Featured Threads Archive

Fuel cell engineer and sustainable energy expert Matthew Klippenstein comes on One on One to discuss the Nikola merger and what it means for Nikola, fuel cell and BEV semi trucks. A little aside on GM’s new announcements but mostly, why a diversified energy sector is a stronger one.

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10 new models coming with the earliest starting this year (Bolt refresh thats finally getting ACC).

GM reveals 10 new production EVs all at once, with range up to 400 miles - Electrek

But the biggest news to me is this battery design philosophy:

The centerpiece of the presentation was the company’s new battery system, dubbed “Ultium,” which will power GM EVs starting next year.

The battery system is focused on modularity, allowing different types of cells and chemistries to be used in packs ranging in size from 50 to 200 kWh, enabling “up to 400 miles of range or more.” The company committed to producing cells, in cooperation with LG Chem, that reduce the use of cobalt by 70%, thereby bringing down costs.

Each module will have a dedicated battery-management-system, a move that will allow an individual module to be replaced with a new one, and even to mix and...

If I understand correctly, Geely is a Chinese car company and the Icon is its new "hybrid" SUV. It boasts a " 48V mild hybrid technology" that is twice as powerful as an electric wheelchair! It also offers an "N95 certified Intelligent Air Purification System (IAPS) (that) isolate(s) and eliminates over 99.7% of dust and harmful particulates including bacteria and viruses from the cabin." So as long as you sit in the car you're all safe from COVID-19 and stuff. The entire site has kind of a Detroit 1950's feel in how it markets the product, very different from Toyota.

ICON : Geely Global

Pennsylvania PHEV rebate was at $1000
just released the NEW rebate dropped to $500 starting March 1, 2020
There is "extra" for low income etc and other used vehicles

I was excited when I found out about this a few weeks ago, but now being cut in half!





Alternative Fuel Vehicles




Eligible Vehicles
New, Pre-Owned, and Demonstration vehicles with final purchase price of $50,000 or less (purchase or lease):

$1,000 rebate on:

• Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

$750 rebate on:

• Battery electric vehicle

$500 rebate on:

• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
• Compressed natural gas vehicle
• Propane fueled vehicle
• Electric motorcycle (Does not include electric scooters)

It appears a half-sized Cybertruck, when loaded, can beat a Ford F-150.

Tesla Cybertruck vs. Ford F-150 tug-of-war rematch finally happens but with 'small' twist - Electrek

The guys get into a tussle over Tesla’s Gigafactory in Buffalo New York now that Panasonic has pulled out of the location. Will there ever be Solar glass? After 40 years of trying to figure it out, scientists have finally figured out why solar panels experience a 2% efficiency drop within the first hour of […]

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I have a 2004 and a 2010 Prius. I'm shopping for another hybrid, either a Prius or a Corolla or a Camry. The Toyota dealer tells me today the Prius is on recall so he can't sell me one, is that right? He is selling Prius Prime though.
I kind of like the hybrid Corolla though, just as roomy in the passenger compartment as the Prius, and the trunk is bigger than I thought. What advantage does a Prius have over a Corolla besides cargo capacity? Are the engines comparable?

Police: Prius crushes man who was under it trying to steal catalytic converter | Us World News | fox5vegas.com

1) Special Guest Edward Neidermeyer joins the panel to discuss his recent appearance on Bloomberg TV regarding Tesla. We also discuss autonomy (of course, in relation to Tesla). 2) Mark gives his report on attending the Toronto Auto Show.

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An app-based Prius rental went awry when their software apparently needed rebooting in order to permit the Prius to start and there was insufficient cellular signal to do that remotely. Apparently the renter was then warned to not turn it off because they had used their allotment of restarts.

Driver stranded after connected rental car can’t call home | Ars Technica

Tale on Twitter

Tesla's computer is about 6 years ahead of Toyota & VW.

Tesla teardown finds electronics 6 years ahead of Toyota and VW - Nikkei Asian Review

Sunday musings - let's suppose that BEVs were the predominant mode of transportation the last 100 years instead of petrol cars. Now a new thing called an internal combustion engine comes alongs. Would we be saying "What do you mean we have to stop by this thing called a gas station?" "This maintence plan is crazy: oil, spark plugs, timing belt."

1) Russell has just returned from a Toyota event in which he was driving their brand new AWD systems they are introducing in their sedans. 2) Tony and Jon B spent two days at the Chicago Auto Show and provide their impressions of what they saw. 3) Jon B provides speculative insights as to what […]

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Toyota Canada CEO defends Toyota's strategy

Motor Mouth: Toyota’s master plan for a low-carbon future | Driving

Here is the report from UCS:
https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-reichmuth/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-climate-yes-heres-why

There are a number of interesting bullet points. Including that the grid continues to improve, the average EV continues to get more efficient.

Links to the full details of their methodology are available. They are using the governments GREET data.

I had a chance to test drive a Taycan Turbo (non-S) while my other car was in for service. Holy crap. The acceleration on this thing was unreal. Interior was much better quality than the Model S I sat in, and the exterior is subjectively better as well. I could definitely see myself in one of these, if I made 2-3x more money.

Check one out if you get the chance. Looks like there's finally a high-end competitor to the Tesla.

Electric-car frunks: Bonus space or wasted opportunity?

(Moderators, I posted this here because I believe it is relevant to all the exciting new smart cars. Please feel free to move to Tesla forum if you feel it proper)

Interesting article in Jalopnik:

Tesla Remotely Removes Autopilot Features From Customer's Used Tesla Without Any Notice [Updated]

Man buys Tesla with Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self Driving Capability included as part of the car. Tesla comes along later, decides that he somehow did not buy? Is not entitled? to these features and wirelessly removes $8,000 worth of value from the car. If they had sent men to do this physically that would be theft. Because they did it by radio it is, uh, somehow ok??

This appears to be the Tesla thread where the owner discusses the issue:...

1) Russell teases that he’s been invited to a Toyota AWD event. More details in a future show. 2) Simon Wecker, a guy in Berlin, Germany, pulled 90 cell phones – all with Google Maps active – through empty streets. Why? Because Google interpreted all that data to mean that the streets were congested with […]

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there was a collective yawn