Tag: stations
The Night Call devs are swapping taxis for tech-fuelled gas stations in their new narrative management game
Petrol stations might not be the most natural setting for pondering life’s biggest questions, but the ones in Flat Eye, the next game from the makers of detective taxi-me-do Night Call, aren’t your ordinary rest stops. As well as a convenient place to relieve yourself and top up on snacks, these futuristic service stations also house cosmetic surgery bots, operation tables, teleportation booths and more – and they’re all overseen by a powerful AI trying to find the best possible future for the human race. As the station’s head clerk, you’ll debate the ethics of eternal youth and end of life care, while also making sure your station has enough power, stocked shelves and a happy customer base. It’s certainly an intriguing combo compared to other management games out there right now, so I sat down with director Laurent Victorino and writer Antony Jauneaud to find out more.
EV charging stations are coming to highways across all 50 states
It’s about to get a whole lot easier to charge your electric vehicle. The Department of Transportation has promised to expand electric vehicle charging in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
The plan, dubbed the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, is expected to cover some 75,000 miles of highway across the country using $1.5 billion in funding from President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Engadget reported that the funding covers 80 percent of EV charger installation costs, with states and private entities picking up the remaining 20 percent of the tab.
“With this greenlight, States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico can ramp up their work to build out EV charging networks that will make driving an EV more convenient and affordable for their residents and will serve as the backbone of our national EV charging network,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack in a statement. “The Federal Highway Administration will continue to work closely with States as we implement this historic funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring President Biden’s vision for a national electric vehicle network to communities across America.”
There were no immediate estimates of how many new charging stations the plan would create, but these stations will need to meet certain requirements, such as type of charger and proximity to a major highway.
Charging infrastructure and range anxiety remain a barrier to entry for car owners looking to purchase electric vehicles. More chargers in more communities means more folks might make the switch. And it would, of course, be a huge benefit for those who already own an EV. There are plenty of “charging deserts” out there, just waiting to be electrified.
“We have approved plans for all 50 States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to help ensure that Americans in every part of the country — from the largest cities to the most rural communities — can be positioned to unlock the savings and benefits of electric vehicles,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement.
Roughly 46,000 charging stations currently exist in the U.S., compared to around 150,000 gas stations, according to NPR, so while this funding will help make chargers more accessible, it won’t be enough for vehicle owners to completely transition away from gas and diesel.
All 50 States Get Green Light To Build EV Charging Stations
It’s unclear how many charging stations the funds will support, and states have not yet shared specific charger locations. Transportation Department officials have said that states should install stations every 50 miles and ensure each station is located within one mile of an interstate highway. “We have approved plans for all 50 States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to help ensure that Americans in every part of the country — from the largest cities to the most rural communities — can be positioned to unlock the savings and benefits of electric vehicles,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Amazon tests using police stations as package pickup points
Amazon lockers are already supposed to fend off package thieves, but some now perhaps have an extra layer of security. Washington DC is the first city in the US to test Amazon lockers at police stations. This week, Metropolitan Police Department installed the lockers at two sites in the city. The department and Amazon plan to position lockers at more stations if the pilot goes well, according to Washingtonian.
On the surface, it’s a logical move to vex porch pirates. It’s unlikely that anyone would try pinching a package from a police station. It’s a little odd to imagine someone being released from custody only to pick up a package before they leave a police station.
Amazon already has several ties to law enforcement agencies. Earlier this summer, it emerged that the company has given police footage from Ring cameras on at least 11 occasions without a court order or user consent. Law enforcement was also able to use Amazon’s facial recognition tech for a time. The company enacted a one-year ban on police use of Rekognition in 2020, and it extended that measure indefinitely last year.