Automotive News: Death of Internal Combustion Engine, Tesla Tests Driver-Free Trucks, Takata Air Bag Lawsuits
The death of the internal combustion engine
It had a good run. But the end is in sight for the machine that changed the world
“HUMAN inventiveness…has still not found a mechanical process to replace horses as the propulsion for vehicles,” lamented Le Petit Journal, a French newspaper, in December 1893. Its answer was to organise the Paris-Rouen race for horseless carriages, held the following July. The 102 entrants included vehicles powered by steam, petrol, electricity, compressed air and hydraulics. Only 21 qualified for the 126km (78-mile) race, which attracted huge crowds. The clear winner was the internal combustion engine. Over the next century it would go on to power industry and change the world.
But its days are numbered. Rapid gains in battery technology favour electric motors instead (see Briefing). In Paris in 1894 not a single electric car made it to the starting line, partly because they needed battery-replacement stations every 30km or so. Today’s electric cars, powered by lithium-ion batteries, can do much better. The Chevy Bolt has a range of 383km; Tesla fans recently drove a Model S more than 1,000km on a single charge. UBS, a bank, reckons the “total cost of ownership” of an electric car will reach parity with a petrol one next year—albeit at a loss to its manufacturer. It optimistically predicts electric vehicles will make up 14% of global car sales by 2025, up from 1% today. Others have more modest forecasts, but are hurriedly revising them upwards as batteries get cheaper and better—the cost per kilowatt-hour has fallen from $1,000 in 2010 to $130-200 today. Regulations are tightening, too. Last month Britain joined a lengthening list of electric-only countries, saying that all new cars must be zero-emission by 2050.
The shift from fuel and pistons to batteries and electric motors is unlikely to take that long. The first death rattles of the internal combustion engine are already reverberating around the world—and many of the consequences will be welcome. read more »
Tesla seeking to test driver-free electric trucks on public roads
Leaked correspondence with Nevada vehicle regulator reveal Elon Musk’s plans for fully autonomous electric freight
Tesla is working on electric, self-driving trucks that can travel in “platoons” or road trains capable of following a lead vehicle, according to leaked correspondence with regulators.
The electric truck, which is due to be unveiled in September by Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, is close to prototype on-road testing, with both Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and California officials in talks to permit trials on public roads.
In an email to the Nevada DMV, Tesla sought permission to “operate our prototype test trucks in a continuous manner across the state line and within the states of Nevada and California in a platooning and/or autonomous mode without having a person in the vehicle”, which would be one of the first tests not including a human driver in the vehicle if permitted. read more »
Japan's Takata files another attempt to stay U.S. air bag lawsuits
Japanese auto supplier Takata Corp filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Wednesday in an effort to pause lawsuits against the company over faulty air bag inflators - more than a month after its U.S. unit filed for bankruptcy in the same court.
In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, Takata said the Chapter 15 petition was critical to ensure the "continuation of Takata's business, preserving tens of thousands of jobs and ensuring that Takata's business partners continue to have access to critical components that ensure the safety of drivers worldwide."
The petition came as Takata's U.S. business separately asked a federal bankruptcy judge to suspend lawsuits against automakers that have been brought by air bag victims.
Major automakers including BMW AG, Ford Motor Co , Honda Motor Co Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp sided with Takata in backing a six-month delay in lawsuits.
Takata and automakers face hundreds of lawsuits including actions brought by Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and New Mexico.
Ford Mondeo to be checked for cheat device by German transport watchdog
Germany has ordered its road transport watchdog to look at whether the Ford Mondeo midsize car contains an illegal emissions cheating device, business weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported.
The inspections were prompted by emission test data that could indicate the use of such devices, the magazine said in a report Thursday.
The transport ministry has confirmed the magazine's information about the tests and they are already underway. read more »
Nissan recalling 52,016 Titan pickups in US, Canada
Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 52,016 Titan pickup trucks because their rear seat belts might not adequately protect passengers.
The recall affects the 2016-2016 Nissan Titan Crew Cab and Titan XD Crew Cab pickups. read more »
