Important Innovations Collection

   DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane JAGUAR F-PACE SUV IS ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT                                                                                     Source:  Jaguar Jaguar has designed a stunning, sporty SUV, the F-Pace P 400 e R-Dynamic, that is a  plugin hybrid ...

            DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                  By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane                                                                                     Source:  Faraday FARADAY FUTURE'S LUXURIOUS, POWERFUL EV California-based Faraday Future will start production this month on a very powerful, luxurious E...

                                        DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                      By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane AN ELECTRIC MUSCLE CAR: NEW DODGE CHARGER DAYTONA                                                                       Source:  Dodge Dodge just debuted its new, all-electric Charger Daytona, an iconic, classic muscle car It is due to go into production and go on sale in 2024 The EV will be built on parent company Stellantis' powertrain that supports both electric and hybrid-electric vehicles Multiple trims will be offered with 455 hp, 590 hp, 670 hp and 800 hp The Dodg...

H2 CR-V Will Launch in US & Japan in 2024                                                                                                Source:  Honda Driving With Zero Carbon Emissions Honda intends to launch a hydrogen powered version of its most popular car, the CR-V SUV, in the US and Japan in 2024.  Here are the key facts: Honda will start production in Ohio in 2024 on a hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) version of its CR-V for launch in the US and Japan in 2024 The hydrogen CR-V will have a hydrogen fuel cell plug-in option with a charging port on top of the powertrain that allows the owner to top-off the lithium-ion battery at home to extend the range Honda is committed to the belief...

Expected to be All-Electric Max Out                                                   Source:  Nissan From Virtual to a Physical Car Japanese automaker Nissan later this week will unveil a real physical version of a virtual concept car known as the Max Out, which it has been teasing for more than a year.  Here are the key facts: Nissan says their new EV concept is what happens when "virtual becomes physical" from the late 2021 renderings of Max Out New concept is expected to be a 2-seat possibly convertible sports car with ultra-lightweight construction All wheel-drive with 1electric motor at the front and rear of the car Unique ability to morph the passenger seat and flatten it to the floor for extra storage space A least 304 hp and 501 pd-ft of torque According to Nissan, the EV is "so responsive it feels like a part of you" EV is e...

25 New Air Taxi Orders From Japan                                                                 Source:  Vertical Aerospace Flying Taxi Accelerating Toward Certification UK-based aerospace and technology company Vertical Aerospace has secured 25 new pre-orders for its eVTOL VX4 from Japanese trading and investment company Marubeni Corporation.  Here are the key facts: Vertical Aerospace has secured 25 paid pre-orders for VX4 for use as commuter air taxis in Japan The orders from Marubeni could soar to 200 and that is on top of 1400 orders by airlines like Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Japan Airlines Vertical takeoff and landing, all electric aircraft VX4 carries a pilot and up to 4 passengers Range on a charge is 100 miles Top speed is 200 mph and cruising speed is 150 mph Compan...

Playstation Car Debuts at CES 2023 Source:  Honda & Sony Their 1st EV Could Have Playstation 5 Integrated & Onboard Japanese technology giants Honda and Sony formed a partnership in 2022 to develop EVs. It's called Sony Honda Mobility. Their first electric car, the Playstation Car that will go into production, will debut at the world's largest technology show, CES 2023 in Las Vegas. Both companies bring tremendous levels of expertise to the table.  Honda provides the automotive expertise to build a top-quality electric car. Sony provides its technological and infotainment expertise, including music, movies and gaming.  The new EV is expected to include an integrated Playstation 5 right onboard, making it gaming on wheels.  It is expected to be a showstopper at CES. Pre-orders for the Playstation Car start in early 2025. Powerful Technology Partnership The Sony-Honda alliance is a powerhouse technology partnership.  One of the most intriguing te...

 2-Seat eVTOLs Made in Japan                                                  Source:  SkyDrive Hot Japanese Startup SkyDrive Japanese eVTOL startup SkyDrive intends to introduce flying taxi service at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.  The company just unveiled its new, two seat SD-05 eVTOL which will be the flying taxi vehicle taking passengers on short flights around the big event.  SD-05 is the next technological iteration on the original one-seat, sporty prototype SD-03 which has been successfully flown in demonstrations in Japan since it was introduced in 2020.  SkyDrive is a hot eVTOL startup with a partnership with Suzuki and millions of dollars in investment money bankrolling the development of its flying taxis. It just raised $66 million in a Series C funding round to build the SD-5's as well as its cargo d...

Asahi Kasei's Automotive Initiatives                                                            Source: Asahi Kasei AKXY Concept Car Asahi Kasei, which is a diversified Japanese multinational company, has a new automotive series AKXY.  It represents an untraditional approach to building concept cars that incorporate environmental performance, automotive safety and comfort.  Their AKXY is a moving showcase of highly advanced technologies. The vehicle is autonomous, electrified and a leading-edge example of advanced personal mobility.   And for starters, the company uses engineering resin as a substitute for metal to build the vehicle and lower its weight.  The leather in the car's seats is artificial.  The vehicle's internal communications systems employ a myriad of ...

Here Comes the Robot with Your Coffee Accelerating Use of Robots in Hospitality Industry Labor shortages and rapidly rising costs are accelerating the use of robots in the hospitality industry.  It's an important megatrend in Hong Kong and Japan and a phenomenon that's sweeping worldwide.  A big and growing player is Hong Kong-based Rice Robots. It's cute, stocky cuboid robots serve as bellhops at Hong Kong hotels, deliver snacks to office workers in Japan and deliver coffee and drinks to customers at the Hong Kong Cyberport Innovation Hub. For customers of the Hub's Cafe, the drinks come stored in the cute, compact robot's head.  Customers use a pin sent to their cellphone to access their order.  In the age of Covid, the Rice robots are providing clean and efficient service without an extra layer of human contact, potentially spreading Covid.  That's a key reason that demand for robotic service is accelerating. New Armies of Service Robots There are g...

Joint Development, Production & Sales Collaboration                                             Source: BMW & Toyota Hedging Bets & Investments in Hydrogen Vehicles An innovative partnership has just emerged between German luxury car maker BMW and Japan's Toyota to develop, produce and sell hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2025.  They have partnered on vehicles before like the BMW Z4 and the Toyota Supra sports car, but the scope of this collaboration is unprecedented.  It brings the smarts and expertise of two automotive behemoths together to create next generation, zero emissions hydrogen vehicles.  Hydrogen vehicles use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity to fuel the vehicles. Hydrogen's Advantages Toyota in particular has depth of experience in developing hydrogen vehicles like the now 8-year-old Toyota Mirai hydrogen ...