AUTONEWS

EVs can generate widespread economic benefits, new study says

Putting more electric cars on the road doesn't just benefit those with enough money to buy the often-pricey vehicles, it also pushes down prices at the gas pump while strengthening U.S. energy security, according to new research from Georgia Tech's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy.

According to the study, published in Energy Policy, widespread adoption of electric vehicles, or EVs, by 2035 would cut energy bills for U.S. households by more than 6%—including more than 4% at the gas pump. It also would drive oil imports down by 7% and increase exports by nearly 4%, the researchers say.

However, those benefits are imperiled by the repeal of national electric vehicle incentives and the recent decision by the federal government to roll back EV-boosting rules meant to increase vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce pollution, according to the study's authors, Ph.D. candidate Niraj K. Palsule; Marilyn A. Brown, Regents' Professor and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems; and former graduate student Suprita Chakravarthy. Their study was conducted prior to the federal decisions.

"Proponents of eliminating fuel efficiency standards and other EV-boosting policies often frame those regulatory approaches as consumer-unfriendly, but our analysis shows that such policies have many long-term benefits, both for consumers and for the nation's energy security," Palsule said.

To reach their conclusions, the researchers used a version of the National Energy Modeling System created by Carter School researchers that more accurately captures the dynamic interplay of energy production, consumption, and demand compared to other models.

They modeled the impact of vehicle fuel efficiency standards and other policies between 2022 and 2035, first analyzing what would happen to the economy with no EV incentives and only less-stringent fuel efficiency standards dating back to before 2024. They then built a model that took a middle-of-the-road approach to EV growth between the now-repealed federal standards, which sought to more than double new EV sales to 69% by 2032, and standards adopted by California and 17 other states. Those rules, which remain in effect, seek to end the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in those jurisdictions by 2035.

                        Electricity prices by scenario in 2035. Credit: Energy Policy (2026)

The researchers found that, compared to the pre-2024 rules, the newer policies would cause household energy expenditures and gasoline consumption to fall across incomes, oil imports to fall, and oil exports to rise by 2035.

Those savings work across multiple pathways.

One is simple demand reduction: putting more electric vehicles on the road reduces the need for gasoline and imported oil, pushing pump prices down for all consumers. While upper-income households would save about 6.4% on energy, including gasoline, lower-income households likely to still be driving cars with traditional gasoline engines in 2035 stand to gain the most—spending 6.6% less on energy, according to the research.

The other pathway is through the "domino effect" that would occur thanks to cheaper, more efficient battery technology made to serve an increasing EV market. Widespread EV adoption would spur innovation and efficiencies that would make it less costly for utilities to store energy. Brown and Palsule describe this development as pivotal to helping stabilize costs and offset any potential increase in home electricity prices driven by EV adoption. Home electricity prices might even fall slightly, according to the study.

And because global oil demand seems unlikely to fall, U.S. oil producers would typically be able to ship some of the oil they would have used to make gasoline to other countries, increasing the U.S. role as a net energy exporter, according to the research. During shocks, such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine or Iran, Brown and Palsule say electric vehicle adoption would help cushion the U.S. economy.

Given recent events, Palsule and Brown say it's unclear whether any of the predicted savings will come to pass, however. Not only have the federal rules been repealed, the U.S. government and some other state governments are also challenging the emissions rules adopted by California and 17 other states, administratively and in court.

Even if those rules remain in place, such a piecemeal approach may not be enough to keep the momentum going, or to realize all the benefits of a widespread EV transition, they said.

"Maximizing the benefits of a transition to electric vehicles that would both help consumers and strengthen the nation's energy security can only come with a nationwide strategy," Brown said.

Provided by Georgia Institute of Technology  

AUTONEWS

EDR (event data recorder): The mysterious "black box" in your car that knows a lot about you

Imagine you get into your car, start the engine, put it in first gear and drive off. You might think you're alone. And maybe you are. However, hidden under the dashboard, there is a discreet observer: the "black box". In theory, it only monitors traffic, but its existence raises many questions among drivers, who suspect that these boxes are used to record their conversations, their trips, or even their musical preferences.

The car's black box is actually called an EDR, an acronym for Event Data Recorder. Although we call it a "black box" because it has a function similar to that of airplane cockpits, it is usually bright orange (just like airplane cockpits) to make it easier to locate in the wreckage of an accident. Its use has been mandatory in all new cars and vans registered in Europe since 2024 (some models already had it before). Its main function is to record parameters that allow the reconstruction of events with millimeter precision.

'Wake-up' in case of an accident...The device remains inactive during normal driving, although it constantly records and deletes data. It only saves recorded information when it detects an event, such as airbag deployment or a sudden change in speed, of milliseconds, typical of an accident. At that exact moment, it saves the five seconds before the impact and the few seconds after. Outside of this period, the device cyclically deletes the information.

The EDR monitors the vehicle's exact speed before the collision, the accelerator pedal position (checking if you were trying to accelerate or maintaining a constant speed), the pressure applied to the brake, the steering wheel angle (to determine if you were trying to avoid the obstacle or if the vehicle left its trajectory due to a mechanical failure), whether the seat belts were fastened, and much more. It can even record the force of the impact, thanks to highly sensitive internal accelerometers (similar to those in your cell phone that detect whether it is vertical or horizontal). All this information is vitally important for clarifying the facts in court or for filing a claim with the insurance company.

There is a widespread myth about voice recordings in cars. However, the reality is that these "black boxes" do not have microphones. Therefore, your conversations with passengers, your phone calls, or your favorite music are completely out of their reach. The system focuses exclusively on the physics of the vehicle. It doesn't even have external cameras monitoring your location, much less internal cameras recording your face or that of your passengers. All this because European regulations require strict driver privacy.

In fact, it doesn't even save the location or geographical coordinates. Its purpose is to explain how the accident occurred, leaving the location to other systems or to the police report itself. It's a device focused on the dynamics of movement, regardless of whether you're parked in front of a pharmacy or driving on a mountain road.

Access to confidential information...So, who can see what your car records after an accident? Only police authorities, forensic experts, or accident investigators have the necessary tools to extract the information. The connection port is usually the same one used in mechanic shops for routine checks, but it requires specific software and, most importantly, legal authorization.

Insurance companies welcome access to this data, as it speeds up procedures, but their power is limited by vehicle ownership legislation. The car owner holds this information, and the content of the Electronic Data Record (EDR) is only disclosed by court order or during official investigations. This prevents insurance companies from using minor driving errors to deny claims, except in cases of gross negligence proven by the police. It's a protective shield that ensures the truth prevails over the financial interests of large insurance companies.

Future usefulness...But, beyond determining fault in an accident, this system aims to save lives in the long term. By analyzing thousands of real accidents, engineers discover patterns that testing laboratories don't detect. If the data reveals that a particular car model tends to lose control under certain braking conditions, the manufacturer can correct this flaw in future versions. The black box allows each accident to become an engineering lesson to prevent its recurrence. It's a form of collective learning that has drastically reduced traffic deaths since its large-scale implementation.

Explaining its advantages, you might wonder if it's possible to install a "black box" in your car. If your car is older, you're not required to have this box, and the installation would be very expensive and complicated. However, if you bought a vehicle from mid-2024 onwards, it already comes with one as standard.

AUTONEWS

Forza Horizon 6 PC requirements indicate good optimization with support for budget builds

Forza Horizon 16 will release on May 19 for PC and consoles. The game is set in Japan and is said to be the biggest open world for a Forza game, and now it looks like most PC builds will be able to run the game at high fidelity.

The next big instalment in the Forza Horizon series is going to be Japan-based Forza Horizon 6. The game was announced in September last year with a 2026 release, which was confirmed earlier this year to be May 19. Now, the studio, Playground Games, has shared the PC requirements for running the game at different settings and they indicate decent optimization.

The recommended setup for High settings at 1440p is a Core i5 12th gen or Ryzen 5 5600X on the CPU side and an RTX 3060 Ti, Radeon RX 6700XT, or Intel Arc A580 on the GPU side. These are quite tame so it’s good to see that the game has been optimized to run on budget hardware. The bare minimum is a GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 6500 XT or Arc A380, which is great news for lower end PCs.

At the Extreme end, an RTX 5070 Ti or Radeon RX 9070 XT is needed to push Extreme RT settings, but the game will run at an upscaled 4K resolution to target 60+ FPS. The game does demand 32 GB of RAM for the Extreme RT setting, which is not surprising.

The studio says Forza Horizon 6 will play great across devices be it a high-end PC, gaming laptops, or handheld gaming consoles. It will come with 4K HDR visuals, ray tracing features, uncapped framerates, and support for ultrawide monitor resolutions. The game will also support DLSS 4 with Multi-frame generation for RTX 50 series, frame generation for RTX 40 series and above, and DLSS Super Resolution for all GeForce RTX cards, as well as DLAA and NVIDIA Reflex. AMD FSR 4/3 will be supported as well, and Intel Arc GPU users have not been left behind with support XeSS 2.1, unlike Crimson Desert.

Another great addition is that the PC render settings will not require a restart to take effect. Forza Horizon 6 will bring a benchmark mode and real-time memory usage statistics for monitoring exactly how much VRAM is being used.

 

TUNNING

Novitec Lamborghini Revuelto

Novitec transforms the Lamborghini Revuelto into an even more extreme hybrid supercar with fully exposed carbon fiber aerodynamics, NL5 wheels, and a race-inspired design.

The initial highlight is the bodywork in a deep metallic purple, a clear homage to the legendary Diablo SE30 of the 1990s, evoking Lamborghini's boldest heritage. At the front, new aerodynamic elements increase downforce on the front axle at high speeds, while on the sides, redesigned side skirts and carbon fiber details further accentuate the model's characteristic wedge profile.

At the rear, the show continues. A redesigned retractable rear wing, coupled with a more pronounced diffuser, reinforces stability at speeds easily exceeding 350 km/h. It's an approach that doesn't just focus on aesthetics – each element fulfills a clear function in the vehicle's dynamics.

But it's upon starting the engine that Novitec's true signature is revealed. The high-performance exhaust system, carefully thermally insulated and equipped with active valves, transforms the already iconic V12 into an even more intense experience. With the adoption of optimized-flow catalytic converters, total power rises to approximately 1,048 hp – a modest gain in numbers, but significant in character.

Curiously, the interior remains virtually untouched – a choice that reveals respect for the original Lamborghini design, whose cockpit already offers an immersive and highly technological experience. Here, Novitec seems to understand that sometimes true luxury lies in knowing where not to interfere.

The sound, moreover, becomes almost theatrical. In a more civilized mode, the car maintains a composure worthy of a futuristic grand tourer. But a simple command is enough for the car to reveal a mechanical roar that directly recalls classic supercars, as if electrification were merely a backdrop for a purely analog spectacle.

The package is completed with exclusive forged wheels developed in partnership with Vossen, available in multiple finishes, and a set of sport springs that lowers the body height by about 25 millimeters, improving the center of gravity and cornering precision.

A high-performance exhaust system not only delivers an exciting V12 sound, but also increases power to 1,048 hp.

A lowered suspension and advanced aerodynamics improve both handling and stability at high speeds of over 350 km/h.

Finished in a striking purple color paying homage to the Diablo SE30, this Revuelto is the ultimate blend of heritage, performance, and customization.

 

AUTONEWS

AI can flag high-risk motorists before getting on the road, scientists say

Scientists at the University of Sharjah have developed a new machine learning model capable of predicting whether a driver is likely to be involved in an accident before getting behind the wheel. Road accidents are frequently linked to human error, yet traditional driver screening methods, particularly in the taxi and commercial transport sectors, tend to rely heavily on experience and background checks. According to the researchers, these criteria often fall short of predicting who may pose a higher risk on the road.

Their study, published in the journal Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, explores a fundamental question: How can we identify risky drivers before they take to the road? To answer that, the researchers developed a data-driven assessment framework combining psychological profiling, physiological monitoring, and simulated driving performance.

Participants began by completing a structured questionnaire measuring personality traits such as sensation-seeking and conscientiousness. They then drove in a highly realistic simulator designed to replicate urban traffic conditions in Dubai, a cosmopolitan city known for its chronic traffic congestion and road network that handles more than 3.5 million vehicles daily.

"During the session, we recorded heart rate and detailed eye-movement indicators, including blink rate and gaze deviation," said Dr. Malek Masmoudi, the study's lead author and an associate professor of industrial engineering.

"Using machine learning models, we analyzed this integrated dataset to classify drivers as low-risk or high-risk based on objective outcomes such as accidents and traffic violations recorded during the simulation."

Distinguishing between safe and risky drivers...The significance of the work lies in its preventive and developmental approach. Rather than responding to accidents after they occur, the proposed framework allows transportation companies to evaluate risk tendencies before they are deployed.

Beyond supporting safer, more informed hiring decisions, the model can also function as a targeted training tool, helping drivers recognize their risk patterns and enhance their attention and self-regulation. This contributes not only to safer roads but also to more structured and evidence-based driver development programs.

Data acquisition setup, showing a participant on the driving simulator and the sensors used to capture physiological parameters. Credit: Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (2025)

"The analysis revealed that gaze distraction, sensation-seeking, conscientiousness, and gender are the best predictors of driving behavior," the scientists note. "The findings suggest that our model can serve as a valuable decision-support tool for taxi companies and transportation agencies aiming to enhance driver selection processes by identifying drivers with lower accident risks."

According to the authors, the results validate the practical utility of the proposed classification framework for distinguishing between safe and risky drivers. "The findings provide valuable insights for taxi companies and transportation agencies aiming to enhance driver selection processes by identifying drivers with lower accident risks by focusing on highly important factors identified in the study," they write.

Dr. Masmoudi emphasized that road safety should not begin after an accident; it should begin before a driver is hired. "The safest accident is the one that never happens. That's why safety must start before a driver ever touches the steering wheel," he said.

"In the age of Industry 4.0, we have the tools to predict risk instead of just reacting to crashes. The question is no longer, 'How can we measure it?' It's: 'Why aren't we using it?'"

Disciplined and responsible individuals drive cautiously...The findings show that safe driving is not shaped only by technical skills, but it is also strongly influenced by personality traits and patterns of visual attention. For instance, drivers whose gaze frequently strays from the road are significantly more likely to be involved in simulated accidents.

City car driving simulator software driver's view. Credit: Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (2025)

Dr. Masmoudi explained, "Individuals who are naturally disciplined and responsible tend to drive more cautiously. Those who score high in sensation-seeking, meaning they are drawn to excitement and risk, are more likely to exhibit unsafe driving behaviors."

In simple terms, certain measurable personality traits and attention habits consistently indicate a higher risk of accidents. When these factors are analyzed together using machine learning, they allow taxi or transport companies to predict risk with a high level of accuracy.

Beyond screening, the study's insights can also inform targeted training programs. Drivers identified as higher risk can receive specialized coaching in attention control, stress management, and safe decision-making.

For taxi companies and fleet operators, this approach could lead to fewer accidents, reduced insurance and repair costs, improved passenger safety, stronger public trust, and an overall enhancement of company reputation.

"Risky driving is not random behavior; it reflects measurable patterns in attention and personality," said Imad Alsyouf, professor of industrial engineering at the University of Sharjah and a co-author. "By combining psychology, physiology, and machine learning, we move from intuition-based recruitment to evidence-based safety decisions."

Real-world implications...Prof. Alsyouf emphasized that although their model successfully identifies high-risk drivers, "artificial intelligence should not replace human judgment; it should strengthen it with objective data. Our goal is not only to filter risk, but also to help drivers understand and improve their own safety profile."

Prof. Alsyouf explained that the research was designed with real-world implementation in mind. "Its most immediate application is in taxi and commercial fleet recruitment. Instead of relying solely on driving history or interviews, companies can incorporate a short simulator-based assessment combined with psychological screening and physiological monitoring."

Importantly, the framework extends well beyond hiring. Dr. Masmoudi pointed out that the model could serve as a structured training and evaluation tool, enabling companies to design personalized improvement programs for drivers.

"The key advantage is that the system operates before deployment," he added, "shifting safety management from a reactive model, responding after incidents occur, to a preventive and developmental one, where risks are identified early and addressed proactively."

Provided by University of Sharjah

TUNNING

Liberty Walk has joined the ranks of tuners that have already modified the Honda Civic Type R

In short, the kit is available in Standard and Widebody configurations. The Standard is available for $8,470 when made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and $13,860 when made of a mixture of FRP and carbon fiber. The Widebody kit in FRP configuration costs $11,000, while the carbon fiber version is $16,830.

Both kits include a modified front bumper with a redesigned lower grille and a new splitter. There is also an aggressive new hood with an air intake and a set of more pronounced side skirts. The Widebody version also includes a set of widened arches, which add 10 mm to the width. There is also a change at the rear, where a fixed wing stands out that rises slightly higher than the standard FL5-generation Type R model. A newly developed rear diffuser is located below, rounding off the more aggressive look.

These elements can be ordered individually or as part of a kit. For example, if you want just the rear wing, you can buy it for $1,430 in FRP or $1,930 in carbon fiber. Finally, black wheels are also available, priced at $3,784.

 

AUTONEWS

What will happen to the car engine if you run out of gas while driving?

It happens, it's not uncommon...Forget about your worries at work or in your family and you run out of fuel while driving. Can something happen to your car, or can there be major breakdowns?

Car manufacturers claim that their new models are designed so that there will be no problems if you run out of fuel. That is, there should be no engine failures. Despite this, do not wait for the tank to empty, because in that case impurities from the bottom of the tank will also be injected into the system. The fuel filter should take care of them, or prevent them from entering the engine, but it's better not to push your luck.

In older cars, if you run out of fuel, injectors and diesel fuel pumps may fail. In general, always react in time and drive to the nearest gas station.

Who hasn't experienced being behind the wheel and anxiously glancing at the fuel gauge as the needle hovers over empty? Whether it's due to forgetfulness or an effort to squeeze as many miles out of the tank as possible, running out of fuel doesn't do your engine any favors, and it can be detrimental to you as well. A while back, it was reported that a man was found dead after running out of gas in Death Valley. Even if you happen to be in a populated area with services nearby, when your vehicle becomes starved for fuel, it's hard on certain parts.

Gasoline isn't only instrumental in the combustion process, but it also serves to cool certain fuel system components. For instance, the fuel pump (which is responsible for moving gas from the tank to the engine) can start to heat up as you near empty. To function properly, the pump needs a consistent supply of gas. If that supply drops too low, the pump will start moving air instead, which can result in substantial damage.

Why you don’t want to run out of fuel...If you drive a vehicle that runs on petrol, draining your tank dry is bad news for a variety of reasons. Your car’s fuel pump uses fuel as a means of lubrication or cooling, so it can be damaged when there’s no fuel in the system. Your fuel pump will also suck up the last dregs from the very bottom of the tank, which is exactly where any sediment or debris (including, on older cars with metal tanks, rust particles) settle. If you’re lucky you might just end up with a clogged fuel filter, but you could damage the fuel pump.

If you drive a diesel, the dry-tank scenario is even more perilous. While the high-pressure direct-injection set-ups in today’s diesels help them deliver impressive performance and economy, they will not tolerate air getting into the system.

In addition to the risk of damaging your car’s diesel injection pump and fuel injectors – just the latter can cost hundreds of dollars or more each, and your engine has several of them – the whole system will need to be primed to remove all traces of air. That’s means more time (meaning money) in the workshop.

Your car has everything you need to avoid this elemental mistake. At the very least, you have a fuel gauge with a low-fuel warning light, and often a trip computer with a distance-to-empty function, too.

What to do if you run out of fuel...If you have missed all the warning signs and are running really low or out of fuel, there are a few things you should do.

If you drive a diesel, don’t squeeze the last drops out of the tank. If there’s no service station in sight, accept defeat and stop your car while the engine’s still going. Whatever inconvenience you suffer will be insignificant compared with the cost and hassle of letting it run totally dry.

If you have some warning of impending shutdown (such as a spluttering engine), try to move your vehicle to a safe position, well away from traffic. Switch on your hazard lights and, if your car has a warning triangle or some other reflective safety device, place it about 50 metres behind to give fellow motorists plenty of warning.

If you drive a petrol vehicle and have stopped in a familiar or busy area with known fuel supplies nearby, you can walk to a service station and purchase a jerry can that complies with Australian standards.

You will find safety instructions on how to correctly fill a jerry can near the service station bowser. It’s important to place the jerry can on the ground and keep one hand on it while filling to avoid generating static electricity. Also be careful to keep well away from any potential ignition sources and not overfill the can.

Then it’s just a matter of returning to your vehicle and filling your tank – or getting someone to fetch the fuel for you – and you should be on your way. That’s assuming you haven’t ended up with a clogged fuel filter or some other mechanical malady.

Otherwise – and especially if you drive a diesel or are anywhere unfamiliar or remote – you should stay with your vehicle and seek roadside assistance.

This scenario can become even worse if you're driving an older vehicle with many years of debris on the bottom of the fuel tank. As you may imagine, once the pump is desperate to suck up any fuel with a nearly empty tank, that bottom-dwelling sludge can get pulled up into the system and create a clog. According to Kelly Blue Book, to have the fuel pump replaced, you're looking at between $390 and $900, which is certainly not worth delaying a trip to the gas station.

Running out of gas causes the engine to stall immediately due to fuel starvation, but it can also cause severe damage to the fuel pump, which relies on gasoline for cooling and lubrication. The pump may overheat and fail, while the engine can suffer from running "lean," damaging components, and potentially clogging the fuel filter with sediment. 

Key consequences of running out of gas(below):

Fuel pump damage: Modern fuel pumps are inside the tank and cooled by fuel. Running dry can cause them to overheat, suck in air (cavitation), and burn out prematurely.

Engine stalling: The vehicle will stutter and lose power, leading to a complete shutdown.

Catalytic converter damage: If the engine struggles and misfires before stopping, unburned fuel can enter the exhaust, causing the catalytic converter to overheat.

Sediment clogging: Fuel pumps may pull sediment from the bottom of the tank, clogging the fuel filter and injectors.

Loss of power steering/braking: While the car can still stop, the steering wheel will become very stiff and braking will require more effort. 

Tips for prevention(below):

-Avoid letting the fuel level drop below a quarter tank.

-If the car dies, immediately turn off the ignition to prevent further damage to the electric fuel pump.