LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter # 158  (Sun. 2020/12/20 21:23)
Welcome to issue # 158 of the LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter.

This issue covers updates and changes for three of my websites, since December 16 (12/15 onward).

Website for the General Public, with a lot about my LeviCar project:  http://www.LeviCar.com.

Website for Innovative Transportation Professionals:  http://www.PROACCTIVE.info.

Website as a substitute for the former blog on EVWorld:  http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php.  It has the same content as the previous blog, except for some explanatory notes.  The “catch phrases” are in small type, and highlighted in yellow.

All three websites, above, are “gluten-free” (no cookies) and “caffeine-free” (no java[script], or any other script).  All of LULUE’s events are either in LeviCar.com or PROACCTIVE.info, or both.  LULUE has only upcoming events and a list of various organizations’ event calendars.

Many of the links to EV World are still on LeviCar.com, and I was able to recover them from “The Wayback Machine”.


Research Paper:  Click here to download or view my 25‑page Research Paper, The Future of MagLev: How the Magnetic‑Levitation SuperTurnpike will Revolutionize Ground Transportation (.doc format).


Contest notice: I had entered the “Create the Future” Contest for this year, and actually made Two entries, but did not win.  Details are at: http://www.LeviCar.com/#CreateFuture.
The first one is “High-Throughput End-Loaded MagLev Passenger Vehicles” (http://contest.techbriefs.com/2020/entries/automotive-transportation/10635).  The second one is “Soft-Sided Transportation Tubes (SSTTs) – an Alternative to Hyperloop” (http://contest.techbriefs.com/2020/entries/automotive-transportation/10730).
Other Contest:

NASA Langley Launches $20,000 UAV ‘Safeguard’ Competition (postponed due to COVID-19).



Newly-Added Item: (other than events)
None


Newly-Revised Item: (other than events)

Consumer Services from Plug In America — Added Special Deal for SMUD Customers
http://www.LeviCar.com/#PlugStar


New Events on the websites:

Free Webinar:  Selecting safe and reliable components for high-voltage EVs   W, January 13, 11 am EST (8 am PST)
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#Safe-and-Reliable
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#Safe-and-Reliable

AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS)   Th‑F, August 12‑13   Colocated with next event
http://www.LeviCar.com/#EATS
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#EATS
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#EATS

AIAA/IEEE EATS Students Design Competition/Challenge 2021   Th‑F, August 12‑13   Colocated with previous event
http://www.LeviCar.com/#EATS-SDC
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#EATS-SDC
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#EATS-SDC


Revised Events on the websites:

Advanced Automotive Battery Conference – Europe   Tu‑Th, January 19‑21 — Poster due-date modified
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#aabc-E
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#aabc-E

2021 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo (ITEC)   W‑F, June 23‑25 — Deadline Rëextended and corrected
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#ITEC
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#ITEC

ITS World Congress 2021   M‑F, October 11‑15 — New Brochure Link
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#ITS-World
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#ITS-World



Events with due dates within the next ten days (until Dec. 30):
None



IN THE NEWS  (Notice that the criteria for this are much broader than for PROACCTIVE.info):

Batteries:
In a Surprising Binge of Transparency, Battery Companies Tell Us What They Really Have
Thermal Considerations of Lithium-Ion and Lead-Acid Batteries
Is Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Still Viable?
Building Batteries Nearby
Dana is stacking the deck for sustainability, one fuel cell plate at a time
JB Straubel gives a tour of Redwood Materials’ battery recycling operation   [Includes long video (25:21) which I did not review.]
Proterra opens new EV battery production line in Los Angeles County
Measuring Lithium-ion Cell Self-Discharge   (Also pertains to “EV Charging”.)
Electrify Canada expands ultra-fast charging network to Alberta
VW is testing a DC wallbox good for bi‑directional charging, smart grid uses
EV battery pack prices fell 13% in 2020, some are already below $100/kwh

EV Charging:
New York’s vehicle-to-grid e-school bus pilot program is a success   [Includes video (2:43), and also a podcast.]
Rivian takes an adventurous approach to its charging network

Electric/Fuel-Cell Cars:
5 apps every electric vehicle owner needs to know about
Google Maps can now search for electric vehicle charging stations by plug type
First drive review:  2021 Toyota Mirai goes faster and farther, but is that enough?   (Hydrogen is still expensive, but Toyota gives you three years of free fuel.)
First drive review: 2021 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid is for “Zoom town” weekend warriors
Hyundai Kona Electric and Nexo fuel-cell SUV recalled for brake issue
A new, free US support line is providing electric vehicle advice   (Actually, there is a charge after first use, except for the Sacremento, CA, area.  See http://www.LeviCar.com/#PlugStar.)
Report:  Electric Cars Could Be Cheaper Than Gas Ones in Just 2 Years
Tesla Model Y: Green Car Reports’ Best Car To Buy 2021 finalist
Survey:  7 out of 10 Americans see an EV in the future, want more vehicle choices and charging
$3,000 DIY electric Mini Cooper is a fun exception among conversions

Electric/Fuel-Cell Trucks:
Lordstown Endurance electric pickup will spawn electric RV project with Camping World
Danfoss Editron to power electric trucks for reborn Brazilian manufacturer FNM
Canoo's $33,000 electric delivery van aims for efficiency and ownership costs   [Includes video (13:33), which I did not fully review.]

Clean Generation of Hydrogen:
Tiny Nuclear Reactors Yield a Huge Amount of Clean Hydrogen

Self-Driving Cars, Trucks, and Delivery Robots:
Walmart removes the safety driver from autonomous trucking tests
Motional and Lyft target 2023 to deploy driverless robotaxi services in major US cities
Automatic braking is now on most new cars.  But not GM or Fiat Chrysler vehicles
Tesla Beats Detroit Rivals by Almost Two Years on Brake Safety

Self-“Driving” Aircraft:
Exclusive:  AI Just Controlled a Military Plane for the First Time Ever

Sensors / AI Training for Self-Driving Vehicles:
Mobileye looks to build its own lidar to drive down self-driving costs

Business:
Octillion debuts new EV battery leasing plan   (What happens when more advanced batteries are introduced?  Also pertains to “Batteries”)
Comment: invest in the race for BEVs
Big swings expected as Tesla heads into S&P 500
24 energy investors, CEOs, and analysts share their top predictions for 2021 as the industry rebounds from a pandemic-driven slump
Billionaire investor Vinod Khosla shares the 4 most promising sectors he’s betting on in the booming climate-tech industry
Recurrent raises seed money to fund its independent reports on used EVs

Electric Bicycles and Motorcycles:
Spin is adding sensor-powered ADAS to its electric scooters to curb scofflaw riding

Electric Aircraft:
User-configurable xFold drone can lift up to 1,000 pounds
EHang secures first test flight permit in the heart of Europe
Electric aviation is already here
Airbus Zephyr HAPS concludes successful test flight
Turkish delight for drone traffic system
LA strives to lead nation in urban air mobility   (Also pertains to “Governmental Affairs”.)

Electric Buses and other mass-transit (but not rail):
Startup gives transit agencies a route to ride-sharing
How IoT Can Enhance Public Transportation
Transit Electrification Leads to Innovative Partnerships

OPINION:
CA: Editorial:  Transit is in a death spiral.  Better service, bus lanes and other smart investments can save it

Miscellaneous:
Philadelphia installs devices to count bikes in bike lanes
GIG vehicle gets stuck on Washington ferry, resurfacing car-share concern on state’s vessels
Attitudes about Climate Change are Shifting, Even in Energy-producing Texas
A new app is geared for e-scooter riders
The best electric RVs and camper innovations of 2020
Las Vegas approves Boring Company’s Loop transport system with Tesla vehicles
Boring Company Las Vegas City Wide Expansion Plan Has City Council Approval
Soarizon is watcher of the skies
Mahle’s hydrogen focus spans fuel cells, ICEs
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Keeping the World Online
Nissan builds baffling, belly-surfing GTR-X 2050 concept


Technical Articles and Papers:
Link to download a paper:  Automatic Rapid Charging Solution   (from Stäubli)


OLD NEWS:
Badge Budge  A corporate identifier can speak a thousand words – especially in court.


Special notes:

Anyone can ask to subscribe to this newsletter by e-mail.  The form, with further information, is at this link.  Rest assured that I am not giving or selling your e-mail addresses to anyone.

The websites are updated as needed.  New and recently-revised items are indicated by small ovals on the upper-left corners of the link-blocks.  See http://www.LeviCar.com/Guide.HTML#Oval.

Please rely more on the websites for the most current information.  This newsletter may contain more detail about why things were updated or changed, or removed.  You do not need to have the newsletter to get the full benefit of the websites.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone you might think would be interested in it, and mention subscribing to this:  Click here to subscribe, (or unsubscribe, or request back issues).

Thank you for your attention.

    —  Josh Levin (Dr. Zev)

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