While many are still skeptical about the plausibility of 100% autonomous vehicles, Geely Auto is showing that its new AI digital chassis can not only safely operate on snow and ice without a driver but can also pull off fully autonomous drifting. See the EV in action in the video below.
Geely Auto operates as the primary marque auto brand under the larger umbrella of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. Aside from its own branded EVs, the Chinese automaker owns stakes in plenty of other notable brands we often cover on Electrek, including ZEEKR, Volvo, Lotus, and Polestar.
With a knack for advanced automotive technology and nearly forty years of experience in scaled manufacturing, Geely is a notable name in the global EV landscape, pushing the boundaries of what mobility means.
That said, Geely has tended to keep its cards close to its chest in recent years and is not usually one to flex its technology too much publicly. Today is an exception as the auto conglomerate is showcasing its new AI digital chassis, which will soon deliver a “safe mobility experience that exceeds expectations for mainstream users” in upcoming models from sub-brands like Lynk & Co and Galaxy.
To demonstrate some of the capabilities of the new chassis, Geely took to icy roads to perform autonomous drifting, a “world’s first,” according to the automaker.
Autonomous drifting is now a thing… wow
Geely touted the new AI digital chassis on its Weibo page earlier today, which included a video of a sedan performing autonomous drifting in the snow, which you can view here. It’s already eerie enough to see a robotaxis cruise around without a driver. Still, it is even crazier to see an EV perform maneuvers Geely describes as “comparable to that of a professional race car driver.”
Per CnEVPost, Geely explained that there is a lot of advanced technology at play in the new chassis to perform such aggressive driving techniques, including a perception large model algorithm integrated with software and hardware capabilities that culminate into a holistic system that can sense and predict the state of the vehicle in real-time, comparable to a professional driver.
Furthermore, the vehicle’s steer-by-wire system operates in millisecond-level adjustments that deliver precise control of drift direction. If only this technology existed when Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift came out, oh man.
By combining its AI large model, digital chassis, and intelligent driving technology, Geely can deliver a new breed of EV that can not only pull off autonomous drifting but also provide passengers with a higher level of safety and driver assistance… even if they inevitably decide they’d rather not have their car fishtail around any a clipping points.
More consumer-friendly features include more powerful active avoidance and active braking and the ability to perform less dangerous movements to show off to your friends, like crab walking and tank turns. On the other hand, Geely’s new AI digital chassis can also stabilize the EV in the event of traffic backups and drift to avoid obstacles on the road, especially in extreme conditions.
Inside the vehicle, Geely’s Xingrui AI large model can draw pictures and hold voice conversations with its passengers, meaning your EV can probably tell a decent knock-knock joke while it is autonomously drifting around an apex… or while you’re parked and charging. Whatever floats your boat.
By successfully creating vehicles that can perform driverless drifts, Geely has donned itself as the “global leader in smart safety and AI digital chassis.” What do you think?
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On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.
Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.
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The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.
These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.
The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:
Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.
In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.
The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.
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Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.
The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.
During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.
Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.
The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.
Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US
Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.
The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.
Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).
Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.
The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.
Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.
We will learn official prices closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Kia is teasing five new vehicles for the US, at least one being a new EV, that will debut at the LA Auto Show next week. Will it be the EV3? EV4?
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