Apple confirms it has bought Drive.ai, an autonomous driving startup once valued at $200 million, and has hired dozens of Drive.ai engineers. Apple was expected to pay less than the $77 million Drive.ai raised in venture capital. LINK
CNET researches how to save money with Uber and Lyft. Their conclusion … compare the price on both apps a few minutes before you want to get picked up. There’s must be a better way. This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. LINK
- FLASHBACK: 1 month after IPO, a big JUMP in prices at Uber’s bike share service LINK
- FLASHBACK: Bird doubled its per minute rates for scooter rides around the country LINK
- FLASHBACK: Coup scooters now costs more than double the price as last year LINK
- FLASHBACK: Ola fares went up by 15% in one year. LINK
- FLASHBACK: Uber and Lyft raise prices in New York City LINK
Federal research shows that marijuana consumers believe they drive better when they’re high because they’re very focused and they’re being very cautious. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is combating impaired driving from cannabis, opioids and other drugs by issuing grants for law enforcement training and expanding public education campaigns on the issue. LINK
- FLASHBACK: 14 percent of drivers under the influence of pot had a child in their vehicle. LINK
SURVEY: Autopilot name causes people to overestimate Tesla capabilities. Six percent of drivers say it’s safe to take a nap when Autopilot is engaged. LINK
- FLASHBACK: People keep spotting Teslas with snoozing drivers on the freeway. Autopilot may be saving the lives of drunk and stoned passengers. LINK
Property Flippers hire Uber and Lyft drivers to scout properties. One Washington, D.C. property investor has a team of 150 drivers scouting properties for him. He pays $500 for every lead that finalizes into a sale. LINK
Apple’s self driving car could have a remote driver bring you to the hospital. In a patent published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, Apple’s “Authorized Remote Control” describes how a car’s driving system can cede control over a vehicle’s movements to another remote operator, specifically in a health-related emergency. This could mean a human would control the vehicle remotely, with authorization to drive at speeds faster than the law allows, unencumbered by the self-driving car’s safety systems. It is also plausible for a medical professional overseeing transit could provide advice to the patient while en route. LINK
Hans Zimmer is creating sounds for future BMW electric cars. In Europe, new rules mean all future electric vehicles must make a minimum level of sound for safety. BMW has addressed the requirement by calling in Hollywood musical composer Hans Zimmer to create a soundtrack for future EVs. LINK
Dutch car-maker Lightyear has unveiled the $169,000 Lightyear One, an electric car with a built-in solar panel. These panels will be capable of adding an extra 7.5 miles of range to the car per hour. It takes you 60 hours of sunlight to fully power up the battery. LINK
Children who bike or walk to school are better able to learn. Danish researchers studied 7,000 school children to assess if healthy meals helped learning. They found no differences from diet but discovered that the children who walked or cycled to school “could concentrate for longer and remember things more easily. LINK
- FLASHBACK: Fewer kids are riding bicycles. The number of American children ages 6 to 17 who rode bicycles more than 25 times a year decreased from 7.3 million in 2014 to 6.1 million in 2018. LINK
VIDEO: You gotta see Arnold Schwarzenegger try to sell a gas guzzling Hummer to unsuspecting electric car customers. This tongue-in-cheek video is part of a campaign to bring more electric cars to California and beyond. I’m not ashamed to say that I laughed out loud. Enjoy! LINK
