Texas mandates seat belts but forgets the funding

The “magic” Donut Labs battery gets debunked as ordinary lithium‑ion, tied to a crowdfunding-fueled scam with big promises and no manufactured cells, while real solid-state progress is still coming from major automakers. Americans are keeping cars longer (now ~13 years), slowing the spread of safety tech like advanced AEB. Driverless delivery trucks tout reliability and UL 4600 talk, but robotaxis draw scrutiny for safety claims, red-light issues, and a stalled vehicle that delayed firefighters. Zoox safety marketing and exemptions get criticized, Texas is dragged for an unfunded school-bus seatbelt mandate, liquid hydrogen gets a quick reality check, and multiple recalls hit seatbelts, moonroofs, and fire risks (Jeep, Pacifica PHEV).

Support the show!

https://electrek.co/2026/06/08/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-exposed-lithium-ion-fraud/

https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/americans-are-keeping-their-cars-longer-than-ever-and-remaking-the-auto-industry-c169e494

https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/driverless-trucks-pepsico-texas-arizona-arkansas-ee4495f0?mod=hp_lead_pos11

https://edition.cnn.com/us/waymo-robotaxis-safety-invs

https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/bodycam-shows-cop-trying-move-102600011.html

https://abc13.com/post/texas-school-districts-struggling-costs-complying-bus-seatbelt-law/19235825/

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V356-0668.pdf

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V344-7460.pdf

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V346-4589.pdf

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V363-5757.pdf

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V362-0804.pdf