Important Innovations

  Luxury Electric Cars                                                           Source:  Bentley Bentley on an Electric Fast Track Bentley Motors' model lineup of cars will consist of only electric and plug-in hybrids by 2026.  The UK based luxury car maker will be fully electric by 2030.  This news from the company as the global automotive industry adjusts to much tougher emissions regulations in China and Europe.  Many global automakers are expanding their electric lineups.  100 Year Old Automaker Going Electric Bentley was founded 100 years ago and is now owned by Volkswagen.  It is accelerating the development of electric vehicles and will introduce two plug-in hybrids in 2021.  In a statement, Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark said: "Bentley will transform from a 100 year old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury."  Last summer, Bentley indicated that it would cut 25% of its workforce or 1,000 jobs as the company shifts to electric

  Shanghai and California Based Autonomous Driving Company                                                                                Source:  Pony.ai Lexus SUV Backed by Toyota China startup Pony.ai has just secured $267 million, on top of a recent $462 million, in another round of funding. That values the company at $5.3 billion, which makes it the world's most valuable independent autonomous driving startup. It has a much higher valuation than rivals Nuro and Aurora. Toyota Backed The Shanghai and Fremont, California based company is backed by Toyota, with which it is exploring mobility solutions.  Bottom-line:  this is a very hot startup.  And the funding for it comes at a time when global automakers, technology firms and investors, as well as Tesla, Uber and Waymo, are pouring money into developing self-driving vehicles. Timeline and Plans Pony.ai plans to use the funding to develop technology and expand its fleet.  In early 2019, it started developing autonomous truck tec

  Tesla Tequila on Sale in Selected States                          Source:  TeslaCEO Elon Musk & Tesla Tequila Tesla's Liquor Offering Tesla CEO Elon Musk launched a line of $250.00 a bottle tequila called Tesla Tequila  and within hours the liquor flew off its virtual shelves.  The Tesla Tequila was a promise that Musk tweeted on April Fools Day 2018 that he just made good on.  Musk has trademarked the drink which comes in a sleek, lightning bolt-like container. Musk the Marketer This isn't the first quirky product that Musk, the marketer and entrepreneur, has sold.  In 2018, he sold flamethrowers at $500 a piece and raised $10 million for his high-speed tunnel company, The Boring Company.  He also sold 50,000 Boring Company hats. Tesla Tequila Now on Sale According to Musk, Tesla Tequila will be available in selected states, including California, Washington and New York.  Tesla Tequila is made by Nosotros Tequila, which ages the liquor in French oak barrels.  The drink h

  New EVs in Direct Competition                                                  Source:  VW's ID.4 SUV VW ID.4 Electric SUV  VS. Tesla EV's Volkswagen is taking on Tesla directly in China with the launch of two VW ID.4 electric SUV's.  China is the world's largest auto market and VW's two new, electric SUV's are being produced in conjunction with top China EV partners. VW China Partners The ID.4X SUV is being produced with SAIC Motors of China.  And, the ID.4CROZZ is being produced with China's FAW Group.  Both are dominant players in the China electric vehicle market. Major China Competition This is part of a major push by VW to take on Tesla and Chinese EV automaker Nio, Inc. for a big piece of the China electric vehicle market.  The starting price of the VW EV SUV's appears to be $37,450, which is quite competitive.  The vehicles offer a single charge range of 250 miles and provide over-the-air internet software updates.  By 2023, VW says it will rol

  Top Inventions from Europe 2020's                                       https://amazon.com/author/ekane Now on Amazon and Kindle Journalist Edward Kane's latest book "Europe: The Global Innovation Leader" has just been published on Amazon and Kindle.  In the annual Global Innovation Index, Switzerland and Sweden top the list.  8 of the 12 innovation nations are in Europe.  Ed's book showcases the fascinating new innovations behind Europe's top ranking. For a preview, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08MSDR7JZ&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_kJbPFbTK8W0AJ    I co-authored the book with Ed.

  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