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"62% either absolutely agree (22%) or partly agree (40%) that battery-electric vehicles will fail due to infrastructure challenges."
Wishful thinking? Primary infrastructure for BEVs is charger in the home. There will be a segment of drivers for whom BEVs are not a good fit, but that hardly rates a fail for the class.
Auto executives also seem to have a bias against Tesla in favor of traditional manufacturers, suggesting that BMW is the leader in EVs and autonomous driving. BMW introduced their only BEV, the i3, years ago, and has no new confirmed ones in their pipeline. Tesla not the leader in autonomous driving?
KPMG Survey: execs say connected car generates 10x revenue than a conventional vehicle; market share based on units “outdated”; BEVs #1 trend
Advancements such as connectivity, big data, autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence are driving new economic models for automakers, and most see tremendous revenue potential and consumer value in leveraging driver and vehicle data to offer mobility services, according to the 2017 KPMG ...
FF91 is not a production car. Teslas are. When (if) the FF91 starts production, then there can be a comparison to a future (2018?) Tesla, assuming Faraday Future gets past its serious financial problems. In the meantime, the Pike's Peak Hill Climb EVs are much faster (0-60 in 2 sec).
Faraday Future unveils its first production car, the electric FF91
Faraday Future revealed the FF91—its first production electric car—in Las Vegas ahead of the opening of CES. Equipped with a 130 kWh pack built from what Faraday says are the world’s highest energy density Li-ion cells, the 1,050 hp, all-wheel drive FF91 claims a range of more than 378 miles (6...
Nice except for goofy front end — that is, the radiator grille that does nothing but add drag. Cd of 0.29 is pretty bad for an EV. They've even decided to run air through the grille and exhaust on the back of the hood, so they've even sacrificed luggage space in the frunk, all in the name of retaining Jaguar design DNA, i.e. gasoline engine body design. Old designers apparently can't learn new tricks. Where's the creativity?
Jaguar reveals 500km-range battery-electric I-PACE Concept SUV: production version in 2018
Jaguar has unveiled the battery-electric I PACE Concept SUV. I PACE has a predicted range of 500 km (311 miles) on the NEDC, 354 km (220 miles) on the EPA cycle. The concept previews Jaguar’s first electric vehicle; the production version will be revealed in late 2017 and will go onsale in 2018....
The Federal EV incentive is in the form of a tax-credit, rather than a point-of-sale rebate. For retired people (like myself) who have low incomes but ample savings, the tax-credit is not available. I can afford to buy any EV, but still do not qualify for the Federal incentive. Please do not stereotype; it's not becoming. But likely the drafters of the incentive rules held the same biases. The program is discriminatory.
Berkeley study finds clean vehicle rebates have predominantly benefited wealthy, white Californians
The distribution of California’s clean vehicle rebates across different socioeconomic groups has been uneven, with higher income groups more likely to receive rebates, according to a new study by a team from the University of California, Berkeley. The analysis, published in the journal Transport...
Who's to blame for higher greenhouse gases? People who eat animals, that's who. GHG emissions from raising "food" animals are higher than all transportation CO2 emissions combined. It's methane, a more potent GHG than CO2. (I'm a vegetarian, BTW) So to reduce global warming, give up or cut back on eating meat. And drive an EV charged by renewable energy.
Dalia EuroPulse survey finds 58% of Europeans would consider buying an EV; 34% approve of more gov’t support
In August, Berlin-based Dalia Research conducted an EU-wide survey to find out the demand for electric vehicles (EV) among Europeans. The results show that 58% of Europeans would consider purchasing an electric vehicle. Approximately 1% of respondents say they already own one, matching the curr...
They don't race Formula E on purpose-built race tracks; they race in city centers on city streets. Hong Kong, Paris, Berlin, Monaco, Buenos Aires, New York, Montreal, Moscow . . . The cars are fast and have a great sound, especially bunched together. The drivers are the best in the world, uniformly at the top of their profession. Check out Formula E's youtube channel and watch some of the races, or highlights - https://www.youtube.com/user/FIAFormulaE
Audi realigns motorsport strategy: electric instead of endurance; out of FIA WEC at end of 2016 season
Audi is realigning its motorsport strategy. The brand will terminate its FIA WEC commitment, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the end of the 2016 season. Instead, Audi is taking up a factory-backed commitment (earlier post) in the all-electric Formula E racing series. Speaking to 300 emp...
Looks like a conversion car, with that big, tall, boxy front end — designed to house an ICE under the huge hood?
Mercedes-Benz gets on the CASE with Generation EQ close-to-production electric concept
At the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its close-to-production concept Generation EQ electric vehicle—the forerunner of Mercedes-Benz’s new product brand for electric mobility, EQ. The name EQ stands for “Electric Intelligence” and is derived from the Mercedes-Benz brand values of “Emot...
The narrow-minded oilman should stick to what he knows. Lithium is not a "fuel" like oil. It does not get used up. As mentioned in another comment, it can be easily be recycled.
Opinion: Could A Lithium Shortage De-Rail The Electric Car Boom?
by James Stafford of Oilprice.com We’ve gone electric, and there’s no going back at this point. Lithium is our new fuel, but like fossil fuels, the reserves we’re currently tapping into are finite—and that’s what investors can take to the bank. You may think lithium got too popular too fast...
Perhaps time to increase the Federal gasoline tax by $1 per gallon.
US gasoline deliveries in July highest on record
Total motor gasoline deliveries—a measure of consumer gasoline demand—in the US in July moved up 2.4% from July 2015 to average nearly 9.7 million barrels per day, according to figures from the American Petroleum Institute (API). Compared with June 2016, total motor gasoline deliveries increase...
The Tesla autopilot system does limited access highway driving. It does not do traffic lights, stop signs, or essentially intersections. People who misuse the system by driving at high speed through uncontrolled intersections are stupid.
If you drive 85 mph through an intersection with the green light in your favor, and someone runs the red light right in front of you, would you be able to avoid an accident? Would any autonomous car?
There are situations (caused by human negligence/recklessness) where an "accident" cannot physically be avoided, by man or machine. Nobody has claimed that autonomous cars can ever eliminate all accidents. Why would anyone assert that even early versions should be able to do that? (although not surprised self-righteous Consumer Reports would)
Consumer Reports calls on Tesla to disable and update auto steering function, remove “Autopilot” name
Consumer Reports is calling on Tesla to disable the automatic steering function in the Autopilot driving-assist system available in its Model S vehicles until the company updates the function to confirm that the driver’s hands remain on the steering wheel at all times. The consumer organizatio...
"There is a failure to explain acronyms here. What is the difference between a "BEV90" and a "BEV210"? What is the difference between a "PHEV10" and a "PHEV35"?"
The numbers refer to the range in miles. A measure of the size of the battery.
US DRIVE releases comprehensive cradle-to-grave analysis of light-duty vehicle GHGs, cost of driving and cost of avoided GHGs
The US DRIVE Cradle-to-Grave Working Group has published the “Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of US Light-Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economic Assessment of Current (2015) and Future (2025–2030) Technologies” Argonne National Lab Report. The study provides a ...
Fully-autonomous racing cars will be here soon, appearing during the third (2016-17) season of the all-electric Formula E series. Called RoboRace — a bunch of these electric race cars will compete at speeds well over 100 mph around street courses in big cities all over the world.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3052329/consumer-electronics/the-specs-and-story-behind-the-roborace-autonomous-car-and-its-nvidia-drive-px-2-brains.html
New Georgia Tech MPPI technique controls autonomous vehicles at edge of handling limits
Researchers from Georgia Tech’s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering (AE) and the School of Interactive Computing (IC) have developed a new control technique for autonomous vehicles that can help keep a driverless vehicle under control as it maneuvers at the edge of its handling lim...
Putting electric motors in a car designed for a big ICE?! Must be some kind of mental block.
Aston Martin and LeEco partner to co-develop RapidE EV for market intro in 2018; potential to add Faraday Future
China-based technology company LeEco and Aston Martin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) towards the creation of a partnership that will develop a production version of the Aston Martin RapidE electric vehicle concept—a fully electric version of the Rapide S four-door sports sedan....
The authors have apparently never spent any time with BEVs, and focused on the traditional "numbers," apparently without any thought given to the bigger, more relevant picture.
The usual "range" criticism is presented, without comment on how much range is actually needed by the vast majority of Americans (average daily miles = 29, and 80% drive less than 40 miles per day). More is not necessarily better, because "more" means more upfront cost, and more weight.
Time to refuel? Typical argument made by petrolheads against BEVs. But since "refueling" a BEV typically takes place at the owner's home, overnight, what is the relevance. And refueling time for an ICE car is claimed to be 5 minutes — that would be five minutes after you are parked next to the pump. No mention of the 30-minute round-trip detour to drive to the gas station.
Efficiency of BEVs is given in the archaic mile-per-gallon "e". There are no "gallons" with BEVs. The authors need to present BEV efficiency in terms that BEV drivers actually use.
Their category "Availability of qualified mechanics" is a joke, and proves the authors are stuck in the world of ICE. Electric vehicles do not have the inherent maintenance needs of ICE vehicles. BEVs also can be updated with over-the-air software enhancements.
And nowhere do the authors discuss the much better driving experience that BEVs bestow on their owners—a huge advantage over ICE vehicles, and perhaps the most importance distinction. Magnetic braking? Single-pedal speed control?
New UMTRI paper reviews major advantages and disadvantages of battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles
A new report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) reviews the major advantages and disadvantages associated with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs). The team of Brandon Schoettle and Dr. Michael Sivak also incudes information for c...
ICE and electric drivetrains are so different that any BEV built on a platform designed to accommodate an ICE drivetrain will be seriously compromised.
Hyundai introduces IONIQ: compact car with BEV, PHEV or HEV powertrains
Hyundai Motor announced the name of its advanced, alternative-fuel compact vehicle due for launch in 2016: the Hyundai IONIQ. The car will be available with battery-electric electric (BEV), plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid (PHEV), or gasoline/electric hybrid (HEV) powertrains—the first car from...
Doubling energy density is great, but that shouldn't translate to double the range for every EV. Most people drive less than 40 miles per day, so why not use the improvement in energy density to save hundreds of pounds in the car's weight (thus improving efficiency, performance, and handling), save lots of money, and reduce the battery volume (more room for people and their stuff)?
Bosch highlighting solid-state Li-ion cells; double current energy density, production-ready in 5 years
At the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), Bosch is highlighting its solid-state Li-ion battery technology, saying that the technology for electric cars could be production-ready in as little as five years. The acquisition of the US start-up Seeo Inc. (earlier post) will help make this possible, Bosch ...
The average person in the U.S. drives 29 miles per day. 80% of the people in the U.S. drive fewer than 40 miles per day. BEVs start out with a full charge every morning. Long range BEVs means more cost with no benefit, means the car will be unduly heavy with a huge detriment. The minority of people who need long range because they take road trips or have cold weather in the winter can buy a PHEV, or keep their ICE cars. Lots of PHEVs coming on the market.
Sometime in the future, when battery tech improves dramatically, the situation will change, but adding range now so that EVs imitate ICE will only make EVs heavy and expensive.
If you want a long-range luxury EV now, buy a Tesla. For most ordinary people, an EV with 100-mile range will meet their needs perfectly.
New 2016 Nissan LEAF with available 30 kWh pack for 107-mile range
Nissan introduced the 2016 all-electric LEAF with an available 30 kWh battery that provides an EPA-estimated range of 107 miles (172 km)—a 27% increase over the previous 24 kWH battery. All LEAF models feature an 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 80 kW (107 hp) and 254 N·m (187 lb-ft) of...
The authors are nitwits! By providing the incentive as a tax credit rather than a rebate, the government is excluding everyone who pays no taxes, including retired people (such as myself) who own their houses and cars outright, and are living off their savings. I am a big EV fan, and can afford to buy one, but I refuse to pay $10K more for an EV than what people with big incomes would pay for the same car. That's socially unjust.
60% of $18B in US clean energy tax credits 2006-2012 went to top 20% by income; 90% in the plug-in program
A working paper by a team at the Energy Institute at Haas, University of California, Berkeley, has found that 60% of the $18 billion in US federal income clean energy tax credits issued between 2006 and 2012—e.g., for weatherizing homes, installing solar panels, and buying hybrid and electric ve...
Interesting about vehicle fires. I see stories almost every day about horrific car, truck, or bus accidents where the vehicle is completely engulfed in a raging fire, and nobody seems to bat an eyelash (that there was a fire). The old double standard, I guess. And there are self-sealing fuel bladders used in race cars and fighter jets to prevent fires—no cry from legislators to require those in everyday vehicles. Hmm....
24M emerges from stealth mode with new semi-solid Li-ion cell; <$100/kWh by 2020
Stealth-mode battery start-up 24M has introduced its new semi-solid lithium-ion cell. Co-founded by MIT’s Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, 24M’s Chief Scientist, the company is leveraging existing, preferred energy storage chemistry but using a new cell design with semi-solid (a mixture of solid and liquid...
These guys seem to have a complex solution in search of a problem. Single-speed EV transmissions are elegantly simple and reliable; I see no evidence of a high-speed issue.
Evolute Drives seeking investors for MSYS multi-speed transmission for hybrids and EVs
Evolute Drives, incorporated as a separate entity by its sister company Drive System Design (DSD) (earlier post), is seeking investors to help commercialize its high efficiency MSYS multi-speed transmission system for hybrids and electric vehicles. (Earlier post.) The MSYS transmission was or...
Why such a big ICE in an "electric" car? BMW uses a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder engine in the Mini Cooper and the 2-Series Active Tourer, and Ford now puts a 1 liter, 3-cylinder engine in the Fiesta and other cars as their sole means of propulsion. GM needs a 1.5 liter, 4-cylinder ICE just to run a generator?! Backward-think.
GM Warren Transmission Plant to build electric drive unit for second-gen Volt; part of $300M investment in Michigan through end of year
Later today at the Detroit Economic Club, General Motors CEO Mary Barra will confirm that its Warren Transmission Plant will build the new electric drive unit—the GM Voltec 4ET50 Multi-Mode EDU—for the upcoming second-generation Chevrolet Volt. As a result, most major Volt powertrain components...
The author suggests that government incentives to consumers may not be as effective as investing that money in battery research. This seems to reflect the same old mindset that consumers will only buy BEVs if their costs are comparable to ICE. He ignores the reality that people routinely spend lots more money for a car that makes them feel good (aesthetics, performance, technology, etc.). Once people experience BEVs, they buy them for a much better driving experience (and other non-quantitative factors).
He also ignores the fact that you can already buy a BEV for not a lot of money (Mitsubishi iMiev, Nissan LEAF, etc.). He also implies that BEVs should have a 200-mile range, and that battery cost needs to be significantly lower for that to happen. The fact is that most people drive less than 50 miles per day, and that's not going to change in the future. BEVs do not have to satisfy 99% of the population's transportation requirements.
The study apparently is based on current generation battery technology, predicting several years ahead to the economics of Tesla's mega-factory. There are any number of battery chemistries in the pipeline, with production techniques that have not yet been developed. Why would this study even be relevant? I have more faith in the backers of the mega-factory, given that they're putting their money where there mouth is.
CMU/MIT study finds large-scale battery manufacturing will do little to reduce unit costs past a 200-300 MWh annual production level
A new techno-economic analysis by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and MIT has found that economies of scale for manufacturing current Li-ion batteries for light-duty EV applications (in this case, prismatic pouch NMC333-G batteries and packs) are reached quickly at around 200-30...
I found some torque figures. P85D has 687 vs. 443 lb-ft for the P85, and 362 lb-ft for the D versions of the 85 and 60 vs. 325 for the single motor versions.
Tesla adds 2-motor all-wheel drive and advanced driver assistance “Autopilot” to Model S
Tesla Motors is adding a two-motor all-wheel drive option for its electric Model S as well as a standard set of forward-looking camera, radar and 360˚ ultrasonic sensors that will, over time with software updates, provide increasing autonomous drive capabilities. The two-motor all-wheel drive...
Acceleration is a function of torque, not horsepower. I have not seen torque figures yet. Also, as sd noted, 4WD makes a difference.
Tesla adds 2-motor all-wheel drive and advanced driver assistance “Autopilot” to Model S
Tesla Motors is adding a two-motor all-wheel drive option for its electric Model S as well as a standard set of forward-looking camera, radar and 360˚ ultrasonic sensors that will, over time with software updates, provide increasing autonomous drive capabilities. The two-motor all-wheel drive...
Most people think they should get the advertised fuel efficiency (if they even calculate it) without regard to how they drive, and most people drive very inefficiently. The mileage label on a car should show a range of mpg, "depending on your driving style." I think most people would be shocked at the variation, and that might prompt them to learn what they could do to drive more efficiently (not that they would actually change their bad habits!).
I get significantly better mileage than the Mulroney label indicates for my car, without resorting to extreme hyper-miling techniques, so don't blame the test procedures.
ICCT: gap between official and real-world fuel economy figures in Europe reaches ~38%; call to implement WLTP ASAP
Divergence of real-world CO2 emissions from manufacturers’ type-approval CO2 emissions for various on-road data sources, including an average estimate for private and company cars as well as all data sources. Source: ICCT. Click to enlarge. The gap between official and real-world fuel-econo...
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