SELF-DRIVING DILEMMA
ELECTRIC CAR TAKEOVER
NEW BUS BATTERY UNVEILED
A fatal accident involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E has sparked debates about the safety of semiautonomous driving systems . The car , equipped with Ford ’ s BlueCruise technology , failed to stop when two stationary vehicles were on a six-lane highway . This led to the tragic deaths of two men who had stopped to assist a broken-down car . Dimple Patel , the 23-year-old driver , has been charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol .
This incident is expected to test U . S . laws surrounding advanced vehicle technology and driver responsibility . Legal experts argue that prosecutors will need to prove the crash was caused by the driver ’ s intoxication rather than a failure of the BlueCruise system . If the technology is found to be at fault , the charges could be reduced , making this a significant case for future regulation of autonomous vehicles .
Ford ’ s BlueCruise allows drivers to hand over control to the car on approved highways , but drivers must remain alert and ready to take over at any moment . Authorities are investigating whether the driver was paying attention or relied too heavily on the system . This crash , along with previous accidents involving self-driving tech , raises concerns about the readiness of such systems for public use .
Norway is expected to reach a significant milestone with electric vehicles ( EVs ) outnumbering petrol cars on its roads for the first time . According to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration , EVs now make up over 90 % of new car sales . As of August , there were 751,450 electric cars compared to 755,244 petrol-only vehicles , both accounting for around 26 % of the country ’ s total car fleet .
Norway ’ s shift to electrification has been driven by favourable government policies that have encouraged the adoption of cleaner vehicles . While there are still about 1 million diesel cars on Norway ’ s roads , their numbers have been steadily declining since peaking in 2017 . Diesel cars now represent just under 35 % of passenger vehicles , a stark contrast to their former dominance .
This rapid transition is a clear sign of Norway ’ s commitment to reducing emissions and supporting greener transport . As petrol and diesel vehicles continue to decline , hybrid and fully electric cars are taking their place , with the trend expected to accelerate in the coming years .
Chinese battery giant CATL has introduced a groundbreaking electric bus battery , offering a warranty of up to 1 million kilometres and a lifespan of 15 years . The CATL Tectrans Bus Edition , revealed at the IAA Transportation 2024 convention , boasts an industry-leading energy density of 175Wh / kg , making it both lighter and more compact for electric buses .
This new battery is designed to last , with claims of a service life of up to 1.5 million kilometres . It also has an IP69 rating , which means it can withstand 72 hours of water immersion , adding extra durability . CATL plans to mass-produce the battery soon , partnering with 13 vehicle companies to roll it out in 80 different bus models .
Additionally , CATL unveiled other high-performance batteries , including a superfast charging edition capable of recharging to 70 % in just 50 minutes . These advancements set new benchmarks for electric buses and heavy-duty vehicles , pushing the boundaries of battery technology .
32 ISSUE 49 OCTOBER 2024 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU