Important Innovations Collection

BMW i Hydrogen Next Source:  BMW i Hydrogen Next Sustainable Driving BMW has started road testing its hydrogen fuel cell car in "everyday conditions" on European roads.  The vehicle is called the BMW i Hydrogen Next.  It is all electric and uses hydrogen as fuel by converting it into electricity in the fuel cell.  The vehicle has a hydrogen fuel cell drive train.  BMW believes that hydrogen fuel cell technology has the potential to "supplement internal combustion engines, plug in hybrid systems and battery electric vehicles within BMW's flexible drive train strategy."  They are betting on this new, developing technology. Very Extensive Road Testing The hydrogen vehicle is being tested for safety, efficiency and reliability.  BMW will determine how effectively the CO2-free drive train, model-specific chassis technology and the car's electronic system work together in real world travel circumstances.  If all goes well, BMW will produce a small serie...

Zero Emissions Aircraft Source:  ZeroAvia    Carbon Free, Sustainable Flying ZeroAvia, headquartered in Hollister, CA, is building aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.  It recently flew a modified aircraft with a 350 horsepower powertrain, driven by hydrogen fuel cells.  The US company is part of the UK's HyFlyer initiative which is targeted at moving electric aircraft away from batteries toward fuel cells. Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks Hydrogen Flights ZeroAvia argues that hydrogen fuel cells are highly effective and efficient for electric planes.  They are far lighter and less volatile than batteries.  In fact the ignition point for hydrogen is much higher than for jet fuel or lithium-ion batteries.  Because hydrogen is so light, it tends to disperse rather than collect.  Most importantly an electric powertrain powered by hydrogen fuel cells is twice as efficient as an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen's Futu...

Targets 2030's To Sell EVs Only Aims for Carbon Free Society Japan's Subaru Corp. just announced that it's targeting the first half of the 2030's to sell only electric cars worldwide.  The automaker has a long term goal of helping to foster a carbon free society.  Suburu's plan is bold and ambitious.  It comes just as Subaru announced an intensified relationship with Toyota to essentially share the costs of developing new technologies for electric and self-driving cars. Detailed Plan Subaru has a series of specific targets it wants to meet in order to go all-electric.  First, it will develop a "strong hybrid" that will include Toyota technologies. The "strong" hybrid is believed to be in concept stage right now. The strong hybrid will complement its current line-up of hybrids and hybrid plugins.  It's also building an all-battery vehicle with Toyota.  Both new vehicles should be available later in this decade. 2030 and Beyond Sub...