Important Innovations

Motosola Solar Canopy Source:  Motosola Solar Biking The Motosola solar canopy mounted on top of an electric motorcycle charges the battery of an electric bike by solar energy. In Asia, canopies on bikes are common to protect the riders from the sun.  Motosola has taken that concept to a new level by inventing a canopy that's essentially a solar panel to pull in and utilize the energy of the sun to charge electric vehicles.  The system consists of the canopy and a charge inverter.  It's available as a 100 W or 150 W system.  The company's prototype system in Shenzhen, China has been driven for more than three months without needing any recharge.  The solar system has been sufficient to keep the batteries charged. Green, Clean Biking The company says that the system can generate up to 1.5kWh of electricity per day whether the bike is being ridden or it's parked.  It's said to be easy to install and compatible with most motorbikes.  When parked th

Heatbox, the Self-Heating Lunchbox from the Netherlands Source:  Heatbox Mobile Hot Meals This is another example of great innovation from the Netherlands. Heatbox warms food with steam. The steam is created by the lunchbox's heating element working with a small amount of water.  It was created by the Netherlands start-up Heatbox. The device is portable and small enough to fit in a backpack.  It's rechargeable and can work multiple times a day. The smart lunchbox heats your food in minutes.  It enables the user to have a hot meal wherever they are. Heatbox and Your Phone Heatbox can be controlled manually or by a smartphone app.  It can even charge your cellphone.  The device has a modern, sleek design.  It appears to have great potential for students and anyone on the go.  It's in the Kickstarter phase with product deliveries set for July 2020.  It's a breakthrough gadget that provides mobile hot meals.  For a free Kindle borrow of journalist Ed

Lincoln's 2022 Electric SUV Source:  Rivian.  Top - e-platform.  Bottom - Rivian  R1S SUV Startup Rivian  Forging the Way with Unique E-Vehicle Platform Reports indicate that Lincoln will be a big beneficiary of Ford's $500 million investment in Detroit e-vehicle startup Rivian.  Amazon is also investing in the company.  Lincoln is expected to use Rivian's skateboard-styled platform for a Lincoln electric SUV coming out in 2022.  This would be the first example of Ford's plans to co-develop a vehicle based on Rivian's electric car platform. Rivian's e-Vehicles Rivian's platform is a highly modular, battery-electric design.  It resembles a skateboard.  The system can deliver up to 700 horsepower.  It fits batteries up to 180 kilowatt hours in size.  Rivian is using the platform for its own R1T pick-up truck and R1S SUV that will go into production in late 2020.  Rivian says the SUV gets 400 miles in range.  And in 30 minutes, the batte

Breakthrough New Material from National University of Singapore Next Generation of Soft, Conductive Robots An innovative, new metallic material that bends, folds and stretches has just been unveiled by inventors at the National University of Singapore.  Experts say this material is so innovative it could lead to a next generation of soft conductive robots. Singapore Innovation The team at NUS developed a new process called "graphene oxide-enabled templating synthesis".  They take paper, soak it in graphene oxide, dip it in metallic ions and burn it twice.  The result is a thin metal layer that can stretch, bend and fold.  It can withstand high temperatures, remain electrically conductive and function as an antenna for wireless devices. De-icing Robots The inventors say the new metal's properties could allow robots made with a backbone of the material to operate in hazardous conditions and de-ice themselves if necessary.  For a free listen to my audi

Tesla, GM, Ford Charging Ahead with E-Pickups Source:  Tesla Big SUV and Pickup Truck Green Driving Big news.  Tesla's all electric Cybertruck has picked up 200,000 orders in the three days following its launch in Los Angeles.  That's a big deal.  People love the sleek armored truck look and power of the electric muscle truck that is Tesla CEO Elon Musk's pet project.  Engineer Musk made the truck of the same steel he uses at Space X for his rockets. Buyers apparently forgave the faux paus of the bullet proof windows shattering twice when hit by a metallic ball at its debut.  Production on Cybertruck starts in two years.  Prices start at $40,000 and the vehicle has a battery range on the top class model of 500 miles.  Musk has some time to work on the shattered glass of the shatterproof windows. All Electric Pickup Wars GM just announced it will deliver an all electric pickup truck by fall of 2021.  Ford will deliver on an all electric pickup

New Study:  Less Tiring, Just as Good Exercise Source:  Stock Image of e-Mountain Biking Brigham Young University Research New research from Brigham Young University indicates pedaling on an electric mountain bike with pedal-assist is a great workout and the effort seems easier from the rider's physical and psychological perspectives.  The study suggests that electric mountain bikes may help cyclists maintain or increase fitness during their workout. Variety of Electric Bike Rides Electric bikes are becoming increasingly common particularly in the US, Europe and Asia.  They're equipped with a small electric motor and battery. The pedal-assist electric bikes provide a boost of extra power which is the equivalent to a tailwind. Riders say the pedal assist makes hills flatter and distances shorter.  Throttle assist electric bikes power the bike even when you're not pedaling. Pedal-Assist Research The Brigham Young study found that with pedal-assist their 33 test

Inspired by James Bond 007 Source:  Tesla Futuristic Design but Shattered Windshield Needs Work It was an embarrassing moment for Tesla CEO Elon Musk this week.  His pet project, Cybertruck, the all electric muscle truck with what was billed as bulletproof windows, wasn't bulletproof.  During its debut launch in Los Angeles, the shatterproof windows shattered when hit by a metallic ball.  Musk watched in horror as his armored glass windows were smashed into broken glass, not once but twice by a metallic ball.  Obviously, the windows need more work.  But, the cybertruck is a striking piece of engineering and a world first as a green, electric pickup truck, which Musk thinks is essential to start cleaning up toxic exhaust from trucks Like a Space X Rocket The truck is made of the same stainless steel used by Musk's SpaceX for space rockets.  The steel is designed to make the cybertruck an armored truck that is so bulletproof that a 9mm Lugar round can't penetra