Happy Thursday, InsideEVs readers. Did you know a Mercedes drove autonomously on public highways—sometimes at ripping autobahn speeds—back in 1995? Neither did I. For more on the early history of the self-driving car—including fascinating experiments that predate Waymo and the rest by decades—I highly recommend you give Andrei Nedelea’s story below a read.
Here are other stories worth reading today:
Old Waymo batteries will get a second life thanks to a new partnership.
A great electric sedan is making a comeback in North America.
Plus, Suvrat Kothari explains why Ford is betting on an electric truck—not an SUV.
—Tim Levin, Senior Editor
Photo: Ralph Hermens
The Self-Driving Car Story Started Earlier Than You Think
Decades before Waymo and Tesla, a Mercedes van used cameras and computers to drive itself down the autobahn.
Photo: InsideEVs
Old Waymo Batteries Will Get A Second Life As Stationary Energy Storage
Waymo struck a deal with B2U Storage Solutions to make sure its old robotaxi batteries live on.
Photo: Ford
Electric Trucks Have Failed Spectacularly In America. Here's Why Ford Is Trying Again
Ford says its upcoming electric truck has one job: to be a great vehicle first. The EV part is almost beside the point.
Photo: Polestar
The Polestar 2 Is Returning To North America
The fan favorite EV is going back on sale in North America, thanks to Canada’s openness to Chinese-built electric cars.