Important Innovations

  The Rainforest Connection and Connected Mangroves                               Source:  Philippine Mangroves Drones, Cell Phones, the Cloud Fighting Climate Change In the Philippines, telecom company PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications are deploying drones, cell phones, digital technology and the Cloud to preserve and protect critical areas of global environmental biodiversity.  Specifically, they're using technology to protect the Caimpuga Peatlands and the Aguran Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary.  They contain the only remaining peat swamp forest in the Philippines.  The project is called The Rainforest Connection.  Another PLDT program Connected Mangroves is using technology to protect mangrove forests.  These are unique ecosystems critical in the fight against Climate Change. Climate Change's Impact Peatlands can store twice as much carbon as all of the world's forests combined, according to PLDT CEO Manuel Pangilinan,  These so-called "carbon sinks&qu

  VW Speeds Production of Small E-Car & Offers e-MiniBuses                                                            Source:  VW Increasing Green Market Share VW is significantly expanding and accelerating its electric vehicle model line-up.  It is speeding development of a new, compact e-car that would cost less than $35,800 and be in showrooms as early as 2023. Electric Station Wagons and Mini-Buses VW has a lot in the electric works.  In 2020, a new ID.5 crossover will hit the market.  Also in 2021, VW's EV push will go global with the ID.4 SUV being produced in Europe, China and the US.  In 2023, an electric minibus, reminiscent of the hippie-era minibus, will be on the market. Also in 2023, an electric station wagon called the Aero with a range of 435 miles on a single charge will hit the streets. VW's $86 Billion Electric Investment Volkswagen is investing $86 billion in electric vehicles and autonomous technology.  That is the global auto industry's largest EV o

  Maserati's Total Electric Lineup within the Next Five Years                                Source:  Maserati 2021 Grecale SUV World Automakers Pushing EV Future Maserati is Fiat Chrysler's premier luxury brand based in Italy.  Maserati chief executive Davide Grasso said today, during an online event sponsored by the Italian daily newspaper Milano Finanza, that the entire Maserati lineup is being electrified - either fully electric or hybrid electric - within the next five years.  That is a very big deal for a top of the line, combustion engine, high speed, sportscar iconic brand. New SUV Grecale Maserati will launch it new SUV Grecale in 2021 in both combustion engine and hybrid versions.  A fully electric Grecale will follow and be available soon thereafter.  This is another big example of the global push by automakers to electrify their lineups as world governments tighten emissions standards and as the public increasingly demands greener, emissions free cars.  Even at the

  Musk Talks of  "New Form Factors" in New Designs Source:  Tesla Tesla to Customize Models for International Markets Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is a notorious big tease, told an online European Conference on Batteries audience this week that he is excited about designing new electric cars that will have "new form factors".  Musk said that to attract top talent to Tesla, he must provide them the big opportunity that they crave - to work on new, original car model designs. Gigafactories in Berlin and Shanghai Musk says  he is really excited about new design concepts which will be originating from his gigafactories in Shanghai and Berlin.  In Berlin, he expects to develop a compact electric car model, likely a hatchback, to cater to the preferences of European drivers for smaller, green cars. Expanding Tesla's Lineup Expansion is clearly on Musk's mind.  Some of his targets include: Designing an original car in China for global distribution Designing a compact v

  Now on Audible, ACX, Apple iTunes, Kindle, Amazon                                                                      Source:  Amazon Ed Kane's Book "Big Travel Breakthroughs 2020's - Journalist Guide to Cars, Planes, & More Journalist Edward Kane's latest audiobook on travel innovations "Big Travel Breakthroughs 2020's" is now available on Audible, ACX, Apple iTunes, Kindle and Amazon.   To access the book,  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08FNHCX18&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_sGRVFb9XPZ4XY   and click on the Audible sample, The b ook showcases the latest, big car, plane, train, new vehicle innovations.  It's a unique and exciting journalist guide to the latest modes of transportation just emerging.  It's also available in paperback and as an e-book.  The audiobook is narrated by national television news anchor & host Maryanne Kane, that's me. And for a free code, please contact Ed at  ejkane2@

  CEO Musk Wants to Introduce Compact E-Cars in Europe Source:  Tesla Model Y Tesla's European Expansion Plans During a European online conference on batteries sponsored by the German government, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he intends to expand Tesla operations in Europe.  He intends to do so by introducing a compact electric car model that he feels will be more appropriate and in tune with the European market.  The compact electric car will be another new model that Musk will be introducing including his much anticipated Cybertruck which will be rolled out within the next year or two. Hatchbacks for Europe Musk told the online conference that the car he has in mind for Europe is a hatchback.  He noted that US cars tend to be bigger, while in Europe they tend to be smaller.  He said while driving a Tesla Model Y SUV around Berlin, he had a lot of difficulty finding a parking space that was long enough for the car.   Tesla All of Tesla's vehicles are longer than the VW Golf, which

  Customers Order Fully Electric Pickup and SUV in Droves                                                  Source:  Rivian Michigan Based EV Startup Rivian Before Michigan startup Rivian offered the first edition of its electric pickup truck to the public, it sold out of all of its order reservation spots.  The bidding for the first editions of the R1T e-pickup truck and R1S e-SUV were offered first to people who had put down a $1,000 deposit in the past two years.  The vehicles sold out within a week.  Rivian calls it their Launch Edition.  The R1T will be delivered to customers in June 2021.  The R1S SUV will be delivered in August 2021. Pre-Ordering for January 2022 Deliveries Opens Today Rivian is now offering pre-order access to the public on their Adventure and Explore packages which include all-glass roofs and WIFI with 4G capability.  Those orders won't be delivered to customers until January 2022.  The Launch Edition is the only model that Rivian will produce between June