TechCapsules

The UK government plans to roll back its electric vehicle (EV) mandate, which currently requires 80% of new passenger vehicles sold in the country to be battery electric by 2030. The move follows a consultation on the 2030 target, which could see the percentage reduced to between 50 and 70%. Automakers and trade unions have been lobbying to water down the mandate, citing concerns about costs and job losses, but industry sources argue that the concerns are [...]

The Pentagon has expanded its "Chinese military companies" list to 188 names, its largest jump yet, including well-known brands such as Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD. China's Ministry of Commerce has strongly condemned the move, labeling it a "power abuse" and calling on the US to reverse the decision. The update means that direct Pentagon contracts with listed firms will end on June 30, 2026, with indirect contracts following in 2027. The move has sparked a backlash from [...]

Automate UK has partnered with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) to create Britain's first regulatory guidance for collaborative robotics in the workplace. The guidance aims to address uncertainty around compliance, particularly for collaborative robots, which is a key barrier to adoption in the UK. The UK ranks 24th globally for industrial robot density, despite ranking first for academic robotics research. The project will produce the first ever HSE-supported guidance on [...]

A broad coalition of industry groups and civil society has written to EU leaders, expressing concern over the current direction of EU discussions on vehicle electrification. The group argues that Europe must focus on accelerating electrification, rather than lowering ambition, to reduce oil dependency and strengthen energy and economic security. Electric vehicles are a mature and increasingly affordable technology, with rapid growth in EV sales and the potential to reduce oil demand, shield households from price volatility, [...]

The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the National Quantum Standards Network, a £10 million infrastructure project to harmonize technical rules for quantum hardware and software architectures. The network, established by the National Physical Laboratory, aims to ensure British deep-tech products meet internationally recognized performance benchmarks, maximizing export potential. The project covers physical metrology criteria, component characterization guidelines, and standardizes component-level specifications for quantum computing and sensing. The network will operate across three pillars: [...]

Tesla is urging its customers in New Jersey to oppose pending legislation that could block true driverless technology in the state. The bills, S.1677 and A.3968, propose a three-year autonomous vehicle pilot program with requirements that Tesla argues make unsupervised Robotaxis impossible. The company claims the bills impose severe restrictions, including human safety drivers and multimillion-dollar insurance minimums. Tesla contends these barriers ignore real-world performance data and favor competitors over innovative technologies. The company is directing owners [...]

The European Union has published its AI content labelling playbook, a voluntary Code of Practice to help companies meet transparency rules under the EU AI Act. The Code sets out practical steps for businesses to mark and label AI-generated content, including deepfakes and AI-manipulated text, and requires clear labelling of interactive AI systems. The rules apply from August 2, 2026, and companies can sign the Code to demonstrate compliance. The Code is optional, but the obligations it [...]

The Federal Data Center Enhancement Act (FDCEA) of 2023, which sets standards for federal datacenters, is set to expire on September 30, 2026, with no replacement in sight. The act covers requirements for availability, sustainability, security, and IT protection. If the FDCEA lapses, federal agencies may no longer adhere to these standards, potentially leading to inconsistent and less secure datacenter operations. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued implementation guidance emphasizing the importance of secure [...]