Important Innovations

  Autonomous, Electric, Advanced Technology, Entertaining Cars                                        Source:  Sony and Honda Sony Honda Mobility Japanese automotive and electronics giants Honda and Sony have formed the Sony Honda Mobility company to produce EVs. They expect to start selling what they call less expensive, more affordable electric cars in 2025.  Each company will invest more than $37.5 million in the JV. They are also developing and will produce Sony's Vision-S 02 SUV prototype that pumps out 536 hp from an electric, dual motor system. This is a breakthrough partnership combining the best of the global automotive and new technology worlds. Automotive Inflection Point This JV is likely to serve as an inflection point in the design, purpose and definition of future vehicles. A car's primary purpose will be more than travelling from point A to point B.  The vehicles' appeal will be lifestyle design and highly connected infotainment that the passengers use in th

  World's 1st Transcontinental Light Jet                                                       Source: Honda Another Aircraft From Honda Honda is renowned for its automotive, motorcycle, power equipment, robotic technologies and now its aviation technology.  The Japan based multinational conglomerate has just unveiled its HondaJet 2600 concept.  It's the world's first transcontinental light jet and it's designed for coast to coast flights.  The aircraft's range is 2,625 miles and it can carry a pilot and eleven passengers.  The original HondaJet, that was certified for flight in 2015, has been very successful for Honda.  More than 200 planes have been sold.  With the Concept 2600, Honda wanted to build a bigger aircraft for longer haul flights. Something In the Air That's Unique Concept 2600 is a unique, new piece of aircraft design.  Honda calls it a medium sized jet with light-jet fuel efficiency.  The plane has 40% more fuel efficiency than comparable planes

  $40 Billion Investment Over the Next Decade                                                  Source:  Honda Millions of Honda EVs to Go Into Production Japanese automotive giant Honda is investing $40 billion to electrify its car lineup.  The investment over the next decade will cover R&D and production.  Honda says that by 2030 it will have launched 30 new EVs, including two SUVs and a mini-car.  The company is also accelerating production to 2 million electric vehicles per year. Big Battery Push Honda is simultaneously focusing on the development of solid-state batteries that are lighter, faster to recharge and provide longer range than current lithium-ion batteries used to power EVs.  Honda expects to bring its own solid-state batteries to the global market in the second half of this decade.  It is also exploring potential next-G battery partnerships globally.  Honda believes that the new batteries will significantly reduce the cost of EVs and greatly extend their miles-range

  $40 Billion Investment Over the Next Decade                                                  Source:  Honda Millions of Honda EVs to Go Into Production Japanese automotive giant Honda is investing $40 billion to electrify its car lineup.  The investment over the next decade will cover R&D and production.  Honda says that by 2030 it will have launched 30 new EVs, including two SUVs and a mini-car.  The company is also accelerating production to 2 million electric vehicles per year. Big Battery Push Honda is simultaneously focusing on the development of solid-state batteries that are lighter, faster to recharge and provide longer range than current lithium-ion batteries used to power EVs.  Honda expects to bring its own solid-state batteries to the global market in the second half of this decade.  It is also exploring potential next-G battery partnerships globally.  Honda believes that the new batteries will significantly reduce the cost of EVs and greatly extend their miles-range

  The e:Ny1 is Coming in 2023                                                Source:  Honda New Concept Car Honda intends to launch a small, new, all-electric SUV, based on a new concept called the "e:Ny1" in 2023.  The company says the new EV's range will exceed that of other Honda electric vehicles, so the range should be well in excess of 200 miles on a charge.  Automotive experts believe that it will be an electrified version of Honda's newly released hybrid HR-V. Intensifying Electric Vehicle Global Competition The new EV will go into direct competition with the VW ID4 and Hyundai's Ioniq 5 as the global market for electric vehicles heats up.  The e:Ny1 has sleek, classic design lines, a sloping roofline and break lights that span the full width of the back of the car.  The interior is expected to be similar to that of the HR-V. The dashboard is minimalist with a raised touchscreen and a digital driver's display. There are no official details from Honda o

  The e:Ny1 is Coming in 2023                                                Source:  Honda New Concept Car Honda intends to launch a small, new, all-electric SUV, based on a new concept called the "e:Ny1" in 2023.  The company says the new EV's range will exceed that of other Honda electric vehicles, so the range should be well in excess of 200 miles on a charge.  Automotive experts believe that it will be an electrified version of Honda's newly released hybrid HR-V. Intensifying Electric Vehicle Global Competition The new EV will go into direct competition with the VW ID4 and Hyundai's Ioniq 5 as the global market for electric vehicles heats up.  The e:Ny1 has sleek, classic design lines, a sloping roofline and break lights that span the full width of the back of the car.  The interior is expected to be similar to that of the HR-V. The dashboard is minimalist with a raised touchscreen and a digital driver's display. There are no official details from Honda o

  Big Technological Convergence                                                        Source:  Sony Sony's  First Electric Cars in 2025 There has been a seismic move in the global electric car marketplace.  Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony is teaming up with global automotive giant Honda to develop and manufacture electric cars.  The new cars will go to market and be ready for purchase in 2025.  This partnership makes Sony the latest big player in the rapidly accelerating electric car business.  And the throw-weight of the synergistic technologies that the two partners bring to the table is mammoth.   Sony EVs Sony first announced its interest in developing electric cars in 2020.  At CES 2022, it unveiled a stunning electric SUV concept called Vision-S 02.  It can carry 7 people and includes the capacity for them to play video games made for the Sony Playstation 5 console.  Rather than following the path to develop and manufacture the e-SUV alone, Sony Mobility is

  Big Technological Convergence                                                        Source:  Sony Sony's  First Electric Cars in 2025 There has been a seismic move in the global electric car marketplace.  Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony is teaming up with global automotive giant Honda to develop and manufacture electric cars.  The new cars will go to market and be ready for purchase in 2025.  This partnership makes Sony the latest big player in the rapidly accelerating electric car business.  And the throw-weight of the synergistic technologies that the two partners bring to the table is mammoth.   Sony EVs Sony first announced its interest in developing electric cars in 2020.  At CES 2022, it unveiled a stunning electric SUV concept called Vision-S 02.  It can carry 7 people and includes the capacity for them to play video games made for the Sony Playstation 5 console.  Rather than following the path to develop and manufacture the e-SUV alone, Sony Mobility is

   Riding Assist 2.0                                                                                                   Source:  Honda A Real Balancing Act Honda has developed self-balancing, stabilizing technology for motorcycles.  It is called the Rider Assist 2.0, which the company has been working on for five years.  They have demonstrated its efficacy on a big heavy bike, the NM4 Vulture.  The technology keeps the rider steady and balanced at low speeds and when stopped.  The rider can bike and make turns at low speeds without tipping.  They can also mount and dismount while the bike remains stable.   Robotic Technology This new technology is still under development by Honda.  The Riding Assist 2.0 uses Honda robotic technology to keep the bike steady instead of using gyroscopes to aid in balance.  The new technology enables a key feature:  the bike's rear wheel swings to adjust the angle of the rider and the motorcycle to maintain stability.   Potential Impact This new technol

  Riding Assist 2.0                                                                                                   Source:  Honda A Real Balancing Act Honda has developed self-balancing, stabilizing technology for motorcycles.  It is called the Rider Assist 2.0, which the company has been working on for five years.  They have demonstrated its efficacy on a big heavy bike, the NM4 Vulture.  The technology keeps the rider steady and balanced at low speeds and when stopped.  The rider can bike and make turns at low speeds without tipping.  They can also mount and dismount while the bike remains stable.   Robotic Technology This new technology is still under development by Honda.  The Riding Assist 2.0 uses Honda robotic technology to keep the bike steady instead of using gyroscopes to aid in balance.  The new technology enables a key feature:  the bike's rear wheel swings to adjust the angle of the rider and the motorcycle to maintain stability.   Potential Impact This new technolo

  Japanese Automaker Investing $45 B in R&D                              Sources:  Honda. Space image NASA Focus:  Robots, Rockets & Flying Taxis Honda is expanding into new forms of mobility and significantly increasing its R&D spending on 3, highly innovative and disruptive business lines: robots, rockets and flying taxis or eVTOLS.  The Japanese based auto giant is investing $45 billion in R&D money over the next 6 years.  Interestingly, Honda as a mobility company sees the 3 areas as an extension of and synergistic with its primary business of making cars.  They say that the research and development efforts could lead to a greatly advanced electric vehicle platform, among other new technologies.  Honda's strategy is to create prototype robots, rockets and eVTOLs to determine if the products are viable for successful commercial market development.   Robotics Honda is a pioneer in robotics.  It created Asimo which was one of the world's first robots to walk. C

  Japanese Automaker Investing $45 B in R&D                              Sources:  Honda. Space image NASA Focus:  Robots, Rockets & Flying Taxis Honda is expanding into new forms of mobility and significantly increasing its R&D spending on 3, highly innovative and disruptive business lines: robots, rockets and flying taxis or eVTOLS.  The Japanese based auto giant is investing $45 billion in R&D money over the next 6 years.  Interestingly, Honda as a mobility company sees the 3 areas as an extension of and synergistic with its primary business of making cars.  They say that the research and development efforts could lead to a greatly advanced electric vehicle platform, among other new technologies.  Honda's strategy is to create prototype robots, rockets and eVTOLs to determine if the products are viable for successful commercial market development.   Robotics Honda is a pioneer in robotics.  It created Asimo which was one of the world's first robots to walk. C

  eVTOLs For City Commuting - Honda's New Biz Line                                                                      Source:  Honda's eVTOL Next G Urban Air Mobility Honda is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) flying taxi to make "mobility in the sky more accessible to people."  Just using electricity, it can travel 100 miles.  When combined with a turbine engine, the hybrid electric eVTOL can travel 400 miles.  Honda recently disclosed that it is going full throttle into the flying taxi business.  Their eVTOL is specifically designed for intra-city and city to city travel, which Honda believes is about to grow significantly. In a presentation, Honda used the example of a businessperson on Cape Cod using the eVTOL to quickly and smoothly travel from the Cape to New York City and back within a day. Tech Specs The eVTOL uses 8, small propellers to get lift and then deploys 3 pusher props and its wings to fly forwards.  The power to fl