Important Innovations

Sir Richard Branson Building Flying Taxi Fleet From UK's Vertical Aerospace                                                                Source:  Vertical Aerospace Branson's Plans for Flying Taxis Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson is looking to expand his fleet of aircraft and spacecraft.  He is investing in the UK air taxi company Vertical Aerospace and is planning on buying a fleet of their air taxis. The air taxis are a strategic addition to his Virgin Atlantic aircraft and his Virgin Galactic spacecraft.  Branson has entered into a partnership with Vertical Aerospace to purchase 150 flying taxi eVTOLS, which are electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. Entrepreneur Branson, whose expertise is aviation and aerospace, provides a ringing endorsement to the future of eVTOL, flying taxi travel. Technical Details on the eVTOL VA-X4 The flying taxis that Branson is purchasing are the VA-X4.  Vertical Aerospace was founded and is run by the highly successful, Be

  VW ID. Buzz Recaptures Essence of Original VW Bus                                        Source:  VW ID.Buzz Lots of Buzz About This Concept Volkswagen is ready to unveil its much-anticipated electric, microbus vehicle.  It's called the VW ID. Buzz.  The official unveiling of the electric production version of the concept, that was first shown five years ago, will happen in about two weeks for the European version of the Buzz.  Production starts this coming summer, and it launches for sale in Europe in the fall.  It will be offered in Europe as both passenger and cargo models on what Volkswagen calls a short-wheelbase chassis of 2988 mm (9.8 feet).  In 2023, a longer model with three rows of seats will be sold in the US. Tech Specs An electric motor in the rear of the microbus cranks a peak output of 201 hp. (150 kilowatts).  A lithium-ion battery of 77 kWh stores the electric energy. There are indications that VW may add a more powerful dual motor version. Buzz is built on the M

  VW ID. Buzz Recaptures Essence of Original VW Bus                                        Source:  VW ID.Buzz Lots of Buzz About This Concept Volkswagen is ready to unveil its much-anticipated electric, microbus vehicle.  It's called the VW ID. Buzz.  The official unveiling of the electric production version of the concept, that was first shown five years ago, will happen in about two weeks for the European version of the Buzz.  Production starts this coming summer, and it launches for sale in Europe in the fall.  It will be offered in Europe as both passenger and cargo models on what Volkswagen calls a short-wheelbase chassis of 2988 mm (9.8 feet).  In 2023, a longer model with three rows of seats will be sold in the US. Tech Specs An electric motor in the rear of the microbus cranks a peak output of 201 hp. (150 kilowatts).  A lithium-ion battery of 77 kWh stores the electric energy. There are indications that VW may add a more powerful dual motor version. Buzz is built on the M

  Big Global Flying Taxi Partnership: ANA, Joby Aviation & Toyota                                             Source:  Joby Aviation Electric, eVTOL Air Commuting for Japan There's a big, global development in the deployment of flying taxis. Japan's ANA - All Nippon Airways - and California-based flying taxi company Joby Aviation have formed a partnership to bring electric, vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) to Japan to serve as a network of ride-sharing, flying taxis for commuters.  Automaker Toyota is also a major partner in this endeavor and will focus on transport connections on the ground.  With the global stature of the members of this partnership, it has all the appearances of a game-changing deal for the deployment of flying taxis. The Japanese Market for Flying Taxis The Japanese market is fertile for flying taxis.  92% of the Japanese population live in cities. Some like Tokyo are among the most congested in the world.  The first deployment of the Job

  Big Global Flying Taxi Partnership: ANA, Joby Aviation & Toyota                                             Source:  Joby Aviation Electric, eVTOL Air Commuting for Japan There's a big, global development in the deployment of flying taxis. Japan's ANA - All Nippon Airways - and California-based flying taxi company Joby Aviation have formed a partnership to bring electric, vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) to Japan to serve as a network of ride-sharing, flying taxis for commuters.  Automaker Toyota is also a major partner in this endeavor and will focus on transport connections on the ground.  With the global stature of the members of this partnership, it has all the appearances of a game-changing deal for the deployment of flying taxis. The Japanese Market for Flying Taxis The Japanese market is fertile for flying taxis.  92% of the Japanese population live in cities. Some like Tokyo are among the most congested in the world.  The first deployment of the Job

  Aerospace Giant Invests a Further $450 Million in Wisk Aero                                                  Source:  Wisk Aero Autonomous Air Taxi Travel Silicon Valley, California-based air taxi startup Wisk Aero has raised $450 million from Boeing to build an air taxi flee, capable of 10 million flights per year.  Wisk has developed an electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that is capable of autonomous, pilot-less flying and can carry 2 passengers.  Wisk Aero is owned by Boeing and Google co-founder Larry Page's flying car company Kitty Hawk.  There are more than a dozen, major flying car companies globally.  But what distinguishes Wisk is its focus on autonomous flying vehicles.  The company says that autonomous functionality is being built into every aspect of the design and development of its 5th-generation Wisk Cora eVTOL. Cora Tech Specs Boeing says Cora will be the first autonomous, passenger air taxi certified for flying in the US.  Certification is ta

 Boeing  Invests a Further $450 Million in Wisk Aero                                                  Source:  Wisk Aero Autonomous Air Taxi Travel Silicon Valley, California-based air taxi startup Wisk Aero has raised $450 million from Boeing to build an air taxi flee, capable of 10 million flights per year.  Wisk has developed an electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that is capable of autonomous, pilot-less flying and can carry 2 passengers.  Wisk Aero is owned by Boeing and Google co-founder Larry Page's flying car company Kitty Hawk.  There are more than a dozen, major flying car companies globally.  But what distinguishes Wisk is its focus on autonomous flying vehicles.  The company says that autonomous functionality is being built into every aspect of the design and development of its 5th-generation Wisk Cora eVTOL. Cora Tech Specs Boeing says Cora will be the first autonomous, passenger air taxi certified for flying in the US.  Certification is targeted fo