A huge airship being developed by Sergey Brin's LTA Research and Exploration Co. could be powered by an equally large hydrogen fuel cell. The plan is to devise a 1.5-megawatt hydrogen propulsion system that would be built by a third party.

A dearth of pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing space is one of the major factors hindering a production ramp-up of coronavirus vaccines, observers say. Third-party facilities are largely full in the US, and variants of the virus may soon spur even greater demand for new vaccines and additional production.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Thursday that any American effort to shorten supply chains and bring production of strategic goods back to the US will only impinge on global trade while doing little to lift the economy. The statement came in response to President Joe Biden's executive order to examine US acquisition of strategic goods amid a global shortage of semiconductors.

Keep team motivation going by celebrating small victories, encouraging the next action and creating a sense of accountability, writes Dan Rockwell. "Describe, honor, and celebrate behaviors that create winning environments," he writes.

The Maryland Transportation Authority has released potential toll rates for high-occupancy toll lanes on the Capital Beltway and Interstate 270. Preliminary toll rates would average between $7 and $11 during peak times, dropping to $4 to $5 for a typical weekday journey.

The cashless tolling system implemented by the Illinois Tollway during the recent pandemic will become a permanent fixture, according to an announcement made this week. Over 92% of tolls are already paid via transponder, and drivers without one can pay their tolls online without penalty within 14 days.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the issue of declining gas tax revenue and the need to find a more reliable income stream this week. Buttigieg stressed that funding solutions need to be sustainable and predictable, adding that "some kind of road usage assessment is going to be necessary."

The flammable liquid electrolytes that in lithium-ion batteries powering electric vehicles could have a solid, safer counterpart. The new battery being developed by Silicon Valley startup QuantumScape could also address other current limitations, such as power storage and weight.

Chehalis-Centralia Airport in Chehalis, Wash., has been chosen by the state's Department of Transportation to be a beta test site for electric aircraft. The designation follows an electric aircraft feasibility study last November, and criteria for the six selected sites included airport connectivity and jet fuel availability .

The White House has mandated a 100-day review of supply chain risks for critical items such as semiconductors, which are facing an international issue. The review covers a variety of items such as unique earth elements and electric-vehicle batteries.