Autonomous driving, EV updates

Issue #283

Below are some interesting updates reported in the media on autonomous driving and electric vehicles (EVs). Autonomous vehicles are gaining popularity in drier climates, but struggle with knowing when to brake in snowy, icy conditions. Tires could help. Honda will equip its new 0 Series EVs with the operating system of its retired humanoid robot Asimo, turning it into the command center for the vehicles' self-driving and other software. Uber and Lyft gave up on big plans to develop their own driverless taxis years ago. Now, they are revamping their businesses to accommodate competitors who may have figured it out. Sony Honda Mobility will bypass US auto dealers to sell its first vehicle directly to customers (DTC) for its new automotive brand Afeela. The prospect of steep fines for failing to comply with the EU’s emissions standards has sparked a heated debate within the car industry. India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has emphasised the need for battery swapping facilities to work alongside charging infrastructure in fuel pumps to accelerate adoption of EVs. Following demand from the battery manufacturing industry, the Indian government is considering incentivizing battery component manufacturing to support an expanding EV industry and meet growing energy storage demand.

Autonomous cars and snow

Autonomous vehicles are gaining popularity in drier climates, but struggle with knowing when to brake in snowy, icy conditions. The crux of the issue is automated emergency braking systems, designed to stop vehicles when they detect an object like a pedestrian or another car. Coming to a full stop takes longer on snowy, icy roads, and today’s autonomous vehicles struggle to account for that, he said. Tires could help. Goodyear said it is rolling out new tech that uses information about the type and make of the tires plus weather information pulled off vehicle cameras to predict exactly how long it would take to brake in certain conditions. - WSJ

Robotics operating system for autonomous vehicles

Honda will equip its new 0 Series EVs with the operating system of its retired humanoid robot Asimo, turning it into the command center for the vehicles' self-driving and other software, the carmaker said recently. The 0 Series will go on sale in North America in the first half of 2026. Honda aims to eventually make Level 3 autonomous capabilities standard for the series, allowing the vehicles to operate themselves under certain conditions.

Robotaxis in Uber and Lyft

Uber and Lyft gave up on big plans to develop their own driverless taxis years ago. Now, they are revamping their businesses to accommodate competitors who may have figured it out. The ride-hailing leaders are preparing to bring driverless taxis to your door with new app features that allow customers to use their phones to open trunks and honk horns. They are building infrastructure to maintain the high-tech taxis and training human support staff to handle riders without drivers. - WSJ

Sony Honda and DTC sale

Sony Honda Mobility will bypass US auto dealers to sell its first vehicle from its new automotive brand Afeela. The joint venture from Sony and Honda announced its plan to forgo using a conventional dealer network to distribute its midsize electric sedan during a press conference at the CES 2025 expo in Las Vegas.

Hefty fines for emission standard compliance

The prospect of steep fines for failing to comply with the EU’s emissions standards has sparked a heated debate within the car industry, given the sector is currently not on track to achieve the target. The cap on average emissions from new vehicles sales falls to 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer (g/km) in 2025, reflecting a 15% decrease from a 2021 baseline of 110.1 g/km. Exceeding those limits can result in fines potentially amounting to several billion euros. A perfect storm of challenges on the road to full electrification ensured major car makers endured a torrid time in 2024 — and few expect 2025 to be much better. - CNBC

Battery charging, swapping at petrol pumps

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has emphasised the need for battery swapping facilities to work alongside charging infrastructure to accelerate adoption of EVs. Speaking at a consultation meeting, he urged for a nationwide approach to EV infrastructure, envisioning it as a “people’s movement.” Industry stakeholders highlighted that the battery swapping sector is projected to grow to $20 billion by 2030. - Business Today and ET Auto

Incentives for battery components

The battery manufacturing industry in India has been seeking incentives from the government for manufacturing components like cathode, anode, electrolyte and adhesives. The government is now considering incentivizing battery component manufacturing to support an expanding EV industry and meet growing energy storage demand. The Ministry of Heavy Industries is in the process of identifying locally-produced battery components that need financial support. This could be on the lines of subsidies offered under current production-linked incentive schemes for certain industeries. - ET Auto

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