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Tesla Wins Technology Of The Year Award

The winner of AOL Auto's second annual Technology Of The Year award ran away with the votes for the award, clearly surpassing all of the other contenders. We're giving it to Tesla's Supercharger Network, which today is made up of 54 charging stations in the U.S. that can provide about half an electric car's full charge in just 20 minutes, compared with the 8-hour charges from conventional outlets. The editorial staff agreed that the Tesla Supercharger is a game changer, and easily deserves to be called the Technology Of The Year. "Tesla is showing, again, that there are amazing technological breakthroughs to be made in the EV game, and are kind of making the rest of the industry look bad," said Sebastian Blanco, editor of Autoblog Green. AOL Autos' Multimedia Director Adam Morath agreed that the Supercharger is a game changer. "With the Supercharger, Tesla is tackling the tired arguments against the electrification of the automobile head on by addressing range, charge times, charger accessibility and clean energy production (the Supercharger is powered by solar energy, not coal) all in one stroke," he said. The panel reviewed more than 40 qualified submissions from readers, editorial staff and industry, the panel of judges named the following as finalists: Chevrolet MyLink Valet Mode; Infiniti Backup Collision Intervention; Tesla Supercharger Network; Volvo Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Full Auto Brake; Mopar In-Vehicle Wireless Charging for Portable Devices; and Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive. Superchargers are located across the U.S., making it possible for an electric car driver to take a coast-to-coast trip. They're strategically placed near amenities like roadside diners, cafes, and shopping centers so drivers can stop, eat, and come back to a charged electric car. Most of the staff did not get to test the Supercharger network firsthand, but have been following it closely. A former TRANSLOGIC reporter tested it, and said it works as promised. And Blanco has been following the Supercharger's development quite closely, and said he hasn't heard a single complaint from users in the U.S. or Europe. Jeremy Korzeniewski, Managing Editor of Autoblog, said the Supercharger levels the playing ground, making electric cars almost as convenient as gas-powered cars. "There's simply no way the average consumer is going to consider putting an electric vehicle in their garage if there's no way to refuel it on the go," he said.

Volvo leads and Mini fails in JD Power's Tech Experience Index

New cars are basically rolling computers. Everything from the engine to the infotainment runs on a series of ones and zeros, and a lot of that technology requires input from the driver. So it's no surprise that JD Power has a study designed specifically to discern which bits of tech drivers love and which bits they loathe. "New technology continues to be a primary factor in the vehicle purchase decision," says JD Power's Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction & human machine interface research. "However, it’s critical for automakers to offer features that owners find intuitive and reliable. The user experience plays a major role in whether an owner will use the technology on a regular basis or abandon it and feel like they wasted their money." The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study found that Volvo owners are happiest with the technology packed inside their vehicles, followed by BMW and Cadillac, all brands that JD Power classifies as premium. The highest-rated mainstream brand is Hyundai, followed by Subaru and Kia. As was the case with the organization's Initial Quality and APEAL studies, Tesla's numbers aren't officially included because they are the only automaker that has not granted JD Power approval to contact its owners in states that require it. Tesla's projected score of 593 would have put it in second place, right behind Volvo's score of 617. The lowest-ranked brand in the TXI Study is Mini, with Porsche right behind. Diving a little bit deeper, JD Power's findings suggest that the technologies new car buyers care most about are related to helping them see their surroundings better. Camera systems, including rear-view mirror cameras and ground-view cameras, scored highest in five of the six satisfaction attributes measured in the study. The technology that owners could really do without? Gesture controls. Owners who answered JD Power's survey say they don't use gesture controls much at all after initially trying them, and they don't really care if their next vehicle has them. We have to wonder if those responses might be what kept BMW out of the top spot. The TXI Study also found that owners are split on automated driving helpers, like lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. JD Power suggests that owners may need more training on those systems before they learn to trust them. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences.

Bob Lutz says Tesla remains 'fringe' brand

We've said it before, we'll said it again: Bob Lutz gives great quotes. From his toilet-themed opinion of global warming to Toyota's deity status, the man knows how to get your attention. His latest? Saying that Tesla Motors is and will remain a fringe brand. Take that, Tesla fanbois. This, of course, is the same fringe company that prompted Lutz and his former colleagues at General Motors to start working on the Chevy Volt around eight years ago. The same fringe company that has easily outsold the similarly priced (but don't call it a competitor) Cadillac ELR with its Model S. Lutz did clarify that the fringe status will only last until Tesla comes out with a mass-market electric vehicle that has a range of 200 to 300 miles. Lutz was on CNBC talking about the TSLA stock's recent performance, and he pointed out that even Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that the California automaker's stock is overvalued these days. Despite its prevalence around these parts, Tesla is not yet a household brand. But the company is working hard to get a cheaper, long-range EV to market in the not-too-distant future, so this fringe thing may not last much longer than that show Fringe did. Watch the video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: CNBC via Green Car Reports Green Chevrolet Tesla Green Culture Electric Hybrid PHEV cnbc