WINDSHIELD TIME Chances are you spend a lot of time in your car. Here’s something that might help you appreciate your home-away-from-home a little more.
Automotive-related news
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Finding charging spots
Batteries are in demand
Electric vehicles with Google Maps built in are getting a few more features that should make it easier to plan trips around charging stops, reports Engadget. Google is using graph theory in its latest routing algorithms to help you determine the best way to get to your destination. If your journey requires more than one charging stop, Maps will look at thousands of public charging stations to figure out the most efficient route in under ten seconds, Google says. The app will note how long it’ll take to juice up your EV at each stop, as well as your total trip time including recharging. For shorter trips that only require one stop, Maps will display a list of charging stations. You can pick a spot where you can recharge your EV the fastest or one where you have a membership. You’ll be able to see what amenities are close by in case you want to pick up groceries or a coffee while you wait.
Energy research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie estimates that electric vehicles will make up 18% of new car sales by 2030, reports The New York Times. That would increase the demand for batteries by about eight times as much as factories can currently produce. And that is a conservative estimate. Long considered one of the least interesting car components, batteries may now be one of the most exciting parts of the auto industry. Car manufacturing hasn’t fundamentally changed in 50 years and is barely profitable, but the battery industry is still ripe for innovation. Technology is evolving at a pace that is reminiscent of the early days of personal computers, mobile phones or even automobiles.
April 2021
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