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Toyota launches new Mirai fuel-cell vehicle
Toyota Motor Corp has launched the completely redesigned Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), which is already available from Toyota vehicle dealers in Japan. The first-generation Mirai, launched in 2014, while a forerunner in mass production in its early stages was limited in supply, and customers made various requests including a larger seating capacity and longer cruising range. In response, Toyota set a target for the new car to create a “premium car that will make customers think that ‘this is a high-quality car that I truly want’ immediately upon seeing it, while driving, and after they complete a trip.” The car is based on the GA-L platform that has established a reputation as a platform for high-end rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the structures of various parts including the rear have been redesigned to create greatly enhanced body rigidity. The new car comes in two “grades”―the standard G and the high-end Z. Both get more ample and comfortable rear-seat space, and an Executive Package features “luxury vehicle” comfort. The compact, high-output FC stack is under the hood, the motor and drive battery are in the rear, and the hydrogen fuel tank location helps achieve an optimal 50:50 weight distribution. The new Mirai’s floor-tunnel space is used to increase hydrogen capacity by 20% from 4.6 to 5.6 kg (10.1 to 12.3 lb). Fuel efficiency is up about 10%. SiC semiconductors are used in the fuel-cell boost converter and a lithium-ion battery has been adopted for the secondary battery. In addition to improving the performance of the fuel-cell stack, a catalyst refresh control that uses the enhanced performance has been introduced to raise electricity generating efficiency. As a result of these enhancements, the cruising range has been increased by about 30% over the previous model to 850 km (528 mi) on the G grade. Prices range from ¥7,100,000 to 8,050,000.
Monarch Tractor reveals world’s smartest, fully electric, autonomous tractor
Monarch Tractor has introduced what it says is the world’s first fully electric, driver optional, smart tractor. The company says that farmers today face numerous challenges including labor shortages, effects of climate change, safety concerns, increased customer scrutiny for sustainability demands, and government regulations. So its solution addresses these issues by combining electrification, automation, machine learning, and data analysis to enhance farmer’s existing operations, increase labor productivity and safety, and maximize yields to cut overhead costs and emissions. The company has secured several hundred working farms as preliminary customers. “We have assembled a world-class team of farmers, engineers, and scientists to meet today’s farming demands and are empowering farmers by giving them intelligent tools to collect more predictive data to implement sustainable practices, better share their story and make more money,” said Praveen Penmetsa, Cofounder & CEO, Monarch Tractor. The tractor serves as a 3-in-1 electrification tool operating not only as a tractor, but with extra storage acts as an ATV, and has the capabilities to perform as a powerful generator in the field. Its electric drivetrain is capable of providing 30 kW of continuous power and short duration peak power up to 55 kW. “Monarch Tractor is moving farming toward a safer and sustainable future by eliminating harmful emissions, reducing the need for herbicides, and keeping workers out of harm’s way with its driver-optional capabilities,” said Carlo Mondavi, Chief Farming Officer, Monarch Tractor. The tractor has a starting price of $50,000 and can be reserved now with a fully refundable $500 deposit. To reserve your spot, click here or visit https://bit.ly/362IXGV. Shipping will commence in Fall 2021. To see the tractor in action, watch the video. For more information, visit www.monarchtractor.com.
dSPACE and LeddarTech partner on LiDAR development
Test and simulation leader dSPACE and LiDAR innovator LeddarTech have entered into a partnership to drive the development of LiDAR technologies for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD). Close cooperation will enable the partners to provide high-precision simulation models and interfaces for LiDAR sensors so OEMs and suppliers can integrate innovations into ready-for-application solutions faster. It will support the emulation of new LeddarTech laser sensors in simulation solutions as well as simulation models for testing and validating camera, LiDAR, and radar sensors throughout the development process. The dSPACE simulation solution generates point clouds in real-time for simulation models that help determine the most effective positioning of the sensor on the vehicle as well as the sensor limits in corner cases. Said Dr. Christopher Wiegand, Product Manager at dSPACE: “This partnership will enable our customers to accurately and quickly perform validation tasks for lidar applications. Without reliable simulations, automated driving systems (SAE Levels 3-5) cannot be achieved.” Added Michael Poulin, Vice-President, Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Development at LeddarTech: “Enabling the validation of environmental sensors material properties and weather condition is crucial in simulations. LeddarTech and dSpace will work together on (further) developing and modeling sensor-specific environmental effects, e.g. rain, fog spray, etc.”
Audi e-tron GT enters production
Series production of the fully electric e-tron GT is getting underway in anticipation of orders for the new Audi beginning in Spring 2021. Environmental awareness is a focus, with production planned to be net carbon-neutral. The vehicle production process avoids paper and packaging, uses aluminum and polymer closed loops, and in a first for a new Audi model was planned without any physical prototypes. The e-tron GT, the brand’s most powerful electric vehicle, is launching at the Neckarsulm site’s Böllinger Höfe sports car production facility. A combined heat and powerplant fired with biogas provides the heat required for production, and Audi uses carbon credits from certified climate protection projects to offset emissions that currently cannot be avoided using renewable sources of energy. “Following in the footsteps of the Brussels and Győr sites, the Böllinger Höfe is now the first Audi production facility in Germany where production operations are net carbon-neutral,” said Peter Kössler, Audi Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics, summarizing the central goal of the Mission:Zero Program at Audi. “This is an important milestone for the Neckarsulm site and another step along our path to carbon-neutral production sites worldwide by 2025.” The Mission:Zero environmental program comprises a variety of measures in production and logistics to sustainably reduce the ecological footprint. Focal points include decarbonization, resource efficiency, biodiversity, and innovative solutions for using water.
Volocopter to launch air-taxi services in Singapore
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) pioneer Volocopter has announced its commitment to launching air-taxi services in Singapore after two years of close collaboration with the city. The company plans to make air taxi services a reality in the Southeast Asian city-state within the next three years. In October 2019, Volocopter completed the historic air-taxi demonstration flight in the heart of Singapore over the Marina Bay area. However, before launching services in Singapore, Volocopter must obtain regulatory approvals including from CAAS (Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. To achieve this, Volocopter will be conducting comprehensive tests, flight trials, evaluations, and certification before approval to commence commercial air taxi operations can be granted. “Our successful cooperation with [Singapore] EDB, MOT (Ministry of Transport), and CAAS on our previous flight has shown that there is no better place in Asia to launch our electric air taxi services than in Singapore,” said Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. “Singapore is an important regional testbed for autonomous cars, electric vehicles, and Urban Air Mobility, including the successful test flight by Volocopter in 2019,” said Tan Kong Hwee, Executive Vice President, EDB. “This gives us the opportunity to co-create regulations and technologies with the industry, facilitating innovation to enable a future mode of transportation for Singapore,” added Tan Kah Han, Senior Director (Unmanned Systems Group) of CAAS. The first route is expected to be a touristic route over the southern waters, offering breath-taking views of the Marina Bay skyline. Follow-on connections may include cross-border flights, which may enhance regional connectivity and offer a significantly improved travel experience to Singapore’s closest economic centers. Volocopter air taxis are emission-free aircraft that take-off and land vertically. They are designed as an addition to urban mobility and will fly up to two passengers directly and quietly to their destination and offer a whole new dimension to the quality of life in cities.
Petit Forestier orders 1000 fully electric Volta Trucks for refrigerated fleet
Electric truck startup Volta Trucks and the Petit Forestier Group have joined forces to make a refrigerated 100% electric commercial vehicle available for rental from 2022. At the heart of the long-term partnership is the Volta Zero, the first 16-t zero-emission commercial vehicle designed for urban deliveries and operations. The Petit Forestier Group has agreed to purchase 1000 Volta Zeros, representing Volta Trucks’ largest sale to date. The trucks will join a fleet of over 58,500 vehicles and will be equipped by Lecapitaine, the Petit Forestier Group’s industrial subsidiary, and the European leader for the design and manufacture of refrigerated bodywork. The Lecapitaine design office has already started collaborating with the Volta Trucks’ technical teams for the integration of the box body and the refrigeration unit, with the first refrigerated Volta Zero is due for user testing in 2021 ahead of the start of production in 2022. “In response to environmental issues and reasonable concerns about accessibility in city centers, greener energies are a promising driver of growth for the Petit Forestier Group, and this collaboration with Volta Trucks perfectly illustrates our vision,” said Léonard Forestier, CEO of the Petit Forestier Group. “When we launched the Volta Zero, we knew that there was a pent-up demand for the electrification of trucks,” said CEO of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler. “The unprecedented reaction from our customers, decarbonizing their fleets to meet forthcoming legislation, and improving the environment for everyone, has more than validated our expectations.”
Hyundai launches HTWO fuel-cell-system brand
Hyundai Motor Group has introduced a new brand to represent its hydrogen fuel-cell system. HTWO builds on Hyundai’s more than 20 years of experience in hydrogen fuel cell technology. The company says the brand name stands for H2, the hydrogen molecule, while also representing Hydrogen and Humanity, the two main pillars of Hyundai’s fuel cell business. It represents a stepped-up effort for the development of a hydrogen fuel-cell system that can be applied to various forms of mobility such as UAM, automobiles, vessels, and trains. Plans call for the system to deliver enhanced performance and durability at an affordable price in a lighter architecture with enhanced energy density—offered in a highly efficient and diversified lineup of hydrogen-powered vehicles, with an initial focus on major hub regions of Korea, the U.S., Europe, and China. Since marketing what it claims was the world’s first mass-produced fuel-cell electric vehicle, the ix35 in 2013, the group has been expanding its fuel cell electric vehicle offerings such as the Nexo SUV, Xcient heavy-duty truck, and a bus. As a steering member of the Hydrogen Council, it helps to guide the global coalition of leading energy, transportation, and industry companies with a shared vision and long-term ambition for hydrogen to foster a clean energy transition.
Vecna Robotics unveils next-generation autonomous fork truck
Vecna Robotics has unveiled the first in the company’s Silverback Series of autonomous counterbalanced fork trucks for pallet handling. The next-generation AMR (autonomous mobile robot) offers a vertical lift of up to 72 in (1830 mm) to help distribution, warehousing, and manufacturing organizations move a wider range of payloads and pallet types, lift inventory to and from equipment, and work alongside other materials handling vehicles and human workers to improve efficiency and throughput. The AMR segment is expected to reach $6.8 billion by 2025, according to Frost & Sullivan. The demand is generated from warehouse operators who need flexible automation systems and solutions that allow them to easily and intelligently move pallets at varying heights, weights, and sizes throughout a facility. “This is an opportunity to rethink your operations and achieve higher throughput than ever before,” said Daniel Theobald, Founder and CEO, Vecna Robotics. “Our new autonomous counterbalanced fork truck allows customers to automate entire workflow processes from end-to-end.” The integrated solution works alongside human operators for improved productivity in dynamic industrial environments. It includes dynamic obstacle avoidance to navigate warehouses easily and safely and is compliant with industry regulations such as the ANSI B56.5-2019. It leverages the company’s orchestration engine Pivotal, which analyzes an organization’s operations and adjusts processes accordingly, ensuring every facet performs optimally in real-time. Pivotal shares information across people, robots, and systems, and integrates with existing warehouse management solutions. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2IE2hRM.
