Important Innovations

  Loon Stratospheric Balloon Internet                                                Source:  Alphabet's Loon Loon Already Operational for Kenya Loon is one of Alphabet/Google's most fascinating projects.  Loon delivers  high speed, broadband internet from high altitude balloons in the stratosphere. Loon is operational and beaming internet services into Kenya.  This is a very different approach to low cost, broadband internet systems like Elon Musk's Starlink which is satellite based..    Internet From the Stratosphere Not Space  Loon's internet delivery service is coming in to customers from wireless internet balloons, developed by Alphabet, Google's parent company.  And it is in direct competition with SpaceX's Starlink, the ambitious, growing mega-constellations of low-Earth orbit satellites, being launched by CEO Elon Musk to provide the world with inexpensive, high speed internet. Musk has launched nearly 800 small satellites, now in low Earth orbit, and ha

20% New Energy Vehicles by 2025 in China Source:   China EV Assembly Line Electric, Hybrids, Hydrogen New Vehicles To Hit Sales Records China is on a roll with new energy vehicles (NEV).  By 2025, 20% of new cars sold in China will be battery electric, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell powered.  China is the world's largest automotive market.  New energy cars now represent 5% of new car sales in China.  The forecast that brings that number to 20% by 2025 comes from China's State Council. What is Driving the Growth in China? According to the China State Council, new car sales in new energy vehicles are rising because the industry has improved its competitiveness and the technology is greatly improving.  The Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers says new energy vehicles will comprise 50% of the China market by 2035.  They add that by far the biggest component - 95% - of NEVs will be battery electric vehicles in 2035. Ramping Up Production Companies like Tesla and Volkswage

  Sanifit Creating Biotech Treatments For Untreatable Disease                                                Source: Stock Biopharma Image Biomedical Innovation from Spain The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing Spain-based biopharmaceutical company Sanifit 20 million euros, on top of the $130 million the company has already raised, to bring to market new, innovative treatments for vascular calcification. This is an area of unmet medical need where there are no treatments.  Sanifit is in Phase 3 trials with what appears to be an effective remedy against this deadly disease. Novel, Innovative Treatments  Sanifit's treatments are targeted against two disease indicators of progressive vascular calcification.  The company has developed SNF472, a potent inhibitor of hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystallization which is the final step to vascular calcification.  The treatment is moving through Phase 3 trials for calciphylaxis, a devastating disease which blocks small blood vessels and re

  Big Innovation Coming from Europe                             Source:  Hydrogen Ferry Norled Hydrogen Passenger and Cargo Vessels Big changes are ahead for the passenger and cargo ship industries. To meet United Nations targets for the shipping industry's carbon footprint, the first net zero, green ships will have to enter the global fleet by 2030.  Experts say that ships powered by hydrogen will be the key part of the mix . But, because hydrogen requires more fuel storage capacity than other fuels, the first hydrogen powered ships will be vessels on short voyages.  Europe is leading the way in the innovation of new, hydrogen powered vessels. European Innovation Wave Switzerland based technology group ABB believes that passenger and shipping vessels will be the first users of hydrogen fuel cell systems.  ABB is currently working on a fuel cell based power and propulsion system for a new river vessel for the Rhone River in France.  It will be a first of its kind. Norway, the Nethe

  Germany's Innovative New Sources of Green Energy                             Source: Renewable Energy stock images 2020 Record Year for Renewable Energy In Germany Germany's prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has determined that 2020 is a record year for renewable energy production and use in Germany.  Renewable energy sources equalled 53% of national public electricity production from January to October 2020 in Germany.  Last year in the same period, 46% of energy in Germany was from renewable sources.  The acceleration in renewable energy sources is historic and it demonstrates Germany's commitment to a green, carbon free future.. Solar Energy is Dominating as a German Energy Source According to German Energy Provider Eon, solar energy has provided 43 billion kilowatt hours of electricity into Germany's national grid in 2020.  That's 1 billion kilowatt hours more than in 2019. Solar energy in Germany is now covering the electricity n

  GM's New eCrate Conversion Kit                                                                      Source:  GM 1977 KS  Blazer & Kit From Gas Guzzler to Electric Vehicle GM has come up with a great new idea.  It's a kit to convert gas guzzling cars to electric.  It's called the eCrate conversion kit.  And GM just demonstrated the results on a 1977 KS Blazer-E converted to electric power.  The kit uses Chevy Blazer EV batteries.  The big question is:  how difficult is the kit to use? GM Says Easy Electric Conversion GM claims the eCrate makes for easy electric conversions.  GM also says there is tremendous demand for this upcoming kit as people want to build their own electric vehicles.  They'll sell it through Chevrolet Performance starting in the second half of 2021. eCrate Components The kit is formally known as the Electric Connect and Cruise package and it's based on the Chevy Bolt EV powertrain.  The kit contains: 60 kWh battery pack 200 horsepower elect

  Holland's PAL-V                                                        Source:  PAL-V Authorized on Roads in the Netherlands The world's first commercial flying car - the PAL-V Liberty made by Dutch company PAL-V - has been approved for use on roads in the Netherlands.  The Liberty is a gyrocopter.  Rotors on the top of the vehicle provide it lift to fly.  The rotors are powered by a separate propeller engine in the back of the vehicle.  Liberty can hover like a helicopter but it doesn't take-off and land vertically like a helicopter.  It needs a runway of at least 590 feet to gain speed for take-off and 100 feet of runway for landing. Drive & Fly Time The Liberty can drive up to 99 mph on the road and when flying has a maximum speed of 112 mph.  Switching from the driving to the flying mode takes a few minutes.  Clearance will be needed from regulators for flying the flying car.  PAL-V says they expect to get clearance from the European Aviation Safety Agency in 2022