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-Top News Dubai UAE News

Dubai Taxis to go fully eco-friendly by 2027

This significant accomplishment aligns with the overarching goal of optimising energy usage, creating a sustainable environment, and positioning Dubai as a leader in promoting green transportation…reports Asian Lite News

The Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a plan to transform taxis in Dubai (Dubai Taxi and franchise company taxis) into becoming fully environmentally friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered) by 2027.

The move meets the requirements of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Green Economy drive, and the Dubai Government’s strategic directions toward comprehensive environmental sustainability.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said, “The plan to transform taxis into environmentally-friendly vehicles translates the directives Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to optimise energy usage and promote environmental sustainability in the UAE. RTA has taken decisive action toward creating a safe, clean, and sustainable environment that befits Dubai’s reputation. This initiative supports the Dubai Government’s efforts to introduce green vehicles and promote a cleaner environment.”

RTA has made remarkable progress in this regard, successfully transforming 72 percent of the taxis in Dubai into environmentally friendly vehicles, comprising a total of 8,221 hybrid vehicles.

This significant accomplishment aligns with the overarching goal of optimising energy usage, creating a sustainable environment, and positioning Dubai as a leader in promoting green transportation.

“The 5-year plan (2023-2027) aims to switch the entire taxi fleet into fully environmentally-friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered) within five years at a rate of 10 percent per annum to achieve the targeted 100 precent by 2027. The plan is aligned with RTA’s roadmap for transforming public transport means into emission-free by 2050,” Al Tayer explained.

“The results of experiments on eco-friendly vehicles, which RTA started trialling in 2008, confirmed the environmental benefits of reducing carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs, as well as decreasing noise levels. Hybrid vehicles also have a longer lifespan compared to regular vehicles and cost less in the long run. They are characterised by lower purchase prices, maintenance fees, fuel expenses, insurance premiums, and other associated costs that potentially could be as low as 50 percent of regular vehicles,” he further added.

Dubai’s infrastructure is key in promoting the use of eco-friendly vehicles and increasing their demand. The fast pace of technology, coupled with the reduction in electric vehicle charging time from 8 hours to less than 1.5 hours, indicates that the charging time will continue to shorten in the future given the wide spread of hydrogen refilling stations as an environmentally friendly alternative.

Dubai’s initial plan to transform 50 percent of its taxi fleet into eco-friendly has produced a remarkable reduction in carbon emissions by as much as 420,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to 70,000 tonnes per year. This has stimulated local automotive companies to roll out a range of hybrid vehicles tailored for the Gulf region

RTA was a pioneer in the region when launching the trial of hybrid vehicles powered by fuel and electricity for its Dubai Taxi fleet in 2008. It marked the start of RTA’s dedicated efforts to transform the infrastructure of public transport networks to make them environmentally friendly.

The Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) boasts the largest fleet of eco-friendly vehicles with hybrid vehicles accounting for over 34 percent of the taxis fleet in Dubai.

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Business Tech Lite USA

Tesla may integrate Dolby Atmos in its cars

Although it has been around for ten years, it was first integrated into movie theatres, then high-end home theatres, and now recently making it into cars…reports Asian Lite News

Elon Musk-run Tesla is reportedly working to integrate Dolby Atmos in its electric cars, to deliver better surround sound.

Dolby Laboratories created the surround sound technology called Dolby Atmos. According to the company, it is described as “expanding on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects,” reports Electrek.

Although it has been around for ten years, it was first integrated into movie theatres, then high-end home theatres, and now recently making it into cars.

In December last year, Tesla had released an annual holiday software update that turns its electric cars into megaphones by using external speakers that had been installed in vehicles.

The feature adds some voice effects to whatever you say, and that would be played to your surroundings through the external speakers.

The external speakers in Tesla cars repeat everything the driver says with a slight delay and with an echo and bass-heavy distortion.

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-Top News EU News

Anti-speeding tech for new cars in EU

The driver can override the latter two functions, the EU said, by pushing slightly harder on the gas pedal, the report said…reports Asian Lite News

New cars in the European Union (EU) are now required to come fitted with anti-speeding technology called intelligent speed assistance, or ISA, as part of an EU regulation that went into effect last week.

Under the regulation, auto manufacturers must implement one of several ISA tech options that will kick into gear when a driver goes over the speed limit, reports CNET.

The car can alert the driver with a visual warning followed by an acoustic or vibrating warning; the gas pedal can gently push back on the driver’s foot, or the car can automatically reduce speed.

The driver can override the latter two functions, the EU said, by pushing slightly harder on the gas pedal, the report said.

“The objective is to protect Europeans against traffic accidents, poor air quality and climate change, empower them with new mobility solutions that match their changing needs, and defend the competitiveness of European industry,” the European Commission was quoted as saying.

Some vehicles already include warnings for speeding, but the driver must manually set them up. The EU regulation requires the tech to work automatically.

The nonprofit European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), which advocates for road safety measures in the EU, said it welcomes the new regulation but that the minimum standard of a beeping sound is annoying to drivers and inadequate for safety.

Also, ETSC said, cars could gather inaccurate speed information if they are equipped with systems that determine speed limits only by using cameras to analyse signage and lack a digital map of speed limits.

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Business Tech Lite

Ferrari teams up with Qualcomm to build smarter cars

Ferrari will work with Qualcomm Technologies to utilise the Snapdragon Digital Chassis to bring the latest automotive technology advancements to Ferrari road cars…reports Asian Lite News

Chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies has announced a strategic technology collaboration with luxury sports car brand Ferrari that is aimed at helping accelerate the digital transformation of the carmaker.

Qualcomm Technologies will serve as Ferrari’s systems solutions provider for its upcoming Ferrari road cars, as well as a Premium Partner for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team and Ferrari eSports team.

“We are excited to see our automotive technology leadership play an integral role in this new strategic relationship with Ferrari,” Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, said in a statement.

“We look forward to helping shape what the future holds as we work together to bring world-class driving experiences to their customers through our Snapdragon Digital Chassis,” Amon added.

Ferrari will work with Qualcomm Technologies to utilise the Snapdragon Digital Chassis to bring the latest automotive technology advancements to Ferrari road cars.

The Snapdragon Digital Chassis is comprised of open and scalable cloud-connected platforms needed for next-generation vehicles, which includes telematics and connectivity, the digital cockpit and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as well as ADAS functions and utilises a unified architecture to deliver enhanced safety and immersive digital experiences that are updateable throughout the lifetime of the vehicles.

As a part of the agreement, Qualcomm Technologies and its partners will also work with Ferrari to design, develop and integrate Ferrari’s digital cockpits.

Qualcomm Technologies will begin serving as a Premium Partner of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team at the start of the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship race season where Snapdragon will be featured on the new Scuderia Ferrari’s F1-75 single-seaters.

“We believe innovation requires market leaders working together,” said Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari.

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