Device and app monitor a car’s health and give fuel efficiency tips
We’ve seen numerous mobile apps designed to improve drivers’ safety on the road, but Automatic takes what may well be the most comprehensive approach to date. With the help of a small device that plugs into the car, the Automatic app monitors that car’s health, makes money-saving driving tips, remembers where the car is parked and more. READ MORE…
From Israel, smartphone designed for use while driving
Using a cell phone behind the wheel has largely been banned around the world, and we’ve even seen the RodeDog app help alert friends when drivers do try to pick up their device. However, Israeli telecoms company Accel has developed the Voyager, a car phone that aims to be more practical as well as safe for vehicle owners. READ MORE…
Keyfob senses car accidents and alerts emergency services
If sensors can be placed onto motorcycle helmets to alert loved ones in the event of a crash, then it seems like the logical next step is to install such a device in cars. Enter splitsecnd, a GPS-enabled keyfob that instantly connects drivers to an emergency responder when an accident happens. READ MORE…
Inflatable car cover and app reduce chance of hail damage
Safety features on cars are largely focused on reducing the danger of those inside and out getting hurt – and rightly so – but damage to vehicles can also result in large bills for drivers. With this in mind, the Hail Protector is an air-filled cover that can protect cars from the destructive force of falling ice lumps, with a tie-in app to alert drivers of weather changes. READ MORE…
Rental scheme analyzes customer location and offers an electric car, bike or bus accordingly
While we’ve previously seen an attempt to connect drivers with shared electric cars, this new initiative from Downtown Project is pairing a variety of transport options with eco concerns. Specifically, their Project 100 scheme will include a fleet of 100 Tesla Model S electric cars for use by anyone who pays a monthly subscription fee. READ MORE…
Texas-based car rental company will offer just a single make, model and color
We’ve seen plenty of car-rental innovations over the years, including FlightCar, which rents out vehicles left in airport parking lots. More recently, however, we came across Silvercar. In a nutshell, the Texas-based company plans to rent out just a single color, make and model of car – the silver 2013 Audi A4 – and to use mobile technologies to take the hassle out of the rental process. READ MORE…
UK scheme turns old cars into new trees
Green schemes have been a regular on our pages for many years, but it’s rare that we come across an initiative that uses a traditional polluter as a force for environmental good. This is exactly what Scrap Car Plant Tree hopes to do though by encouraging owners of old cars to donate the vehicle in order to raise money for the creation of new green spaces in UK cities. READ MORE…
Airport parking lot cars put up for short-term rent
UK vehicle owners willing to let out their car to others when it’s not in use can already do so through the easyCar Car Club scheme. Now in the US, FlightCar aims to put vehicles left in airport parking lots to use by offering them up for short-term loans. READ MORE…
Fully electric urban car can make itself smaller
We recently saw the Lit C-1 provide a glimpse into the future of transport design, and now
Researchers at MIT’s Changing Places Group and Denokinn have begun testing the Hiriko Fold, a fully electric vehicle which is able to collapse into a more compact shape when parking. READ MORE…
Platform offers roadtrip directions to help tourists find unique experiences
Getting away from popular attractions and onto the road less traveled is the aim of many tourists and we’ve seen a number of ideas catering to more personalized travel, from boutique hotels offering tailored packages to sites that challenge holidaymakers to find unique experiences. Now, a new platform called Roadtrippers is offering driving directions through the US not based on the most efficient journey, but the most interesting route. READ MORE…
