LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter # 159  (Wed. 2020/12/23 10:14)
Welcome to issue # 159 of the LeviCar / PROACCTIVE / Lulue Newsletter.

This issue covers updates and changes for three of my websites, since December 20 (12/21 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 Event on the websites:

Connect2Car@CES (SAE’s event at CES, formerly the Consumer Electronics Show   M‑Th, January 11‑14
http://www.LeviCar.com/#Connect2Car
http://www.PROACCTIVE.info/#Connect2Car
http://www.LeviCar.com/LULUE.php#Connect2Car



Revised Events on the websites:
None



Events with due dates within the next ten days (until Jan. 2):
None


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

There are some new categories here.  Hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles have been separated out into a separate category, due to growing interest in those, despite the fact that hydrogen can burn with an invisible flame, and can also explode unexpectedly.  “Scooters” have been added to the Bicycle category.  Other new categories include autonomous aircraft, and test facilities.


Batteries:
Novel cathode ticks the boxes for a cobalt-free battery future
LFP batteries fast gaining momentum in EV   (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate Batteries)

EV Charging:
EVBox Group to go public in SPAC deal   (Also pertains to “Business”.)
ABB and AFC Energy to develop fuel cell-powered EV charging solution

Photovoltaics:
Starting My Tesla Roof Journey
Free Personalized Assessment has the Info You Need

Electric Cars:
Consumer Reports Survey Shows Strong Interest in Electric Cars
Polestar 2:  Green Car Reports’ Best Car To Buy 2021 finalist
VW is launching ID.4 electric SUV on up-front value and ownership costs, not tech potential
Testing of Microlino 2.0 electric bubble car prototypes begins
Lexus details dual-motor drive tech for future hybrids and electric cars

Electric Trucks:
Volvo’s electric excavator gets to work in Paris
Renault Trucks expands its range of all-electric models

Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles:
Another fuel-cell outage hampers Bay Area fuel-cell drivers
Even with $8,000 tax credit extended, fuel-cell lease prices won’t change, automakers say

Clean Generation of Hydrogen:
Canada Announces Blue and Green Hydrogen Strategy   (Also pertains to “Governmental Affairs”.  This appears to be a well‑rounded discussion of the pros and cons of H2.)
Research Progress Toward Better Hydrogen Production
Photosynthesis protein converts light to hydrogen

Test Facilities:
ABB establishes new global R&D center for e-mobility   [Includes video (2:30).]
Drive System Design expands electrified powertrain test facilities

Self-Driving Cars, Trucks, and Delivery Robots:
Tesla “Full Self-Driving” Subscriptions Coming Early 2021
Apple Is Reportedly Releasing a Self-Driving Car in 2024
Apple is Trying to Launch a Self-Driving Electric Car in 2024   (Analysis by Brian Wang.)
Exclusive:  Apple targets car production by 2024 and eyes ‘next level’ battery technology – sources

Sensors / AI Training for Self-Driving Vehicles:
CES 2021:  Smart 4D image radar to debut for self-driving cars

Business:
Ouster, maker of self-driving tech, agrees $1.9 billion deal to go public   (They make LIDAR.)
Tesla shares down 8.5% since S&P inclusion
Tesla:  Slowly Losing Its First Mover Advantage
Tesla still the clear leader in electric vehicle performance – Ark Invest

Electric Bicycles, Motorcycles, and Scooters:
Valeo combines an ebike motor and an automatic gearbox in one unit   [Includes video (6:40).]

Electric Aircraft:
Travis Air Force Base and Easy Aerial partner for autonomous drone-based security operations
Germany orders electric air taxis to carry emergency doctors
Airbus proposes detachable hydrogen propulsion pods for aircraft
Metro Hop electric STOL plane can get airborne off a 25-meter runway   [Includes two short videos:– passenger (2:32); and cargo (0:56).]

Autonomous Aircraft:
Loyal Wingman combat drone completes first high-speed taxi tests   [Includes short video (0:30).]
Boeing, General Atomics, and Kratos to develop unmanned aircraft to demonstrate teaming with piloted planes

Electric Buses and other mass-transit (but not rail):
L.A. Metro Launches ‘Metro Micro’ On-Demand Service
MAN Truck & Bus starts series production of the all-electric Lion’s City E


OLD NEWS:
December 1958: Britain’s first stretch of motorway


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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