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EVgo has added second-life BMW i3 batteries to its Union City fast-charging station in California to store energy during peak solar hours and reduce strain on the grid. This energy is then used to deliver a fast charge to EVgo customers’ electric vehicles during periods of high demand. The second-life battery system integrates two BMW i3 battery packs into a single housing. Evgo says each battery pack has a capacity of 22 kWh which combines with a 30 kW inverter to offer a 30 kW/44 kWh energy storag

NKM Mobilitas will install 12 of Tritium’s Veefil-RT 50kW DC fast chargers along main traffic routes in Hungary during the second half of 2018. The roll-out is part of a wider ambition to establish a charging network throughout the country. The company is a subsidiary of National Utilities, the state Hungarian provider which supplies gas and electricity to households in the country. NKM Mobilitas plans to work with local governments and municipalities to implement 100 e-chargers across Hungary by the

Audi has joined forces with telecoms company Huawei to continue developing intelligent connected vehicles in China. The partnership’s stated aim is to improve and optimise traffic flows to help create intelligent cities. Additionally, the collaboration is intended to advance automated driving and digitalisation of services. It follows a trial of the LTE-V mobile communication standard for connected cars in the city of Wuxi, eastern China, in 2017. Drivers received real-time traffic information via con

Residents of Hawaii can now use Hui’s car sharing app to access 70 Toyota and Lexus vehicles at 25 stations throughout Honolulu. The capital’s round-trip service was launched by Toyota distributor Servco Pacific. Hui utilises Toyota’s proprietary global mobility service platform and was developed by Toyota Connected North America. The app features driver identification, authentication and payment management tools. These vehicles feature Toyota’s Smart Key Box, which generates a digital key and allows

Seatbelts will become mandatory on all medium and large highway buses built from 1 September 2020 in Canada, following new safety rules established by Transport Canada. The government department develops transportation regulations, policies and services. Marc Garneau, minister of transport, says: “By having seatbelts on highway buses, we can help reduce injuries in severe collisions, such as rollovers, and improve safety for everyone.”

Urban consolidation centres (UCCs) can help UK local authorities meet air quality obligations through the reduction of goods vehicle miles in urban areas, says the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC). These centres could also help improve congestion, the research and technology organisation adds. UCCs are logistics facilities where goods are dropped off and combined onto commercial vehicles for delivery to their final destination. TSC applied its economic assessment tool to estimate the cost and benefi

Volkswagen has launched its mobility solution in Rwanda in a bid to expand its reach in Africa's automotive industry. The package includes a car-sharing service, ride hailing service and a local vehicle assembly plant. The car-sharing service will mainly be aimed at companies in the capital Kigali, while the ride hailing service will follow later this year. Meanwhile, the assembly plant will be used to develop the latest Polo and Passat vehicles. Volkswagen says it intends to build up to 1,000 vehicl

On-demand transportation company Lyft is to buy North America bike share company Motivate. Under the agreement, Lyft will acquire Motivate’s technology, corporate functions, including city contracts. Meanwhile, Lyft says it will invest in additional resources in technology to develop bike share in partnership with cities. According to a blog post on Lyft's website, the company plans to deliver dockless and pedal-assist electric bikes to riders around the country. Motivate's bike maintenance and s

Momentum Dynamics says its 200 kW wireless charging system will allow the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority’s (CARTA’s) Shuttle Park to travel longer distances. The solution will charge buses automatically while loading and unloading passengers in south-eastern Tennessee. The roadway system recharges buses multiple times during the scheduled stops and allows them to complete another circulation loop, Momentum adds. Going forward, Momentum intends to install additional wireless charg

Civil and electrical engineering firm McCann will help upgrade a 7.5 mile stretch of a major Midlands route as part of the M1 junction 23a – 25 smart motorway scheme. The project stems from an agreement with Highways England and is intended to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic to improve travel times. Carl Lancaster, operations director for McCann, says: “The finished project will also help to minimise environmental impacts and maximise the capacity of the motorway while ensuring continued

The UK government, energy regulator Ofgem and local authorities should enable the rollout of charging infrastructure to allow close to 100% electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2030, says The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). The NIC has published its National Infrastructure Assessment to set out a long-term vision for sustainable economic infrastructure and help prepare the UK for the growth of EVs and autonomous vehicles. NIC’s assessment recommends Ofgem to regulate the interaction between EV c

Canadian traffic management company International Road Dynamics (IRD) has announced that Randy Hanson has replaced president and CEO Terry Bergan, who has retired from the company. The firm says the transition is part of a planned leadership succession process. Hanson has been IRD's chief operating officer and executive vice president since 2000.

Students of French computer programming school 42 are developing solutions to improve user experience on board Navya's Autonom Cab. The winners will receive a free trip to CES (formerly called the Consumer Electronics Show) Las Vegas 2019. The participants are working on projects such as ZenCab, which will allow the autonomous taxi to recognise user profiles and customise the sound and lighting inside. Meanwhile, the Fill It solution analyses the space inside the cabin to help manage user comfort. In add