LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter # 166  (Sun. 2021/01/17 22:07)
Welcome to issue # 166 of the LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter.

This issue covers updates and changes for three of my websites, since January 13 (01/14 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)

Electric Rate
http://www.LeviCar.com/#ElectricRate



Newly-Revised Item: (other than events)
None



New Event on the websites:

Free Webinar:  New Energy Landscape Hub Series: Charging Up for an EV future   W, January 27, 11 am to 12 noon CET
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#Energy-Landscape
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#Energy-Landscape



Revised Event on the websites:

Free Webinar:  Anniversary of the EV Law: Where We Go From Here   Tu, January 19, 12 noon to 1 pm EST< — Added names of Speakers
http://www.LeviCar.com/#NJ-EV-Law
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#NJ-EV-Law
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#NJ-EV-Law



Events with due dates within the next ten days (until Wed., January 27):
Advanced Automotive Battery Conference – Europe   Call for Posters:  may be considered if space allows, if submitted by Mon, Jan. 18



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

Batteries:
A Connected, Integrated Approach for Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturing
Battery of the Future?  Innovative Battery Chemistry Revolutionizes Zinc-Air Battery
FREYR and 24M to collaborate on battery cell production
NTSB:  EV Battery Fires Pose Risks to 1st Responders
Emergency responders need more training on EV fires, NTSB warns
Group14 secures funding to scale Li-ion battery production
Could battery health reports rescue an ailing used EV market?

EV Charging:
Irish charging provider to convert 180 telephone boxes to charge points
CTDOT orders up to 75 zero-emission battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE buses from New Flyer
Spanish city of Valencia pilots public chargers in lampposts

Photovoltaics:
Gigafactories With New Solar PV Module Tech Might Cause Solar Glut in 2021
Transparent Solar Cells Eyed for Smart, Energy-Sustainable Buildings
Sprinkle of chili compound boosts perovskite solar cell efficiency

Electric Cars:
Sono Motors drives latest Sion solar EV prototype into CES 2021   [Includes long video (30:35) of presentation at CES, which I did not watch.]
In 2020, Volkswagen Brand Sold More Than 212,000 Plug-In Electric Cars
Tesla Model Y crash test results: 5-star rating secured
Flagship Cadillac Celestiq EV will offer 4-wheel steering, 4-quadrant smart glass roof   [Includes short video (0:58) that I did not view due to technical difficulties.]
2022 Ioniq 5 electric crossover dials in 45 EV Concept’s retro look for February debut
Sony Vision-S electric car starts public road tests in Europe   [Includes video “Vision‑S: Public Road Testing in Europe” (2:12).]
Tesla Asked to Recall 158,000 Vehicles Over Flash Memory Failure
Regulators Push Tesla Towards Recall
Renault 5 Prototype: All-electric return of a hot-hatch legend

Electric Trucks:
GM’s electrified delivery arm to launch e‑vans and motorized pallets
Dennis Eagle’s new electric refuse trucks hit the streets, earn rave reviews
Motiv Power Systems secures $20 million in new financing   [Includes animated video (3:23).]

Clean Generation of Hydrogen:
Germany to host world’s largest PEM electrolyser

Electric Motors and their controllers:
New magnetic material could improve EV motor efficiency

Self-Driving Cars, Trucks, and Delivery Robots:
This Year, Autonomous Trucks Will Take to the Road With No One on Board   [Includes animated video (2:52).]
Report:  Apple to Partner with Hyundai on Secret Car Project
Self-driving vehicles allowed to skip some crash safety standards under new rule

Self-“Driving” Boats:
Tiny schooling aquatic robots inspired by fish   [Includes video (1:54).]
DOD’s Autonomous Vessel Sails Through Transit Test, Participates in Exercise Dawn Blitz

Sensors / AI Training for Self-Driving Vehicles:
Intel’s self-driving car unit plans to step up use of its own radar tech by 2025
Onboard cameras allow disabled quadcopters to fly on three motors   [Includes animated video (2:17).]
Ferrovial to develop ‘smart’ roads

Business:
Tesla Skeptics Three Conditions for Tesla to Double in 2021
Daimler announces massive new investments in EVs, plus a fund to protect workers
Tesla:  Weak Product Pipeline Threatens Growth Narrative
Chevy offers 0% financing on used Bolt EV and Volt

Electric Bicycles, Motorcycles, and Scooters:
LeMond carbon commuter ebike weighs in at less than 30 pounds

Electric Aircraft:
Wacky-winged drones may have a flying ace up their sleeve   [Includes animated video (1:43).]
Fiat Chrysler throws its weight behind Archer's eVTOL project
Autonomous Flight unveils six-seat eVTOL tricopter air shuttle   (Not trul;y autonomous because there is a pilot on‑board.)

Autonomous Aircraft:
Verizon Skyward, UPS to further develop drone delivery service   [Includes video “Building the New Smart City” (4:00).]
Tando drone is designed to serve as a flying security guard

OPINION:
Opinion:  Fee for electric, hybrid vehicles is good for Texas roads   (Also pertains to “Governmental Affairs”.)

Governmental Affairs:
Trump administration again delays higher fuel economy fines
Dallas’ First Test Bed for Smart-City Transit Tech Receives Funding Through $4M Federal Grant

MagLev:
China Unveils Maglev Train that Travels at Nearly 400 MPH
China completes maglev prototype, fastest land vehicle with peak speed of 620 km/h
Is this Chinese prototype the shape of maglev train tech to come?
China has a new maglev train prototype, and it could travel at up to 800km/h.
China unveils magnetic levitation train that can pose competition to airlines

Miscellaneous:
San Joaquin RTD reinvents Van Go! as a true countywide service
Direct air capture:  silver bullet or red herring?
GM surprises with autonomous Cadillac and flying car concepts (CES)
WATCH:  General Motors EV future reveal presentation (CES 2021 – Recording of Livestream)
Cadillac shows off its concept VTOL passenger drone at CES   [Includes video (9:46) that covers a lot more than just the VTOL.]
Could Augmented Reality Windshields End Distracted Driving?   [Includes video (2:51).]
The Best Cutting-Edge Prototypes at CES 2021
5 CES Trends to Watchs


Technical Articles and Papers:
Link to download a technical paper:  Aligning Performance-Based Utility Incentives with Climate Goals


OLD NEWS:
Boxing Day


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.

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Thank you for your attention.

    —  Josh Levin (Dr. Zev)

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