TechMobility Topics

University of Minnesota researchers have demonstrated that low-purity iron ore can be converted into semiconductor-quality pyrite—the mineral better known as Fool’s Gold—without extra purification steps. The work points to a potentially lower-cost, more sustainable source of material for future electronics and energy technologies.  

For this TechMobility Topics segment, we explore why a familiar mining material could matter far beyond steelmaking. Pyrite is composed of abundant, low-cost, relatively non-toxic elements and absorbs light exceptionally well, making it a promising material for solar, battery, and electronic applications.

If the process can move from the lab to scalable manufacturing, it could reshape the conversation around domestic semiconductor supply chains — and give traditional mining regions a meaningful role in the next generation of American technology production.

China’s EV industry is moving beyond low-cost manufacturing and into a new era of connected, software-defined transportation. As Chinese automakers build millions of electric vehicles, they are also advancing AI-powered driver assistance, digital cockpits, over-the-air updates, battery technology, and integrated ecosystems, making software central to the ownership experience.

In this episode of TechMobility Topics, we look at why the real story is not simply how many EVs China can produce—it is how quickly Chinese companies are exporting capability. We explore the implications for U.S. buyers seeking advanced and affordable electric vehicles, U.S. automakers competing against faster-moving global rivals, and policymakers trying to keep Chinese-branded vehicles out of the American market.

Will trade restrictions keep Chinese EV brands at bay when China-built vehicles, components, technology, and manufacturing influence are already making their way onto U.S. roads through global production networks?

Record-low water levels at Lake Powell are intensifying the crisis across the Colorado River system. For this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine what the decline means for Western water supplies, hydroelectric power generation, and the communities and industries competing for a shrinking resource. As federal officials intervene, the central question becomes unavoidable: Who will face the deepest cuts as the West grows hotter and drier?

Electric motors deliver instant torque, but hauling tens of tons up steep mountain grades presents a different challenge. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine the Sigma eMax electric transmission and how multiple gears could keep heavy-duty EV motors operating within their most efficient range. The technology could help electric commercial trucks tackle demanding terrain while improving performance, energy consumption, and potentially driving range.

The 2026 Toyota C-HR EV promises the confidence and capability of a larger vehicle in a compact, battery-electric crossover. During this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine its power, driving range, all-wheel drive, one-pedal operation, and the everyday details that can make an EV rewarding—or frustrating—to own. I also address its missing spare tire, overactive driver-assistance warnings, and the biggest concern facing many prospective EV buyers: finding convenient, reliable charging when you live in an apartment, a rural community, or outside a major metropolitan area.

Autonomous trucking is no longer a “someday” technology. Driverless trucks are already hauling loads in the Permian Basin, where repetitive routes on private oilfield roads allow fleets to scale operations, accumulate real-world experience, and prove the technology before expanding onto public highways. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, I explore how autonomy is quietly arriving in logistics—and why what is happening off-road could reshape trucking everywhere. 

 A Nebraska project plans to produce electric natural gas by combining green hydrogen from renewable-powered electrolysis with biogenic carbon dioxide captured from ethanol plants. During this episode of TechMobility Topics, I explore how this Midwest energy experiment could convert existing industrial emissions into an exportable fuel—and why markets such as Japan may be watching closely. 

With new-vehicle prices nearing $50,000, loans stretching to 84 months, and monthly payments ranging from $700 to $1,000, reliable transportation is slipping out of reach for many households. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, I explain what is fueling the affordability squeeze, why rising repossessions hurt borrowers and lenders, and the most important step to take as soon as you realize you cannot make your next payment. 

Florida wants to redirect EV charging infrastructure funding toward an “aerial highway” for electric air taxis—but who would benefit? For this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine the charging gaps that persist beyond interstate corridors, why Level 2 stations fall short for many drivers, and how DC fast charging could make EV ownership more practical for apartment residents, inner-city neighborhoods, and rural communities. Before taxpayer dollars build the transportation network of tomorrow, should they first address today's mobility needs? 

 Audi is preparing to replace its recently discontinued A8 luxury sedan with something dramatically different: the Q9, a flagship luxury SUV. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine what this proposed halo vehicle reveals about Audi’s top-end strategy, the market’s continuing shift away from sedans, and whether a large SUV can deliver the prestige, innovation, and brand-building power once embodied by the A8.