Featured Threads Archive
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Soon off lease BMW i3-BEVs in CA
Source: http://www.hybridcars.com/lapds-multi-million-dollar-electric-fleet-allegedly-goes-unused-unloved/
. . . Back in June of 2016, the LAPD awarded BMW with a contract to provide 100 battery-powered i3 hatchbacks as part of a plan to enhance its public image. At the time, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told the press, “We should be thinking green in everything we do,” adding that the electric BMWs would “also save money and resources.”
Fast forward to 2018 and the contract is beginning to look like a good way to waste millions of dollars. The LAPD agreed to lease the vehicles, effectively doubling its electrified fleet, for three years. The logic was that the gas savings would offset the $1.4 million it would cost the police force to apprehend them from BMW. While that sounds wonderful, there is a problem — the LAPD isn’t driving them.
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Phantom Traffic Jams, and a new type of Adaptive Cruise Control
Clot-busting on the roads, Toyota is involved in the research:
Sick of traffic jams? Stop tailgating - Home | Spark with Nora Young | CBC Radio -
Fuel Cell Vehicles over take Battery Vehicles in 2040
Posted more for amusement, I am reminded of the old saying,"Fusion is the power source of the future and it always will be." Ever since the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles was killed in 2001, fuel cells have been advocated as the replacement, 17 years ago. So here comes this gem:
DOE analysis suggests rapid convergence of FCEV and BEV TCOs; FCEVs less expensive for majority of LDV fleet by 2040; mass compounding - Green Car Congress
In 2020, battery-electric vehicles will be a cheaper vehicle option than fuel cell electric vehicles for the majority of the light duty fleet (79-97%), according to a new study by a team at the US Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO). However, the cost of the two powertrains will converge quickly, and by 2040, FCEVs will be less expensive than BEVs per mile in approximately 71-88% of the LDV fleet, according to the analysis.... -
Ferrari: How to do a 180° Turn
5 years ago, Ferrari said NEVER! when will Ferrari build a 100% EV? No chance - zip - zilch - nada - no way -
Ferrari Chairman Says Italian Automaker "Will Never Manufacture an Electric Car" | Inside EVs
NEVER - apparently, means 5 years
Ferrari plans to build an electric supercar after all
Note to self; remember to keep words soft & sweet ... so they're easier to to eat.
[emoji12]
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Significant Avalon advances
Source: TNGA-based 2019 Toyota Avalon features new hybrid system - Green Car Congress
Avalon Hybrid. A new TNGA 2.5-liter four-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine is more fuel efficient, runs cleaner, and is more powerful than previous iterations, and features enhanced thermal management. Technologies required include: Dual VVT-i with VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing intelligent system by Electric motor); D-4S (Direct injection 4-stroke gasoline engine Superior version) direct injection and laser-clad valve seats; longer stroke (4.07 inches; bore remains at 3.44 inches) and high compression ratio (14:1); multi-hole direct fuel injectors; a variable cooling system; cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system; and a full variable oil pump.
Instead of oil pressure, its Dual VVT-i with VVT-iE variable valve system employs an electric motor to control variable valve timing, which aids fuel efficiency... -
Tesla: Wth is going on
So, I've been a fan of Tesla since the Roadster. I remember drooling while reading about it on Digg.
Tesla is far from perfect and always has been. I test drove a 40kwh Model S -- one from the first year of its production -- and... it wasn't great. The turn signal and wiper controls were on the wrong side. There's a distinct lack of buttons for climate and audio controls. No AUX connection. They burn through 12v batteries. The big display is distracting. These are little kinks that needed hammering out, nothing insurmountable, but certainly noteworthy and substandard on a $50k+ car.
But it seems like in the last 6-9 months they've gone off the deep end. Burning crazy amounts of cash, a trend that seems to be increasing rather than decreasing. Burning bridges with suppliers left and right, first Mobileye now Grohmann Engineering and Alcantara. CEO and CFO saying ridiculous and contradictory things on official SEC filings and investor calls, like that the robots are both being... -
Cali Public Utility Deals a Blow to Natural Gas' Electricity
Seems the biggest bang for the Natural Gas buck, comes via peak usage times. So now, the public utility commission is hitting the fossil fuel industry right between the eyes, despite natural gas's 'clean' verbiage;
CPUC's latest order backing batteries spells more trouble for fossil-fuel power plants - LA Times
also, according to the... -
Apple’s CarPlay is finally coming to Toyota
It has finally happened! Apple CarPlay has made it to a Toyota vehicle. The 2019 Avalon will be the first Toyota with Apple CarPlay. I hope this means that 2019 might be the model year the Prius and other Toyota vehicle finally get CarPlay. Unfortunately for android users, Android Auto is not available at this time.
Here is the posting from Toyota about he new Avalon. “Meet the all-new 2019 #Avalon…with captivating design, dynamics and an elevated level of luxury. Now with Apple CarPlay. #NAIAS” -
The Destroyers (EVs)
G'day,
And you thought you knew it couldn't get any sillier....
Electric cars are breaking our roads, here's how - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
So it's not trucks, buses and SUVs.
David S. -
Honda Gets EVs Right......
in my opinion. After seeing these, I believe Honda gets the look EVs should have, clean, not Batmobiles.
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Barriers to EV adoption
Here is a screen shot of one take away:
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fhiwaay.net%2F%7Ebzwilson%2Fprime%2FEV_ranges_020.jpg&hash=9d04cb3f4ffa31aa48ee700dcae65f52)
About a month ago, I surveyed EVs in the USA and generated this chart:
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fhiwaay.net%2F%7Ebzwilson%2Fprime%2FEV_ranges_010.jpg&hash=7384d81cb004387c938fa4f49b43cff4)
That 200 mi threshold makes sense. If combined with a 'cat nap' cubby:
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.kinja-img.com%2Fgawker-media%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fs--XkWrYnkz--%2Fc_scale%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_80%2Cw_800%2F1409624959127245965.jpg&hash=b0cd32a26615eb4fa199b9a2b3bc9a18)
Put the car on a charger and catch 20 zees and it would work. Of course the logical solution is make car seats, including driver's, that can stretch out for a cat nap.
Bob Wilson -
CES 2018
We're at CES until January 12th so we thought we'd share a few behind the scenes pics with the community here! We'll continue updating this thread throughout CES.
For CES videos related to ChargePoint features and the latest in EV charging, follow us on Facebook for LIVE videos during CES. If you have questions that pop up while watching, leave a comment right on the Facebook video page!]
Time for a quick tour of the ChargePoint area at CES.
Plus, a HUGE walk through of the ChargePoint app.
We're showing off our array of EV charging solutions for businesses and drivers, including the ChargePoint Home, our Express Plus platform, and for those outside of the USA - our commercial European products, too.
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi66.tinypic.com%2Ffctdf4.jpg&hash=0e88e4179f2cb3b540bc873e04cadcc8)
If you're at CES come by our booth at 7534 in North Hall and say hello! -
Toyota And The Rotary Engine
A Mazda rotary in a Toyota, who da thunk it?
Mazda rotary engine may find new life in self-driving Toyota e-Palette project -
Touch Screens
Interesting article, on the dubious benefits of touch screens.
The Problem with Touch controls in the Automotive Industry - SlashGear -
Electric Corvette
Source: http://www.hybridcars.com/genovation-cars-announces-gxe-performance-car-debut-2018-ces/
Instead of a rasping V8 however, Genovation removed all the engine bits and replaced them with a twin-motor electric powertrain and a 60 Kilowatt-hours (kWh) battery pack....
Genovation says the GXE accelerates to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds and top speed now exceeds 220 mph. Battery and powertrain in the car that sounds like a jet airplane when running at speed is said to have been derived from Le Mans and Formula 1 technology.
The startup expects the GXE to have 130 miles of range. Unstated is what type of charging system is on board or recharge times. Also expect that range to suffer under extreme usage at a racetrack. The original prototype with 44-kWh battery had been designed to be capable of two full-tilt laps at the 12.9-mile Nurburgring. -
Variable sized magnets in motors
Source: http://www.hybridcars.com/gm-patents-electric-motor-multiple-magnet-lengths/
Effectively, the tabs will allow the stacks to accept either short or long magnets–the tab will support the shorter magnet halfway down the aperture or get pushed out of the way upon inserting a longer magnet. GM claims there will be at least a 25-percent difference in magnet lengths.
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hybridcars.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2Fmagnets-3-696x935-e1515166133979.png&hash=0fb452ff2fbae42833dea88aca4b7ff9)
What this means is a common motor core whose expensive, permanent magnets can be sized for the vehicle. This increases the commonality of parts to reduce manufacturing costs yet right-size the motor(s) to the vehicle.
Bob Wilson
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