Category Archives: engineering

Volkswagen Group Recalls ID.4 EVs for Bad Software

Posted on 27 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling ~80,000 2021-2023 ID.4 compact electric SUVs. Bad software in the affected electric vehicles may have center displays and instrument panel displays from LG Electronics in Poland that do not boot, or that sporadically reset. This can result in loss of speedometer information or loss of rearview camera image. Continue reading →

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First Level 4 Autonomous Fuel Cell EV Truck Demonstrated

Posted on 22 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor Company and an autonomous driving software firm called Plus* today unveiled what’s claimed to be the first SAE Level 4 autonomous Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the U.S. at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. A Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, equipped with Plus SuperDrive™ Level 4 (SAE) autonomous driving technology, is on display at the Plus ACT Expo booth (#2044).

Ultimately, software driven vehicles can replace drivers completely so further developments put global truck makers and their customers on a collision course with driver’s unions. Continue reading →

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Honda 2025 Civic Hybrid – Most Powerful and Safest Ever

Posted on 21 May 2024 by Ken Zino

“The new Civic hybrid is a perfectly-timed addition to the Honda lineup as hybrid-electric sales continue to grow, providing Honda with an important building block toward 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales by 2040,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Company. “Honda hybrid-electric models represented over one-quarter of our overall brand sales in 2023, and the fun-to-drive Civic hybrid is a fantastic new product at the gateway of our popular electrified lineup along with Accord hybrid, CR-V hybrid and the all-electric Prologue.” Continue reading →

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EVs – Honda to Invest ~$65 Billion Through 2030

Posted on 16 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor company Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe said today that it will invest ¥10 Trillion (~$65 billion) through 2030 on its electrification strategy as part of a vast reorganization or re-prioritization of its corporate strategy. Through the establishment of a vertically-integrated EV value chain with a central focus on batteries, as of 2030, Honda will reduce the cost of the battery to be procured in North America by more than 20% compared to the cost of current batteries. Honda promised it will establish a competitive business structure with an aim to reduce overall production cost by approximately 35%. Honda already has secured enough batteries for the planned production of approximately 2 million EVs per year. Continue reading →

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Honda and IBM MoU on Software-Defined Vehicles

Posted on 16 May 2024 by Ken Zino

“The MOU outlines areas of potential joint research of specialized semiconductor technologies such as brain-inspired computing *[2 ] and chiplet technologies, with the aim to dramatically improve processing performance while, simultaneously, decreasing power consumption. Hardware and software co-optimization is important to ensure high performance and fast time to market. To achieve such benefits and manage design complexity for future SDVs, the two companies also plan to explore open and flexible software solutions,” Honda said in a release from Tokyo. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Audi Electric Mountain Bike

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Audi of America said this morning that it will increase its range of e-mobility products with the launch of a limited-edition enduro-style electric pedal assist mountain bike – dubbed eMTB – powered by Fantic. It becomes available through Audi Genuine Accessories by the summer of 2024. The Audi eMTB has livery said to be inspired by the design of Audi’s electrified Dakar Rally-winning RS Q e-tron race car. Audi eMTB at ~$9795 comes from a deal with Italian motorcycle and e-bike manufacturer Fantic based upon its XEF 1.9 Factory enduro e-bike. Continue reading →

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Ford Maverick Pickups Recalled for Tail Light Failures

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 243,000 Maverick vehicles. The Body Control Module (BCM) on 2022-2024 models may deactivate one or both rear tail-lights without warning. The problem appears to simple math error during the design phase of product development. The rear lamps use two position bulbs on a single circuit. However, the BCM current threshold was calibrated to the current draw for one bulb. This is a variation and expansion of a previous rear light recall. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Makes Automatic Emergency Braking Mandatory

Posted on 30 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“The new vehicle safety standards we finalized today will save hundreds of lives and prevent tens of thousands of injuries every year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not only making historic investments in transportation, but it’s also ushering in a new era of safer travel by ensuring new cars and light trucks are equipped with automatic emergency braking, making our roads safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.” Continue reading →

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NHTSA Investigation Opened on Ford Blue Cruise Fatalities

Posted on 29 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a preliminary investigation of Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle crashes with Blue Cruise autonomous driving on freeways at night according to documents made public by the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) today. The crashes which killed three people occurred when Blue Cruise was in use just before the collisions. Continue reading →

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Sudden Power Loss Recall – Bronco Sport, Maverick Trucks

Posted on 22 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“An insufficient calibration strategy for detecting sudden battery degradations during a drive cycle can lead to (a) a vehicle that is unable to restart after an auto start/stop event or (b) experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. Either may be accompanied by a loss of 12-volt accessories, including hazard lights,” Ford said in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which the Federal safety agency made public today. NHTSA prompted the recall. Continue reading →

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EV Grumblings – 2025 Toyota Camry Will Be Hybrid Only

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The 2025 Toyota Camry sedans are expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in late spring 2024 with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,400* – more than $400 less than the outgoing Camry Hybrid base grade and includes more standard features. It is a formidable entry in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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Ford Again Recalls Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs for Fires

Posted on 15 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 420,00 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles because of engine fires. Affected SUVs are equipped with 1.5-liter engines where a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment, Ford said in the required filing that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public this morning. This is an expansion of a previous fire recall since the original remedy was inadequate on what was then called the Dragon engine. Continue reading →

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New Grille and Battery for 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS

Posted on 10 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes‑Benz said today that the EQS Sedan for 2025 model year has numerous upgrades with a new larger 118-kWh battery for increased electric range, a front fascia with a new grille and the Mercedes-Benz standing star on the hood, as well as new standard and optional equipment. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan arrives at U.S. dealerships later in 2024. The EQ brand is all electric, of course. The EQS SUV is a two- or three-row large vehicle produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, which is currently, so to speak, experiencing labor issues. Continue reading →

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More US Jobs Coming from Chips and Science Act

Posted on 8 April 2024 by Ken Zino

With investments such as those at TSMC Arizona, the United States is now on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s leading-edge chips by 2030. With total capital expenditures of more than $65 billion, TSMC Arizona’s investment is the largest foreign direct investment in a greenfield project in U.S. history. Continue reading →

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Suniva, Heliene to Make First U.S. Domestic Content Solar Cells

Posted on 28 March 2024 by Ken Zino

“With this strategic partnership Heliene and Suniva are well-positioned to rapidly scale domestic cell and module manufacturing to meet the surging demand for secure and reliable domestically made crystalline PV modules. Currently, all U.S.-made solar crystalline modules use only imported cells. This partnership will directly address that gap in the U.S. solar supply chain and help strengthen manufacturing capacity to meet increased demand for domestic products,” the companies said in a joint released timed to coincide with a visit by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Suniva yesterday. Continue reading →

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