Important Innovations

  Electric Beach Buggy From France                                                    Super Citroen My Ami Buggy French automaker Citroen has unveiled, what it calls, its "beach car of the future".  It's a two-seater with a fully electric, 8 hp motor, powered by a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.  Called My Ami Buggy, it's designed for outdoorsy adventure and fun.  The electric dune buggy is small and minimalistic with no doors. It echoes the beach car spirit of the 1960's and 1970's. Instead of an infotainment display, there is a small digital cluster and a cradle for a smart phone. There is storage space for items. The accessories in the EV are 3D printed.  My Ami can hit a maximum speed of 30 mph and has a driving range of 43 miles.  Under French law, it is not classified as a car, so anyone over 14 years old can drive it without a license. Dune Buggy of the Future The tiny buggy concept is based on Citroen's new, city-only Ami electric microcar, which

  Electric Beach Buggy From France                                                    Super Citroen My Ami Buggy French automaker Citroen has unveiled, what it calls, its "beach car of the future".  It's a two-seater with a fully electric, 8 hp motor, powered by a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.  Called My Ami Buggy, it's designed for outdoorsy adventure and fun.  The electric dune buggy is small and minimalistic with no doors. It echoes the beach car spirit of the 1960's and 1970's. Instead of an infotainment display, there is a small digital cluster and a cradle for a smart phone. There is storage space for items. The accessories in the EV are 3D printed.  My Ami can hit a maximum speed of 30 mph and has a driving range of 43 miles.  Under French law, it is not classified as a car, so anyone over 14 years old can drive it without a license. Dune Buggy of the Future The tiny buggy concept is based on Citroen's new, city-only Ami electric microcar, which

  Hydrogen Powered Car-Helicopter Combo                                        Source:  MACA Flight Straight Out of Star Wars & Off to the Races   French startup MACA Flight, an Airbus startup, unveiled a fascinating hydrogen powered combination car and helicopter at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022.  It is designed to be a flying race car.  Experts say that it is reminiscent of the flying podracers in the Star Wars movie series.  This is the world's second flying race car.  Australia's Alauda Aeronautics introduced the world's first - Airspeeder Mk3 - about a year ago and put it through its paces in the world's first electric flying drag race. Carcopter The new French MACA S11 is classified as a carcopter, VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing vehicle).  It is a zero-emissions, racing car concept built for speed, agility and sustainability.  What makes it unique is that it is hydrogen powered.  It is not powered by a conventional battery.  MACA S11 is a concep

  Hydrogen Powered Car-Helicopter Combo                                                               Source:  MACA Flight Straight Out of Star Wars & Off to the Races   French startup MACA Flight, an Airbus startup, unveiled a fascinating hydrogen powered combination car and helicopter at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022.  It is designed to be a flying race car.  Experts say that it is reminiscent of the flying podracers in the Star Wars movie series.  This is the world's second flying race car.  Australia's Alauda Aeronautics introduced the world's first - Airspeeder Mk3 - about a year ago and put it through its paces in the world's first electric flying drag race. Carcopter The new French MACA S11 is classified as a carcopter, VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing vehicle).  It is a zero-emissions, racing car concept built for speed, agility and sustainability.  What makes it unique is that it is hydrogen powered.  It is not powered by a conventional battery

  Water Air Craft -   Incredible Flying, Foiling Kite Pod                                             Source:  Syroco Designed to Crush Sailing Speed Records Moonshot 1 is a totally new form of travel.  It's a flying, foiling, kite pod specifically designed to crush world sailing speed records.  It is the creation of French startup Syroco, founded by world champion kite surfer Alexandre Caizergues and technology veteran Yves de Montcheuil. With Moonshot 1, the two hope to smash the current 65 know (74 mph) sailing speed record set in 2012 by reaching 92 mph.  They've put together a team of naval architects, sailors and helicopter experts to create a breakthrough water-air flying machine that chases speed. Chasing Speed Designed to literally "chase speed" and smash records, Moonshot 1 is an innovative combination of kite, foil and a 20-foot, airplane-like pod that holds 2 pilots.  It flies a few feet above the water.  The kite powers propulsion and the foil steers and

  New French, Hybrid VTOL "ATEA"                              Source:  Ascendance Flight Technologies Ascendance Flight Technologies' New Green Aviation French aviation startup Ascendance Flight Technologies has invented a new, hybrid, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTOL) for intracity and regional aircraft commuting.  The 5-seat ATEA uses two forward facing propellers and 8 fan engines in its wings.  The eight electric powered fan engines enable vertical takeoffs and landings.  The diesel fuel powered forward facing propellers enable forward flight.  The unique VTOL has a range of 250 miles.  Its hybrid powertrain uses jet fuel and electricity as power sources.  The company says the combination cuts carbon emissions by 80%.  Importantly, AETA can be reconfigured to use green fuels, including hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels to further cut down on emissions. Tech Specs The hybrid electric and jet fuel systems work independently of each o

  New French, Hybrid VTOL "ATEA"                              Source:  Ascendance Flight Technologies Ascendance Flight Technologies' New Green Aviation French aviation startup Ascendance Flight Technologies has invented a new, hybrid, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTOL) for intracity and regional aircraft commuting.  The 5-seat ATEA uses two forward facing propellers and 8 fan engines in its wings.  The eight electric powered fan engines enable vertical takeoffs and landings.  The diesel fuel powered forward facing propellers enable forward flight.  The unique VTOL has a range of 250 miles.  Its hybrid powertrain uses jet fuel and electricity as power sources.  The company says the combination cuts carbon emissions by 80%.  Importantly, AETA can be reconfigured to use green fuels, including hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels to further cut down on emissions. Tech Specs The hybrid electric and jet fuel systems work independently of each o

  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

  AIR4 Flying Car Concept                                                   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 ahead of now.  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.  More than 8 million of the iconic Renault 4 have been sold in more than 100 nations. 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

  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 m

  France's H2 Race Truck by GAUSSIN to Prove H2 Capabilities                                          Source:  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

  Aronso E-Trace From France Source:  Aronso E-Trace Unique Electric Snow Vehicle For Fun, Zero Emissions Rides The Aronso E-Trace is a unique all-electric vehicle combination of a snow sled and an electric mountain bike.  It's the invention of French startup Arosno, which calls it the world's 1st electric snow-bike for fun, zero emissions rides in the snow.  This new EV was unveiled at EuroBike 2021 in Germany.  Unlike a high octane vehicle like a snowmobile that pollutes a pristine snowy environment, the E-Trace is zero-emissions, puts your foot to the pedal, travels at a safe and reasonable speed and lets the untrained have some great fun pedaling it across the snow. Safety With No Training Needed The E-Trace is so stable, according to Aronso, it can be driven without any training on all types of snow.  The company says it is much safer and offers none of the risks of riding an electric mountain bike on snowy terrain.  The driver pedals the E-Trace like an e-mountain bike up