Four years after first showing its Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED) concept, Hyundai’s Robotics LAB has now revealed the production version in Tokyo, Japan. The debut marks an important step in the company’s expansion into advanced robotics.

The compact platform has been engineered to be fully autonomous and uses advanced artificial intelligence that allows it to cruise over different surfaces and provide incredible adaptability for different use cases.

How Does It Move?

Central to MobED’s capability is its Eccentric Control Mechanism, a clever system that lets the robot adjust its posture and each wheel individually. The result is an uncanny steadiness, even when crossing inclined or uneven terrain.

Read: Like All Eccentrics, Hyundai’s New Mobile Eccentric Droid May Be Going Into The Film Business

For spatial awareness, Hyundai equipped the platform with a suite of advanced cameras and LiDAR sensors. An AI-driven obstacle detection system adds another layer of awareness, helping the robot navigate confined or crowded spaces without missing a beat.

Hyundai envisions it taking on various roles, from last-mile deliveries to logistics support, with minimal human intervention.

Two Flavors Of Droid

Hyundai has revealed two versions of the robot: the Basic and the Pro. The Basic measures 1,150 mm (45.2 inches) in length, 750 mm (29.5 inches) in width, and 430 mm (16.9 inches) in height. It weighs 78 kg (172 lbs) and can carry up to 57 kg (125 lbs).

The Pro variant stands a little taller at 650 mm (25.5 inches) and heavier at 88 kg (194 lbs), though its payload capacity drops slightly to 47 kg (104 lbs).

Where they diverge most is autonomy. The Pro comes equipped with Hyundai’s full self-driving system, while the Basic relies on manual operation via remote control.

What Keeps It Rolling?

Powering both versions is a small 1.47 kWh battery that provides up to 4 hours of operating time. However, compared to some of Hyundai’s EVs, the MobED charges slowly, needing 2.5 hours to juice up the battery from 10 to 90 percent.

Each robot also features universal mounting rails that make it easy to attach a variety of tools and modules. In the future, they could perform a range of important tasks in factories and warehouses, as well as crucial functions at production facilities, reducing the need for human labor.

Commercial sales of the MobED are expected to begin in the first half of 2026. Hyundai has yet to announce pricing, though it’s clear the company sees the robot as more than a novelty.

Scout Motors is getting closer to production every day, and it’s planning to launch with a curated soundscape. Forget generic beeps, the revived American off-road brand is sending sound engineers across the country on what sounds like an audio-archeology road trip.

More: Scout Motors Says Over 80% Of Buyers Picked A Surprising Powertrain

If everything goes according to plan, the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup won’t just be made in the United States, they’ll sound like it, too.

What Does America Sound Like?

Scout Chief Design Officer, Chris Benjamin, says the brand’s UX team has been collecting natural mechanical noises and atmospheric tones to create more than 40 bespoke sounds for locks, turn signals, warning chimes, and startup sequences. 

“All of the sounds inside the vehicle, we want them to feel authentic to us and unique,” Benjamin told Autonews at the L.A. Auto Show, adding that Scout isn’t aiming for an utterly quiet, library-like cabin.

Obviously, recorded sounds are quite different from the real thing, but it’s clear that the Scout team wants to do the best it can with the modern technology on hand.

The team even brought a vintage International Harvester Scout, complete with a V8, into an anechoic chamber and recorded sounds in isolation. 

The same raw mechanical noises found on that model, from the door latches to the locks to the V8 itself, will make it into the new offerings from Scout.

In a nod to the brand’s agricultural heritage, the team also visited Adairville, Kentucky. There, they found a farm and recorded industrial farming equipment inside a grain silo. Other audio layers in the car come from an acoustic guitar.

“You have a little bit of industry, a little bit of agriculture, a little bit of the original Scout in each one of the sounds,” Benjamin said.

Scout says its EVs won’t chase sterile, ultra-minimalist, sci-fi EV interior cues. Yes, there’s a digital gauge cluster and a large center screen, but there will also be real knobs, real switches, and real buttons.

The tactile nature of the cabin connects to the brand’s rugged DNA, and the carefully curated sounds will reinforce it.

“We’re not creating spaceships,” Benjamin said. “We’re creating hearty, wholesome vehicles that people will love, and we want the sounds to reflect that.”

Production of the Terra and Traveler begins in South Carolina in late 2027, after a run of pilot builds in 2026. 

UK-based Helix has already built a reputation in the industry for giving the world’s wildest EVs their punch. You might not recognize its name, but you’ll have seen its work if you’ve watched a McMurtry Spéirling, Lotus Evija, or Aston Martin Valkyrie swallow up the horizon on a YouTube video.

Also: McMurtry Speirling Smashes Top Gear Lap Record, Beats F1 Car

Now Helix is working with Californian startup Astro Mechanica on an engine concept that claims it can make supersonic passenger air travel viable again.

What’s The Idea?

Astro Mechanica is chasing what the late, great Concorde never could. It wants long-range supersonic aircraft that are efficient enough for everyday use.

To make that possible, the company has built a propulsion system called Duality. It is an adaptive hybrid electric setup that uses both a gas turbine and electric drive to shift personalities depending on speed.

At takeoff, it behaves like a turbofan. At lower supersonic speeds, it behaves like a turbojet. When things get seriously quick, it transforms into something closer to a ramjet.

That flexibility is meant to solve the problem that killed commercial supersonic air travel in the first place. The engines were great at going very fast but not great at everything else, and gobbled up a ton of fuel.

Power Behind The Concept

The current fourth-generation Duality prototype uses four Helix SPX242-94 electric motors. Each produces up to 536 hp (544 PS / 400 kW) of peak power. They drive the two-stage compressor of the propulsor unit and can run continuously at 402 hp (408 PS / 300 kilowatts).

But custom-designed radial flux motors for the fifth generation of Astro Mechanica’s propulsion system are also in development, these ones pumping out up to 1,274 hp (1,292 PS / 950 kW) of peak muscle for extreme-altitude flying.

The company is targeting a first flight in three years and commercial operations within a decade. If it takes until 2035 and Astro Mechanica is the first to offer supersonic air travel, we’ll have waited 32 years since Concorde was retired to see a passenger airplane break the sound barrier.

Helix/Astro Mechanica, McMurty, Lotus

Audi is preparing a host of upgrades for the 2026 model year, covering the A5, A6, Q5, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron. It’s not just a set of software tweaks or safety updates either. The brand says these revisions are designed to make some of its most popular models more enjoyable behind the wheel.

Read: Audi’s AUDI Bets Big On China With A 671 HP Electric SUV That Means Business

However, Audi hasn’t yet said whether these updates will cross the Atlantic for American buyers, leaving the U.S. lineup unchanged for now.

What’s Changing Inside?

The biggest transformations happen inside. Like Volkswagen, Audi has come to appreciate that customers never really warmed to capacitive steering-wheel buttons. So from 2026 onward, all affected models will adopt a redesigned wheel fitted with two physical scroll controls, restoring the tactile precision that many drivers missed.

One of the upgrades that’s bound to be enjoyed by S5 and S6 e-tron customers will be the addition of a Dynamic Plus driving mode. Audi says that this will maximize the dynamics of both models, allowing for controlled oversteer despite their advanced quattro all-wheel drive systems and brake torque vectoring.

For all models built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the regenerative braking system receives further refinement. Drivers will be able to use true one-pedal operation, bringing the car smoothly to a halt without engaging the friction brakes.

Smarter Tech

Audi is also introducing a more advanced version of its driver-assistance system across its PPE and PPC models. From next year, these cars will include an autonomous lane-change function where the driver simply needs to toggle the turn signal, and the car will automatically change lane.

Following BMW’s lead, Audi will introduce a trained parking feature capable of autonomously navigating up to 200 meters on private property, retracing a saved route to or from a parking space.

Moreover, starting next year, the new A6 will come equipped with digital matrix LED headlights and digital OLED taillights that include configurable light signatures.

Select models will gain the option of an integrated dashcam mounted at the base of the rear-view mirror. The 4K camera records both driving and parking footage, offering a built-in alternative to aftermarket systems.

Audi has also introduced several mood scenarios, or what it calls ‘experience worlds,’ into the cabin, which adjust the interior lighting, sound, climate control settings, and massage functions. Updates have also been made to the onboard gaming system, meaning controllers can now be paired over Bluetooth.

Porsche engineers are not exactly easy to impress. These are the people who spend their days perfecting GT3s and wringing every last drop of magic from flat-six engines and setting Nurburgring lap records.

So when two of the brand’s most senior engineering bosses drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and came away buzzing like teenagers leaving an arcade, you know something interesting is happening in the electric-car world.

Also: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Gets A Cheaper Version But You Can’t Have It

Frank Moser, Porsche’s vice president in charge of the 718 and 911 lines, admitted to Australia’s Drive that he has driven the Ioniq 5 N “several times” and called it an “eye-opening” experience.

Moser even dragged along Andreas Preuninger, the legendary head of Porsche GT cars, whose blood type is probably 98 RON premium, and definitely not amps.

From Skeptic to Convert?

Preuninger was not exactly enthusiastic at first. According to Moser, he grumbled, “I don’t want any of that electric stuff” when the idea was floated. But once they climbed inside and Moser pressed the Hyundai’s N Grin Boost button, the GT boss instantly turned into a believer.

“He was ‘wow’” Moser said, describing the moment Hyundai’s punchiest EV unleashed its full 641 hp ( 650 PS / 478 kW) and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm). “We learnt a lot from that car,” Moser told Australia’s Drive. “That’s why we decided to have a deeper look.”

It was not just the acceleration that snagged Porsche’s attention. The Ioniq 5 N’s signature party tricks, including its virtual gearshifts and synthesized powertrain noises, have Porsche seriously considering similar features for its upcoming electric 718 sports car.

Can Sound Create Soul?

Hyundai calls these systems N e-shift and N Active Sound+, and they replicate the snap of a dual-clutch gearbox and offer a selection of digital engine noises (most of them pretty lame, in my experience).

It is the kind of thing EV purists roll their eyes at, but performance engineers instantly understand. It makes the car feel alive and the driver connected to the driving experience.

“This is the way,” Moser said of the synthesized features, while making clear that Porsche wouldn’t force them on drivers.

“The customer could decide if he wants to drive in complete silent mode, or he wants to be part of the game, feeling the virtual sounds of a flat six and the virtual gear shifts,” Moser said. “That would be the direction for the future.”

Tuning the Future

Our money’s on it being part of a Sport Chrono-type option package that’ll add at least $2,000 to the bill of the new electric Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman.

The first 718 EV arrives in early 2027, and Moser promises it will be “really lightweight for an electric car,” though he declined to reveal an exact or even ballpark weight figure.

One thing is clear: Hyundai has just influenced one of the world’s most respected sports-car makers. Who could have imagined that happening 20 years ago?

Tesla took to X over the weekend to announce that Dutch automotive safety regulator RDW had committed to approving its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in February 2026. As it turns out, Elon Musk’s company jumped the gun, and the agency made no such commitment.

Watch: Tesla Fans Gave FSD The Wheel For Elon’s Coast-To-Coast Trip

The claim sparked quick clarification from the regulator and a flurry of online chatter about Tesla’s ongoing bid to expand FSD beyond American roads.

While Tesla has been offering its Full Self-Driving system in the United States for years, it hasn’t been able to do the same in Europe.

Europe’s Roadblock

According to the carmaker, it has already provided FSD demonstrations “to regulators of almost every EU country” and believes the most effective path to rolling out the system across the continent is through the RDW, with the goal of securing an exemption for the feature.

In its X post, Tesla Europe & Middle East proclaimed that “RDW has committed to granting Netherlands National approval in February 2026.” The company even urged followers to contact the regulator directly to “express your excitement & thank them for making this happen as soon as possible.”

However, the regulator quickly pushed back. In a statement published on its website, the regulator explained that it expects Tesla to demonstrate FSD next February, but it denied making any commitment to approval.

Tesla has been working hard toward shipping Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Europe for over 12 months now. We have given FSD demos to regulators of almost every EU country. We have requested early access, pilot release programs or exemptions where possible.

We have developed…

— Tesla Europe & Middle East (@teslaeurope) November 22, 2025

“We do not share details about ongoing applications from manufacturers, as this concerns commercially sensitive information,” it wrote. “Both RDW and Tesla are aware of the efforts needed to reach a decision on this matter in February. Whether this timeline will be met is yet to be determined in the coming period.”

Regulator Grows Tired of Tesla Fans’ Calls

The regulatory agency also asked Tesla’s fans to stop contacting it about FSD, noting that “it takes up unnecessary time for our customer service,” adding “this will have no impact whatsoever on whether or not the schedule will be met.”

Recently, Tesla boss Elon Musk said, “pressure from our customers in Europe to push the regulators to approve would be appreciated.”

Speaking with Bloomberg, the head of safe autonomy at the University of Warwick, Siddartha Khastgir, said it’s unusual to see a carmaker attempting to pressure the RDW.

“An approval process of an automated driving system is a deeply technical one to ensure the safety of the public,” he explained. “The sanctity of any such approvals is ensured by its independence and rigor, not force. While public sentiment is important for all authorities, this shouldn’t undermine the rigor of the approval process.”

You might assume that Tesla has the humanoid robot stage to itself, but several Chinese automakers are also sprinting toward the same goal. Among them, EV startup Xpeng is taking the lead, planning to start production of its humanoid robot in late 2026 with ambitions to sell millions of them around the globe.

Over the past several years, Xpeng’s flagship robot has progressed from an autonomous dog similar to what Boston Dynamics pioneered, and has now entered its seventh generation and morphed into Iron, a humanoid robot very similar to the Tesla Bot.

Read: Xpeng Is Turning Its EVs Into Long-Distance Hybrids With Nearly 1,000 Miles Of Range

Iron runs on Xpeng’s in-house Vision-Language-Action 2.0 AI model and made its debut at a lavish launch event in China.

In a rather theatrical move, Xpeng silenced skeptics who suggested the figure on stage was a person in disguise. After clips of Iron walking in a pristine white suit spread online, rumors surfaced that it was simply a performer inside the shell.

To dispel any doubt, Xpeng brought Iron out onto the stage and proceeded to cut open the robot’s leg, revealing the mechanical components found within.

The Robot Potential

Xpeng chief executive and co-founder He Xiaopeng believes that producing humanoid robots like Iron will eventually come down to the same cost as manufacturing cars. He also sees “the market potential for robots is greater than that for cars”, revealing that the robot will be present in Xpeng stores, office parks, and factories by the end of next year.

According to JPMorgan, Xpeng’s next big leap in 2026–27 depends on how well its wider AI empire comes together, a mix of robotaxis, humanoid robots, and even flying cars. The American bank’s report predicts the robotaxi arm alone could add between US$6 billion and US$19 billion in value by 2035, while the humanoid side might deliver as much as US$24 billion by 2027, assuming all those timelines hold.

It’s not just Xpeng diving headfirst into robotics.

Who Else Is Building?

As reported by the South China Morning Post, Chery is collaborating with AI developer Aimoga on a humanoid robot called Mornine. Meanwhile, BYD, GAC, and Seres are pouring millions into robotic projects of their own, and Nio has announced plans for a robotic dog

Across China, more than two million robots are estimated to be already operate in factories, and that figure is set to keep climbing as automation becomes a cornerstone of industrial strategy.

Source: South China Morning Post

When BYD burst onto the global stage a few years ago, it arrived with a certain sense of experimentation that was hard to ignore, and the most visible example was its infotainment display that could spin 90 degrees and run in either portrait or landscape modes.

While mostly a gimmick, it has helped the brand’s models stand out from the competition. However, the Chinese conglomerate has revealed its spinning screen won’t be around for much longer.

Read: BYD’s European Expansion Is About to Explode

BYD’s vice president, Stella Li, said that while the company’s customers liked having the rotating screen, it is limiting for some apps, in particular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

As such, the automaker has ditched it for the new Atto 2 and will eliminate it from other models, too. Moving forward, the screens will be locked in their landscape position.

“We are starting to engage in a lot of apps,” Li told Autocar. “The Atto 2 will be the first model with Google and Apple CarPlay. And if they want to give the best experience, then a rotating screen will limit their apps. And then secondly, we saw the feedback in the market. People love the rotating screens, but the usage is very small.”

Tech Trade-Offs

According to BYD, its infotainment screen had been easier to use in portrait mode when stationary and while on the move, in addition to being better for navigation.

However, in the models that we’ve driven, we’ve always found it easier to operate the screen in landscape mode, perhaps because this is the orientation of the screens in the vast majority of modern cars. Additionally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto only function in that mode.

Review: BYD Sealion 6 Makes Plug-In Hybrids Feel Seamless But Fun Is Optional

During the same interview, Li also noted that BYD plans to deepen its collaborations with companies like Apple and Google, and locking the display orientation simplifies that process. A fixed screen means fewer interface compromises and smoother integration.

BYD is also ramping up its global ambitions. The company has set its sights on a major push in Europe for 2026. Just this week, its regional managing director announced plans to double the brand’s retail footprint across the continent next year, targeting around 1,000 retail points.

Source: Autocar

It’s been a year since Rivian and Volkswagen joined forces on a new zonal electronic architecture for their future electric models. Initially, the partnership only called for future EVs to use the American brand’s software, and while this will still happen, VW has said it may also use the software for its upcoming ICE models as well.

The software stack itself is being developed by the joint venture known as RV Tech, which has set up shop in Berlin and already counts 1,500 employees.

The team is preparing for its first major milestone: winter testing in early 2026, using vehicles from VW, Audi, and Scout to ensure the new system performs reliably in freezing conditions.

Read: VW’s Future EVs Might Run On A Platform It Didn’t Even Build

One of the first vehicles to benefit from the new system will be the all-electric VW ID.Every1 that’s scheduled to hit the market in 2027.

VW will also use the same RV Tech technology stack for other EVs based on its new SSP platform, which can support up to 30 million vehicles. Further down the line, ICE models could follow, using the same software.

“For sure, it is an extremely capable architecture and we could allow for future use to also use it for ICE, but as we already outlined our clear focus is on BEV implementation and whatever comes after that is to be decided at a later stage,” co-chief executive of the RV Tech joint venture, Carsten Helbing, told Autonews.

“The architecture is highly capable of also driving additional drivetrain configurations. So we do not see a huge issue there, but of course, it’s additional work on the component side and on the platform side.”

Rivian Models Also Getting The New Tech

Of course, it’s not just VW models that will use the new system. Rivian will also use the technologies being developed by RV Tech for its R2, R3, and R3X models and will update its current fleet with the latest software.

“We remain incredibly excited by the work coming out of our joint venture with Volkswagen Group,” Rivian boss RJ Scaringe noted.

“RV Tech has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months and is raising the bar in automotive technology. We’re incredibly excited about the launch of R2 in the first half of next year, which will showcase the advancements the joint venture has made,” he added.

Source: Autonews

Not long after Tesla began renting out its cars from two California locations, the EV maker is reportedly exploring another shift in strategy, one aimed at sparking fresh demand: bringing Apple CarPlay to its vehicles.

If that turns out to be true, it would mark a surprisingly pragmatic turn for Elon Musk, who’s spent years brushing off the idea of letting Apple CarPlay or Android Auto anywhere near Tesla’s carefully walled software garden. Maybe the wall’s starting to crack.

Read: Tesla Can’t Sell Its EVs So It’s Renting Them Out From $60 A Day

While Tesla hasn’t commented on the report from Bloomberg, unnamed insiders say the automaker has started internal testing of the system and could be ready to roll it out in the coming months.

Bloomberg’s report suggests Tesla plans to offer the standard version of Apple CarPlay rather than the new CarPlay Ultra, which can take over the entire infotainment system and extend across multiple displays, including the digital gauge cluster.

Instead, Tesla appears to be preparing to include CarPlay as an optional feature within its own software, much like most mainstream carmakers do.

The addition would give Tesla drivers access to well-known Apple services such as iMessage, Apple Music, and Apple Maps. According to the report, Tesla aims to implement the wireless version of CarPlay, allowing users to connect without plugging in their phones.

The Importance of CarPlay

Elon Musk has spent years criticizing Apple and rejecting the notion of CarPlay integration. Rivian holds a similar stance, and GM recently decided to phase out both CarPlay and Android Auto from its upcoming models. Still, surveys consistently show that for many buyers, these features are far from trivial extras.

A study from McKinsey & Co. last year revealed that 30 percent of those in the market for an EV and 35 percent of prospective buyers of a new combustion car said that not having Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is a deal-breaker. This means that Tesla could be losing thousands of sales every month.

Source: Bloomberg

We rely on batteries now more than ever, from our phones and laptops to electric vehicles. But the ones powering today’s technologies aren’t without their shortcomings. They can be expensive, flammable, and they rely on increasingly in-demand materials that must be mined and processed. Researchers at Western University are working on a new type of …

The post Solid-state sodium batteries could be safer, cheaper, more powerful option appeared first on Alternative Energy HQ.

A new British company with bluechip supercar connections reckons it’s cracked one of the biggest bottlenecks in electric car tech: how to keep batteries cool enough to charge at full speed.

Hydrohertz, a UK startup led by an engineer whose resumé includes work for McLaren, Singer Design and Land Rover, has created hardware that could make long charging stops a thing of the past.

Smarter Thermal Control

It’s called the Dectravalve, and it’s a smart, compact control unit that precisely manages the temperature of each section of an EV battery, instead of treating the whole pack as one big lump. That means every cell stays at the same optimum temperature – no hot spots, no wasted cooling, and no thermal throttling.

Also: Chinese Brand Reveals Game-Changing 808-Mile Solid-State Battery

The result? A 10–80 percent charge, which typically takes around 30 minutes on a 400-volt EV even when hooked up to the fastest available DC charger, could drop to just 10 minutes.

That’s still a bit longer than it takes to fill up a petrol car, but it’s not far off. And faster fills aren’t the only promised benefit. Because the Dectravalve keeps the whole pack at its sweet spot all the time, and not just during charging, Hydrohertz says it can boost real-world range by up to 10 percent, which could be worth 30 or even 40 miles (48-64 km).

Other bonuses include extended battery life, a reduced risk of thermal runaway, and probably more consistent maximum-attack acceleration for performance EVs used in anger.

What The Data Shows

Hydrohertz tested its setup using a 100 kWh LFP battery, and the results are impressive. The hottest cell stayed under 44.5°C (112 F), with just a 2.6°C (37 F) variation across the entire pack. Most current systems see swings of 12°C (54 F) or more, forcing chargers to slow down once things heat up past 50°C (122 F).

Keep the temperature perfectly balanced, though, and the battery can safely accept maximum power right to the end.

A Shortcut To Better EVs

The system is also “chemistry agnostic,” meaning it’ll work with any current or future battery tech. That means it’s far cheaper than developing an all-new pack from scratch, which could make it a tempting upgrade for carmakers looking to squeeze more performance out of existing designs rather then spend big on solid-state packs.

“The automotive industry has been waiting for battery technology to catch up with consumer expectations, but progress has been slow and expensive,” says Hydrohertz CEO Paul Arkesden.

“A new chemistry can take a decade to develop and require billions in investment. What we’ve done is take a different approach. For OEMs, this means better, more useable EVs now, without waiting for the next generation of battery technology.”

Imagine a world where your electric car can charge its battery the same way some military planes do: on the go. That’s exactly what France just made a reality for some EV owners. Along a 1.5-kilometer (0.9-mile) stretch of the A10 highway, EVs can charge while driving via wireless technology embedded in the road.

More: Startup Drives Toyota For 1,200 Miles On Electric Power Alone Thanks To Wireless Charging Road

And not just any kind of charging, but the kind that nearly matches Tesla’s latest V4 Superchargers at 325 kW and even surpasses the V3’s 250 kW, completely cable-free, while traveling at full highway speed. That’s quite an impressive achievement.

Charging On The Move

The project is called “Charge as you Drive” and it’s led by VINCI Autoroutes, France’s largest toll road operator, in partnership with Electreon and others. The nation wants to build some 9,000 km, or nearly 6,000 miles, of electric roads by 2035, and this is the very first publicly accessible step toward that goal.

During the initial public trial, four modified electric vehicles, including a large semi-truck, a van, a passenger car, and a bus, all successfully managed to charge dynamically while traveling at highway speeds.

How Does It Work?

The inductive charging system transfers energy from coils buried under the asphalt to receivers mounted beneath each vehicle. Independent tests conducted by the Gustave Eiffel University confirmed that the system consistently delivered more than 200 kW of average power, with peaks above 300 kW.

In practical terms, that’s enough to keep a fully loaded heavy-duty truck moving at highway speeds twice over.

“This marks a pivotal moment in the global development of wireless roads,” said Electreon CEO Oren Ezer. “Our technology is the only one capable of delivering high-power, reliable dynamic charging. It not only meets but exceeds all the targets set by the French government.”

For freight operators, the implications could be enormous. Charging downtime remains one of the biggest headaches in electric transport, particularly for long-haul fleets. A system that allows continuous charging on the move could eliminate lengthy refueling stops altogether.

VINCI Autoroutes CEO Nicolas Notebaert said that the technology will “reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the freight and logistics sector” which currently accounts for more than 16 percent of France’s total emissions.

Where Else Is It Happening?

Electreon is developing similar projects in nine other countries, including the U.S., Israel and several European countries. As of this writing, there are already electric roads in Michigan and Utah here in the States.

In Tel Aviv, Electreon showcased high-speed wireless charging for city buses. The trial confirmed several key benefits: shorter service downtime for charging, increased operational uptime, and a dramatic cut in battery size thanks to on-route charging, from 400 kWh down to just 42 kWh, a reduction of nearly 90 percent.

More: Wireless EV Charging On The Move Is Being Tested In Germany, Michigan Next

In Sweden, Smartroad Gotland is converting a 1.6-kilometer (1-mile) stretch near Visby into a wireless charging test road. Led by Electreon, it will charge electric buses and trucks while moving to assess the viability of electrified highways.

If this technology works out, the complaints many have about charging times and infrastructure could be calmed down significantly, if not altogether nullified.

For as good as the Lucid Air and Gravity are, their price tags keep them out of reach for most buyers. Thankfully, the American brand is working on a more affordable mid-size SUV, and this is our first chance to see it from the rear.

The teaser image arrives almost exactly a year after Lucid first previewed the model’s front, timed to align with an important new partnership with Nvidia.

What Are We Seeing?

The image itself is deliberately dark, but there’s enough light to reveal a three-quarter rear view of what could be named the Earth.

Compared to the Gravity, it’s noticeably smaller, with a roofline that slopes sharply into a compact decklid. The more steeply raked rear glass gives it a sportier silhouette, setting it apart from its larger sibling and bringing it closer in profile to Tesla’s Model Y.

Read: Lucid Teases New Midsize EV That’s Big On Curves, Starting Under $50K

Additionally, Lucid has equipped it with simple horizontal LED taillights, no doubt cheaper than the complex units found on the Air and Gravity.

Other important details visible in this teaser include the newly designed door handle sitting flush with the bodywork and distinctive wheel arches.

Lucid plans to release more than one vehicle on its forthcoming mid-size platform, although details about the others are limited.

We know production of this new SUV will be handled by the carmaker’s AMP-2 factory in Saudi Arabia and should start before the end of next year. It’s expected to hit the market for less than $50,000.

Lucid x Nvidia

The company dropped this teaser of the mid-size model alongside a critical new partnership with Nvidia. Moving forward, Lucid will adopt Nvidia’s Drive AV platform, which promises eyes-off, hands-off, and mind-off Level 4 autonomous driving.

Lucid’s existing DreamDrive Pro system was developed in-house and has already been improved in the Gravity thanks to Nvidia’s systems, allowing for Level 2++ semi-autonomous driving.

To achieve Level 4 driving, Lucid will incorporate Nvidia’s full suite of sensors, including cameras, radar, and LiDAR. Starting with its mid-size models, each vehicle will include two Nvidia Drive AGX Thor accelerated computers running the Nvidia DriveOS operating system.

Lucid says “this next-generation AI computing platform, with its centralized architecture and redundant processors, will unify all automated driving functions, enabling a seamless evolution through the autonomy spectrum.”

The strengthened relationship between Lucid and Nvidia will also bring new automated-driving features to the Gravity via over-the-air software updates.

A webinar hosted by the Propane Education & Research Council outlined the benefits of propane-fueled school buses with transportation professionals that are currently using them in their fleets.

“Blue Bird loves to make buses, and we love to make options,” said Steve Whaley, alternative fuels manager at Blue Bird during the Wednesday webinar. He discussed a comparison with propane to other fuels in terms of cost differential, as he said perception of alternative fuels is that they tend to be more expensive.

With over 20,000 propane buses on the road, Whaley said that savings are significant with average fuel and maintenance costs of about $3,700 per year per bus. As opposed to other clean fuel options and even when compared to diesel, the infrastructure costs are the lowest of any other fuels because propane evaporates leading to fewer regulations from the EPA. Since so much propane is sourced in the U.S., Whaley said transportation departments can avoid the cost instability that comes with outsourcing fuel from outside the country.

Whaley quoted Mike Bullman, director of transportation for the South Carolina Department of Education, as saying, “We don’t need funding for propane, those things pay for themselves.”

To discuss the health benefits of propane, Bailey Arnold from the American Lung Association presented statistics on the high rates of lung cancer in the U.S. As the director of healthy air solutions, Arnold said the organization is committed to fighting the high rates of lung cancer that lead to nearly 125,000 lives lost every year.

He noted that implementing propane is one of the things society can do to combat these mortality rates and health issues as well as high CO2 emissions, explaining that while emissions are commonly measured and analyzed on a yearly basis, “they stack up and have a cumulative effect.”

He said that he would encourage school districts to consider propane now as it will only get more difficult to reduce overall emissions. Arnold referenced a recent NREL study that found that using propane would save 147 tons of carbon emissions in three years, while renewable propane would save 360 tons over the same period.

Amy Rosa, director of safety and transportation at Wa-Nee Community Schools in northern Indiana, is currently running 25 Blue Bird propane buses out of the 56 buses in her fleet that transports 3,000 students. She said losing two parents to lung disease in recent years spurred her passion for cleaner fuels. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen mitigation trust grant funding contributed a lower cost of implementation for the new propane buses. She said her district is always looking to save money to benefit the students and taxpayers, and that propane buses helped do that.

She said the transition was seamless, and that partnerships with the suppliers were supportive. Mechanics and drivers were on board. She said that the drivers appreciate the quieter engines, which “reduces tension with students and drivers” and that these quiet, clean, warm buses are improving student behavioral student issues. In a cold state, she said the quick heating ability of propane buses with no need for auxiliary heaters has been a benefit, and that her drivers have told her, “I love knowing my bus will start no matter how cold it gets.”

Whaley noted that Diane Mikelski, the recently retired director of transportation at Illinois’ Township High School District 211, will be speaking about her experience with propane buses at the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference in November on the benefits of a quieter bus on student behavior.

Sam Corson, the bus and automotive maintenance manager at Newport News Community Schools in Virginia, said he has seen immediate positive results from using propane buses. He said with wide city borders, which requires school bus drivers to often log 100 to 200 miles a day, long-range buses are necessary. He said Newport News has had no issues with propane buses doing around 340 miles on one tank.

Corson said that about 80 percent of district routes are covered by the 180 propane buses out of 306 total in the fleet,. Cost savings are evident, with diesel buses costing 38 cents per mile to operate compared to 29 cents on propane.

“I noticed all the things [a propane bus] does not have that I was continuously fixing on a daily basis,” he shared, and continued that he has seen a reduction in bus breakdowns.

Learning maintenance was simple for his team, he said, noting that the local Blue Bird dealership led training for all the mechanics to make sure they were comfortable with the new buses. Corson said that due fewer regulations and overall positive reactions to propane buses, the district decided to not decommission and replace the fuel tank.

Both Rosa and Corson praised the ROUSH CleanTech fueling software that allows them to keep track of fuel levels and that suppliers have been consistent. They also noted that they did not have to invest in new additions for their maintenance facilities when implementing propane.

When asked what she would tell another director who is considering buying propane buses, Rosa said, “No hesitation…the choice is a no-brainer for kids and for your mechanics, for bus drivers. It’s just a really good choice all around. I couldn’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t.”

Corson said his advice is to “jump in 100 percent.”

“I couldn’t see myself buying [another] diesel unless I was forced to,” he continued, adding that maintenance is much simpler on propane buses and any issues that do come up are usually easy fixes.

Watch the webinar on demand.

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Related: Ride and Drive, Technology Product Demos Return to Texas in November
Related: Propane Best Immediate Option For Greening Fleet, Says Rural Missouri School District
Related: Students, Staff at Illinois District Approve of Propane School Buses

The post Webinar Discusses Impact of Propane School Buses on Costs, Health and Maintenance appeared first on School Transportation News.

Amazon already fields thousands of Rivian-built electric delivery vans across the United States, but the next addition to its fleet will be much smaller, lighter, and human-powered. The company plans to deploy new pedal-assist quads from Also, the micromobility firm spun out of Rivian that’s carving its own niche in the urban logistics scene.

The TM-Q quad, unveiled this week alongside the two-wheeled TM-B, will hit the pavement in spring 2026.

Read: Rivian’s Spinoff Brand Also Is Selling A Futuristic Two-Wheeler With Pedals

Just like the TM-B electric bike that you can buy for a hefty $4,500, the TM-Q quad has a small battery, a generator, and two pedals. These pedals help to power the generator, and the pedal-by-wire drivetrain directs power to the rear.

However, whereas the TM-B has just two wheels, the TM-Q has four and can be configured in a variety of different ways. Amazon’s model has been previewed with a large cargo area at the rear that can reportedly hold more than 400 pounds of packages.

Importantly, it remains small enough to legally use bike lanes and could prove to be perfect for last-mile delivery services, particularly in large, densely populated cities. The e-commerce giant will use the T-MQ throughout the United States and Europe.

Rivian holds a minority stake in Also, and its boss, RJ Scaringe, will serve on Also’s board. The micromobility firm has received $105 million in funding from Eclipse and will make use of Rivian’s retail presence, economies, and scale.

Also says that the TM-Q has been designed, engineered, and tested to automotive standards. Consumer-focused versions of the quad will come without the cargo topper like Amazon’s model, and be available with several different rear beds, including one that has bench seating that fits up to four children.

“Amazon already operates more than 70 micromobility hubs in cities across the U.S. and Europe,” said Emily Barber, Amazon’s Director of Global Fleet.

“Micromobility solutions like pedal-assist e-cargo quads allow us to quickly deliver to customers in dense, urban cities, while helping reduce traffic and noise. Similar to our Rivian EDV partnership, working with ALSO provides an opportunity to continue to innovate in this space, building on our delivery logistics experience, paired with their advanced technology, safety, and performance features,” she added.

A number of automakers and suppliers have played around with the idea of using solar panels to charge electric vehicles. This makes a lot of sense as cars spend a lot of time outside, where they could be charging underneath the sun.

Nissan seems to agree, as they’ll use the Japan Mobility Show to introduce a Sakura EV equipped with an Ao-Solar Extender. The device takes the form of a roof-mounted box with a 300W solar panel sitting neatly on top.

However, the real coup de grâce is an expandable section that deploys from the front to reveal an additional 200W panel when parked.

More: Mercedes’ Solar Paint Could Give EVs Thousands Of Miles Of Range Every Year

This means you could easily deploy the panel when you arrive at the office, and then retract it when you’re ready to go home.

While the Ao-Solar Extender’s usefulness would vary by location and weather conditions, the company estimates that owners could capture enough solar power to drive 1,864 miles (3,000 km) annually.

That doesn’t sound like much, but the average American drives less than 40 miles (64 km) per day, so you’re looking at more than a month and a half of range from the sun alone.

Nissan said they studied the usage patterns of Sakura drivers and found that many customers only travel short distances. For some, the Ao-Solar Extender would be able to “virtually eliminate the need for external charging.”

That’s pretty nifty, and Nissan noted that when the panel is extended, it effectively acts as a sunshade. This helps to keep the Sakura’s interior cool, which reduces power consumption by the air conditioner when you return.

And in true Japanese fashion, Nissan has given it one more layer of usefulness, allowing the Ao-Solar Extender to function as a backup power source during emergencies.

The autonomous driving space is always shifting, and today General Motors revealed that buyers of the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ will be able to drive without watching the road. That’s only one part of the automaker’s new announcements that also include Google Gemini and Vehicle-to-Grid power.

Moving Autonomy Forward

Eyes-off driving is something plenty of automakers have talked about, but few are even close to delivering. General Motors currently sells cars with Super Cruise, a Level 2 system that can accelerate, brake, and change lanes.

However, it can only do this on specific highways and the driver must maintain attention on the road at all times. That said, it’s Super Cruise that is laying the foundation for eyes-off driving.

More: I Tried Out GM’s Smarter Super Cruise And It Feels Promising

So far, GM says Super Cruise has accrued some five million miles without a single accident attributed to it. The car of the future won’t just let you drive without watching the road – it’ll also let you leverage Google‘s AI bot Gemini to do all sorts of things.

That includes changing settings in the car, but it goes further to the extent that it should be able to learn driver preferences. Think of it as a supercharged version of the memory button.

Rather than just remembering seating and mirror position, it could remap the media buttons, change the display layout, automatically pull up navigation to a routine destination, and more.

Launching next year, it’ll even give drivers guidance on one-pedal driving, monitor maintenance, and help with things like finding a place to eat.

Going Beyond Cars

GM isn’t stopping at AI and autonomous driving. It appears to be picking up some of the Tesla playbook as it says it’ll soon offer bidirectional EV charging, solar integration, and a stationary home battery.

In other words, owners will have the opportunity to sell some of their extra juice back to the grid and then purchase it again later when rates are lower.

Apparently, while electric vehicles might not be growing as rapidly as they used to, the technology around them continues to mature – and that can only be good news for consumers.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that China has taken a commanding lead in the global race for electric vehicle and battery innovation. With the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) pulling back on major Biden-era grants, that gap could widen even further

In early October alone, the DOE canceled more than $700 million in awards meant to boost domestic battery and manufacturing projects. The timing and scale of these cancellations have sparked frustration across the industry and in Washington alike.

Behind the scenes, reports suggest this may only be the beginning Recently, a list of projects reportedly being targeted by the DOE has been circulating among lobbyists, indicating that as much as $20 billion in awards could be scrapped.

Included in that list, and recently confirmed by the DOE, were $700 million in grants awarded under the previous administration for battery makers Ascend Elements, American Battery Technology Co, Anovion, and ICL Specialty Products. There was also a grant for glass manufacturer LuxWall.

What’s Behind The Cancellations?

In a statement, DOE spokesperson Ben Dietderich said the projects “had missed milestones, and it was determined they did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs, were not economically viable, and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

Read: Washington Could Break Biden’s $1.1 Billion EV Promise To GM And Stellantis

As noted by Politico’s E&E, the cancellation of these grants impacts plans to build large factories in states including Missouri and Kentucky.

Of the $700 million in grants, $316 million was awarded to Ascend Elements to support manufacturing components from recycled EV batteries at a $1 billion plant in Kentucky.

Additionally, $57.7 million was bound for American Battery Technology to support the construction of a Nevada plant producing lithium hydroxide for batteries. Elsewhere, $117 million was awarded to Anovion to support the production of synthetic graphite for lithium-ion battery anodes.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright is believed to be spearheading many of the cancellations, noting that “If they’re not in the interest of the taxpayers, if they’re not a good expenditure of the money, you always have the ability to cancel these projects.”

Democrats Hit Back

Unsurprisingly, Democrats quickly voiced their opposition. In a strongly worded letter to Wright, 37 Democratic and independent senators accused the DOE of overstepping its authority.

“The illegality of your cancellations is the only thing as indisputable as the harm your cancellations will wreak,” the letter stated. Lawmakers argued that the department “must expend these funds and faithfully execute the law, including many programs that have strict requirements for the timing of fund expenditure, purposes, and contractual expectations.”

Electric motors may not look like much, as they’re mostly lumps of metal and wires, but the right one can transform how a n EV feels, just like the right set of boring-looking tires can. And Yasa’s new record-busting motor could revolutionize EV performance.

The UK-based firm, which is owned by Mercedes-Benz that plans to use these motors on its next-gen vehicles like the AMG super sedan, has shattered its own world record for power density, pushing output to an astonishing 59 kW (79 hp) per kilogram.

Don’t speak metric? That’s 35 hp (29 kW) per pound, and represents a big jump over the previous record of 26 hp (19 kW) per pound or 42 kW (56 hp) per kg set by Yasa earlier in the summer.

Related: The Baby AMG EV Just Got Real With Three Motors And A Secret Weapon

Small Motor, Massive Output

Specific output is one thing, but what about the total possible output? The new motor weighs a tiny 12.7 kg (28 lb) yet produces a short-term peak rating of 750 kW, or 1,006 hp (1,020 PS). That’s pretty amazing.

And though continuous output is said to be much lower it’s still big by conventional single-motor standards and achievable with a much smaller weight penalty. Yasa talks about a steady 350-400 kW (469-604 hp / 476-612 PS), and from one 28 lb motor, remember.

What’s even more exciting is this isn’t a theoretical computer model. Yasa says the record-breaker is a fully functional prototype generating power on the test bench right now, and built using scalable manufacturing technology and no exotic materials.

That’s critical, because it means this is technology that could one day find its way into production cars rather than staying locked away in a lab.

Founder and CTO Tim Woolmer called the achievement “a major validation” of Yasa’s next-generation axial-flux motor design, which differs from conventional radial units by using thinner, disc-shaped rotors that can deliver more torque and power for a given mass.

“This isn’t a concept on a screen,” Woolmer said. “It’s running, right now, on the dynos.”

Mercedes bought out Yasa in 2021 and will use the Oxfordshire company’s axial flux electric motor technology on its upcoming flagship super-sedan and SUV.