Technology
EV-Battery Rivals Prod Biden With Rare Trade Veto in Balance
The Ford F-150. SK Innovation Co., Ford’s battery supplier for its upcoming electric F-150 pickup truck, SK Innovation, faces a 10-year U.S. import ban on its Korean-made batteries and components after April 11. (Ford Motor Co.)
Two of the world’s largest electric-vehicle battery-makers have hired top Washington insiders to hold near-daily meetings with the Biden administration in a battle that could affect the electrification plans of Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG.
April 7, 2021Why Remote Control Isn’t Required for Self-Driving Vehicles
GM's Cruise has logged more miles than many other autonomous companies testing the vehicles on California roads. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)
WASHINGTON — As autonomous vehicle testing advances without cohesive federal guidelines, companies are operating under inconsistent or nonexistent rules for how and whether a vehicle is monitored and controlled on the road.
April 7, 2021UPS Orders Electric Aircraft to Transport Cargo Between Facilities
An artist rendering of an electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft. (UPS Inc.)
UPS Inc. is ordering 10 electric aircraft that are designed to take off and land like a helicopter, allowing it to fly cargo directly between its facilities in small markets and bypass airports.
April 7, 2021Nikola Loses EVP Heading Fuel Cell Development
Nikola Two by Nikola Corp.; inset of Jesse Schneider via LinkedIn
Nikola Corp., the troubled hydrogen-powered and battery-electric truck startup, lost a key member of its executive team with the departure of the former head of its fuel cell development program.
April 7, 2021Haldex Reports Positive 2021 Outlook, Taps New CEO
Haldex
Haldex said in its recently released annual report that the outlook for 2021 is positive as it continues its role as a global supplier of brake products and air suspension systems for heavy-duty trucks and trailers.
April 7, 2021NACFE to Monitor Downtime in Run on Less — Electric
A Freightliner eCascadia at the 2019 North America Commercial Vehicle Show. Schneider is testing the model through 2021. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
As the North American Council for Freight Efficiency prepares for its Run on Less — Electric demonstration in September, it expects vehicle downtime likely to be a factor and something to chart.
April 6, 2021Automakers Want Aid for Car-Grade US Chip Production
Vehicle frames sit on an assembly line at the Ford Motor Co. Chicago Assembly Plant. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg News)
Automakers want a portion of the money Congress approved for addressing the global semiconductor shortage to be reserved for vehicle-grade chips — warning of a potential 1.3 million shortfall in car and light-duty truck production in the U.S. this year.
April 6, 2021Tesla’s Blowout Deliveries Lift Shares Even as Smaller Peers Lag
Tesla's Elon Musk. (Mark Lennihan/Associated Press)
Tesla Inc. first-quarter delivery numbers blew past analysts’ estimates, helping the stock fend off a slide in the broader electric vehicle industry amid growing skepticism about the future of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill.
April 6, 2021New Samsara Service Helps Carriers Compare to Industry
Samsara
Samsara launched a new service aimed at helping carriers identify areas for improvement by revealing industry benchmarks, the company announced April 6.
April 6, 2021TMC Kicks Off Spring Meeting in Virtual Format
American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting is being reconfigured this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its spring meeting kicking off today under a virtual format.
April 6, 2021