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Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Boston Globe
The Mass. Pike rest stops are about to get a makeover. Here's what readers want to see.
Advertisement Here are some of the most popular topics and a sampling of reader comments: Food choices The most common reader response was seeking better and healthier food options. Suggestions for specific restaurants included Sweetgreen, Shake Shack, Tasty Burger, and Panera. Some people asked for more gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Readers also asked for the rest stops to have a more local flavor with 'New England authenticity' and seasonal food items. 'Small local restaurants and businesses instead of fast food chains!!,' Boston reader Melissa Mazzeo wrote. 'It would be so nice to get a feel for the town/region at a rest stop, rather than it feeling like I could be anywhere in the country.' ' 'Gluten-free options!!! And perhaps ways to accommodate other dietary/food allergy concerns. How about some small, local restaurants? Good ice cream.' Sharon Catto, Brookline But several readers pointed out that the current chains, like McDonald's and Dunkin, provide quick and simple food choices for harried families with kids. 'Families especially, need to juggle the tastes of multiple people with limited time to peruse every menu,' wrote Jay Minkarah of Nashua. 'Reliability and predictably at rest stops is important.' Advertisement There were also a few out-there suggestions. 'On a lighter note, please bring back Howard Johnson's,' reader Bill Latimer from Plainfield wrote. 'Today, there's nothing like HoJo's all-you-can-eat fried chicken, hot and crispy on the outside and still frozen at the bone!' And many readers want MassDOT to make sure food and gas prices are affordable. Electric vehicle charging The second most popular request was for more and better EV charging options. Currently, the Pike has two Tesla-only stations along with six relatively slow generic chargers. In its request for proposals, MassDOT required that the new manager ' 'More and more powerful EV chargers. And EV chargers that are under cover (people pumping gas don't have to stand in the rain).' Patrick Gabridge, Northampton 'They should be well lit, with proper facilities nearby for people to use,' reader Jay Dobbie in Worcester wrote. 'We can't expect EVs to keep thriving if the state doesn't keep to their word [and] help with the infrastructure.' Connecticut resident Sue Santos was worried about high prices at Applegreen's chargers. 'It would be nice if Tesla upgraded the software to allow non-Tesla cars to charge, currently they can't at most [rest stops] on the Pike,' she wrote. 'They perform better than the Applegreen units.' Applegreen has three different design options for the plazas: one for coastal areas, one for the central part of the state, and one for the Berkshire hills. This rendering shows the concept for the coastal area. Rendering by Upland Architects Bathrooms, bathrooms, bathrooms Readers also had many suggestions for the rest stops' restrooms, starting with offering more options for family bathrooms, nongender-specific bathrooms, and attended bathrooms. Some would like to see paper towels make a comeback. And cleanliness was cited as an issue by dozens of readers. Advertisement ' 'All entrances should have handicap door openers, also known as automatic swing door openers or ADA door openers. Every time I have to stop at a rest stop, I'm amazed and frustrated at the lack of them. -- Also, handicap toilet stalls should be checked more frequently - too often, the only handicap stall is unusable.' Anonymous 'A built in stool at a sink so that little kids can reach the sink/soap themselves is the easiest thing that I wish all public restrooms had,' Abigail Starr in Cambridge wrote. 'A stall that is family friendly would be AMAZING too. Like having a baby holder, a seat for a young child, a shelf to put a diaper bag, and if they really want to make it totally welcoming a small flush toilet in addition to the regular adult sized toilet.' Applegreen in New York Dozens of readers said they had experience with the newly built rest stops by Applegreen in New York, and most were not happy about the facilities. 'Look at NY Thruway renovations and do the opposite,' John Mungovan of Harwich Port wrote, citing an inadequate number of bathrooms and crowded eating spaces. Kathy Chelini of Milford said she has been driving back and forth to Rochester, N.Y., for more than 40 years and does not like the new rest stops. 'Few places to sit and eat and we have to eat in the car,' she wrote. 'Too few bathrooms, too few gas pumps, long lines. Poor choice of food restaurants that close on Sunday and few vegetarian options.' ' 'THE NY THRUWAY STOPS ARE HORRIBLE.' Harriet Luppino, Newton, MA The controversy around Chick-fil-A on the Thruway was also mentioned by Globe readers. In New York, some have complained that the chain's decision to close on Sundays makes it a bad choice for a highway rest stop used seven days a week. In its request for proposals, MassDOT Including Chick-fil-A is 'very impractical for a rest area restaurant to be closed on a Sunday, making everything else overcrowded and slow,' wrote Christina Paradiso from Princeton. Advertisement Assorted other ideas Other suggestions including adding compost bins for leftover food, cushy chairs for weary travelers, and playground equipment for kids. About a dozen readers asked for a fenced-in dog walk or other pet-oriented features. 'I'd love to see designated dog walk areas with disposal bags and containers,' wrote Linda Barbadoro of Sturbridge. But perhaps the best suggestion came from the Rev. Laura Everett of Jamaica Plain, who said she appreciated that New Jersey has named its rest stops for famous state residents. 'Driving back from Cape May to Boston recently I stopped at Jon Bon Jovi, Judy Blume, Whitney Houston & James Gandolfini,' Everett wrote. 'Imagine how much more fun (and educational) our Massachusetts rest stops would be if we got to stop at the Amy Poehler Service Plaza or the Aaron Pressman can be reached at
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Vehicle mobile app usage rises among EV drivers: JD Power
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. As the U.S. electric vehicle market continues to grow, EV drivers expect powerful features from their vehicles, such as fully integrated mobile apps that can unlock their vehicles, plan when to charge and remotely control the air conditioning or heating. Although EV owners are increasingly using their vehicle brand apps, there's room improvement, especially when it comes to connectivity and speed, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report, published May 29. Non-Tesla EV drivers are shifting gears in favor of their vehicle's app. Just 17% of non-Tesla EV drivers in 2024 reported using their brand's app each time they got behind the wheel, increasing by 15 percentage points to 32% this year. Tesla drivers are much more likely to use their vehicle's app than other EV drivers, with the report finding 79% of Tesla drivers use the Tesla app each time they drive. That's up from 69% last year. App performance varies across brands, which affects whether drivers choose to rely on their apps. Tesla's high proportion of app usage makes sense, as the J.D. Power report ranked Tesla as the highest performing EV mobile app overall. Among premium EV brands, the Mercedes Benz app ranked second, and the MyBMW app ranked third. MyHyundai with Bluelink was the highest rated mass-market brand app, followed by Kia Access and MINI. 'Top-performing apps deliver fast, consistent remote controls and have desired features,' Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power, said in a statement. 'However, most other apps are still closing that gap.' EV owners surveyed for the report flagged connectivity and app speed as major areas where apps could improve. In fact, app speed was the best predictor of customer satisfaction, J.D. Power said. The majority of EV drivers (70%) also reported interest in app features such as in-app charge payment and trip planning, but many non-Tesla EV drivers had never used such tools, suggesting that they were either unaware of what their apps could do or that their apps had limited features. Indeed, more than half (54%) of non-Tesla EV drivers said they had never tried to pay for a charging session through their vehicle's app. In order to compile the report, J.D. Power surveyed 1,966 EV owners in the U.S. about their EV app usage, the app features they desired and app performance. J.D. Power also assessed apps from 28 EV brands in the United States (as well as 10 in China and 8 in Europe) based on app functionality, features, usability and other indicators of product performance and customer satisfaction. Recommended Reading Hyundai's updated Bluelink app simplifies EV charging Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Electric Vehicle App Engagement Reaches New Highs but Brands Face Pressure to Improve Speed and Reliability, J.D. Power Finds
BUSINESS WIRE)--As the electric vehicle (EV) market matures, companion mobile apps have become a critical part of the ownership experience. From unlocking the vehicle to remotely managing charging and climate, EV apps now serve as an extension of the vehicle itself. According to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report SM released today, EV app usage continues to climb, though satisfaction is still held back by connectivity issues, remote command speed and inconsistent feature performance. These usability gaps contrast sharply with rising expectations, as more EV owners are expecting quick and integrated app functionality each time they drive. 'EV owners are telling J.D. Power exactly what they need: reliable performance and connectivity to interact with their vehicles,' said Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power. 'Top-performing apps deliver fast, consistent remote controls and have desired features. However, most other apps are still closing that gap.' Following are some key findings from the 2025 report: EV app usage rising: Nearly one-third (32%) of non-Tesla users now use their app on every drive (up from 17% in 2024), while Tesla users are at 79%, up from 69% a year ago. This reflects the growing reliance on apps for routine EV functions such as charge monitoring, pre-conditioning and route planning. However, satisfaction still lags due to slow connections and inconsistent performance. Distinct advantage in speed: Nearly half (46%) of EV app users say 3-5 seconds is the longest acceptable delay for remote commands, while 40% of Tesla users expect responses in just 1-2 seconds. App speed remains the top driver of satisfaction. Tesla users place higher value on app speed (8.3 on a 10-point scale) than non-Tesla users (7.4) and are more satisfied (7.9) than non-Tesla users (5.5). The small gap between expectation and satisfaction suggests that Tesla has a competitive edge in delivering on customers' needs. Connectivity issues remain top frustration: Although connectivity has improved slightly, 37% of non-Tesla EV app users still have issues with losing connection or delayed updates, down from 40% in 2024. Tesla, on the other hand, has made significant improvement by reducing connectivity complaints to 19% from 35% year over year. This reinforces the importance of frequent app updates to address issues and transparent communication to customers. Strong interest in EV features, yet low engagement among app users: While more than 70% of EV app users say they want features like charge scheduling, trip planning with charging stops and in-app payment for public charging, many non-Tesla users do not use these features. In fact, 43% of non-Tesla users have never tried to schedule a charge; 44% have never used the app to plan trips; and 54% have never attempted to pay for charging through the manufacturer's app. This gap suggests a lack of feature availability or limited awareness, both of which represent missed opportunities to improve satisfaction. Feature desirability continues to evolve: Several advanced features have seen year-over-year increases in desirability. Interest in adjusting driver profiles—such as enabling valet or guest mode—has risen 6.3 percentage points, the largest gain. Other features with rising interest include remote window control (+3.7 percentage points); smartphone key access (+2.2 percentage points); and viewing vehicle cameras or security alerts (+1.7 percentage points). Core features like vehicle status, over-the-air updates and diagnostics/vehicle health checks continue to be desired by more than 90% of EV app users. Report Rankings Tesla (864) ranks highest overall and among premium manufacturer EV vehicle mobile apps. Mercedes-Benz (839) ranks second and My BMW (833) ranks third. MyHyundai with Bluelink ranks highest among mass market manufacturer EV mobile apps with a score of 820 (on a 1,000-point scale). Kia Access (808) ranks second and MINI (797) ranks third. See the rank chart for each segment at The U.S. OEM EV App Report, now in its fifth year, gauges EV owners' experience with their brand's mobile app. Insights are derived from surveying EV owners and an assessment of the most relevant EV mobile apps. Results are based on a standardized assessment approach relying on more than 350 best practices for vehicle apps that include more than 70 EV-specific attributes. The report includes apps from the top 28 award-eligible brands that sell EVs in the United States; 10 profiled EV brands in China; and eight profiled EV brands in Europe. Brands from China and Europe are included in this report given their expanding presence in the EV marketplace. Additionally, 1,966 EV owners in the United States were surveyed in March-April 2025 to gather insights on app usage; feature desirability; and app overall execution for the 2025 report. For more information about the U.S. OEM EV App Report, visit About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in automotive data and analytics, and provides industry intelligence, consumer insights and advisory solutions to the automotive industry and selected non-automotive industries. J.D. Power leverages its extensive proprietary datasets and software capabilities combined with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence tools to help its clients optimize business performance. J.D. Power was founded in 1968 and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Tesla stock could stumble after uncommon event
Tesla stock is no stranger to big pops and drops. The company's CEO, Elon Musk, is one of America's most divisive corporate leaders because of his mercurial nature. As a result, Tesla's stock price has taken a roller coaster ride over the past decade. Elon Musk's supporters applaud his seemingly single-handedly taking the electric vehicle market mainstream. His detractors point to a string of broken promises on model launch timelines and Tesla's much-delayed autonomous vehicles. This Memorial Day, get $100 off TheStreet Pro - our best deal of the summer won't last long! Your portfolio will thank you More recently, the debate between fans and foes has intensified due to his spending hundreds of millions supporting President Trump's election bid and his new role running the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, an organization in the executive branch tasked with cutting costs. Related: Fund manager has shocking Elon Musk and Tesla prediction Musk's foray into politics has frustrated once-loyal, left-leaning supporters worldwide, causing sagging Tesla sales in markets such as Europe, China, and California. As a result, Tesla shares have taken a roller coaster ride in 2025. Shares fell 54% from its December peak to its low in April before rallying 52% since April 9 after President Donald Trump paused most of the reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2. The impressive rally has caught many investors flat-footed, but additional gains may be harder to come by, particularly now that an uncommon warning signal has (TSLA) became an aspiration vehicle coveted by celebrities and performance fans because of an important decision by Elon Musk to concentrate on luxury and speed rather than the environment. The decision resulted in vehicles that could hold their own against rivals like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche, leaving competitors like Ford and General Motors flat-footed and without competing EVs to sell to willing buyers. Related: Surprising China trade deal sends Tesla stock soaring Unfortunately for Tesla, the luxury and performance gap with competitors has closed. Detroit's big three car companies and almost every automaker worldwide have spent billions building EVs offering similar performance and potentially better fit-and-finish. Stiffening competition has caused Tesla's electric vehicle market share to shrink at the same time that demand has fallen because of Musk's political activism. Tesla's first-quarter sales fell 62.2% year-over-year in Germany, according to KBA, and U.S. unit sales volume declined 9% from last year in Q1, according to KBB. In California, Tesla registrations dropped 21.5% in Q1 versus Q1 2024, while non-Tesla EV registrations increased 14%. According to the Cox/KBB quarterly EV sales report, while U.S. Tesla units sold tumbled in the first quarter, Ford's EV sales rose 12%, and General Motors brands Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet grew 37%, 184%, and 114%. Tesla's struggles haven't disappeared despite its stock price marching significantly higher over the past six weeks. As a result, investors are right to wonder if the rally in Tesla shares will stall until there's more clarity that the company is back on track. In its recent first-quarter conference call, Elon Musk said he would refocus on Tesla and spend less time on DOGE. Related: Elon Musk sends strong message to Tesla stock investors Musk has also said recently in Qatar that, "Europe is our weakest market, but we're strong everywhere else. Our sales are doing well at this point, and we don't anticipate any sales shortfall." Those signs are encouraging, but Musk didn't provide evidence supporting his claim, and until more sales data comes in, Tesla fans will feel a bit uneasy. It doesn't help matters that one technical indicator raises a red flag that Tesla's stock may have run too far, too fast. The relative strength index, or RSI. RSI (14) measures price action over the preceding 14 trading periods and can signal when stocks become overbought and oversold. When the RSI is above 70, it signals buyer beware. However, when it dips below 30, it can suggest shares may be about to move higher. For example, Tesla's RSI eclipsed 80 in mid-December when shares were near $480. Its RSI was in the 20s at its recent lows near $220. The RSI isn't as high as December, but it was nearly 73 on May 14. The move up in RSI above 70 could mean that Tesla's stock price is due for a breather after its big run, but nothing is guaranteed. Stocks can get and remain overbought and oversold for a while. Stocks rarely turn on a dime. Nevertheless, the technical signal is a yellow flag suggesting more gains could be harder to come by in the short term. What happens long-ter is anyone's guess, but it will likely hinge on whether or not Musk is correct that its demand problem is going away. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
China's BYD tops Tesla for first time ever in Europe
China's BYD (BYDDY) hit another big milestone — with rival Tesla (TSLA) receiving another piece of bad news. In the month of April, BYD's BEV (battery electric vehicle) registrations topped those of Tesla in Europe for the first time. Per research firm JATO Dynamics, Tesla BEV registrations came in at 7,165 units, with BYD narrowly beating Tesla with 7,231 units. Crucially, Tesla BEV sales in April tumbled 49% in Europe, while BYD's surged 169%. Registrations are used as a proxy for sales, as Tesla does not break out monthly or regional sales. 'Although the difference between the two brands' monthly sales totals may be small, the implications are enormous,' Felipe Munoz, JATO Dynamics global analyst said in the report. 'This is a watershed moment for Europe's car market, particularly when you consider that Tesla has led the European BEV market for years, while BYD only officially began operations beyond Norway and the Netherlands in late 2022.' Tesla's recent struggles in Europe are not an industry secret. Earlier data showed Tesla registrations also fell in key countries including France (down 59%), Denmark (down 67%), and Sweden (down 81%), the UK (down 62%), and Germany (down 46%). Demand weakness in the EU and recent protests at US Tesla showrooms follow CEO Elon Musk's foray into politics, causing some Tesla owners to become alienated by Musk, his right-leaning tendencies, and outward support of President Trump. Musk admitted to the weakness at from the Qatar Economic Forum earlier this week: "Europe is our weakest market." But what is new is BYD's surge in Europe, where the Chinese company's vehicles, both BEV and hybrid, are resonating with buyers, even with the addition of tariffs. The EU imposes 10% tariffs on BYD vehicles, with an additional 17% for BEVs. BYD BEVs are not the only non-Tesla vehicles selling well in the EU. Legacy automakers like Volkswagen (up 61%), BMW (up 5%), and Audi (up 48%) among others big gains in BEV sales. 'While the electric vehicle segment was a bright spot for Europe's new passenger car market last month, these gains were offset by significant declines among ICE vehicles,' Munoz noted. Across powertrains, JATA reported BEV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) combined accounted for 26% of new car registrations in Europe, a new record, with Chinese brands behind much of this growth. BEVs accounted for 17% of this total, up from 13.4% in April 2024, while plug-in hybrids represented 9% of monthly registrations, up from 6.9% a year ago. BYD's onslaught in Europe may just be beginning. The company intends to build a factory in Hungary, which would alleviate tariff exposure, and the company just announced it plans to bring its best selling EV to Europe, dubbed the Dolphin Surf, which will start around $26,000. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
