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GMB demands government comes clean over ‘cosy’ Uber relationship
March 27, 2017
The government must come clean over its apparently cosy relationship with US taxi firm Uber, demands GMB, the union representing Uber drivers. Revelations suggest bosses of the ride-sharing app enjoyed a close relationship with the Conservative administration in 2015. GMB wants the government to reveal details of the relationship and reassure members nothing untoward took place. According to UK media reports, ex Prime Minister David Cameron’s government staged a cover-up over failed plans to crack
Transport centres open their doors for NeTC 2017
March 27, 2017
Delegates attending National electronic Tolling Conference (NeTC) 2017 in Sydney, 23-25 May, will be provided special access to two of Sydney’s most significant transport centres. Hosted by ITS Australia and themed Converging Smarter Tolling Technologies, NeTC 2017 is supported by Cubic Transportation Systems, Transurban, Kapsch, Q-Free and Roads and Maritime Services. Technical tours to the Sydney Transport Management Centre (TMC) and the new M5 Control room and Southwest motorway tour are confirme
Metric parking terminals to be introduced in St Lucia
March 27, 2017
Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, is set to begin installing parking terminals across the city as part of a new initiative by the Castries Constituencies Council (CCC), with the aim of improving safety and security in the city. The new parking terminals from UK manufacturer, Metric Group, are solar powered, accept both coin and banknotes and have a colour user interface screen. The solar powered terminals are in keeping with the island’s energy transition strategy in becoming r
IDTechEx forecasts electric motor systems to become a US$400 billion market in 2027
March 24, 2017
IDTechEx Research finds that the traction motor business will rise to around US$400 billion in 2027. Its report, Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2017-2027, navigates the jargon, the design options and the disagreements. The changing needs and evolving technology are matched to create ten year market forecasts and technology timelines based on recent intensive travel and interviews by expert PhD level analysts. The report reveals how the rotating electric machine (REM) system is taking a larger sha
UK council teams up with Waze to help drivers avoid traffic hotspots
March 24, 2017
With the aim of reducing the cost of congestion, Oxfordshire County Council and Waze, the free, real-time crowd-sourced satellite navigation app, are teaming up to improve urban mobility. Following in the footsteps of Transport for London, Oxfordshire County Council is the second UK Connected Citizens Partner (CCP) with Waze. In a bid to speed up journey times and ease traffic hotspots, CCP is designed as a free, two-way data exchange that empowers municipalities to harness real-time driver insights to i
Australian certification body introduces telematics-based road charging solution
March 24, 2017
Transport Certification Australia (TCA), the national government administrator of the telematics and related intelligent technologies, has worked with Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) to implement a new road charging solution, which represents a further application of the National Telematics Framework. This new application leverages the use of certified telematics to monitor heavy vehicle road use, enabling road and transport agencies to determine road use for charging purposes. The application gi
Parkeon at Parkex 2017
March 24, 2017
Parkeon will be demonstrating its parking technology at Parkex in April at the NEC, Birmingham. On-street, Parkeon has transformed its Strada terminals into multi-services kiosks, enabling motorists and pedestrians to print out coupons redeemable at local retail outlets. City Connector utilises Parkeon’s terminal colour touch screen technology and internet connectivity to offer discount vouchers for shops and restaurants or special promotional offers for local attractions. Its MiniPark ANPR system is
Encouraging collaboration through Total Transport
March 24, 2017
Delegates at CIHT’s event heard how ‘Total Transport’ has the potential to cut cost, reduce carbon emissions and increase customer service. In January 2015 the UK Government announced a new US$5 million (£4 million) Total Transport Pilot Fund to which local authorities in England could bid for supporting resources. Total Transport is viewed as providing a cross sector approach to the delivery of supported public road passenger transport services. Andrew Hugill, director of policy and technical affair
Cenex joins Europe’s EV road trip
March 24, 2017
Cenex, the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies, is to participate in the European leg of the Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) and E-Mobility Events, a 6,500 km long road trip through ten European countries, from 25 April to 10 May, showcasing the best of electric vehicle technology and innovation. Cenex will speak at the tour’s two high-level industry conferences in London on 25 April and Paris on 9 May, offering EVRT’s international audience of transportati
Microsoft announces patent license agreement with Toyota
March 24, 2017
Microsoft Corporation has agreed to licence many of its connected car technologies to Toyota in a wide-ranging intellectual property agreement with the automaker. Microsoft invests heavily in research and development and says many of its technologies are powering today’s connected car experiences, including telematics, infotainment, safety and other systems. According to Erich Andersen, corporate vice president and chief IP counsel of Microsoft’s Intellectual Property Group, although the company doesn
New digital technology puts London transport at a tipping point, says think tank
March 24, 2017
In a new report, UK policy think tank The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) argues that London is at a crossroads between two futures. One where the transport network is increasingly gridlocked, the air grows ever dirtier and the cost of accessing good transport increases. Or one where all can harness the best of digital technology, reducing journeys and air pollution, and opening up new opportunities to make London a more attractive place to live. The report investigates how new technology co
South Australian government announces first round of autonomous technology funding
March 24, 2017
Seven projects will share in US$4.2 million (AU$5.6 million) from the first round of funding from the South Australian government’s Future Mobility Lab Fund to drive local development of autonomous vehicle technology. Autonomous cargo pods for the Tonsley Innovation Precinct and driverless shuttles for Flinders University students are also among the projects to win funding, with other projects to be announced soon. Transfers between Adelaide Airport’s terminal and long-term car park are set to go driv
Huber+Suhner showcase EV charging technology
March 23, 2017
International manufacturer of components and systems for optical and electrical connectivity, Huber+Suhner, will showcase its automotive solutions at the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe in Sindelfingen, Stuttgart, 4-6 April. One of the highlights will be its cooled charging cable for high-power charging stations, which is able to multiply the power-throughput of a charging cable and reduce charging times to below 20 minutes, putting fast charging within reach, even with big battery packs
Highways England awards latest asset delivery contract
March 23, 2017
Highways England has awarded a new-style asset delivery contract, valued at US$337 million (£270 million), which is intended to improve journeys for drivers across the south-west. The new contract has been awarded to Ringway Infrastructure Services as part of the Government’s major investment to improve and maintain the country’s motorways and major A roads. Highways England will now take direct responsibility for managing both routine maintenance and the delivery of capital renewal and improvement
Two thousand people take part in Australia’s driverless bus trial
March 23, 2017
More than 2,000 people have now taken part in Australia’s first driverless bus trial, the RAC Intellibus, since its launch by automobile club on public roads in South Perth, Western Australia. RAC general manager for public policy, Anne Still, said the trial was one of the most progressive in the world and had generated a lot of public interest, with more than 6,000 people registered to take part in the trial. So far, the RAC Intellibus has completed 357 trips and travelled 1,050 kilometres. The fu