Politics

San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc. recently announced that it has partnered with the automaker Renault for a field trial of its new wireless electric vehicle charging system later this year in London. According to Forbes: “The California-based company signed a memorandum of understanding with Renault to work on the field trial and to figure out how to integrate the wireless charging technology into Renault’s cars. Qualcomm also announced on Tuesday that Delta Motorsport, an automotive engineering company in the United Kingdom, plans to put Qualcomm’s wireless technology into its electric cars, which will then be used for the same field trial in London later this year.” The goal of the trial is to test both the commercial and technical viability of wireless electric vehicle charging. Qualcomm would also like to gain an understanding of the potential challenges of deploying and integrating wireless charging on a large scale. The device, a pad that the company is calling Halo, is placed under...

What happens when you combine a classic bicycle aesthetic with beautiful design and an electric heart? The designers behind the Faraday Porteur hope it’s the bike that not only will make you look good on the streets — but also get you pedaling on a more permanent basis. Designed for city-living bike lovers, the Faraday Porteur features an electric-powered pedal assist system powered by lithium batteries hidden in the frame. Controlled by a thumb switch on the bike handle, the bike’s “boost mode” gives riders up to 15 miles of support on a single charge. The designers say boost mode is perfect for climbing that extra steep hill or just powering through a straightaway. The Faraday battery recharges in 45 minutes, and an e-ink display on the controller tells riders the bike’s battery strength. The stylish bike with leather accents comes in three sizes, with automatic LED lights and a front rack for transporting items up to 30 lbs. SEE ALSO: Bike Desk Powers Your Gadgets, Meetings, You [V...