News Feature Channel: Travel and Transportation

A New Era for Batteries: Argonne Leads $50m Sodium-Ion Innovation Push

Argonne National Laboratory — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:45:39 EST

A consortium of 13 national laboratories and universities aims to develop high-energy, long-lasting sodium-ion batteries that are made from inexpensive, abundant materials and reduce U.S. reliance on critical elements used in electric-vehicle batteries.

Study Reveals COVID-19's Impact on Global City Mobility

Washington University in St. Louis — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:25:37 EST

COVID-19 reshaped mobility patterns worldwide, affecting walking, driving and public transit use, finds a new study published in The Lancet Public Health. The research, led by an international team including researchers in the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, analyzed data from nearly 300 cities to understand how urban transportation habits adapted during the pandemic.

Powering the Future: Overcoming Key Challenges in Electric Vehicle Battery Technology

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:45:40 EST

A groundbreaking review article delves into the critical challenges facing electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, offering insights into current research trends and future advancements. The study examines the performance, safety, and environmental impact of various battery types, including lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. It also explores innovative management techniques and highlights the importance of developing cost-effective, sustainable, and safe battery solutions to support the growth of electric mobility.

Holiday Travel: Traffic Expert Offers Advice for Avoiding Congestion

Virginia Tech — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:10:43 EST

Nobody enjoys sitting in traffic, especially during the holidays. Hesham Rakha, director for the Center for Sustainable Mobility at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, said if you are going to avoid traffic when traveling for Thanksgiving and Christmas, "you're going to have to make some sacrifices." "You have to choose temporal times where people don't want to travel," Rakha said.

No Wires Needed! Quick and Safe Docking with Automated Mooring for Autonomous Ships

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:53 EST

The Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM) has successfully developed an advanced automated mooring system aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of docking operations for autonomous vessels. Designed to overcome the limitations of conventional wire-based mooring methods, this innovative system is projected to be commercially available by 2025, significantly contributing to the progress of smart port technology.

Q&A: UW Professor Discusses How Academia Can Help Battery Manufacturing in the US

University of Washington — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:50:41 EST

Jie Xiao, University of Washington professor of mechanical engineering, talks about batteries and how academia can help support the growing domestic battery manufacturing industry.

Three Ways NAU and SRP Are Protecting the Water and Electric Grid in Arizona

Northern Arizona University — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:45:42 EST

Teams from Northern Arizona University and the Salt River Project collaborated on several research projects, including ones aimed at protecting the Salt and Verde River watersheds and ensuring the power grid can handle the increasing number of electric vehicles on the road.

Expert Available: Maryland Recommends Knocking Down & Replacing Chesapeake Bay Bridge Spans

George Washington University — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:31 EST

The Washington Post reports the Maryland Transportation Authority has recommended knocking down both the eastbound and westbound spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and replacing them with new, potentially wider, spans.

Expert Available: Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy

George Washington University — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:25 EST

The airline says it will continue to operate while it restructures its debt. ...

NYC's Ride-Hailing Fee Failed to Ease Manhattan Traffic, New NYU Tandon Study Reveals

NYU Tandon School of Engineering — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:00:12 EST

New York City's 2019 ride-hailing surcharge cut overall taxi and ride-share trips by 11 percent in Manhattan but failed to reduce traffic congestion, a key goal of the policy, according to a new NYU Tandon School of Engineering study published in Transportation Research Part A."While this surcharge differs from the MTA's proposed congestion pricing plan, the study's findings can contribute to the current discourse," said Daniel Vignon, who led the research.

Innovative Sutton Project Supports Socially and Environmentally Responsible Densification

Universite de Montreal — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:00:20 EST

An architectural project in Sutton aims to tackle the housing crisis while promoting sustainable development and social inclusion.

Detecting Battery Failures Quicker

Sandia National Laboratories — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:30:15 EST

Batteries in electric vehicles can fail quickly, sometimes catching fire without much warning. Sandia National Laboratories is working to detect these failures early and provide sufficient warning time to vehicle occupants.

Rethinking Electric Bus Depots as 'Profitable Energy Hubs'

University of Utah — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:00:39 EST

How do you electrify a populous city's transit without destabilizing its grid? New research into Beijing's 27,000-bus system explores using depots to generate a solar power.

Patients Outside Metropolitan Areas Often Travel Significantly More Than 20 Minutes for Primary Care Visit

American College of Physicians (ACP) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:00:00 EST

A cross-sectional study of U.S. healthcare utilization survey data provided a nationally representative measure of patient travel patterns across provider types.

Curious by Nature: Dr. Nathan Johnson - What is Renewable Energy Missing

News — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 04:25:19 EST

Dr. Nathan Johnson, a systems engineering professor at Arizona State University and an expert in innovative energy solutions. He shares his vision for a sustainable energy future and outlines his team's six-step approach to renewable energy projects.

How EVs, Environmental Disasters & Even Online Shopping Shape the Future of Transportation

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:15:26 EST

"Tell me the numbers, I'll take care of the politics." Shashi Nambisan, director of the Transportation Research Center (TRC) at UNLV, recalled a pivotal discussion in the early 1990s with then-County Commissioner Bruce L. Woodbury about the transportation needs of a region on the precipice of substantial growth.

FSU Researcher Available to Comment on Climate Impact of Shipping Emissions

Florida State University — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:30:38 EST

By: Kayla Cardenas | Published: October 31, 2024 | 12:25 pm | SHARE: As international shipping continues to power global trade, its environmental impact is becoming an increasingly urgent topic in climate science research.At Florida State University, Assistant Professor of Meteorology Michael Diamond is at the forefront of research on the environmental impact of shipping.

A Trick of Light: UC Irvine Researchers Turn Silicon Into Direct Bandgap Semiconductor

University of California, Irvine — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:10:03 EST

Irvine, Calif., Oct. 31, 2024 -- By creating a new way for light and matter to interact, researchers at the University of California, Irvine have enabled the manufacturing of ultrathin silicon solar cells that could help spread the energy-converting technology to a vast range of applications, including thermoelectric clothing and onboard vehicle and device charging.

Expert Available: FAA Rule Requiring Airlines to Provide Refunds for Canceled Flights Now In Effect

George Washington University — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:42 EST

The Department of Transportation said the final federal rule went into effect on Monday, coming ahead of a busy upcoming holiday travel season. ...

SMU Solution May Be to Low-Cost, Long-Lasting Renewable Batteries for Electric Vehicles

Southern Methodist University — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 09:20:51 EST

Lithium-sulfur batteries have never lived up to their potential as the next generation of renewable batteries for electric vehicles and other devices. But SMU mechanical engineer Donghai Wang and his research team have found a way to make these Li-S batteries last longer - with higher energy levels - than existing renewable batteries. The research team has been able to prevent Li-S batteries from producing an unwanted side effect known as polysulfide dissolution that appears over time, shortening their lifespan.