Important Innovations

  Falcon Solar Concept Under Development in Hungary                                             Source:  Lasky Design Global Quest For Sustainable, Zero-Emissions Solar Planes There is a global quest to develop solar-powered, zero-emissions, sustainable passenger planes.  One of the most promising and fascinating concepts of this decade is Falcon Solar being developed in Hungary.  The aircraft is shaped like a falcon to capture the bird's agile aerodynamics in flight.  The designer, Laszlo Nemeth of Lasky Design in Budapest, Hungary is inspired by the aerodynamic lessons to be learned from powerful birds of prey, like the falcon, in flight.  That belief in inspiration from Nature provided the genesis of Nemeth's remarkably innovative, solar-powered, electric passenger plane concept.  Nemeth believes that technology is sufficient to allow us to fly on solar power and that solar passenger planes "could be a reality before self-driving cars". New Sustainable Aviation Fal

  Tesla Electric Van For People & Cargo                                    Source:  Teslarati Ideas for E-Van A Van With Solar Canopies In a series of ongoing Tweets, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is doing a big tease about a new futuristic vehicle to join the Tesla electric lineup.  Apparently, he is interested in creating an electric van, which Tesla currently does not offer, to transport people and cargo.  What he specifically has in mind is a "Robovan for people and cargo." If it's robo, that would make it an autonomous, self-driving, electric vehicle.  When Musk tweets, his more than 100 million followers listen.  He also has a $44 billion offer on the table to buy Twitter, which tonight Musk says could be in danger because of what he and his team consider a lack of transparent information on fake accounts on Twitter. Experts say Musk may find it legally difficult to back out of the Twitter buyout deal. UPDATE: he just backed out of the deal at around 6:30 PM EST on 7/8/2

Fleet of Rovers Being Developed to Carry People & Cargo on the Moon & Mars                                        Source:  Venturi Astrolab California's Venturi Astrolab California-based startup Venturi Astrolab has developed an interplanetary rover to transport people and cargo on the surface of the Moon and eventually on Mars.  The company has plans to build a fleet of rovers to meet NASA and commercial space companies' needs as humans become an interplanetary race.  Venturi Astrolab says the rovers will help establish and build bases on the Moon and the planets.  They add the rovers will "solve the local transportation problems" on the Moon.  The rovers are called FLEX for Flexible Logistics and Exploration. Capabilities and Technologies FLEX is incredibly flexible and dexterous.  It can crouch down, pickup payloads on the lunar surface and carry them to designated locations.  It can maneuver semi-autonomously and be controlled remotely. It can even be modi

Fleet of Rovers Being Developed to Carry People & Cargo on the Moon & Mars                                        Source:  Venturi Astrolab California's Venturi Astrolab California-based startup Venturi Astrolab has developed an interplanetary rover to transport people and cargo on the surface of the Moon and eventually on Mars.  The company has plans to build a fleet of rovers to meet NASA and commercial space companies' needs as humans become an interplanetary race.  Venturi Astrolab says the rovers will help establish and build bases on the Moon and the planets.  They add the rovers will "solve the local transportation problems" on the Moon.  The rovers are called FLEX for Flexible Logistics and Exploration. Capabilities and Technologies FLEX is incredibly flexible and dexterous.  It can crouch down, pickup payloads on the lunar surface and carry them to designated locations.  It can maneuver semi-autonomously and be controlled remotely. It can even be modi

  New FORM Solar Camping Pod                                                  Source:  FORM Green Camping The Tesla Cybertruck is one of the most anticipated electric pickup trucks of the decade.  Its bold design, speed, range and strong steel body have been heavily promoted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.  The delivery date is promised for 2022.  Now, thanks to a California startup composed of industrial designers and engineers, it has a new capability as a solar camper with a solar camper pod called FORM. FORM Form is a revolutionary camper made of carbon fiber that is compatible with all types of truck beds including the Ford F-150 Lightning and the radically designed Cybertruck.  The company says it has maximum strength and durability with its carbon fiber shell enhanced with aluminum honeycomb material.  It attaches to the truck and fits between the sides of the pickup bed.  The pod has a full extension system that turns the truck into a tiny green powered home.  It weighs 1000 pounds and

  New FORM Solar Camping Pod                                                  Source:  FORM Green Camping The Tesla Cybertruck is one of the most anticipated electric pickup trucks of the decade.  Its bold design, speed, range and strong steel body have been heavily promoted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.  The delivery date is promised for 2022.  Now, thanks to a California startup composed of industrial designers and engineers, it has a new capability as a solar camper with a solar camper pod called FORM. FORM Form is a revolutionary camper made of carbon fiber that is compatible with all types of truck beds including the Ford F-150 Lightning and the radically designed Cybertruck.  The company says it has maximum strength and durability with its carbon fiber shell enhanced with aluminum honeycomb material.  It attaches to the truck and fits between the sides of the pickup bed.  The pod has a full extension system that turns the truck into a tiny green powered home.  It weighs 1000 pounds and

  Lightyear One Solar Powered Car                                          Source:  Lightyear One From the Netherlands, A Powerful, Long Range, Efficient Solar Car Dutch startup Lightyear is building solar powered vehicles that are more efficient than electric vehicles.  The Lightyear One solar car gets a much longer range and uses significantly less energy than an average EV.  Cofounder and Chief Design Officer of Lightyear Koen van Ham believes that solar powered vehicles will help "democratize mobility".  The Lightyear One solar car has lightweight panels built into the roof and hood.  The car soaks in energy from the Sun automatically whether driving or parked. It is far less dependent on charging stations than a standard EV. Production on it starts in 2022. Design & Technology Breakthroughs The design and technologies in the Lightyear One are breakthrough for maximum efficiency.  The car consumes 83 wh/kh of energy.  That is two to three times less energy than the av

  From the Netherlands, New Form of Zero Emissions Travel                                   Source: TU Eindhoven The Stella Vita Solar Camper The Solar Team from the Netherlands' TU Eindhoven have invented and built a solar house on wheels that they are taking on a 1,864 mile, zero emission ride through Europe to demonstrate its efficacy.  The fully solar powered electric vehicle is called the Stella Vita camper. Built by a team of 22 university students it has a 94 sq. foot solar array on the roof that harvests energy for the 60 kW lithium-ion battery. 100% Solar Powered Travel The Stella Vita can travel at 74.5 mph.  A fully charged battery on a sunny day provides 454 miles of daytime driving and 373 miles of driving at night. That adds up to more than 800 miles on a charge with zero emissions.  All of the EVs functions, including the electric powertrain, the kitchen, shower, appliances and lights are powered by the solar system alone.  The team says they don't expect to rely

California Institute of Technology's New Space-Based, Solar Energy Generating System                             Caltech space-based solar power system                                                                                 Wireless Power Transfer                                                                                  Photovoltaics                                                       Source:  Caltech Ultralight Structures $100 Million Donation Helping to Fund the Research Researchers at California Institute of Technology are preparing to test what they call a "breakthrough" space-based, solar power generating technology system that would beam solar energy to Earth.  Caltech and its Space-based Solar Power Project have received a $100 million donation from Caltech Board of Trustee member and Chairman of the Irvine Co. Donald Bren to fund the research.  The technology that they are preparing to test is phenomenal.  It aims to ultimately produce a global su

Caltech's Solar Power System For Earth From Space                             Caltech space-based solar power system                                                                                 Wireless Power Transfer                                                                                  Photovoltaics                                                       Source:  Caltech Ultralight Structures $100 Million Donation Helping to Fund the Research Researchers at California Institute of Technology are preparing to test what they call a "breakthrough" space-based, solar power generating technology system that would beam solar energy to Earth.  Caltech and its Space-based Solar Power Project have received a $100 million donation from Caltech Board of Trustee member and Chairman of the Irvine Co. Donald Bren to fund the research.  The technology that they are preparing to test is phenomenal.  It aims to ultimately produce a global supply of affordable, renewable energ

  UC Berkeley Students' Solar Car Zephyr                                                                      Source:  UC Berkeley Heading into Road Race Competition at the American Solar Challenge Engineering students at UC Berkeley have built a road-ready, registered solar car called Zephyr.  To say the least, the vehicle is eye-catching.  It closely resembles a flying saucer.  But, it is a fully functional solar/electric powered car. Zephyr has been cleared for driving and has a California license plate.  The UC Berkeley student inventors are putting Zephyr into national competition.  It's heading for the 5 day, 1,000 mile road race between Independence, Missouri and Las Vegas, N.M. called the American Solar Challenge, which is a race among solar cars for their solar power endurance. Unique & One-of-a-Kind One of the creators, recent graduate Alexander Zerkle, says that the EV "is a hand-made, unique, one-of-a-kind car".  He says it looks like a flying saucer b

  20 Miles of Green Energy & Pedal Power Source:  South Korea Solar Bike Highway                                                       Source:  Daejeon, South Korea Source:  Solar Bike Highway                                           Source:  Solar Bike Highway                                   Source:  Sejong, SK Solar Energy and Green Transportation South Korea has built a 20 mile solar "bike highway" that is both green and highly innovative.  The solar bike lane sits on top of a 20 mile stretch of highway running between the city of Daejeon, which is a transportation hub with a population of 1.5 million and Sejong, the de-facto administrative capital of South Korea.  Solar panels cover the path's roof for the entire 20 miles.  They shield cyclists from the sun and also generate electricity.  The location is highly unusual as 3 lanes of highway traffic straddle either side of the solar bike path. Green Electricity The solar bike path is highly effective.  It produc