DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist
DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF
By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane
SUZUKI-SKYDRIVE eVTOL IS IN DEMAND
Source: SkyDrive
- Japanese auto & motorcycle manufacturer Suzuki and Japan-based eVTOL company SkyDrive are developing a flying taxi that's pulling in lots of global customer orders. Here's what we know:
- Suzuki has formed a 100%-owned subsidiary with SkyDrive to manufacture their eVTOL flying taxi SD-05 in Japan starting in spring 2024
- Orders for this 3-seat, all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing air taxi are pouring in: 110 orders from Vietnam, 50 orders from South Korea and 5 vehicles ordered by a South Carolina-based company
- Vehicle is called SD-05 and has a patented rotor design
- Carries 3 people, including the pilot
- Maximum weight it can carry is 3100 pounds
- Range is 9 miles
- Designed for short-haul trips as a flying taxi
- Top speed is 62 mph
- Operational in commercial airspace in 2026
- Expected to be a significant player in the UAM (urban air mobility) market because of its award-winning design and Suzuki's expertise and financial support
- Winner of the 2023 International Forum Design Award
- Vehicle cost is $1.5 million.
FOILING YACHT CAN FLY ACROSS WATER AT 40 KNOTS
Source: Enata Marine
- UAE-based Enata Marine just unveiled an upgraded variation on their 32-foot foiling yacht that can "fly" 5 feet above the water and travel at speeds up to 40 knots. Here's what we know:
- It's a carbon-fiber day cruiser called Vatoz, a Turkish word for stingray
- Very luxurious
- Designed to move through the water on foils with reduced drag
- Fuel consumption is significantly less than a normal boat
- Foils lift it 5 feet and immediately adjust to improve the ride
- Has two, 370 hp turbo diesel engines
- At 20 knots it can travel 190 nautical miles
- A working demonstrator is expected to launch before early 2024.
TOYOTA TEASES NEW bZ COMPACT SUV
- Toyota is teasing a new compact electric SUV called the Toyota bZ or beyond zero. Here's what we know:
- Toyota is looking to gain ground in the hot electric SUV segment by offering a compact, new electric SUV
- Called the Toyota bZ and is fully electric
- Toyota says it has a "clean-vital design approach" and tech features never seen before in a Toyota
- Very aerodynamic design and intuitive technology
- Advanced batteries with 500-mile range
- Will be part of 2026 market
- This is a big upgrade on the current bZ4x with its 252-mile range and $42,000 starting price
- Less than 1% of Toyota's 2023 global sales of 5.8 million vehicles have been electric and the new bZ is designed to start changing that.
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