Tag: electric vehicles

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Mobile Syrup

Lithium-Sulphur batteries move closer to revolutionizing electric vehicle industry

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed and recharged a Lithium-Sulphur (Li-S) battery that can theoretically fast charge roughly 1,000 times, pushing EV battery tech closer to a revolution.

The current issue with EV batteries is that they take a long time to fill up and they typically only last roughly 600km under peak conditions.

Li-S batteries aim to solve this problem by being able to store up to fives times more energy than regular Lithium-ion batteries that are featured in vehicles now. The issue with these batteries is that they can’t be recharged enough to make them commercially viable. However, this new research may change that.

The team at Michigan University is using nano kevlar fibres from recycled bulletproof vests to help limit the growth of dendrites and other chemical deposits that form in batteries.

Lead researcher Nicholas Kotov says that the battery his team has developed is close to reaching its theoretical limits and can even withstand extreme temperaturesm making it ideal for cars.

You can read the full report on the university’s website. 

Source: University of Michigan 

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Mobile Syrup

Update kills heating in some Tesla vehicles during cold Canadian winter

A new software update has reportedly wreaked havoc on several Tesla owners’ vehicles in the Canadian prairies as temperatures drop and some of the EVs’ heat pumps have failed.

The update rolled out in the middle of December for both the Model Y and the Model 3, Tesla’s more popular vehicles. However, since then, CTV News has received multiple reports of drivers with no in-cabin heating in the vehicles.

Diving deeper, it appears this may be a wider Tesla issue as many users have shared stories of a wide variety of components related to heating failing far further back than mid-December.

Tesla North states that last year, Tesla replaced sensors related to heating on all vehicles after encountering bugs. It’s difficult to tell if the users in the prairies are driving outdated cars or if a new software update has added additional heating system issues.

One driver was even caught out on a drive in -40 degree weather with young children in the car when the heat cut out.

According to CTV News, a representative of a Tesla Owners Club in Alberta says that they’ve been told Tesla is aware of the issue and it’s been “sent up the chain.”

Hopefully, a software update will solve this problem, or perhaps Tesla will need to update its hardware to perform better in low temperatures.

Overall, this isn’t reassuring Canadians considering buying an electric vehicle (EV). The only EV I’ve been able to test under winter conditions has been a few Porsche Taycans models. In both instances, I didn’t encounter issues related to in-car heating, but I did find that took onger to top up the vehicle and that the battery doesn’t last as long when the temperatures are colder.

Source: CTV News Via: Tesla North 

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Mobile Syrup

Update kills heating in some Tesla vehicles during cold Canadian winter

A new software update has reportedly wreaked havoc on several Tesla owners’ vehicles in the Canadian prairies as temperatures drop and some of the EVs’ heat pumps have failed.

The update rolled out in the middle of December for both the Model Y and the Model 3, Tesla’s more popular vehicles. However, since then, CTV News has received multiple reports of drivers with no in-cabin heating in the vehicles.

Diving deeper, it appears this may be a wider Tesla issue as many users have shared stories of a wide variety of components related to heating failing far further back than mid-December.

Tesla North states that last year, Tesla replaced sensors related to heating on all vehicles after encountering bugs. It’s difficult to tell if the users in the prairies are driving outdated cars or if a new software update has added additional heating system issues.

One driver was even caught out on a drive in -40 degree weather with young children in the car when the heat cut out.

According to CTV News, a representative of a Tesla Owners Club in Alberta says that they’ve been told Tesla is aware of the issue and it’s been “sent up the chain.”

Hopefully, a software update will solve this problem, or perhaps Tesla will need to update its hardware to perform better in low temperatures.

Overall, this isn’t reassuring Canadians considering buying an electric vehicle (EV). The only EV I’ve been able to test under winter conditions has been a few Porsche Taycans models. In both instances, I didn’t encounter issues related to in-car heating, but I did find that took onger to top up the vehicle and that the battery doesn’t last as long when the temperatures are colder.

Source: CTV News Via: Tesla North 

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Mobile Syrup

BlackBerry bringing its vehicle software focusing on sensor data to China

Sep 14, 2019 Mountain View / CA / USA – Blackberry logo at their HQ in Silicon Valley; BlackBerry Ltd (former developer of the BlackBerry smartphones) specializes in enterprise software and IOT

BlackBerry is bringing its software platform for vehicles to China.

This is happening through a partnership with PATEO, a company based in China providing technology and products to vehicles.

The Waterloo, Ontario based company will integrate BlackBerry IVY, cloud-based software that allows developers to share vehicle sensor data in a secure fashion, with PATEO’s digital cockpit. This will help create new services driven by data.

The companies will be working with “a leading Chinese automobile manufacturer” to implement their partnership as a pilot project in the manufacturer’s electric vehicles. It’s not clear who the manufacturer is. A BlackBerry spokesperson told MobileSyrup the name of the manufacturer can’t be shared at this time.

The pilot will also include software from a third company, Electra Vehicles, that provides real-time information on the remaining capacity and health of a battery.

Once the pilot is completed successfully, the manufacturer will integrate software worked on by all three companies into its electric vehicle line-up.

Information on what will make the pilot project successful has not been made public.

BlackBerry will be showcasing its automotive offerings at CES 2022. You can check out more news from CES here.

Image credit: ShutterStock

Source: BlackBerry

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Mobile Syrup

Tesla recalls more than 475,000 cars over safety issues

Tesla is recalling over 475,000 vehicles due to trunk-related safety concerns.

The recall specifically applies to 356,309 (2017-2020) Model 3 vehicles and 119,009 Model S electric cars.

For the Model 3, Tesla says opening and closing the trunk may damage the cable harness attached to the rearview camera, which could cause it to fail. The Model S recall, meanwhile, is more severe; front hood latch problems could lead the trunk to suddenly open and impair the driver’s vision.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says it’s not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to the recalled vehicles.

However, in other safety news, the NHTSA recently began investigating Tesla’s decision to allow games to be played on screens while the car is in motion. This led Tesla to disable the feature.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Tesla adds TikTok and better blind spot detection in winter update

Tesla has started rolling out its usual holiday software update with several useful and fun new features, including the first Sonic that originally released on the Sega Genesis, more useful blindspot cameras and the TikTok app.

The part of the update the drivers are likely to interact with the most is the new blind spot detectors. This means that once you trigger the signal lights to change lanes, a view of the blind spot on that side of the car will pop up on the screen.

This feature was first announced in the summer of 2020, so it’s nice to see it rolling out now. It’s also present in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and is a handy feature.

The Tesla team has also added a new multi-waypoint update to the in-car navigation and simplified a few other controls regarding the car’s user interface, according to Elecktrek.

Headlining the update, of course, is the addition of TikTok. The worst part is that this update is a few years too late and would have been much more helpful on the old vertical displays since that app could play in full screen. Since TikTok is so optimized for mobile, I’m interested to see how it works on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Looking at some photos of the update that a user posted to Imgur, it also appears that Tesla programmed a light show, added a customization option to the app launcher, and Sudoku.

Source: Imgur, Electrek

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Mobile Syrup

Tesla adds TikTok and better blind spot detection in winter update

Tesla has started rolling out its usual holiday software update with several useful and fun new features, including the first Sonic that originally released on the Sega Genesis, more useful blindspot cameras and the TikTok app.

The part of the update the drivers are likely to interact with the most is the new blind spot detectors. This means that once you trigger the signal lights to change lanes, a view of the blind spot on that side of the car will pop up on the screen.

This feature was first announced in the summer of 2020, so it’s nice to see it rolling out now. It’s also present in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and is a handy feature.

The Tesla team has also added a new multi-waypoint update to the in-car navigation and simplified a few other controls regarding the car’s user interface, according to Elecktrek.

Headlining the update, of course, is the addition of TikTok. The worst part is that this update is a few years too late and would have been much more helpful on the old vertical displays since that app could play in full screen. Since TikTok is so optimized for mobile, I’m interested to see how it works on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Looking at some photos of the update that a user posted to Imgur, it also appears that Tesla programmed a light show, added a customization option to the app launcher, and Sudoku.

Source: Imgur, Electrek

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Mobile Syrup

Cybertruck may ship with real mirrors and one giant windshield wiper

New photos and a video of Tesla’s Cybertruck have leaked, giving us a glimpse at close to production Cybertruck.

Most notably, the electric vehicle (EV) is rocking one massive windshield wiper on the driver’s side and the truck appears to include side mirrors, features that were absent from earlier designs. Other than those additions, the design looks very similar to the original vision for the futuristic-looking truck.

I’m sure Cybertruck enthusiasts will spot more changes than I’m able to uncover, so I’ve listed a few other tweets related to the reveal and the source YouTube video below.

Image credit: Chile Al100 (YouTube)

Source: Chile Al100 (YouTube)

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Mobile Syrup

Ontario Government invest $56 million to help province develop EV tech

The Ontario Government is doubling down on its previous $85 million Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network with a new six-step plan and a $56.4 million investment into making the province a leader when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) and smart transportation.

The six main areas the government will leverage and grow with this investment are as follows:

  • Bridge Ontario’s technology and manufacturing clusters to support the growth of Ontario’s automotive sector.
  • Advance the growth of regional clusters and world-class testing locations to drive the deployment, adoption, and piloting of smart mobility technologies across the province.
  • Deliver ongoing support for SMEs in commercializing technologies, scaling-up, attracting investment, and accessing global markets.
  • Strengthen Ontario’s automotive and mobility workforce and talent pipeline through skills development and training programs.
  • Drive public education, research, analysis, thought leadership activities, and raise awareness of the opportunities for Ontario – and our global competitive advantages.
  • Convene stakeholder groups, act as a bridge for collaborative partnerships, and serve as a concierge for new entrants into Ontario’s thriving ecosystem.

Overall, this investment appears to be a way to help the people of Ontario keep up as the world’s automotive industry transitions electric vehicles. Ontario is already stocked with skilled workers in tech, automotive and mining industries, so it seems logical for the provincial government to invest in bridging the three groups.

Quebec appears to be moving in a similar pattern regarding electric vehicle adoption and it makes sense that Ontario’s plans should align with its neighbouring province.

Source: Government of Ontario 

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Mobile Syrup

Tesla’s $50 ‘Cyberwhistle’ is already sold out

Similar to The Boring Company’s Flamethrower, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stealth revealed a $50 (roughly $64 CAD) ‘Cyberwhistle’ that’s already sold out.

Why did Tesla launch a Cybertruck-shaped whistle? We’ll likely never know.

The pricey whistle’s description states that it is “Inspired by [the] Cybertruck’ and that the “Cyberwhistle is a premium collectible made from medical-grade stainless steel with a polished finish. The whistle includes an integrated attachment feature for added versatility.”

As expected, this is a limited-edition accessory that you likely already can’t get your hands on unless you’re willing to dive into the reseller market because it’s entirely sold out. Musk even compared the Cyberwhistle to Apple’s $35 cleaning cloth, suggesting that those who like expensive products should “buy our whistle instead.”

While the actual Cybertruck has over a million reservations, it’s unclear when the anticipated and oddly designed electric vehicle (EV) will actually release. Tesla most recently delayed the Cybertruck until 2022.

Source: @elonmusk 

Image credit: Tesla