A Ford Fusion Energi electric vehicle being recharged at a charging station.Handout / Ford Changes made to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act should help make finding a charging spot a little easier for EV drivers in the province. Because now, parking a car with a regular combustion engine, or even an EV that’s not plugged in, in a designated charging spot could get you a $125 fine. Vehicles must be electric and be actively charging, or they could be hit with the ticket. Leader of the Green Party of Ontario Mike Schreiner told CBC that the bill was proposed after the party learned of the “major issue” that is the lack of charging spots in Ontario. Freeing up those few spots that are available for the cars that need them does seem like a logical step. Schreiner says he also plans to push Progressive Conservatives to add more EV charging infrastructure by incentivizing businesses to install stations. “Having policies in place to put more chargers in government-owned parking lots so that way, as more and more people move to electric vehicles, they have the confidence that they’ll be able to charge those vehicles and get on with their travels,” Schreiner said.The change to the Act marks the first time a private member’s bill by the Green Party has become law. LISTEN: What do you get when you combine a cross-country electric vehicle road trip with a poignant love story? Mary Ann’s Electric Drive, that’s what. In this week’s episode of Plugged In, we chat with Harvey Soicher, a Vancouver man who tragically lost his soul mate 18 months ago but found some semblance of healing by embracing what he calls a ‘pioneer spirit’ to drive his Audi e-tron from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back.
Origin: There’s now a $125 fine for parking a gas car in an EV spot in Ontario
parking
Mercedes-Benz Museum wins approval for driverless parking
The Mercedes-Benz Museum just got a little more futuristic. Parts supplier Bosch and Daimler have announced that they’ve been granted permission by local authorities to set up the world’s first fully autonomous parking system for everyday use in the Mercedes-Benz Museum parking garage in Stuttgart, Germany. The system functions with a smartphone app and Level 4 autonomous vehicles that communicate with Bosch sensors located around the garage to navigate the corridors and find the right spot without hitting anything (or anybody) along the way, and doesn’t require a human “safety driver.” “This decision by the authorities shows that innovations like automated valet parking are possible in Germany first,” Dr. Markus Heyn, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, said in a release. “Driverless driving and parking are important building blocks for tomorrow’s mobility. The automated parking system shows just how far we have already progressed along this development path.” The pair of companies have been working on automated driverless parking since 2015. In 2018, they offered museum goers the chance to experience the system for themselves in the company of a safety driver. Now, the service will be available on a daily basis and without the safety driver. Upon arriving in the parking garage, drivers simply get out of the car and hit “Park” on the smartphone app. And then it parks itself in an assigned space, to return to the drop-off point once it’s summoned—no tip
Origin: Mercedes-Benz Museum wins approval for driverless parking
Mercedes-Benz reveals “world’s first” autonomous valet parking system
German authorities have granted approval for a fully automated valet parking system at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The system, claimed to be the world’s first, will be in daily use at the facility’s parking garage. It collects and returns vehicles automatically, with no monitoring human behind the wheel. The system is operated via a smartphone app; drivers can exit their vehicle, activate the parking process on their phone and then leave the building while the vehicle parks itself in a designated space. Bosch-provided sensors throughout the car park communicate with the Daimler-developed receivers in the vehicle to guide it safely through the driving corridor. The vehicle will stop automatically if an obstacle is detected. The system uses Level 4 driverless technology, which is defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers as “driverless driving in a geographically discrete area”. Daimler says the function is “a comprehensive safety concept with appropriate testing and approval criteria that can be applied beyond this pilot project”. As there was no existing legal framework in place for the regulation of an automated valet system, the Stuttgart regional administrative authority and the local transportation authority were on-hand during development to assess the system’s operating safety. Dr Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management, said: “Driverless driving and parking are important building blocks for tomorrow’s mobility. The automated parking system shows just how far we have already progressed along this development path.” This project is the latest in a series of collaborations between Bosch and Daimler. The supplier is currently developing artificial intelligence software for Daimler’s planned driverless taxis, and recent photos appeared to show a test rig for a new synthetic fuel being co-developed by the pair of German
Origin: Mercedes-Benz reveals “world’s first” autonomous valet parking system
Put on Your Judgy-Pants: Vigilante parking enforcer redraws the lines
Street parking in a suburban neighbourhood.Getty It’s the little things that keep us sane while we drive. People signaling their turns; a wave of thanks if you let them in; parking inside the lines.But let’s look at that last one a little more closely. If you’ve ever circled a crowded city looking for a parking spot like a vulture seeks carrion, you know how irritating it is to find someone has managed to take up two spots by failing to calculate how many vehicles could fit. Without clearly delineated spots, parkers get increasingly random in their aim. Even with painted lines, some people just don’t get it.Enter what some might call an “inspired soul” who decided necessity was the mother of invention. Or at least the reason for grabbing a can of white spray paint. Someone in the Beaches area of Toronto took it upon themselves to help out the city, or their neighbours, or themselves. Who knows? According to the Toronto Star, they spray-painted two parking spot indicators along a stretch of curb that could have room for two cars, if you squint a little, and turn your head sideways. If either car hangs its butt or its nose out a foot, they’ll be blocking someone’s driveway, from the looks of it, but other than that, two cars would fit.It may be hot out there, but pull on your Judgy-Pants anyway.Fed up with people hogging all the street parking, one Toronto resident decided to paint their own lines along the curb—but are they really helping?See the full story: https://t.co/tHn8H7HepR driving.ca (@drivingdotca) July 10,
Origin: Put on Your Judgy-Pants: Vigilante parking enforcer redraws the lines
News Roundup: Crazy Costco parking shenanigans, and Ford vs Chevy shootout
In this file photo, a lot attendant does his best to help park thousands of cars doing last-minute Christmas shopping at Chinook Centre in southwest Calgary.Stuart Dryden / Calgary Sun Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. Vancouver Island’s machete-wielding parking lot bully wanted by police Shoppers brave the cold and packed parking lot at West Edmonton Mall to finish up their Christmas shopping in Edmonton. Jordan Verlage / Edmonton Sun A B.C. woman went full Danny Trejo over a parking spot at a Costco on Vancouver Island last week, threatening a fellow shopper with a machete. Geez, there are plenty of churros in the food court! Chill! The dispute began when a woman pulled into the spot, cutting off a driver who had the right of way. After a brief argument, the spot-stealer reached into her car and withdrew a machete, which she brandished “in a threatening manner,” according to local police. The woman has since been identified and is being sought by police. Smart bids adieu to Canada and the U.S. 2018 Smart Fortwo EQ Cabrio Clayton Seams / Driving Mercedes-Benz Canada has confirmed that Smart will be letting the axe fall on sales of its tiny car in the U.S. and Canada. In a statement, the brand attributes the pull back to “a number of factors, including a declining microcar market in the U.S. and Canada, combined with high homologation costs for a low-volume model.” The Smart car was introduced to the North American market in 2008, but never really managed to take root. By 2017, just 368 Smarts were sold in Canada, followed by just 345 in 2018 when the brand switched to an all-electric model. The clever little car apparently wasn’t smart enough for us. Or was it too smart? We may never know. Why running your gas tank right down to empty is potentially bad for you, your wallet and your car Ever wonder how far you can drive when the fuel needle reaches E? It’s not worth the risk. Handout / Fotolia With gas prices soaring, it’s understandable that we all want to get the most out of each tank. But while seeing just how far you can drive after that empty warning light has come on may seem like a logical way to get the most bang for your buck, it’s actually not. In Lorraine Sommerfeld’s recent column, she explains why letting your tank run on or near empty is silly, financially and mechanically irresponsible, and even dangerous. Things you need to consider before playing a game of chicken with your fuel gauge include but are not limited to: the fact that your car’s fuel pump will last longer if you keep the tank topped up, whether or not you have CAA, whether your car will lose brakes and power steering when the engine cuts from lack of fuel, and whether inclines or declines on the road ahead will make the last dredges of fuel inaccessible to the engine. Virginia man shoots girlfriend and her son after Ford vs Chevrolet argument Ford Mustang GT vs. Chevrolet Camaro SS Nick Tragianis / Driving A Virginia man decided words weren’t getting through to his girlfriend or her adult son during an argument over which brand makes better vehicles: Ford or Chevrolet. So, he pulled out a knife, stabbed her, then pulled out a gun and shot her five times and her son once — from machetes in Canada to guns in the U.S. The two victims were seriously but not critically injured. Then, after barricading himself in his house while police surrounded tried to coax him out, the 56-year-old shooter was eventually arrested and given multiple charges, including possessing a firearm as a felon. Listen, America, you’re going to have to admit one of two things here: either you have a car problem, or a gun problem. I think you know which one it is Here are some basic low-tech mechanical elements automakers still can’t seem to get right You’d think as technology advances, automakers would figure out the simple stuff in our cars — like power window switches and motors. Nick Tragianis / Driving The more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s the sentiment in this week’s Your Corner Wrench column with Brian Turner, who argues that, despite the technical leaps and bounds within the auto industry, there are still a handful of simple things that continue to give drivers and mechanics grief. HVAC blower motor resistors, alternators or generators, and window mechanisms are proof that, even with the future already here, the past hasn’t parted just yet. Here’s hoping Toyota brings the 2.0-litre turbo Supra to Canada 2020 Toyota Supra Derek McNaughton / Driving Emissions files submitted by Toyota suggest that the U.S. (California, specifically) will be receiving the 2.0-litre turbo-four version of the 2020 Supra that has previously only been available in markets overseas. Whether the smaller
Origin: News Roundup: Crazy Costco parking shenanigans, and Ford vs Chevy shootout
News Roundup: B.C. woman pulls out machete to defend Costco parking spot
In this file photo, a lot attendant does his best to help park thousands of cars doing last-minute Christmas shopping at Chinook Centre in southwest Calgary.Stuart Dryden / Calgary Sun Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. Vancouver Island’s machete-wielding parking lot bully wanted by police Shoppers brave the cold and packed parking lot at West Edmonton Mall to finish up their Christmas shopping in Edmonton. Jordan Verlage / Edmonton Sun A B.C. woman went full Danny Trejo over a parking spot at a Costco on Vancouver Island last week, threatening a fellow shopper with a machete. Geez, there are plenty of churros in the food court! Chill! The dispute began when a woman pulled into the spot, cutting off a driver who had the right of way. After a brief argument, the spot-stealer reached into her car and withdrew a machete, which she brandished “in a threatening manner,” according to local police. The woman has since been identified and is being sought by police. Smart bids adieu to Canada and the U.S. 2018 Smart Fortwo EQ Cabrio Clayton Seams / Driving Mercedes-Benz Canada has confirmed that Smart will be letting the axe fall on sales of its tiny car in the U.S. and Canada. In a statement, the brand attributes the pull back to “a number of factors, including a declining microcar market in the U.S. and Canada, combined with high homologation costs for a low-volume model.” The Smart car was introduced to the North American market in 2008, but never really managed to take root. By 2017, just 368 Smarts were sold in Canada, followed by just 345 in 2018 when the brand switched to an all-electric model. The clever little car apparently wasn’t smart enough for us. Or was it too smart? We may never know. Why running your gas tank right down to empty is potentially bad for you, your wallet and your car Ever wonder how far you can drive when the fuel needle reaches E? It’s not worth the risk. Handout / Fotolia With gas prices soaring, it’s understandable that we all want to get the most out of each tank. But while seeing just how far you can drive after that empty warning light has come on may seem like a logical way to get the most bang for your buck, it’s actually not. In Lorraine Sommerfeld’s recent column, she explains why letting your tank run on or near empty is silly, financially and mechanically irresponsible, and even dangerous. Things you need to consider before playing a game of chicken with your fuel gauge include but are not limited to: the fact that your car’s fuel pump will last longer if you keep the tank topped up, whether or not you have CAA, whether your car will lose brakes and power steering when the engine cuts from lack of fuel, and whether inclines or declines on the road ahead will make the last dredges of fuel inaccessible to the engine. Virginia man shoots girlfriend and her son after Ford vs Chevrolet argument Ford Mustang GT vs. Chevrolet Camaro SS Nick Tragianis / Driving A Virginia man decided words weren’t getting through to his girlfriend or her adult son during an argument over which brand makes better vehicles: Ford or Chevrolet. So, he pulled out a knife, stabbed her, then pulled out a gun and shot her five times and her son once — from machetes in Canada to guns in the U.S. The two victims were seriously but not critically injured. Then, after barricading himself in his house while police surrounded tried to coax him out, the 56-year-old shooter was eventually arrested and given multiple charges, including possessing a firearm as a felon. Listen, America, you’re going to have to admit one of two things here: either you have a car problem, or a gun problem. I think you know which one it is Here are some basic low-tech mechanical elements automakers still can’t seem to get right You’d think as technology advances, automakers would figure out the simple stuff in our cars — like power window switches and motors. Nick Tragianis / Driving The more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s the sentiment in this week’s Your Corner Wrench column with Brian Turner, who argues that, despite the technical leaps and bounds within the auto industry, there are still a handful of simple things that continue to give drivers and mechanics grief. HVAC blower motor resistors, alternators or generators, and window mechanisms are proof that, even with the future already here, the past hasn’t parted just yet. Here’s hoping Toyota brings the 2.0-litre turbo Supra to Canada 2020 Toyota Supra Derek McNaughton / Driving Emissions files submitted by Toyota suggest that the U.S. (California, specifically) will be receiving the 2.0-litre turbo-four version of the 2020 Supra that has previously only been available in markets overseas. Whether the smaller
Origin: News Roundup: B.C. woman pulls out machete to defend Costco parking spot
Vancouver Island woman whips out machete to defend Costco parking spot
Shoppers brave the cold and packed parking lot at West Edmonton Mall to finish up their Christmas shopping in Edmonton.Jordan Verlage Don’t believe me? Think it’s an observance about a broken love? Nope. For a Vancouver Island woman, it was about being closer to the door when she came out with a two-year supply of toilet paper, or whatever else she went to Costco go buy. It was a classic meet-cute that turned into gunslinger stand-off in the blink of an eye. Two women spied the same empty parking spot at the same time, and did the only understandable thing: one dove in to cut off the first, then they started arguing about it. (Caveat: I don’t get this. Has anyone ever seen someone remove themselves from a spot they’ve already claimed because the other person yelled at them?) So far, the story is pretty standard-issue adult playground hijinx. Until the winner pulled a machete on the loser. What now? Police were called when she brandished the knife in a threatening manner, though I’m not sure how many ways you could hold a machete that wouldn’t make me feel a little threatened, especially in the middle of an acre of asphalt. I’ll admit, this was a headline I couldn’t skip past, but I bet there were parents with kids in the parking lot that day who could have used a little less violent way to prove it’s always a good idea to be a courteous driver, even if you have to walk a few more steps. Take Our
Origin: Vancouver Island woman whips out machete to defend Costco parking spot
Tesla spontaneously combusts in Shanghai parking garage
Tesla is investigating an incident in Shanghai where one of its cars apparently burst into flames while parked – and NIO Inc., its electric-vehicle competitor in China, is now doing the same. The video, taken by a closed-circuit camera and posted on Twitter by @ShanghaiJayin, shows a Tesla Model S parked alongside three other vehicles in an underground garage. Smoke initially comes out from under the front wheel wells, followed by what appears to be an explosion of flames from under the front of the car. Good or bad, negative or positive I will post anything about Tesla or EVs in China. This happened today in Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 1st generation Tesla Model S caught Fire 🔥 underground car park.#Tesla #TeslaChina #ModelS #Fire #China #Shanghai #特斯拉 #中国 $TSLA pic.twitter.com/HOwMcvulV1 Jay in Shanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) April 21, 2019 Fifteen hours later, @ShanghaiJayin posted another video, this time of a NIO ES8 on fire at a repair centre in Xi’an, China. Tesla said that, to the best of its knowledge, there were no casualties in the fire, while NIO said that no one was hurt in the fire at its repair facility. Both companies are investigating the cause of the fires. On April 17, 2019, a Tesla Model X sport-utility spontaneously caught fire and burned for several hours in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, three hours after it was towed to a repair facility. The vehicle was being inspected, as it had already caught fire in February while parked in its owner’s garage. According to several news outlets, a Tesla engineer had removed a fuse from the battery pack so it would be safe to transport to Monroeville. According to news agency Bloomberg, there were at least 40 fire-related incidents in China in 2018 involving “new-energy” vehicles, which includes electrics, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles. China’s government authority, the State Administration for Market Regulation, recalled more than 130,000 cars last year and is calling for more oversight on the quality of electrified vehicles. Other Twitter videos showed the aftermath of the Tesla fire, with the car destroyed and the vehicles beside it damaged. Reports are that the Tesla was not plugged in and being charged at the time. Tesla currently imports all of its China-market cars from its US factory, but is building a factory in Shanghai to produce the Model 3 for local
Origin: Tesla spontaneously combusts in Shanghai parking garage
All about car 