Important Innovations

 D ear Viewers: We are launching a new, innovation news service on this blog called "Daily Innovation Brief".  At least one of the daily news stories will be transportation related, including new car, eVTOL and plane concepts.  The first edition of "Daily Innovation Brief" is below.  Thanks for viewing. Maryanne Kane MCLAREN'S NEW FLAGSHIP                                                                                     Source:  McLaren   Currently, the British performance automaker is developing its 750 S new supercar for unveiling this spring 740 hp supercar will replace the 720 S as the brand's flagship Powered by twin turbo 4.0-liter V8 Big rear wing, big air vents and inside a new front dashboard with an instrument panel above the steering wheel, plus a dramatic floating infotainment system Sporty, elegant, aerodynamic styling Priced to start at $340,000 and will debut in April 2023 Expected to be a performance dazzler. DARPA'S NEW CRANE X-PLANE  

   Big Competition for $49 Billion Helicopter Industry                                                                                Source:  AIR AIR's Flying Taxis 200 companies around the world are developing eVTOLs that could prove to be big disruptors of the $49 billion helicopter industry. Flying taxi company AIR is a primary example with impressive tech: Israel and California based AIR has developed a powerful, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) with a multi-market focus, including displacing helicopters as transit to and from yachts AIR is partnering with the non-profit International SeaKeepers Society to build an air taxi business within the yachting community to ferry passengers, cargo and supplies back and forth between yachts and the shore The sales pitch:  eVTOL air taxis are safer with far fewer parts that can break down, much cheaper, emit zero emissions and operate with much greater efficiency than helicopters SeaKeepers, which is an educational o

   Big Competition for $49 Billion Helicopter Industry                                                                                Source:  AIR AIR's Flying Taxis 200 companies around the world are developing eVTOLs that could prove to be big disruptors of the $49 billion helicopter industry. Flying taxi company AIR is a primary example with impressive tech: Israel and California based AIR has developed a powerful, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) with a multi-market focus, including displacing helicopters as transit to and from yachts AIR is partnering with the non-profit International SeaKeepers Society to build an air taxi business within the yachting community to ferry passengers, cargo and supplies back and forth between yachts and the shore The sales pitch:  eVTOL air taxis are safer with far fewer parts that can break down, much cheaper, emit zero emissions and operate with much greater efficiency than helicopters SeaKeepers, which is an educational o

  XPENG's X2 Gets Chinese Government Approval                                             Source:  XPENG's X2 A First in China:  Manned eVTOL Flight Approvals In an historic move, the Chinese government has given conditional approval for crewed flights for XPENG's flying car X2.  Here are the tech facts: First manned eVTOL to receive a licensed flight certificate in China Certificate allows XPENG to continue development and bring the eVTOL into production for commercialization by 2024 X2 combines the best in automotive and aviation technology Generation 5 X2 does not have wheels & doesn't drive but Generation 6 X2 will be a real driving and flying car X2 has completed more than 3,000 successful test flights Enclosed cockpit, minimalist teardrop design for maximum aerodynamic performance & carbon fiber structure that's about the size of an SUV Showcased at the GITEX Global 2022 last October in Dubai Will be available for purchase in 2024 at a price starting a

  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 Company claims to be using the world's lightest and safest powertrain, co-created with Rolls Royce that is 1 MW electric Contains same flight control and advanced avionics that are in the F35, one of

  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 Company claims to be using the world's lightest and safest powertrain, co-created with Rolls Royce that is 1 MW electric Contains same flight control and advanced avionics that are in the F35, one of

  Autonomous Cargo Delivery System                                                  Source:  MightyFly Faster, Cheaper, Carbon Neutral San Francisco Bay Area based MightyFly is on the cusp of revolutionizing logistics with its autonomous eVTOL.  Here are the pertinent facts: Patent-pending, autonomous cargo delivery eVTOL for rapid, cheaper and faster same day, door-to-door logistics Range of 600 miles, top speed of 150 mph and cargo capacity up to 500 pounds Flies 3-times faster than the highway speed of the average delivery van Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL) that is carbon neutral Just received FAA Certificate of Authorization for long range flight testing Will begin testing its last mile and middle mile logistical services Just unveiled its 2nd generation eVTOL aircraft, MightyFly Cento Cento has a unique hybrid-electric powertrain with an internal combustion engine that recharges Cento's batteries while flying which enables multiple, consecutive deliveries  Cento

  Autonomous Cargo Delivery System                                                  Source:  MightyFly Faster, Cheaper, Carbon Neutral San Francisco Bay Area based MightyFly is on the cusp of revolutionizing logistics with its autonomous eVTOL.  Here are the pertinent facts: Patent-pending, autonomous cargo delivery eVTOL for rapid, cheaper and faster same day, door-to-door logistics Range of 600 miles, top speed of 150 mph and cargo capacity up to 500 pounds Flies 3-times faster than the highway speed of the average delivery van Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL) that is carbon neutral Just received FAA Certificate of Authorization for long range flight testing Will begin testing its last mile and middle mile logistical services Just unveiled its 2nd generation eVTOL aircraft, MightyFly Cento Cento has a unique hybrid-electric powertrain with an internal combustion engine that recharges Cento's batteries while flying which enables multiple, consecutive deliveries  Cento

  Midnight Flying Taxi to Be Manufactured in US Exclusively                                             Source:  Archer Midnight Big Boost for Archer to Hit the Market First Global automaker Stellantis and eVTOL startup Archer Aviation are joining forces to manufacture Archer's eVTOL flying taxi Midnight.  Here are the key details on this new, powerful flying taxi partnership: Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot & more, has significantly expanded its partnership with eVTOL California startup Archer Aviation Stellantis will provide strategic new funding of $150 million for growth and be the exclusive manufacturer of Archer's flying taxi Midnight in a new facility to be built in Covington, Georgia that will include advanced manufacturing technologies The partners hope to have 6,000 Midnight air taxis operational by 2030 Tech Specs Archer expects Midnight to be in the air in 2024 Will carry a pilot and up to 4 passengers or a 1000-pound payload 12 w

  Midnight Flying Taxi to Be Manufactured in US Exclusively                                             Source:  Archer Midnight Big Boost for Archer to Hit the Market First Global automaker Stellantis and eVTOL startup Archer Aviation are joining forces to manufacture Archer's eVTOL flying taxi Midnight.  Here are the key details on this new, powerful flying taxi partnership: Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot & more, has significantly expanded its partnership with eVTOL California startup Archer Aviation Stellantis will provide strategic new funding of $150 million for growth and be the exclusive manufacturer of Archer's flying taxi Midnight in a new facility to be built in Covington, Georgia that will include advanced manufacturing technologies The partners hope to have 6,000 Midnight air taxis operational by 2030 Tech Specs Archer expects Midnight to be in the air in 2024 Will carry a pilot and up to 4 passengers or a 1000-pound payload 12 w

  A ska Flying Car eVTOL: 4-Seats & Fascinating Tech                                             Source:  NFT/Aska Your New Fly-Drive Commuting A hot new flying car is set to debut at this week's CES 2023 in Las Vegas.  Silicon Valley-based NFT/Aska, which is an US/Israeli startup, will unveil its eVTOL (all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) that seats four and operates like a helicopter for takeoffs and landings, except it can also drive on the road. The wings fold back for driving, which transitions the flying car to the size of an SUV. This stunning new piece of travel technology is essentially an electric VTOL that is rolled into a car hybrid. This debut is a must see.  Tech Specs Aska is powered by an electric motor system with lithium-ion batteries that have a range extender.  Performance details include: Top range of 250 miles on a charge Top speed of 150 mph STOL - Short Takeoff and landing vehicle VTOL - Vertical takeoff and landing vehicle To transition

  A ska Flying Car eVTOL to Debut at CES 2023                                             Source:  NFT/Aska Your New Fly-Drive Commuting A hot new flying car is set to debut at this week's CES 2023 in Las Vegas.  Silicon Valley-based NFT/Aska, which is an US/Israeli startup, will unveil its eVTOL (all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) that seats four and operates like a helicopter for takeoffs and landings, except it can also drive on the road. The wings fold back for driving, which transitions the flying car to the size of an SUV. This stunning new piece of travel technology is essentially an electric VTOL that is rolled into a car hybrid. This debut is a must see.  Tech Specs Aska is powered by an electric motor system with lithium-ion batteries that have a range extender.  Performance details include: Top range of 250 miles on a charge Top speed of 150 mph STOL - Short Takeoff and landing vehicle VTOL - Vertical takeoff and landing vehicle To transition from flying

  XPENG'S Aeroht Source: XPENG (Top 3) & More Flying Cars Car To Fly Over Traffic Jams In China, an all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying car, the XPENG Aeroht, is scheduled to go into mass production in 2025 for the travelling public.  The EV is designed to help drivers escape the mammoth traffic jams in urban areas of China. Interestingly, the company was founded ten years ago by a self-described high school dropout, 45-year-old Zhao Deli.  His company is now the largest flying car company in China, with 1,000 employees and is an affiliate company of XPENG, which is a Chinese electric vehicle maker. Aeroht appears destined to be one of the first flying cars to become operational. New Automotive & Aviation Technologies Aeroht is a real flying car.  It has wheels and can be driven on the road. It is powered by 8 distributed electric motors connected to 8 rotors.  It has a lithium-ion battery system. The range on a charge is 35 minutes and the top speed i