Toronto, Ontario – In this week’s electric and autonomous vehicle report, a project to install up to 200 electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the Yukon, Toyota demonstrates its self-drifting technology and Nissan presents its first all-electric SUV.
Charge up
The Government of Yukon and Natural Resources Canada are collaborating on a $2.15 million CAD project to install up to 200 level-2 EV chargers across the province.
First Nations governments and municipalities can use the Good Energy rebate to reimburse 90 percent the cost of a level 2 EV charger, while businesses in the province can receive a 75 percent reimbursement.
“Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the Yukon,” said Nils Clarke, Yukon’s Minister of the Environment. “Encouraging the installation of electric vehicle chargers in the territory supports our broader transition to battery electric vehicles, improve our air quality and help protect our environment for future generations.
Tokyo Drift
Once restricted to the realms of Hollywood and video games, Toyota’s new drift technology might have you drifting along icy roads in the future.
A recent video by Toyota Research Institute (TRI) showcases a vehicle drifting autonomously, demonstrating its ability to autonomously drift around obstacles on a closed track.
This active drifting system is intended to avoid accidents from black ice, hazard road conditions or sudden obstacles. By building automated skills comparable to an expert driver, this technology can elevate a regular driver’s ability to evade dangerous situations – to professional levels or beyond.
“When faced with wet or slippery roads, professional drivers may choose to ‘drift’ the car through a turn,” said Goh. “Most of us are not professional drivers.”
Until then, please do not practice drifting on the 401. You will crash and get ticketed.
Thunder Yellow
On Feb. 3, Nissan Canada unveiled the 2023 Ariya SUV, the first all-electric SUV in Nissan’s lineup.
According to Toyota, the 2023 Ariya is the first production model representing their shift towards electric vehicles with assistive technologies like driver assistance and connectivity systems.
In addition to more traditional updates like improved cabin space, faster motors and smoother suspensions, the 2023 Ariya has connectivity systems and enough screens to scare the nearest Luddite. Besides connecting to Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay, it also connects to Nissan’s “Remote Software Upgrade.” This affects the software that controls the multimedia system, electric and electronic architecture, chassis, climate system and EV settings on your vehicle.
The 2023 Ariya is available in six variants with different capabilities and price points, with non-premium variants available for reservation on Nissan’s website.