Important Innovations

  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

  Germany' Sono Motors' Sion Solar Car                                                   Source:  Sono Motors Priced Just About Right at $25,497 Germany's Sono Motors has a solar-powered SEV that is very close to production.  In fact, it is so close, the company says that it will start production in mid-2023 and it can be bought at a price starting at $25,497.  The Sono Sion is a unique solar vehicle.  There are solar panels on every flat surface of the EV, even on the fenders.  Most solar cars have the solar panels just on the roof.  The pictures show the production ready version of the SEV (solar electric vehicle) from the updated design.  The vehicle is very sleek and has advanced technologies.  The Sion is dedicated to "Celebrating the Sun". German Solar Startup With Lots of Ideas Sono was founded in the Munich area in 2016 in a garage by two friends Laurin Hahn and Jona Christian.  They are diligently working to move the company forward and appear to be hitti

  Tata's Avinya Electric Car Concept                                                  Source:  Tata Avinya Avinya for Innovation India-based Tata, which owns JaguarLandRover, has just unveiled a stunning electric concept car, the Avinya.  The car will go into production in 2025 and will be launched for sale globally. In Sanskrit, Avinya means innovation and it is certainly highly innovative in its minimalist design, next-G electric powertrain system and with the highly advanced AI and other "new age" technologies in the new car. An EV Inspired by a Boat The design of Avinya is inspired by a catamaran.  The EV is smooth, sleek and classy.  The vehicle combines the styling of a luxury SUV, a premium hatchback and a MPV (multipurpose vehicle that's large for families), all combined to create a brand-new look.  The vehicle's groundbreaking design is a "new typology of mobility", according to Tata, that opens up significantly more interior space. There's

   F-150 Lightning Pickup Goes into Expanded Production                                                       Source:  Ford "The Truck For the Masses" Ford Motor Company has announced that it is more than tripling production volume of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup because of booming demand for the EV. Automotive experts are calling Lightning the most transformative vehicle in the 119 year history of Ford.   Unlike its $200,000+ competitor Tesla's Cybertruck, the Lightning is priced at $40,000 and Ford is calling it "the e-pickup for the masses".  The EV is at the forefront of Ford's efforts to retool and revitalize their brand into a green vehicle powerhouse.  Ford had planned on producing 40,000 Lightnings per year.  Because of rapidly escalating demand, they have decided to more than triple production to 150,000 yearly. More than 200,000 customers have ordered the EV.  Ford CEO Jim Farley says Lightning will hit showrooms in the next few days. Ford E

  Global Pursuit of Zero Emissions Driving                          Source:  Tshwane University of Technology Unique Solar Car Technology From a University Faculty and students at South Africa's Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have invented a fourth-generation solar car, called Sunchaser 4. They have been developing this innovative piece of green technology since 2014.  Sunchaser 4 is successfully being driven to locations around Africa to showcase the power of solar driving technology and to get young people, particularly school children, excited about the valuable applications of renewable energy.  The very unusual looking and uniquely designed vehicle is currently being showcased in Namibia. The vehicle has won international awards and delivers the longest distance and lowest energy use of any solar car in Africa.  Sunchaser 4 is yet another example of the global pursuit of zero emissions, solar powered vehicles that travel in harmony with nature, instead of contaminating

  Porsche’s New Electric 718 & Mission R Concept Cars                               Source:  Porsche Experts Expect a Dazzler in the 2025 Porsche 718 Porsche is teasing a new, fully electric concept car, the 2025 Porsche 718 that is totally electric.    A precursor to it, the Mission R racing car concept, was unveiled at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich.    The Mission R is said to preview the 718 and    may serve as a base prototype for the new 718 consumer car.   Porsche is calling the 718 “The Most Modern Porsche”.    It will have a front motor, making the electric version of the 718 the first, all-wheel drive model. It will be sold in both Boxster and Cayman forms.    And it will feature Porsche’s new electric front of very wide headlights.    The only glimpse of the new concept that Porsche has given is an image of a headlight.  With this concept, Porsche says that it is looking to the future "with cutting edge technologies combined with breathtaking design", inspired

  The Microlino 2.0                                             Source:  Microlino Italia Inexpensive, Micro, Urban Mobility At the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich, Microlino Italia unveiled its $14,000 electric bubble car - the Microlino 2.0.  The vehicle is headed into production in Italy and will be up for sale in Switzerland first.  It's expected to be offered throughout the European Union and if the micro car is successful, it is expected to launch in the US.  The Microlino 2.0 is a unique electric vehicle that offers inexpensive urban mobility with zero emissions. Maximum Range of 143 Miles The vehicle is a two seater with a small cargo space for shopping items.  It has a 56-hp motor.  There are three battery options: Urban with a 6 kWh battery and 60 mile range; Dolce with a 10.5 kWh battery and 109 mile range; and Competizioni with a 14 kWh battery and a range of 143 miles.  The vehicle's top speed is 56 mph.  Quite conveniently, the EV can be charged from a wall outle

  Fascinating   Solar Powered EV   by Humble Motors of California                                             Source:  Humble One Highly Advanced Solar Car Technology California based Humble Motors has a goal to build a future of off-grid vehicles.  Their first entry is the Humble One solar electric car concept.  The solar technology they are using in this EV is breakthrough.  And, the elegant styling and fast speed of the Humble One are impressive. Sun Powered Driving There are 80 square feet of photovoltaic cells built into the roof of the EV.  The Humble One has solar array wings that can fold out to soak in the sun while it is parked.  And there are electricity generating sidelites along the EV's exterior sides.  There is also a regenerative braking system that sends back energy to the vehicle. Fully Solar Powered The Humble One is an EV that is fully solar powered, with zero emissions and totally sustainable. The solar technology features on the EV, like the solar wings, add f

  VW's Project Trinity Electric Vehicle - Its Flagship of Technology                                            Source:  VW Project Trinity Coming in 2026 - All Electric & Autonomous  Volkswagen is working on a revolutionary new vehicle.  The development is called VW's Project Trinity EV and it will serve as VW's technology flagship when it hits the market in 2026. For VW, the vehicle will lead the way in the next generation of zero emissions and autonomous cars, which can serve as living spaces and entertainment venues on wheels. It is all electric with a bold new architecture that blends the designs of a crossover, hatchback and a sedan.  VW says it will manufacture the vehicle with a radical new production approach. The EV will also be autonomous. "Over-The-Air Updates" VW intends to sell the EV in a standardized form at a starting price of $42,415.  Customers can obtain existing features through software updates.  New features will be offered at additional

  Revamped & Upgraded Mirai                                                                      Source:  Toyota Mirai Zero Emissions Driving Toyota has introduced a revamped version of the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car with 30% greater range.  The move is designed to jumpstart the use of hydrogen powered vehicles particularly in Japan.  It is also aimed at capitalizing on the rising demand for electric vehicles. Hydrogen Driving Demand To date, drivers in Japan have not embraced fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).  Consumers are concerned about a number of issues, including the resale value of the cars, the availability of hydrogen fueling stations and the risk of explosion.  But Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced a goal to make Japan carbon neutral with zero carbon emissions by 2050.  Toyota believes hydrogen is a critical factor in achieving that goal. Departure Point Toyota says the new Mirai is a "departure point" for broad use of hydrogen fuel, even beyond cars.

  Zero Emission, Electric Trucks Source: Sweden's VOLTA ZERO Electric Truck with zero emissions  Next Growth Industry for Electric Road Travel Swedish startup Volta Trucks has unveiled its 16 ton electric truck, the Volta Zero.  The company says it will start manufacturing it in the United Kingdom in 2022.  With the tremendous success of electric cars led by Tesla, automakers now are also turning their attention to electrifying big rigs, which are the worst polluters on the road.  A number of companies including Volvo, Daimler, Rivian and Nikola have electric, big trucks under development. Greener Highways Volta's goal is to have 500 of its zero-emissions, electric trucks on the road by 2022.  And it is about to enter the customer testing phase.  The British parcel delivery company DPDgroup and other companies in Europe will be testing the vehicles on their routes in 2021.  Meanwhile, Volta is in a capital raising phase to bulk up for mass production of its vehicles.  This time