea of making electric cars, Toyota is putting its money where its mouth is. It has decided to establish an in-house venture company responsible for developing electric vehicles. It will be staffed by four people. How’s that for making a commitment?
Toyota’s approach is the ultimate in streamlining the design process. The four will come from Toyota Industries Corporation, Aisin Seiki Company, Ltd, Denso Corporation, and Toyota Motor Company. The organization is a “virtual organization.” Called a “venture company,” it will operate outside of all internal structural organizations within the four participating companies. Kickoff is scheduled for December.
The venture company will draw on all the technological resources of the Toyota Group. The small organizational structure is meant to promote unconventional working procedures. That should help the project to move along swiftly and bring products to market in the shortest possible time.
Elecktrek: Watch Tesla’s Latest Self-Driving Demo in Real-Time Instead of Sped Up for Better Look at the System
The first thing you will notice with the video below at approximate real-time speed is that the system hesitates on a few occasions.
It certainly doesn’t look like an experienced, comfortable driver, but it does look like a capable licensed driver, which is an accomplishment on its own.
Yesterday, Tesla released two very interesting videos of the latest version of its self-driving technology on the new Autopilot 2.0 hardware. While they are fascinating to watch, they were both sped up. I think it’s worth revisiting the test with the video slowed down to real-time in order to really appreciate the level of autonomy Tesla achieved so far.