TechMobility Topics

According to a recent McKinsey & Company white paper, luxury cars, defined as those valued at over $150,000, account for a small portion of vehicles sold but loom large in drivers’ imaginations.  What kind of people drive vehicles like that and more importantly, what are their expectations when it comes to ownership?  I have questions. 

The Toyota Land Cruiser is the longest running series of models produced by the Japanese automaker.  Born in 1951, it counts the British Land Rover and original Jeep CJ as soulmates. The new Land Cruiser is the perfect blend of capability and premium features. First introduced in the United States in 1958, the Land Cruiser is the Godfather of Toyota’s incredible off-road heritage. ...

Technology and telematics provider Samsara recently released a report that looked at what causes distracted driving and solutions for it.  The report included over 1,500 drivers.  Commercial TRUCK drivers.  Seems they are not immune to the seduction of digital devices while behind the wheel. 

Pod hotels are hotels where guest sleep in tiny compartments with beds inside known as pods.  These pods come in all shapes and sizes – square and round, metal and wooden.  Many aren’t even large enough to sit up in.  So, what’s the point?  

Lithium-ion batteries.  This is the chemistry that powers most mobile electrical devices that are not plugged in – from your cellphone to the average EV.  The chemistry is actually a metal slurry that comes with a list of downsides which can include shorting out and causing a thermal runaway which results in the difficult-to-extinguish fires you may have seen on social media.  But w...

Artificial intelligence and deep fake software.  The perfect marriage of tools and methods that are easily available to secure and use for anybody.  Needless to say, fraudsters and other bad actors of all stripes are having a field day.  From online romance scams, to defrauding car dealers and the HR departments of major tech companies.  The nightmare is real.  

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has launched a voucher incentive program for e-bikes.  The new program is targeting lower-income residents who lack alternative transportation options that would not otherwise be available.  The state is rolling out 3,000 vouchers over a six-month period, which can reach $1,200 in discounts are participating brick-and-mortar retailers. 

How much time and fuel do we waste in drive-through lanes at fast-food chains?  And more importantly, how often can we depend on the place to get our order right?  The Washington Post took a look and crunched some numbers.  

Amtrak has revealed a first look at its new Airo trains, and they come with panoramic windows, comfier chars, and more accessibility features.  The national rail service is currently constructing eight-three of the new and improved Airo trains, which will operate on around fifteen existing routes in the Eastern US and Pacific Northwest.  

The seeds for the current success of the Lincoln brand were planted back in late 2006.  The vehicle was originally known as the MKX, a mid-size luxury crossover SUV that rode on  the automaker’s CD4 platform.  The Ford Edge and Flex, along with the short-lived Lincoln MKT were mechanical siblings.   By 2019, Lincoln had phased out its use of “MK” model names, choosing “Nau...

While Volkswagen isn't top of mind when talking about autonomous vehicles, turns out that the German automaker has been working on the technology for almost ten years.   VW is ready to deploy its first autonomous ID BUZZ electric minivans on Uber's ridehailing platform in Los Angeles next year. 

Wheelchairs.  When it comes to mobility, of which we talk about plenty on this program, accessibility and accessibility barriers are real issues when it comes to public spaces. An Icelandic designer who made his mark in Silicon Valley and is a wheelchair user himself, has developed ways to overcome the exclusion that is often built into a city.  

It's a simple question with a complicated answer:  Who is Rural America?  Researchers claim that there is little agreement on how to define rural America.  As the US population has become increasingly concentrated in urban centers, rural communities have, at times, been an afterthought.  The myths perpetuated about its irreversible decline has little resemblance to reality.&nbs...

A material invented at the University of Maryland will soon offer a radical alternative that has a fifty percent greater tensile strength than conventional steel and a strength-to-weight ratio that is ten times better.  It’s lighter, tougher, and actually locks away carbon.  It’s called Superwood and after seven years of development, mass production of the material will start this summer...

According to industry veterans, US oil production is at a tipping point at current crude prices.  US oil production is expected to DECLINE next year, making it the first year-on-year decrease in roughly ten years, outside of the pandemic.   THE CAUSE:  Shale oil companies are slowing production because of low crude prices and pressure to return cash to shareholders.  The Permia...

Can you be sued for not taking strong enough action to tackle climate change?  If you can, who decides what that is?  And no, I am NOT talking about California!  It’s a valid question to ponder. 

Its unsanctioned, dangerous, and not exactly legal.  It’s called The Speed Project and it has NOTHING to do with wheeled vehicles.  This is a unique running event that takes participants to the brink and beyond.  Why do it? 

Genesis, the upmarket Korean nameplate, unveiled the GV80 Coupe in September 2023.  Based on the refreshed GV80 SUV for the 2023 model year, unique styling cues include a coupe inspired roofline, redesigned front bumper and grille, flat bottom steering wheel and carbon fiber interior trims.  The GV80 Coupe combines the practicality of an SUV, inheriting the design and performance of the...

Hyundai Mobis, the parts manufacturing arm of Hyundai Motor Group, has developed technology that can extinguish an electric vehicle battery fire cell fire and prevent thermal runaway.  

Coffee.  As the cost of it continues to rise due to increasingly volatile climate patterns, the demand for coffee is increasing.  The United States actually grows very little coffee within its borders.  To meet this demand, enter beanless coffee.  YIKES!  

As if you don’t have enough to be concerned about, consider this:  the land underneath the largest cities in the United States is sinking, threatening buildings, roads, and rail lines, according to new research.  But that sinking, known as subsidence, is not happening in the same way, in each place, or even the same way across one city.  

His name is Herb Coakley, former Uber and Lyft driver and founder of Mystro , an app that helped gig workers juggle multiple platforms.  Now he’s back with Courial , a premium delivery service that respects the people doing the work and wows the people receiving it.    Listen to this episode to learn more! 

It's called Slate and its a Jeff Bezos-backed effort to bring a low priced (less than $20K) EV truck to American motorists.  It's low price means plastic fenders and panels, hand crank windows and bring your own entertainment.  Is there a real market for this vehicle?  Listen to the podcast to learn more. 

Imagine passing a truck on the Interstate at highway speed that doesn’t have a cab for a driver.  That is in fact just a flat wall crowned with sensors and cameras.  In China, these futuristic yet cheap-looking trucks are part of a fleet of driverless light trucks that can carry 1,000 parcels autonomously over a range of 110 miles.  Sound far-fetched?  It’s happening in China r...

Tiny houses.  With the stock of affordable housing severely diminished in many parts of the country, the rise of tiny houses offers some people an alternative when considering a safe place to live.  A twist on that concept is the rise of tiny house villages, often near or just outside small towns in rural America.  Could this be a win-win for all?