Month: June 2025

Elon Musk’s mother shares his brilliant academic achievement from 1989

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Elon Musk’s mother shares his brilliant academic achievement from 1989
Elon Musk’s mother shares his brilliant academic achievement from 1989

It was 1989 — no one knew how far this 17-year-old boy named Elon Musk would go on in his life as he gave a computer operation and programming aptitude test at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) at the time.

Elon Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, shared the results of this computer aptitude test after 35 years. Musk scored an A+ in both disciplines of computer science in this test.

As far as I remember, these were the days of 286 and 386 computers. DOS was the operating system, and GW-BASIC and FoxPro were the programming languages at the time. Mastering these skills at the time was considered a significant success in those days.

“While sorting through photos, I came across computer aptitude test results of Elon Musk at 17,” Elon Musk’s mother posted on X (Twitter). “My genius boy. Proud mom,” she said.

Maye Musk shared the following screenshot of the aptitude test result found in her archive of family documents:

Above: Screenshot of Elon Musk’s 1989 computer aptitude test (Operating and Programming) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Musk scored an A+ in both subjects. Credit: Maye Musk via X.

Elon Musk joined the discussion thread and added some interesting details to this important event in his life, he wrote on X:

They said I scored the highest for engineering aptitude that they had ever seen.

Or, in other words, not bad for a human, as a future AI might say.

Elon Musk has always been a bright student. When computers started going mainstream, Musk took special interest in the field. He even made a video game named Blastar in 1983 as a 12-year-old child. He developed this game for the Commodore VIC-20 home computer.

His video game was featured in the South African magazine PC and Office Technology in 1984.

His mother, Maye Musk, is an accomplished model and writer in her own right. She’s the author of the bestselling book ‘A Mother Makes a Plan’, which details her efforts in supporting her children’s ambitions.

Maye occasionally accompanies Elon Musk to various events. At the 2022 Met Gala, both Maye and Elon Musk became the center of attention because of their charisma and unique taste in fashion.

Maye also appears at Tesla Community events whenever she gets a chance. She brightened the evening for Tesla owners and enthusiasts at the 2023 Tesla Takeover gathering in San Luis Obispo, California.

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Featured image: Maye Musk via X (Twitter).

Note: This article was published earlier on Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali.

Allison Transmission to acquire Dana’s off-highway business, expanding EV and hybrid drivetrain capabilities

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Allison Transmission to acquire Dana’s off-highway business, expanding EV and hybrid drivetrain capabilities
Allison Transmission to acquire Dana’s off-highway business, expanding EV and hybrid drivetrain capabilities

Allison Transmission has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Dana’s Off-Highway business for approximately $2.7 billion. The acquisition, anticipated to close late in the fourth quarter of 2025 pending regulatory approvals, aims to expand Allison’s existing powertrain and electrification product lines, significantly enhancing capabilities in hybrid and electric drivetrain systems for commercial and industrial applications.

Dana’s Off-Highway business develops drivetrain, propulsion and electrified solutions, serving customers across construction, agriculture, forestry, specialty vehicles, aftermarket, industrial, and mining industries. The division operates in over 25 countries, employs approximately 11,000 individuals, and is recognized for its hybrid and electric drive technologies, including axles, drivetrain components and custom propulsion solutions.

According to Allison, the acquired business is expected to generate annual run-rate synergies of approximately $120 million and to be immediately accretive to diluted earnings per share. Allison plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and debt.

“Dana’s off-highway business has long been committed to delivering innovative solutions for off-highway applications, and we are confident that under Allison’s ownership, the team will be well-positioned to continue that legacy,” said R. Bruce McDonald, Dana Chair and CEO. “This agreement represents a strategic opportunity to ensure the ongoing success of the business, while allowing Dana to focus on our core priorities. We look forward to seeing the off-highway business thrive under Allison’s leadership.”

Following the integration, Allison intends to use its broader global presence and bolster its existing product portfolio, catering directly to evolving customer requirements in heavy-duty equipment markets, including electrification trends in commercial vehicles and industrial machinery.

Allison Transmission specializes in propulsion solutions for commercial, defense, and off-highway vehicles, including fully automatic transmissions and electrified systems for on-highway trucks, buses and construction equipment. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the company has global manufacturing and electrification engineering centers supporting a range of emerging EV and hybrid applications.

Source: Allison Transmission

Tesla Rumors: The upcoming big Tesla software update to launch Grok AI in Tesla vehicles

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Earlier this year, Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk said that Grok AI is coming to Tesla vehicles soon. Since this was said in the ‘Elon Time’, ‘soon’ can be anywhere from weeks to months.

After around 5 months, strong rumors are spreading over Musk’s social media empire X that Grok AI has been integrated into the upcoming Tesla software update version 2025.20.

Soon after Musk’s announcement of Grok’s integration in Tesla vehicles, xAI released Grok-3, the latest version of its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok-3.

Multiple Tesla influencer accounts who have sources at Tesla, Inc. (TSLA), are spreading strong rumors of Grok’s integration in Tesla cars and the Cybertruck in the upcoming over-the-air (OTA) update 2025.20.

When driving your Tesla, or any vehicle for that matter, text conversation is nearly impossible. The rumors further suggest that in addition to voice commands, the 2025.20 Tesla update includes Grok conversational AI.

This means that Tesla owners with the software update 2025.20 and its subversion point releases will be able to talk to their vehicles. It makes driving much more fun and interesting.

The additional benefit is that you will have an AI companion on your journeys that’s intelligent enough to have a highly intellectual discussion with you in addition to guiding you through the shortest and safest paths.

“You’ll be able to talk to your Tesla and ask for anything,” Elon Musk said in a live podcast earlier in January.

My wild imagination says that if at some point in the future, Tesla FSD AI and Grok AI are merged together, the experience of owning a Tesla vehicle will be unmatched.

Expected Rollout Schedule and New Features

According to various reports, the 2025.20 Tesla software update has already rolled out to Tesla employees last week.

After careful testing of the new features and Grok AI, Tesla is expected to release the 2025.20 update to non-employee Tesla owners in June.

In addition to Grok AI integration in Tesla vehicles, the 2025.20 update is reported to have other features bundled as well. It’s expected to have better visualizations for trailers to improve the detection of these vehicles for safety.

Recently, there have been incidents where Tesla FSD wasn’t able to correctly identify an empty semi truck trailer, resulting in human intervention. The 2025.20 and its subsequent point releases are expected to solve this safety issue.

Tesla has redesigned the Supercharger UI in the 2025.20 update to support dynamic pricing (depending on time and location, etc.).

The rollout schedule of the 2025.20 Tesla update coincides with the launch of the Robotaxi service in June.

Tesla vehicles (new Model Ys in the first phase) operating as Robotaxis will require additional keys for riders of the vehicles. The 2025.20 update is also expected to have the ability to use these new ‘Rider Keys’.

In the initial phase of the Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, the fleet will be owned by Tesla. In the future, Tesla vehicle owners will be able to use their cars as money-making Robotaxis (Cybercabs) as well.

 

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Featured image: @TeslaNewsWire via X (Twitter).

Note: This article was published earlier on Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali.

Customized EV connectors: ENNOVI’s approach to automotive interconnects

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Customized EV connectors: ENNOVI’s approach to automotive interconnects
Customized EV connectors: ENNOVI’s approach to automotive interconnects

In the rapidly evolving automotive landscape, electrification is reshaping the industry, driving companies like ENNOVI to innovate specialized solutions. Charged recently chatted with ENNOVI’s team—CEO Stefan Rustler, Managing Director Michael Meckl and Product Manager Till Wagner—to learn more about its approach to automotive interconnects.

Founded just over a year ago, yet built on a foundation of 60 years of automotive manufacturing expertise, ENNOVI emphasizes five strategic pillars: speed, innovation, talent, global outreach, and sustainability. These pillars position the company as a significant player in electric vehicle technologies, particularly within battery interconnect, power solutions, and signal interconnect applications.

ENNOVI’s strength lies in its capacity to customize interconnect solutions tailored specifically to customer requirements. Early engagement and collaborative approaches ensure their global teams effectively anticipate and fulfill client needs. Through regional teams, competence centers, and extensive factory networks—comprising 14 facilities and four innovation hubs globally—ENNOVI guarantees a smooth transition from concept to production, helping clients rapidly scale solutions.

A vital component of ENNOVI’s strategy is sustainability, integral to both its operational practices and product design. Achieving five consecutive EcoVadis Platinum awards underscores ENNOVI’s long-term commitment to environmental responsibility. This commitment encompasses reducing material and electricity consumption, implementing recyclable packaging solutions, and establishing closed-loop water systems within their manufacturing processes.

Learn more about ENNOVI’s products:

Innovative battery module design remains critical to the EV industry’s evolution. ENNOVI specializes in manufacturing battery module components, such as advanced cell contacting systems. Aware of ongoing challenges such as varying cell form factors and chemistries, ENNOVI has developed adaptable manufacturing technologies, including stamping, molding, lamination, and laser welding. These solutions offer flexibility in meeting dynamic market demands and enable more efficient production processes.

One specific innovation highlighted by ENNOVI is the advancement of adhesive-free lamination technology for cell contacting systems. Traditional plastic trays, heavy and space-consuming, reduce overall battery energy density. ENNOVI’s adhesive-free lamination approach eliminates environmental impacts associated with adhesives while improving cycle times, demonstrating significant advancements in both ecological efficiency and performance optimization.

Additionally, ENNOVI is responding effectively to the increased demand for higher voltage and faster charging capabilities in EV power systems. With typical EV voltages rising from 400–500 volts up to 800–1000 volts, ENNOVI addresses these challenges by innovating more compact and cost-effective bus bar connections. Their new sealing technologies shorten production cycles, reduce costs, and expedite market entry, reinforcing ENNOVI’s role in accelerating the automotive industry’s electrification journey.

The Missing Link in Self-Driving Cars? It Might Be a Human in a VR Headset

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When we hear “self-driving car,” most of us picture a sleek vehicle cruising through the city all by itself, no driver, no steering wheel, just smooth, hands-free rides.

But here’s the twist: Tesla’s upcoming Robotaxis in Austin might still have someone driving them.
Only… that person won’t be inside the car.

They’ll be wearing a VR headset somewhere else, controlling the vehicle remotely like a real-life video game.

Yep. This is real.

What’s Going On with Tesla’s Robotaxi?

Tesla is getting ready to launch a limited Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, starting with 10 to 20 cars. The cars won’t have steering wheels or pedals. They’re designed to be fully autonomous.

But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of mystery.
A recent WIRED article revealed that Tesla is hiring people to guide these vehicles remotely using virtual reality (VR) gear. It’s part of something called teleoperations.

Wait… What’s Teleoperations?

Great question.

Teleoperations means a human steps in remotely when the car doesn’t know what to do. That could be:

  • Driving around a construction zone

  • Figuring out confusing intersections

  • Helping if the car gets stuck or something weird happens

Sometimes, the human gives advice.
Other times, they take full control, just not from inside the car.

Tesla’s job post even says these operators will be “transported into the car’s world” using a high-tech VR setup. Think of it like someone playing a driving simulator. Except it’s real life, and there’s a Tesla on the road.

Why This Matters for EV Fans

This isn’t just cool tech. It actually shows where autonomous driving is really at in 2025.

Even the most advanced self-driving cars still need a little help.
And that’s okay.

A professor from Carnegie Mellon told WIRED that remote assistance is a smart and safe part of the process, not a failure.

The key takeaway? Robotaxis aren’t 100% robot just yet.

So, What Does This Mean for Tesla Owners?

Here’s the short version:

  • Tesla is testing bold ideas, like cars with no steering wheels and humans driving from afar

  • This won’t affect your own Tesla’s Autopilot or FSD, but it gives a peek into the future

  • Remote driving may be temporary until the AI gets smarter

It’s another example of Tesla pushing limits—and trying new things before anyone else.

The Bottom Line

Tesla’s Robotaxis might be on the road soon, but don’t be surprised if there’s still a human helping out… just not in the driver’s seat.

Instead, they might be sitting in a control room with a VR headset on, helping the car get where it needs to go.

It’s not the driverless future we expected, but it’s still pretty wild.

Source: WIRED

EPC releases inverter to bring GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives

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EPC releases inverter to bring GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives
EPC releases inverter to bring GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives

US-based Efficient Power Conversion (EPC), which supplies enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN) power devices, has released a high-performance 25 ARMS, 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design.

Powered by the EPC2304 eGaN FET, the EPC9196 inverter is designed for medium-voltage (96-150 V) battery-powered motor drive applications, including steering systems in automated guided vehicles (AGVs), traction motors in compact autonomous vehicles and precision motor joints in robotics.

The release offers system designers a compact, efficient, and ready-to-deploy solution that accelerates development and optimizes system performance in the lower end of the 25-400 ARMS application range, according to the company. EPC recently introduced its EPC2367 100 V eGaN FET.

The EPC2304 is a 200 V-rated, 3.5 mΩ (typical) eGaN FET in a thermally enhanced QFN package chosen for its low RDS(on) and high performance in compact form factors. It enables the EPC9196 to deliver up to 35 Apk (25 ARMS) phase current at switching frequencies up to 100 kHz. This performance translates to low switching losses, minimal dead time and a smooth, low-noise motor drive profile even at high PWM speeds. EPC said.

Key features of the EPC9196 include a wide input voltage range from 30-170 V, integrated gate drivers, housekeeping power, current and voltage sense, over-current protection and thermal monitoring and dv/dt control optimized for motor drive applications (<10 V/ns). The inverter is compatible with multiple motor drive controller platforms from Microchip, ST, TI and Renesas. It is ready for use in sensorless or encoder-based control configurations.

“With the introduction of the EPC9196, we’re enabling engineers working in robotics, AGVs, and compact EVs to take full advantage of GaN’s superior performance without redesigning for high current,” said Marco Palma, Director of Motor Drive Systems and Applications at EPC.

Source: EPC

Zero-emission ferry demonstrates five-fold cost savings over diesel equivalent

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Chartwell Marine has completed sea trials of its electric trimaran ferry demonstrator, reporting operational costs five times lower than equivalent fossil fuel-powered vessels. The TriFoiler project, developed in partnership with […]

The post Zero-emission ferry demonstrates five-fold cost savings over diesel equivalent appeared first on Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.