Important Innovations Collection

  Air4                                                   Source: Renault Renault Celebrates 60th Anniversary of the 4 French automaker Renault has converted its highly successful 60-year-old hatchback model car, the 4, into a flying car to celebrate its 60th anniversary.  They call it the Renault Air4.  Renault has been working with the design firm The Arsenal to build an operational prototype of Air4 that demonstrates what the flying hatchback will look like in six decades.  At the moment it's a carbon fiber concept that has been successfully flown.  The 4 has been an automotive fixture and success story in Europe for decades. Tech Specs The flying car is comprised of two components. The first component is the car body, which reflects the legendary, 4 hatchback design and style. It has one seat, a minimalist cabin and bright lights in the front and back of the car for visibility in the air.  The second component is the powertrain, with four, twin blade propellers that lift the Air

France's H2 Race Truck by GAUSSIN Off to the Hydrogen Races in Saudi Arabia Developed in France, the GAUSSIN H2 Racing Truck will compete in the rigorous Dakar World Rally-Raid Championship racing event in Saudi Arabia in January 2022.  This will be a world first in racing and the H2 Racing Truck is the first vehicle in GUASSIN's lineup of zero emissions, 100% hydrogen, electric road trucks.  The truck was designed by the renowned Italian design studio Pininfarina.  It will race across the Saudi desert to demonstrate the capabilities of hydrogen electric vehicles operating in harsh and difficult conditions. The vehicle is the first hydrogen truck specifically designed to race in the Dakar Rally. Tech Specs The truck is built to withstand the extremely rugged conditions of racing in desert sands. The truck has an ultra-light chassis to house the hydrogen system.  The H2 Racing Truck has a range of 250 miles and can be refueled in 20 minutes.  It's powered by two electric mot

 Hot New Electric SUV from Toyota                                             Source:  Toyota Toyota's Latest Zero Emissions Auto Tech Toyota has unveiled its all-new, all-electric SUV, the bZ4X which the world's largest automaker says will take us to a future "Beyond Zero".  By "Beyond Zero", Toyota means zero emissions driving, that "not only reduces our carbon footprint to zero but also goes beyond to create a net positive impact" for Toyota vehicles.  The 2023 bZ4X rolls out in mid 2022.  The price hasn't been officially announced but experts think it will be in the high $30,000 to low $40,000 range. It's a new EV SUV of particular interest for Toyota advanced technologies and where it is taking the future of zero emissions driving. Tech Specs This new EV is all about advanced Toyota technologies built upon its growing portfolio of electric vehicles.  The motor of the EV SUV is an AC synchronous electric generator powered by a lithium-i

EdisonFuture's Solar Powered Multi-Purpose Van and Pickup Truck Growing Push Toward Zero Emissions Driving Solar powered electric vehicles are starting to come on strong.  Chinese automaker EdisonFuture has unveiled a solar powered all-purpose modern van called the EF1-V.  The solar van is designed for multiple uses including for families, work, travel and for hauling cargo.  EdisonFuture says the solar EV works off-road and on city streets.  And it will be offered in several cargo sizes from 260 to 400 cubic feet of cargo space depending on the drivers' needs. Tech Specs The EF1-V comes with the choice of two powertrain options: a Standard single motor or the Long Range dual motor version.  The solar EV can tow 7,500 to 11,000 pounds depending on the version.  Price and the range of the EV have not yet been disclosed. EF1-T Solar Pickup Truck EdisonFuture has also launched a solar pickup truck called the EF1-T that has a solar paneled roof and the option to cover the bed of th

New Hydrogen Powered Internal Combustion Engine                                                  Source:  Toyota Toyota's Portfolio of Green Automotive Technologies Toyota is developing an experimental hydrogen car.  The GR Yaris internal combustion engine in the Toyota Corolla Sport has been converted to run on hydrogen.  Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has driven and even raced the green vehicle.  He believes the development of this hydrogen powered engine technology could keep internal combustion engines on the road and running in a carbon free world by being fueled with clean hydrogen not carbon emissions producing gas.  CEO Toyoda also believes this technology could save millions of automotive jobs. Near Zero Emissions Driving The Toyota chief executive feels that carbon is the enemy of the environment not the internal combustion engine.  Using hydrogen to fuel the Toyota Corolla Sport experimental car keeps emissions very close to zero.  Currently, a small amount of the engine burns f

Edition 1 Deliveries of GMC EV Hummer in December 2021                                        Source:  GMC Hummer EV More Editions Coming in 2022 & Beyond GMC's greatly anticipated, all-electric Hummer pickup truck will be delivered to buyers in December 2021.  This is Edition 1, which is a super heavy all-electric pickup truck with a 329-mile range on a charge, according to the company.  December will be the start of Edition 1 deliveries of the heavy EV super truck, despite global delivery disruptions, high energy prices, COVID and big supply chain problems.  This is a great achievement for GM against all global transportation, manufacturing and other business odds. Future Editions of EV Hummer Pickups Edition 1 is a heavy-duty pick-truck and its 329-mile range has not been certified by the EPA.  The next Hummer EVs will be light duty trucks and are expected to get EPA range certifications, which GMC expects to significantly exceed that of Edition 1.   Tech Specs on Edition 1

Knowledge Enhancing, Thought Provoking Hardcover Books on Innovation by Edward Kane on Amazon Source:  Amazon Great Christmas and Hanukah Gifts Amazon has just created seven, beautiful hard cover versions of my books on epic innovations and my children's fiction with helpful life lessons for kids.  They make great Christmas and Hanukah gifts. The books include:                                                                                 ASIN: B09M5HLBLT                                                                                 ASIN: B09M547V5G                                                                            ASIN: B09K27XQ99                                                   ASIN: B09HPYQLPV                                                                                 ASIN: B09LGW58ZY                                                                                 ASIN: B09M57YDVK                                                                                 ASIN:

Long Distance, Zero Emissions Hydrogen Bus Travel                                             Source:  FlixBus Network of H-Buses Being Tested by Germany's Flix Germanys FlixMobility, which is the parent company of bus company FlixBus, is about to test hydrogen fuel cell buses on long distance routes throughout Europe.  It would provide Europe with the first, widespread network of hydrogen powered, zero emissions buses.  Flix is working in tandem with electromobility company Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.  Flixbus was the first transport company to launch fully electric buses in Europe.  The company's leadership considers hydrogen long distance bus travel a key component of the future of sustainable mobility. Tech Specs The Germany company says its fuel cell vehicles will have a range of at least 500 km and will refuel in 20 minutes.  They also will match long distance bus standards for acceleration and power. At the moment, fully electric buses are not practical for long di

Racing at Ferrari's New Legoland California Racetrack                                        Source:  Lego and Ferrari Fabled F40  This is new innovation with plenty of horsepower.  Legendary, luxury automaker Ferrari is partnering with Lego on a new, interactive and virtual racing experience for kids at the Legoland California resort.  Called Lego Ferrari Build and Race, it is the world's first Ferrari racing attraction. Kids will be able to build their own miniature Formula One race car with Lego bricks and then test and race it on one of three Ferrari racetracks. Formula One Racing with Ferrari & Lego for Kids When the attraction opens in spring 2022, kids will be able to test their inventions on a testing zone track, steering track or speed track.  On all of the courses, times will be taken.  After the race, the kids can digitally scan their car and mini-figure driver to compete in a virtual race on a Lego version of Ferrari's racetrack, the Pista di Fiorano.  Parti

4 New Breakthrough Green Flying Concepts                                                  Source: Embraer Sustainable Flying Takes Off Brazilian based aircraft manufacturer Embraer has introduced 4, low to zero emissions aircraft designs that it is calling "new disruptive green technologies" for sustainable flying.  The planes are small prop driven design concepts.  They are called the Energia line and offer four options with variable flying approaches. All 4 approaches offer very low to zero carbon emissions. Embraer says they are developing these planes as small models from 9 to 50 passengers.  But they add that the new planes can later be scaled up into much larger planes. Breakthrough Green Aviation Technology The new plane concepts include: The Energia Gas Turbine which can carry 50 passengers and is powered by hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel. The Energia Hybrid which seats 9 passengers and has 2 rear mounted electric engines to take off and soar. A combustion  eng