Tech track: VW electric van’s new safety features
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric van is being introduced with new intelligent assistance systems that can increase safety and make driving less stressful.
The vehicle can use swarm data (Travel Assist with swarm data) and learn recurring parking manoeuvres (park assist plus with memory function).
Swarm data takes information from other VW vehicles and uploads it to the cloud to then inform other vehicles.
These systems can also be optionally ordered for all other newly produced ID. models from the ID.3 and ID.4 up to the ID.5.
The optional Travel Assist can keep the vehicle in lane, either centred or to one side depending on the settings, maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front as well as maintaining a set speed.
Travel Assist also has predictive cruise control and a cornering assist function.
Here, the vehicle speed can adapt to the current speed limit via sign recognition but also recognise the course of the round and adapt to bends.
When driving on highways at speeds above 90 km/h, Travel Assist with swarm data can even perform lane changes if desired by the driver.
The ID. Buzz also features other automated driver assistance systems (ADAS) that help to increase safety.
How Travel Assist with swarm data works.
The following ADAS are on board as standard:
- Swerve support, oncoming vehicle braking when turning.
- Driver alert system.
- Forward autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring.
- Lane assist.
- Dynamic road sign display.
- Car2X traffic hazard alert function, where vehicles inform each other of critical situations.
Hydrogen panel turns water to gas
KU Leuven researchers in Belgium have created a hydrogen panel similar to a PV panel that directly converts water vapor from the air into hydrogen gas using the electricity produced by the solar panel.
They claim it is possible to produce 250 litres of hydrogen per day, at an efficiency of 15%.
The development, called the Solhyd project, is transitioning from research to commercialisation.
The system works by splitting water molecules collected via a membrane from the air into low-pressure hydrogen using the electricity produced from the solar panels.
The panels are interconnected via gas tubes and the hydrogen is collected at a central point and then compressed if required.
Currently the panels are expensive, but the researchers expect a price curve decrease similar to when solar PV panels came onto the market.
At this stage they expect that the product will be commercially available from 2026 onwards.
Volvo reveals new electric SUV
Volvo has just unveiled the new EX90 in Stockholm.
The revamped full electric SUV is sporting several new features such as a Lidar unit for the driving assistance systems that can detect small objects at a distance of several hundred metres.
The Volvo EX90 has a 111kWh battery using CATL cells with a WLTP range of 590km.
Onboard It has an 11kW bi-directional charger that will charge the battery in 11hrs.
It also boasts 250kW DC charging capability charging the battery from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes.
At a more common 50kW DC charging station it will take 97 minutes.
It even has a claimed towing capacity of 2.2T.
As Volvo have committed to 100% EV sales in Australia by 2026 there is a good possibility that it will make its way Down Under.
Kerbside chargers on the way
Australian charging solutions company EXV has teamed up with British EV charging firm Connected Kerb with plans to install 1,000 kerbside EV chargers.
A growing problem has emerged of owners running charging leads across footpaths and through trees to charge their EVs, creating trip hazards and fire risks.
To alleviate this problem EXV and Connect Kerb are aiming to have the first chargers operational in the first quarter of 2023.
With the sales of EVs doubling in the last year solutions like this are required to ensure everyone can access EV charging infrastructure no matter where they live, existing apartment blocks are currently one area of concern with limited solutions.
These types of EV charging solutions will greatly accelerate EV uptake for those living where installing a home charger simply isn’t possible.
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