China’s New Maglev Train is the “Fastest Ground Vehicle In the World”

by Gabrielle DeSantis

America always innovated and pushed technology forward. Especially when it comes to transportation. Today, it is China doing the transportation innovation, as with its latest maglev train development. Capable of speeds of 372 mph, travelers will speed from Beijing to Shanghai in 2 ½ hours. America needs this.

The new China maglev train hits speeds of over 370 mph

An aerial photo was taken on July 20, 2021, shows China’s new maglev transportation system in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. | Li Ziheng/Xinhua via Getty Images

That’s over 700 miles. The distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is 380 miles. China’s new maglev could get passengers from LA to San Fran in a hair over one hour. If traveling by car that is a six-hour drive. So this gives you just a taste of how advanced travel is in China, and what we could have in the US were it not for the current malaise. 

The new maglev is made in Qingdao. It’s still in the construction stages and is not expected to hit the tracks until later in this decade. It floats on an electro-magnetic force-there is no contact with the rail. The train literally floats according to Reuters.

Japan is also developing maglev trains for high-speed public transportation

China maglev train
A visitor experiences for herself inside a cabinet of China’s new high-speed maglev train in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, July 20, 2021 | Li Ziheng/Xinhua via Getty Images

China’s current fleet of bullet trains would take four to five hours to make that Beijing to Shanghai trip. Japan is also developing fast bullet trains. Japan’s travelers see 250 mph trips between cities throughout congested Japan.

The closest the US sees in similar transportation is the new train tracks in Florida. Soon, Floridians and tourists can go from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport traveling at 125 mph. “When people see what it’s all about,” said Andy Kunz, president of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association to Reuters, “you’ll see people clamoring for this.”

Americans want an alternative to the car

China maglev train
China’s 600 km/h high-speed maglev transportation system makes its debut on July 20, 2021, in Qingdao, Shandong Province of China | Zhang Jingang/VCG via Getty Images)

While MotorBiscuit mostly focuses on cars and trucks, not everyone in the US prefers that mode of transportation. Especially on the east coast, trains are a popular option. And they provide an alternative that in some instances works better for travelers than a car. Or truck. 

In San Francisco, the Bay Area Rapid Transit, or as it is called “BART” is extremely popular. Especially traveling into the city, it beats congestion that seems to exist 24/7. The same is true in Manhattan. 

Many cities need high-speed mass-transit

China maglev train
A view of a new high-speed maglev train, designed for a top speed of 600 km per hour, during its rolling-off ceremony in Qingdao in east China’s Shandong province Tuesday, July 20, 2021 | Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Driving in Manhattan is not for the timid. And there is no scheduling around the congestion that may or may not appear out of nowhere. Maglev or high-speed trains are something we need in many cities. 

As automakers are in the middle of a revolution in electric transportation, the US needs a revolution in mass transit.

RELATED:  Public Transportation Is the Best in These 10 Cities

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This 1992 Mitsubishi Delica StarWagon 4×4 Is a Vintage JDM Dream Camper Van

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The camper van market might feel oversaturated at times unless you’re one of the brave souls who would prefer a 1992 Mitsubishi Delica StarWagon. These vintage JDM 4×4 vans are simply one of the coolest things on four wheels, and they also happen to be great candidates for camper van conversions. More people have caught wind of these compact campers, and as a result, they are getting harder to find. Well, if you’ve been looking for a Mitsubishi Delica, this one’s for sale. 

Is the Mitsubishi Delica a good camper van? 

The Mitsubishi Delica StarWagon is a 4×4 microvan that was made for the Japanese market. More of these killer right-hand-drive camper vans are making their way over to the states as JDM cars and trucks grow in popularity. Not only is JDM love growing, so, of course, is the love of camper vans and RVs of all kinds. 

To get a newish 4×4 camper van these days, one has to spend a small fortune. These Delica vans not only came from the factory with 4WD but also have factory brush guards and auxiliary lights. Unlike so many other conversion camper vans, these were made by Mitsubishi to get into the woods.

What is this vintage JDM van all about? 

According to Expedition Portal, this 1992 Mitsubishi Delica StarWagon 4×4 is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which is not so common on this side of the world. This torquey little four-cylinder is the perfect engine for long overlanding trips that require both decent fuel economy and enough torque to climb some hills and rocks. 

The Delica was meant for camping from the jump with its modular sleeping platform/gear storage found in the rear of the mini bus. However, the factory setup isn’t the most useful, especially considering all the space-saving vanlife products today. For this reason, many people choose to customize the Delica to be a bit more practical. 

Even if it’s a touch outdated, the bones are strong. The entire sleeping platform breaks down so that larger gear like mountain bikes or smaller kayaks can fit inside the cabin. 

Does a Mitsubishi Delica need modifications to be a true overlander

1992 Mitsubishi Delica StarWagon 4×4 | TheRedWonder

So much of the overlanding culture is about making changes to a vehicle to fit one’s specific needs. There is also the underlying pride in one’s overlander being unique to them. That being said, although the Mitsubishi Delica doesn’t need all that much to be overland ready, modifications are often done to make it just right for whoever owns it. 

This one has had a few things done by the current owners. The factory engine has about 115,000 miles and is paired with an automatic four-speed transmission that is fairly uncommon for these camper vans. 

Underneath is the star of the show, a 4WD drivetrain with a high/low transfer case and auto-locking hubs. This is the key feature that marks the van as such a strong overlanding camper van. The Delica sports Ohlins shocks up front and factory shocks out back. 

General maintenance, upkeep, and other additions include new silver Line-X coating on the roof, interior Dynamat noise reduction, a DelicaWorks oversized radiator, a Pioneer AppRadio 3 head unit for wireless android auto and Apple CarPlay, and Russian birch wood floors, and a modular custom sleeping platform with built-in 6×9-inch speakers. 

The Mitsubishi Delica won’t stay obscure for much longer

Mitsubishi Delicas are so cool that they can be hard to look at. The period graphics down the sides, the amber lights, the silly-huge bullbar, and the overall dimensions force any bystander to smile when they see one. Everything about these vintage JDM vans drips with style and flair. For $21,000, it would be nearly impossible to find another camper van in this good of shape with 4WD, a strong diesel engine, and this much style. Hell, I’d argue it’d be damn-near impossible to find some with that much style for any amount of money. 

The Mitsubishi Delica StarWagon 4×4 is an endearing little camper van that practically begs its owners for more adventure – and very stylish photo shoots. View Photos here.

RELATED: The Most Common Problems on Early Mitsubishi Delicas

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Tesla Yielded and Lowered the Price of Full Self-Driving

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Yet more Tesla controversy in the last 24 hours. Recently, the brand faced backlash over their pricing for “Full Self-Driving” software. This isn’t the first time the Palo Alto EV brand has faced some controversy regarding its autonomous software. Both their “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” software have been subject to their fair share of scrutiny of late. Accusations vary in severity, from misleading advertising to injuries and even deaths.

Tesla faced backlash over the pricing of FSD software

The famous logo, in the flesh | Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Recently, Telsa rolled out its FSD 9 beta. This is the software that will allow your “T”-banded EV to navigate without much input from you. The beta, like many aspects of the brand’s business, faced some backlash on release. Twitter was full of videos of Telsa Full Self-Driving both functioning flawlessly and failing to function. Initially, the new software was announced to come at a hefty price, $1500 to be exact.

All this is after Tesla allowed new owners to pay $3000 for the software on ordering the vehicle. So, in fairness, Tesla Full Self-Driving certainly deserves some of the criticism it’s gotten. Now, after the dust settled, Tesla reduced the price from $1500 to $1000. However, it has to be said that owners will also have to pay a monthly subscription, to the tune of $199 a month, for use of the software, according to Endgadget.

All this started in 2016, and it isn’t over yet

The in-dash display of a Tesla shows Autopilot adaptive cruise software in use
The brand’s Autopilot software in use | Chris Walker via Getty Images

All that money totals up to around $10,000. That’s a lot of money for software that is still very much in the development phase. Moreover, CEO Elon Musk has been saying that Tesla Full Self-Driving has been coming for a very, very long time. Now, it’s important to acknowledge a few things in the brand’s defense. Software like this with real-world applications is extremely complicated. Musk has even said as much.

The brand’s software has to account for thousands, if not millions, of potential scenarios. Surely, all that development comes at a cost. And to be fair, it’s Tesla’s right to recoup some of those expenses. Especially given the frankly revolutionary change the brand wants to make to transportation. However, as we’ve pointed out before, there’s a lot of gaps in the software. FSD is being treated as something that it isn’t by Musk, especially on Twitter, and therein lies the only issue within all this controversy.

Full Self-Driving may not acutally be Full Self-Driving

A man sits with his hands off the wheel as a Model S drives itself
Driverless driving in Model S | Artur Widak via Getty Images

In its most strict definition, Tesla Full Self-Driving is not actually software that makes a vehicle fully autonomous. There’s widely considered to be six levels to FSD. As the software sits right now, it is technically Level 3 “Conditional Automation” which is software that requires some level of human interaction or override. Regrettably, Musk treats the brand’s software as fully autonomous and clearly expects customers to pay for that full Level 6 Self-Driving experience, even if the software is still a few levels short of a robo-car.

RELATED: Just What Exactly Is Tesla’s Powerwall System?

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Hyundai Announces Autonomous ‘RoboShuttle’ Service in South Korea

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We may not be living in a world of flying cars just yet, but autonomous vehicles are certainly gaining a lot of traction. Hyundai‘s latest endeavor might bring things one step closer to such a self-driving reality. Autonomous driving technology continues to advance in a big way, and the Hyundai “RoboShuttle” intends to improve commuting life in South Korea sooner than you might think. Furthermore, should Hyundai’s autonomous driving experiment prove successful, there could be far-reaching implications for commuters everywhere.

Hyundai dips a toe in the autonomous driving pool with ‘RoboShuttle’

Hyundai Autonomous ‘RoboShuttle’ | Hyundai Motor America

The Hyundai Motor Company, like other automakers, is exploring autonomous driving initiatives. With a brand vision the company calls “Progress for Humanity,” the popular carmaker is accelerating a transformation into becoming a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. According to Hyundai, new investments into robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aim to revolutionize how people engage in transportation. Sustainability is the name of the game, too, as Hyundai also strives to introduce zero-emission vehicles using EV and hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Last year, Hyundai announced an autonomous vehicle driving venture with Aptiv to develop a self-driving solution for ride-hailing. The Verge also reported that Hyundai invested $1.6 billion to catch up in the autonomous driving segment. Additionally, earlier this year, CNBC reported Hyundai’s talks with Apple to develop a North American, “Apple Car,” to innovate the autonomous driving space. While these other announcements haven’t directly resulted in a Hyundai self-driver, a new endeavor, called the “RoboShuttle,” is expected to land in South Korea soon.

South Koreans get a new shuttle service

Hyundai officially introduced a demand-responsive shuttle service in South Korea that is entirely autonomous. The “RoboShuttle” will run a predetermined, 6.1-km route in Sejong Smart City, hailed by passengers using the Shucle app. The route features 20 different stops, and Hyundai claims expanded routes will be available later this year.

The Shucle app is new, too. It’s a ride-pooling service for South Korean residents who share similar transportation routes. Using algorithms to verify optimal routes based on demand, this service is designed to improve travel efficiency. The vehicle will only stop at pre-selected stops, based on those using the app.

The motor and tech behind the Hyundai ‘RoboShuttle’

Others have shared futuristic renditions of potential autonomous driving vehicles of tomorrow, and you might expect this Hyundai “RoboShuttle” to follow suit. However, the vehicle is actually a light commercial, four-door van for the pilot run in South Korea. The Hyundai H350, also called the “Solati” in South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia, looks like a regular gas-powered vehicle, despite its core self-driving tech. A range of Level 4-comparable core tech applies, developed by the Autonomous Driving Center at Hyundai. The “RoboShuttle” also has a temporary permit to operate as a Level 3 autonomous vehicle, per the South Korean Ministry governing body of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.

This month’s official recruiting for passenger participants is expected this month, with “RoboShuttle” launching on August 9, 2021. Furthermore, depending on the success of this venture, additional South Korean regions will begin route development. Of course, if this pilot program becomes widely adopted, as Hyundai predicts, it won’t be long before other countries, including the U.S., begin seeing versions of the “RoboShuttle.”

We’re not flying yet, but soon, commuters in South Korea will be able to use an app to hail an autonomous “RoboShuttle” for a ride. Hyundai doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon on robotics and self-driving innovations, either, meaning we all might be hailing a driverless rider sooner than later.

RELATED: Did Hyundai Pay $1 Billion for a Robotics Company to Build a Walking Car?

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