ALBANY, N.Y. (March 26, 2024) — A major bridge in Baltimore partially collapsed early Tuesday morning after it was hit by a container ship, sending several vehicles plunging into the water below and prompting a massive search and rescue effort. The…
Tag: Transportation
Charging up the commute
A team of researchers at ORNL demonstrated that a light-duty passenger electric vehicle can be wirelessly charged at 100-kW with 96% efficiency using polyphase electromagnetic coupling coils with rotating magnetic fields.
A new approach to transportation: Pairing off-street parking with electric scooters
A pilot program led by Argonne and the Civic Infrastructure Collaborative uncovers a fun and creative way to make urban transportation more environmentally friendly.
Auto industry deadlines loom for impaired-driver detection tech, U-M offers a low-cost solution
Cameras similar to those already on newer model cars, combined with facial recognition tools, could read the “tells” of impairment in the face and upper body of a driver, University of Michigan engineers have shown.
Argonne wins two technology transfer awards from the Federal Laboratory Consortium
Argonne received two awards for technology commercialization from the Federal Laboratory Consortium.
Road features that predict crash sites identified in new machine-learning model
Issues such as abrupt changes in speed limits and incomplete lane markings are among the most influential factors that can predict road crashes, finds new research by University of Massachusetts Amherst engineers.
Argonne, Achates Power break new ground developing hydrogen-powered engine for decarbonizing long-haul commercial vehicles
Argonne scientists demonstrate potential of opposed-piston engine powered by zero-carbon hydrogen
Park less, walk more
A new study shows how delivery companies can save time and money by designing drop-off and pick-up routes that require their drivers walk more to reduce the amount of time they spend driving around congested urban streets looking for a place to park.
UNLV Experts Available: Super Bowl 2024
The Super Bowl: It’s annually one of the nation’s most-watched television broadcasts. And this year it’s happening in what’s perhaps the most fitting destination yet — Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World. From tourism and gaming to history and health, UNLV has experts who are uniquely poised to share perspectives on the sport, as well as the city where the Big Game is being held.
SMU working with transportation nonprofit Feonix Mobility Rising, other universities to improve health disparities in Dallas and Detroit
Janille Smith-Colin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at SMU (Southern Methodist University) is part of a team that has just received a $6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ComPASS program to improve health disparities in Dallas and Detroit.
Dr. Federico Vaca to lead Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
Irvine, Calif., Sept. 25, 2023 —University of California, Irvine emergency medicine physician Federico Vaca, one of the nation’s leading researchers on motor vehicle crash injuries and prevention, has been named president of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.
How a ‘just’ EV transition hinges on a looming labor strike
The United Auto Workers is threatening to strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, if contract agreements aren’t reached with the automakers by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. Among the union’s demands is that it represents workers at 10 electric vehicle…
MSU hires Judd Herzer for new mobility director role
Michigan State University today named Judd Herzer as the director of MSU Mobility to help amplify and focus the university’s vast research activities in the smart-vehicle landscape.
Groundbreaking e-scooter study shows surface transitions as most common hurdle
A historic study has provided first-time insights on electric scooters. In September 2019, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) began the first large-scale naturalistic driving study of electric scooter, also known as e-scooter, riders. Over the span of 18 months, 50 scooters, equipped with forward-facing cameras and other research equipment, collected over 9,000 miles of data from over 200,000 rides on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus.
Safe train transport
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers used images from a photo-sharing website to identify crude oil train routes across the nation to provide data that could help transportation planners better understand regional impacts.
Argonne receives inaugural Green Fleet Award from Department of Energy
Argonne was honored with the first Green Fleet Award as the laboratory continues to purchase zero-emissions vehicles.
GW Expert Available: I-95 Highway Collapse in Philadelphia After Tanker Truck Fire
In Philadelphia, Monday morning traffic slowed drivers who tried to find new routes around a closed section of northbound I-95, which collapsed yesterday after a tanker truck caught fire underneath the highway overpass. Authorities say it could take months to repair, impacting…
Americans walk less frequently and less safely compared to other countries
A stroll through international statistics about walking reveals the grim reality of foot travel in the United States. “People walk less in the United States because it’s more dangerous to walk here and walking conditions are worse compared to other countries,” said Ralph Buehler, professor of urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech.
UC Irvine study shows traffic-related air pollution in Irvine weakens brain function
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have found that exposure to traffic-related air pollution in Irvine led to memory loss and cognitive decline and triggered neurological pathways associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
A new look at the electric vehicle supply chain as battery-powered cars hit the roads en masse
Researchers at Argonne have published a series of reports that look at how production of electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries for cars are reshaping the transportation sector, with impacts ranging from job creation to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
FAU Lands $2 Million for ‘Center for Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities’
The center will focus on “Preserving the Environment,” to support the U.S. DOT’s climate solution and sustainability goals. The center will promote transit access, multimodal infrastructure, compact and efficient land use patterns, as well as resilience and climate mitigation and adaptation.
Transforming Highways for High-Speed Travel and Energy Transport
In APL Energy, researchers developed a proof of concept for a superconducting highway that could transport vehicles and electricity, cooling the necessary superconductors with a pipeline of liquid hydrogen. Most magnetic levitation designs feature the superconductor inside the vehicle, which is suspended above a magnetic track. The authors decided to flip that arrangement upside down, putting the superconductor on the ground and giving each vehicle a magnet. The result is a system with multiple uses, placing it within the realm of affordability.
Distracted driving on the rise, but rather than the problem, expert says technology could be the solution
In the digital age, an increased desire for constant online connection has created safety hazards for drivers on the road. It’s especially top of mind during the month of April, which is Distracted Driver Awareness Month, but Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) researcher, Charlie Klauer says that technology can also be part of the solution.
Tax credit tool tracks EV savings
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have developed an online resource to help consumers understand the electric vehicle tax credits available through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Multilab Separations Consortium puts biofuel on the path to decarbonization
BETO Bioprocessing Separations Consortium spotlights projects from three-year work period.
U.S. Department of Energy and Stellantis announce the Battery Workforce Challenge
BattChallenge is a three-year competition joining universities with vocational partners, such as community colleges, trades and apprenticeship programs, to design, build, test and integrate an advanced EV battery into a future Stellantis vehicle.
GW Expert: Spring Travel Rebounding Strongly for 2023
As the spring break season gets underway in the U.S., experts say it’ll turn out to be a very busy couple of months for travel activities, both domestically and internationally. If you would like more context on this matter, please…
Argonne is helping U.S. companies advance battery recycling technology and strengthen the nation’s battery supply chain
Companies from across the United States have partnered with the experts at Argonne to advance their battery reuse and recycling projects, thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
A Smarter Look at Traffic Congestion
NYU Tandon School of Engineering will continue its multi-faceted research and educational program to understand and combat traffic congestion, thanks to a five-year commitment of $2 million in annual federal funds recently awarded by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Argonne drops data on the question of efficient drone use for e-commerce deliveries
New models developed by Argonne can help industry discover the energy impact of drone delivery for e-commerce goods. A new study focuses on drone energy consumption compared to using conventional diesel trucks and battery-operated electric vehicles.
America on the Move: How Urban Travel Has Changed Over a Decade
A new study reveals that although private automobiles continue to be the dominant travel mode in American cities, the share of car trips has slightly and steadily decreased since its peak in 2001. In contrast, the share of transit, non-motorized, and taxicab (including ride-hailing) trips has steadily increased.
5 Ways Argonne is driving auto innovation
Spotlighting Argonne innovations in electric vehicles during the Chicago Auto Show.
ORNL’s Derek Splitter receives 2023 U.S. Early Career Combustion Investigator Award
Splitter, who is a senior researcher in fuel science and engine technologies, was selected for his early career contributions in combustion as well as his potential for future leadership in the field and service to the research community
Researchers Propose a Fourth Light on Traffic Signals – For Self-Driving Cars
At a traffic light, red means stop and green means go. But transportation engineers are now proposing a “white light,” which would enable autonomous vehicles to help control traffic flow – and let human drivers know what’s going on.
UC Irvine Earth system scientists plot pathways for climate-conscious air travel
With its high-carbon footprint, air travel challenges the goal set by many countries of stabilizing global mean temperature by the middle of the 21st century. The aviation sector could achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through a combination of technology and a change in habits, but it’s not going to be easy, according to Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine.
Tackling Crowd Management in Subways during Pandemics
Mass transit, and subways in particular, are essential to the economic viability and environmental sustainability of cities across the globe. But public transit was hit hard during the COVID pandemic and subways especially experienced substantial drops in ridership.
Story tips from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, December 2022
Naturally derived materials fit for 3D printing; Next-gen hydropower starts with testing; Long-haul trucking meets megawatt-scale charging; New insights advance atomic-scale manufacturing
Designing Next-Generation Metals, One Atom at a Time
Direct visualization of metal atoms during shear deformation has broad applications from battery design to vehicle lightweighting.
What will it cost to cut the carbon footprint of cars sold in the U.S?
Argonne worked with automakers and energy companies to conduct a cradle-to-grave analysis of light-duty vehicles, which estimated the current and potential future costs and greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles over the entire course of their life cycle.
Entrepreneurship program at Argonne National Laboratory opens applications for startups
Chain Reaction Innovations, the entrepreneurship program at Argonne National Laboratory, is accepting applications for its next fellowship cohort.
Fueling your curiosity: Argonne answers top questions on hydrogen fuel
As part of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, Argonne answers common questions surrounding hydrogen as an energy carrier.
University of Redlands vision project aided by state funding
The University of Redlands is one step closer to making its University Village project a reality after receiving $8 million in funding from the State of California.
“University Village began as a vision and has evolved into an environmentally sustainable master plan that will bring significant fiscal and economic growth, new housing, and jobs to our area,” said University of Redlands President Krista L. Newkirk.
First global survey of mayors shows urgent climate, infrastructure, equity challenges
A new global survey of city leaders underscores pressing challenges facing municipalities, including rising inequality, extreme heat and flood risks exacerbated by climate change, and a need to rebalance transportation systems that overly favor private automobiles.
FAU Hurricane Evacuation Expert Available to Discuss Hurricane Ian
Florida Atlantic University’s John Renne, Ph.D., is available to discuss evacuation and other hurricane-related issues with the media. Renne is a professor and director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. He recently published a first-of-its-kind study, “What Has…
FAU Hurricane Evacuation Expert Available to Discuss Tropical Depression Nine/Hurricane Hermine
Florida Atlantic University’s John Renne, Ph.D., is available to discuss evacuation and other hurricane-related issues with the media. Renne is a professor and director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. He recently published a first-of-its-kind study, “What Has…
UCI and national lab researchers develop a cobalt-free cathode for lithium-ion batteries
Irvine, Calif., Sept. 21, 2022 – Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and four national laboratories have devised a way to make lithium-ion battery cathodes without using cobalt, a mineral plagued by price volatility and geopolitical complications. In a paper published today in Nature, the scientists describe how they overcame thermal and chemical-mechanical instabilities of cathodes composed substantially of nickel – a common substitute for cobalt – by mixing in several other metallic elements.
Thailand Clean Mobility Program (TCMP) Visioning Workshop with Youth
Chulalongkorn University Transportation Institute, in collaboration with GIZ and OTP, organized learning sessions and workshop for the Thailand Clean Mobility Program at the Chulalongkorn University Social Innovation Hub (CU Social Innovation Hub), Visid Prachuabmoh Building, on July 5 and 7, 2022.
Climate deal promotes ‘car-centric’ system, falls short on transit
As senators gear up to vote on a long-anticipated climate, tax and energy bill as soon as this week, electric vehicles are poised for a boost. One of the landmark provisions in the package is an extension and expansion of…
Schaeffler and KIT: Strategic Partnership Boosts Mobility Research
Electric drives, batteries, hydrogen technology, autonomous vehicles: the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the industrial supplier Schaeffler have been cooperating on pioneering mobility solutions for many years. Now a strategic partnership aims to strengthen their efforts to develop and deploy new technologies and ideas; the partners signed an agreement in Karlsruhe on July 4, 2022.
Cooking Up a Conductive Alternative to Copper with Aluminum
The first-ever simulation of aluminum conductivity offers a recipe for an inexpensive, lightweight alternative to copper.