Important Innovations

  Autonomous, Electric, Egg-Like Pod                                      Source:  Designer DeVange Borah What If Apple Went With the Apple Pod? Apple's autonomous, electric car - called Project Titan - remains a mystery.  Since Apple began its quest in 2014 to design and launch a car, the company has kept most details under wraps.  There are no official Apple releases or even hints from Apple of what it might look like.  Designers globally are using their creativity and information about what Apple is targeting to create likely designs.  India-based mechanical engineer and designer DeVange Borah has created a 2-seat Apple Pod that has 360-degree maneuverability.  The design is catching global attention. What if Apple went with the Apple Pod? It would certainly be among the unique, epic rides of all time.  The vehicle resembles an egg...

  The Netherlands SEV Lightyear One                                             Source:  Lightyear One Revolutionary Green Driving Technology Experts say that in the future solar EVs (SEV) will need to charge only once a year.  A precursor of that green future is the Netherland's Lightyear One SEV.  The car can drive for months without needing a recharge.  The Dutch company Lightyear has successfully conducted a number of durability test runs which have demonstrated that the current model-prototype can be driven for months without a plug-in.  This development is a big boost for the sustainability of solar EVs and provides tremendous flexibility for the driver with no concerns and range anxiety about the frequent need to recharge the SEV. Highly Efficient and Durable Vehicle According to Lightyear, Lightyear One uses only 83 Wh/km...

  The Netherlands' SEV Lightyear One                                             Source:  Lightyear One Revolutionary Green Driving Technology Experts say that in the future solar EVs (SEV) will need to charge only once a year.  A precursor of that green future is the Netherland's Lightyear One SEV.  The car can drive for months without needing a recharge.  The Dutch company Lightyear has successfully conducted a number of durability test runs which have demonstrated that the current model-prototype can be driven for months without a plug-in.  This development is a big boost for the sustainability of solar EVs and provides tremendous flexibility for the driver with no concerns and range anxiety about the frequent need to recharge the SEV. Highly Efficient and Durable Vehicle According to Lightyear, Lightyear One uses only 83 Wh/k...

  Sono Motors Files for an IPO on Nasdaq                                             Source:  Sono Motors' Sion Valuation Could Be More Than $1 Billion Sono Motors of Munich, Germany was founded in 2016 by four friends working out of a tiny garage. The company specializes in developing solar electric, zero emissions cars. Fast forward five years, the company has filed for a US initial public offering (IPO).  The company will be listed as SEV on the Nasdaq with a expected valuation in excess of $1 billion.  Sono has developed an advanced solar electric vehicle called Sion.  It is looking to pull in investor money to expand operations as governments around the world are pushing for greener, cleaner, zero emissions vehicles like Sion.  Growing from zero revenues and a concept to $1 billion in valuation in five years is the essence o...

  New EV Has Strong Funding Source:  Aptera Very Close to Production Aptera, the San Diego based electric vehicle maker, has landed $4 million in fresh funding to bankroll production of its 3 wheeled, solar electric EV by the end of 2021.  Aptera is a unique, sleek and highly efficient new form of personal mobility.  The electric vehicle seats two, operates on 3 wheels, can hit speeds of 110 mph and promises to be ultra efficient with a 1,000 mile range.  It already has netted 7,000 orders to buy it in just two months.  That adds up to $250 million in orders.  The company says it is driven by the power of the Sun and depending upon where you live and how much you drive, you may never have to give it a charge.  Bottom-line:  solar power alone can power the EV for 45 miles per day. Solar Panel Roof The Aptera is designed for energy efficiency. It has solar roof panels to pull in energy from the sun.  Depending on the size of the battery in...

More Cars, More Pollution & More New Alternative Vehicles Source:  Stock Image of Public Transit Being Cleaned New Travel World from COVID-19 Americans and many others around the world in urban areas are getting behind the wheel to avoid mass transit. The difficulty of social distancing and feeling secure to avoid COVID-19 in crowded trains, buses and planes is driving the return to cars.  Polls indicate that American plan to avoid trains and buses as the stay-at-home orders lift.  The shift to cars could be a boom for the hard pressed automotive industry.  It could also lead to more pollution and traffic jams. New Issues For Mass Transit Ironically, the effort to avoid public transit and take your car in order to protect yourself from COVID-19 is creating new problems.  Urban experts believe it could lead to increased road congestion, additional carbon emissions and put a major strain on cash-strapped transit systems.  Transit ri...

A  Look at the Exciting New World of Personal Mobility Green, Autonomous, Electric Driving and Flying Journalist Edward Kane's latest book "Future Transportation 2020's And Beyond"  has just been published by Amazon and Kindle.  The book contains valuable, fun, news you need to know on the innovative, new vehicles you'll be driving and flying in.  It's the future of personal mobility that rolling out this decade and beyond. To take a look go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08633CTBW&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_hX4CEbX55ARMQ You'll love this book and the exciting rides that await you.   amazon.com/author/ekane  I co-authored the book with Ed.

World's Fastest E-Sportscar, E-Cybertruck and More EVs Source:  Tesla Roadster Electric Sports Car Diversifying and Expanding Model Lineup 2020 is proving to be a great year for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk.  The share price has soared and catapulted Tesla to the world's 2nd most valuable automaker, only behind Toyota.  What is billionaire entrepreneur CEO Elon Musk doing to sustain this?  He's creating buzz and excitement with new models like the Tesla Roadster, expanding his model offerings to include pickup trucks and smaller, less expensive SUVs, and looking to bring on more affordable electric cars to widen his global customer base. Tesla Roadster Musk calls his Tesla Roadster the "fastest car in the world". It's  expected to roll-out in 2020 or 2021.  It's a 4 seater sports car that can go from 0 to 97 mph in 1.9 seconds, which is quicker than quick.  The top speed is 250 mph, the battery range is reported to be a huge 620 m...

Innovative, Advanced Airbag Technology Source:  Honda Honda Will Deploy Next Generation Airbags in 2020 Vehicles Honda calls its new invention the catcher's mitt airbag.  The advanced airbag technology provides a wide protective barrier across the car dashboard and catches and cradles the front passenger's head like a catcher's mitt.  For a news blog on this new technology, go to Important Innovations Collection: Honda's Catcher's Mitt Airbag : Next Generation Airbag that Catches & Cradles the Head Source:  Honda Airbag Innovative New Passenger Front Airbag Design Honda&...

AI Chip that Makes the Bike Think and Understand Source:  Tsinghua University May Be Important Tech for Future AI A team of Chinese researchers have started focusing on autonomous transport in the form of bicycles as driverless cars continue to be developed. They may have come up on something big.  They've developed bikes with an AI chip that are self-balancing, steer around obstacles and respond to basic voice commands.  This is powered by a new kind of computer chip from Tsinghua University, which is a top innovation center in Beijing. Very Smart Chip This Tianjic chip is a hybrid design that works on two forms of computing:  conventional and a neurological one.  They combine for object detection, motor and balance control, voice recognition and more. China thinks this hybrid architecture could be the future of AI and  they're developing it.

UK's Immense Simulations Gets VC Backing Source:  Immense Simulations  Big Money Pouring into Software for Driverless Cars British software company Immense Simulations makes interactive city simulations of traffic and people flows on any given day.  The company today raised $4.6 million in a Series A funding led by UK's Amadeus Capital Partners and Japan's Global Brain Corporation.  This is a major sign of the times.  Investors are betting on autonomous vehicles going mainstream.  So far this year, companies in the self-driving vehicle sphere have raised $3 Billion in funding. Immense Technology Immense uses data from mobile phone operators, public transport and telematics databases to build city simulations.  Carmakers use the simulations to test their plans for fleets of autonomous cars on scenarios that are as close to real, congested city conditions as possible. CityScapes Immense Simulations has made simulations for driving condition...

Vision INEXT Concept Car BMW's Concept Car Vision INEXT Intersection of Driver, Car and Digital World This concept car is a unique vision from BMW on the future of driving.  Their concept car BMW Vision INEXT explores intelligent connectivity as a key part of personal mobility.  This concept vehicle is a great example of how a driver, vehicle and the digital world can connect and enjoy breakthrough innovation. Connected Beauty on Wheels BMW's vision that it is developing is an autonomous, intelligent vehicle with a "living space on wheels". You might think of it as your favorite space or living room on wheels in an autonomous vehicle so intelligent you don't need to think about the driving.  There's an intelligent driving system that becomes visible if you want it to. Intelligent Personal Assistant A big component of BMW's vision is their Intelligent Personal Assistant.  This is an interactive, mixed reality VR experience set for 2025.  Thi...

Knowing What's Around the Corner Source:  Honda's Smart Intersection Display Smart Tech for Smarter, Safer Driving Audi and Honda are setting up and testing smart intersections in the US.  The approach involves display alerts on your dashboard and cameras positioned at intersections.  Audi's technology sends an alert to the driver warning that a light is going to turn red before you get through it.  Honda's sends an alert of an oncoming emergency vehicle, car or pedestrian that are not yet in sight. Audi's Pilot Program Audi is working in Washington, DC and Las Vegas to outfit intersections to work with Audi's countdown traffic lights system.  The system is designed to give the driver ample warning that they aren't going to make it through a light before it turns red. Honda's Pilot Program Honda has a Smart Intersection pilot program underway in Marysville, Ohio.  The system flashes a yellow image of an unseen vehicle on the HUD - he...