Important Innovations

Hyundai's Sonata Hybrid Source:  Hyundai's Sonata Hybrid Hybrid, Electric & Solar Panels on the Car Roof At the Chicago 2020 Auto Show, a new breed of hybrid, electric and solar powered car was unveiled.  It's Hyundai's 2020 Sonata Hybrid and it takes the popular Sonata to a whole new level.  What is so innovative and unique about the vehicle is the solar paneled roof.  The Sonata Hybrid with its combined electric and gas powered engines is much more fuel efficient.  But add to that the solar panels that can provide an extra 800 solar electric powered miles per year. It represents another milestone in the drive toward cleaner, greener driving. New Hybrid Platform Hyundai says it's building the new hybrid on a brand new platform that makes it lighter in weight and increases the vehicle's strength.  It's powered by a 2.0 liter 14 engine that provides 150 horsepower  and an electric motor that provides a supplemental 51 horsepower.  T

Jeep Goes Electric with a Powerful Mountain Bike Jeep Super Bowl Ad: Bill Murray on RidgeRunner e-Bike RidgeRunner:  Electrified Biking Jeep Style Chrysler- Fiat's Jeep is going electric with a powerful electric mountain bike.  It's Jeep's first EV.  It's called the RidgeRunner Jeep Edition.  Jeep is partnering with the Colorado based e-bike builder QuietKat, which makes top-of-the-line e-bikes, costing as much as $6000. The Jeep RidgeRunner vehicle will be released for sale in June. Automotive industry experts are calling the e-bike "massively powerful".  Jeep claims "it's the most capable off-road e-mountain bike there is." Plenty of Watts Jeep's e-bike is equipped with a huge, 750 watt class 2 electric motor, backed up by a 48 volt battery with a range of 30 to 60 miles on a charge. This is a ten speed suspension bike with a 17 inch or 19 inch frame.  It weighs a hefty 80 pounds.. It can travel up to 25 mph. 

World's Fastest E-Sportscar, E-Cybertruck and More EVs Source:  Tesla Roadster Electric Sports Car Diversifying and Expanding Model Lineup 2020 is proving to be a great year for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk.  The share price has soared and catapulted Tesla to the world's 2nd most valuable automaker, only behind Toyota.  What is billionaire entrepreneur CEO Elon Musk doing to sustain this?  He's creating buzz and excitement with new models like the Tesla Roadster, expanding his model offerings to include pickup trucks and smaller, less expensive SUVs, and looking to bring on more affordable electric cars to widen his global customer base. Tesla Roadster Musk calls his Tesla Roadster the "fastest car in the world". It's  expected to roll-out in 2020 or 2021.  It's a 4 seater sports car that can go from 0 to 97 mph in 1.9 seconds, which is quicker than quick.  The top speed is 250 mph, the battery range is reported to be a huge 620 miles

UK's EasyJet's & US Wright Electric Partner on Commercial Electric Plane Source:  Wright Electric Proposed E-Aircraft Green Partnership, Aggressive Time-Line Low cost airline group EasyJet of the UK has announced plans to collaborate with US electric plane startup Wright Electric to develop an electric engine for a 186 passenger electric commercial aircraft. Their goal is sustainable, electric commercial flight that ushers in an era of emissions free, cheaper and environmentally friendly flying. Their time frame is aggressive.  In 2023, they plan to test flight the electric motor and in 2030 fly the new aircraft. London to Paris by Sustainable Flights Wright is developing electrical systems big enough to carry 186 passengers, the crew and a 1.5 megawatt electric motor(s) on its electric aircraft. The Wright 1 plane will be able to fly an hour on a charge.  It's designed for short haul travel such as London to Paris.  Electric planes have zero to very low

Norway & Sweden Create World's 1st Green Airspace  Source:  Sweden's Heart Aerospace Electric Plane ES-19 Source:  Rolls Royce Electric Plane Safe Airspace to Test Electric Planes Norway and Sweden have created a large, green airspace for the testing of electric planes and small to medium sized drones.  This is the world's first test airspace for electric flights. The airspace straddles the Norway-Sweden border over an area between Roros and Osterund.  It's large, rugged and challenging both from climate and terrain perspectives and includes mountains, lakes and forests.  It's specifically designed to be a place to test manned electric aircraft and unmanned, small to medium sized drones. Norway and Sweden Continue to Act for a Greener  Environment The green flyway is yet another world first example of Norway and Sweden's commitment to electric powered vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.  The green flyway provides an isolated space to test fl

Nissan Leaf Drives Autonomously & Electric for 230 miles in UK Source:  Nissan Leaf Add Autonomous, Electric Vehicle Electric, Self-Drive Sets UK Record Nissan has made autonomous driving history.  An electric Nissan Leaf has just completed 230 miles autonomously across the UK.  That makes the record books for autonomous driving in the UK. The car encountered all types of road conditions.  The drive was far from a straight shot.  It safely drove on expressways, roundabouts and on poorly marked roads. It did so without any human intervention and emissions free. Loaded with Technology The test car is equipped with advanced autonomous technology. The electric Nissan Leaf was fitted with GPS, radar, LIDAR, laser scanners and laser cameras to perceive the vehicles and roadway around it and make safe decisions. Project "HumanDrive" The Nissan HumanDrive project was designed to show what autonomous vehicles can achieve, promote autonomous mobility a

BMW's Electric Future: Expanding EV Lineup Source:  BMW iX3 Rapidly Expanding Production For BMW, the future of mobility is electric and the future is now.  The global automotive leader has big electric plans.  Right now, it has 12 electric vehicle models, including the new BMW 330e, the BMW X5xDrive45e, the BMW X3xDrive30e - all plug-in hybrids, along with the all-electric Mini Cooper SE.  In 2020, they'll be joined by the all-electric BMWiX3 and the BMWX1 plug-in hybrid. By 2030, 50% of BMWs Sold Will Be Electric Vehicles BMW plans on having 25 electric models by 20023, more than half of which will be all electric.  By 2021, the company estimates 25% of all BMWs sold in Europe will be electric, 33% by 2025 and 50% by 2030. EV Demand to Double in 2020 Based on these new projections, BMW is significantly ramping up production.  It's more than doubling its staff at its global Center of Excellence for Electric Mobility in Dingolfing, Bavaria. BMW p