Southern Californians Brabec & Currie With Co-Driver Las Vegas' Berriman Become First Americans To Win Famed Dakar Rally

Dakar Rally 2020 SSV Category/Class (Side-By-Side Vehicle) winners Casey Currie & Sean Berriman left, with Motorcycle Category/Class winner Ricky Brabec out on course in the Arabian desert. Image Compilation: Edmund Jenks (2020)

Southern Californians Brabec & Currie With Co-Driver Las Vegas' Berriman Become First Americans To Win Famed Dakar Rally

Now that the sands of Saudi Arabia have settled back onto the desert floor tracing the Dakar Rally's 4,881-mile course that began at the Red Sea and looped eastward toward the Persian Gulf at Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia, three Americans have won this 40 year annual off-road challenge for the first time.

Americans Casey Currie, left, of Corona and co-driver/navigator Sean Berriman of Las Vegas celebrate after winning the side-by-side vehicle event of the Dakar 2020. Image Credit: Motors Addict (2020)

Southern Californians Ricky Brabec, 28 - Monster Energy Honda Team rider from Hesperia, winner of the Motorcycle Category/Class along with Casey Currie, 36 - Motul-sponsored Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick prepared by South Racing from Corona and co-driver Sean Berriman , 28 (today - JAN. 17, 2020) of Las Vegas, winners of the SSV Category/Class (Side-By-Side Vehicle) become the first ever Americans to win the Dakar Rally, the world's toughest race, since it's inception in 1978.

American Ricky Brabec, today - JAN. 17, 2020 rode his factory CRF450 RALLY to overall motorcycle class victory in the final, 12th stage of the Dakar Rally 2020. His win gave Honda its first Dakar victory in 31 years, since its last win in 1989. Image Credit: AFP-Getty Images via LA Times (2020)

Patterned after the off-road challenge run in North America, the Baja 1000 (sanctioned by SCORE International), which began in 1967, the Dakar is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Most events since the inception in 1978 were staged from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal, but due to security threats in Mauritania, which led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally, events from 2009 to 2019 were held in South America. This 2020 edition was held in Saudi Arabia.

Image Credit: Honda (2020)

The rally is open to amateur and professional entries, amateurs typically making up about eighty percent of the participants. Competitors are sorted out into five competitive groups - motorcycles, quads, the cars class (which ranges from buggies to small SUVs), UTVs, and the trucks class. Many vehicle manufacturers use the rally's harsh environment as both a testing ground and an opportunity to show off their vehicles' durability even though, in fact, most vehicles are heavily modified or purpose-built.
[ht: Wikipedia]

SELECTED QUOTES - Various Sources

"Two Americans on top!" exclaimed [Casey] Currie after the race. "I’m blown away, man! Sean [Barriman] and my team did a phenomenal job. The car ran great all the time. It’s just an epic experience, and I’ll never forget it, for sure. This is my most emotional win ever. The amount of pressure that was on me was incredible. I love this rally! We’re coming back next year to defend our title. I’m very stoked for Ricky Brabec, he deserves it more than I do."

----

"We finally did it! This victory couldn’t possibly be better for Honda and the team. It was a tough and long race, but the team worked great together. The riders were good, the mechanics were good, the whole team worked really well. The bikes were really good in today’s final stage, and our main goal was for everyone to get here safely,”"stated [Ricky] Brabec. "I can’t thank everybody enough. The Honda team, and everybody that stands behind us, I thank all of you. I’m also deeply grateful to my teammate until last year, Paulo Goncalves. This was the first time for the event in Saudi Arabia, and the scenery was insane. I love it! We’re going to be back next year!"

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Dakar 2020, Casey Currie Sean Barriman, Ricky Brabec, Motorcycle, SSV, Side-By-Side, Saudi Arabia, Qiddiya, First, American, Motul, Monster Energy, Can-Am Maverick, Honda, The EDJE

CES 2020 - THE GLOBAL STAGE FOR INNOVATION

CES 2020 - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - EVHNews.com (2020)

CES 2020 - THE GLOBAL STAGE FOR INNOVATION

Photo overview gathered and presented by Electric Vehicles & Hybrid News managing editor Edmund Jenks (2020).

- CES 2020 Photo Album -

Hyundai Vertical Lift Aircraft - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - EVHNews.com (2020)

CES is the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years — the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.

Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers.

Future-Focused Automakers Turning to Startups

CES 2020 cemented its role as the most important show for automotive technology, with a handful of new car introductions (and re-introductions) plus lots of standalone technologies this week. Most US auto shows other than perhaps LA don’t generate a critical mass of tech-oriented auto company people, analysts, and journalists. CES certainly did.

HIGHLIGHT:

SONY Vision-S: Asymmetric Effort In Mobility Solutions From E-Technology Giant

Automakers are preparing for the future of mobility by investing in and partnering with all sorts of technology and mobility-focused startups, which allows them to expand their knowledge, capability and expertise to remain relevant in an industry on the verge of massive transformation.

Some might snicker when Byton CEO Daniel Kircher called the M-Byte EV “the first smart device on wheels,” but not the people attending this show. Of the vehicle introductions and concept cars, all were electrified – EVs or plug-in hybrids – with no gas-engine-only vehicles introduced.

Enjoy this visual overview gathered on an overnight boomerang run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas Wednesday January 7th and Thursday January 8th, 2020. What a way to begin a year of exciting possibilities.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Sony, Vision-S, Ford, Fisker, Nissan, Ariya, Mercedes Benz, Vision Avatar, Hyundai, Aisin, Toyota, EVBOX, Futurus, Renovo, Woven City, Fiat, Bell, Mobility Solutions, The EDJE

Electric Mobility Can Be As Simple As Sitting On Just One Wheel

Image Credit: Superride

Electric Mobility Can Be As Simple As Sitting On Just One Wheel

Yes, that's right ... just one-wheel.

The Superride electric unicycle caters to the urban dweller who wants a quick and effective solution to reach places without having to deal with the traffic rush every day standing up on one of those single -wheel hoverboards. Both use gyroscopic technology to maintain body balance, i.e. you have to use your body to move and control the vehicle (think Segway - but now with a seat). One would lean forward and the Superride electric unicycle speeds up, go back to pull the brakes and turn sideways to move the cycle left or right - it is really that simple! This makes the Superride S1000 the best electric unicycle an exciting mode of transportation for fitness enthusiasts, youngsters, and dwellers of high-density neighborhoods that are witness to frequent traffic jams.

The Superride S1000 has a chic, stylish frame made of metal and plastic. It weighs about 45 pounds but still is powerful enough to support a full-grown adult pretty easily.

The removable batteries can be fully charged up in an hour or less and retain that energy for hours on end. The vehicle also comes with an LED display, LED headlights, and an electronic horn.

The seat is at a convenient height, though it is not adjustable and hence potentially unsuitable for super tall or very short people. Similarly, the handlebars can be extended to about 39 inches and are suitable for the average user. The Superride can be used on all surfaces, although we’d recommend you use it on flat, paved, and even surfaces that don’t have a lot of obstructions so as to avoid accidents.

The Suprride S1000 was only recently launched in the market and has created quite a stir, especially among the younger riders. It is one of the first electric unicycles with seat, making it perfect for longer travel distances. Eventhough the craft may look fragile and small, it is actually quite strong and can carry about 280 pounds. The 1000W motor installed inside the cycle allows for a mileage of 20 miles per hour, while the LED display gives you an accurate reading of the speed and direction of your travel. The batteries are replaceable, durable and save on energy.

Image Credit: Superride

Technical Specifications Of The Superride S1000 Unicycle

• Product weight: 45 pounds
• User capacity: 280-300 pounds
• Construction: plastic and metallic construction
• Seats: non-adjustable seats, at a height of 26 inches
• Handlebars: fixed handlebars, can be extended from 32 inches to 39 inches
• Mileage: 20 miles an hour
• Battery: 60-volt / 5.8-Ah battery, fully charged in an hour, runs for 15 miles and lasts 45-minutes
• Motor: 1000W motor
• Balance: uses advanced gyroscopic technology to maintain balance
• Durability: rustproof, waterproof, and unbreakable frame, replaceable batteries
• Flexibility: the brakes and acceleration are pretty quick. Suits different user needs and is great for the fast and slow commute
• Versatility: can be used on all surfaces, roads, hiking trails, pavements (though we recommend you use it on flat surfaces)
• Other Equipment: LED display, LED lights, Horn and instruction manual.

Imagine zapping around the streets and paths of the local university or workplace in a cool unicycle, sitting on plush ergonomic seats, maneuvering one's way through the traffic easily as the huge cars are stuck in the jam. Sounds epic right?

Well, the Superride S1000 is the real deal which turns one's mobility dreams to reality (for as little as $1,500.00). This compact and portable self balancing unicycle electric scooter is a small and affordable answer to all transport related problems. It runs on batteries, takes up a lot less storage/parking space, is lightweight and good for the environment. What more could one wish for!
[ht: Qorix.com]

... notes from The EDJE

Featured Post At Electric Vehicles & Hybrid News

LA Auto Show 2020 Porsche Taycan EV Reveal At AutoMobility LA Press Day

Pre-Reveal of the Porsche Taycan 4S at the Petree Hall stand of the LA Auto Show. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

LA Auto Show 2020 Porsche Taycan EV Reveal At AutoMobility LA Press Day

Press Conference - Wednesday November 20, 2019: Porsche
10:50 AM – 11:15 AM (Petree Hall)

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday, the company debuted a third variant, the "entry level" Taycan 4S, scheduled for release in 2020.

INTRODUCTION

Porsche announced the Taycan as its first all-electric vehicle in September, but since that time, the German automaker has already unveiled two variations on its four-door sports sedan.

REVEAL

The Taycan 4S has a shorter range than the Taycan Turbo, with an estimated 253 miles per charge compared to up to 280 miles. (Although the 4S can get even more mileage with an extended battery pack, but that comes at an additional cost.) It also has a relatively cheaper starting price: $103,800. For comparison, the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S start at $150,000 and $185,000, respectively.
[ht: mashable]

TURNTABLE

The Porsche Taycan 4S as introduced here on the AutoMobility LA 2019 Press Day Petree Hall floor wore a stunning Frozen Blue Metallic Paint job (an $800 option) and featured 21-inch Taycan Exclusive Design Wheels with Carbon Fiber Aeroblades (an $8,770 option).
[ht: motor1]

At a time when EV leader TESLA is working to reduce the market price of its offerings, Porsche, with power and extended battery packs, is upping the pricing game ... but this is an EV from a true established manufacturer. It's only a matter of time that this model may become a Rennsport gathering fave!

... notes from the EDJE




TAGS: #PorscheTaycan, #SoulElectrified, AutoMobilityLA, #AutoMobilityLA, #LAAutoShow2019, #LAAutoShow, #Porsche, #Introduction, #Reveal, #Turntable, The EDJE

Air Taxis Are 'A Thing' To Be A Mobility Option Soon

Lilium, which is partly financed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, made the debut flight of its two-seat aircraft in 2017. Further, has performed over 100 vertical take off and landing test with great success with their latest 5 passenger model. Image Credit: China Daily

Air Taxis Are 'A Thing' To Be A Real Mobility Option Soon

Priority transportation landscape will be changing sooner than most prognosticators think.

Electric-powered air platform concepts from several manufactures are beginning to prove themselves in testing through a wide variety of design platforms. Many that take their lead from traditional drone configurations to multi-engine fan jets that will achieve their flight lift through airplane wing style solutions.

EHang claims its new vehicle, dubbed the 184, is the world’s first electric, personal autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) that will “achieve humanity’s long-standing dream of easy, everyday flight” for short-to-medium distances. Image Credit: CGStudio

This excerpted and edited from China Daily -

Market for air taxis set to take off
By Angus McNeice in London | China Daily Global | Updated: 2019-10-15 21:07

For a show that first aired almost 60 years ago, The Jetsons was impressively prophetic about future technology.

The cartoon about a family living in 2062 predicted jetpacks, holograms, smartphones and 3-D printing — and now approximations of the Jetson family's nifty "aerocar" can be added to the list.

Several major transportation businesses, including Boeing, Airbus and Uber, are conducting test flights of all-electric flying machines that promise to revolutionize urban travel through ride-sharing air taxi services.

A handful of startups populate the increasingly crowded market, including Volocopter and Lilium, two German companies backed by Chinese investment.

Hangzhou-based automaker Geely led a $55 million funding round for Volocopter, which held a demonstration flight for its dronelike passenger carrier in Stuttgart in late September.

Lilium, which is partly financed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, made the debut flight in 2017 of its two-seat aircraft, which looks more like a small plane than a helicopter. The company also recently completed a test take-off and landing for a five-seat prototype.

The technology is in such an advanced stage that most air taxi companies are predicting commercial launches between 2022 and 2025.
----
Regulation, costs and public acceptance stand in the way of widespread use of air taxis, according to Tim Schwanen, director of the Transport Studies Unit at Oxford University.

"It's not only about the technology, and in some ways, technology is the easy part," Schwanen said. "There are issues around regulation, there are issues around markets. Do we want these services? Do we need them?

"Visions like The Jetsons where people are flying everywhere, an explosion of flying taxis — that won't happen for a very long time. We're talking decades."

Volocopter GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal and founded by Alexander Zosel and Stephan Wolf. The company specializes in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft, designed for air taxi use. Image Credit: Volocopter GmbH

If and how existing air traffic control systems will incorporate air taxis is also a sticking point, as is the limited availability of landing pads in many major cities.

A recent report from London-based industry analysts L.E.K. Consulting predicted that a substantial uptake in air taxi services will not occur within the next 10 to 15 years.

Whatever the time scale, governments seem to be getting on board with the idea. This year, the United States Federal Aviation Administration expressed support for trials, and the European Union Air Safety Agency published guidelines for manufacturers of electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft.

In China, Guangzhou-based air taxi company Ehang began conducting supervised tests with the Civil Aviation Administration of China this year, while Geely's and Tencent's investments suggest they believe there is an appetite for the technology in China.

Veteran car designer Frank Stephenson, who designs Lilium's aircraft, said companies must make safety their top priority.

"The moment one of these things has an issue, you're going to lose a lot of public confidence and trust," he said.

Lilium said its service will be affordable, and it expects that early routes will run between airports and city centers.

"The intention is absolutely not to make it for the elite," said Stephenson. "It's mobility for everyone — from the student or the teenager who needs to visit his grandma ... all the way up to the VIP."

Uber predicts its service Uber Air will initially cost $3.60 per passenger kilometer, and the company aims to get this down to $0.27 per passenger kilometer, making it competitive with car ownership.

But Schwanen of Oxford University doubts that such low prices will be achievable early on, even in today's business environment replete with money-losing companies that value growth over profit.

Schwanen said he thinks service will be "on a limited scale for the super-rich. It's going to be people who are able to afford this, and who may have properties where they can land."

Removing pilots from the equation will help drive down costs, and the majority of companies say they will eventually switch to automation.

With more than a dozen companies working on air taxis, determining which operators emerge as market leaders will largely come down to design, efficiency and range, according to Stephenson, who believes Lilium is ahead of the pack on all three counts.

Lilium says its aircraft will have a range of 300 kilometers, around double the distance offered by most of its competitors.

The company also says its planes will use around 90 percent less energy than drone-style aircraft, due in part to wing-assisted flight.

The wings on the Lilium plane contain rows of ducted fans mounted in flaps that swivel 90 degrees, pushing air down during takeoff and landing and backward while cruising.

"Wings give you lift, so it's a lot more energy efficient," Stephenson said.

"You need a lot of electrical power to go up and down, but not that much to go horizontally."

Lilium aims to have people in the air by 2025 — outdoing the Jetson family by a generation.
[Reference Here]

So, maybe the vision of the cartoon future world of The Jetson's isn't here,  but the conceptual vision of priority transportation for select applications and markets is really just around the corner.

This timeframe of 15+ years will become telescoped once the safety and autonomy issues get locked down and being able to hop onto one of these platforms, to travel 150 miles in about an hour, all made possible with non-airport requirement electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL, personal capability (1 to 5 passenger) aircraft.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: electric vertical takeoff and landing, eVTOL, aircraft, Lilium, Ehang, Volocopter, L.E.K. Consulting, Frank Stephenson, Geely, Boeing, Airbus, Uber, Tim Schwanen, China Daily, The EDJE

Latest 'Letric Lambo As Previewed By Supercar Blondie

Lamborghini Terzo Millennio develops through 4 pillars - Energy, Innovation in Materials, Powertrain & Vehicle Architecture, Sound & Emotion. 

Latest 'Letric Lambo As Previewed By Supercar Blondie

Pioneer and innovative by tradition, Automobili Lamborghini looks into the future with a visionary approach, bringing its own DNA’s values in the extreme.

To plan its path through the electric super sports car, Lamborghini defines the requirements of the third millennium in terms of energy storage and innovative materials to secure the most emotional and ultimate driving experience.

Lamborghini Terzo Millennio >>>

THE SPORTS CAR OF THE FUTURE

... notes from The EDJE

James Dyson Backs Away From Becoming A Mobility Solutions Manufacturer

Our undergraduate accommodation is as cutting edge as our technology. The Dyson Village is home to our undergraduate engineers in Malmesbury, UK. Each 'pod' comes with inventive Dyson technology as well as bespoke furniture and fittings designed by James Dyson. Image Credit: DYSON via Facebook (2019)

James Dyson Backs Away From Becoming A Mobility Solutions Manufacturer

Back in May of this year, when patents for an electric car applied for by the British technology company, Dyson (known for its innovative vacuum cleaner and air movement solutions), became public knowledge, CEO James Dyson showed some real interest in having his company become a inventor and manufacturer of cars powered with electricity.

At the time, James Dyson said that even though this was the beginning of a long and serious process, he was realistic about the potentials for this agenda's success.

Cover art for vehicle patents submitted by Dyson. Image Credit: MobileSyrup (2019)

This excerpted and edited from MobilSyrup -

Dyson is thinking beyond the vacuum with electric car ambitions
By: Brad Bennett - MAY 9, 20194:33 PM EDT

Now that its vehicle patents are public the company is quick to point out that its vehicle might never see the light of day, but beyond that, it seems confident and excited about the EV technology it’s working on. In an email from the company’s CEO James Dyson to its employees, he says “developing new technology is an energizing and exciting experience: our vehicle project is just that. It will be entirely designed by Dyson, manufactured by Dyson, and sold by Dyson.”
[Reference Here]

Fast forward to mid-October 2019 and the seriousness of this project hits the wall of economic reality.  British inventor Sir James Dyson, said its engineers had developed a "fantastic electric car" but that it would not hit the roads because it was not "commercially viable".

Reported in May 2019 - The U.K. team is working at the secretive Dyson Hullavington Airfield, and the CEO says, “Hangar 181 is now complete with testing facilities including climatic chambers and a rolling road, and Hangar 85 is where we will construct vehicles for the latest phase of testing, starting next month.” In addition to this space, the company is about to break ground on another testing facility in Singapore. Image & Caption Credit: MobileSyrup (2019)

This excerpted and edited from a press release posted at BusinessWire -

Dyson has scrapped its electric car project
BBC.com - 11 October 2019

In October 2018 Dyson revealed plans to build the car at a new plant in Singapore. It was expected to be completed next year, with the first vehicles due to roll off the production line in 2021.

Dyson wanted to make something revolutionary - but also needed to make it pay. And the sums simply didn't add up.

In terms of wheels, Inventor James Dyson says that “the patents show a car with very large wheels, giving a low rolling resistance and high ground clearance. This makes a vehicle suited to city life and rough terrain but could also contribute to increased range and efficiency — vital in a vehicle where every joule of power must be used wisely.” Image & Caption Credit: MobileSyrup (2019)

Sales of electric cars are climbing rapidly. Yet they still cost more to make than conventional cars, and generate much lower profits - if any.

Major manufacturers like VW can afford to plough tens of billions into the EV industry - on the basis that economies of scale will ultimately make the technology cheaper and generate returns.

Even the upstart Tesla, widely credited with showing everyone else just how good electric cars could be, has burnt through mountains of cash and had to go cap in hand to investors [and Governments].

Dyson has concluded it simply can't afford to play with the big boys - although its efforts to make a quantum leap in battery technology will continue.
[Reference Here]

Until the verifiable case for commercial viability can be made for something more than a Golf Cart, real electric-powered car manufacturing will operate under the dual cloud of true advancements of "Clean & Green Mobility" and Commercial Viability once government subsidies run out.

... notes from The EDJE

James Dyson Backs Away From Becoming A Mobility Solutions Manufacturer | electriccarstechtalk.com from r/cars

TAGS: James Dyson, Singapore, UK, Battery Technology, Mobility, Clean & Green Mobility, commercial viability, The EDJE