Tag: future

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Car Technology

What else other than EV?

Alternative Fuels: A Closer Look Beyond Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) have undeniably taken center stage in the sustainable transportation conversation. But are they the only viable alternative to traditional petrol and diesel cars? Let’s explore some other promising alternative fuels.

1. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEVs)
  • How they work: Hydrogen fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which powers the vehicle’s motor.
  • Benefits: Zero tailpipe emissions, long driving range, quick refueling times.
  • Drawbacks: Limited hydrogen fueling infrastructure, higher upfront costs.
2. Biofuels
  • Types: Ethanol (made from corn, sugarcane, or other plant materials), biodiesel (derived from vegetable oils or animal fats).
  • Benefits: Reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, potential for carbon neutrality.
  • Drawbacks: Can compete with food production for land and resources, some biofuels may have higher emissions when the entire production process is considered.
3. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
  • Benefits: Lower emissions than gasoline or diesel, abundant supply.
  • Drawbacks: Limited fueling infrastructure, potential methane leaks (a potent greenhouse gas).
4. Synthetic Fuels
  • How they’re made: Created from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, often using renewable energy sources.
  • Benefits: Can be used in existing gasoline and diesel engines without modifications, potentially carbon-neutral.
  • Drawbacks: Production process is energy-intensive and expensive.

So, which is better?

The “best” alternative fuel depends on various factors, including:

  • Infrastructure: The availability of fueling stations.
  • Cost: The upfront cost of the vehicle and fuel.
  • Environmental impact: The overall greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects.
  • Driving needs: Range, refueling time, and suitability for different types of driving.

While electric vehicles have made significant strides, these alternative fuels offer unique advantages and could play a crucial role in a sustainable transportation future. As technology advances and infrastructure improves, we may see a diverse mix of alternative fuels powering our vehicles.

What do you think? Which alternative fuel is most promising in your opinion?

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Week in Review

What a year… so far!

Wow… Can’t believe it. Only a week (and a bit) into 2021, and so much to talk about.

Let’s put aside everything that happened at Capitol Hill… (and the actions of Trump), and the vaccination roll out in the UK… (which is good), however this new strain of Covid isn’t…

And focus on a couple of things that have also hit the headlines.

  1. Elon Musk. Richest man in the World. Took over from Jeff (Amazon ) Bezos. Two reasons why I like this news… Firstly, he’s done well with Tesla, SpaceX and his other ventures – he’s truly believed in them and continued to pursue them! and secondly, he actively reached out to folk to ask how he can donate his money and/or put it to good humanitarian use!
  2. Hyundai and Apple. Getting together. To build an Electric Car… Apple have been trying for a while to get this project running, however, they’ve realised they need someone who has got the knowledge on cars. Step up Hyundai. They are doing very well at the moment. And when they announced they’re working with Apple, share price rose 20%! Why do I like this bit of news… well, it provides us options other than Tesla and a few others… and it shows you can’t do everything on your own, if you need help – ask for it! (no shame in asking for support).

I was thinking about replacing my Friday Thought with a round up, or at least 2 bits of tech/interesting news… however, I’ve been asked to keep the Friday Thought… so will slot this in elsewhere into the week!

Which takes me to my last point… what will 2021 bring?! We can clearly see the decrease in car sales (overall) however, the gap between sales of electric and combustion engine are closing in – meaning more electric cars are bring sold. Norway, however (with it’s Government grants, etc..) are the first country to sell more electric cars than petrol/diesel! (Well done Norway!)

Well, we’re on a lockdown for early part of 2021, and I don’t see much changing till Spring/Summer… which means, alot more homeworking, less travel and more hobbies? – of which, we all saw a number of people who took up their passions/hobbies and turned them into businesses! (which is great!) – some of you reading this and who follow me on social media, will know I joined the trend of baking. But with a slight twist, of doing vegan/eggless cakes. They came out quite tasty (not me just saying that!), and I started taking photos, sharing them on Instagram (@balsbakery), and started to get orders in! Been selling cakes, however – it’s probably something I won’t scale up into a business (just yet!) due to time…

So I’ll wrap up this Sunday Blog post with a few thoughts… 1. If you’ve got a passion, pursue it! and 2. This year, we’ll see a bigger shift towards more sustainable/environmentally friendly products (including cars).

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

There’s a few things that Covid-19 Lockdown has taught us… in fact, it’s accelerated some things that were coming.

The evolution of the employee.

How we work.

And we’ve been able to evolve due to technology but also a shift in the mindset. A shift in thinking that is allowing us to add more value and be more productive.

Two examples I’d like to share,

  1. I recall seeing in a signature of a senior leader, something along the lines of….. “I’m sending this email because this time works for me, if this is out of your working hours, I do not expect a reply”.
  2. I recently undertook some learning – via LinkedIn Learning app. I did it in the evening. In my own time. And it was in short bursts.. about 10 videos each of which were 3 to 4mins long. It taught me a lot. In fact, made me do some ‘homework’ and really make me think.

That’s what it is about, right? – Learn, Think… Apply.

Would be great to hear example you may have, in terms of how you’re becoming an employee of the future…

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

We all make life choices. There’s a lot that goes on… and we have to make choices. Sometimes they are right… sometimes, we’ll get them wrong…. BUT, we should be conscious of the choices we make. Are they right… where will that choice lead us… and more importantly, the choice you make today, will you be proud of it in the future?

There’s a lot that will effective our choices, some motivate us… some just steer us down that path.

Just remember… you have a choice.

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Car Technology

Are you Car Tech Savvy?

In a recent survey, 71 percent of those surveyed said that they didn’t feel they received enough information about in-car tech when they took delivery, while a quarter said that they didn’t get enough information at all.

Image result for car tech

Admittedly – over the past few years, there’s been alot of tech… and I mean alot… appearing in our cars!

From Self-driving features… to the Sat Nav letting you know a route that is either the quickest, most fuel efficient or cheapest (avoiding tolls).

In addition, the survey said – one fifth of drivers (20 percent) of drivers said they use less than half of the features in their cars, while a further 10% said they understood only some of the features and just drive their cars.

Image result for infotainment

So what should you do?

Well, firstly… when you take delivery of your car (new) or purchase it (second-hand)… ask!

Ask about the main features, what the car has and what it can do. YouTube is always a good source of information about your car and it’s technology.

Go to the Dealer! – that’s another option. They now have experts who help individuals to understand their cars… this could include downloading an app (that controls features on your car), or other certain features your car may have.

Whilst the features grow… the screens get bigger…

Image result for infotainment

… keeping up can be a task! So refer to the handbook, ask the dealership or phone a friend.

Don’t be afraid of the technology – it’s their to help and support you, to provide you with a better driving experience. And let’s be honest… it’s only going to get more technologically advanced when the cars can fully drive themselves!

Categories
Car Technology

Connected Car

Last week it was super cold! – but it’s ok… my car was nice and warm when I got to it…

How’s that, Bal?

Well… my car is connected. And through this connection, and via the app – I could select an option that heats the car! How. Awesome. Is. That?

More and more cars are becoming connected. Allowing options like heating, etc… a norm. I remember a few years ago, when I was in Atlanta, with my friend Wes… we jumped into his car (it is a mahoosive one!) and he pressed a button, went to a call centre… Wes then said he wanted to go somewhere… and the information (directions) were sent to his sat nav in the car and off we went!

Cars are clever. And becoming even more clever. There’s so much data that your car produces – and there’s so much your car learns about you… which will then give you the experience you’ll love!

Whilst cars become more clever… they’ll also be talking. Talking to dealerships. Talking to the manufacturers. Talking to those who sign up to get their hands on the data!… (insurance companies?)

We are living in a connected world. Look around you, everything is connected and there’s vast amounts of data being sent back and forth. Don’t forget, Data is the new Oil!…. and whilst I said this on stage at an event in Toronto last July…. it was non other than Sir Tim Berners Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web) who approached me afterwards and said… whilst data is the new oil, just remember… oil can’t be re-used, whilst data can.

This did get me thinking… wow! This means data is even more valuable than oil!

Back to connected cars – so this data, that your car is collecting about you, your driving, your destinations, your habits… will be stored by someone (manufacture maybe) and then sold to various companies…. now, the optimistic in me will say… being sold so my experience can be much better… the pessimistic will say… being sold so companies can make more money.

Either way… this is stage 1 of connected car. The next stage will be the self driving cars… with more data being transmitted…. through the connected car.

Categories
Car Technology

Hmmm…. An Electric Hummer?

Ok…. who remembers the big bad boy motor, also known as the Hummer?

What a classic! That’s right – these beasts were massive!!! I don’t remember seeing too many on the British streets, well… let’s be honest… the streets are too small for a massive vehicle like this! But in the US and everywhere else (where they have larger streets) you could see them…

Now… as you can guess, they were heavy on the fuel… big and that’s about it! (You know you still wanted one!)

Times are changing… in my last blog post, I spoke about if you should get an electric car.

Couple of questions I got were – ‘….but Bal, I like the traditional big cars, with the big V8’s…’, and also, questions like… ‘Bal, I’d got for a hybrid or full electric if it didn’t look like a Prius!’.

I hear ya. I do… and so do General Motors (GM) – the makers of the Hummer…. and even they are embracing the electric car revolution!

That’s right – there’s going to be an ELECTRIC HUMMER!!!

Over on their website… they shared some impressive stats…

1,000 HORSEPOWER!!!

0-60 in 3 SECONDS!!!!

Oh MY!!!!!!

Personally, I can’t wait. And here’s your answer to a Prius!

So… still thinking if you should go electric? Definitely start thinking about it.

GM pulled out a commercial about the new Hummer…

But personally… still don’t think it’ll get down our British streets!

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Uncategorized

Let me unfold my phone…

You may recall…. that recently, I wrote and shared about Samsung’s folding phone.

Well.. guess what. That’s right, Huawei have released their folding phone!

After 3 years of development, they presented the Huawei Mate X

Now… the interesting thing is – it’s better than the Samsung!

How’s that Bal? –

Well, firstly – it closes completely flat. Something the Samsung doesn’t.. (Mate X is 11mm compared to Samsung’s 17mm)

Secondly, it’s slightly bigger than the Samsung phone… 8inches when unfolded and 6.8in when closed (that’s the larger model).

Thirdly – it’s 5G ready.

So… who else will be developing foldable phones?

I’m sure Apple, Google and other makers will be looking at how customers react. The biggest issue at the moment (in my opinion) is the cost.

They’re not cheap.

In fact. They’re expensive. Mate X is around £2,000 – and will go on sale in the middle of this year.

There will be people who buy this – and why not. It’s a tablet. It’s a phone. It potentially replaces two of your devices into one. And I think it could catch on. I can see, in the future, this technology being more readily available and most importantly, more people buying it.

Would I buy one? – only if you could flip it out like the old Motorola Flip phones! – don’t know what they are… I’ll let you google it.

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Uncategorized

Fold your phone away…

I used to have the Nokia mobile phones. Never ventured with other brands. But admittely I did like the Motorola Flip – a friend of mine used to have it, and I used to love, ‘flipping’ it close – when i’d finished a call.

What a classic. Available in different colours too….. 

How times have changes. Let’s be honest. It’s all got a bit boring…

Don’t get me wrong… I love my Apple iPhone. It’s lovely. But however, that novelty factor that we used to have of sliding, folding, etc… had all gone.

Sliding Bal? – you used to have a phone like that?

Yes – the banana phone, as it was known.

Anyway…. those times might be coming back… Samsung, leading the way.

They’ve designed and bought to life a foldable screen!

What Bal?! A screen that folds?!!!

Yes! Samsung have designed new screen materials, including a flexible OLED layer and backplane, that are then layered beneath an ultra thin polarizer, a new shock-absorbent film, and a more durable (and flexible) polymer cover window on top. And to hold everything together. Clever huh?

What does all this mean? – well…

It’s a phone that you can fold!! – How awesome is that?! I’d buy it just for the novelty factor.

Now… couple of things here, 1) Samsung are doing some great research and bringing to life some fantastic products… 2) We may get some exciting phones again… and 3) What does it mean for Apple?

Samsung haven’t revealed much else – in terms of pricing and availability.

What we do know it’ll be available somewhere in mid-2019. And it’ll be the most expensive phone available.

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Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation…

Willing to risk the unusual?