Important Innovations Collection

Best Wishes from Ed Kane for a great new year and 2020 decade! Here's a new image of the New Year arriving in Sydney, Australia

Alerts of Potential Collisions With Cars for Pedestrian Wearers Source:  Columbia University Columbia University Invention Designed to Prevent Accidents A breakthrough set of intelligent headphones is able to detect and analyze ambient sounds around the wearer and warn of an approaching vehicle that could pose a danger. The smart headphones send the wearer a sound alert to be aware and avoid what's coming at them. This is an invention from a team at Columbia University that could save many lives. Twalking Alerts Millions of pedestrians are using headphones and "twalking".  We see them every day with their faces glued to their phones, oblivious to their surroundings as they walk and talk along the streets.  It's very dangerous behavior.  The number of fatalities and injuries caused by "twalking" have tripled in the US in the past 7 years.  Last year, pedestrian deaths hit their highest level since 1990. New Audio-Alert System for Pedestrians T

Global Record Turnaround for New $2Billion Tesla Plant in Shanghai Source:  Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai World's First China-Made Model 3 Electric Sedans Tesla today, as promised, started delivering its Model 3 electric sedans made in its brand new $2 billion Shanghai Gigafactory.  The turnaround time is amazing.  Tesla started construction on the plant less than a year ago.  Delivering finished cars so quickly is a world record for global automakers in China.  It's another great achievement for the American electric vehicle maker Tesla and for its founder/CEO Elon Musk. World's Biggest EV Market Tesla says it will start ramping up deliveries in January 2020.  The Chinese-made version of the Model 3 is priced at $50,000.  China is the world's biggest car market and the world's biggest electric vehicle market.  Tesla is clearly capitalizing on and investing in the market opportunity.  Tesla's Shanghai plant is China's first whol

No Heavy Metals Plus Rapid Charging, Cheaper, More Efficient, Good For Environment Source:  IBM IBM and Mercedes Partner to  Commercialize IBM has created a revolutionary battery that replaces the heavy metals in the cathode with 3 elements extracted from seawater.  They are also utilizing a  new type of liquid electrolyte.  It's a safer, more "ethically sourced" and highly efficient new type of battery.  The standard heavy metals used like nickel and cobalt are very harmful to the environment and pose humanitarian risks in mining.  IBM says this new seawater battery outperforms lithium-ion batteries in major respects. Already Going Commercial This battery invention has the potential to be a blockbuster and is worthy of being tracked by investors.  IBM says the battery can be optimized to surpass the capability of lithium-ion batteries in terms of lower costs, faster charging time, higher power and energy density, stronger energy efficiency and low

Bosch's Light Drive, Smart Connected Glasses Source:  Bosch Next-G of Smartglasses This new innovation in eyewear from Bosch Sensortec lets you stay focused with your prescription eye glasses and stay connected for your calls, email messages, navigation alerts and a lot more.  Bosch has designed these glasses to be totally conventional looking, like any other normal pair of glasses.  But these glasses are far from conventional and normal.  They are a first in all-day transparency to deliver high quality, bright images through connectivity. Bosch says it eliminates the need to check any messages from mobile devices.  The glasses pull it all in and display it for you.  Bosch calls it an all-day wearable. Bosch at CES 2020 The Bosch Sensortec team will detail their innovation at the CES 2020 in Las Vegas. We do know that the Light Drive glasses are stylish, lightweight and loaded with HUD tech. The tech behind the glasses is extraordinary.  They rely on a microelectrom

Las Vegas Tunnel to Open in 2020 Source:  The Boring Company Musk's Boring Company that's Not so Boring The first commercial version of Elon Musk's people mover tunnel will open in Las Vegas in 2020.  Its's designed as a "traffic busting" alternative to congested streets in crowded cities.  The tunnel is one mile long.  Musk just announced that he expects the tunnel to open during 2020. Las Vegas on the Move The tunnel is being built by Musk's not-so-boring Boring Company.  It connects the Las Vegas Convention Center to the Vegas Strip.  The sprawling Convention Center is being enlarged and the tunnel is expected to facilitate traffic at the Center to the Strip where many of the city's major hotels and casinos are located. Twin Tunnels The Boring Company was commissioned by Las Vegas officials last spring to design, build and manage the twin tunnel system.  Passengers will be transported in small autonomous vehicles carrying 8 to 16 peop

VW Accelerating EV Production to Meet Growing Demand Source:  VW ID Crozz  Source:  Tesla Ahead of Electric Targets Volkswagen just announced it's way ahead of schedule in the production of electric vehicles.  In fact, it's two years ahead of its targeted numbers.  By the end of 2023, it will have produced 1 million electric vehicles.  It expects to have produced 1.5 million EVs by 2025.  These are important milestones for VW because the future of driving in the 2020's is accelerating toward EVs, These are vehicles that are all-electric with no emissions, green, clean and great for the global environment. Tesla and China Synergies Meanwhile, Tesla is reaching a landmark.  The first delivery of its China-made Model 3 EV will hit on December 30, 2019.  The turnaround time on these EVs is incredibly fast. In fact, it's a record for a global automaker in China. Construction started on Tesla's first plant outside of the US, in Shanghai,

Latest Brilliant Idea from Tesla's Elon Musk Source:  Tesla Patent Filing Source: Tesla Virtual Light Show Around Your Car Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has filed for a patent on his latest idea:  replacing car windshield wipers with laser beams.  The billionaire engineer, who also founded and is the CEO of SpaceX, has big plans for this laser innovation.  His first goal is to replace windshield wipers with laser beam wipers. Light Technology The system uses pulsed lasers and detection circuitry to identify debris on the windshield and direct a laser to remove it.  It calibrates the amount of laser light needed to do the job.  According to the patent application the system is sensitive and smart enough to differentiate wanted items like a car inspection sticker and not remove it. Additional Uses In addition to keeping car windshields clean and clear, the system can be deployed to remove dirt from cameras that direct autonomous cars.  It can also clean solar pane

REE Electric Vehicle System:  Engines Directly in the Wheels Source:  R3E Increases Efficiencies and Cuts Costs REE, an Israeli start-up based in Tel Aviv, aims to reimagine the future of electric vehicles.  They've developed potentially disruptive technology that enables a completely different way of building electric vehicles.  They've created a completely flat and modular chassis.  That allows all engine components to be put directly next to the wheels and below the body of the car.  The design reduces weight and space and increases efficiencies.  Essentially, the team has developed a new electromobility platform that works across models from powerful cars to 10 ton trucks. Skateboard Chassis REE calls it a skateboard chassis.  The modular design puts the engine, suspension, steering, electronics, powertrain, brakes and other components right next to the wheels. This fundamentally changes the way cars are built.  Furthermore the system is lightweight, with a gear

Electric Vehicle Invented in Austria Riding Through the Alps It's called the Bobsla and it's a unique electric vehicle invention.  Bobsla is an electric bobsled vehicle that's similar to a go-cart on the snow.  The Innsbruck-based startup Bobsla GmbH has successfully tested the device and it's now taking riders for exhilarating rides through the Alps.  The inventors say it's easy to learn, safe and is designed as an alternative to snowmobiling and skiing. Electricity on Ice The device has a rear-mounted electric motor that can accelerate up to 18 mph.  It's quiet and more affordable than a snowmobile.  The inventors say it's great for snowy tourist destination.  It offers non-skiers something more exciting to do by taking rides in the snow. Mercedes Challenge According to the Bobsla's website, the company and the device have been invited by Mercedes to participate in the Sprinter Startup challenge.  The inventors consider their Bo

Sustainable Listening: JBL Reflect Eternal Wireless Headphones Source:   JBL Totally Green Sound from Light The Reflect Eternal headphones from JBL generate power to operate from the natural light of the Sun and from artificial light.  The self-charging headphones contain solar-charging material, Powerfoyle from Exeger, that is built into the headband.  The material transforms light into free, sustainable energy. The headphones need only two hours of sun per day to provide 168 hours of listening.  The headphones can be used indoors and outside and can recharge on artificial light. Crowdfunding for Consumer Input JBL is attempting to develop the Reflect Eternal headphones by collaborating directly with consumers by engaging them in crowdfunding on Indiegogo through January 14, 2020.  They want to determine the level of consumer interest in such a green, sustainable product and then fine-tune the product from input.  JBL is a long established audio company with p

Wall Street's $1.3 Billion Bet on EV Startup Rivian Source:  Rivian R1S SUV Unique EV "Skateboard Technology" for Cars, Trucks, SUVs The 2020's are going to be hot growth years for electric vehicles.  Detroit-based EV startup Rivian just closed on a $1.3 billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price.  The Wall Street investors are joined by existing stakeholders Ford and Amazon. Rivian's Differentiator:  Unique Technology Rivian's technological approach to electric vehicles is unique.  It has a patented "skateboard" design.  The skateboard is the chassis that bundles the electric motors, batteries and controls.  Moreover, the skateboard design can accommodate a variety of models and body styles.  That's just one of the unique aspects of Rivian that attracted Ford to invest $500 million in the startup company. Big 2020 Development Plan Rivan is currently valued at $5 to $7 billion.  It previously raised $2.2 billion f

From Ed Kane, a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Just Published Book on the Hottest Electric Vehicles in the Pipeline for the Next Decade Amazon and Kindle Paperback and E-Book Christmas Gift My latest book "Hot Electric Vehicles for the 2020's" is designed to keep you informed and up to date on the latest prototype electric vehicles being developed for launch during the 2020's.  It's news you can use to spot the electric car of your future.  And, it's a great Christmas/Hanukkah gift for anyone who loves cars.  For a sample read, go to amazon.com/author/ekane        Big Electric Push by Big Auto: Tesla, GM, Ford Source:  Tesla Big SUV and Pickup Truck Green Driving Big news.  Tesla's all electric Cybertruck picked up 250,000 orders in the week following its launch in Los Angeles.  That's a big deal.  People love the sleek armored truck look and power of the electric muscle truck that is Tesla CEO Elon Musk's p

Driving With No Hands & No Human Control Source:  GM CEO Mary Barra with Cruise Autonomous Car Computers in the Driver's Seat GM is engaged in talks with the US National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) to secure permission to deploy a limited number of steering wheel-less, fully autonomous cars on US roads.  The cars are designed to be totally autonomous with no steering wheel and no human controls. Essentially, computers are in the driver's seat. GM believes this could make for safer driving and less accidents.  The head of the NHSA has confirmed that the Agency is doing due diligence on the GM request. New Automated Piloting Systems The federal agency expects to make a decision on the request by early 2020.  It also will make a judgement on a petition by the driverless delivery service Nuro to deploy a limited number of low speed, delivery trucks with no humans onboard.  These highly automated piloting systems for road vehicles and also for airplanes have

New Invention:  Tablet Toothpaste, Tubeless Toothpaste Source:  Change Toothpaste Potentially Cuts 900 Million Plastic Toothpaste Tube Throwaways Per Year Tubes of toothpaste aren't something you think about but their impact on the global environment is hugely negative.  900 million toothpaste tubes are discarded into oceans and landfills globally every year.  Importantly, it takes 500 years for them to breakdown, which means virtually every toothpaste tube created is still discarded someplace in the world.  And, the tubes, which contain multiple layers of plastic, polymers and resins, can't be recycled.  A company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta Canada just came up with a solution in the form of tablet toothpaste. "Paste with No Waste" Entrepreneurs Mike Medicoff and Damien Vince are the inventors and founders of CHANGE Toothpaste. Their tablet toothpaste is an all natural vegan substance that works just like toothpaste but has no harsh che