LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter # 170  (Sun. 2021/01/31 22:23)
Welcome to issue # 170 of the LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter.

This issue covers updates and changes for three of my websites, since January 28 (01/29 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)
None


New Events on the websites:

International Battery Seminar and Exhibit Virtual   Tu‑Th, March 9‑11 http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#Battery-Ecosystem
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#Battery-Ecosystem

The 34th International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition   F‑M, June 25‑28
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#EVS-34
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#EVS-34



Revised Event on the websites:
None


Events with due dates within the next ten days (until Wed., February 10):
IEEE VTS Motor Vehicles Challenge 2021   Registration due Sun, Jan. 31 (extended) (today — may be extended)
Green Transportation Summit and Expo   Call for Session and Speaker Proposals due Sun, Jan. 31 (extended yet again) (today — might be extended)
32nd IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium – IV2021   Call for Papers:  Complete Papers due Mon, Feb. 1 (tomorrow)
49th European Transport Conference   Submit an Abstract due Mon, Feb. 8



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

Batteries:
Battery test simulation tech helps OEM overcome fast-charge challenge
R&D 100 winner of the day:  Solid Lithium Battery (SLiB) using hard and soft solid electrolytes
How to Build a Better Composite Battery Enclosure
Setting a new standard for battery leak testing
Tesla’s own battery production will enable Semi deliveries by year-end   (Also pertains to “Electric Trucks”.)
Chalmers University develops safety guidelines for car lithium batteries   (… lithium-metal batteries.)
Freudenberg’s new quick-release valves for EV batteries
All-electric construction equipment?  Komatsu and Proterra are working on it.

Electric Cars:
Global plug-in vehicle sales surpassed 3.2 million in 2020
2022 Mini Cooper SE preview:  110-mile “fun” EV gets a subtle update
Dodge CEO:  Muscle Cars Soon to Be Powered by Electric Vehicle Technology
Renault Zoe Beats Tesla Model 3, as Western Europe Overtakes China as Electric Vehicle Champion; Report
The Pros and Cons of Electric Vehicles   (From AAA — A Guide on What to Consider if You’re Considering Going Electric.)
Electric-car pioneer Nissan sets conservative targets, CO2-neutral goal for 2050
Ford Mustang Mach‑E — 1st Impressions
Tesla CEO Musk again teases rocket tech for Roadster, due in 2022
General Motors to run two Super Bowl ads pushing electric vehicles
Tesla drops bombshell Model S upgrades, including the wild Plaid+
Tesla Has Plaid and Plaid Plus Model S and Plaid X For Sale
Tesla Reveals Lavish New Spaceship-Like Model S Interior

Electric Trucks:
Extreme E off-road racer inspired by GMC Hummer EV
Electric pickups coming fast and furious:  Tesla, GM, Ford, Rivian promising EVs   [Includes short video (0:45).]
Major manufacturer drops hydrogen trucks in favor of battery-electrics   (Also pertains to “Hydrogen‑Fuel‑Cell Vehicles”.)
Lordstown Motors to Finish First Electric Truck Prototypes in March
UPS:  Feds must help fund electric last-mile delivery
Just before arrival of electric trucks, diesel sales are surging

Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles:
GM and Navistar will create and support 2,000 long-haul hydrogen fuel-cell semis
General Motors partners with Navistar to supply fuel-cell technology for new semitruck
Green sky thinking: the rise of hydrogen flight   (Also pertains to “Electric Aircraft”.)

Self-Driving Cars, Trucks, and Delivery Robots:
Tesla rival XPeng P7 gets significant self-driving software updates   (Also pertains to “Electric Cars”.)
Xpeng P7 upgrade cribs Navigate on Autopilot functions, adds LIDAR
Toyota demonstrates autonomous shuttle for ‘mobility as a service’ applications   [Includes video (1:10).]
Qualcomm aims to consolidate auto systems, expands GM, Amazon Alexa partnerships
Why Microsoft’s self-driving car strategy is quietly brilliant   [Includes video (5:11).]
AutoX opens up fully driverless RoboTaxi service to Shenzhen public   [Includes video (10:01).]
Starship raises $17 million to send autonomous delivery robots to new campuses   [Includes very short looping video.]

Sensors / AI Training / Microchips for Self-Driving Vehicles:
Analysis touts LIDAR sensor efficiency, safety
Tesla inks deal with Samsung to develop new nano chip for autonomous

AI Traffic Controls:
Texas A&M researchers working on technology to improve AI used in traffic light switchers
Thanks to Be-Mobile innovation Dutch ambulances are safer on the road
Truck platooning developing in Europe and beyond

Business:
GM’s all-electric pledge:  No tailpipes by 2035, net-zero carbon by 2040   (Also pertains to “Electric Cars” and “Electric Trucks.)
Experts say these automakers are best positioned to cash in on Biden's plan to buy 645,000 electric vehicles   (Also pertains to “Governmental Affairs”.)

Electric Bicycles, Motorcycles, and Scooters:
When Commuting Comes Back, the E-Scooters Will Be Ready   (Also pertains to “Governmental Affairs”.)
Lime Adds Shared-Electric Mopeds to the Mix

Electric Aircraft:
Inmarsat joins Project HEART for zero carbon air network
Coventry to host world’s first airport for electric aircraft   (See also Six Miles Across London Limited (small) )
Companies embrace potential of electric aircraft propulsion
Green aviation projects get cash injection   (UK)
Lilium expands flying taxi vision with 10 stations planned for Florida

Electric Buses and other mass-transit (but not rail):
Moscow manufacturer introduces electric bus powertrain   [Includes video (2:04).]
Uber shares its vision of an integrated transit future in new report

OPINION:
Observations on the “Green New Deal” — by Ernie Fazio

Governmental Affairs:
Biden’s bold EV promise could re-shape the auto landscape

MagLev:
Feds study Baltimore-Washington maglev train route   (Also pertains to “Governmental Affairs”.)

Miscellaneous:
Electric Vehicle Industry Group Issues EV Road Map   (Also pertains to “Business”, “Electric Cars”, “Electric Trucks, and “EV Charging”.)
VW launches new solar-electric yacht project with MEB platform, CUPRA design, and Silent Yachts
Hyperloop TT connects with Icomera TraXside for wireless communications
Amazon invests in startup producing ‘net‑zero carbon fuels’ for transportation
Advanced mobility solutions for urban environments:  SHOW’s Ideathon


OLD NEWS:
The Red Dot Adds Anxiety   Mazda jolts into electric life.  We take a helicopter view.


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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