Demand for Combustion Engine Cars May Have Peaked in 2018

No Sale The reign of the fossil fuel-powered car may be ending. In a report published on Sunday, several experts told the Financial Times that they believe sales of fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles peaked in 2018, meaning that it’s unlikely that more ICE cars will be sold in any future year— and if they’re correct,… Continue reading Demand for Combustion Engine Cars May Have Peaked in 2018

Elon Musk Thinks the First Mars Settler Could Be an AI

The MartAIn SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wants to establish a base on Mars — but he isn’t sure its first resident will be human. On Friday, the mercurial billionaire responded to a question on Twitter about whether a sophisticated artificial intelligence might touch down on the Red Planet before human colonists. Musk’s answer: 30 percent. 30%… Continue reading Elon Musk Thinks the First Mars Settler Could Be an AI

Australian Autonomous Train Is The “World’s Largest Robot”

Robot Train Mining corporation Rio Tinto says that an autonomous rail system called AutoHaul that it’s been developing in the remote Pilbara region of Australia for several years is now entirely operational — an accomplishment the company says makes the system the “world’s largest robot.” “It’s been a challenging journey to automate a rail network… Continue reading Australian Autonomous Train Is The “World’s Largest Robot”

Musk: Tesla’s Fully Autonomous Capabilities “About to Accelerate”

“About to Accelerate” Tesla appears ready to kick its vehicles’ fully autonomous capabilities up a notch. In an email to employees this week, obtained by Inverse, CEO Elon Musk pledged that Tesla’s fully autonomous driving system was “about to accelerate significantly.” Musk hasn’t always delivered on his ambitious public promises, but the email signals that he is… Continue reading Musk: Tesla’s Fully Autonomous Capabilities “About to Accelerate”

Elon Musk Pledges Tesla Superchargers For All of Europe Next Year

Tesla/Tag Hartman-Simkins Big Promise Electric car maker Tesla will expand its network of Superchargers to provide service for all of Europe by the end of 2019, CEO Elon Musk tweeted Wednesday. If the plans come to fruition, the vast expansion will represent not just a coup for Tesla but also for the growing global infrastructure that supports… Continue reading Elon Musk Pledges Tesla Superchargers For All of Europe Next Year

China Is Building Its First Huge Battery Storage Facility

Batteries Not Included The Chinese government approved the plans for a massive energy storage grid in Gansu Province on Monday, according to a statement by the Gansu Provincial Development & Reform Commission. The project is scheduled to be completed this coming year according to Bloomberg — a colossal infrastructure investment that underscores China’s growing financial commitment to clean, renewable energy.… Continue reading China Is Building Its First Huge Battery Storage Facility

New Powder Captures CO2 Before It Can Hit the Atmosphere

Fresh Powder A powder extracted from plants could prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) from reaching the atmosphere. CO2 is humanity’s primary greenhouse gas emission, and it’s wreaking havoc on our planet. While we’ll need to dramatically decrease the amount of CO2 we produce to address our climate issues, transitioning to clean sources of energy is going… Continue reading New Powder Captures CO2 Before It Can Hit the Atmosphere

The Boring Company Just Showed Off Its First Completed Tunnel

Elon and Friends Elon Musk’s Boring Company just revealed its first completed tunnel to the world. Or at least, it’s the “first section” of its first tunnel, according to the company’s website. The company threw a massive party last night, showing off the tunnel to hundreds of members of the press and investors — rumor has… Continue reading The Boring Company Just Showed Off Its First Completed Tunnel

U.S. Grocer Kroger Has Begun Making Autonomous Deliveries

Autonomous Deliveries Grocery store giant Kroger just announced that its autonomous vehicle delivery service is officially going driverless, thanks to a partnership with self-driving car startup Nuro. Earlier this year, the supermarket chain announced it will work with Nuro to launch a driverless delivery service in Scottsdale, Arizona. The program used a fleet of Toyota Priuses, equipped with… Continue reading U.S. Grocer Kroger Has Begun Making Autonomous Deliveries

A Waymo Rider Talked Publicly About the Service — Even Though He Wasn’t Supposed To

Contract, Schmontract Michael Richardson is one lucky guy. In mid-September, self-driving car company Waymo accepted the technologist and entrepreneur into its early rider program in Phoenix, Arizona. Like all riders, Richardson signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), a legal contract forbidding him from talking about his experience as a Waymo rider. Now he’s getting away with… Continue reading A Waymo Rider Talked Publicly About the Service — Even Though He Wasn’t Supposed To