Hasta La Gadget!

Hey, can’t fault ’em for trying! Volvo, which is widely recognized as one of the safer automakers on the planet, is apparently developing a new pedestrian avoidance system for its motorcars. The concept is pretty simple — if your car senses a human in the way of its path, it’s supposed to alert you, suggest you brake and generally help you avoid tacking a hit ‘n run onto your already impressive rap sheet. As you’ll so clearly see in the video embedded after the break, there’s a reason the automobile industry relies on dummies for crash testing. For what it’s worth, the test was successful the majority of the time, with this particular snafu blamed on improper placement of said dummy. Of course, we certainly hope no one at Volvo expects “improper placement of a human” to excuse the system once implemented in the real world…

Continue reading Volvo pedestrian avoidance test goes horribly, comically wrong (video)

Volvo pedestrian avoidance test goes horribly, comically wrong (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia has largely steered clear of the electric car battlegrounds, focusing instead on smaller, lower-cost options that get good enough gas mileage as-is. It ain’t a bad tactic, but considering that even Rolls Royce is purportedly mulling an EV, the automaker was bound to cave to the peer pressure soon or later. During the upcoming Paris Motor Show, Kia is expected to formally introduce the oddity you see above, which is (for now) only known as the “Pop concept.” The battery-powered whip will emit no emissions whatsoever, measures in at just three meters long and somehow finds enough room for three humans within. Details beyond that are scant (read: nonexistent), but you can head on over to Autoblog Green if you need a few more images to chew on.

Kia’s ‘Pop’ electric car concept makes our inner urbanite swoon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What’s being hailed as North America’s first public-use quick-charge station for electric vehicles has just been unveiled in Portland. The station, built by NEC subsidiary Takasago, is installed in a PGE headquarters parking garage and will charge electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries to 80% in about 20 to 30 minutes. So yeah, it’s public, as long as you’ve got a PGE badge apparently. Anyway, the grand opening was led by Governor Ted Kulongoski, pictured above carefully maintaining a safe distance while charging a Nissan Leaf. Guess you can never be too careful when pumping 50kW into a pre-production vehicle. Click through to see a video demonstration of the future, if we’re lucky.

Update: We’re being told that the quick charge station is installed in a public parking garage that is part of the World Trade Center building in downtown Portland (where PGE’s headquarters are). It costs $3 to park, but charging is on the house. Thanks, Chris!

Continue reading North America’s first public-use quick-charge station opens in Portland: 3-handed politician not included

North America’s first public-use quick-charge station opens in Portland: 3-handed politician not included originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, sure — Shelby’s practically nonexistent Aero EV can recharge in around 10 minutes, but if you’re hoping to find a similarly quick vehicle that’s even close to your price range, you’ve probably come up empty so far. Thankfully, Renault has a mind to change that with the new DeZir. Slated to take the stage at this year’s Paris Motor Show, the lascivious concept rolls with a mid-mounted electric engine capable of screaming a solid 100 miles before petering out. The good news here, though, is that the outfit’s Quick Drop technology enables the battery packs to regain 80 percent of their charge in just 20 minutes using a 400V three-phase current, though a standard household plug will require a good night’s rest (read: eight hours) to rejuvenate it fully. ‘Course, only time will tell if this beaut will ever hit the production line, but we’d go ahead and brace yourself for it to look far tamer should that green light ever get lit.

Continue reading Renault DeZir recharges while you stare, not while you wait

Renault DeZir recharges while you stare, not while you wait originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We thought of theiPad as soon as we first heard the 2011 Hyundai Equus would come with its user manual preloaded on a “multimedia tablet” instead of being printed out, and it looks like our hunch was correct: our friends at Autoblog have confirmed that Hyundai will be shipping a 16GB WiFi iPad with every Equus. The iPad will be packaged in a bespoke leather case with an embossed logo, suede interior, and even kickstand — which’ll come in quite handy as the user manual comes complete with video tutorials for many of the car’s functions. Updates to the software will happen through iTunes, and the iPad sounds pretty stock otherwise, so that’s a nice little perk. Just don’t use it while you’re driving, okay?

2011 Hyundai Equus user manual to be pre-loaded on a custom iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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