DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist
DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF
By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane
MEGATREND: HONDA & CARBUYERS GOING HYBRID
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- An accelerating car buying trend is developing with consumers hedging their green-electric preferences by going hybrid. For both Toyota and Ford, hybrid vehicle sales increased 41% in Q3 2023. Now, Honda is capitalizing on it with its new Honda Prelude concept. Prelude is re-emerging as a hybrid, petite coupe. Here are the key facts:
- A 2-door, sporty sports car with good looks, the new Honda Prelude is ready to go into production
- Compact-sized with a large diffuser in the back along with a spoiler
- Hybrid electric to reduce carbon imprint
- Industry experts predict it will be front wheel drive
- Honda hasn't disclosed powertrain details
- Honda CEO & President Toshihiro Mibe has said the new Prelude is already in development and he hopes to bring it to market in the mid-2020's
- Honda is calling it the "prelude to all the electric vehicles Honda is going to be launching".
DESIGNING CITIES FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN 21C
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- Researchers at the University of Delaware are developing urban land designs and uses to protect people from the severe weather being generated by Climate Change. Here are some key facts:
- Severe weather including excessive heat and flooding is becoming more frequent with increasing intensity
- Urban areas, where most people live, are not built to handle it
- The researchers found that well designed urban land patterns can protect people
- They found that building dispersal, rather than density, can protect people more than the size of the city they're living in
- They found that urban land patterns can make a difference even if Climate Chane worsens
- Both small and large cities can greatly benefit and greatly protect their populations by better handling of land development
- The research team is now working on specific land development patterns for maximum effectiveness.
CHINA'S ENERGY BREAKTHROUGHS
- China leads the world in solar energy and now Chinese scientists have created a breakthrough Stirling generator, while a US patent for a similar power generating system appears to be gathering dust. Here's what we know:
- The system is a highly efficient energy generator powered by heat
- Called a thermoacoustic Stirling generator
- Generator combines with a linear motor to generate electricity from sound waves
- Power system is quiet and very efficient
- Designed for optimum use in space and submarines
- Chinese prototype is a milestone for this emerging technology
- NASA has a patent for a similar system but hasn't revealed a prototype or any metrics
- Chinese system delivered a record-breaking 102 kw of power from a heat source of 986-degrees F, which is considered a milestone for practical uses.
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