Important Innovations

  D AILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane UK'S SOLAR TREES TO RECHARGE EVs                                                                                                       Source:  SolarBotanic Trees & Dubai Expo 2020 Entrepreneurs in the UK have developed a highly innovative EV charger - Solar Trees The artificial trees with their tops loaded with nano photovoltaic "leaves" capture the sun's energy, convert it into electricity & store it in a battery in the tree's trunk The new artificial tree technology was invented by SolarBotanic Trees as a power source for charging electric vehicles The trees are 15-feet tall, attractive, easily deployed & of particular interest to luxury hotels, shopping malls, corporate headquarters & more to showcase they are green Each tree has a power generating capacity of 5 kilowat

  Epic V8 H2 Engine Partnership                                          Source: Lexus Hydrogen Concepts Toyota, Lexus and Yamaha Combine Forces Lexus is developing a V8 hydrogen fueled performance sports car powered by a new V8 hydrogen engine that it's collaborating on with parent company Toyota and Yamaha.  Here are the key facts: Sports car and engine under development are designed to result in an eco-friendly performance car powered by a hydrogen fueled,V8 combustion engine New engine is a 5.0-liter, naturally aspirated, 2UR-GSE, V-8, strengthened combustion engine, that runs on hydrogen fuel Engine targeted to produce at least 450 hp and rev up to 6800 RPM Unique partnership of Lexus, Toyota & Yamaha could result in a sustainable, hydrogen powered V8 engine that is an industry disruptor and provides the vehicle makers a big competitive edge This new engine technology could keep the combustion engine alive by adapting it to the use of hydrogen fuel rather than polluting fo

  Classic Toyota Sports Cars Fueled With Hydrogen                                                  Source:  Toyota Hydrogen Powered Combustion Engines Toyota is leading the way among global automakers in the experimental use of hydrogen to fuel even combustion engines in several of its classic cars.  Here are the pertinent facts: Two, iconic 1980's Corolla Sport AE86's combustion engines have been converted to run on electricity and hydrogen in a classic restomod Toyota says the AE86's original 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine needed just a "few modifications" to run on hydrogen The AE86 is a pure EV with a battery pack from a Prius plug-in and an electric motor from a Tundra hybrid's powertrain Most EVs power the wheels directly but Toyota directly connected the motor to the EVs 5-speed manual transmission to keep the feel of a sports car Other Toyota hydrogen projects include a V8 with Yamaha, hydrogen powered semi-trucks and a concept car, Corolla Cross Toyota b

  Classic Toyota Sports Cars Fueled With Hydrogen                                                  Source:  Toyota Hydrogen Powered Combustion Engines Toyota is leading the way among global automakers in the experimental use of hydrogen to fuel even combustion engines in several of its classic cars.  Here are the pertinent facts: Two, iconic 1980's Corolla Sport AE86's combustion engines have been converted to run on electricity and hydrogen in a classic restomod Toyota says the AE86's original 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine needed just a "few modifications" to run on hydrogen The AE86 is a pure EV with a battery pack from a Prius plug-in and an electric motor from a Tundra hybrid's powertrain Most EVs power the wheels directly but Toyota directly connected the motor to the EVs 5-speed manual transmission to keep the feel of a sports car Other Toyota hydrogen projects include a V8 with Yamaha, hydrogen powered semi-trucks and a concept car, Corolla Cross Toyota b

  Hilux Revo BEV                                        Source:  Toyota Toyota's Holistic Approach to Electrification Toyota has unveiled its first, fully electric pickup truck. The battery electric vehicle (BEV) is called the Hilux Revo BEV prototype and it's designed to be an everyday, workhorse truck capable of a mix of functions. It has a unique configuration of cargo and passenger space. It appears to be ready to go into production.  The debut took place in Thailand as part of Toyota's 60 years of operations there.  The big question is:  will it be sold in the US?  Toyota hasn't announced its intentions with the EV yet, but it has been teasing about an electric pickup for the US market since 2021. More Details The Hilux Revo BEV is a midsized truck with a single cab and an extended bed.  The charging port is on the front, left fender.  Toyota has not released details on the powertrain and range on a charge.  Interestingly, Toyota executives say they are not convinc

 Toyota's 1st Fully Electric Pickup :   Hilux Revo BEV                                                                                                                         Source:  Toyota Toyota's Holistic Approach to Electrification Toyota has unveiled its first, fully electric pickup truck. The battery electric vehicle (BEV) is called the Hilux Revo BEV prototype and it's designed to be an everyday, workhorse truck capable of a mix of functions. It has a unique configuration of cargo and passenger space. It appears to be ready to go into production.  The debut took place in Thailand as part of Toyota's 60 years of operations there.  The big question is:  will it be sold in the US?  Toyota hasn't announced its intentions with the EV yet, but it has been teasing about an electric pickup for the US market since 2021. More Details The Hilux Revo BEV is a midsized truck with a single cab and an extended bed.  The charging port is on the front, left fender.  Toyota h

  New Hydrogen Pickup & SUV Are Being Developed                                                        Source:  Toyota Zero Emissions World Japanese automaker Toyota is placing big bets on hydrogen as a very promising alternative to battery electric vehicles in the new world of zero emissions driving.  The company is developing both a hydrogen powered pickup truck and a hydrogen powered SUV.  Toyota is clearly building a hydrogen vehicle portfolio.  It is also currently testing hydrogen powered semi-trucks in California and also is selling its Mirai hydrogen car in California, which is at the forefront of the number of hydrogen filling stations in the United States. Tech Specs The new hydrogen pickup is being developed at Toyota's UK operations. Toyota is working with a consortium of British companies and has secured funding for the project from the British government. The team is using a Toyota Hilux pickup, which is not sold in the US, and has embedded the Mirai's 182 hp

  New Hydrogen Pickup & SUV Are Being Developed                                                                          Source:  Toyota Zero Emissions World Japanese automaker Toyota is placing big bets on hydrogen as a very promising alternative to battery electric vehicles in the new world of zero emissions driving.  The company is developing both a hydrogen powered pickup truck and a hydrogen powered SUV.  Toyota is clearly building a hydrogen vehicle portfolio.  It is also currently testing hydrogen powered semi-trucks in California and also is selling its Mirai hydrogen car in California, which is at the forefront of the number of hydrogen filling stations in the United States. Tech Specs The new hydrogen pickup is being developed at Toyota's UK operations. Toyota is working with a consortium of British companies and has secured funding for the project from the British government. The team is using a Toyota Hilux pickup, which is not sold in the US, and has embedded the M

  Toyota Goes Beyond Zero With a New, Small E-SUV                                                  Source:  Toyota Fresh Perspective On Toyota's Electric Future Toyota just unveiled its new, all electric compact SUV, the bZ Compact at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show.  The concept vehicle, which is part of Toyota's new Beyond Zero vehicle line, provides a fresh perspective on the electric future that the Japanese automaker is creating.  The bZ has a very edgy, stylish, angular, aerodynamic design. It is a light show in motion with C-shaped LED daytime headlights connected by a line of LED lights across the front bumper. And there's another lightshow in the rear with flashy taillights and vertical brake lights.  Tech Specs The bZ is a concept and as such Toyota hasn't provided details on the all-electric powertrain.  But experts expect the vehicle to be coupled with a hefty 714 kWh battery pack.  And because of its appeal as an all-electric, compact Toyota SUV, there are s

  Toyota Goes Beyond Zero With a New, Small E-SUV                                                  Source:  Toyota Fresh Perspective On Toyota's Electric Future Toyota just unveiled its new, all electric compact SUV, the bZ Compact at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show.  The concept vehicle, which is part of Toyota's new Beyond Zero vehicle line, provides a fresh perspective on the electric future that the Japanese automaker is creating.  The bZ has a very edgy, stylish, angular, aerodynamic design. It is a light show in motion with C-shaped LED daytime headlights connected by a line of LED lights across the front bumper. And there's another lightshow in the rear with flashy taillights and vertical brake lights.  Tech Specs The bZ is a concept and as such Toyota hasn't provided details on the all-electric powertrain.  But experts expect the vehicle to be coupled with a hefty 714 kWh battery pack.  And because of its appeal as an all-electric, compact Toyota SUV, there are s

  World's 1st Electric Car Goes Next-G                                                                                 Source:  Toyota 2023 Toyota Prius Unveiled in Japan Toyota has just done the first mega makeover of its iconic Prius, which is the world's first hybrid electric car that went into mass production. The Prius was first introduced 25 years ago in 1997. It made history back then but in recent years it has been eclipsed by glitzy e-cars particularly from Tesla & Tesla CEO/Chief Marketer Elon Musk.  To change the dynamic, Toyota has dressed up the new 2023 Prius with a sporty, new coupe style and lots of new tech.   What's New About the 2023 Prius? The look of the new Prius is radically sportier and sleeker.  It's a highly valuable franchise for Toyota as it is ranked by Consumer Reports as the world's 4th most reliable car (2022 Prius). As such, Toyota has opted to keep it as a hybrid, which helps to keep it as "an affordable car" for the m