Self-Healing Tire
In late March, Goodyear demonstrated its self-repairing tire, the reCharge.
Made from a fibre-reinforced liquid compound, the is self-healing, with the liquid pooling and solidifying into a rubber-like layer.
The liquid can be added throughout the vehicle’s life.
Goodyear plans to have an AI component create special treads for the tire, which can be added to the tire by the user.
While the self-repairing tire might sound like a harbinger of doom for the auto repair sector, similar projects have failed to get off the ground.
In 2017, Lambourghini unveiled its concept car, the Terzo Millennio, which would use carbon nanotubes to self-repair its own body panels.
Self-Driving to the Rescue
Nuro has received a special license from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test its autonomous vehicles. The California start-up will operate its tests in nine cities.
Californians are currently under state-wide orders to shelter-in-place in order to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. Nuro believes its timing could not be better.
One of its executives, David Estrada, told various press outlets that its fleet could provide groceries without the need for drivers to be in contact with isolating individuals.
Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including parts of Atherton, East Palo Alto, Los Altos and six other cities.
Nuro previously tested driverless 5,000 vehicles in Texas.
Electric Shuffle
Electric vehicles are likely to drop precipitously around the globe, new research paper from Wood Mackenzie has found.
The paper argues that the total sale of electric vehicles will be down by almost half of 2019 sales in 2020. Factors cited include manufacturing problems caused by the Coronavirus outbreak and record-low gas prices.
While sales of EVs may be headed downward, another study has said that EV chargers might be in for a comparitively sunny stretch.
In its paper, Allied Market Research found the EV charger market would likely grow to $25.5 billion U.S. around the globe by 2027–up from under $4 billion U.S. in 2019.
