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- Dyson Ltd.’s electric car may have a long wheel base, an interior cabin with reclining seats and an aerodynamic design, according to patents awarded to the company.
- The patents, filed about 18 months ago and made public Wednesday, are the first glimpse of the car being built by the U.K.-based company known for pricey vacuums, hair dryers and air purifiers.
- In an email to staff, founder James Dyson said the patents ‘don’t reveal what our vehicle will really look like or give any specifics around what it will do,’ but they do ‘provide a glimpse of some of the inventive steps’ the company is weighing.
- The patents also indicate Dyson is mulling a vehicle with larger wheels to improve efficiency. Dyson’s email also hinted at a car with a low center of gravity to improve handling.
- The company posted a new automotive page to its website detailing its history in the automotive world and how its experience working on motors could contribute to a car.
- Dyson joins a growing list of technology companies getting into the car business. Tesla Inc. has pioneered electric vehicles, Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo unit leads in self-driving technology, while Apple Inc. has had an automotive project since about 2016.
- Dyson first disclosed plans to build an electric car in 2017, saying it would invest 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) on the vehicle and accompanying batteries. Last year, the company said it would build a facility in Singapore to develop the car it hopes to introduce by 2021.
- In his email to staff, Dyson said that testing of the car would ramp up next month and that more than 500 people are working on the project.
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- German prosecutors have imposed a fine of 535 million euros ($598.99 million) on German luxury carmaker Porsche AG for neglecting supervisory obligations linked to diesel emissions cheating, they said in a statement on Tuesday.
- Prosecutors in the southern city of Stuttgart said that the company’s development department had neglected its legal obligations, which ultimately led to the sale of diesel cars in Europe as well as other regions that did not comply with emissions rules.
- Porsche, a subsidiary of Germany’s biggest carmaker Volkswagen, has not appealed, they added.
- Porsche confirmed the fine and said that prosecutors’ proceedings against the company had now come to an end.
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- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first ever diesel to electric converted locomotive twin engine of ten thousand Horse Power at DLW Varanasi.
- He also inspected an exhibition on locomotives at DLW campus. Such locomotives will be more economical and will increase the speed of goods trains.
- Laying the foundation stone of Ravidas Janmasthali area development project in Varanasi, the Prime Minister said all should get benefits of government schemes irrespective of caste, creed and other factors.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Sant Ravidas on his birth anniversary to urge people to end caste discrimination and identify those who promote it for self-interest.
- PM Modi said caste discrimination is an impediment in achieving social harmony.
- He said Guru Ravidas envisioned an India where there is no discrimination and that everyone is taken care of. PM Modi said his government has worked on this principle in the last four-and-a-half years for the betterment of the people and the country's development. He hoped that the teachings of great saints inspire the young generation.
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- Auto companies have proposed a one-time incentive in the form of rebate in taxes for replacing pre-2000 registered vehicles to facilitate taking them off the roads, industry sources said.
- In a pre-budget meeting with the heavy industries ministry, the industry has also asked the government to do away with multiple tax rates for passenger cars while mooting a special rate for electrification of vehicles.
- The suggestions were made in a recent meeting between representatives of the auto industry and officials of department of heavy industry.
- According to sources, the auto industry impressed upon the government that keeping in mind pollution and safety issues in India, there was a need to replace old vehicles.
- Around 80 per cent of pollution and accidents were caused by old ill-maintained vehicles which are mostly more than 15 years old.
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- The robotic car company created by Google is poised to attempt a major technological leap in California, where its vehicles will hit the roads without a human on hand to take control in emergencies.
- The regulatory approval announced 30oct. allows Waymo’s driverless cars to cruise through California at speeds up to 65 miles per hour.
- The self-driving cars have travelled millions of miles on the state’s roads since Waymo began as a secretive project within Google nearly a decade ago. But a backup driver had been required to be behind the wheel until new regulations in April set the stage for the transition to true autonomy.
- Waymo is the first among dozens of companies testing self-driving cars in California to persuade state regulators its technology is safe enough to permit them on the roads without a safety driver in them.
- An engineer still must monitor the fully autonomous cars from a remote location and be able to steer and stop the vehicles if something goes wrong.
- Waymo contends its robotic vehicles will save lives because so many crashes are caused by human motorists who are intoxicated, distracted or just bad drivers.
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- German high-end carmaker BMW said 23oct. it would recall more than one million additional diesel cars, citing a problem with the exhaust system that “in extreme cases can cause a fire”
- “In some diesel vehicles, glycol cooling fluid can leak” from a faulty component called the exhaust gas recirculation cooler, which can combine with other substances in the system to create the fire risk, the group said.
- BMW said it was contacting sellers who would in turn get in touch with owners of the affected vehicles to arrange a checkup.
- “The exhaust recirculation module will be checked and if there is a fault the parts will be exchanged,” the group said.
- BMW had in August announced a recall for Europe and some Asian countries of over 480,000 vehicles affected by the same problem, and issued an apology in South Korea after around 30 cars caught fire there this year.
- The latest recall brings the total number of cars affected to some 1.6 million around the world.
- Shares in BMW shed 1.4% to trade at 73.38 euros in Frankfurt by 11.45 am, against a DAX index of blue-chip German shares down 2.1%.
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- YouTube on 5 october unveiled its second Pop-up Space in India, and the first in Delhi-NCR. It was introduced in Hyderabad last year.
- The Pop-Up Space, situated at Kingdom of Dreams herewill host three themed sets from October 5-7.
- Creators will have the opportunity to utilise the venue to produce quality content.
- They will get free access to the state-of-the-art production equipment and themed production sets to produce original and innovative high production quality content for their own YouTube channels.
- Moreover, budding creators will be able to attend events and workshops that will help them improve their presence on YouTube and to collaborate or network with other creators and industry professionals.
- content that creators are putting out,” Marc Lefkowitz, Head of YouTube Creator and Artist Development, APAC, said in a statement.
- “In 2014, we had 16 YouTube channels with more than one million subscribers in India and today that number is over 300. We’re adding two more channels to the list almost every single week, which is an astounding rate of growth.
- We continue to invest heavily in growing and nurturing the creator community and are thrilled to bring the YouTube Pop-Up Space to the capital,” he added.
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- It uses fuel cells that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, leaving behind water and steam
- Germany on 17 September rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but eco-friendly technology.
- Two bright blue Coradia iLint trains, built by French TGV-maker Alstom, began running a 100 km (62-mile) route between the towns and cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany a stretch normally plied by diesel trains.
- Zero emission- “The world’s first hydrogen train is entering into commercial service and is ready for serial production,” Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge said at an unveiling ceremony in Bremervoerde, the station where the trains will be refuelled with hydrogen.
- Alstom has said it plans to deliver another 14 of the zero-emissions trains to Lower Saxony by 2021, with other German States also expressing an interest.
- Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, a process that leaves steam and water as the only emissions.Excess energy is stored in ion lithium batteries on board the train.
- The Coradia iLint trains can run for around 1,000 km on a single tank of hydrogen, similar to the range of diesel trains. Alstom is betting on the technology as a greener, quieter alternative to diesel on non-electrified railway lines an attractive prospect to many German cities scrambling to combat air pollution.
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- BEML Limited, a defence public sector company, has launched an indigenously designed and developed country’s first 205T Electric Drive Rear Dump Truck (Model BH205-E), with an objective of strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative.
- This new rear dump truck is expected to address the growing demand for higher capacity equipment in the mining industry. BH205E, electric drive rear dump truck for large scale mining operations, is powered by Tier -II emission compliant Modular Common Rail Electronic Engine with 2300 HP.
- The AC drive system has been engineered to provide exceptional haul road performance with reduced maintenance.Deepak Kumar Hota, CMD, BEML and P K Sinha, CMD, Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), flagged off the equipment, for its use in NCL project.
- Environmental friendly - The Dump Truck is environmental friendly in relation to mechanical drive due to its superior efficiency. State of the art AC drive system has been engineered for best in class efficiency and reliability. Consumption of transmission oil, final drive and brake cooling oil are eliminated reducing the environmental impact over its life cycle.
- The dump truck weighs 335 tons when fully loaded but is easily maneuverable with power-steering and short turning radius. Emphasis has been accorded to operators comfort while designing the machine and it has an ergonomically designed dash board and tiltable telescopic steering wheel. Other salient features of the truck include good visibility in addition to safety features with provisions for emergency steering, breaking and proximity warning.
- “With the introduction of this new generation Dump Truck, BEML has touched another milestone in its R&D efforts in achieving self-reliance, enhanced productivity in mining operations and increased production, apart from optimizing costs. BEML acknowledges the encouragement being provided by CIL & its subsidiary for Make In India policy of GoI,” said Hota.
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- Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland Ltd. (ALL) said its subsidiary Optare Plc has bagged an order from Transport for London (TfL) for 31 electric double-decker buses.
- The Optare Metrodecker electric double-decker buses, to be bought by Metroline, will be added to the London fleet next summer.
- The order, which was recently announced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan at a national air quality summit, will help form the largest electric double-decker bus fleet in Europe, ALL said.
- “Double-decker buses in London have been iconic and are a matter of prestige for the city. It is a moment of great pride not only for us but for our country, as our subsidiary, Optare wins such a crucial and environmentally significant order,” said Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland.
- Optare, along with active involvement from Ashok Leyland’s engineering team, was at the forefront of e-mobility evolution, according to Ashok Leyland MD Vinod K. Dasari. “It proved that it has the technology prowess that is expected from one of the most challenging markets like the U.K,” he said.
- “Our commitment and investment in Optare was a strategic move which will give us long-term benefits not only in terms of revenue but also in terms of developing the technology. E-mobility business for us is growing fast and Optare will play a crucial role in strengthening our leadership position globally,” he added.
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- Carolina Marin claimed a slice of history as the Spaniard became the first woman to win three badminton World titles with an emphatic victory over P.V. Sindhu of India on 5 August
- The aggressive Marin is now the reigning World and Olympic champion thanks to an imperious 21-19, 21-10 win in Nanjing.
- The all-action 25-year-old adds the 2018 crown to her titles in 2014 and 2015, and the Olympic gold she won from the unlucky Sindhu at Rio 2016.
- In the first game, the rivals went toe-to-toe, the more attacking Marin, the seventh seed, bellowing after each winning point. Third seed Sindhu, 23, well known for her never-say-die spirit, initially edged ahead before Marin dragged her back to 16-16.
- It was too close to call and the chair umpire had a job on his hands as the two foes repeatedly tried to throw one another off on Marin’s serve the Spaniard wanting to get on with the game quickly but Sindhu refusing to let her in an attempt to kill the momentum.
- Sindhu hit into the net to allow Marin to capture the first game in 27 minutes and she took that momentum into the second to make history.
- As well as disappointment at Rio 2016, Sindhu was beaten in last year’s World Championships final by Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara and had to settle for silver at this year’s Commonwealth Games too.
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- Blockchain, the fledgling technology that promises to change the way people and businesses transact, providing convenience and security, is in for a big boost.
- While Tech Mahindra is setting up a Blockchain district in Hyderabad, Eleven01 Foundation is developing an exclusive Blockchain protocol to suit the country’s needs, and the Union Government is establishing a Centre of Excellence on Blockchain here.
- Besides, the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) will make part of its protocol development research to the virtual cluster of Blockchain district.
- Virtual cluster - Tech Mahindra and the Telangana government signed an agreement here on 3 August to establish the Blockchain district, a first-of-its-kind Centre of Excellence for Blockchain.
- Initially it would be a virtual cluster, connecting with the stakeholders working in the emerging technology. It would have a physical building at a later phase. Tech Mahindra Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer CP Gurnani termed it “a cluster of buildings”, which will house start-ups and other stakeholders working on the development of the platform.
- “Tech Mahindra, as a founding member of the Blockchain district, will provide platform and technology assistance to all the incubators in the district,” he said.
- He announced the establishment of the centre on the sidelines of the inaugural day of an international conference on Blockchain. The two-day conference is being attended by start-ups, IT majors, academicians, policy makers and regulators.
- On its part, the Telangana government would provide regulatory and policy support to promote the growth of Blockchain.
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- Centre tell SC, Sale and manufacture of BS-VI non-compliant vehicles in India should not be allowed from April 1, 2020; In an affidavit filed in the apex court, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that it would not be possible to segregate pricing of diesel or have a differential pricing mechanism for the fuel for private vehicles.
- The sale and manufacture of BS-VI non-compliant vehicles in India BS-VI non-compliant vehicles as it would lessen environmental benefits to be accrued from using cleaner BS-VI fuel, the Centre told the Supreme Court.
- In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) said that it would not be possible to segregate pricing of diesel or have a differential pricing mechanism for the fuel for private vehicles.
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- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit Noida 9 july will inaugurate the New Mobile Manufacturing Plant of Samsung at Noida.
- With the begnining of this New Plant India's Make In India and Skill India Will get a major Push in the country.
- Samsung has Invested close to 5,000 Crore Rupees in this plant and aims to Manufacture 12 Crore Mobile Handsets annually which will result is massive job creation.
- With this visit, relatioins between India and South Korea will not only reach new height but Make In India & skill India will also get a major Boost.
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- पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी आणि दक्षिण कोरियाचे राष्ट्राध्यक्ष मून जे इन यांनी जगातल्या सर्वात मोठ्या मोबाइल फॅक्टरीचे उद्घाटन केले. नोएडाच्या सेक्टर ८१ मध्ये सॅमसंगची ही फॅक्टरी आहे. सॅमसंगने या फॅक्टरीसाठी ४,९१५ कोटी रुपयांची गुंतवणूक केली आहे.
- 'या फॅक्टरीमुळे भारतीयांच्या सबलीकरणात योगदान आणि मेक इन इंडियाला गती मिळेल,' असं मोदी उद्घाटनानंतर केलेल्या भाषणात म्हणाले. भारतात तयार झालेले मोबाइल जगात सर्वत्र निर्यात करण्यासाठी सॅमसंगने 'मेक फॉर द वर्ल्ड' चेही उद्घाटन केले आहे.
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- या युनिटच्या उद्घाटनावेळी उत्तर प्रदेशचे मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ आणि उद्योगमंत्री सुरेश प्रभुदेखील उपस्थित होते.
- या युनिटच्या सहाय्याने सॅमसंग आपले मोबाइल उत्पादन दुप्पट करण्याचा विचार करत आहे. सध्या सॅमसंग देशात सुमारे ७ कोटी स्मार्टफोन तयार करतं, २०२० पर्यंत ही संख्या १२ कोटींपर्यंत वाढवण्याचा कंपनीचा मानस आहे
- सॅमसंग भारतात २००७ सालापासून मोबाइल उत्पादन करत आहे. सॅमसंग इंडियाचे मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी एच. सी. हाँग म्हणाले, 'नोएडाची आमची ही फॅक्टरी जगातली सर्वात मोठी मोबाइल फॅट्करी आहे. हे भारत सरकारच्या 'मेक इन इंडिया' च्या यशाचं उदाहरण आहे. आम्ही या फॅक्टरीला जगातलं मोबाइल निर्यातीचं हब बनवणार आहोत.'
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- Crew Escape System is an emergency escape measure to quickly pull the the astronaut cabin along with crew out to a safe distance from launch vehicle during a launch abort.
- The first 'pad abort' test critical for a future human space mission was conducted successfully on Thursday morning, the Indian Space Research Organisation has announced. The test was conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- “The Pad Abort Test demonstrated the safe recovery of the crew module in case of any exigency at the launch pad,” the space agency said.
- Describing it as a major technology demonstrator the space agency said the PAT (pad abort test) is the first in a series of tests to qualify a crew escape system technology of a manned mission in the future.
- The Crew Escape System is an emergency escape measure to quickly pull the crew module the astronaut cabin along with astronauts out to a safe distance from the launch vehicle in the event of a launch abort.
- ISRO Chairman K.Sivan said the teams also tried out at least five new secondary technologies related to satellite communication, navigation and telemetry during the test. A few more trials related to the safety of astronauts would be taken up later.
- The countdown began at 2 a.m., five hours ahead of the test. At 7 a.m., the Crew Escape System with a simulated 12.6-tonne crew module lifted off from its pad.
- It was propelled on its own seven specially made complex in-built rockets. In the next four-odd minutes, it reached a height of 2.7 km and curved down into the Bay of Bengal on parachutes. It landed in sea at a distance of 2.9 km from the launch centre.
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- Tourists walk past a discolored wall of the Taj Mahal caused by environmental pollution. New Delhi: A four-seater solar car that can attain a top speed of 30 kmph has been developed by students of an engineering college here to protect the Taj Mahal which, as per some reports, is slowly turning brownish-yellow due to rising air pollution in the city.
- Priced at Rs 50,000, the car named 'Nexgen' has been created by students of ACE college of engineering and management, Agra using recycled and and scrap materials.
- However, the vehicle is sturdy enough to be used ion rural areas, Sanjay Garg, Chairman of the college told PTI.
- With petrol and diesel vehicles contributing overwhelmingly to the city's already polluted skyline, the zero-fumes solar car can help clean up the air, Garg said.
- "Our solar car can help a lot in bringing down pollution levels. It can be used in the night as well as a battery has been provided," said Sanyam Agarwal, project director."India has enough sunlight round the year. It can be widely used even in rural areas," Agarwal added.
- The students said solar cars for one or two people have been developed abroad, but theirs can easily seat four.
- The maximum speed is 30 kmph, more than enough for cities like Agra with perpetual traffic snarls, the students said.
- The operational costs and the maintenance expenses are low and the spare parts are easily available, they added."If solar cars become popular, our dependence on petrol and diesel will reduce and emissions will remain under control," Akash Gupta, team leader said.
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- After a recent global launch in the United Kingdom, Royal Enfield is all set to launch the new Classic 500 Pegasus in India on May 30, at an expected price of about Rs 2 lakh.
- Internationally, Royal Enfield will sell only 1,000 units of its Classic 500's limited-edition model out of which 250 units will make their way into the Indian market.
- The Pegasus will not be sold through authorised dealerships in India. Instead, it will be exclusively available online, similar to the Royal Enfield Himalayan Sleet.
- The Classic 500 Pegasus is inspired by the Royal Enfield RE/WD 125 (Flying Flea), which was used by British paratroopers during the World War II. They were designed to serve behind the enemy lines and were air-dropped from the aircraft encased in a protective steel cradle.
- Globally, the Pegasus is available in two colours Olive Drab Green and Service Brown. However, in India, only the Service Brown shade will be available.
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British sports car manufacturer Lister is aiming to set a new world record for the fastest SUV with its upcoming project, based on the Jaguar F-Pace SVR.
To bag the title, the 'Lister Lightening,' needs to perform a 0-100kmph sprint under 3.5 seconds as two of the fastest SUV's the Jeep Compass Trackhawk and Lamborghini Urus clock triple-digit speed in 3.5 and 3.6 seconds respectively.
With a 0-100kkmph sprint record of 3.2 seconds, the Tesla Model X is the fastest electric SUV.
The Lightning is expected to offer close to 700PS of power which is around 100PS more than the standard Jaguar F-Pace SVR.
The Lister Lightening carries Lister's signature yellow and green paint scheme along with a new anti-roll bar, updated spring and dampers, larger but lighter alloy wheels, chunky tires and subtly designed body kit for improved aerodynamic efficiency, according a teaser released by the company.
Since its origin in 1957, Lister Cars have been an active part of motor sporting, retuning Jaguar's automobiles and producing their own supercars.
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Shanghai has granted BMW a licence for self-driving car testing, setting up the German luxury brand to become the first foreign automaker to test autonomous vehicles on the road in China.
As global car giants race for an advantage in the world's largest car market, the Shanghai Commission of Economy and Information Technology awarded the two licences for BMW's 7 Series sedans on 14 May the regulator said
Since the city started issuing the testing permits in March, local state-owned automaker SAIC and Chinese electric vehicle startup NIO have logged more than 6,000 kilometres (3,728 miles) of driving without incidents, the commission said.
But the licences do not give automakers access to all of Shanghai's chaotic streets. Instead, they have a 5.6-kilometre stretch of road to drive up and down, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The autonomous car market is ramping up in China as local upstarts, technology behemoths and foreign automakers go head-to-head to produce what many expect to be the future of transportation.
Internet firms Alibaba and its rival Baidu recently predicted that self-driving vehicles will hit the road in the country within three to five years, and both have made big investments to be at the forefront of the shift.
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- Students from the Government Polytechnic Institute in Pune have created a hybrid go-kart that runs on both electric and engine motors.
- The go-kart was unveiled at a state level competition organized by the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education in March.
- The nine-member team comprised Shubham Thorat, Shubham Takawale, Kartik Tikhe, Durgesh Wagh, Atharva Naik, Amar Shelar, Aditya Pingle, Omkar Umadi and Mohit Sonawane.
- “This project raises awareness on saving fuel by switching to electric motors. The starting torque is provided by the engine and is manually switched to the electric drive system. This automatically decreases the rate of emission,” Thorat said. “A simple switch is used to shift from petrol to electric mode and vice versa,” he added.
- Per the students, said the most innovative part of the project was a hydrogen kit that could be directly connected to the carburettor as an alternative to fossil fuel.
- The students used second-hand spare parts to construct the go-kart a 110cc scooter engine, mufflers, fuel tanks and tyres. The students were guided by R R Saraf, a professor at the institute.
- “The main challenge for students during this project was obtaining a brushless D C motor and its controller. They are expensive, and only a few stores across the country sell these,” Saraf said.
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- Engineers are quietly giving up on IT as a career choice. The once sought-after sector is losing a chunk to the brick and mortar automobile industry.
- Queries and CVs from engineers, a lot of them with IT experience, are on the rise for auto companies such as MahindraNSE -0.09 % & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and MarutiNSE -0.58 %, according to a TOI report. The state underscores the predicament Indian IT is facing at present.
- According to industry body National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), the country's IT sector will see single-digit growth for the third-consecutive year and jobless growth for the second year as software exporters continue to struggle with declining business from traditional services.
- IT, for a long time, was the top pick for engineering graduates not only for the prospect of rising faster but also for the possibility of working abroad.But with US visa rules getting tighter and big IT companies streamlining staff, manufacturing is quietly finding a favour among job seekers.
- HR experts, according to the TOI report, say the increasing importance of big data and artificial intelligence in the automobile industry has made this segment interesting for engineers with an IT background.
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- Volkswagen Beetle - Often touted as the ‘People’s Car’, the VW Beetle was an automobile that was designed and built for the masses with affordability in mind.
- Although the history of the Beetle dates back to the 1930s, production began only after World War II. It quickly became one of the most successful cars in history by selling more than 21 million units, with production spanning over 65 years, making it the longest-running and most-manufactured single-platform car ever. Dr Ferdinand Porsche, the engineer behind the Beetle, later used the same rear-engine design for Porsche sports cars.
- Audi Quattro-The Audi Quattro is a legend that not only changed the world of rallying forever, but also established that all-wheel-drives are not just for off-road machines.
- The idea for the Quattro high-performance car came from a decision to fit a VW military vehicle’s 4x4 system in a coupé body.
- Toyota Prius - Launched in 1997, the Prius is not only the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, but also the first car to become a poster child for sustainable and eco-friendly motoring.
- on 18 April, almost all the large carmakers in the world have at least one PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) or pure electric car in their line-up, but back in the late 90s, it was a radical idea. But the Prius became a hit in Japan and the United States, especially amongst Hollywood celebrities, who believed they were helping clean up the world.
- Tesla Model S - Probably the most radical, influential and disruptive car of this decade. The Tesla Model S has not only successfully forced the entire automobile industry to change, but has also given a much-needed image makeover to electric cars.
- A catalyst for an all-electric revolution, the full-sized saloon transformed Tesla from a small Silicon Valley startup to one of the most powerful carmakers in the world, with its market cap surpassing that of Ford and GM. The Tesla Model S is also the world’s fastest accelerating car, beating the likes of LaFerrari and McLaren P1 hypercars.
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- Eyeing the mega Indian Air Force (IAF) contract for 110 fighter jets, Boeing on 12 April announced a partnership with PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) for manufacturing the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets in India.
- The US aerospace major said the partnership will also work for joint development of future technologies in India, saying it will transform India's aerospace and defence ecosystem.
- The Super Hornet 'Make in India' proposal is to build an entirely new and state-of-the-art production facility that can be utilised for other programmes like India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, the company said in a statement.
- "Boeing is excited to team up with India's only company that manufactures combat fighters, HAL, and India's only company that manufactures small commercial airplanes, Mahindra.
- "This partnership brings the best of Indian public and private enterprises together in partnership with the world's largest aerospace company, Boeing, to accelerate a contemporary 21st century ecosystem for aerospace & defence manufacturing in India," said Pratyush Kumar, the president of Boeing India.
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- The world's first long-distance electric bus line was inaugurated in Paris on 10 April
- German low-cost company FlixBus presented its green bus at the foot of the Eiffel tower and will begin daily service on April 12. The service will link the French capital to the northern city of Amiens, a 160 kilometres journey which will take a little over two hours.
- The bus, which seats 49, has all the advantages of an electric vehicle: zero emissions, quiet, and drives more smoothly than its fuel-powered counterpart.
- With a maximum range of 250 kilometres (155 miles), the batteries can be fully charged in 5 hours or even just two with the use of a "super-charger".
- Flixbus France general director Yves Lefranc-Morin said the vehicle may be 30 percent more expensive to buy but the maintenance and running costs are much lower than those of a diesel bus.
- The German bus firm hopes to open more 100% electric lines in the future in France and Europe. FlixBus became a major player on European long-distance routes after Germany liberalised the market for inter-city bus services in 2013.
- The presentation of this new line took place as France is facing a series of strikes by the country's railway workers over the government's plan to overhaul the state-run railway company SNC..
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