Rhode Island issues RFI for connected, autonomous vehicle tech

The Ocean State joins a growing group of states that are exploring smart highways and making other improvements to ready their roads for driverless cars.

By Mary Tyler March • June 14, 2017

10 smart cities-related Twitter accounts to follow right now

Stay connected on social media by adding these informative accounts to your news feed.

By Kristin Musulin , Cody Boteler • June 13, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

PG&E-BMW pilot successfully deploys EVs as flexible grid resources

Throughout the pilot, PG&E dispatched 209 demand response events totaling 19,500 kilowatt-hours, utilizing the EV's flexible charging and a solar-plus-storage project. 

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2017

How to build a smart city: Expert tips on where to start (and pitfalls to avoid)

Leaders from organizations like Nesta, Navigant, Connecthings and more offered advice on how to begin on the path to smart innovations.

By Jackie Snow • June 8, 2017

Los Angeles to fuel transit buses with renewable natural gas

The city will advance its efforts toward GHG reduction through a contract with Clean Energy.

By Kristin Musulin • June 8, 2017

A new device to spot potholes could help cities fix them faster

Technology is a critical part of improving America’s deteriorating infrastructure, but uptake will be driven by funding — a topic currently in the spotlight.

By Hallie Busta • June 7, 2017

Trump's deregulation order stalls federal high-speed rail rules

Industry experts say a set of uniform safety requirements will streamline the bureaucratic approvals that are necessary for high-speed rail projects.

By Kim Slowey • June 1, 2017

In this Finnish neighborhood, residents can experience efficient living 25/7

Smart Kalasatama in Helsinki, Finland is finding ways to give an hour a day back to its residents.

By Jackie Snow • May 31, 2017

Report: Autonomous trucks could eliminate need for 4.4M commercial drivers

The International Transport Forum report outlines steps for mitigating job loss from driverless trucks in the U.S. and Europe.

By Cole Rosengren • May 31, 2017

Vermont utility offers $1,200 electric vehicle rebate

The offer is open to all residential and commercial customers, and would also help the city of Burlington meet a goal of becoming energy neutral. 

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2017

The race to become the nation's autonomous vehicle capital

Driverless vehicles are no longer the innovation of the future. They're the innovation of now — and without quick work, cities will fall behind.

By Jackie Snow • May 25, 2017

Beep beep: Mexico City tops list of world's most traffic-congested cities

The TomTom 2017 Traffic Index used nine years of data to give congestion scores to 390 cities based on travel times.

By Jackie Snow • May 25, 2017

Cat-inspired app aims to give Portlanders a purrfect parking experience

The app — which has purring and meowing functions — is intended to alleviate "wear and tear" on the city's pay stations.

By Jackie Snow • May 24, 2017

Brattle: Wider electrification key to averting both climate change and utility death spiral

Tapping into power demand from EVs and electrified heating can help the utility industry thrive as it pushes the economy toward deep decarbonization, the consultancy says. 

By Peter Maloney • May 24, 2017

How cities can help supply chains perfect the last mile

Urban planning and business collaboration could help cities better manage side effects of last-mile delivery, like congestion.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 22, 2017

Growing interest in electric vehicles spurs Pennsylvania PUC review

The Public Utilities Commission wants to know what kinds of tariff designs might help establish clear rules for third-party electric vehicle charging stations as part of the review. 

By Robert Walton • May 22, 2017

Study: Traffic flow significantly improves with AVs on the road

Researchers found if just 5% of vehicles on the road are automated, it can lead to a major reduction in "phantom traffic jams."

By Kristin Musulin , Jackie Snow • May 18, 2017

8 city mobile apps driving citizen engagement

Many major cities have leveraged smartphones to communicate about everything from pets to potholes.

By Jackie Snow • May 18, 2017

Congestion: A chronic logistics waste costing $63.4 billion in lost productivity

Idled traffic can lead to property losses, more accidents and lesser compliance with hours-of-service regulation. A recent report shows the costs are mounting.

By Jennifer McKevitt • May 18, 2017

Vroom vroom: Volvo debuts driverless garbage truck

See how the autonomous refuse truck, currently being tested in Sweden, can maneuver pre-programmed routes using sensors.

By Cole Rosengren • May 17, 2017

Electric vehicles can be grid assets or liabilities. How utilities plan will decide.

New communications protocols and time-varying rates are needed to help utilities managing EV charging, a new SEPA paper argues.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 17, 2017

ACEEE: 32 cities improve energy efficiency score; Boston tops list

Boston, New York and Seattle topped the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's biannual scorecard that ranks 51 U.S. cities on energy-saving efforts.

By Kristin Musulin , Jackie Snow • May 16, 2017

Duke’s truck-stop electrification project could mean big fuel savings

By allowing up to two dozen rigs to plug in at a North Carolina truck stop, Duke's project will help save 25,000 gallons fuel annually.

By Robert Walton • May 15, 2017

Pump the brakes: Cities aim to eliminate traffic fatalities with Vision Zero goals

Vision Zero, started in 1990s Sweden, is catching on across the US as cities look to make their roads safer.

By Jackie Snow • May 11, 2017

Atlanta’s I-85 bridge replacement set to open May 15, a month ahead of schedule

Contractor C.W. Matthews will be eligible for an early-completion bonus of $3.1 million, bringing the total contract cost to $16.6 million.

By Kim Slowey • May 11, 2017