Google started the development of self-driving cars in 2010 and released a string of videos about it in 2012 on its own YouTube channel. That created a unprecedented stir in the automotive world. Never before was a company outside the business able to create a collective awareness in the industry that we are on verge of a new technological era. Building cars became digital tech. Almost all big car manufacturers immediately stepped on the bandwagon initiated by Google and announced some sort of autonomous car technology for the coming years. Continue reading
Tag Archives: future
Google’s Larry Page on transportation, self-driving cars and bikes
Last week’s TED2014 event featured Google CEO Larry Page, who was sharing his and the company’s vision on a list of subjects including the direction of Google, the NSA, curing disease and the future of transportation. The latter of course is the subject where the interview immediately caught our attention. That part starts at 15:13 in the video above. Continue reading
Rinspeed’s concept of a self-driving car
Autonomous driving, for some people this subject still might be something very futuristic. Ok it might take a couple of years, it might take a couple of decades, but few people at the Geneva Motor Show 2014 would disagree that one day science fantasy will become fact. Continue reading
Self driving car deciding factor in reducing traffic accidents
Google’s car project and numerous efforts by car manufacturers show unmistakably that the technological components for automated driving have reached a level of maturity that will allow rollout in the near future.
But are we on the verge of handing over our car keys and let a car drive us automatically from A to B? Continue reading
What we want from future cars
AutoScout24 did an interesting survey about the cars Europeans want in the future. What do we expect from our future mobility machines? What are the most important factors for the cars of tomorrow? Continue reading
Big data for sustainable design
What has big data to do with sustainability and an environmentally friendly future? A lot, according to Ford and Nike. Both brands are using big data analysis to design new products in a more sustainable way. Continue reading
3D printing for Eco-Marathon
In Heerlen, a city in the south of The Netherlands, students are using tabletop 3D printers and PLA plastics to make a car that will compete in the Shell Eco-marathon 2014. Continue reading
US takes the lead in Vehicle-2-Vehicle communications standard
What do Toyota, Lexus, Volvo, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot and Citroën, VW and Skoda have in common? They are all car manufacturers that have announced that they will launch self-driving cars in some form in the coming 2-6 years. It is generally assumed that self-driving cars are safer and make collisions something of the past. To realize advanced self-driving features on cars it seems a prerequisite that cars can share information about their position, speed and heading.
In June last year we reported on the Car-2-X communication project, in which vehicles and infrastructure are electronically linked to each other. Continue reading
MIE Event – The road to autonomous driving
Innovation and Disruption in Automotive – The road to autonomous driving

Photo courtesy of Rinspeed AG
Thanks to progressing technology and connectivity of cars, artificial intelligence and better sensors, cars are nowadays able to make self-driving manoeuvres. There are even successful testdrives with 100% self-driving cars. Within a few years, this technology will be available for everyday cars. Continue reading
Are Fuel Cell Vehicles the new clean future?
We stated that 2013 was the year of the final breakthrough of electric vehicles. The sales of Ev’s grew rapidly: theTesla Model S was the best-selling car in Norway and cities around the world were ranked for best EV-city.
But what kind of development is there besides the technology of EV’s? At the last LA Auto Show CES, the Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) made a comeback. …Continue reading
Hyundai goes Google Glass
The way people interact with their cars is about to change. We already see this change in the (possible) interaction with electric vehicles and the development towards self-driving cars.
Therefore, and to take these developments a step further, Hyundai’s next generation of products will allow owners to connect with their vehicle using wearable devices. …Continue reading
Nissan IDx designed by millenials
At the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan presented two spectacular concept cars. Beautiful design that is accomplished by collaboration with young consumers. Continue reading
Self-driving cars in Milton Keynes
After the Dutch autonomous driving news, there is some British news regarding this topic as well. In two years, self-driving vehicles are planned to drive on the roads of the city of Milton Keynes. The automated cars should bring passengers from the station to shopping centres and offices. If everything is going according to plan, these cars will be on the road in 2015 and will be one of the first self-driving cars in public space. …Continue reading
Autonomous driving on Dutch public roads
In the Netherlands, autonomous driving gained a lot of attention because the minister of infrastructure Melanie Schultz van Haegen enjoyed an autonomous ride last week. The Dutch Automative Vehicle Initiative (DAVI) is an autonomous driving project to investigate and demonstrate automated driving on public roads. The minister stated “this is a wonderful innovation that could mean a lot for mobility in the Netherlands and, of course, elsewhere.” …Continue reading
Nissan’s BladeGlider: a ‘gliding’ EV
What changes could electric vehicles (EV’s) accomplish in the automotive industry? With the whole new power system of electricity, EV’s maybe don’t have to look the same as their competitors that drive on fossil fuels. Nissan developed a concept car that explores the look of electric vehicles. …Continue reading
Fiat calls for your ideas
What kind of transport will we use in the coming years? What are the opportunities and challenges for sustainable mobility in the future? These are questions that ask for a lot of brainstorming sessions and innovative ideas.
So Fiat decided not to answer these on their own. …Continue reading
Cordless EV Charging by Volvo
Consumers often fail to buy innovative products with distinct improvements over the existing ones. A perfect example is the switch from a car that drives on gasoline to a car that drives on electricity. Potential buyers question the shortcomings and overlook the advantages: What about the range? And where can I charge my car? How long will it take before I’m on the road again? Improved technologies could make a switch a lot easier. …Continue reading
Electric vehicles: expectations vs reality
In March 2012 we published some expectations for the electric mobility market in the coming years. Yet, recent numbers show that in reality these expectations are not being fulfilled. Are there any reasons that could explain this fact?
The expectations of the number of electric vehicles (EV’s) that will be sold in the Netherlands varied per source. …Continue reading
Volvo gives consumers a voice
When a new technology is ready for mainstream use, the possibility of people rejecting this innovative technology is always there. They are not used to these new devices and if an accident occurs, they could blaim this new technology for being ‘the bad guy’.
So Volvo decided to make a smart move. …Continue reading
CEATEC Award for Automaker
Great news: it is the first time that an automaker won the Grand Prix in the CEATEC Innovation Awards in Japan. Who is the lucky one and because of which innovative technology?
The CEATEC Innovation Awards are being given to brands that could potentially have a big impact on the U.S. market. The award honors the best among the technologies, products and services exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2013. A jury of independent journalists assesses the winners of the CEATEC Innovation Awards. They’re looking on the potential influence a brand could have on the U.S. market. This time, the top award Grand Prix was for … …Continue reading