South Korean helicopter operator pre-orders 20 eVTol aircraft

Editorial staff
South Korean helicopter operator pre-orders 20 eVTol aircraft

South Korean helicopter operator Moviation has pre-ordered 20 30-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTol) aircraft from UK-based developer Sora Aviation. Moviation currently operates Jamsil Heliport, a hub for air mobility in Seoul, making it an ideal launch point for future S-1 operations in Seoul. Urban air mobility The two organisations have also signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore the deployment of the S-1 aircraft in South Korea, beginning with three key routes:​ Jamsil Heliport to Incheon Airport Yeouido financial district to Incheon Airport Jamsil Heliport to Sejong…

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Can HyperloopTT transform port logistics?

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Can HyperloopTT transform port logistics

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) has completed the world’s first HyperPort feasibility study in Brazil. The study was undertaken in collaboration with Brazilian port logistics company EGA Group and LabTrans at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Sustainable transport system HyperloopTT is an innovation company dedicated to developing the hyperloop, a high-speed, sustainable transportation system. The study reveals the potential transformative impact of the HyperPort system to meet Brazil’s growing shipping demands while promoting sustainable economic growth. “This is another historic milestone for HyperloopTT,” said HyperloopTT CEO, Andrés de León.…

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Netmore launches Metering-as-a-Service offering

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Netmore launches Metering-as-a-Service offering

Global Internet of Things (IoT) operator Netmore aims to accelerate smart metering for water and gas utilities with its Metering-as-a-Service (MaaS) offering. The service eliminates upfront costs and helps utilities modernise more quickly and affordably by providing an alternative to traditional capex-heavy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployments. Sustainability and efficiency issues Netmore is experienced in rapidly deploying networks in regions around the world. MaaS enables utilities to redirect their focus from meter-related concerns to critical sustainability and efficiency issues.. Read more: smartcitiesworld.net

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Toronto to deploy AI-powered video enforcement on streetcars

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Toronto to deploy AI-powered video enforcement on streetcars

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has awarded Gatekeeper its automated streetcar enforcement system (ASES) pilot contract. The company will deploy its proprietary AI-assisted video analytics for incident detection, licence plate capture, and automated ticket processing. ASES is a video-based evidence capture and automated ticketing solution for enforcement of motorists that fail to stop for streetcars when the passenger doors are open. Automatic enforcement The ASES pilot contract is for initial deployment on four streetcars and is valued at approximately $460,000. The TTC operates streetcar routes in mixed-traffic conditions and certain stops…

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Germany to build zero energy bills neighbourhood

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Germany to build zero energy bills neighbourhood

Octopus Energy is enabling Germany’s first 100 per cent ‘Zero Bills’ neighbourhood in Schramberg, Baden-Württember. It follows the launch of Germany’s first Zero Bills home last July. Germany is one of three countries, along with the UK and New Zealand, where Octopus Energy has introduced the tariff. Green energy technology The Schramberg development will offer residents a future free from energy bills for at least six years with each of the 24 homes powered by green technology, including solar panels, heat pumps and batteries. Construction of the development is set…

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Copenhagen Helicopter and Crisalion team to progress advanced air mobility

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Copenhagen Helicopter and Crisalion team to progress advanced air mobility

Spanish electric mobility company Crisalion Mobility has signed a strategic agreement with Copenhagen Helicopter to promote advanced air mobility (AAM) in Denmark. The two companies will develop plans for passenger and cargo transport solutions, as well as the management of infrastructure to facilitate the upcoming AAM services in the air and on the ground. eVTol operations One of the main focuses of this collaboration will be to analyse the feasibility of future electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTol) operations between the island of Funen in Denmark and some of the…

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Connected Colorado Challenge announces winners

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Connected Colorado Challenge announces winners

Companies developing autonomous maintenance robots and visitor traffic analysis pattern technology have been named as the winners of the most recent Connected Colorado (C²) Challenge. Snowbotix and CityData.ai have earned the chance to implement their innovations with the City of Colorado Springs. Colorado Smart Cities Alliance The Challenge, run annually by the non-profit Colorado Smart Cities Alliance, creates a streamlined pathway for global innovators to connect with Colorado’s state and local governments, helping jurisdictions discover, evaluate and acquire breakthrough solutions. The 2024 C² Challenge, which launched in June of last…

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Warsaw further expands electric bus fleet

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Warsaw further expands electric bus fleet

Warsaw’s municipal bus operator Miejskie Zakłady Autobusowe (MZA) has signed a contract for the delivery of 50 articulated Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses. To date, Solaris Bus & Coach has supplied the Polish capital with almost 1,350 buses, including 163 electric vehicles. Electric bus fleet Warsaw has one of the largest electric bus fleets in Europe, with the majority consisting of Solaris vehicles. In recent weeks, the zero-emission fleet has been increased by 30 12-metre vehicles from providers Solaris and Yutong. After the completion of the planned deliveries, electric buses…

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Eco-friendly tram extension begins operations in Florence

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Eco-friendly tram extension begins operations in Florence

Italian tramway operator Gest has begun operations of the new extension of its T2 tramway line, connecting Peretola Airport to San Marco Square in the Florence. The T2 line now includes six new stops. It transported 11.5 million passengers in 2024 and is expected to attract more than 3.4 million additional passengers with this extension. Eco-friendly electric tramways Gest is the Tuscan subsidiary of public transport operator RATP Dev and plays a vital role in reducing congestion and pollution with its eco-friendly, electric tramways. It complements Florence’s bus network operated…

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SkyDrive and JetSetGo team to develop eVTol routes in Gujarat

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SkyDrive and JetSetGo team to develop eVTol routes in Gujarat

Japanese-based eVTol aircraft manufacturer SkyDrive has entered a strategic partnership with JetSetGo Aviation Services to develop commercial eVTol routes, initially in the state of Gujarat and potentially in other locations across India. JetSetGo, one of India’s largest private jet operators, has also agreed to pre-order 50 units of the eVTol aircraft which will be SkyDrive’s first commercially certified eVTol. Technical collaboration agreement The agreement between SkyDrive and JetSetGo was facilitated by Suzuki Motor Corporation under a business and technical collaboration agreement previously signed by Suzuki and SkyDrive. SkyDrive reports it…

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Japan smart cities market to be worth over $216bn by 2033

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Japan smart cities market to be worth over $216bn by 2033

The Japanese smart cities market was valued at $63.15bn in 2024, according to latest data. Research and consulting firm Astute Analytica projects it will reach $216.99bn by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate of 14.7 per cent during the forecast period 2025-2033. The report sets out how Japan’s smart cities market is progressing at a notably fast pace, revealing a host of innovative projects, sizeable public spending, and a government-led vision that extends well beyond conventional urban development. Top smart cities in Japan Tokyo, Kobe, Fukuoka, and Sapporo have…

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Ottawa pilots permeable pavers to better manage rainwater

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Ottawa pilots permeable pavers to better manage rainwater

The Canadian city of Ottawa is piloting permeable pavers in a parking lot at the Carlingwood branch of the Ottawa Public Library to better manage rainwater. It is part of a wider project by the City to manage rainwater in older urban areas of Ottawa that were built without stormwater management in a way that will reduce the risk of flooding and treat runoff. It is the first project at a City facility. How permeable pavers work With regular pavers, when there’s rain, the water that lands on a parking…

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Moove and Waymo strike autonomous fleet partnership

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Moove and Waymo strike autonomous fleet partnership

Mobility solutions provider Moove has announced a fleet partnership with Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company. This collaboration represents the first commercial partnership of its kind on Waymo’s One app. Under the agreement, Moove will manage and dispatch Waymo’s fully autonomous fleet, beginning with operations in Phoenix in 2025 and expanding into Miami in 2026. Charging infrastructure Moove reports it will take responsibility for fleet operations, facilities, and charging infrastructure, ensuring the seamless operation of Waymo’s all-electric AV fleet. Waymo will continue to offer its service through the Waymo One…

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Lake Tahoe to introduce electric ferry

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Lake Tahoe to introduce electric ferry

Swedish tech company Candela and FlyTahoe plan to introduce the first US instance of Candela’s P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry to Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border. The 30-passenger P-12 hydrofoil ferry is already in service on waterways around Stockholm, Sweden. Hydrofoil technology The high-speed vessel will reduce travel times for Tahoe locals and visitors, providing a much-needed north-south connection across the lake, while also helping to cut emissions. According to the partners, the 30-minute cross-lake service, cuts the travel time in half compared to the daily 20,000 car trips along…

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UrbanLink expands fleet with hybrid eVTOL cargo drones

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UrbanLink expands fleet with hybrid eVTOL cargo drones

UrbanLink Air Mobility (UrbanLink) has announced a strategic partnership with California-based Traverse Aero to expand its fleet with hybrid-electric eVTOL cargo drones. Traverse Aero reckons its Orca model is the world’s first fully autonomous eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) drone designed specifically for palletised cargo. It boasts a 600-mile range and delivers cargo weighing up to 550 pounds. The company claims it uses batteries and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. Logistics supply chains The aircraft’s response capabilities, coupled with its…

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