New York City testing “pay by phone” parking meters

By Mike Flacy Published August 17, 2011

cell-phone-meter — Image used with permission by copyright holder

New York City is rolling out support for a Web-based initiative that ties text messaging and smartphone apps into making payments on expiring parking meters. After registering online and putting a credit card number on file, residents and visitors to the Big Apple will be able to send a text message with the meter number and purchase time for that meter. The city will also provide access through an app if users are on a smartphone, although text messaging works as well. The city is rolling out initial support for 300 parking meters that will be tested over a one-year pilot program in a busy commercial area in the outer boroughs.

While there are plenty of meters in the city that take credit cards, the Web service also alerts users by text when the parking meter is about to expire. Users can simply increase the amount of time on the meter, up to the maximum allowed limit, with a text or purchase within the application. This technology will make it more difficult for users to continue feeding meters beyond the maximum time as there’s a timestamp when the initial purchase was made. Parking enforcement officers could hypothetically tie into a city-wide network of the meters to be alerted when meters are going to expire. If the web service also requires models of cars to be registered, parking enforcement could halt people manually feeding meters after the inital purchase through the service.

Recommended Videos

It’s also possible that this level of technology could offer refunds to people leaving before the parking meter expires. With another text, a driver could “check-out” of the parking space and request a refund from the city. Washington D.C. and Atlanta have already launched these meters. In Atlanta, drivers can register over the phone when parking, but have to provide a license plate as well. When they leave, drivers call the number again and they are only billed for the time between the two calls. The city of Atlanta also offers access to a prepaid system if users don’t have a credit card or aren’t comfortable providing that number over the phone.

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Topics

Mobile

Cars

This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern

Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Cars

Take a peek inside the factory making tomorrow’s ride

A Zoox robotaxi.

Amazon-owned Zoox has opened its first facility producing fully autonomous robotaxis.

A video (above) released by the California-based company offers a peek inside the factory, which, when it reaches full capacity, could roll out as many as 10,000 autonomous vehicles per year.

Cars

The week in EV tech: 900 miles, 12 minutes—EV charging just hit warp speed

byd 900 miles 12 minutes seal

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles.
If you’re hesitant about electric vehicles (EV), it’s likely that your top concerns include how far you can drive in a single charge, how long it takes to charge the battery, and how much this advanced tech will cost you. And you're not alone.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study, nearly half of U.S. consumers (49%) still say that available battery driving range is their biggest worry about EVs. That’s followed closely by the time required to charge (46%) and the lingering cost premium (44%) associated with battery electric vehicles.
But that narrative may finally be flipping. Just this past week, two developments showcase how much EV technology has evolved over the past decade: China’s BYD is breaking new grounds on just how far you can drive an EV on a single 12-minute charge. Meanwhile, the Nissan Leaf, seen as the first mass-market EV in 2010, is getting an impressive upgrade even as it remains one of the most affordable options on the market.

BYD’s bold battery bet
Chinese auto giant BYD, already the world’s top-selling EV manufacturer, may have just redrawn the limits of battery performance. According to Chinese media, and other reports, the company is testing a new solid-state battery that can add 900 miles of range in just 12 minutes of charging.
Let that sink in. That’s nearly four times the range of many current EVs—enough to drive from New York to Chicago —and charging that’s as fast as a coffee stop.