Weekend Edition: Welcoming the dawn of the solid-state EV

[New Atlas logo]( Hmm, what tickled us this week? Well, Ben Coxworth found a cheeky drone capable of perching on a power line to recharge itself. CC Weiss was surprised to learn China is already going to market with an affordable EV with a long-range, fast-charging, semi solid-state battery on board. Mike Hanlon was astounded by the scale and world-changing ambition of Helixx's incredibly cheap EV subscription service, which raised at least one of my eyebrows too. That's just a taste; this world sure ain't changing any slower... So jump in! Loz Blain Editorial Director Drones [Video: Crafty quadcopter sits on power lines to recharge]( [The drone is intended to draw power from lines that it's already been tasked with inspecting]( Battery life wouldn't be an issue for drones if they could just recharge on power lines as needed. That's exactly what an experimental new quadcopter can now do, allowing it to stay aloft pretty much indefinitely. [Read more]( Automotive [$45K EV smuggles a 620-mile solid-state battery out of the lab]( [The IM L6 Max Lightyear Edition hits the market with a 620-mile semi-solid state battery]( IM motors has decided that semi solid-state batteries are ready for prime time. In an omen of what Western automakers will need to contend with, it's now launched a futuristic luxury coupe with a next-gen battery pack and crab-walking capability. [Read more]( Automotive [$6 a day EV subscription service could disrupt the auto industry]( [Helixx has an industry-disrupting vision for the future of mobility, and it is nothing like the vehicle ownership model and import-export model we have known since automobiles were invented.]( These electric cars & trucks use battery-swap recharging, offer immediate replacement if damaged, and roll out at prices down to $0.25 per hour, with no upfront fees... That's $6 a day plus electricity. The idea is potentially massively disruptive. [Read more]( Military [Northrop Grumman debuts Manta Ray robotic underwater glider]( [The Manta Ray prototype]( Northrop Grumman introduces its first completed prototype Manta Ray Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle that it is developing for DARPA. The extra-large submarine glider is designed to carry out long-range undersea missions without human assistance. [Read more]( Outdoors [Rifle-inspired titanium multi-tool packs a pen, flashlight and pry bar]( [The BoltLite multi-tool – with its bolt-action pen – is presently on Kickstarter]( Pens, flashlights and pry bars are all useful, and the BoltLite modular multi-tool packs all three into a waterproof titanium body. It can be carried as one solid unit or pulled into pieces as the situation dictates. [Read more]( Automotive [Review: Toyota's hybrid Grand Highlander SUV shuttles family at 30 mpg]( [With all of the good stuff plus some added space, the Grand Highlander is definitely an upgrade from the Highlander for those seeking a three-row SUV]( Three-row utility buyers haven’t had a lot of non-truck options, especially from Toyota. Now that three-row fever is satiated with the new Toyota Grand Highlander, which debuts for the 2024 model year. [Read more]( Materials [Graphite platform levitates without power]( [The silica-coated graphite plate levitates above a magnetic surface, with no need for external power]( Magnetic levitation is used to float things like lamps and trains, but usually it requires a power source. Now, scientists in Japan have developed a way to make a floating platform that requires no external power, out of regular old graphite. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [How much dietary fiber do you need to reduce high blood pressure?]( [Increasing dietary fiber intake can reduce high blood pressure]( There's been no guide on how much dietary fiber you need to eat to reduce blood pressure – until now. A new study has confirmed that it has an effect independent of medication and quantifies just how much is needed to directly impact high blood pressure. [Read more]( Automotive [Unreleased Toyota Hilux EV becomes a troop-carrying minibus]( [Toyota Motor Thailand shows the new Hilux Revo BEV prototype share taxi at the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show]( Toyota has been developing an electric Hilux pickup in Thailand for over a year, and the prototype has now been turned into a slick, little passenger-mover. Like a classic Land Cruiser Troopy, the new mini-bus seats two rows of passengers in back. [Read more]( Energy [90-GWh thermal energy storage facility could heat a city for a year]( [Three underground caverns measuring 300 meters in length will each store hot water at pressure, ready for release into the city's district heating network when needed]( An energy supplier in Finland has announced the upcoming construction of an underground seasonal thermal energy storage facility about the size of two Madison Square Gardens that could meet the heating demands of a medium-sized city for up to a year. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Sherpa tiny house takes a modern approach to space-saving design]( [The Sherpa is based on a double-axle trailer and has a length of just 6 m (20 ft)]( Baluchon's Sherpa tiny house features a modern exterior design that riffs on a previous model by the firm. It sleeps two people, plus a couple of guests at a pinch, and incorporates a well thought-out space-saving interior. [Read more]( Aircraft [Video: Odd Spanish eVTOL demonstrates fractal propulsion system]( [Crisalion's FlyFree: a comfy but potentially inefficient way to fly]( How did we miss this one? This Spanish eVTOL has been flying in prototype form for a number of years now, using a unique 4x4-prop FlyFree tilting mechanism designed to keep the cabin level – and a new five-seat design takes things up a level. [Read more]( Space [Video: Largest 3D map of the universe reveals hints of new physics]( [The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has created the largest 3D map of the universe so far]( Astronomers have produced the largest 3D map of the universe, including an interactive VR video. In the process, they’ve uncovered some tantalizing hints that our understanding of physics, including the ultimate fate of the cosmos, could be wrong. [Read more]( Military [Four long-range anti-ship missiles team up in historic test]( [the latest test involved four LRASMs for the first time]( Demonstrating that semi-autonomous weapons are the mainstay of the future and not an oddity, the US Navy and Lockheed Martin have completed a test of four Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) simultaneously in flight with minimal human guidance. [Read more]( Bicycles [180-mile eMTB gives older riders the power to conquer steep hills]( [The limited-run Riot is a Class 1 variant of Optibike's powerful R17 eMTB, and is designed to give older and heavier riders the power they need for hill-climbing adventures]( Colorado-based high-performance ebike maker Optibike has launched a Class 1 version of its powerful R17 carbon-framed off-road ebike that's aimed at riders over 50, and is "built for durability and rock-solid handling." [Read more]( Architecture [Is Saudi's vision of a 170-km-long mirrored skyscraper a desert mirage?]( [The Line's initial phase will be completed by 2030 and will have a length of 2.4 km (1.5 miles)]( A new report suggests that Saudi Arabia's 170-km-long skyscraper the Line is facing a major setback. Though still an ambitious project, its initial phase will now be much more modest than originally planned. [Read more]( Space [Theory of Relativity drives plan for Moon standard time]( [The Moon may soon be going the way of the Earth, with time zones established]( Thanks to Albert Einstein, the US Government wants to establish an official time zone for the Moon. It has less to do with jet lag and more to do with how gravity affects time and can throw a lot of very precise technologies seriously off track. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Toilet flush tests reveal just how nasty it is to leave the lid up]( [An automatic toilet flushing device can reduce bacterial spread]( When it comes to toilet etiquette, do you put the lid down before you flush, or leave it up? A new study has shown just what happens when you leave it up – and the results might have you questioning just what you do behind closed doors. [Read more]( Medical [Simple oral spray prevents UTIs for up to nine years]( [The non-invasive vaccine has been effective in stopping the return of UTIs]( An oral vaccine that prevents urinary tract infections (UTIs) recurring has shown to provide protection for nearly a decade in a majority of patients, according to a new study. This easy treatment offers a safe, effective method of UTI prevention. [Read more]( Outdoors [Hogzilla 4x4 expander truck camper doubles in size via sliding bedroom]( [The Hogzilla 4x4 Xpander Canopy turns a small pickup truck into a large base camp]( That's right, the freakin' HOG ZILLA. It's a pickup camper like no other pickup camper we've seen before, a straightforward flatbed canopy on the road, a blown-out-the-back, multi-room indoor/outdoor living complex when parked. [Read more]( Materials [New window film drops temperature, slashes energy consumption]( [A new window coating lets in visible light but blocks heat]( Researchers have developed a transparent window coating that lets in visible light but blocks heat-producing UV and infrared, not only reducing room temperature but also cutting energy consumption related to cooling the space. [Read more]( Marine [Hubless propeller mimics whale flippers for improved drag and efficiency]( [The BlueSpin stationary sail drive attaches to the hull underbody; this one includes the traditional propeller design, not the new Whale version]( BlueNav is bringing a more natural spin to its electric marine drive lineup. The all-new Whale Design propeller features blades that follow the contours of a whale to improve system efficiency. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2022